I first came to know of the Indonesian singer/poet, Ebiet G Ade by chance actually ... I was in Form 4 way back in 1980 when Sweet Charity, the rock band from Singapore came out with the hit song "Camelia". At that time, I thought the song was originally "owned" by Sweet Charity not knowing that it was a "cover version" of a song by the same title by Ebiet G Ade - the only difference is that Sweet Charity's version is the rock version of "Camelia".
There was one fine day that I bumped into a cassette entitled "Camelia" (1979) by the original singer, Ebiet G Ade and since then I never look back but falling in love with his songs.
Ebiet G Ade was born as Abit Ghoffur Aboe Dja'far on 21 April 1954 in Wonodadi, Central Java. He is the youngest son of Aboe Ja'far and Saodah. A singer & song writer who writes his own lyrics which often allude to social issues and current events in Indonesia.
He had produced abundance of hit albums such as the "Camelia" albums i.e. "Camelia" (1979), "Camelia II" (1979), "Camelia III" (1980), "Camelia IV" (1980), "Zaman" (1985), "Menjaring Matahari" (1987) and "Seraut Wajah" (1990). This is not to mention his later albums such as "Kupu-Kupu Kertas" and "In Love: 25th Anniversary" which was produced in 2007 to commemorate his 25th year wedding anniversary.
Among his hit songs are of course "Camelia", "Menjaring Matahari", "Kupu-Kupu Kertas", "Elegi Esok Pagi", "Berita Untuk Kawan", "Titip Rindu Buat Ayah" and of course my favourite song "Lagu Untuk Sebuah Nama"..
It is worthwhile I believe to reproduce the full lyrics of "Lagu Untuk Sebuah Nama" to understand and get the feel of who Ebiet is ...
The lyrics go like this:
"Lagu Untuk Sebuah Nama"
"Mengapa jiwaku mesti bergetar
sedang musik pun manis ku dengar
mungkin kerna ku lihat lagi
lentik bulu matamu
bibirmu dan rambutmu yang kau biarkan
jatuh berderai dikeningmu
makin mengajak ku terpana
kau goreskan gita cinta.
mengapa aku mesti duduk di sini
sedang kau tepat di depanku
mestinya aku berdiri berjalan ke depanmu
ku sapa dan ku nikmati wajahmu
atau ku isyaratkan cinta
tapi semua tak ku lakukan
kata orang cinta mesti berkorban.
mengapa dadaku mesti berguncang
bila ku sebutkan namamu
sedang kau diciptakan bukanlah untukku
itu pasti tapi aku tak mau perduli
sebab cinta bukan mesti bersatu
biar ku cumbu bayangmu
dan ku sandarkan harapanku."
I could only say the song, its lyrics and the music composition are brilliant indeed.... Just grab any of the albums which I mentioned above and listen attentively to the songs then you would understand why Ebiet G Ade to me is the most brilliant singer/poet this "Nusantara" ever have ....
Enjoy the songs ......
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
"Malaysia Boleh"!!! Oh Not Again, please ....
Malaysia as a nation is a peaceful nation with proud & patriotic citizens ready to defend this "Ibu Pertiwi" when needed ... This I firmly believe and I myself would do the same...
The only thing which bothering me is our overzealous in "doing things" ... We are so eager to prove the slogan "Malaysia Boleh" without even thinking of the after effects or the impact of it....
Two (2) news caught my attention...
The 1st news is not so bad actually. It was reported that a "Majlis Pelancaran Berkhatan Beramai-ramai Daerah Dungun" was held on 27 November 2010. It was reported by Utusan Malaysia on 28 November 2010 that about 1,000 - yes!!1,000 - male kids (between 10 to 13 years of age) would be circumcised free of charge at three (3) locations i.e. Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah, Hospital Dungun and a clinic at Bukit Besi.
I hope the relevant authority really take extra caution in this mammoth "exercise" with enough resources and those in charge of the circumcision get enough rest ... We are talking about these kids "life" and it's the utmost vital part of their anatomy which are at stake here!!! Anyway, as at to date, nothing untoward had been reported in the news so all must have gone well ...
The 2nd news was reported in NST on 8 December 2010 at pg 25 reported that an attempt to achieve "The most number of mountain climbers" into the Malaysia Book of Records was cancelled. The plan was to have about 2,000 people scaling Gunung Lambak in Kluang simultaneously and hence creating a record in the process.
The plan wan objected by the environmentalists, local residents and individuals who said to have 2,000 people scaling the small mountain of 515 meter tall & with a journey of 1.5 km to the summit would do more harm to the environment than good ...We are lucky as a nation as we still have sane people around!!
This reminds me of years back a certain former MB of Kedah - he is known for churning out mind blowing ideas anyway - proposed for a group bicycle ride/tour from Kedah to Dtaran Merdeka to celebrate Merdeka .... I have to salute Datuk Seri Samy Vellu who immediately instructed no MIC members should participated in the event as the long journey may not be safe as they might involved in road accident ....
I agree to the notion of "Malaysia Boleh" but we must also bear in mind that not everything is "Boleh" .....
Till we meet again ....
The only thing which bothering me is our overzealous in "doing things" ... We are so eager to prove the slogan "Malaysia Boleh" without even thinking of the after effects or the impact of it....
Two (2) news caught my attention...
The 1st news is not so bad actually. It was reported that a "Majlis Pelancaran Berkhatan Beramai-ramai Daerah Dungun" was held on 27 November 2010. It was reported by Utusan Malaysia on 28 November 2010 that about 1,000 - yes!!1,000 - male kids (between 10 to 13 years of age) would be circumcised free of charge at three (3) locations i.e. Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah, Hospital Dungun and a clinic at Bukit Besi.
I hope the relevant authority really take extra caution in this mammoth "exercise" with enough resources and those in charge of the circumcision get enough rest ... We are talking about these kids "life" and it's the utmost vital part of their anatomy which are at stake here!!! Anyway, as at to date, nothing untoward had been reported in the news so all must have gone well ...
The 2nd news was reported in NST on 8 December 2010 at pg 25 reported that an attempt to achieve "The most number of mountain climbers" into the Malaysia Book of Records was cancelled. The plan was to have about 2,000 people scaling Gunung Lambak in Kluang simultaneously and hence creating a record in the process.
The plan wan objected by the environmentalists, local residents and individuals who said to have 2,000 people scaling the small mountain of 515 meter tall & with a journey of 1.5 km to the summit would do more harm to the environment than good ...We are lucky as a nation as we still have sane people around!!
This reminds me of years back a certain former MB of Kedah - he is known for churning out mind blowing ideas anyway - proposed for a group bicycle ride/tour from Kedah to Dtaran Merdeka to celebrate Merdeka .... I have to salute Datuk Seri Samy Vellu who immediately instructed no MIC members should participated in the event as the long journey may not be safe as they might involved in road accident ....
I agree to the notion of "Malaysia Boleh" but we must also bear in mind that not everything is "Boleh" .....
Till we meet again ....
The tale of the "uncomfortable" RON 95
Few weeks back, it was announced - almost unannounced actually - that RON 95 would costs the consumers RM1.90 per litre - up by 5 sen from RM1.85.
This was reported in NST on 4 December 2010 at pg.8 under the heading "Price revision for RON 95 and sugar". It was said that this was the second wave of subsidy rationalisation and to made effective 4 December 2010. Apart from RON 95, diesel and LPG also experienced a hike so as sugar.
The move was made after Datuk Seri Idris Jala had earlier said that the rationalisation of these four (4)consumer goods would enable the government to reduce its subsidy expenditure, which stood at RM1.18 billion.
I am not an economist and have no comment on this. The only thing which struck me something is "going up" was when weeks earlier i.e. on 12 November 2010 to be exact, I read Sarawak Tribune which quoted the Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr. Awang Adek as saying "the price of RON 95 petrol would not be increased for a certain period of time so as to allow the people to feel comfortable with the current price."
The Deputy Minister was further quoted as saying the above when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2011 for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat on 11 November 2010.
This is so typical of Malaysian politician/minister, they would say things which are politically correct but not totally correct in reality - at least in the eyes of the Rakyat. I am not saying he is lying but judge it yourself .... To the Deputy Minister, I would say that he's only managed to make the Rakyat feel comfortable with the said fuel price for only about slightly more than 3 weeks' or so ....
Till we meet again & please do not feel comfortable with anything which came out from the politicians' mouth .....
This was reported in NST on 4 December 2010 at pg.8 under the heading "Price revision for RON 95 and sugar". It was said that this was the second wave of subsidy rationalisation and to made effective 4 December 2010. Apart from RON 95, diesel and LPG also experienced a hike so as sugar.
The move was made after Datuk Seri Idris Jala had earlier said that the rationalisation of these four (4)consumer goods would enable the government to reduce its subsidy expenditure, which stood at RM1.18 billion.
I am not an economist and have no comment on this. The only thing which struck me something is "going up" was when weeks earlier i.e. on 12 November 2010 to be exact, I read Sarawak Tribune which quoted the Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr. Awang Adek as saying "the price of RON 95 petrol would not be increased for a certain period of time so as to allow the people to feel comfortable with the current price."
The Deputy Minister was further quoted as saying the above when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2011 for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat on 11 November 2010.
This is so typical of Malaysian politician/minister, they would say things which are politically correct but not totally correct in reality - at least in the eyes of the Rakyat. I am not saying he is lying but judge it yourself .... To the Deputy Minister, I would say that he's only managed to make the Rakyat feel comfortable with the said fuel price for only about slightly more than 3 weeks' or so ....
Till we meet again & please do not feel comfortable with anything which came out from the politicians' mouth .....
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Political Circus ....
I have to assert here that I am not a political animal ... I am not even aligned to any political party and I am not a member of one. This is not an apologetic statement to justify what I am about to post ... I am fully responsible for what I posted.
There were four (4) different political news which caught my eyes - distinct as they might be with each other but there seemed to be a linkage ...
STAR at World News (W37) on 23 November 2010 showed a group of Singapore Polo Team lined up for the water polo event at the recent Asian Games in China. At first sight, nothing bizarre as far as the photo is concerned ... It is reported that the team was wearing a custom made swimming trunks which feature Singapore flag's crescent moon and stars near the - of all part - groin area!!!
Under the Singapore Arms & Flag and National Anthem Act approval must be obtained from the Minister for Information, Communication & the Art for any costume to be made as part of any costume or attire provided there is no "disrespect". Any breach of the same would be subjected to fined up to maximum of RM (S'pore) 1,000.00.
It is not known what happened to those Singapore Polo Team members upon their return to Singapore. On the home side, perhaps our YB Dato' Seri Rais Yatim could start familiarising himself with our own Act on similar issues before some overzealous citizens start emblazoned our Jalur Gemilang onto an attire and to be worn at an inappropriate of the anatomy - and worst still (this is the current biggest sin I would say) to have the "1 Malaysia" symbol worn/shown disrespectfully ....
Back to Malaysia, NST on 4 December 2010 reported that three (3) NGOs - one of which is PERKASA - have lodged a police report against Parti Keadilan Rakyat president, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Ismail for allegedly making a sedition remark pertaining to "Ketuanan Melayu"... This I really have no comments as it is better to leave it to the police to investigate. For the record, the Malay Sultans such as HRH the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan of Perak & the Sultan of Johor had even given their royal statements on the issue - which is rather complicated as it touched on the broad subject of "social contract" ... I myself for sure would look into the old "naskah" of " Sejarah Melayu" for clues...
The 3rd news is reported in NST on 18 November 2010 where it was reported that a performance by 27 year old rapper-songwriter and film maker, Wee Meng Chee a.k.a. Namewee at an entertainment outlet in Kuantan was cancelled at the advise of the police and the local council. This was made to prevent any untoward incidents after the authorities received strong objections from several NGOs.
For the record, this Muar boy was the one who previously turned & "unwrapped" the National Anthem "NegaraKu" to a "rap" at the dismay & disgust of most sane Malaysians... The most unacceptable or rather amusing(?) episode concerning Namewee was when he was received - though not by red carpet - at the Parliament House by our very own Minister in Charge of Parliament affairs wearing T Shirt, jeans complete with the "rapper head gear"!!!! Few months back I have to spent several hundreds ringgit just to buy proper attire - long sleeve shirt, slack and a tie - when I was suddenly asked by my Company to go to the Parliament for a meeting with a Minister!!!! Am I choosing a wrong profession/career here?
The last news appeared in NST on 9 December 2010 where it was reported that the AG advised the former MB of Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohammad Khir Toyo to stop making statements in the media regarding the later being charged for alleged corruption in Court. The AG categorically advised not to stage a "trial by media" which was in response to the press statements made by the former MB a day earlier to the press after he was being charged in Court. To the former MB, my advise is leave it to your lawyer to handle the case and save the talking later in Court ....
To sum up all the news above are about "contempt" - be it near contempt and about to commit a contempt ....
Have a nice weekend ....
There were four (4) different political news which caught my eyes - distinct as they might be with each other but there seemed to be a linkage ...
STAR at World News (W37) on 23 November 2010 showed a group of Singapore Polo Team lined up for the water polo event at the recent Asian Games in China. At first sight, nothing bizarre as far as the photo is concerned ... It is reported that the team was wearing a custom made swimming trunks which feature Singapore flag's crescent moon and stars near the - of all part - groin area!!!
Under the Singapore Arms & Flag and National Anthem Act approval must be obtained from the Minister for Information, Communication & the Art for any costume to be made as part of any costume or attire provided there is no "disrespect". Any breach of the same would be subjected to fined up to maximum of RM (S'pore) 1,000.00.
It is not known what happened to those Singapore Polo Team members upon their return to Singapore. On the home side, perhaps our YB Dato' Seri Rais Yatim could start familiarising himself with our own Act on similar issues before some overzealous citizens start emblazoned our Jalur Gemilang onto an attire and to be worn at an inappropriate of the anatomy - and worst still (this is the current biggest sin I would say) to have the "1 Malaysia" symbol worn/shown disrespectfully ....
Back to Malaysia, NST on 4 December 2010 reported that three (3) NGOs - one of which is PERKASA - have lodged a police report against Parti Keadilan Rakyat president, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Ismail for allegedly making a sedition remark pertaining to "Ketuanan Melayu"... This I really have no comments as it is better to leave it to the police to investigate. For the record, the Malay Sultans such as HRH the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan of Perak & the Sultan of Johor had even given their royal statements on the issue - which is rather complicated as it touched on the broad subject of "social contract" ... I myself for sure would look into the old "naskah" of " Sejarah Melayu" for clues...
The 3rd news is reported in NST on 18 November 2010 where it was reported that a performance by 27 year old rapper-songwriter and film maker, Wee Meng Chee a.k.a. Namewee at an entertainment outlet in Kuantan was cancelled at the advise of the police and the local council. This was made to prevent any untoward incidents after the authorities received strong objections from several NGOs.
For the record, this Muar boy was the one who previously turned & "unwrapped" the National Anthem "NegaraKu" to a "rap" at the dismay & disgust of most sane Malaysians... The most unacceptable or rather amusing(?) episode concerning Namewee was when he was received - though not by red carpet - at the Parliament House by our very own Minister in Charge of Parliament affairs wearing T Shirt, jeans complete with the "rapper head gear"!!!! Few months back I have to spent several hundreds ringgit just to buy proper attire - long sleeve shirt, slack and a tie - when I was suddenly asked by my Company to go to the Parliament for a meeting with a Minister!!!! Am I choosing a wrong profession/career here?
The last news appeared in NST on 9 December 2010 where it was reported that the AG advised the former MB of Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohammad Khir Toyo to stop making statements in the media regarding the later being charged for alleged corruption in Court. The AG categorically advised not to stage a "trial by media" which was in response to the press statements made by the former MB a day earlier to the press after he was being charged in Court. To the former MB, my advise is leave it to your lawyer to handle the case and save the talking later in Court ....
To sum up all the news above are about "contempt" - be it near contempt and about to commit a contempt ....
Have a nice weekend ....
Non posted News For the Past Month ... Phewww!!!
I have been cutting several interesting news from the newspapers especially from NST for the past one (1) month or so .... I wanted to share the news through my posting but could not do so due to busy schedules ....
Here are some of the news - some of them are would be posted in my next postings due to their "news worthy" - if I may say so ...
The news were:
1. New Sarawak Tribune (24 July 2010 pg.3) - I really missed this out!!! It was reported that there was a leakage on the roof of the Members of Parliament (MPs) located next to the Dewan Rakyat. This was one of the series of leak incidents involving the august House , amongst others on April 28 2005 a leakage was reported due to obstruction of the flow of rain water and on May 7 2008 when water trickled out of an air conditioning vent at the side of the Dewan Rakyat. YB Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri gave a reason (read "an excuse"?) saying that the Parliament House is an old building. Anybody buying this?
2. New Straits Times (12 November 2010) - The northernmost mosque in North America was officially opened at Inuvik, a town of 3,300 people north of the Arctic Circle. The mosque building was shipped in an arduous journey of 4,500km over narrow, bumpy roads and atop a river barge to serve 80 Muslim residents of Inuvik. Subhanallah ...
3. New Straits Times (7 December 2010) - It was reported by AFP that 1,000 North Koreans were jailed for watching South Koreans TV shows and films. This is part of the Northern communist regime effort to stem an inflow of foreign culture from infiltrating thus corrupting the minds of the Northern part of the Korean Peninsular. A prison official in the northwestern city of Kaechon said it was the first time that the number of people jailed solely for watching the South's TV dramas has gone over 1,000. It is ironic that while these 1,000 or so "entertainment hunger" citizens spent unwanted time in jail the Great One Kim Jong Ill is perhaps watching western movies in his cineplex at his residence...
4. New Straits Times (9 November 2010 pg.14) - The Penang Gerakan vehemently opposed the plan by the Malaysian Historical Society Kedah Branch plan to seek the return of Penang to Kedah. The Society contended that Penang belonged to Kedah prior to an agreement signed with the colonial British administration in 1786. This plan was however opposed by Gerakan saying the move might pave way for Thailand to claim its rights over several Malaysian States .... Well, Kedah might have to eat her own words then - tit for tat!!!! To me the plan might be historically correct but it is politically wrong to do so .... It might caused so many far reaching impact from the major to the minor impact - one of which the number of of the stripes of our Jalur Gemilang may have to be reduced!!! On an extreme hypothetical scenario if this issue were to be legally adjudicated and assuming the Society were to get what the want, on a brighter side at least Kedah is still part of Malaysia - so there would not be a repeat of the infamous case Pulau Batu Putih fiasco!!!
The remaining news would be posted in my next posting & till we meet again ....
Here are some of the news - some of them are would be posted in my next postings due to their "news worthy" - if I may say so ...
The news were:
1. New Sarawak Tribune (24 July 2010 pg.3) - I really missed this out!!! It was reported that there was a leakage on the roof of the Members of Parliament (MPs) located next to the Dewan Rakyat. This was one of the series of leak incidents involving the august House , amongst others on April 28 2005 a leakage was reported due to obstruction of the flow of rain water and on May 7 2008 when water trickled out of an air conditioning vent at the side of the Dewan Rakyat. YB Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri gave a reason (read "an excuse"?) saying that the Parliament House is an old building. Anybody buying this?
2. New Straits Times (12 November 2010) - The northernmost mosque in North America was officially opened at Inuvik, a town of 3,300 people north of the Arctic Circle. The mosque building was shipped in an arduous journey of 4,500km over narrow, bumpy roads and atop a river barge to serve 80 Muslim residents of Inuvik. Subhanallah ...
3. New Straits Times (7 December 2010) - It was reported by AFP that 1,000 North Koreans were jailed for watching South Koreans TV shows and films. This is part of the Northern communist regime effort to stem an inflow of foreign culture from infiltrating thus corrupting the minds of the Northern part of the Korean Peninsular. A prison official in the northwestern city of Kaechon said it was the first time that the number of people jailed solely for watching the South's TV dramas has gone over 1,000. It is ironic that while these 1,000 or so "entertainment hunger" citizens spent unwanted time in jail the Great One Kim Jong Ill is perhaps watching western movies in his cineplex at his residence...
4. New Straits Times (9 November 2010 pg.14) - The Penang Gerakan vehemently opposed the plan by the Malaysian Historical Society Kedah Branch plan to seek the return of Penang to Kedah. The Society contended that Penang belonged to Kedah prior to an agreement signed with the colonial British administration in 1786. This plan was however opposed by Gerakan saying the move might pave way for Thailand to claim its rights over several Malaysian States .... Well, Kedah might have to eat her own words then - tit for tat!!!! To me the plan might be historically correct but it is politically wrong to do so .... It might caused so many far reaching impact from the major to the minor impact - one of which the number of of the stripes of our Jalur Gemilang may have to be reduced!!! On an extreme hypothetical scenario if this issue were to be legally adjudicated and assuming the Society were to get what the want, on a brighter side at least Kedah is still part of Malaysia - so there would not be a repeat of the infamous case Pulau Batu Putih fiasco!!!
The remaining news would be posted in my next posting & till we meet again ....
Free Flow Posting
It's been slightly more than a month since my last posting on 27 October 2010 ... I was bogged down with works and personal matters.
I am happy to note that my last posting re: "Making It Mandatory Passing History" received a comment from none other than Prof Dr Redzuan ... I am proud indeed Sir.
My posting regarding my childhood friend - Abang @ Syed Hishammudin Syed Adam also received a comment from Abang himself! I was so happy when I received his email the other day ...
The support & comments from all of you out there should be none other than spur me to keep on writing about life & everything connected to it - of course from my perspective but to be shared & pondered together ....
I also take this opportunity to wish a very big and warm "welcome home" to my friends who had just returned from performing their Hajj i.e. Norm, Atan & Khiri ... also to all Muslims worldwide....
Till my next posting .....
I am happy to note that my last posting re: "Making It Mandatory Passing History" received a comment from none other than Prof Dr Redzuan ... I am proud indeed Sir.
My posting regarding my childhood friend - Abang @ Syed Hishammudin Syed Adam also received a comment from Abang himself! I was so happy when I received his email the other day ...
The support & comments from all of you out there should be none other than spur me to keep on writing about life & everything connected to it - of course from my perspective but to be shared & pondered together ....
I also take this opportunity to wish a very big and warm "welcome home" to my friends who had just returned from performing their Hajj i.e. Norm, Atan & Khiri ... also to all Muslims worldwide....
Till my next posting .....
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Making It Mandatory To Pass History ....
Recently, our DPM cum Minister of Education announced that it would be mandatory for those who sit for SPM to pass History. This would be implemented in three (3) years from now ....
I could not but totally agree with this proposal ... Well, what is good & make sense would still make sense to me!!! At least this time around ...
It does not matter to me on the notion that History is only recorded/written by the "victorious side" and would be moulded in accordance with the "victorious author"... We could see a lot of such examples of how history is being "recreated" with the defeat of Japan & Germany in World War II and how the State of Israel suddenly appeared in the World History in 1948!!!
In his column in NST @ 26 October 2010 at page 17, Syed Nadzri applauded the Government's decision and I found the article written by him is very interesting and sensible.
He states that " ... While historical facts are sacred, the perspectives can be very subjective. The authors and textbooks will, therefore, be crucial to determine what kind of lessons the students get." This is mainly due to the reason being history provides that avenue for various interpretations and analyses of events.
I consider myself as lucky in the sense that I have the privy of reading books on History (of Malaysia) from various sources - not only the mainstream school text books .... Therefore, I do have my own perception and interpretation on Malaysian History.
The other factor which led to my being looking at History "differently" is of course the influence by my Secondary History teacher, Mr. Dass. He taught and made History interesting and alive - literally that is - one day he would be a Roman Emperor and the next day all of us would be fighting the lion in the Coliseum during the height of the Roman Empire.
The other individual who had a great impact is Prof. Dr. Mohammad Redzuan Othman, currently the Dean of Faculty of Art & Social Sciences, University of Malaya. He actually taught me History when I was taking my STPM at a private Tuition Center called "Institut Sofar" in Ipoh way back in the 80s. He was a lecturer of History at UM then and he was teaching at Institut Sofar as part of his "social & ibadah" obligation, I believe ....
"Cik Gu/Ustaz Redzuan" as we used to call him then taught us history from a different angle. He always gave us Articles from 'History Journals" published locally and overseas to broaden our perspective & interpretation on History ...
The immediate result? By then I became an "incorrigible" critics of the local mainstream History.... and the excellent result in History Papers!!! He he
Many thanks to both of them - Mr. Dass & Prof. Dr. Mohammad Redzuan Othman ... also many thanks to our DPM for the right & timely decision.
I could not but totally agree with this proposal ... Well, what is good & make sense would still make sense to me!!! At least this time around ...
It does not matter to me on the notion that History is only recorded/written by the "victorious side" and would be moulded in accordance with the "victorious author"... We could see a lot of such examples of how history is being "recreated" with the defeat of Japan & Germany in World War II and how the State of Israel suddenly appeared in the World History in 1948!!!
In his column in NST @ 26 October 2010 at page 17, Syed Nadzri applauded the Government's decision and I found the article written by him is very interesting and sensible.
He states that " ... While historical facts are sacred, the perspectives can be very subjective. The authors and textbooks will, therefore, be crucial to determine what kind of lessons the students get." This is mainly due to the reason being history provides that avenue for various interpretations and analyses of events.
I consider myself as lucky in the sense that I have the privy of reading books on History (of Malaysia) from various sources - not only the mainstream school text books .... Therefore, I do have my own perception and interpretation on Malaysian History.
The other factor which led to my being looking at History "differently" is of course the influence by my Secondary History teacher, Mr. Dass. He taught and made History interesting and alive - literally that is - one day he would be a Roman Emperor and the next day all of us would be fighting the lion in the Coliseum during the height of the Roman Empire.
The other individual who had a great impact is Prof. Dr. Mohammad Redzuan Othman, currently the Dean of Faculty of Art & Social Sciences, University of Malaya. He actually taught me History when I was taking my STPM at a private Tuition Center called "Institut Sofar" in Ipoh way back in the 80s. He was a lecturer of History at UM then and he was teaching at Institut Sofar as part of his "social & ibadah" obligation, I believe ....
"Cik Gu/Ustaz Redzuan" as we used to call him then taught us history from a different angle. He always gave us Articles from 'History Journals" published locally and overseas to broaden our perspective & interpretation on History ...
The immediate result? By then I became an "incorrigible" critics of the local mainstream History.... and the excellent result in History Papers!!! He he
Many thanks to both of them - Mr. Dass & Prof. Dr. Mohammad Redzuan Othman ... also many thanks to our DPM for the right & timely decision.
Light Banter - Happening In Malaysia Only [Part II]
Let us ponder on the following .....
NST @ 26 October 2010 at page 8 reported that Perlis was the only state to have failed to have all its state agencies audited before the April 30 dateline. Perlis is also "celebrated" as the only State to have got an "unsatisfactory" remark for its delivery performance. These were among the remarks made about Perlis in the 2009 Auditor General's Report on the financial statements and managements of State Governments' Departments, Agencies etc.
I think instead of adopting "1 Malaysia" concept, Perlis State Government is adopting "1 & THE ONLY 1 Perlis" concept!!!! By the way, is it not Perlis is the smallest State in Malaysia? Or is it Melaka? Considering the 'diminutive" size of Perlis, I wonder are there too many State Agencies/Departments in Perlis which somehow or rather caused these sad state of affairs?
NST @ 26 October 2010 at page 14 "At the Dewan Rakyat Yesterday" column quoted a certain MP (please do not bother to guess from which coalition he is from)suggested that another two (2) floors be added to the proposed Menara Warisan Merdeka, bringing it to 102 floors altogether. The proposed Menara Warisan Merdeka is to have 100 floors. His rationale - no pun is intended here!!! - is by doing so, Menara Warisan Merdeka would become the tallest tower in the world i.e. 1 floor taller than the Taipei 101 Tower.
To that particular MP, I would say that those additional 2 floors could make a lot of differences in Ranau, Sabah. That's what "rationale" is to me ....
NST @ 27 October 2010 is dominated by the "By Election" news ....
At page 6, it was reported that Gua Musang became the first - another 1st for Malaysia - constituency in Kelantan to enjoy free WiFi Internet services, involving 30 villages there .... This is the courtesy of the Federal Government under the "Kampung WiFi" programme.
I think by now Gua Musang folks would be saying "Alhamdulillah" .....
Could not wait for the next news in our mainstream media but I bet in a few days time there would be reports on members - or is it the so called "members" - of a certain political party/parties "jumping" around and ending up at the other side of the fence!!!!! Please prove me wrong this time around!!!!!
Let us just wait or shall we not do that?
On a sad note, it was reported that Paul the Oracle dies [NST @ 27 Octobe 2010 at page 16] - this did not happened in Malaysia!!!! Ooops - 1 Malaysia actually .....
Till we meet again ....
NST @ 26 October 2010 at page 8 reported that Perlis was the only state to have failed to have all its state agencies audited before the April 30 dateline. Perlis is also "celebrated" as the only State to have got an "unsatisfactory" remark for its delivery performance. These were among the remarks made about Perlis in the 2009 Auditor General's Report on the financial statements and managements of State Governments' Departments, Agencies etc.
I think instead of adopting "1 Malaysia" concept, Perlis State Government is adopting "1 & THE ONLY 1 Perlis" concept!!!! By the way, is it not Perlis is the smallest State in Malaysia? Or is it Melaka? Considering the 'diminutive" size of Perlis, I wonder are there too many State Agencies/Departments in Perlis which somehow or rather caused these sad state of affairs?
NST @ 26 October 2010 at page 14 "At the Dewan Rakyat Yesterday" column quoted a certain MP (please do not bother to guess from which coalition he is from)suggested that another two (2) floors be added to the proposed Menara Warisan Merdeka, bringing it to 102 floors altogether. The proposed Menara Warisan Merdeka is to have 100 floors. His rationale - no pun is intended here!!! - is by doing so, Menara Warisan Merdeka would become the tallest tower in the world i.e. 1 floor taller than the Taipei 101 Tower.
To that particular MP, I would say that those additional 2 floors could make a lot of differences in Ranau, Sabah. That's what "rationale" is to me ....
NST @ 27 October 2010 is dominated by the "By Election" news ....
At page 6, it was reported that Gua Musang became the first - another 1st for Malaysia - constituency in Kelantan to enjoy free WiFi Internet services, involving 30 villages there .... This is the courtesy of the Federal Government under the "Kampung WiFi" programme.
I think by now Gua Musang folks would be saying "Alhamdulillah" .....
Could not wait for the next news in our mainstream media but I bet in a few days time there would be reports on members - or is it the so called "members" - of a certain political party/parties "jumping" around and ending up at the other side of the fence!!!!! Please prove me wrong this time around!!!!!
Let us just wait or shall we not do that?
On a sad note, it was reported that Paul the Oracle dies [NST @ 27 Octobe 2010 at page 16] - this did not happened in Malaysia!!!! Ooops - 1 Malaysia actually .....
Till we meet again ....
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Happy Birthday, My Dear Aishah Hashim @ 21 October 2010
This post is specially dedicated to my wife, Aishah Binti Hashim who celebrated her birthday last 21 October 2010 ....
Aishah ....
It's late by 2 days but I hope I made it up to you by me sending you a bouquet of flowers 1 day earlier from your birthday ... He he ...
Almost half of your life is "spent" together with me and I want say this - it's been a wonderful years being "stuck" (no pun is intended here though!!!) with you, Dear!!!. Thank you for being so patient and very accommodating with me all these years.
Well, I am not the type who is very romantic or who is good in "playing with words" -those poetic words - but I knew deep in your heart you know that I love you so much!!! So, no "pantun"/poem for you, eh! .. I would leave the "pantuns" to our mutual creative friends - Noh, Fahmy, Sally and Haryati ....
I guess that the risk you had taken into consideration when you fell in love ( this is a very contentious and debatable issue - is it you or myself who first being in love? I firmly believe it's you!!!!) with "that rugged boy with "selipar Jepun" and spotted a long hair with faded jeans and black T Shirt with a "Black Sabbath" Rock Band emblazonned on it"!!! I must say it's a very wisdom & calculated risk you had taken, Dear despite your class mates those days calling me "Budak Anak Alam"!!!!!!
As for me, the first time I saw that "lanky - skinny girl with a long straight hair always wearing her trade mark pink overall (agaknya berapa lama tak basuh overall tu!!!), simple but unassuming in her own way, I had made my decision & the rest is history..... So as the "lanky - skinny girl" - gone in history!!!! He he ...
See? That's why I am so grateful for you being so accommodating and patience with me, Dear!!! From those college days right up to now and for years to come!!!!
Be that as it may, This what I wish and want to say ....
Aishah ....
We have been together these 24 years and it had been a wonderful years indeed!!!!
Happy Birthday & love you always!!!!!
My parting remark ... Have patience for the next posting a year from now!!!!
Aishah ....
It's late by 2 days but I hope I made it up to you by me sending you a bouquet of flowers 1 day earlier from your birthday ... He he ...
Almost half of your life is "spent" together with me and I want say this - it's been a wonderful years being "stuck" (no pun is intended here though!!!) with you, Dear!!!. Thank you for being so patient and very accommodating with me all these years.
Well, I am not the type who is very romantic or who is good in "playing with words" -those poetic words - but I knew deep in your heart you know that I love you so much!!! So, no "pantun"/poem for you, eh! .. I would leave the "pantuns" to our mutual creative friends - Noh, Fahmy, Sally and Haryati ....
I guess that the risk you had taken into consideration when you fell in love ( this is a very contentious and debatable issue - is it you or myself who first being in love? I firmly believe it's you!!!!) with "that rugged boy with "selipar Jepun" and spotted a long hair with faded jeans and black T Shirt with a "Black Sabbath" Rock Band emblazonned on it"!!! I must say it's a very wisdom & calculated risk you had taken, Dear despite your class mates those days calling me "Budak Anak Alam"!!!!!!
As for me, the first time I saw that "lanky - skinny girl with a long straight hair always wearing her trade mark pink overall (agaknya berapa lama tak basuh overall tu!!!), simple but unassuming in her own way, I had made my decision & the rest is history..... So as the "lanky - skinny girl" - gone in history!!!! He he ...
See? That's why I am so grateful for you being so accommodating and patience with me, Dear!!! From those college days right up to now and for years to come!!!!
Be that as it may, This what I wish and want to say ....
Aishah ....
We have been together these 24 years and it had been a wonderful years indeed!!!!
Happy Birthday & love you always!!!!!
My parting remark ... Have patience for the next posting a year from now!!!!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
My Friend Syed Hishamuddin Syed Adam @ Abang
His name is Syed Hishamudin Syed Adam and we called him Abang. In fact,the kampung folks in Kg Kota Bahru, Gopeng called him Abang. Perhaps due to his being the eldest in the family. He has two younger brothers - Syed Noh and Syed Murad.
He was in the same class with me when we were in Standard 1 (1970) right up to Standard 4 at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kota Bahru, Gopeng before I moved to Ipoh in 1974.
His father, Syed Adam owned a "kedai kopi" located across the road opposite to "Kedai Runcit Abi" and adjacent to the "Kedai Kopi" was a barber shop also owned by Syed Adam. Yes, Syed Adam was also a barber, the only "tukang gunting rambut" at my kampung...
I remember patronising Syed Adam's barber shop especially when the school holidays ended with Apak... Apak would brought me there with his loyal Honda 70 and we normally ended up "minum teh and makan roti bakar/cakoi" (we called it "Pak Kocok") with "kaya"....
The irony of it is this ... Though Syed Adam was a barber, his 3 kids spotted long hair especially Syed Murad who was about 3/4 years old at that time.
Back to Abang ... As a kid, he was full of imagination and was very hyperactive and quite a "delinquent". Well we were just kids then ...
There were a few antics of Abang which I remember till now such as ....
During PE, instead of "bersenam", he would chased the girls, caught & hugged them .... We actually grew up together and had known each other since pre school so no "hard feelings" actually!!!
There was once during the Art class, we were asked by our temporary teacher - who happened to be my eldest sister @ Fuziah - to draw " Saya & Keluarga Saya Berkelah" -a very typical topic then!!!
As kids, we drew and having grown up within the same kampung ambience, the drawings were more or less the same. It's a must that the drawings should have a mountain as a back ground with clouds here and there with a sun between the mountain range and birds flying in the sky. To top it up there was a plane right at the edge of the clouds!!! The family would be having a picnic by a river - most of us only knew a river and never have we seen a beach anyway - with a kampung house at the back ground and a "crossed" coconut trees at the back of the house or by its side or by the river itself!!! I wonder whether all kids during that era had the same imagination in their drawings!!!!
Abang somehow or rather gone beyond that, there were so many cats in his drawing. I think about 4/5 of them. When my sister asked him why there were so many cats (we knew the family "tak bela kucing pun!!!"), his answer was they are his family. The best part was all his cats' name have the title "Syed"!!!!!
I last met him when he was on duty as the Court Police at the Magistrates' Court, Jalan Duta back in 1990s. I hugged him as we have not met each other for years. I came to know from him he was at that time taking up Arabic Language at IIU (UIA) and taking up classes on Islamic Religion.
He was totally a different person but still the same handsome Abang that I knew - more composed and matured though... The last news that I heard he is currently an Imam at Masjid UKM!!!!
Alhamdulillah & I would surely try to meet him there one day, InsyaALLAH....
You may want to know what happened to Syed Adam ... He eventually closed his "Kedai Kopi" and "Kedai Gunting Rambut" and became the "Ketua Kampung" Kota Bahru before he passed away several years back ... Al Fatihah to him.
Till we meet again ....
He was in the same class with me when we were in Standard 1 (1970) right up to Standard 4 at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kota Bahru, Gopeng before I moved to Ipoh in 1974.
His father, Syed Adam owned a "kedai kopi" located across the road opposite to "Kedai Runcit Abi" and adjacent to the "Kedai Kopi" was a barber shop also owned by Syed Adam. Yes, Syed Adam was also a barber, the only "tukang gunting rambut" at my kampung...
I remember patronising Syed Adam's barber shop especially when the school holidays ended with Apak... Apak would brought me there with his loyal Honda 70 and we normally ended up "minum teh and makan roti bakar/cakoi" (we called it "Pak Kocok") with "kaya"....
The irony of it is this ... Though Syed Adam was a barber, his 3 kids spotted long hair especially Syed Murad who was about 3/4 years old at that time.
Back to Abang ... As a kid, he was full of imagination and was very hyperactive and quite a "delinquent". Well we were just kids then ...
There were a few antics of Abang which I remember till now such as ....
During PE, instead of "bersenam", he would chased the girls, caught & hugged them .... We actually grew up together and had known each other since pre school so no "hard feelings" actually!!!
There was once during the Art class, we were asked by our temporary teacher - who happened to be my eldest sister @ Fuziah - to draw " Saya & Keluarga Saya Berkelah" -a very typical topic then!!!
As kids, we drew and having grown up within the same kampung ambience, the drawings were more or less the same. It's a must that the drawings should have a mountain as a back ground with clouds here and there with a sun between the mountain range and birds flying in the sky. To top it up there was a plane right at the edge of the clouds!!! The family would be having a picnic by a river - most of us only knew a river and never have we seen a beach anyway - with a kampung house at the back ground and a "crossed" coconut trees at the back of the house or by its side or by the river itself!!! I wonder whether all kids during that era had the same imagination in their drawings!!!!
Abang somehow or rather gone beyond that, there were so many cats in his drawing. I think about 4/5 of them. When my sister asked him why there were so many cats (we knew the family "tak bela kucing pun!!!"), his answer was they are his family. The best part was all his cats' name have the title "Syed"!!!!!
I last met him when he was on duty as the Court Police at the Magistrates' Court, Jalan Duta back in 1990s. I hugged him as we have not met each other for years. I came to know from him he was at that time taking up Arabic Language at IIU (UIA) and taking up classes on Islamic Religion.
He was totally a different person but still the same handsome Abang that I knew - more composed and matured though... The last news that I heard he is currently an Imam at Masjid UKM!!!!
Alhamdulillah & I would surely try to meet him there one day, InsyaALLAH....
You may want to know what happened to Syed Adam ... He eventually closed his "Kedai Kopi" and "Kedai Gunting Rambut" and became the "Ketua Kampung" Kota Bahru before he passed away several years back ... Al Fatihah to him.
Till we meet again ....
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Call of Ka'bah @ The House of Allah & The Qiblah
It's the pilgrimage/Haj season again...
A few excerpts from the Holy Quran:
2:[144]:
"O Muhammad, many a time, We have noticed you turning your face towards heaven;now, We shall make you turn towards a Qiblah that will please you. Turn your face (during Salah) towards the Al-Masjid -al-Haram (Ka'bah); wherever you are, turn your face in that direction. Surely, those were given the Book know that it is the truth from their Rabb. Allah is not unaware of what they do..."
2:[158]:
"Behold! Safa and Marwah (two hills in the Al-Masjid-al-Haram) are among the symbols of Allah. So anyone who performs Hajj or Umrah (pilgrimage) to the House,there is no blame if one goes around both of them; and anyone who does good voluntarily should know that surely, Allah knows the grateful."
2:[125-126]:
"Remember, when We made the House (the Ka'bah) a center and sanctuary for mankind saying: 'Take the station of Ibraheem as a place of prayer'. We entrusted Ibraheem and Isma'il to cleanse our House for those who walk around it, who meditate in it, and who kneel and prostrate in prayers. Ibraheem said: 'My Raab, make this (Makkah) a secure town and provide its people with plenty of food from fruits, those of them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.' He answered: ' As for those who do not, I shall also provide for them in this life, though in the Hereafter I shall drag them to the torture of Hellfire and in it an evil destination indeed!'"
2:[127-129]:
"Remember, when Ibraheem and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House and prayed: 'Accept this from us, O our Rabb, You are the one who hears all and knows all. O our Rabb, make us both Muslims (submissive to You); and make our descendants, a nation that will be Muslims (submissive to you). Show us our rites of worship and accept our repentance; surely, You are the Acceptor of repentance, the Merciful. O our Rabb, appoint from among them a Rasool who shall recite to them Your Revelations and teach them the Book and the Wisdom, and purify them; surely, You are the All-Mighty, the Wise."
2:[196]:
" Complete the Hajj (obligatory pilgrimage to Mekkah) and the Umrah (optional visit to Makkah) for the sake of Allah. If you are prevented from proceeding, then send such offering for sacrifice as you can afford and do not shave your head until the offerings have reached their destination. But, if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp, which necessitates shaving, he must pay ransom either by fasting or feeding the poor or offering a sacrifice. If, in peacetime, anyone wants to take advantage of performing Umrah and Hajj together, he should make an offering which he can afford; but if he cannot afford it, he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return making ten days in all. This order is for the one whose household is not in the precincts of Al-Masjid-al-Haram. Fear Allah and know that Allah is strict in retribution."
2:[197-203]:
" Hajj is in the well known months. One who undertakes to perform it, must abstain from husband-wife relationship, obscene language, and wrangling during Hajj. Whatever good you do, Allah knows it. Take necessary provisions with you for the journey, and piety is the best provision of all. Fear Me, O People endowed with understanding. There is no blame on you, if you seek the bounty of your Rabb during this journey. When you return from Arafat, (stop at Muzdalifah and) praise Allah near Mash'ar -al-Haram. Praise Him as He has guided you, for before this you were from the people who had lost the Right Way. The return from where the people return and seek Allah's forgiveness; surely, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. When you have fulfilled your sacred duties, praise Allah as you used to praise your forefathers or with deeper reverence. There are some who say: 'Our Rabb! Give us the good life, both in this world and in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the fire.' Such people shall have their due share in both worlds according to what they have earned, Allah is swift in settling the accounts. Celebrate the praises of Allah during these appointed days. There is no sin if anyone hastens to leave Mina after two days and there is no sin to stay there a day longer, provided he spends these days in piety. Fear Allah and remember that you will surely be gathered before Him."
4:[96-97]:
"Indeed, the first House for the worship of Allah ever built for mankind is the one at Bakka (Makkah), a blessed site and a guidance for all the worlds. In it a clear signs and the Station of Ibraheem where he used to worship. Whoever enters it, is safe. Performance of Hajj (pilgrimage) to this House is a duty to Allah for all who can afford the journey to it; and the one who disobeys this commandment should know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, beyond the need of any from the worlds."
22:[26-30]:
" Remember! We identified the site of the Sacred House to Ibraheem, saying: 'Worship none besides Me. sanctify My House for those worshippers who make Tawaf (walking counter clockwise around it), stand in prayer, bow, prostrate themselves, and make a proclamation of Hajj (Pilgrimage) to mankind: they will come to you on foot and on lean camels from every distant quarter, so that they may witness the benefits which are made available here for them, and pronounce the name of Allah over the cattle which We have provided as food for them, on the appointed days, then eat their meat themselves and feed the indigent and needy. Then they should accomplish their needful acts of shaving or cutting their hair and taking a bath, fulfill their vows and go for Tawaf -e-Ziyarah to the Ancient House. This was the object for which the Ka'bah was built, and whoever honours the sacred rites of Allah, it is good for him in the sight of his Rabb. The meat of the cattle is lawful to you. except what has already been mentioned to you; therefore, shun the abomination of idols and shun all false statements."
I would like to dedicate this post to my friends who are scheduled to perform their Hajj this year - Norm, Atan, Khiri and to all the Muslim/Muslimat out there.
My sincere "doa" for your health and may all of you perform the pilgrimage in piety and peace, insyaALLAH. I have to admit that I envy you but insyaALLAH my turn will come soon....
Bon Voyage and may Allah bless you all .....
A few excerpts from the Holy Quran:
2:[144]:
"O Muhammad, many a time, We have noticed you turning your face towards heaven;now, We shall make you turn towards a Qiblah that will please you. Turn your face (during Salah) towards the Al-Masjid -al-Haram (Ka'bah); wherever you are, turn your face in that direction. Surely, those were given the Book know that it is the truth from their Rabb. Allah is not unaware of what they do..."
2:[158]:
"Behold! Safa and Marwah (two hills in the Al-Masjid-al-Haram) are among the symbols of Allah. So anyone who performs Hajj or Umrah (pilgrimage) to the House,there is no blame if one goes around both of them; and anyone who does good voluntarily should know that surely, Allah knows the grateful."
2:[125-126]:
"Remember, when We made the House (the Ka'bah) a center and sanctuary for mankind saying: 'Take the station of Ibraheem as a place of prayer'. We entrusted Ibraheem and Isma'il to cleanse our House for those who walk around it, who meditate in it, and who kneel and prostrate in prayers. Ibraheem said: 'My Raab, make this (Makkah) a secure town and provide its people with plenty of food from fruits, those of them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.' He answered: ' As for those who do not, I shall also provide for them in this life, though in the Hereafter I shall drag them to the torture of Hellfire and in it an evil destination indeed!'"
2:[127-129]:
"Remember, when Ibraheem and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House and prayed: 'Accept this from us, O our Rabb, You are the one who hears all and knows all. O our Rabb, make us both Muslims (submissive to You); and make our descendants, a nation that will be Muslims (submissive to you). Show us our rites of worship and accept our repentance; surely, You are the Acceptor of repentance, the Merciful. O our Rabb, appoint from among them a Rasool who shall recite to them Your Revelations and teach them the Book and the Wisdom, and purify them; surely, You are the All-Mighty, the Wise."
2:[196]:
" Complete the Hajj (obligatory pilgrimage to Mekkah) and the Umrah (optional visit to Makkah) for the sake of Allah. If you are prevented from proceeding, then send such offering for sacrifice as you can afford and do not shave your head until the offerings have reached their destination. But, if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp, which necessitates shaving, he must pay ransom either by fasting or feeding the poor or offering a sacrifice. If, in peacetime, anyone wants to take advantage of performing Umrah and Hajj together, he should make an offering which he can afford; but if he cannot afford it, he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return making ten days in all. This order is for the one whose household is not in the precincts of Al-Masjid-al-Haram. Fear Allah and know that Allah is strict in retribution."
2:[197-203]:
" Hajj is in the well known months. One who undertakes to perform it, must abstain from husband-wife relationship, obscene language, and wrangling during Hajj. Whatever good you do, Allah knows it. Take necessary provisions with you for the journey, and piety is the best provision of all. Fear Me, O People endowed with understanding. There is no blame on you, if you seek the bounty of your Rabb during this journey. When you return from Arafat, (stop at Muzdalifah and) praise Allah near Mash'ar -al-Haram. Praise Him as He has guided you, for before this you were from the people who had lost the Right Way. The return from where the people return and seek Allah's forgiveness; surely, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. When you have fulfilled your sacred duties, praise Allah as you used to praise your forefathers or with deeper reverence. There are some who say: 'Our Rabb! Give us the good life, both in this world and in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the fire.' Such people shall have their due share in both worlds according to what they have earned, Allah is swift in settling the accounts. Celebrate the praises of Allah during these appointed days. There is no sin if anyone hastens to leave Mina after two days and there is no sin to stay there a day longer, provided he spends these days in piety. Fear Allah and remember that you will surely be gathered before Him."
4:[96-97]:
"Indeed, the first House for the worship of Allah ever built for mankind is the one at Bakka (Makkah), a blessed site and a guidance for all the worlds. In it a clear signs and the Station of Ibraheem where he used to worship. Whoever enters it, is safe. Performance of Hajj (pilgrimage) to this House is a duty to Allah for all who can afford the journey to it; and the one who disobeys this commandment should know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, beyond the need of any from the worlds."
22:[26-30]:
" Remember! We identified the site of the Sacred House to Ibraheem, saying: 'Worship none besides Me. sanctify My House for those worshippers who make Tawaf (walking counter clockwise around it), stand in prayer, bow, prostrate themselves, and make a proclamation of Hajj (Pilgrimage) to mankind: they will come to you on foot and on lean camels from every distant quarter, so that they may witness the benefits which are made available here for them, and pronounce the name of Allah over the cattle which We have provided as food for them, on the appointed days, then eat their meat themselves and feed the indigent and needy. Then they should accomplish their needful acts of shaving or cutting their hair and taking a bath, fulfill their vows and go for Tawaf -e-Ziyarah to the Ancient House. This was the object for which the Ka'bah was built, and whoever honours the sacred rites of Allah, it is good for him in the sight of his Rabb. The meat of the cattle is lawful to you. except what has already been mentioned to you; therefore, shun the abomination of idols and shun all false statements."
I would like to dedicate this post to my friends who are scheduled to perform their Hajj this year - Norm, Atan, Khiri and to all the Muslim/Muslimat out there.
My sincere "doa" for your health and may all of you perform the pilgrimage in piety and peace, insyaALLAH. I have to admit that I envy you but insyaALLAH my turn will come soon....
Bon Voyage and may Allah bless you all .....
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Galas Oh Galas!!!!!
It is reported that YAM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had officially accepted his appointment as the "Pengarah Pilihanraya" for the by election of DUN Galas (N45), Kelantan ... I believe this is out of the norm as it is traditionally an accepted 'convention" in BN that any by election would be headed by YAB DPM - perhaps DUN Galas is special/peculiar since it is in Kelantan? Well, Manik Urai is also in Kelantan - where BN lost by 65 votes - and it was led by YAB DPM so as several other previous by elections nation wide before DUN Galas ....
One thing for sure, it is not for me to speculate .....
DUN N45 Galas fell vacant when YB Chek Hashim Sulaima of PAS died of cancer on 27 September 2010. Below are some trivia re: DUN Galas:
1. Total registered voters @ 11,553
2. Race by percentage - Malays @ 61.67% (7,125), Chinese @ 20.06% (2,317)with Orang Asli (1,889), Indian (185), Sarawak Bumiputeras (10) and other ethnic groups - whatever that means!!! - 27. There are also 127 postal voters.
3. PAS won the last 2008 General Election by a majority of 646 votes.
4. The Election Commission (EC) is expected to fork out RM1.3 million for the by election due to the extensive/topography of the area which is under the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency i.e. under YAM YB Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
5. The youngest voter is 21 and the eldest 111.
I am not going to delve on the politics of DUN Galas ... Leave it to the politicians as they are the "political animals" here... I just want to touch on the linguistics/semantic aspect of the word "Galas"
According to "Kamus Dewan" (Edisi Ketiga) DBP KL (2002), "galas" means "kayu yang dipikul untuk mengandar (mengangkut, membawa) barang-barang, kandar, pengandar, gandar" (carrying something by suspending it from both ends of a pole that is resting on the shoulder) or " beban yang dikandar dengan galas (kayu)".
Meanwhile the same "Kamus Dewan" states the meaning of "menggalas" as " memikul barang-barang dengan galas (kandar)", "mengandar" or "memikul atau menanggung (tanggungjawab, masalah dsb)...
There are several "peribahasa Melayu" which revolve around the word "galas" - I stand to be corrected if I am wrong in quoting these "peribahasa" - , they are as follows:
" galas habis senggulung tandas, namun dihitung rugi jua" which means " pekerjaan yang tidak menguntungkan";
" dilihat galas berlaba, dihitung pokok termakan" which means " zahirnya untung tetapi sebenarnya rugi";
" bagai menyandang galas tiga berat tak berapa rintangnya yang lebih" meaning " pekerjaan yang senang tetapi susah hendak melakukannya."
Well, it is up to you to interpret and/or use the above linguistic terms as an analogy to DUN Galas .....
Lastly, is it not there is also a "peribahasa Melayu" which goes like this? - "Seperti menggalas biawak hidup" ... Care to give me the meaning of this "peribahasa"? .....
Good night & till we meet again .....
One thing for sure, it is not for me to speculate .....
DUN N45 Galas fell vacant when YB Chek Hashim Sulaima of PAS died of cancer on 27 September 2010. Below are some trivia re: DUN Galas:
1. Total registered voters @ 11,553
2. Race by percentage - Malays @ 61.67% (7,125), Chinese @ 20.06% (2,317)with Orang Asli (1,889), Indian (185), Sarawak Bumiputeras (10) and other ethnic groups - whatever that means!!! - 27. There are also 127 postal voters.
3. PAS won the last 2008 General Election by a majority of 646 votes.
4. The Election Commission (EC) is expected to fork out RM1.3 million for the by election due to the extensive/topography of the area which is under the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency i.e. under YAM YB Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
5. The youngest voter is 21 and the eldest 111.
I am not going to delve on the politics of DUN Galas ... Leave it to the politicians as they are the "political animals" here... I just want to touch on the linguistics/semantic aspect of the word "Galas"
According to "Kamus Dewan" (Edisi Ketiga) DBP KL (2002), "galas" means "kayu yang dipikul untuk mengandar (mengangkut, membawa) barang-barang, kandar, pengandar, gandar" (carrying something by suspending it from both ends of a pole that is resting on the shoulder) or " beban yang dikandar dengan galas (kayu)".
Meanwhile the same "Kamus Dewan" states the meaning of "menggalas" as " memikul barang-barang dengan galas (kandar)", "mengandar" or "memikul atau menanggung (tanggungjawab, masalah dsb)...
There are several "peribahasa Melayu" which revolve around the word "galas" - I stand to be corrected if I am wrong in quoting these "peribahasa" - , they are as follows:
" galas habis senggulung tandas, namun dihitung rugi jua" which means " pekerjaan yang tidak menguntungkan";
" dilihat galas berlaba, dihitung pokok termakan" which means " zahirnya untung tetapi sebenarnya rugi";
" bagai menyandang galas tiga berat tak berapa rintangnya yang lebih" meaning " pekerjaan yang senang tetapi susah hendak melakukannya."
Well, it is up to you to interpret and/or use the above linguistic terms as an analogy to DUN Galas .....
Lastly, is it not there is also a "peribahasa Melayu" which goes like this? - "Seperti menggalas biawak hidup" ... Care to give me the meaning of this "peribahasa"? .....
Good night & till we meet again .....
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Adil - Graduation Day @ PICC Putrajaya 7 October 2010
It is only appropriate for me to say "Alhamdulillah" as today (7 October 2010), Muhammad Adil Ridhuan graduated with his Diploma in Engineering (Electronic)from BMI (UniKL)...
As parents, Aishah & I are very proud of him ... It is just unbelievable the same boy which officially registered as a Malaysian about 22 years back at the Sea Park Police Station has grown up!!
As Aishah & I entered the PICC Planetary Hall, I could not but felt so proud and a bit melancholic ... In 1989 (September), I was at the Dewan Tuanku Chanselor (DTC) UM for my convocation. Mak was there and Adil was also there - he was about a year old - plus Aishah. Aishah accompanied Mak in the DTC as Apak passed away the year before despite his confidently remarked that " InsyaALLAH, Apak umur panjang... Apak datang konvo kamu nanti!!".
Back to Adil as today is his day actually. What can I say about him?
Adil was born when I was in my final year and I could still remember when I went to the faculty for my Final Year Result, I had to bring him along. Aishah just joined the AG Chamber at that time and could not get leave. As I reached the faculty, Adil was grabbed by my classmates - Sally, Zu and afew others -, I finally managed to locate him at Puan Badariah's room!!!!
Adil grown up just like other normal kids - with lots of imagination ... "Ultraman dgn raksasa" and how he adores Batman when he was a kid!!! And without us noticing it, voila!!! he went through the primary, secondary & college. This was of course after seeing & guiding him from day 1 till he could make adecision on his own ...
There was one incident that until now I found it quite amusing.... Adil was about to sit for his PMR the next day and that night about 9.00 PM, Aishah asked him: "Adil. esok periksa PMR kan? Dah ada alat2x tulis pesel 2B?"
His answer? "Alamak!!! Lupa beli laa Mak!!!". That was 9.00 PM something and the next morning was his first paper!!! I just grabbed him - before Aishah said anything further - and bought "10 batang pensel 2B" together with a sharpener!!!
Today, Aishah & I are very proud of him - I trust Nadia & Afiq are of the same feeling too - and to Adil, I would like to say this:
"Adil, congratulation. This is just the beginning of your journey and always do your best in everything you do then you would worry with the impending result/achievement...."
My parting remark - luckily after that PMR incident, Adil need not use "pensel 2B lagi!!!!"
As parents, Aishah & I are very proud of him ... It is just unbelievable the same boy which officially registered as a Malaysian about 22 years back at the Sea Park Police Station has grown up!!
As Aishah & I entered the PICC Planetary Hall, I could not but felt so proud and a bit melancholic ... In 1989 (September), I was at the Dewan Tuanku Chanselor (DTC) UM for my convocation. Mak was there and Adil was also there - he was about a year old - plus Aishah. Aishah accompanied Mak in the DTC as Apak passed away the year before despite his confidently remarked that " InsyaALLAH, Apak umur panjang... Apak datang konvo kamu nanti!!".
Back to Adil as today is his day actually. What can I say about him?
Adil was born when I was in my final year and I could still remember when I went to the faculty for my Final Year Result, I had to bring him along. Aishah just joined the AG Chamber at that time and could not get leave. As I reached the faculty, Adil was grabbed by my classmates - Sally, Zu and afew others -, I finally managed to locate him at Puan Badariah's room!!!!
Adil grown up just like other normal kids - with lots of imagination ... "Ultraman dgn raksasa" and how he adores Batman when he was a kid!!! And without us noticing it, voila!!! he went through the primary, secondary & college. This was of course after seeing & guiding him from day 1 till he could make adecision on his own ...
There was one incident that until now I found it quite amusing.... Adil was about to sit for his PMR the next day and that night about 9.00 PM, Aishah asked him: "Adil. esok periksa PMR kan? Dah ada alat2x tulis pesel 2B?"
His answer? "Alamak!!! Lupa beli laa Mak!!!". That was 9.00 PM something and the next morning was his first paper!!! I just grabbed him - before Aishah said anything further - and bought "10 batang pensel 2B" together with a sharpener!!!
Today, Aishah & I are very proud of him - I trust Nadia & Afiq are of the same feeling too - and to Adil, I would like to say this:
"Adil, congratulation. This is just the beginning of your journey and always do your best in everything you do then you would worry with the impending result/achievement...."
My parting remark - luckily after that PMR incident, Adil need not use "pensel 2B lagi!!!!"
Monday, October 4, 2010
Dikir Barat Anyone?
As I was reading Mingguan Malaysia (3 October 2010), I could not but amused seeing picture at page 4 of the said news paper ... It shows the top Terengganu leaders - the MB, the Home Minister cum "Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri Terengganu and the Head UMNO Jerteh Division plus other State UMNO dignitaries performing Dikir Barat at Dataran Putra, Jerteh. This was during the Eidl Fitri Open House in Jerteh.
I have to thank them as I scurried through notes & articles on Dikir Barat .... Here briefly on what Dikir Barat is all about ....
Dikir Barat is said to be originated either from Southern Thailand or Kelantan. It was a performance in a musical form and involves singing in a group of normally 10 - 15 members. Normally there would be two (2) opposing groups performing and each of the group would try to outwit each other. Simply said, it is performed in a competitive setting/environment ... It's actually a " duel of wits" !!!!...
Dikir Barat is divided into two (2) segments with the 1st segment led by "Tok Jogho" which feature the "awok-awok" (chorus) singing in unison with other members of the Dikir Barat group with Tok Jogho. This is the low key segment.
The highlight of the Dikir Barat performance is in the 2nd segment featuring "Tukang Karut". "Tukang Karut" is the opposite side of "Tok Jogho" as he is the creative leader of the Dikir Barat group. He composed his rhyme in a debate manner and normally would touch on the current issues - be it social, political issues. These issues are composed in rhymes which are satirical, sarcastic or even (simply) humorous ....
Now now, let's go back to Dataran Putera, Jerteh ....
I really hope - in Terengganu at least - the Dikir Barat performed there did not strictly conform to the "ideal" features/characteristics of Dikir Barat in the strict sense ....
By looking at the jovial faces of those State of Terengganu leaders, my inference is - I hope I am politically right in this - it was not performed in a competitive environment and it was not a "battle of wits" of trying to outdone each other. Most important of all, there was no "Tukang Karut" among them!!!!
If I were wrong, the next question is - "Who is the Tok Dalang here?"
Till we meet again with an entry on "Wayang Kulit", I guess ....
I have to thank them as I scurried through notes & articles on Dikir Barat .... Here briefly on what Dikir Barat is all about ....
Dikir Barat is said to be originated either from Southern Thailand or Kelantan. It was a performance in a musical form and involves singing in a group of normally 10 - 15 members. Normally there would be two (2) opposing groups performing and each of the group would try to outwit each other. Simply said, it is performed in a competitive setting/environment ... It's actually a " duel of wits" !!!!...
Dikir Barat is divided into two (2) segments with the 1st segment led by "Tok Jogho" which feature the "awok-awok" (chorus) singing in unison with other members of the Dikir Barat group with Tok Jogho. This is the low key segment.
The highlight of the Dikir Barat performance is in the 2nd segment featuring "Tukang Karut". "Tukang Karut" is the opposite side of "Tok Jogho" as he is the creative leader of the Dikir Barat group. He composed his rhyme in a debate manner and normally would touch on the current issues - be it social, political issues. These issues are composed in rhymes which are satirical, sarcastic or even (simply) humorous ....
Now now, let's go back to Dataran Putera, Jerteh ....
I really hope - in Terengganu at least - the Dikir Barat performed there did not strictly conform to the "ideal" features/characteristics of Dikir Barat in the strict sense ....
By looking at the jovial faces of those State of Terengganu leaders, my inference is - I hope I am politically right in this - it was not performed in a competitive environment and it was not a "battle of wits" of trying to outdone each other. Most important of all, there was no "Tukang Karut" among them!!!!
If I were wrong, the next question is - "Who is the Tok Dalang here?"
Till we meet again with an entry on "Wayang Kulit", I guess ....
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Light Banter - Happening in Malaysia
Nothing much to post actually except for ..
A local Bank & it's "sister" Islamic Bank in its promo of new product promised gifts in a double @ two (2) ... So everything would be in a double if you transact with that particular Bank.
Actually, it's not the first time, we experienced this "double" phenomena. My home state - Perak - recently had 2 MB & 2 Speakers!!! Back in the 80s, the people of Sabah was in a state of confusion when the leaders from 2 opposing political parties - Berjaya & PBS - claimed victory hence claiming to be the CM of the state of Sabah ... It ended up with Pairin being officially appointed the CM of Sabah with the "politically correct" interference by Tun) Musa Hitam, the then DPM. The Star - this was the Star before Operation Lalang in 1987 - declared (Tun) Musa Hitam as the 'Malaysian of the Year" due to this and I would say rightly so!!!
About 2 days ago, a few journalists from the mainstream media were reportedly being prevented/banned from attending the press conference at Komtar when the Penang Water Authority announced the increase in the water tariff in the state of Penang. I heard over TV3 (8 o'clock News) that the journalists were later boycott the press conference.... Now now ... unless it was wrongly reported, my comment is that how could they boycott the said conference when they were not allowed to attend it in the first place!!!!! This is what I called a "mainstream confusion"!!!!!
For the folks in Pagoh, Johor ... good news for them in a spate of two (2) days. It was reported on 24 September 2010 (NST page 4) that the International Islamic university (IIUM) would be opening a fourth campus in Pagoh. This is not only for the benefit of Pagoh folk but also for the rest of the 1 Malaysia bright students...
The on 27 September 2010 @ NST page 5, it was reported that Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Pasir in Pagoh is the ONLY school outside the Klang Valley which is in the SchoolNet project - how lucky they are!!!!
While the IIUM project is quite broad based/national level but the Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Pasir project is localised .... Is it a coincident that Pagoh is the Parliamentary constituency of YAB DPM who also the Education Minister? Well, thank you Sir ....
Lastly but not least, almost all major mainstream media reported the "not so eagerly" awaited announcement by Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu to step down as the MIC President in January 2011.... Well folks, I have no comments at all on this!!!!!
Till we meet again .....
A local Bank & it's "sister" Islamic Bank in its promo of new product promised gifts in a double @ two (2) ... So everything would be in a double if you transact with that particular Bank.
Actually, it's not the first time, we experienced this "double" phenomena. My home state - Perak - recently had 2 MB & 2 Speakers!!! Back in the 80s, the people of Sabah was in a state of confusion when the leaders from 2 opposing political parties - Berjaya & PBS - claimed victory hence claiming to be the CM of the state of Sabah ... It ended up with Pairin being officially appointed the CM of Sabah with the "politically correct" interference by Tun) Musa Hitam, the then DPM. The Star - this was the Star before Operation Lalang in 1987 - declared (Tun) Musa Hitam as the 'Malaysian of the Year" due to this and I would say rightly so!!!
About 2 days ago, a few journalists from the mainstream media were reportedly being prevented/banned from attending the press conference at Komtar when the Penang Water Authority announced the increase in the water tariff in the state of Penang. I heard over TV3 (8 o'clock News) that the journalists were later boycott the press conference.... Now now ... unless it was wrongly reported, my comment is that how could they boycott the said conference when they were not allowed to attend it in the first place!!!!! This is what I called a "mainstream confusion"!!!!!
For the folks in Pagoh, Johor ... good news for them in a spate of two (2) days. It was reported on 24 September 2010 (NST page 4) that the International Islamic university (IIUM) would be opening a fourth campus in Pagoh. This is not only for the benefit of Pagoh folk but also for the rest of the 1 Malaysia bright students...
The on 27 September 2010 @ NST page 5, it was reported that Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Pasir in Pagoh is the ONLY school outside the Klang Valley which is in the SchoolNet project - how lucky they are!!!!
While the IIUM project is quite broad based/national level but the Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Pasir project is localised .... Is it a coincident that Pagoh is the Parliamentary constituency of YAB DPM who also the Education Minister? Well, thank you Sir ....
Lastly but not least, almost all major mainstream media reported the "not so eagerly" awaited announcement by Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu to step down as the MIC President in January 2011.... Well folks, I have no comments at all on this!!!!!
Till we meet again .....
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Stephen Hawking, the Universe & God
In a letter to the Editor [NST - 9 September 2010], one Rueben Dudley from Petaling Jaya commented on the world-renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking's conclusion in his new book i.e. 'God was not necessary for the universe to come into being."
Hawking's argued as such & summarises as follows: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing; why the universe exists, why we exist."
The gentleman, Rueben Dudley concluded his disagreement to Hawking's view by writing: " We should thank God for creating our universe and us, and faithfully seek to serve Him with gladness by showing love and respect for all and being diligent and honourable in our endeavours.
The answer to Hawking's argument could be found in the Holy Quran ....
On the creation of the Universe & its contents, amongst others:
Surah Al Baqarah - 2:[21-22];
" O Mankind! Worship your Rabb who created you and created those who came before you; by doing this you may guard yourself against evil. It is He Who has made the earth as a floor for you and the sky a canopy; and it is He Who sends down rain from the sky for the growth of fruits for your sustenance. Therefore, do not knowingly set up rivals to Allah."
Surah Al Baqarah - 2:[116-117];
" They say: 'Allah has taken to Himself a son;' Allah is above such things! Rather, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth; all are obedient to Him. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth! When He decrees a thing, He needs to say, 'Be,' and there it becomes."
Surah Al Baqarah - 2:[164];
" Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, in the alternation of the night and day, in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind, in the rain which Allah sends down from the skies, with which He revives the earth after its death and spreads in it all kinds of animal, in the change of the winds and the clouds between the sky and the earth that are made subservient, there are signs for rational people."
Surah Al-A'raf - 7:[54-58];
" Surely, your Rabb is Allah Who created the heavens and earth in six Yome (days or stages) and then He established Himself on the Throne in a manner that suits His Majesty. He makes the night cover the day and the day follow the night automatically. He created the sun, the moon and the stars, and made them subservient to His will. Take a note: His is the creation, and His is the command. Blessed is Allah, the Rabb of the worlds!. Call on your Rabb with humility and in private; for He does not love transgressors. Do not create mischief in the land after it has been set in order. Pray to Him in fear and hope. Surely the mercy of Allah is always close to those who do good to others. He is the One Who sends the winds bearing good news of His blessings, so when they lift up heavy clouds, We drive them along to a dead country-side and make the rain fall upon it and bring forth all kinds of fruits from the dead land. Likewise We raise the dead to life; this example is given so that you may learn a lesson from this observation. The good soil yields rich produce by the permission of Allah and barren soil yields nothing but poor produce. Thus do We explain Our revelations over and over again for those who pay thanks."
Surah Al-Anbiya' - 21:[30-33];
" Have not the unbelievers ever considered that the skies and the earth were once one mass, then We split them asunder? And We have created every living thing from water. Will they still not believe? And We have planted mountains on earth lest it should tilt to one side with them and We left between them open passages so that they may find their way. And We have made the sky a safe canopy; yet, they are heedless to signs. He is the One Who has created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all (the celestial bodies) move swiftly in orbits of their own."
There are other verses which Allah again and again stressed it is He who created the universe in the Holy Quran...
To Stephen Hawking & of course to myself, the answer is right in the Holy Quran!!
Allahhu Akbar ...
Hawking's argued as such & summarises as follows: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing; why the universe exists, why we exist."
The gentleman, Rueben Dudley concluded his disagreement to Hawking's view by writing: " We should thank God for creating our universe and us, and faithfully seek to serve Him with gladness by showing love and respect for all and being diligent and honourable in our endeavours.
The answer to Hawking's argument could be found in the Holy Quran ....
On the creation of the Universe & its contents, amongst others:
Surah Al Baqarah - 2:[21-22];
" O Mankind! Worship your Rabb who created you and created those who came before you; by doing this you may guard yourself against evil. It is He Who has made the earth as a floor for you and the sky a canopy; and it is He Who sends down rain from the sky for the growth of fruits for your sustenance. Therefore, do not knowingly set up rivals to Allah."
Surah Al Baqarah - 2:[116-117];
" They say: 'Allah has taken to Himself a son;' Allah is above such things! Rather, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth; all are obedient to Him. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth! When He decrees a thing, He needs to say, 'Be,' and there it becomes."
Surah Al Baqarah - 2:[164];
" Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, in the alternation of the night and day, in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind, in the rain which Allah sends down from the skies, with which He revives the earth after its death and spreads in it all kinds of animal, in the change of the winds and the clouds between the sky and the earth that are made subservient, there are signs for rational people."
Surah Al-A'raf - 7:[54-58];
" Surely, your Rabb is Allah Who created the heavens and earth in six Yome (days or stages) and then He established Himself on the Throne in a manner that suits His Majesty. He makes the night cover the day and the day follow the night automatically. He created the sun, the moon and the stars, and made them subservient to His will. Take a note: His is the creation, and His is the command. Blessed is Allah, the Rabb of the worlds!. Call on your Rabb with humility and in private; for He does not love transgressors. Do not create mischief in the land after it has been set in order. Pray to Him in fear and hope. Surely the mercy of Allah is always close to those who do good to others. He is the One Who sends the winds bearing good news of His blessings, so when they lift up heavy clouds, We drive them along to a dead country-side and make the rain fall upon it and bring forth all kinds of fruits from the dead land. Likewise We raise the dead to life; this example is given so that you may learn a lesson from this observation. The good soil yields rich produce by the permission of Allah and barren soil yields nothing but poor produce. Thus do We explain Our revelations over and over again for those who pay thanks."
Surah Al-Anbiya' - 21:[30-33];
" Have not the unbelievers ever considered that the skies and the earth were once one mass, then We split them asunder? And We have created every living thing from water. Will they still not believe? And We have planted mountains on earth lest it should tilt to one side with them and We left between them open passages so that they may find their way. And We have made the sky a safe canopy; yet, they are heedless to signs. He is the One Who has created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all (the celestial bodies) move swiftly in orbits of their own."
There are other verses which Allah again and again stressed it is He who created the universe in the Holy Quran...
To Stephen Hawking & of course to myself, the answer is right in the Holy Quran!!
Allahhu Akbar ...
Monday, September 20, 2010
Apak The Story Teller @ With a "Bribe"!!!!
Remember Apak? - Allahyarham Apak was a primary school teacher ... Apart from his hobby "menjaring ikan", he had this hobby of narrating folklore stories to us - his children ...
He would normally narrated stories like "Awang Kenit", "Pak Pandir & Mak Andeh", "Lebai Malang", "Sang Kelembai" and the like in the late afternoon - all these were narrated to us at our 'rumah kampung/papan" in Kota Bahru, Gopeng, Perak...
Of course Apak had something up in his sleeve i.e. he would ask us - my 2 elder brothers (Asri & Endi), my elder sister (Kak) & myself to "picit" him. So there we were massaging his body - Kak would "picit kepala" and my brothers & i would "picit" his body ....
My elder brother Endi - yeah, the one whom I narrated in my earlier posting re: "Pelita Panjut @ Malam 27 Likur" - came up with his "brilliant" idea. He always has a "brilliant" idea almost all the time anyway...
What he did was this .... every time when Apak asked us to "picit" him, Endi would created so many excuses e.g. he had homework to be completed or he had to go to his friend's house etc ... Actually, he wanted to skip the errand but at the same time he wanted to hear the stories. Apak was a good story teller indeed!!!
Now Endi did not actually go to his friend's house or doing his homework... Instead, he would just went down "bawah rumah" & sat at the pillar "bawah rumah' - it's a "kampung" house with pillars - exactly at the spot opposite to the spot where Apak & us were at the living room 'di atas rumah" .....Endi would sat there and listened attentively to Apak narrating stories upstairs - of course without having to endure "picit" Apak like what we had to endure!!!!
The funny thing is all of us - Apak, Kak, Asri & myself could see him sitting at the "tiang bawah rumah" through the gaps of the "lantai papan" of our "kampung house"!!! Apak being so understanding purposely narrated the stories in a loud & high volume - just to let Endi heard them I guess....
Almost immediately after Apak finished his story telling - voila - Endi would suddenly appeared out of the blues pretending that he had either completed his homework or had gone to his friend's house!!! Apak just smiled .... I guessed he was satisfied that all his children managed to hear his story telling sessions.
Those were the days & it was so enjoyable with Apak around ....
He would normally narrated stories like "Awang Kenit", "Pak Pandir & Mak Andeh", "Lebai Malang", "Sang Kelembai" and the like in the late afternoon - all these were narrated to us at our 'rumah kampung/papan" in Kota Bahru, Gopeng, Perak...
Of course Apak had something up in his sleeve i.e. he would ask us - my 2 elder brothers (Asri & Endi), my elder sister (Kak) & myself to "picit" him. So there we were massaging his body - Kak would "picit kepala" and my brothers & i would "picit" his body ....
My elder brother Endi - yeah, the one whom I narrated in my earlier posting re: "Pelita Panjut @ Malam 27 Likur" - came up with his "brilliant" idea. He always has a "brilliant" idea almost all the time anyway...
What he did was this .... every time when Apak asked us to "picit" him, Endi would created so many excuses e.g. he had homework to be completed or he had to go to his friend's house etc ... Actually, he wanted to skip the errand but at the same time he wanted to hear the stories. Apak was a good story teller indeed!!!
Now Endi did not actually go to his friend's house or doing his homework... Instead, he would just went down "bawah rumah" & sat at the pillar "bawah rumah' - it's a "kampung" house with pillars - exactly at the spot opposite to the spot where Apak & us were at the living room 'di atas rumah" .....Endi would sat there and listened attentively to Apak narrating stories upstairs - of course without having to endure "picit" Apak like what we had to endure!!!!
The funny thing is all of us - Apak, Kak, Asri & myself could see him sitting at the "tiang bawah rumah" through the gaps of the "lantai papan" of our "kampung house"!!! Apak being so understanding purposely narrated the stories in a loud & high volume - just to let Endi heard them I guess....
Almost immediately after Apak finished his story telling - voila - Endi would suddenly appeared out of the blues pretending that he had either completed his homework or had gone to his friend's house!!! Apak just smiled .... I guessed he was satisfied that all his children managed to hear his story telling sessions.
Those were the days & it was so enjoyable with Apak around ....
Errata On My Last Posting @ Raya TV Adverts
As I am only a mortal, I have to post this as an errata to my last posting re: the advertisements on TV during the recent Hari Raya Eidl Fitri festival ...
It's either I am getting old or due to "terlebih makan lemang & rendang" or perhaps "overdose" with Dato" Siti Norhaliza appearing on every TV channel during Hari Raya.
I made an inadvertent & unintentional error re: the advertisement of a car broke down & being towed by "dua ekor lembu". It's not a product by our local car manufacturer. It was a product by our local fast food chain instead - the only thing is that of course, the said particular food chain Company could not afford "torturing" hundreds of chicken to tow the car, right!!! It's cruelty to the animals....
The local car manufacturer came up with an advertisement of an old man in a bus with "mangkuk tingkat @ "Sia" having a conversation with a young guy who is sitting behind him. The old man is apparently telling the young guy that he visits his "Alzheimer" wife every day without fail .... The only issue I have with this particular advertisement is that it failed to "gain" my sympathy ...
I do not know about you but I find the old man gesture & the way he talked to the young guy is rather stiff & at the border of being arrogant!!! It would be better if he were to "soften" his appearance by being more relax - not being too stiff. Perhaps with a little smile but there is a bitterness & sadness in that smile ... Well that old man is a good actor anyway & who am I to comment on his acting ...
In conclusion, the mistake is mine & I stand to be corrected... as to rest of the posting contents, I stand by what have been written ....
Selamat Hari Raya Eidl Fitri again .....
It's either I am getting old or due to "terlebih makan lemang & rendang" or perhaps "overdose" with Dato" Siti Norhaliza appearing on every TV channel during Hari Raya.
I made an inadvertent & unintentional error re: the advertisement of a car broke down & being towed by "dua ekor lembu". It's not a product by our local car manufacturer. It was a product by our local fast food chain instead - the only thing is that of course, the said particular food chain Company could not afford "torturing" hundreds of chicken to tow the car, right!!! It's cruelty to the animals....
The local car manufacturer came up with an advertisement of an old man in a bus with "mangkuk tingkat @ "Sia" having a conversation with a young guy who is sitting behind him. The old man is apparently telling the young guy that he visits his "Alzheimer" wife every day without fail .... The only issue I have with this particular advertisement is that it failed to "gain" my sympathy ...
I do not know about you but I find the old man gesture & the way he talked to the young guy is rather stiff & at the border of being arrogant!!! It would be better if he were to "soften" his appearance by being more relax - not being too stiff. Perhaps with a little smile but there is a bitterness & sadness in that smile ... Well that old man is a good actor anyway & who am I to comment on his acting ...
In conclusion, the mistake is mine & I stand to be corrected... as to rest of the posting contents, I stand by what have been written ....
Selamat Hari Raya Eidl Fitri again .....
Saturday, September 18, 2010
TV Adverts - Raya TV Advertisements
Every time when we celebrate special occasions - Eidl Fitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas or even Merdeka Day - there would be advertisements specially created "creatively" to commemorate such special occasion ....
Let's look back at the recent TV adverts during the Eidl Fitri celebration.. This is not a judgmental posting but my view on the adverts.
The best advert to me should go to that Maxis Raya advert where it depicted a lady (she looks like a Chinese or rather Sabahan/Sarawakian - presumably our "Saudara Baru"). She was on an express bus "balik kampung" and she "travelled back in time" when she was with her husband together in a bus going "balik kampung" for Hari Raya. That's was when her husband was around.
The said Maxis advertisement is so honest, unpretentious and obviously not artificial. You could feel the honesty, the warmth & love when the mother in law hugged the lady while greeting "Selamat Hari Raya" to each other!!! This is what "love" is all about - being honest & unpretentious. Those 10 - 15 minutes of the Maxis Hari Raya advertisement put in a nut shell what being Malaysian is all about ....Last but not least, Maxis did not even "promote" its product. There is not a slightest hint of the advertisement being a product of Maxis until the last part i.e. "Selamat Hari Raya dari Maxis"... So kudos to Maxis for not being too capitalist on the auspicious day ...
It is quite close to what Yasmin Ahmad's lovely advertisements had achieved before. I believe most of us - if not all - really missed Yasmin Ahmad's unique advertisements...
The rest of the advertisements? I have no comments some of them might either be too cliche or too artificial.
For example. a certain Housing Developer - State owned that is - came out with an advert of a son gave a house as a present to his parents. Well and good but it's too artificial & too capitalist - promoting your product in a Hari Raya advertisement...
There is an advert by a local car manufacturer - if I am not mistaken - depicting a kid who was asked by his grandfather where were his parents when he alone suddenly reached the old man's house. It happened that the kid's parents were a bit late as their car apparently broke down - Yes!!! Broke down , an advert by a car manufacturer - & being 'towed" by 2 ekor lembu!!! What a joke ... Helen Veloo who popularised the song entitled "Kereta Lembu" in the 70s would surely laughing if she watched the advert, I guess....
The bottom line is we need more "Yasmin Ahmads" around .....
Note: Hari Raya advertisements apart, on a lighter note that is, at least this year is the year for the hardcore fans of Dato" Siti Norhaliza - she seems to be everywhere at every channel - what a day , me included!!!!
Let's look back at the recent TV adverts during the Eidl Fitri celebration.. This is not a judgmental posting but my view on the adverts.
The best advert to me should go to that Maxis Raya advert where it depicted a lady (she looks like a Chinese or rather Sabahan/Sarawakian - presumably our "Saudara Baru"). She was on an express bus "balik kampung" and she "travelled back in time" when she was with her husband together in a bus going "balik kampung" for Hari Raya. That's was when her husband was around.
The said Maxis advertisement is so honest, unpretentious and obviously not artificial. You could feel the honesty, the warmth & love when the mother in law hugged the lady while greeting "Selamat Hari Raya" to each other!!! This is what "love" is all about - being honest & unpretentious. Those 10 - 15 minutes of the Maxis Hari Raya advertisement put in a nut shell what being Malaysian is all about ....Last but not least, Maxis did not even "promote" its product. There is not a slightest hint of the advertisement being a product of Maxis until the last part i.e. "Selamat Hari Raya dari Maxis"... So kudos to Maxis for not being too capitalist on the auspicious day ...
It is quite close to what Yasmin Ahmad's lovely advertisements had achieved before. I believe most of us - if not all - really missed Yasmin Ahmad's unique advertisements...
The rest of the advertisements? I have no comments some of them might either be too cliche or too artificial.
For example. a certain Housing Developer - State owned that is - came out with an advert of a son gave a house as a present to his parents. Well and good but it's too artificial & too capitalist - promoting your product in a Hari Raya advertisement...
There is an advert by a local car manufacturer - if I am not mistaken - depicting a kid who was asked by his grandfather where were his parents when he alone suddenly reached the old man's house. It happened that the kid's parents were a bit late as their car apparently broke down - Yes!!! Broke down , an advert by a car manufacturer - & being 'towed" by 2 ekor lembu!!! What a joke ... Helen Veloo who popularised the song entitled "Kereta Lembu" in the 70s would surely laughing if she watched the advert, I guess....
The bottom line is we need more "Yasmin Ahmads" around .....
Note: Hari Raya advertisements apart, on a lighter note that is, at least this year is the year for the hardcore fans of Dato" Siti Norhaliza - she seems to be everywhere at every channel - what a day , me included!!!!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Happy Birthday Malaysia - 16 September 1963
After years of somehow being 'overshadowed"/"sidelined" by the Merdeka Day (31 August 1957), at last we Malaysian officially celebrated the MALAYSIA DAY ...
As a primary/secondary student, I do not recall any emphasis being made on this date , 16 September 1963 - the year I was born in March. Not even in the History books at school during those days.
Of course I have heard of it along the way but I was only became really aware of the importance of this date was when I was in Year 2 when Allahyarham Prof. Azmi Khalid stood at the front of the lecture hall that 16 September 1986. He asked the students re: the significant of the date & he proudly as a Malaysia he was - "today is the date on which Malaysia was born!!!"...
We had Sabahans (William Mojilip & gang)and Sarawakians (Allahyarham Rosli & gang) in that class & we looked at each other - as a Malaysian I supposed ...
It's a sad thing actually and with this move, I really hope the importance & significance of this day would be treasured and cherish by every Malaysian. It was secured through hard negotiations & "give and take". Hard way due to the strong objection from Phillipine & of course Indonesia , with Indonesia declaring "confrontation" via 'ganyang Malaysia" campaign.
Well, Soekarno had his own "problem" & agenda at that time and it just happened that the new born Malaysia was a "good" punching bag in diverting Indonesians from her own domestic/political chaos at that point of time.
The sad thing was that Singapore - read Lee Kuan Yew - broke away from Malaysia in 1965. Some historians were of the view that the severed tie was actually a blessing in disguise for both parties. What I could gather from my readings is this - Lee Kuan Yew grabbed the opportunity to be in the federation of Malaysia on this august date due to him not being able to fend off the Socialist Front - led by the charismatic and "youthful" Lim Chin Siong!!! Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew was just waiting for "stability" and the right time to leave Malaysia ....
Life goes on anyway for Malaysia & we have progress leap and bound.
Happy Birthday Malaysia ....
As a primary/secondary student, I do not recall any emphasis being made on this date , 16 September 1963 - the year I was born in March. Not even in the History books at school during those days.
Of course I have heard of it along the way but I was only became really aware of the importance of this date was when I was in Year 2 when Allahyarham Prof. Azmi Khalid stood at the front of the lecture hall that 16 September 1986. He asked the students re: the significant of the date & he proudly as a Malaysia he was - "today is the date on which Malaysia was born!!!"...
We had Sabahans (William Mojilip & gang)and Sarawakians (Allahyarham Rosli & gang) in that class & we looked at each other - as a Malaysian I supposed ...
It's a sad thing actually and with this move, I really hope the importance & significance of this day would be treasured and cherish by every Malaysian. It was secured through hard negotiations & "give and take". Hard way due to the strong objection from Phillipine & of course Indonesia , with Indonesia declaring "confrontation" via 'ganyang Malaysia" campaign.
Well, Soekarno had his own "problem" & agenda at that time and it just happened that the new born Malaysia was a "good" punching bag in diverting Indonesians from her own domestic/political chaos at that point of time.
The sad thing was that Singapore - read Lee Kuan Yew - broke away from Malaysia in 1965. Some historians were of the view that the severed tie was actually a blessing in disguise for both parties. What I could gather from my readings is this - Lee Kuan Yew grabbed the opportunity to be in the federation of Malaysia on this august date due to him not being able to fend off the Socialist Front - led by the charismatic and "youthful" Lim Chin Siong!!! Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew was just waiting for "stability" and the right time to leave Malaysia ....
Life goes on anyway for Malaysia & we have progress leap and bound.
Happy Birthday Malaysia ....
Good Luck to Duke Aziz - Bon Voyage Myrtle Adie
I have actually stopped reading the newspaper lately - there were so many sad stories/news...
The only good news - partially actually - apart from the Malaysia Day celebration was a report at page 36 of NST... It's regarding 2 turtles, female turtle by the name of Myrtle Adie & a male turtle known as Duke Aziz...
Both of them were kept at the Aquaria KLCC after a day old hatching 4 years ago. Since then they were kept in "captivity" at the Aquaria and were only released last 28 August from the Cagar Hutang turtle sanctuary with a satellite transponder on their back.
The good news is the female turtle, Myrtle Adie had reached Vietnam waters on 9 September - that's more than 1000 km away!!!. Our dear male turtle, Duke Aziz is still circling Pulau Redang and this worries the expert as it shows that the years in "captivity" has somehow or rather made Duke Aziz unable to adapt to life in the wild.
As for Myrtle Adie, she might be exposed to the poachers as Vietnamese are known to consider turtle as a delicacy ....
Well, that's what life is about anyway - taking risks. I am just wondering whether the news of these 2 turtles of the opposite sex reflect the "adventurous" side of the females or rather their ability to adapt to new environment. Or is it they are ever ready to take the risks? This is what I would call "female power"....
I just hope Duke Aziz would find his way off to the deep sea far away and 1 day they - yes both of them - would come back to the Malaysian water to hatch .....
To both of them - Good Luck!!!!
The only good news - partially actually - apart from the Malaysia Day celebration was a report at page 36 of NST... It's regarding 2 turtles, female turtle by the name of Myrtle Adie & a male turtle known as Duke Aziz...
Both of them were kept at the Aquaria KLCC after a day old hatching 4 years ago. Since then they were kept in "captivity" at the Aquaria and were only released last 28 August from the Cagar Hutang turtle sanctuary with a satellite transponder on their back.
The good news is the female turtle, Myrtle Adie had reached Vietnam waters on 9 September - that's more than 1000 km away!!!. Our dear male turtle, Duke Aziz is still circling Pulau Redang and this worries the expert as it shows that the years in "captivity" has somehow or rather made Duke Aziz unable to adapt to life in the wild.
As for Myrtle Adie, she might be exposed to the poachers as Vietnamese are known to consider turtle as a delicacy ....
Well, that's what life is about anyway - taking risks. I am just wondering whether the news of these 2 turtles of the opposite sex reflect the "adventurous" side of the females or rather their ability to adapt to new environment. Or is it they are ever ready to take the risks? This is what I would call "female power"....
I just hope Duke Aziz would find his way off to the deep sea far away and 1 day they - yes both of them - would come back to the Malaysian water to hatch .....
To both of them - Good Luck!!!!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Gold Dinar & Silver Dirham @ Islamic Currency/Mint
It was a breaking news with lots of hue & cry when the PAS led Kelantan State Government introduced the Gold Dinar & Silver Dirham recently... Everybody - politicians from opposing sides obviously are at odds & gave their worth of views, and of course statement issued by the Bank Negara...
It was reported that the move by the Kelantan State Government to create a "new currency" is illegal under the relevant Act & could not be accepted as a legal tender. The only legal tender recognised under our monetary system is the "Ringgit Malaysia" i.e. the paper currency.
The Kelantan State Government on the other hand said it is not a currency but would be used as a "barter trade" tool... So there's nothing illegal about it since it is not an alternative to the currently recognised paper currency. Moreover it is based on a voluntary basis on the part of the consumers/those who want to participate in this "new trade"....
I would leave the legalistic of this issue to the financial/legal experts in finance/banking laws...
This post is merely meant to trace the history of the Islamic currency/Islamic Mint i.e. the Gold Dinar & Silver Dirham as there is a saying " Tak kenal maka tak cinta"....
There was a Musnad of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbali which goes as follows:
" Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Maryam reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)said: A time is certainly coming over mankind in which there will be nothing (left) which will be of use save a dinar and a dirham."
It was recorded that Caliphate Umar Ibn al Khattab first ascertained the precise weight of dinar vis a vis dirham i.e. "the weight of 10 dirham is equivalent to 7 dinars". Muslims used gold & silver coins by weight which were made by the Persians.
As to the weight, Islamic Dinar is equivalent to 22K gold (4.25 grammes) while Islamic Silver is equivalent to specific weight of pure silver of 3.0 grammes.
It was then continued was during Caliphate Uthman (ra)with Arabic inscription of "In the name of Allah" found in the observe margin.
The Dinar was first introduced in 75 AH (695CE) by Caliph Abd Malik Ibn Marwan when he ordered al Hajjaj to mint the first Dinar. The word "dinar" derived from "denarius", a Roman currency. In 76 AH (696 CE)Caliph Abd Malik ordered the Dirham to be minted in all regions of Darul Islam and stamped with sentence "Allah is unique, Allah is eternal". With this gone were the images of human and/or animals on the coins used then.
The gold & silver coins remained as the official currency of Darul Islam until the fall of the last Caliphate of Ottoman. The coins were used mainly as a savings, to pay zakat & Dowry as well as in buying & selling.
There is currently a move to introduce the Islamic mint amongst the 1.1 billion Muslims in 51 countries and even Malaysia at one point of time through Tun Dr. Mahathir said (when he was still the PM) that Dinar would be introduced in Malaysia by 2003. It was somehow "halted" when he resigned and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over... There was not an iota of hue & cry/objection then when Tun Mahathir came up with the idea as opposed to what the Kelantan State Government faced recently .... Is the idea/concept different? I do not think so ....
Those who propagate the Islamic Dinar argued on the following main reasons for the advantages in introducing the Dinar as a currency:
1. Stability - there would be zero inflation. It is said that during the Prophet's time, a chicken would cost 1 Dirham and it remains the same today i.e. 1,400 years later.
2. Reliability - it could not be manipulated/inflated as it could not be printed more as opposed to the paper currency.
Lastly but not least, it is opined that Islamic law does not permit the use of promise of payment as a medium of exchange as in the usage of paper currency ...
Lest I might be wrong I would leave it to the expert to analyse & have an intellectual discourse on this issue ... But my limited expertise & knowledge as a lay man on this issue is the following:
Where is the logic of not using the gold Dinar as a tool of trade when the paper currency itself is being "guaranteed in its value" by the solid & stable gold reserves a country has in her "possession"!!!! ......
Till we meet again ......
It was reported that the move by the Kelantan State Government to create a "new currency" is illegal under the relevant Act & could not be accepted as a legal tender. The only legal tender recognised under our monetary system is the "Ringgit Malaysia" i.e. the paper currency.
The Kelantan State Government on the other hand said it is not a currency but would be used as a "barter trade" tool... So there's nothing illegal about it since it is not an alternative to the currently recognised paper currency. Moreover it is based on a voluntary basis on the part of the consumers/those who want to participate in this "new trade"....
I would leave the legalistic of this issue to the financial/legal experts in finance/banking laws...
This post is merely meant to trace the history of the Islamic currency/Islamic Mint i.e. the Gold Dinar & Silver Dirham as there is a saying " Tak kenal maka tak cinta"....
There was a Musnad of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbali which goes as follows:
" Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Maryam reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)said: A time is certainly coming over mankind in which there will be nothing (left) which will be of use save a dinar and a dirham."
It was recorded that Caliphate Umar Ibn al Khattab first ascertained the precise weight of dinar vis a vis dirham i.e. "the weight of 10 dirham is equivalent to 7 dinars". Muslims used gold & silver coins by weight which were made by the Persians.
As to the weight, Islamic Dinar is equivalent to 22K gold (4.25 grammes) while Islamic Silver is equivalent to specific weight of pure silver of 3.0 grammes.
It was then continued was during Caliphate Uthman (ra)with Arabic inscription of "In the name of Allah" found in the observe margin.
The Dinar was first introduced in 75 AH (695CE) by Caliph Abd Malik Ibn Marwan when he ordered al Hajjaj to mint the first Dinar. The word "dinar" derived from "denarius", a Roman currency. In 76 AH (696 CE)Caliph Abd Malik ordered the Dirham to be minted in all regions of Darul Islam and stamped with sentence "Allah is unique, Allah is eternal". With this gone were the images of human and/or animals on the coins used then.
The gold & silver coins remained as the official currency of Darul Islam until the fall of the last Caliphate of Ottoman. The coins were used mainly as a savings, to pay zakat & Dowry as well as in buying & selling.
There is currently a move to introduce the Islamic mint amongst the 1.1 billion Muslims in 51 countries and even Malaysia at one point of time through Tun Dr. Mahathir said (when he was still the PM) that Dinar would be introduced in Malaysia by 2003. It was somehow "halted" when he resigned and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over... There was not an iota of hue & cry/objection then when Tun Mahathir came up with the idea as opposed to what the Kelantan State Government faced recently .... Is the idea/concept different? I do not think so ....
Those who propagate the Islamic Dinar argued on the following main reasons for the advantages in introducing the Dinar as a currency:
1. Stability - there would be zero inflation. It is said that during the Prophet's time, a chicken would cost 1 Dirham and it remains the same today i.e. 1,400 years later.
2. Reliability - it could not be manipulated/inflated as it could not be printed more as opposed to the paper currency.
Lastly but not least, it is opined that Islamic law does not permit the use of promise of payment as a medium of exchange as in the usage of paper currency ...
Lest I might be wrong I would leave it to the expert to analyse & have an intellectual discourse on this issue ... But my limited expertise & knowledge as a lay man on this issue is the following:
Where is the logic of not using the gold Dinar as a tool of trade when the paper currency itself is being "guaranteed in its value" by the solid & stable gold reserves a country has in her "possession"!!!! ......
Till we meet again ......
Friday, September 10, 2010
"Malam 27 Likur" Ramadhan
Actually I was planning to post this entry earlier but it was postponed due to other family commitments - well it's better late than never....
" Malam 27 Likur" had been celebrated/practiced over the years by the Muslim Malays & it is celebrated on the 27 Ramadhan for the "belief" that 27 Ramadhan night is the Lailatul Qadr night ...
There are several Articles being written on this but I am not going to delve on this issue.
What I knew as a kid then was "Malam 27 Likur" is the last 3 nights when my "laman rumah" was well lit by "lampu pelita" or "panjut". It was nights of joy & carnival like atmosphere where we, the kids would play with "bunga api" while the elders among us would "main mercun" or even "meriam buluh".
I have to mention this - re: my elder brother, Najib Effendi. He's the adventurous type & always do something "different" from the rest of us in the family.
I called him "Endi" and he would be doing this every year when we were celebrating "Malam 27 Likur" in our kampung, Kota Bahru, Gopeng ....
Come "Malam 27 Likur", we would be busy preparing "panjut" - it might be in the form of "lampu pelita" (kerosene aluminium lamp), piles of "tempurung kelapa" in vertical position or "panjut buluh" ... My brother "Endi" would be the leading guy in this preparation ...
Every year - yes every year!!! - Mak would ask Endi why he put up so little panjut at our "laman rumah" and every year my brother would answer " Tak apa Mak .. Tengok la nanti ..."
And every year, our "laman rumah" would miraculously lit up by so many "panjut" especially the last 2 nights - the number of "pelita panjut" would double or triple from the original number.
What happened was this ... Endi & Gang, one of them I could still remember his name @ Salleh would roamed the kampung & took about 1 or 2 "pelita panjut" from each "laman rumah" of the kampung folks. They would then put the "panjut" at our "laman rumah" .... Endi & his gang would only stopped their "operation" once they were satisfied that our "laman rumah" was the brightest & the most well lit in Kg Kota Bahru, Gopeng, Perak!!!!!
The kampung folks knew & were fully aware of this but they just laughed it out - being a simple minded kampung folks and perhaps they were close to my father - he's a teacher there - and my soft spoken Mak...
And I could still remember Mak would every year apologise to the kampung folks & they would every year repled with a smile " Tak apa laa Kak Intan ... Budak - budak nak beraya!!!!" ....
Selamat hari Raya Eidl Fitri ....
" Malam 27 Likur" had been celebrated/practiced over the years by the Muslim Malays & it is celebrated on the 27 Ramadhan for the "belief" that 27 Ramadhan night is the Lailatul Qadr night ...
There are several Articles being written on this but I am not going to delve on this issue.
What I knew as a kid then was "Malam 27 Likur" is the last 3 nights when my "laman rumah" was well lit by "lampu pelita" or "panjut". It was nights of joy & carnival like atmosphere where we, the kids would play with "bunga api" while the elders among us would "main mercun" or even "meriam buluh".
I have to mention this - re: my elder brother, Najib Effendi. He's the adventurous type & always do something "different" from the rest of us in the family.
I called him "Endi" and he would be doing this every year when we were celebrating "Malam 27 Likur" in our kampung, Kota Bahru, Gopeng ....
Come "Malam 27 Likur", we would be busy preparing "panjut" - it might be in the form of "lampu pelita" (kerosene aluminium lamp), piles of "tempurung kelapa" in vertical position or "panjut buluh" ... My brother "Endi" would be the leading guy in this preparation ...
Every year - yes every year!!! - Mak would ask Endi why he put up so little panjut at our "laman rumah" and every year my brother would answer " Tak apa Mak .. Tengok la nanti ..."
And every year, our "laman rumah" would miraculously lit up by so many "panjut" especially the last 2 nights - the number of "pelita panjut" would double or triple from the original number.
What happened was this ... Endi & Gang, one of them I could still remember his name @ Salleh would roamed the kampung & took about 1 or 2 "pelita panjut" from each "laman rumah" of the kampung folks. They would then put the "panjut" at our "laman rumah" .... Endi & his gang would only stopped their "operation" once they were satisfied that our "laman rumah" was the brightest & the most well lit in Kg Kota Bahru, Gopeng, Perak!!!!!
The kampung folks knew & were fully aware of this but they just laughed it out - being a simple minded kampung folks and perhaps they were close to my father - he's a teacher there - and my soft spoken Mak...
And I could still remember Mak would every year apologise to the kampung folks & they would every year repled with a smile " Tak apa laa Kak Intan ... Budak - budak nak beraya!!!!" ....
Selamat hari Raya Eidl Fitri ....
1 Syawal @ Eidl Fitri
Alhamdulillah after a month of fasting, we are celebrating the victory day of eidl Fitri.
Alhamdulillah once again, Aishah, the kids & myself safely reached Batu Pahat at about 11.45 PM. A bit late as we dropped by at Pernu to break fast - "ikan bakar" then, I realised that I forgot to bring along my "Baju Melayu". We stopped by at "bandar" to buy Baju Melayu and I bought Aishah "Baju Kurung" & "tudung" - she looks pretty in that "Baju Kurung" & "Tudung" - she as always thought I was just pulling her leg!!!
I take this opportunity to wish "Selamat Hari Raya" to Aishah & the kids (Adil, Nadia & Afiq) and to all my FB friends - Jailany Jaafar (Note: Jai is the only friend who always send me Hari Raya, Deepavali, Chinese New Year & New Years Greetings Cards!!!), Mohd Noh, Fahmy, Omar Bakhi, Akhiruddin, Latifah, Roseleena, Cik Gu/Tuan Zainal L Salleh, Yaacob Chik, Sally, Salina, Haryati, Bain, Anis, Salina, Sofia, Kamaruddin, Rohana @ UM.
Also to my ex TI friends - Cik Gu Jai, Jamil Padukang, Salleh Rose, Mazni, Jay Fitri, Norm, Nasir Tojo, Nan, Salmiah Suri, Raja Abdul Rahman, Shaharuddin, Azmi Khalid, Umar Zainal, Duan Malik, Duan, Hj Yusri,
My apology if I missed any of your names & not to forget "Selamat Hari Raya Eidl Fitri" to Nooruddin Liew Tzee Hoon and all my friends @ UM, TI Ipoh, Anderson Ipoh & ACS Ipoh...
Last but not least, I always have this curiosity of wondering how my long lost friend - Cheah Fah Thong - is doing right now ... Hey Fah Thong @ Selamat Hari Raya ....
Alhamdulillah once again, Aishah, the kids & myself safely reached Batu Pahat at about 11.45 PM. A bit late as we dropped by at Pernu to break fast - "ikan bakar" then, I realised that I forgot to bring along my "Baju Melayu". We stopped by at "bandar" to buy Baju Melayu and I bought Aishah "Baju Kurung" & "tudung" - she looks pretty in that "Baju Kurung" & "Tudung" - she as always thought I was just pulling her leg!!!
I take this opportunity to wish "Selamat Hari Raya" to Aishah & the kids (Adil, Nadia & Afiq) and to all my FB friends - Jailany Jaafar (Note: Jai is the only friend who always send me Hari Raya, Deepavali, Chinese New Year & New Years Greetings Cards!!!), Mohd Noh, Fahmy, Omar Bakhi, Akhiruddin, Latifah, Roseleena, Cik Gu/Tuan Zainal L Salleh, Yaacob Chik, Sally, Salina, Haryati, Bain, Anis, Salina, Sofia, Kamaruddin, Rohana @ UM.
Also to my ex TI friends - Cik Gu Jai, Jamil Padukang, Salleh Rose, Mazni, Jay Fitri, Norm, Nasir Tojo, Nan, Salmiah Suri, Raja Abdul Rahman, Shaharuddin, Azmi Khalid, Umar Zainal, Duan Malik, Duan, Hj Yusri,
My apology if I missed any of your names & not to forget "Selamat Hari Raya Eidl Fitri" to Nooruddin Liew Tzee Hoon and all my friends @ UM, TI Ipoh, Anderson Ipoh & ACS Ipoh...
Last but not least, I always have this curiosity of wondering how my long lost friend - Cheah Fah Thong - is doing right now ... Hey Fah Thong @ Selamat Hari Raya ....
Saturday, September 4, 2010
For A Better Malaysia II
The past weeks or so, we Malaysians had been fed with so many news - the BENDERA attacks & abuse towards our Embassy in Jakarta, babies being abandoned yet again! and so on...
I would want however to touch on "racism" issues being spread unashamedly in our media. It was alleged that 2 Principals of schools in Johor & Kedah made racist remarks during the assembly and the alleged "tit for tat" by Namewee through his video via You Tube.
All these were preceded by a remark by Dr Chua Soi Lek in his speech at a Chinese Chamber of Commerce event where he was reportedly urged the Government to cease the 30% quota for the Bumiputeras. And voila!!! All hell broke loose and everybody jumped into the bandwagon!!! Dr Chua at the end of the day said he was not making a demand as it was only a speech!!! Very ironic & so convenient....
I am not going to delve further on this but just to register my concern on which direction this beloved nation of us is going to...
Those days when I was in my primary (Standard 5 & 6 @ 1974 & 1975), I was at Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Pasir Putih, Ipoh. It was a predominantly a Malay populated school with only 2 Chinese students - 1 boy (Standard 4) and 1 girl (my classmate). I could not remember their names but I used to call the girl as "Ah Moi" or is it "Swee Moi"?
At that school, we used to have sessions where we would learned how to pray and the sessions would be a joint sessions among those from Standards 6, 5 & 4. The prayer sessions would be led by the Head Boy (Standard 6) and the Ustaz would observed and "interfered" whenever we made errors in our prayer...
Those 2 Chinese students were also involved in the congregation with my dear Swee Moi was so elegant & beautiful wearing "telekung". That Chinese boy was always at the front "saf"/line with "songkok" on his head. I could still remember on one ocassion he said to the students besides him to "berdiri rapat-rapat dalm saf - nanti Syaitan masuk!!!" .....
That was the scenario then and I do not recall their parents came to the school complaining!!! Never was there any allegation of an "alien: religion being imposed on them and they could recite Fatihah better than some of us ...
In one of my earlier posting, I posted about my best friend when I was in my Secondary (Form 1 - 3), Cheah Fah Thong the so called "China Murtad" ... There was no qualms & no fist fighting like what was reported recently in KL on the eve on Merdeka Day .....
What have we done - or rather not done - wrong? And I am still puzzled and that's why my Blog is called "Uthopia @ 70" - we would never accomplished the state of Uthopia going by this rate of attitude ....
Till we meet again ....
I would want however to touch on "racism" issues being spread unashamedly in our media. It was alleged that 2 Principals of schools in Johor & Kedah made racist remarks during the assembly and the alleged "tit for tat" by Namewee through his video via You Tube.
All these were preceded by a remark by Dr Chua Soi Lek in his speech at a Chinese Chamber of Commerce event where he was reportedly urged the Government to cease the 30% quota for the Bumiputeras. And voila!!! All hell broke loose and everybody jumped into the bandwagon!!! Dr Chua at the end of the day said he was not making a demand as it was only a speech!!! Very ironic & so convenient....
I am not going to delve further on this but just to register my concern on which direction this beloved nation of us is going to...
Those days when I was in my primary (Standard 5 & 6 @ 1974 & 1975), I was at Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Pasir Putih, Ipoh. It was a predominantly a Malay populated school with only 2 Chinese students - 1 boy (Standard 4) and 1 girl (my classmate). I could not remember their names but I used to call the girl as "Ah Moi" or is it "Swee Moi"?
At that school, we used to have sessions where we would learned how to pray and the sessions would be a joint sessions among those from Standards 6, 5 & 4. The prayer sessions would be led by the Head Boy (Standard 6) and the Ustaz would observed and "interfered" whenever we made errors in our prayer...
Those 2 Chinese students were also involved in the congregation with my dear Swee Moi was so elegant & beautiful wearing "telekung". That Chinese boy was always at the front "saf"/line with "songkok" on his head. I could still remember on one ocassion he said to the students besides him to "berdiri rapat-rapat dalm saf - nanti Syaitan masuk!!!" .....
That was the scenario then and I do not recall their parents came to the school complaining!!! Never was there any allegation of an "alien: religion being imposed on them and they could recite Fatihah better than some of us ...
In one of my earlier posting, I posted about my best friend when I was in my Secondary (Form 1 - 3), Cheah Fah Thong the so called "China Murtad" ... There was no qualms & no fist fighting like what was reported recently in KL on the eve on Merdeka Day .....
What have we done - or rather not done - wrong? And I am still puzzled and that's why my Blog is called "Uthopia @ 70" - we would never accomplished the state of Uthopia going by this rate of attitude ....
Till we meet again ....
Supper With Jai, Nooruddin, Md Noh & Aishah
I have to post this entry ... last night - late night actually, Aishah & I had supper with long "lost" friends, my batch @ Law Fac, UM i.e. Nooruddin Liew Tzee Hoon, Jailany Jaafar & Mohd Noh..
We met up @ Rasa Sayang restaurant, Yap Kwan Seng and what a supper it was. After all these years - what can I say.. Nooruddin is still as "havoc" & "chaotic" as ever so does Jai - he is as "cool" as he has been all these years.
Mohd Noh? Still the soft spoken guy who would smile - seldom you would hear him laugh & only spit out his mind/view when necessary...
It was havoc actually especially with the "witty" Nooruddin around who just came from Miri, Sarawak for a business trip....
I could still remember when we were in our 2nd year, we rented a unit at a flat at Section 14, PJ - Mohd Noh, Zul "Rock" (he is not a "Rocker" anyway!!!). Mohd Noh used to alternately cooked for us all - sardine of course.. Nooruddin did not stay with us but used to regularly came & all hell would broke whenever he was around.
The other thing that I remember most about Nooruddin was this.. During our English class, he sat besides me and instead of concentrating to the Lecturer, he would "dandan" my hair in dread lock ( I used to spot a shoulder lenght hair lock at that material time!!!)...
Those were the days - our "naughty" & "delinquent" college days... We had our supper and revisited those days during that short 2 hours reunion... Both Aishah & I really enjoyed the moments spent with thses long lost friend of ours.
Hope to see you guys again, sometime & some other days, insyaALLAH...
We met up @ Rasa Sayang restaurant, Yap Kwan Seng and what a supper it was. After all these years - what can I say.. Nooruddin is still as "havoc" & "chaotic" as ever so does Jai - he is as "cool" as he has been all these years.
Mohd Noh? Still the soft spoken guy who would smile - seldom you would hear him laugh & only spit out his mind/view when necessary...
It was havoc actually especially with the "witty" Nooruddin around who just came from Miri, Sarawak for a business trip....
I could still remember when we were in our 2nd year, we rented a unit at a flat at Section 14, PJ - Mohd Noh, Zul "Rock" (he is not a "Rocker" anyway!!!). Mohd Noh used to alternately cooked for us all - sardine of course.. Nooruddin did not stay with us but used to regularly came & all hell would broke whenever he was around.
The other thing that I remember most about Nooruddin was this.. During our English class, he sat besides me and instead of concentrating to the Lecturer, he would "dandan" my hair in dread lock ( I used to spot a shoulder lenght hair lock at that material time!!!)...
Those were the days - our "naughty" & "delinquent" college days... We had our supper and revisited those days during that short 2 hours reunion... Both Aishah & I really enjoyed the moments spent with thses long lost friend of ours.
Hope to see you guys again, sometime & some other days, insyaALLAH...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Ramadhan @ JB - Free Flow Posting
I have been in JB for 2 days already - attending Industrial Court's hearing (as the Company's witness) in a retrenchment case which I handled way back in 2004. Tomorrow another session of discussion with 2 Company's witnesses in a dismissal case which I also handled way back in 2006.
Come to think of it after years - more than 15 years - in this job, I believe many an ex employees had been dismissed due to various misconduct where I had a hand in them. It's a difficult job but I always ensure that I would be impartial & fair in my recommendation to the management in dismissing them ... However, as a mortal I have to accept the fact that being "fair" is very subjective and the ultimate fairness & impartiality are only for ALLAH the almighty... I could only pray that I have discharged my duty well & could go back home & sleep well ...
Nothing eventful happened during the trial yesterday except being "grilled" in the cross examination by the ex workers' concerned for half a day... Alhamdulillah, I managed to fend off the "attack" by the opponent's lawyer - firmly & not easily rattled even though with "perut kosong" during Ramadhan ... Well, Ramadhan should not be an excuse for not giving your best in everything you do!!!!
If during Ramadhan, the army of 313 Muslims led by Prophet Muhammad SAW could defeated 1000 Mushrikeen army in the 1st war in the Islamic history @ Badar War, what is there if compared to being "grilled" in a trial ....
I was however a bit "shaken" before the trial as I was saddened by the fact that the other Company's witness could not make it to the trial as he is being taken ill - heart failure ... Sad because I have known him quite close. I have known him as a person who is very committed to the Company & always doing it above all else - even his own health!!!!
There were a number of occasions where he was being admitted to SJMC but he still giving "commands"/instructions to his subordinates in the estates under his charge. There was 1 occasion where I called him about employment issues at a particular estate - not knowing that he was in hospital - but still he attempted to brief me... Upon realising that he's not well & his own admission that he was admitted, I just stopped the conversation. He might be mad at me but to me he needed rest not an added burden at that material time ....
The last time I saw him was a day before I travelled to JB - to collect his MC for the Court - he was wheelchair bound ... That made me so sad ...
I just could not understand why I was so "melancholic" before the trial as my mind "travelled" further to another close friend of mine who passed away 2 years ago. Allahyarham Michael Chai - he converted to Islam in 2002 - was another committed Company man ... a person who always put more than 100% in his works above all else ....
To Allahyarham Michael, al Fatihah & to the other friend [I take the liberty here of not mentioning his name] hope you would be back in good health soonest possible, insyaALLAH ....
At the same time, I pray for good health to my wife Aishah, my 3 kids & myself and to all my friends out there!!! May ALLAH bless us all.
Till we meet again ....
Come to think of it after years - more than 15 years - in this job, I believe many an ex employees had been dismissed due to various misconduct where I had a hand in them. It's a difficult job but I always ensure that I would be impartial & fair in my recommendation to the management in dismissing them ... However, as a mortal I have to accept the fact that being "fair" is very subjective and the ultimate fairness & impartiality are only for ALLAH the almighty... I could only pray that I have discharged my duty well & could go back home & sleep well ...
Nothing eventful happened during the trial yesterday except being "grilled" in the cross examination by the ex workers' concerned for half a day... Alhamdulillah, I managed to fend off the "attack" by the opponent's lawyer - firmly & not easily rattled even though with "perut kosong" during Ramadhan ... Well, Ramadhan should not be an excuse for not giving your best in everything you do!!!!
If during Ramadhan, the army of 313 Muslims led by Prophet Muhammad SAW could defeated 1000 Mushrikeen army in the 1st war in the Islamic history @ Badar War, what is there if compared to being "grilled" in a trial ....
I was however a bit "shaken" before the trial as I was saddened by the fact that the other Company's witness could not make it to the trial as he is being taken ill - heart failure ... Sad because I have known him quite close. I have known him as a person who is very committed to the Company & always doing it above all else - even his own health!!!!
There were a number of occasions where he was being admitted to SJMC but he still giving "commands"/instructions to his subordinates in the estates under his charge. There was 1 occasion where I called him about employment issues at a particular estate - not knowing that he was in hospital - but still he attempted to brief me... Upon realising that he's not well & his own admission that he was admitted, I just stopped the conversation. He might be mad at me but to me he needed rest not an added burden at that material time ....
The last time I saw him was a day before I travelled to JB - to collect his MC for the Court - he was wheelchair bound ... That made me so sad ...
I just could not understand why I was so "melancholic" before the trial as my mind "travelled" further to another close friend of mine who passed away 2 years ago. Allahyarham Michael Chai - he converted to Islam in 2002 - was another committed Company man ... a person who always put more than 100% in his works above all else ....
To Allahyarham Michael, al Fatihah & to the other friend [I take the liberty here of not mentioning his name] hope you would be back in good health soonest possible, insyaALLAH ....
At the same time, I pray for good health to my wife Aishah, my 3 kids & myself and to all my friends out there!!! May ALLAH bless us all.
Till we meet again ....
Monday, August 23, 2010
For A Better Malaysia
I could only say Alhamdulillah as for 2 consecutive weeks, we had a full quorum as the whole family members were able to break fast together - Aishah, Adil, Nadia, Afiq & myself...
And for these 2 consecutive weeks, at the request of the kids I "masak nasi goreng"!!! Well, it may not be as delicious as what you may have had at the restaurants but for my kids - it's "heaven"!!!
Reading the New Sunday Times (22 August 2010) made me feeling so sad. The front page shown a picture of 7 kids from Kuala Krai, Kelantan holding up a self made "Hari Raya" Card with a caption ' Selamat Hari Raya Mama & Papa". Apparently, these siblings of 7 had been left by their parents several years back.
I was even more sad & felt as if my throat was choked when I turned to page 13. There they were the 7 kids were in the midst of writing & decorating their self made giant "Hari Raya" Card. What struck me most was the picture of the kid at the fore front looking attentively at his brothers & sisters writing & drawing the card while holding a "Magic Colour".
By reading the news beside the picture, I assumed the kid must be the youngest of the lot - 3 years old. 3 years old!!! And I was just wondering what did he know about life? What wrong had he done for him to be faced with this sad facts of life?
However all is not lost when at page 37 @ Ramadhan Snapshots, there was a picture of 5 young Malaysian multi racial teenagers ( 2 Malays, 2 Chinese & 1 Indian) had their break fast at the Municipal "Padang" right in front of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque, Kuantan, Pahang. It was so genuine & inspiring at the same time!!!
It's an interesting picture which tells a thousand stories with a thousand hopes for a better Malaysia... Let's hope our younger generations are not being "corrupted" or "being swayed" by those parochial/communal politicians in this beloved country of ours!!!
Till we meet again ....
And for these 2 consecutive weeks, at the request of the kids I "masak nasi goreng"!!! Well, it may not be as delicious as what you may have had at the restaurants but for my kids - it's "heaven"!!!
Reading the New Sunday Times (22 August 2010) made me feeling so sad. The front page shown a picture of 7 kids from Kuala Krai, Kelantan holding up a self made "Hari Raya" Card with a caption ' Selamat Hari Raya Mama & Papa". Apparently, these siblings of 7 had been left by their parents several years back.
I was even more sad & felt as if my throat was choked when I turned to page 13. There they were the 7 kids were in the midst of writing & decorating their self made giant "Hari Raya" Card. What struck me most was the picture of the kid at the fore front looking attentively at his brothers & sisters writing & drawing the card while holding a "Magic Colour".
By reading the news beside the picture, I assumed the kid must be the youngest of the lot - 3 years old. 3 years old!!! And I was just wondering what did he know about life? What wrong had he done for him to be faced with this sad facts of life?
However all is not lost when at page 37 @ Ramadhan Snapshots, there was a picture of 5 young Malaysian multi racial teenagers ( 2 Malays, 2 Chinese & 1 Indian) had their break fast at the Municipal "Padang" right in front of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque, Kuantan, Pahang. It was so genuine & inspiring at the same time!!!
It's an interesting picture which tells a thousand stories with a thousand hopes for a better Malaysia... Let's hope our younger generations are not being "corrupted" or "being swayed" by those parochial/communal politicians in this beloved country of ours!!!
Till we meet again ....
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Merdeka Celebration @ Kota Bahru, Gopeng
The month of August was a month of full of activities in my 'kampung' Kota Bharu, Gopeng, Perak in those days - in the 70s. I wonder whether it's still being celebrated like those old days ....
There would be an inter-football games among the "hastily formed" football clubs coming August such as Kg Teja FC, Sanglop Estate FC, Kg Changkat Lenggong FC and so on. It's multi racial indeed & normally it's a 1 day affair. The dominant teams were Sanglop Estate FC, Kg Teja FG & Kota Bahru FC with Sanglop Estate usually emerged as the champion most of the times.
My elder brother - I called him "Abang" (Bakhtiar) played as a striker in Kg Bahru FC and ended up being tackled time & again to the dismay of the supporters including myself. I was in my lower primary then ... I could still remember the goal keeper of Kg Bahru FC, Dollah Sham. He's a good keeper actually but his antics at the goal post always amused the supporters.
The thing about him is this. He's a good keeper with good agility & reflexes but most of the time over acting especially in saving any strike from the opponents. Though he had safely caught the ball, he would somehow or rather did his "over acrobatic" dive - but luckily still within the penalty box as he rolled over & over with the ball safely tuck close to his chest!!! These acrobatic antics of him would normally occurred especially when there were female supporters - "anak-anak dara Kg Kota Bahru" cheering him at the edge of the goal post area.... He's no longer active the last I heard as he is now the Penghulu of KG Kota Bahru.
The most eagerly waited event of the Merdeka month in Kota Bharu was at the end of the month of August - it's carnival time with the "Malam Kugiran"... There would be a stage built at the "kawasan lapang" in front of the "Dewan Orang Ramai" near the school ....
It's really was a carnival atmosphere with the whole population of Kg Bahru & nearby "kampungs" - Kg Changkat Lenggong, Kg Lalang, Kg Sg Batu & of course the champ - Sanglop Estate would be there...
I could not remember whether it was a "kugiran" from one of the "kampungs" but definitely it was not from Kg Kota Bahru. The event of the night was normally broke up into several segments with the first being a segment by the students of Kg Bahru Primary School. I remember my other elder brother - Asri & gang performed a short drama on stage...
Then, it was time for the "local talents" to perform & there he was - my "Abang" sang a Bee Gees songs - I think it was " Words" & "1st of May"...
Every year in this 'Merdeka Month" during this night, everybody would be waiting for a particular persona. He called himself on stage as " Uda Dara Manja" & hailed from Kg Changkat Lenggong.
So you might be asking what so special about this guy eh? Well the way he dressed - it's awesome in that era of time. Tight pants & three piece jackets - green & with black shirt & red muffler around his his neck - of course "bling - bling"!!!
If you are still not convince on why "Uda Dara Manja" was the "star" of the night, read this ... The way he dressed, his hair style and even his voice were a mirror image of the 60s singer A Ramli. Of course he would only sing A ramli's songs!!!! It was said that he did performed together with A Ramli in a fun fare held in Gopeng in the 70s. It was said that even A Ramli was impressed with his vocal prowess & I think A Ramli might even be confused for a while seeing "himself" that night in Gopeng!!!!
The event would ended at the stroke of midnight with the cry of "Merdeka" by those present .....
I really missed those days of Merdeka celebration in my "kampung" as I feel it was very genuine & multi racial - the "kampung" folks were simple people but with a big heart & full of "Merdeka" spirit!!!
Till the next post ....
There would be an inter-football games among the "hastily formed" football clubs coming August such as Kg Teja FC, Sanglop Estate FC, Kg Changkat Lenggong FC and so on. It's multi racial indeed & normally it's a 1 day affair. The dominant teams were Sanglop Estate FC, Kg Teja FG & Kota Bahru FC with Sanglop Estate usually emerged as the champion most of the times.
My elder brother - I called him "Abang" (Bakhtiar) played as a striker in Kg Bahru FC and ended up being tackled time & again to the dismay of the supporters including myself. I was in my lower primary then ... I could still remember the goal keeper of Kg Bahru FC, Dollah Sham. He's a good keeper actually but his antics at the goal post always amused the supporters.
The thing about him is this. He's a good keeper with good agility & reflexes but most of the time over acting especially in saving any strike from the opponents. Though he had safely caught the ball, he would somehow or rather did his "over acrobatic" dive - but luckily still within the penalty box as he rolled over & over with the ball safely tuck close to his chest!!! These acrobatic antics of him would normally occurred especially when there were female supporters - "anak-anak dara Kg Kota Bahru" cheering him at the edge of the goal post area.... He's no longer active the last I heard as he is now the Penghulu of KG Kota Bahru.
The most eagerly waited event of the Merdeka month in Kota Bharu was at the end of the month of August - it's carnival time with the "Malam Kugiran"... There would be a stage built at the "kawasan lapang" in front of the "Dewan Orang Ramai" near the school ....
It's really was a carnival atmosphere with the whole population of Kg Bahru & nearby "kampungs" - Kg Changkat Lenggong, Kg Lalang, Kg Sg Batu & of course the champ - Sanglop Estate would be there...
I could not remember whether it was a "kugiran" from one of the "kampungs" but definitely it was not from Kg Kota Bahru. The event of the night was normally broke up into several segments with the first being a segment by the students of Kg Bahru Primary School. I remember my other elder brother - Asri & gang performed a short drama on stage...
Then, it was time for the "local talents" to perform & there he was - my "Abang" sang a Bee Gees songs - I think it was " Words" & "1st of May"...
Every year in this 'Merdeka Month" during this night, everybody would be waiting for a particular persona. He called himself on stage as " Uda Dara Manja" & hailed from Kg Changkat Lenggong.
So you might be asking what so special about this guy eh? Well the way he dressed - it's awesome in that era of time. Tight pants & three piece jackets - green & with black shirt & red muffler around his his neck - of course "bling - bling"!!!
If you are still not convince on why "Uda Dara Manja" was the "star" of the night, read this ... The way he dressed, his hair style and even his voice were a mirror image of the 60s singer A Ramli. Of course he would only sing A ramli's songs!!!! It was said that he did performed together with A Ramli in a fun fare held in Gopeng in the 70s. It was said that even A Ramli was impressed with his vocal prowess & I think A Ramli might even be confused for a while seeing "himself" that night in Gopeng!!!!
The event would ended at the stroke of midnight with the cry of "Merdeka" by those present .....
I really missed those days of Merdeka celebration in my "kampung" as I feel it was very genuine & multi racial - the "kampung" folks were simple people but with a big heart & full of "Merdeka" spirit!!!
Till the next post ....
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Heroes of "Merdeka"
Coming 31 August, we will be celebrating our 53 years of independence ...
Independence/Merdeka would not be achieved without the blood & sweat of the yesteryear heroes of the then Malaya - as Malaysia was once known...
The magnificent figures posted in this entry had a hand in the fighting for independence in one way or the other and they were - I would say - the "forgotten" heroes - to most of us ....
I am proud to note here that Allahyarham Burhanuddin Al Helmy was actually hailed from the Mukim of Kota Bharu - my "kampung" where I was raised, same as Lat.. He was born in 1911 at Kg Changkat Tualang, Kota Bharu, Gopeng, Perak. Had an early education at Madrasah Al Mahsyur before pursuing his study in Homeopathy in India.
In 1950, he was arrested by the British for his alleged role in the Natrah demo in Singapore and was the YD Pertua PAS in 1956. In 1959, he won the general election for the Besut Parliament. Again arrested under the ISA from 1964 - 1966 and passed away on 10 October 1969.
In Tanjung Malim, way back in 1922 Sir R O Winstedt the then Deputy of Malay Schools mooted the setting up of a Teachers' Training College known as the Sultan Idris Training College (SITC). It was named after the 28th Sultan of Perak.
SITC was the "factory" of Malay Nationalists such as Hassan Manan (Kesatuan Rakyat Indonesia Semenanjung) and of course the illustrious and charismatic Ibrahim Yaacob (Kesatuan Melayu Muda). Though Ibrahim Yaacob left SITC midway of his study, it was there he had the first hand experience mingling with the other Malay Nationalists.
Another nationalist was educated at Anderson School, Ipoh (my Alma Matter - 6th Form)i.e. Abdullah Thani Bin Rja Kecil a.k.a. Ahmad Boestamam. Born in Behrang, Tanjung Malim, Perak on 30 November 1920 and passed away on 19 January 1983. He was active in the Socialist Front/Parti Buruh amongst others and was a Member of Parliament of Setapak in 1959. He was also had been detained under the ISA.
As a note of record, Anderson School was established on 6 February 1909 to cater for the Malay students then who had no opportunity to further their studies at MCKK, Kuala Kangsar.
Pak Sako was a product of MCKK which was established in 1905. He was born in Temerloh, Pahang in 1931. A "true blue" Nationalist till his passing on 7 November 1991. It would be complete if the name of A Samad Ismail (18 April 1924 - 4 September 2008) is not mentioned in this post as somehow or rather Pak Samad was an influential figure in the 1950s amongst the independence fighters in Malaya, Singapore & Indonesia - through Utusan Melayu where he was the journalist there at the barely age of 16!!!
Reading these heroes of independence biographies would pointing to several common features/characteristics among them ....
Most of them - if not all - were products from the institutions set up by the Colonial power then. They were bonded by the common goal of getting rid of the colonial power - mostly through journalism/literature. They were also inclined to the then Leftist/Islamic movement then in Malaya ......
Pak Sako had written the satirical novels entitled "Anak Mat Lela Gila" & "Putera Gunung Tahan" so as Ahmad Boestamam - a journalist. Burhanuddin Al Helmy wrote "Melihat Tanah Air" where he recorded his observation on the then Malay/Muslim society in the 1940s.
It was also "rumoured" that during the 1940s - 1950s era especially during the Japanese Occupation that the Nationalists networking were so wide and comprehensive in the Nusantara - Malaya, Singapore & Indonesia to the extent of the engaging of the cabaret dancers as their informants!!!!
As fated had it, the independence movement by these heroes - there were others which I did not mention here such as Lim Chee Siong @ Singapore - were "disrupted" & faded away by the crushing of the Leftist movement especially during the Emergency Period
(1946 - 1960) ... Ibrahim Yaacob somehow or rather just "faded away" in exile in Indonesia.
Their contributions in the independence movement were great & could not be disregarded by generations to come ....
To them Al Fatihah & may their contributions remain in the Malaysia independence Annals .....
Independence/Merdeka would not be achieved without the blood & sweat of the yesteryear heroes of the then Malaya - as Malaysia was once known...
The magnificent figures posted in this entry had a hand in the fighting for independence in one way or the other and they were - I would say - the "forgotten" heroes - to most of us ....
I am proud to note here that Allahyarham Burhanuddin Al Helmy was actually hailed from the Mukim of Kota Bharu - my "kampung" where I was raised, same as Lat.. He was born in 1911 at Kg Changkat Tualang, Kota Bharu, Gopeng, Perak. Had an early education at Madrasah Al Mahsyur before pursuing his study in Homeopathy in India.
In 1950, he was arrested by the British for his alleged role in the Natrah demo in Singapore and was the YD Pertua PAS in 1956. In 1959, he won the general election for the Besut Parliament. Again arrested under the ISA from 1964 - 1966 and passed away on 10 October 1969.
In Tanjung Malim, way back in 1922 Sir R O Winstedt the then Deputy of Malay Schools mooted the setting up of a Teachers' Training College known as the Sultan Idris Training College (SITC). It was named after the 28th Sultan of Perak.
SITC was the "factory" of Malay Nationalists such as Hassan Manan (Kesatuan Rakyat Indonesia Semenanjung) and of course the illustrious and charismatic Ibrahim Yaacob (Kesatuan Melayu Muda). Though Ibrahim Yaacob left SITC midway of his study, it was there he had the first hand experience mingling with the other Malay Nationalists.
Another nationalist was educated at Anderson School, Ipoh (my Alma Matter - 6th Form)i.e. Abdullah Thani Bin Rja Kecil a.k.a. Ahmad Boestamam. Born in Behrang, Tanjung Malim, Perak on 30 November 1920 and passed away on 19 January 1983. He was active in the Socialist Front/Parti Buruh amongst others and was a Member of Parliament of Setapak in 1959. He was also had been detained under the ISA.
As a note of record, Anderson School was established on 6 February 1909 to cater for the Malay students then who had no opportunity to further their studies at MCKK, Kuala Kangsar.
Pak Sako was a product of MCKK which was established in 1905. He was born in Temerloh, Pahang in 1931. A "true blue" Nationalist till his passing on 7 November 1991. It would be complete if the name of A Samad Ismail (18 April 1924 - 4 September 2008) is not mentioned in this post as somehow or rather Pak Samad was an influential figure in the 1950s amongst the independence fighters in Malaya, Singapore & Indonesia - through Utusan Melayu where he was the journalist there at the barely age of 16!!!
Reading these heroes of independence biographies would pointing to several common features/characteristics among them ....
Most of them - if not all - were products from the institutions set up by the Colonial power then. They were bonded by the common goal of getting rid of the colonial power - mostly through journalism/literature. They were also inclined to the then Leftist/Islamic movement then in Malaya ......
Pak Sako had written the satirical novels entitled "Anak Mat Lela Gila" & "Putera Gunung Tahan" so as Ahmad Boestamam - a journalist. Burhanuddin Al Helmy wrote "Melihat Tanah Air" where he recorded his observation on the then Malay/Muslim society in the 1940s.
It was also "rumoured" that during the 1940s - 1950s era especially during the Japanese Occupation that the Nationalists networking were so wide and comprehensive in the Nusantara - Malaya, Singapore & Indonesia to the extent of the engaging of the cabaret dancers as their informants!!!!
As fated had it, the independence movement by these heroes - there were others which I did not mention here such as Lim Chee Siong @ Singapore - were "disrupted" & faded away by the crushing of the Leftist movement especially during the Emergency Period
(1946 - 1960) ... Ibrahim Yaacob somehow or rather just "faded away" in exile in Indonesia.
Their contributions in the independence movement were great & could not be disregarded by generations to come ....
To them Al Fatihah & may their contributions remain in the Malaysia independence Annals .....
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
August @ "Merdeka Month"
Fasting month it is but I wish to post this entry though ... The month of August signifies the "merdeka" month for several Asia countries - thanks to the Imperial Japan's invasion of Asia & later the A-Bombs of Hiroshima & Nagasaki which hastened the surrender of Japan.
Indonesia took a brave & early front by unilaterally declaring her independence this August @ 17 August 1945 almost immediately after Japan surrendered. Fighting with blood & sweat against the incoming Allied Forces who came after years before being shamed & humbled by an Asian Japan.
While Malaysia somehow or rather missed the boat/"Bahtera Merdeka" for certain reasons - perhaps the "Bahtera Merdeka" sailed to the "right" rather then to the "left" instead"!!! Be that as it may, Malaysia finally gained her independence on 31 August 1957 - also in the month of August. So as India on 15 August 1947 & Pakistan - all in August ...
The Indonesian poet, Chairil Anwar wrote these "independence theme" poems:
PERSETUJUAN DENGAN BUNG KARNO
" Ayo! Bung Karno kasi tangan mari kita bikin janji
Aku sudah cukup lama dengar bicaramu
dipanggang atas apimu, digarami oleh lautmu
Dari mulai tanggal 17 Agustus 1945
Aku melangkah ke depan berada rapat di sisimu
Aku sekarang api aku sekarang laut
Bung Karno! Kau dan aku satu zat satu urat
Di zatmu di zatku kapal-kapal kita belayar
Di uratmu di uratku kapal-kapal kita bertolak & berlabuh."
[1948]
DIPONEGORO
" Di masa pembangunan ini
tuan hidup kembali
Dan bara kagum menjadi api
Di depan sekali tuan menanti
Tak gentar. Lawan banyaknya seratus kali.
Pedang di kanan, keris di kiri
Berselempang semangat yang tak bisa mati.
MAJU.
Ini barisan tak bergenderang-berpalu
Kepercayaan tanda menyerbu.
Sekali berarti
Sudah itu mati.
MAJU.
Bagimu Negeri
Menyediakan api.
Punah di atas menghamba
Binasa di atas ditinda
Sungguhpun dalam ajal baru tercapai
Jika hidup harus merasai.
Maju.
Serbu.
Serang.
Terjang."
[1943]
This year's independence month coincides with the fasting month ... so the cry of "Merdeka" should be more meaningful - spiritually apart from the yearly routine of "kibarkan jalur gemilang"!!!!
Till the next posting ......
Indonesia took a brave & early front by unilaterally declaring her independence this August @ 17 August 1945 almost immediately after Japan surrendered. Fighting with blood & sweat against the incoming Allied Forces who came after years before being shamed & humbled by an Asian Japan.
While Malaysia somehow or rather missed the boat/"Bahtera Merdeka" for certain reasons - perhaps the "Bahtera Merdeka" sailed to the "right" rather then to the "left" instead"!!! Be that as it may, Malaysia finally gained her independence on 31 August 1957 - also in the month of August. So as India on 15 August 1947 & Pakistan - all in August ...
The Indonesian poet, Chairil Anwar wrote these "independence theme" poems:
PERSETUJUAN DENGAN BUNG KARNO
" Ayo! Bung Karno kasi tangan mari kita bikin janji
Aku sudah cukup lama dengar bicaramu
dipanggang atas apimu, digarami oleh lautmu
Dari mulai tanggal 17 Agustus 1945
Aku melangkah ke depan berada rapat di sisimu
Aku sekarang api aku sekarang laut
Bung Karno! Kau dan aku satu zat satu urat
Di zatmu di zatku kapal-kapal kita belayar
Di uratmu di uratku kapal-kapal kita bertolak & berlabuh."
[1948]
DIPONEGORO
" Di masa pembangunan ini
tuan hidup kembali
Dan bara kagum menjadi api
Di depan sekali tuan menanti
Tak gentar. Lawan banyaknya seratus kali.
Pedang di kanan, keris di kiri
Berselempang semangat yang tak bisa mati.
MAJU.
Ini barisan tak bergenderang-berpalu
Kepercayaan tanda menyerbu.
Sekali berarti
Sudah itu mati.
MAJU.
Bagimu Negeri
Menyediakan api.
Punah di atas menghamba
Binasa di atas ditinda
Sungguhpun dalam ajal baru tercapai
Jika hidup harus merasai.
Maju.
Serbu.
Serang.
Terjang."
[1943]
This year's independence month coincides with the fasting month ... so the cry of "Merdeka" should be more meaningful - spiritually apart from the yearly routine of "kibarkan jalur gemilang"!!!!
Till the next posting ......
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
6th Day of Ramadhan @ Free Flow Posting
A personal note - this posting is a free flow entry with no specific topic.
The 6th day of Ramadhan had been "served" & insyaALLAH another 24 days to go ... Last weekend, I had a full quorum of my family breaking fast together - Aishah, myself, Adil, Nadia & Afiq.
It's a splendid Saturday though I could not fulfilled my promise to break fast together on that Friday - due to certain official work that I had to attend to at the office... But I made it up on that Saturday & we had a good feast together... That Saturday night, we had our "sahur" together at Kg Baru - the "Nasi Lemak" outlet @ Kelab Sultan Sulaiman....
Apart from that, nationwide - we are still being fed with news of babies being abandoned, the tragic incident @ Langkap, Teluk Intan & the two "twisters" incidents @ Jasin & Kg Medan... Not to mention the mud flood @ Sik ...
On the political/"social" aspect, HRH the Sultan of Perak reminded the young generation to always be mindful of the history of this nation .... Way back in 1988, HRH did touched on somewhat similar topic i.e. on "Social Contract" of this nation of us ....
When I browsed through the Internet on the topic, it's too heavy a topic for me to touched on - might as well I keep on listening to the Heavy Rock!!!! I will leave it to the politicians/political commentators & those who are "expert" on this ...
I just wish to note that looking at history is like looking at 2 sides of a coin - it depends on which side you want to look at - you know what I meant, I believe .... No wonder "Two Faces" in those Batman series could not make up his mind most of the time even when he tossed his coin up in the air!!!!
On the world front, it is reported that the Muslim League of America cautioned the Muslim community there to be on guard & exercise restraint as this Eidl Fitri would be coincide with 9/11 ... At least, a certain California Church had intimated that they would burn the Holy Quran on that day ...
It's really is a chaotic world outside there ... It's a never ending story!!! However, I still believe there are still rationale people out there - no matter what race or religion they might be ....
At the end of the day, the following Surah Al Kafirun:109 would be our main thrust:
" Say: O unbelievers! I worship not that whom you worship, nor
will you worship that whom I worship. I shall never worship
those deities whom you worship, nor will you ever worship Allah,
whom I worship, to you be your religion, and to me mine."
[109:(1-6)]
The 6th day of Ramadhan had been "served" & insyaALLAH another 24 days to go ... Last weekend, I had a full quorum of my family breaking fast together - Aishah, myself, Adil, Nadia & Afiq.
It's a splendid Saturday though I could not fulfilled my promise to break fast together on that Friday - due to certain official work that I had to attend to at the office... But I made it up on that Saturday & we had a good feast together... That Saturday night, we had our "sahur" together at Kg Baru - the "Nasi Lemak" outlet @ Kelab Sultan Sulaiman....
Apart from that, nationwide - we are still being fed with news of babies being abandoned, the tragic incident @ Langkap, Teluk Intan & the two "twisters" incidents @ Jasin & Kg Medan... Not to mention the mud flood @ Sik ...
On the political/"social" aspect, HRH the Sultan of Perak reminded the young generation to always be mindful of the history of this nation .... Way back in 1988, HRH did touched on somewhat similar topic i.e. on "Social Contract" of this nation of us ....
When I browsed through the Internet on the topic, it's too heavy a topic for me to touched on - might as well I keep on listening to the Heavy Rock!!!! I will leave it to the politicians/political commentators & those who are "expert" on this ...
I just wish to note that looking at history is like looking at 2 sides of a coin - it depends on which side you want to look at - you know what I meant, I believe .... No wonder "Two Faces" in those Batman series could not make up his mind most of the time even when he tossed his coin up in the air!!!!
On the world front, it is reported that the Muslim League of America cautioned the Muslim community there to be on guard & exercise restraint as this Eidl Fitri would be coincide with 9/11 ... At least, a certain California Church had intimated that they would burn the Holy Quran on that day ...
It's really is a chaotic world outside there ... It's a never ending story!!! However, I still believe there are still rationale people out there - no matter what race or religion they might be ....
At the end of the day, the following Surah Al Kafirun:109 would be our main thrust:
" Say: O unbelievers! I worship not that whom you worship, nor
will you worship that whom I worship. I shall never worship
those deities whom you worship, nor will you ever worship Allah,
whom I worship, to you be your religion, and to me mine."
[109:(1-6)]
Friday, August 13, 2010
Ramadhan @ 2nd Day
Alhamdulillah ... Despite the "busy schedule/works" at the office - "masaalah dunia", I managed "berbuka puasa" with Aishah & the kids - Adil & Nadia ... InsyaALLAH, that would be the case for the whole of this holy month of Ramadhan.
One thing that strikes me most was when I received - I bet most of you had also received the same - note that "Somebody is leaving ( for 1 month )... He he... That "guy" might be leaving for 1 month but I bet "he" is strategising his next move!!! Well, he would seek "revenge" sooner than we expected - just to make up for the lost 1 month ... The "guy" had made a promise to ALLAH to let us astray from the right path. It's his KPI anyway.
Despite the 1 month leave during this Holy Month, we do still read in the news -babies being abandoned, people got murdered and so on .... So where do we go from here? "Cuti" or "no cuti", the situation is still the same as if the "guy" were still around .... Is it in us? - with or without that "guy" around?
As a mortal, I pray that I will be led to the right path and ALLAH forgives me for my past sins/mistakes or error in judgement... and for that particular "guy" to be in "absentia" forever .... My pray also for my family - Aishah & the kids and all Muslims worldwide... InsyaALLAH ....
Till we meet again ....
One thing that strikes me most was when I received - I bet most of you had also received the same - note that "Somebody is leaving ( for 1 month )... He he... That "guy" might be leaving for 1 month but I bet "he" is strategising his next move!!! Well, he would seek "revenge" sooner than we expected - just to make up for the lost 1 month ... The "guy" had made a promise to ALLAH to let us astray from the right path. It's his KPI anyway.
Despite the 1 month leave during this Holy Month, we do still read in the news -babies being abandoned, people got murdered and so on .... So where do we go from here? "Cuti" or "no cuti", the situation is still the same as if the "guy" were still around .... Is it in us? - with or without that "guy" around?
As a mortal, I pray that I will be led to the right path and ALLAH forgives me for my past sins/mistakes or error in judgement... and for that particular "guy" to be in "absentia" forever .... My pray also for my family - Aishah & the kids and all Muslims worldwide... InsyaALLAH ....
Till we meet again ....
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
It's Ramadhan @ "Puasa" Again
Now the clock is at 2.44 AM & I just could not sleep. Tomorrow from the sunrise to the sunset we will start our fasting ....
The 1st day is always the tough one as some say. especially for kids. I remember when I was a kid - I started fasting at the age of 4, of course with the regime of " setengah hari puasa" then slowly fasting for the full day - it was as if that 1st day would not ended.
There was one ocassion where I was literally lying down right in front of the "juadah puasa" at 6.00 PM waiting to break fast at about 7.26 PM!!!! Talking about "juadah puasa", it's not like what it is now. There was no "ayam percik", "murtabak", "ikan bakar" etc.
For me & my family during those days, "buka puasa" means a simple dish of "nasi putih" with "telur masin" & "ikan rebus goreng" or " gulai pisang muda" plus of course "kicap" - it's heaven!!!! Not to be missed, Mak would also prepare "pengat pisang"...
Those were the wonderful years and I would post further entries re: fasting month during my kid's days @ my kampung - I believe some of you may have had the same experience especially the RK Boys!!!!!
Selamat Berpuasa .....
The 1st day is always the tough one as some say. especially for kids. I remember when I was a kid - I started fasting at the age of 4, of course with the regime of " setengah hari puasa" then slowly fasting for the full day - it was as if that 1st day would not ended.
There was one ocassion where I was literally lying down right in front of the "juadah puasa" at 6.00 PM waiting to break fast at about 7.26 PM!!!! Talking about "juadah puasa", it's not like what it is now. There was no "ayam percik", "murtabak", "ikan bakar" etc.
For me & my family during those days, "buka puasa" means a simple dish of "nasi putih" with "telur masin" & "ikan rebus goreng" or " gulai pisang muda" plus of course "kicap" - it's heaven!!!! Not to be missed, Mak would also prepare "pengat pisang"...
Those were the wonderful years and I would post further entries re: fasting month during my kid's days @ my kampung - I believe some of you may have had the same experience especially the RK Boys!!!!!
Selamat Berpuasa .....
Monday, August 9, 2010
Ramadhan Is Coming ... InsyaALLAH
In 2 days' time insyaALLAH Ramadhan - the fasting month - would commence. This posting is a short note on fasting month actually, just to serve as a "reminder" to me on the importance & "hikmah" of Ramadhan. I am just a mere mortal anyway ....
Perusing through the translation of the Holy Quran, I found the following verses:
Surah Al Baqarah [2:183-185]:
" O Believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may learn self restraint. Fast the prescribed number of days; except if any of you is ill or on a journey, then fast a similar number of days later. For those who cannot endure it for medical reasons, there is a ransom: the feeding of one poor person for each missed day. Whoever does more good than this voluntarily, it is better for him. However, if you truly understand the rationale of fasting, it is better for you to fast." [2:183-184]
" It is the month of Ramadhan in which Quran was revealed, a guidance for mankind with clear teachings showing the Right way and a criterion of truth and falsehood. Therefore, anyone of you who witnesses that month should fast therein, and whoever is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on. Allah intends your well being and does not want to put you to hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period so that you should glorify His Greatness and render thanks to Him for giving you guidance" [2: 185].
Amongst the "hikmah" of Ramadhan is "Al Qadr":
" Surely, We have revealed this (Quran) in the night of Qadr. And what will make you understand what night of Qadr is? The night of Qadr is better than one thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) come down, by the leave of their Rabb, with all Decrees. That night is the night of Peace, till the break of dawn." [Surah Al - Qadr 97:(1-5)].
Let us welcome Ramadhan with humility and full submission to Allah .... InsyaALLAH.
Perusing through the translation of the Holy Quran, I found the following verses:
Surah Al Baqarah [2:183-185]:
" O Believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may learn self restraint. Fast the prescribed number of days; except if any of you is ill or on a journey, then fast a similar number of days later. For those who cannot endure it for medical reasons, there is a ransom: the feeding of one poor person for each missed day. Whoever does more good than this voluntarily, it is better for him. However, if you truly understand the rationale of fasting, it is better for you to fast." [2:183-184]
" It is the month of Ramadhan in which Quran was revealed, a guidance for mankind with clear teachings showing the Right way and a criterion of truth and falsehood. Therefore, anyone of you who witnesses that month should fast therein, and whoever is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on. Allah intends your well being and does not want to put you to hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period so that you should glorify His Greatness and render thanks to Him for giving you guidance" [2: 185].
Amongst the "hikmah" of Ramadhan is "Al Qadr":
" Surely, We have revealed this (Quran) in the night of Qadr. And what will make you understand what night of Qadr is? The night of Qadr is better than one thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) come down, by the leave of their Rabb, with all Decrees. That night is the night of Peace, till the break of dawn." [Surah Al - Qadr 97:(1-5)].
Let us welcome Ramadhan with humility and full submission to Allah .... InsyaALLAH.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Bob Marley - The Great Son Of Jamaica
Before I proceed, let me reproduced Bob Marley's 3 songs - my favourite songs actually - amongst the many celebrated songs by him:
Redemption Song [Note: Not the full version]
" Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
....
emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our mind
Have no fear for atomic energy
...."
Three Little Birds
" Don't worry about a thing
cause every little thing is gonna be alright
don't worry about a thing
every little thing is gonna be alright.
Rise up this morning
smiled with the rising sun
three little birds
pitch by my door step
singing sweet songs
of melodies pure and true
saying this is my message to you:
don't worry about a thing."
Buffalo Soldier [Note: Not the full version]
" ....
I am just a Buffalo Soldier
In the heart of America
Stolen from Africa, brought to America
Said he was fighting on arrival
Fighting for survival
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier
Win the war for America.
.... "
Bob Marley's songs always have kind of mystic effect on those who listen to them - me included... The lyrics are about freedom, emancipation, peace and humanity...
Born as Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley from a mixed parentage (his father was white & a black mother) on 6 February 1945 @ Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. Due to this mixed ancestry, he was always being subjected to humiliation. His response to this was:
" ... Me don't dip on no body's side. Me don't dip on black
man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side..."
His genre of music was reggae, ska and rock steady with streams of hit songs such as "I shot the Sheriff", "No Woman No Cry" & "Could You Be Loved". Most of the songs were a hit during his heydays with his band "The Wailers" (1964-1974).
I am not going to delve on his Rastafarian belief - some say it's not a religion anyway et al. - but more on his positive influence to the music world, the political climate in Jamaica & the peaceful movement world wide.
Bob Marley died after he succumbed to cancer in Miami on 11 May 1981. He was 36 years and was given a state funeral in Jamaica on 21 May 1981 - again with both the leaders of the Government and the Opposition present [Note: Please see below].
But he died not before performing a "One Love Peace Concert" in April 1978 at the Kingston's National Arena with both leaders from the Government and Opposition present - to ease the tense political situation at that time.
As a mark of respect to her great son, Jamaica declared every 6 February as a National Holiday and Bob Marley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in January 1994 by none other than the "rebel" Irish singer Bono of U2...
I ended this posting with 2 quotes by Bob Marley:
" Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny" and
" In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty."
Food for thought eh .....
Redemption Song [Note: Not the full version]
" Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
....
emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our mind
Have no fear for atomic energy
...."
Three Little Birds
" Don't worry about a thing
cause every little thing is gonna be alright
don't worry about a thing
every little thing is gonna be alright.
Rise up this morning
smiled with the rising sun
three little birds
pitch by my door step
singing sweet songs
of melodies pure and true
saying this is my message to you:
don't worry about a thing."
Buffalo Soldier [Note: Not the full version]
" ....
I am just a Buffalo Soldier
In the heart of America
Stolen from Africa, brought to America
Said he was fighting on arrival
Fighting for survival
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier
Win the war for America.
.... "
Bob Marley's songs always have kind of mystic effect on those who listen to them - me included... The lyrics are about freedom, emancipation, peace and humanity...
Born as Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley from a mixed parentage (his father was white & a black mother) on 6 February 1945 @ Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. Due to this mixed ancestry, he was always being subjected to humiliation. His response to this was:
" ... Me don't dip on no body's side. Me don't dip on black
man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side..."
His genre of music was reggae, ska and rock steady with streams of hit songs such as "I shot the Sheriff", "No Woman No Cry" & "Could You Be Loved". Most of the songs were a hit during his heydays with his band "The Wailers" (1964-1974).
I am not going to delve on his Rastafarian belief - some say it's not a religion anyway et al. - but more on his positive influence to the music world, the political climate in Jamaica & the peaceful movement world wide.
Bob Marley died after he succumbed to cancer in Miami on 11 May 1981. He was 36 years and was given a state funeral in Jamaica on 21 May 1981 - again with both the leaders of the Government and the Opposition present [Note: Please see below].
But he died not before performing a "One Love Peace Concert" in April 1978 at the Kingston's National Arena with both leaders from the Government and Opposition present - to ease the tense political situation at that time.
As a mark of respect to her great son, Jamaica declared every 6 February as a National Holiday and Bob Marley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in January 1994 by none other than the "rebel" Irish singer Bono of U2...
I ended this posting with 2 quotes by Bob Marley:
" Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny" and
" In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty."
Food for thought eh .....
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Cut Nyak Dhien & Christine Hakim
I came across an article the other day re: Female Warriors in South East Asia & 1 name struck me the most... For here perseverance and committed to Jihad.
She was an Acheh very religious female warrior known as Cut Nyak Dhien @ Tjoet Nja' Dhien who was born in 1850 in Lampadang & died on 6 November 1908 in Sumandang. He led the guerrilla war against the Dutch for a good 25 years. She married twice and when her first husband died in the cause of war against the Dutch she married Teuku Umar in 1888.
Fate was pre written as her second husband, Teuku Umar also died while fighting the Dutch in 1899. It was said that when the news of the death of Teuku Umar was made known, their daughter Tjoet Ganggam cried. She was slapped by Cut Nyak Dhien who hugged her daughter and said:
"As Achenese woman, we must not shed tears for anyone who becomes Shaheed"
Such a committed mother/warrior reminds me of a Mother during Prophet Muhammad (Q: Is it Ummu Mashitah or is it Ummu Maishiah? Please correct me if I am wrong) who cried when all her son died as a Shaheed during the war against the Musrikeen Mekah. Reason being she had no other son to offer in the war against the kafir Mushrikeen.
From then on, Cut Nyak Dhien fought and led a band guerrilla fighting the Dutch till she was old & fragile with sight impediment. She was caught by the Dutch and was exiled to Sumandang where she died and laid to rest there.
She was also known as "Ibu Perbu" (The Queen) by the locals in Sumandang for her deep knowledge in religion and her view on the issue of Jihad. To honour her role in the war against the Dutch, she was conferred with a title "National Hero of Indonesia" by Sukarno on 2 May 1964.
Cut Nykk Dhien's life was translated into film in 1988 in a self entitled film starred by none other than the beautiful & regal Christine Hakim. Itwas said that Christine Hakim was very "Cut Nyak Dhien" herself in her acting.
A little notes on Christine Hakim. Her name is Herlina Christine Natalie Hakim and was born on 25 December 1956 in Kuala Tungkal, Jambi. Christine Hakim is a great Indonesian actress who starred in so many successful film, most of them directed by Eros Djarot. This film won the Best International Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989 with Christine Hakim voted as the Best Actress.
Talking about Cristine Hakim, I first Saw her movie - her 1st actually which shot her to fame - entitled "Cinta Pertama" ( 1973/74 - I was in Standard 5 then). Since then, I "fell" in love with Christine Hakim (her acting & her beauty) and watched her other movies such as "Pengemis & Tukang Bechak" (1978).
The only sad thing is that the film "Tjoet Nja' Dhien" never made it to our shore or rather to our cinemas for reason only known to the authorities .... what a waste and unfair deprivation to us Malaysians ......
Be that as it may, I hope the film would reached our shore - to depict the perseverance and the Jihad spirit of this Acheh female warrior....
P/S. Other Achehnese female warriors which worth mentioning here are Tjoet Meusiah, Tjoet Gambang (Kambang) and Keumala Malahajati. Keumala Malahajati was the admiral who fought the Portuguese in Melaka ...
May they rest in peace & al Fatihah .....
She was an Acheh very religious female warrior known as Cut Nyak Dhien @ Tjoet Nja' Dhien who was born in 1850 in Lampadang & died on 6 November 1908 in Sumandang. He led the guerrilla war against the Dutch for a good 25 years. She married twice and when her first husband died in the cause of war against the Dutch she married Teuku Umar in 1888.
Fate was pre written as her second husband, Teuku Umar also died while fighting the Dutch in 1899. It was said that when the news of the death of Teuku Umar was made known, their daughter Tjoet Ganggam cried. She was slapped by Cut Nyak Dhien who hugged her daughter and said:
"As Achenese woman, we must not shed tears for anyone who becomes Shaheed"
Such a committed mother/warrior reminds me of a Mother during Prophet Muhammad (Q: Is it Ummu Mashitah or is it Ummu Maishiah? Please correct me if I am wrong) who cried when all her son died as a Shaheed during the war against the Musrikeen Mekah. Reason being she had no other son to offer in the war against the kafir Mushrikeen.
From then on, Cut Nyak Dhien fought and led a band guerrilla fighting the Dutch till she was old & fragile with sight impediment. She was caught by the Dutch and was exiled to Sumandang where she died and laid to rest there.
She was also known as "Ibu Perbu" (The Queen) by the locals in Sumandang for her deep knowledge in religion and her view on the issue of Jihad. To honour her role in the war against the Dutch, she was conferred with a title "National Hero of Indonesia" by Sukarno on 2 May 1964.
Cut Nykk Dhien's life was translated into film in 1988 in a self entitled film starred by none other than the beautiful & regal Christine Hakim. Itwas said that Christine Hakim was very "Cut Nyak Dhien" herself in her acting.
A little notes on Christine Hakim. Her name is Herlina Christine Natalie Hakim and was born on 25 December 1956 in Kuala Tungkal, Jambi. Christine Hakim is a great Indonesian actress who starred in so many successful film, most of them directed by Eros Djarot. This film won the Best International Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989 with Christine Hakim voted as the Best Actress.
Talking about Cristine Hakim, I first Saw her movie - her 1st actually which shot her to fame - entitled "Cinta Pertama" ( 1973/74 - I was in Standard 5 then). Since then, I "fell" in love with Christine Hakim (her acting & her beauty) and watched her other movies such as "Pengemis & Tukang Bechak" (1978).
The only sad thing is that the film "Tjoet Nja' Dhien" never made it to our shore or rather to our cinemas for reason only known to the authorities .... what a waste and unfair deprivation to us Malaysians ......
Be that as it may, I hope the film would reached our shore - to depict the perseverance and the Jihad spirit of this Acheh female warrior....
P/S. Other Achehnese female warriors which worth mentioning here are Tjoet Meusiah, Tjoet Gambang (Kambang) and Keumala Malahajati. Keumala Malahajati was the admiral who fought the Portuguese in Melaka ...
May they rest in peace & al Fatihah .....
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