Krong Krang

Meanwhile

2008-09-14T10:28:00.003+08:00

While others have been talking a lot on the ISA issue, the 916 issue and lots of other stuffs, I just do not want to share about those issues.

Not that I'm not a fan of such things, but sometimes we are just overstuffed by such news. Yes, I agree that ISA should be reviewed, in terms Malaysia going for a more and better democracy and freedom. Even in Islam it is clearly noted that such arrests are just plainly denying the right of defending oneself until he is proven guilty. Even if someone is committing a crime, the procedure to take the criminal into custody must be done in a proper manner, through the court, and not just plain arrest without any compromise. This is very unjust.

Takeover

Meanwhile, the issue I would like to highlight is the Fannie and Freddie takeover. Some say it is the biggest takeover in history. Some say it is another mere ploy and conspiracy towards the USA Presedential Election this upcoming November. Some others were just too busy to care for such things.

My views, are we seeing another economic meltdown in these coming days ? Just like what happened a decade ago, and also what happened two decades ago, quite a few people are expecting another global economic meltdown, especially after the over-extensive issue of mortgage is the States. And we now come to this, two big arms of the investment banking are eventually being bought up by the government itself. This is surely not including other companies such as Lehman. These companies are also begging for the saviour Wall Street to save them, but still it is not known whether their prayers would be answered.

Of course, such actions were expected. Give a candy to a child in a kindergarden, and eventually the rest would showed themselves up, asking for the same candy. But the issue remains is whether are there just enough money, and will be action be another unproper action. The second issue is perhaps will the most contributing factor to whatever action taken by the government. Buyover of a company through the taxpayers, in democratic terms, are just undemocratic. It is the way of socialism, buying over businesses to be controlled by the government, in contrast to the US well-known policy of hardened capitalism.

But, letting go of Lehman to suffer from liquidation might also be a bad idea. The States is already overridden with the suffering economic meltdown. Such liquidation will just add more wounds.

Outsourcing

Another news that not many would know is about Dell outsourcing themselves by 2010. Though it is not weird, it is still quite a shock. Being a 100% factory free, or in other words total outsourcing means that they are really suffering from overly cost of operations around the globe. These would eventually means that there would be no more Dell factories, only their HQ and maybe sales rep centres.

Outsourcing at a point is very good, you save costs. But in other views, it is very dangerous. Surely everyone would not like events such as smuggling and design copying to happen. Not like what happened to Camel in Thailand, or even Cisco in China. The companies really did suffered, and they just couldn't stop it, nor could they see it coming.

The Kingmaker

2008-08-16T17:04:00.002+08:00

I do not wish to talk about Malaysian politics. Not that I'm sick of it, but honestly, it is just too much. The talk about politics have gone to the extent that more people are talking about Permatang Pauh than sharing on the upcoming Independence Day.

So let's go at the broader, wider scale of the world. Is United States of America still the king maker in world domination ? All right, maybe not a total domination in term of conquering the whole land and seas as they did in Iraq and Afghanistan, but being a major political power which can't be brushed or singled out in any international or internal events. Even during the Reformasi days we saw US, specifically Albert Gore who commented on the Reformasi as a good change to Malaysia, though Mahathir clearly did not like such words. Yet, Mahathir was very powerless when it comes to US, except to play with other cards such as new economical agendas; he singled out the US currency rate. He didn't care what values were the Dow Jones at that time, he made it a static value, a constant, to the very end that our currency became stable and better.

Well, that may be 10 years ago. The situation now is clearly different. The Eastern bloc, or Russians, are clearly showing their paws again, after a long stand of North Korea and Iraq who kept on to their words of not caring for the words of USA in their nuclear program. When Russia attacked the capital of Georgia for it's internal problem. It is believed that one of the states in Georgia, South Ossetia asked for independence, but rejected and moreoverly attacked by the Georgian Army for asking such things. Being an ex-state of the then-USSR, Russia felt needed to help South Ossetia thus counter attacked Georgia.

To me, the issue isn't just about brothers-in-arms. It's also about revealing the true power of USA. We kept on seeing USA as a real major political power, but in this event, they are not able to do a thing. Their resources has clearly been spent so much in Iraq and Afghanistan that they are not able to help Georgia retaliate. All they could do was to found a diplomatic stance between Georgia and Russia. Yes, we all know that such stance will not last long. Should Russia have enough power, they will again launch another attack on Georgia to confirm the strength of the States.

Hasselblad, Kodak Launch 50-Mpixel Camera

2008-07-09T07:13:00.002+08:00

For those of you who love those megapixels, you now can drop a year's pay or so on the new Hasselblad H3DII-50 – a 50-megapixel camera. The H3DII-50 boasts the worlds largest sensor, at 36-by-48mm, built by Kodak.

Kodak states: "At 50 {megapixels] the sensor captures digital images with unprecedented resolution and detail. For instance, with a 50 megapixel camera, in an aerial photo of a field 1-½ miles across, you could detect an object about the size of a small notebook computer (1 foot by 1 foot)."

Don't expect high-speed shooting, though: The H3DII-50 can record at 1 frame per second. The camera's product page says that the camera captures 300MB files, but an informational PDF says that RAW files are just 65MB. At least it shoots in DNG format, which is perfect for use with Photoshop.

The H3DII-50 features a 3-inch display, a CCD cooling sink, and optional GPS accessories and media cards. The camera can shoot at ISO ranges of 50 to 400. It will use CF cards and SanDisk Extreme IV's. Don't expect to take many pictures at that huge size--you'll need to time yourself to capture exactly what you want to shoot.

The price is still unknown. The next model down costs around $40,000, though, so don't expect this one to be cheap.

Originally posted on Gearlog.

Retracted

2008-07-04T12:26:00.003+08:00

Ok, maybe some, not all.
But...
In less than 24 hours.
Willingly or forced to?

More news

p/s:
1) Maybe he is willing to do so because he couldn't framed Najib more than he is doing now.

2) Maybe he is forced to do so, by the MoD or RMP.

3) Maybe he is doing it due to playing push and pull technique. I mean, of course, whoever wins in his own issues will most probably be the next leader of Malaysia, and just maybe, maybe, AAB doesn't want either of them. Also, something needed to be pointed out, he did his press conference on his SD with PKR top figures. Why them, and not alone? Altantuya issue is not PKR's, and the accuser of the case is also not PKR. To the very least, he didn't have to pull a media conference with PKR. Something which is just not right.

Book Review: Belajar Dari Dua Umar

2008-07-03T08:16:00.006+08:00

Alhamdulillah, finished reading a very nice book. At first glance, I really thought it was about two well-known Caliph, Umar Al-Khattab and Umar Abd Al-Aziz. Well, I was quite there, but not perfectly correct.

The book is entitled as such, but inside are examples from the Sirah Nabawiyyah or the History of the Prophets and the Brotherhood, as well as several ample examples from other historical Islamic figures. Still, if it just write examples, it may not mean much to me, since there are loads of Sirah books available, such as Sirah Nabawiyyah by Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz, or even the famous Fiqh Sirah by Dr Sa'id Ramadhan Al-Bouti, but this book studied the meaning and justification behind each examples, and relates them to events happening nowadays. (The events are randomly events in Indonesia, since the writer, Hepi Andi Bastoni is an Indonesian, but that pretty good enough).

If other Sirah books explain the history of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w in general, this book focuses on the umara' side, or leadership in English. The book covered not only the history of the Prophet s.a.w, but also some of notable among the Brotherhoods, such as Ubaidah Al-Jarrah, Umar Al-Khattab, Abu Bakar As-Siddiq, as well as other famous caliphs; among them Umar Abd Al-Aziz and Harun al-Rasyid.

Inside the book are details on how an Islamic political figure, or an Islamic leader among Muslim society, or in a Muslim/Islamic country should behave and act. There are also examples that Muslims as a society need to focus, to be the revered Muslims. Nowadays it must be said that Islam is no more than just a religion, when Islam beforehand was more than just religion; it is the way of life. A Muslim practitioner practices Islam as soon as he wakes up and ends when he sleeps. Doa taught by Prophet s.a.w, or other Prophets a.s,or even by notable ulamas' are spoken for every work we do. And not only that, an Islamic country should be one of the utmost or ultimate dream for every Muslims; a country which not only protects Muslims right and 'ibadah, but also gives fair and just protection to non-Muslims, so long as the non-Muslims does not wage any war. This is shown on how Umar Al-Khattab didn't punish anyone at all when he released Bait Al-Maqdis from the hands of Christians. Instead, he promised and showed respect, honour, fair justice to all commoners in Bait Al-Maqdis. This should be the Islamic country Muslims strive for, with honour.

Though the book quotes "Kenyangkan Perut Rakyat", or "Prioritize the Commoners for Food", I however was quite encaptured by the last paragraph of the last chapter

"Memang, jika tiba saatnya kemenangan pasti datang. Tapi bukan tugas kita untuk menunggu. Kekuasaan itu harus direbut. Kemenangan itu harus disambut. Sekarang saatnya"

or in plain English

"Of course, victory shall prevail comes the right time. But it is not our duty to wait. The power must be grabbed upon. The victory must be strived upon. Now it the time"

p/s: The book is entitled Belajar Dari Dua Umar, written by Hepi Andi Bastoni with exclusive comment by Tuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and published by Anbakri Publika Sdn Bhd(796344-P) with ISBN 978-983-43748-8-4.can be bought for RM15 in West Malaysia and RM17 in Sabah/Sarawak.

Oppurtunist not wanted

2008-07-02T22:27:00.004+08:00

Note : This article is written in response to PKR's statement to change the PROTES gathering this Sunday (060708) to a pro-Anwar rally. This article is personal and individual, thus does not reflects any party or organisation the writer is subjected to. More news: Fuel price protest to be pro-Anwar rally

Initially the plan was very good and brilliant, a gathering in defiance of the government's action to increase the fuel price in Malaysia. Unlike other previous gathering, this gathering is supposed to be very peaceful but cynical to the government, a new passive yet active way to send a message of defiance to the government.

Yet, for some reason, PKR made a statement to change the anti-fuel increment rally to a pro-Anwar rally. Now this is just bad.

First of all, Anwar has not been taken into custody yet. Until now, he is still a free man who walks anywhere he wants, around us, like any other normal people. There is only a police report which says that he sodomized Saiful Bukhari Azlan, which is yet to be be proved yet (My bet is that there won't be a case,it's not a res ipsa liquitor, but more of a prima facie case, and this is where Anwar would eventually win)

If there's a police report, you are not going to be captured or taken into custody by the police. Yet, you only need to go through a series of court appearance, where you will debate to defend yourself, should you be the accused, or prove the accused guilty, should you be the accuser.

Thus, in which point does Anwar actually needs such rally? Unlike 1998 case where he is put behind bars, today is only behind his house fences, not jail bars.

Second, his issue is more of a private, individual issue. Whatever happens, it will only affect his life (Yeah yeah, without him on track, the 16 Sept agenda would probably not happened). We, the commons however, are more interested in the increasing fuel price. This fuel price affects everyone. Oil is one of the basic needs today. Whatever the oil price is, that is the portion that needed to be paid for everyone who bought foods, beverages, and all other stuffs. This issue is national, or better sounded as international. That issue is just plain individual.

Of course, some might argue that without Anwar as the helm, the 16 Sept 2008 agenda would most probably be lost, but that is just hypocritical thinking. That is just an idea, a hope, something which has yet to happened. This, imminent fuel price increment is something that is happening right now, RM2.70 for a litre of RON97 fuel, plus some hushes on another yet-to-happen price increment to RM3.10, and some even said it would go as far as RM4.00 by the end of the year.

Thus, personally I would suggest that PKR retracts the idea of changing the agenda of the rally. You don't need that 1 million rally to become yours. It is not yours, but it belongs to the people. It is about oil, not someone, even if we are in favour of him. Please be professional.

A very hard formula

2008-06-23T20:37:00.003+08:00

Tadi baru dok dengaq YB Khairy Jamaluddin melontarkan idea-idea tentang usul penjimatan subsidi. Ada la sikit celoteh tentang dengan penjimatan subsidi minyak, maka duit itu boleh digunakan untuk hal-hal lain, antaranya subsidi bagi makanan yang kian melonjak tinggi harganya.

Tuan YB, tahukah anda

Bila Minyak Naik, Harga Makanan pun Naik

Hal ini disebabkan makanan ini akan dipindahkan dari satu tempat ke tempat yang lain, bermula dari tempat seperti ladang/jeti sehinggalah ke supermarket ataupun kedai-kedai runcit. Untuk memindahkan barang makanan ini, kenderaan berskala besar, kebiasaannya lori, digunakan sebagai alat pengangkutan. Maka, apabila kenaikan harga diesel sebanyak RM1.58 sen seliter, takkanlah harga barangan makanan ini tidak naik. Macam harga roti canai la, tepung naik untuk sepeket, tapi roti canai pun naik gak dlm 10-20 sen untuk sekeping roti.

Bagi seorang yang bergelar engineer, orang itu lazimnya akan mempelajari satu subjek yang dipanggil HSE ataupun Health, Safety and Environment. Di dalam course ataupun subjek tersebut, orang itu akan diajar teknik-teknik untuk mengelakkan kejadian yang tidak diingini berlaku. Antara teknik-teknik terawal, ataupun langkah pencegahan terawal yang boleh dilakukan ialah dengan Solve at the source and along the process. Menggunakan langkah ini untuk diaplikasikan di dalam permasalahan harga makanan minyak, bukankah lebih baik jika sekiranya subsidi minyak yang diberikan, kerana ianya akan memberi impak (penurunan) pada harga makanan juga? Bak kata pepatah orang putih "To kill two birds with a stone". Ini barulah pemikiran minda kelas pertama.

What they do not understand

2008-06-14T20:19:00.003+08:00

Syed Hamid Albar cricitized the act of several key figures in PAS and several other NGOs who held the demonstration last Friday at Masjid Jamek, Kg Baru (Refer : Syed Hamid slams opposition for price hike rally, The Star Malaysia Online).

According to him, such acts would not solve any problems. Well, is it really true? During the times of Suharto, it was the revolution of the masses that made him eventually brought down, from his heavenly kingdom, back to ground. It was also the big Iran Revolution that turned the famous land of Persia upside down, with the big aftermath of having the Shah Iran getting himself out of Iran after being betrayed by the Iranian Army.

Well, perhaps the examples were a little old school, a little far from reality (The Iranian revolution was in late 70s, the Indonesian revolution was in the late 90s). The recent demonstration against the parking price hike is perhaps another example. Just after one, two days of the demonstration, DBKL canceled their sudden plan to increase the parking fee.

Well, perhaps the oil price hike in the near future could then give a big impact to our government in revising back the price.

Certainly I do not understand this.

2008-06-04T21:32:00.003+08:00

I thought the half past six issue is long gone. Well, still there I suppose. Semalam kata lain, hari ni kata lain. In the parliament they accused others of being lidah bercabang, their words makan diri kot~

Now everyone wonders, what did Shahrir said bout the August thing?

p/s: Next time want to increase price, don't la give last minute statement. This is 10th world parliament. Professional la sikit. give a better setback la. 3 days announcement ke, or better. Not at the 11th hour statement, memang la unprofessional.lol

Well nvrtheless, here's some snips from thestar bout the price hike :

Wednesday June 4, 2008

Shahrir: New fuel subsidy scheme only in August

By MANJIT KAUR

KUALA LUMPUR: A new fuel subsidy scheme will be fully implemented only in August and today’s announcement is only one of the steps in the revamp, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said.

“Any announcement by the Prime Minister (today) should be seen as a part of the implementation and not the final step,” he told a press conference after opening the 1st Malaysian Construction Summit 2008 at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

He said a full subsidy system could not be immediately decided on now, as the Finance Ministry was still evaluating proposals.

Shahrir said he did not think his statements contradicted those made by the Prime Minister.

On Monday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Cabinet would decide today on a new fuel subsidy scheme and that it would be implemented immediately to prevent speculation.

Shahrir said the subsidy revamp could result in petrol pumps selling fuel at market prices.

However, he said it was impossible to have a price increase without some way of helping the lower income groups.

“The idea ultimately is to increase the pump prices according to the market prices. At the same time, we need to deliver subsidy to Malaysians,” he said.

Shahrir said that there must be a system to the subsidy mechanism, which would either be in the form of cash income subsidies or a quota system effected through the MyKad or car registration number.
______________________________________________
Wednesday June 4, 2008 MYT 7:33:41 PM

Petrol to cost RM2.70 from midnight (updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Wednesday announced price hikes for petrol, diesel and electricity.

He said the new price for petrol is RM2.70 a litre, effective midnight tonight. The price goes up by 78sen from the current RM1.92, a hike of 40%.

Abdullah also announced that the price of diesel would be increased by RM1 from RM1.58 to RM2.58.

He also said that Tenaga Nasional Bhd would be raising electricity rates by 18% for homes and 26% for business users.

The announcements are part of the new fuel subsidy plan.

Abdullah also announced a RM625 annual cash rebate per vehicle, for owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of up to 2,000cc, as well as pickup trucks and jeeps with engine capacities of up to 2,500cc.

Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities of up to 250cc will receive RM150.

Payment will be made via Money Order upon renewal of road tax, from July 1.

For owners of private vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2000cc, road tax will be reduced by RM200.

Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities above 250 cc will get RM50 reduction in road tax.

2008-03-23T11:46:00.004+08:00

MB-to-be stripped of Umno membership

By R.S.N. MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU: Kijal assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said, who was supposed to have been sworn in as Terengganu Mentri Besar Sunday, has been stripped of his Umno membership for disobeying the party's leadership, a state Umno official confirmed.
The office of the Sultan of Terengganu announced Saturday that Ahmad Said would be the new Mentri Besar of Terengganu instead of Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, ending 14 days of uncertainty.

Ahmad Said: Scheduled to be sworn in at 10am today.

The swearing-in ceremony was scheduled to have taken place at Istana Tamu at 10am today but was likely to have been boycotted by 22 state assemblymen who are supporting Idris, the former Mentri Besar. They were planning a protest walk from Seri Iman, the MB’s official residence, to Istana Tamu, about 500m away at 7.30am.
“In accordance with Clause 14 Paragraph (2) (a) of the Terengganu State Constitution (Chapter 2), the Regency Advisory Council, in undertaking the function on behalf of the Regent, hereby appoints Datuk Ahmad Said as the Mentri Besar of Terengganu to head the Terengganu State Executive Council,” said the palace statement released to Bernama at 3.30pm.
It is learnt that 51-year-old Ahmad, a former exco member in the Idris-led state government, had the support of seven of the eight Umno division leaders in the state who lobbied for his appointment at the last moment.
At 3pm Saturday, the state Umno Youth and Wanita wings held emergency meetings and unanimously pledged their support for Idris half an hour later.
All the assemblymen, except for Ahmad, gathered at Idris’ official residence here for a meeting at 5pm.
At 5.45pm, state Umno liaison secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid said the assemblymen who attended the meeting would boycott the swearing-in ceremony if Idris, who is also Terengganu Umno liaison chairman, was not appointed the Mentri Besar.
He said some of the elected representatives concerned were willing to resign if someone else was appointed Mentri Besar.
Rosol, who is the assemblyman for Ajil, also warned that the assemblymen concerned would pass a vote of no confidence at the State Legislative Assembly if Idris was not reappointed Mentri Besar.

Show of support: Terengganu Umno liaison secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid (seated, third from right) with some of the 21 Barisan Nasional state assemblymen at a press conference to register their support for Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to be retained as Mentri Besar at Seri Iman, Kuala Terengganu, Saturday. They have also threatened to boycott the swearing-in ceremony if Idris was not reappointed. – Bernama

He said the assemblymen concerned had signed a letter stating their support for Idris which would be forwarded to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Terengganu Regency Advisory Council today.
Asked whether the move could be construed as an act of revolt, he said it was not because Idris had received the letter of appointment as Mentri Besar from the Prime Minister.
“We don’t believe it is an act of revolt because we unanimously represent the people and respect the decision of the (Umno) president. We were elected as the people’s representatives because we were appointed and given the mandate by the (Umno) president,” he said.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said in Putrajaya yesterday that Ahmad should obey the Umno president’s directive or face disciplinary action.
He said Ahmad should realise the consequences of his action should he go against the president’s decision.
At 8pm, the 22 assemblymen and Idris held another meeting at a leading hotel here. The outcome of the meeting was not known at press time.
On Friday, the 22 assemblymen sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister to retain Idris as the Mentri Besar after rumours spread that he may be dropped following the purported fallout between Idris and the palace.
State Umno Youth information chief Razali Idris said the wing hoped that there would be no change in the appointment of Mentri Besar.
“We have waited for a long time, 13 days is very long time in politics, Datuk Seri (Idris) has been patient all this while.
“If there are any changes, it should be done at a much earlier stage. Everyone waited for such a long time and we don’t want to hear any upsetting news now,” he said.
The standoff over the Mentri Besar’s post began soon after the last-minute postponement of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for March 10.
Numerous meetings were held between the assemblymen and the Regency Advisory Council and the Prime Minister last week to find a solution to the problem.
________________________________________

Preposterous. I did remember a few days ago, some people were getting mad just because Kit Siang asked his underlings to boycott the sworn-in of Nizar Jamaluddin as the Mentri Besar of Perak. All the sayings of "Derhaka!" and "Tidak Hormat Sultan!" came out from their mouths, and also their 'mouths'.

Now it seems like they are the one who are 'Derhaka'ing, eh? Quoting back the Istana official's words "Seorang Mentri Besar dilantik dari kalangan ADUN", or so it may be. Yet, the official did stated that the Menri Besar is not just selected from the ketua Perhubungan of whichever party that received the mandate to govern the state.

And now they are at war. Well, if all is according to plan, Datuk Ahmad Said had sworn-in already at Istana Maziah. Time to wait for the afternoon news.

Janganla buat lawak bang...

2007-10-03T21:25:00.000+08:00

Kuala Terengganu airport to get international status

By R.S.N. MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Sultan Mahmud Airport here will be awarded international status allowing Jumbo Jets to land and depart, to balance the ambitious Eastern Corridor Economic Corridor (ECER) project for the state.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the airport would be the first with such a status in the east coast region. “The airport will complement ECER as Terengganu is earmarked as a tourism gateway and educational hub under the blueprint,” he said after chairing the weekly state Exco meeting here, Wednesday.
Idris said the airport's new complex is expected to be operational soon while currently the airport’s runway extension project, covering a length of 2,800m, is underway and the state government submitted another proposal to extend the runway an additional 600m.
He said apart from the airport, Kuala Terengganu will be turned into a hub to ferry tourists to resort islands.
Currently tourists have to board ferries at Merchang, Kuala Besut and Marang jetties to get to these islands and only the only boat to Redang is from the Kuala Terengganu Dataran Shahbandar jetty.
Idris said more jetties would be constructed if the need arose and the waterway will be deepened to allow passenger boats to berth close to the current jetty.
_______________________________________

Janganlah buat lawak. I understand that there's gonna be big changes at the K.T airport. Tapi kot ye pon please la don't say about giving international airport status.

Mr Idris Jusoh, do you think that the K.T airport a.k.a Sultan Mahmud Airport is freakin ready to be named an international airport? Remember la Pak Deris, with great power comes great responsibility.

I am not questioning on how you manage your responsibility currently, but giving Sultan Mahmud airport such big status is just totally insane. Especially, with the recent problem faced at the airport which eventually resulted in Sultan Mizan, our beloved Yang DiPertua Agong missed his flight. And why did that happened?

All because of a silly lights failure problem. If the flights (together with six other commercial flights which were also affected due to a such embarrassing problem) were to be delayed due to storm or bad weather, that could be fine since that is for sure an external factor, but not on this issue. This isn't just a simple HFE (Human-Factor Error), but more on a lack of discipline la brother.

With this attitude, do you expect Sultan Mahmud airport to be given the rank, regardless of the size and technology available there ?

Another Ali Baba Fairytale

2007-09-20T07:09:00.000+08:00

No wonder the Malaysian mainstream can't be trusted now, there's always stories of Ali Baba inside them. Read this article from NST, and compare it with the one from Reuters below it.

Arab group plans to pump in RM5b

September 15
2007

A GROUP of companies from the Middle East, led by a Qatari insurance firm, plans to invest at least RM5 billion in the fields of oil and gas, Islamic banking and property development.

The consortium will be led by national insurance company, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company, Gulf Petroleum Ltd Qatar and other prominent investment and banking groups from the Gulf countries especially from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement released via legal firm Azmi Abdullah & Co, Qatar General Insurance chairman Sheikh Nasser Ali Saud Al-Thani said the group has started official talks with the relevant parties in Malaysia as well as in neighbouring countries for oil and gas projects.

"We have also started negotiations in the acquisition of equity stakes in financial institutions, acquisition of landed properties and office towers. Several official agreements are expected to be executed (on Monday, September 17) in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Nasser, who is also chairman and president of Gulf Petroleum (M) Sdn Bhd, will also hold a press conference on its planned investments in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

"The consortium is planning to make Malaysia their regional hub for Asia-Pacific operations.Investments to be made by the consortium in Malaysia for the three sectors are estimated to be not less than RM5 billion," Sheikh Nasser said.

Nasser is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya on Monday morning.

Qatar General Insurance, which is listed on Qatar Stock Exchange, has interests in the financial industry, energy and properties within the Gulf countries and the Middle East and North Africa region. It is also a major shareholder in Gulf Petroleum.

Gulf Petroleum is an integrated oil and gas group with networks in West Asia and North Africa and Europe. Its shareholders include the Qatar royal family, Qatar General Insurance , Al-Mana Group, National Petroleum Services and banking group Al-Sari.

Qatar is the world's largest producer of liquefied natural gas with a forecast production of 77 million tonnes a year by 2010.

Gulf Petroleum shareholders, particularly Qatar General Insurance, are also actively involved in developing and buying office towers including the US$200 million (RM696 million) World Trade Centre of Doha.
(NST Business Times)
Qatar insurer denies Malaysia report
by Reuters
on Tuesday, 18 September 2007

Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance has denied a newspaper report it is heading a group that will invest at least $1.4 billion in Islamic finance, property and energy projects in Malaysia.
Malaysia's New Straits Times reported last week that Qatar General Insurance, Gulf Petroleum Ltd Qatar and investment and banking firms from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates would invest in the Southeast Asian state.
The newspaper quoted law firm Azmi Abdullah & Co, without saying whom Azmi Abdullah represented.
"Sheikh Nasser was in Malaysia on a visit to explore investment opportunities, but no actual agreements or plans have been made yet," Qatar General Insurance Financial Comptroller Ahmad Ibrahim told Reuters from the Qatari capital, Doha.
(ArabianBusiness.com)

Now this is really funny. No wonder the Port Klang Free Zone a.k.a PFKZ got problem. All because of this Ali Baba deals.

Oh really...

2007-09-17T08:52:00.000+08:00

Islam tidak galak kekacauan

Oleh WAN ZULKIFLI WAN YAACOB dan AZRAN FITRI

PASIR MAS 16 Sept. – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, Islam tidak pernah menyuruh umatnya melakukan rusuhan dengan merosakkan harta benda awam sehingga menimbulkan kekacauan dalam negara.

Perdana Menteri berkata, sebenarnya rakyat di negara ini mencintai keamanan dan menolak sama sekali sebarang tindakan ganas dan liar semata-mata untuk memuaskan hati golongan tertentu.

“Negara kita merupakan sebuah negara aman dan tindakan merusuh di tempat awam adalah satu tindakan yang tidak bersesuaian dengan keadaan negara ini.

“Kita tidak suka jika ada (pihak) yang bertindak liar dan berbuat rusuhan sehingga menimbulkan kekacauan serta kesusahan, kita tidak mahu itu.

“Allah juga tidak sukakan mereka yang melakukan rusuhan dan kerosakan di muka bumi ini,” katanya.

Who did it, and for whom? As what I can see, the oppositions are being put at blame for all these, while the event is actually organized by an NGO named BERSIH. IMHO, the one who are benefiting from this event is the BN, because from this pinpoint, they actually make it spread throughout the nation, putting fear inside the heart of Malaysians and telling the Malaysians "This is what you get for voting them, so please don't vote them, aite?"

Allah memang tidak sukakan mereka yang melakukan kerosakan di muka bumi. And then, what about the overcrowding pig farm issue in Malacca? And you guys just let them (the farm owners) riot without counter-attacking them, unlike what happened at Batu Buruk.

Perdana Menteri berkata demikian semasa berucap pada Majlis Penyampaian Sumbangan Kepada Ibu Tunggal dan Golongan Daif Parlimen Pasir Mas dan Parlimen Rantau Panjang di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kangkong di sini hari ini.

Pada 8 September lalu, kira-kira 750 penyokong parti pembangkang merusuh di Batu Buruk, Terengganu kerana tidak berpuas hati selepas anggota polis menyuraikan perhimpunan haram di kawasan tersebut.

Kejadian pada kira-kira pukul 9 malam itu menjadi tidak terkawal selepas penyokong terbabit bertindak agresif menyebabkan empat anggota polis dan tiga penyokong parti pembangkang mengalami kecederaan dan dirawat di hospital berhampiran.

Abdullah berkata, rakyat di negara ini sewajarnya bersyukur dengan keamanan yang dikecapi berbanding dengan negara-negara lain yang masih bergelut untuk membangun daripada semua aspek.

“Inilah masa bagi kita untuk meningkatkan amal ibadat dan mensyukuri nikmat keamanan yang dikecapi sehingga sekarang.

“Sekiranya di negara lain, rakyat terus menderita sedangkan kita aman tiada kesusahan, malah terdapat umat Islam di negara luar tidak dapat melaksanakan ibadah dengan sempurna.

“Di negara ini umat Islam boleh menunaikan ibadah puasa dan segala tuntutan agama dengan selesa tanpa sebarang perasaan takut serta sangsi,” katanya.

Oh really ? Orang pi imamkan jemaah solat kat masjid pon boleh kene tangkap? Orang pi edar risalah tidak berunsurkan politik kat Jom Heboh pon boleh kene tangkap? Explain please, oh leader of a rotten state.

Nice pictures ?

2007-09-12T10:16:00.000+08:00

Now tell me. What is the different between the first picture from the others ?

The flag is different? Ok, that's true. But I'm not talking about that. See the environment. In the other three pictures, everyone is looking and focusing on the burning flag. Yet, in the first picture, no one seems to really care about what the mat rempit is even doing? Weird, isn't it? And not just that, the mat rempit is even wearing his helmet! Tak panas ke pakai helmet tu bang?

Just Another Dream ?

2007-08-12T08:26:00.000+08:00

Dream on, Najib tells Opposition

SHAH ALAM: Opposition parties are deluding themselves if they think they can wrest more seats in the next general election, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
Najib said the rakyat had seen Barisan Nasional’s good track record and were confident with their representatives.
“PAS can go on announcing they can win more seats but it is in fact not within their reach. With the election fever, all sorts of statements will be issued, but for the opposition, it is self-delusion,” he added.
“Our representatives are with the people. Grassroots support is there and Barisan Nasional has brought development and even ensured basic amenities are met in all areas,” he said.
On Thursday, a Malay daily said PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa told reporters in Kota Baru that PAS was aiming to sweep at least 40 parliamentary seats in the next general election to strengthen the party’s position in the Dewan Rakyat.
Najib said opposition parties must realise that Barisan had been bringing progress to the nation and people since independence.
Earlier, Najib launched the Federal Land Development Authority and Football Association of Malaysia National Futsal Championship at Stadium Malawati here.
On the promotion of futsal among Felda youngsters, he said the Government had built 14 world-class futsal courts costing RM33mil within plantation clusters.
One court costs around RM2mil.
“We want the locals to benefit and at the same time nurture new talents in futsal. It is a good game as it involves ball control, teamwork and concentration,” he added.
[Article from TheStar]

_____________________________

PAS menang jejak pendapat TV3, Umno panik?
Posted on Saturday, August 11 @ 17:12:20 MYT by greenboc
Oleh klpos

JARANG-jarang benar kita tengok jejak pendapat yang disiarkan oleh Buletin Utama TV3 berlawanan dengan hasrat bos-bosnya. Tapi entah apa malangnya, keputusan jejak pendapat yang disiarkan oleh stesen TV percuma paling ramai penonton itu 10 Ogos lalu amat berlainan.

Dari awal lagi, pembaca berita TV3 dok sebut pepatah Melayu 'angan-angan mat jenin', yang maksud lebih kurangnya adalah impian yang mustahil dicapai atau syok sendiri.

Ungkapan itu berdasarkan kata-kata Naib Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Soalannya jejak pendapat TV3 amat mudah, 'Harapan PAS Tawan 40 kerusi Parlimen hanya angan-angan Mat Jenin?' setuju atau tidak. Kalau setuju jawab A, kalau tidak jawab B.
Selain temubual dengan Muhyiddin ada juga pendapat Ketua Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, nampak sangat dari segi pemberitaannya, cubaan untuk spin supaya ramai yang hantar A iaitu setuju.
Bagaimanapun di akhir laporan Buletin Utama, keputusan mendapati 60 peratus tidak setuju bahawa ia angan-angan Mat Jenin seperti yang dikatakan oleh Muhyiddin.
Dalam kata lain hanya 40 peratus sahaja yang setuju dengan pandangan bahawa sasaran itu adalah angan-angan Mat Jenin.
Kalau game, kira malam tadi PAS dah menang satu kosong.
Panik juga pemimpin Umno khabarnya, mau tak panik, Buletin Utama merupakan rancangan paling ramai penonton dalam semua siaran TV di Malaysia.
2.5 juta penonton Buletin Utama
Setiap malam, purata penonton yang tengok TV3 antara 2.2 juta hingga 2.5 juta. Bukan klpos.com kata, syarikat yang buat rating TV yang bagi angka itu.
Sampaikan Menteri Penerangan Datuk Zainudin Maidin yang kena jaga RTM, kata dia tidak percaya pada rating tersebut.
Begitupun keputusan itu tidak disiarkan secara penuh dan diumumkan oleh pembaca berita berbanding bancian sebelum ini yang mana pembaca berita akan membacakan keputusan dan memaparkan grafnya sekali.
Adakan keputusan itu sebenarnya memalukan mereka setelah terdahulu sebelum itu mereka dilihat bersungguh-sungguh membacakan tajuk 'Harapan PAS Tawan 40 kerusi Parlimen hanya angan-angan Mat Jenin?.
Keputusan itu hanya diumumkan dengan berita ringkas yang menghiasi ruang berita kecil di bawah garisan kamera yang memfokuskan kepada pentas tempat pemberita TV3 membaca berita.
Cerita ini bermula apabila, Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Husam Musa berkata partinya mempunyai hajat besar dalam pilihanraya umum kali ini.
"PAS mensasarkan 40 kerusi parlimen untuk dimenangi dalam pilihanraya akan datang," kata Husam.
PAS kini mempunyai tujuh kerusi parlimen yang dimenangi oleh parti itu semasa pilihanraya umum Mac 2004 lalu, dan jika ditambah dengan 33 kerusi lagi maknanya jumlah itu melebihi 13 kerusi iaitu 27 yang dimenanginya semasa pilihanraya umum tahun 1999 ketika Barisan Nasional.
Enam kerusi parlimen parti itu kini ialah di Kelantan iaitu Tumpat, Pengkalan Chepa, Pasir Mas, Rantau Panjang, Kubang Kerian dan Pasir Putih. Satu lagi ialah di Pendang, Kedah.
Semasa pilihanraya umum 1999 PAS yang bertanding di 62 kerusi parlimen menang 10 kerusi di Kelantan, 8 Kedah, 7 Terengganu dan 2 Perak.
Sasar Kelantan, Perak, Kedah Perlis
Bagi kerusi dewan undangan negeri pula dari 236 kawasan yang ditandingi ia menang 98 iaitu 41 di Kelantan, 28 Terengganu, 12 Kedah, 6 Pahang, 4 Selangor, 3 Perlis, 3 Perak dan 1 Pulau Pinang.
Husam Musa memberitahu para wartawan selepas satu acara di Kota Bharu Khamis PAS kini memfokuskan untuk memenangi sekurang-kurangnya 40 kerusi parlimen di seluruh negara pada pilihan raya umum akan datang bagi menguatkan parti itu di Dewan Rakyat.
Beliau tidak menghuraikan cara bagaimana parti nak menawan kerusi sebanyak itu.
Katanya parti itu yakin ia mampu buat kejutan berdasarkan kekuatan parti terutamanya di Kelantan, Perak, Kedah dan Perlis.
Husam juga tidak menyebut sama ada kesepakatan telah dicapai dalam soal pembahagian kerusi antara Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dan DAP dengan parti itu.
Menurutnya banyak sumbangan dapat diberikan parti itu seandainya mereka mampu memenangi 40 kerusi parlimen. klpos, harakahdaily, agendadaily
[Article from Tranungkite]

Now. who's dreaming ? The wanna-be next future leaders of Malaysia, or the half-past six leaders of Malaysia?

Jackpot!

2007-08-03T14:59:00.000+08:00

First of all I would like to apologize if there are any readers who taught that I have stopped blogging, but for sure I am not. I am just waiting in a slumber for a jackpot. And here it is :

Anwar a traitor to Malay cause, says Khairy

KUALA KANGSAR: Umno Youth has labelled Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – who was once head of the movement – a traitor to the Malay cause.
In making the declaration, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin said: “The (coming) general elections is not about politics but the future of the Malays.”

Band of brothers: Khairy showing a wristband which will be worn by BN Youth members on Aug 26 to launch its election machinery.

“Anwar is a puppet of the United States and the Jews, thus he must be hounded until there is no more place for him to run to,” he told a state Umno Youth gathering on Wednesday night.
Among the 5,000 people present were the wing’s former chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Information Minister, and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali.
Khairy said the movement was angered by Anwar’s persistence in wanting to do away with the New Economic Policy, a cause close to the hearts of the Malays.
“He wanted to abolish it simply because he wanted to win the support of the non-Malays,” he said.
In Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Khairy said there should be no more statements from any Barisan Nasional component party leaders concerning demands for extra seats for the parties.
He said the coalition’s success was based on the power-sharing consensus formula, which will be maintained.
“Umno Youth will not accept threats from the component parties that they will leave the Barisan if they fail to get additional seats,” he said, in an apparent reference to the People’s Progressive Party’s request for more seats in the coming general election,
“That’s unfair and it’s not the Barisan style. We always share and discuss, and we make compromises.
“We hope there will not be any such talk from the component parties,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting on preparations for a Merdeka Day youth gathering.
From : The Star Malaysia.

Eh. Are you sure he is the traitor? Have you been to your own building ?

Hey, what's that flag in the middle? It starts with I and ends with L. It is Israel. Come on Khairy. "Gajah yang jauh di seberang nampak, nyamuk di depan mata tak nampak". Enough with your lies, your 4th floor agendas. It is not gonna work. Is it Anwar, or you guys who are the traitors? Please explain.

New Economic Policy. It look good. Beneficial especially for the bumiputras after a long way of 'divide and rule' method used by the British during the early 1900s. Yet, who actually benefits from NEP ? Is NEP a fair policy? I don't think so. It is already too old. Leakage here and there, not to mention the aggressive crony capitalism. Plus, the rampant nepotims by the People with Power, which is the very basic reason revamps must be made. Abolish NEP, or change it in some way that a win-win situation can be achieved. No more Ali-Baba partnership and contract biddings. Malaysia now isn't Malaysia 30 years ago.

CTOS

2007-07-04T01:18:00.000+08:00

Credit Tip-Off Service surely made the headlines in the mainstream medias quite a lot, if not 'membolot' all the medias. Somehow last week, Datuk M Kayveas, in all of a sudden, unleash an attack on CTOS, saying that the company is 'blackmailing' people and selling the personal infos to creditors.

Well, how true might it be? RM25 per person? Wow, so cheap. They really must have to be taken down, by hook or by crook. CTOS is a danger to all!

And it was a damn kaput throughout Malaysia. For the past few days, it was CTOS here and CTOS there. Even our own Prime Minister is having his own mind on CTOS. Change it.

Not to forget, some people claiming that they were threatened, not given loans, and some even went to 'Ah-Longs' to get rid of these CTOS problems. Pity them. Really.

But wait, what is all this rush about? Why so sudden? Yes, there are some peoples showing themselves as 'rakyat yang tertindas akibat masalah berkaitan CTOS', but why now? Or specifically, what happened to Datuk M Kayveas that he suddenly made a tank-rush attack on CTOS?

Dia kena sekali ka? Huhu. And the best part is, this all happened when Malaysians were witnessing one of the weirdest case in history (apart from Anwar's case, that was also historical), a murder which could even involve the DPM Tan Sri Najib Tun Razak. Maybe this is just another project to wind off people from talking about the Altantuya murder ? Who knows? Besides, CTOS bravely answered all the unanswered questions in TV3 somewhere yesterday ( July 3 2007). No company would dare to take such action, unless under these probabilities :

1- There are fully innocent. This is just another act to divert Malaysians from the Altantuya murder case.

2- They (CTOS Sdn Bhd) have back-up plan, even if their lies and bad things were unraveled piece by piece.

Well, we just have to wait for the next news,perhaps.

Me : I rather talk about ATOS. At least it is drivable :lol:

2007-06-20T00:45:00.000+08:00

By CHELSEA L.Y. NG and CECIL FUNG

SHAH ALAM: Abdul Razak Baginda and C/Insp Azilah Hadri planned the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu before the police officer carried it out with his subordinate Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, the High Court here was told.
The prosecution, in kick-starting the much-awaited murder trial yesterday, said it would prove this as well as all events leading to it through direct evidence and circumstantial evidence.
In his opening statement, DPP Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah said the prosecution would produce evidence to show that Abdul Razak, 47, had known the deceased since 2004, and frequently met her and gave her money during the course of their relationship.

'Mrs Razak Baginda' Mazlinda Makhzan accompanying her husband political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda into the Shah Alam High Court for the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial Monday. She and her family members wore white T-shirts which spelled out their relationship with Abdul Razak in a major show of support for him. - AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

Despite ending their relationship in August 2005, the political analyst continued to give money to the Mongolian translator whenever she asked for it until early 2006 when he started declining her demands.
As a result, the Mongolian beauty hired a private investigator to track down Abdul Razak and came to Malaysia several times to demand money from him.
On arriving in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 8 last year, the 28-year-old Altantuya tried in vain to meet Abdul Razak who refused to see her.
In desperation, she left several notes for Abdul Razak, including a threat that his daughter would be in danger if he did not give her money.
The political analyst then hired a private investigator to trail Altantuya and also watch his house to prevent her from harassing him but despite all his efforts, the harassment and threats continued.
Tun Abdul Majid said that upon confiding in a senior police officer friend about his problems, Abdul Razak was advised to lodge a police report in view of the serious threats.
However, the political analyst did not do so and in turn, asked his friend to keep whatever he told him a secret. Abdul Razak then met C/Insp Azilah at his office at the Bangunan Lembaga Getah Asli on the morning of Oct 18 after his friend gave him his number.
Tun Abdul Majid said the evidence would show that C/Insp Azilah, 31, and Abdul Razak planned Altantuya’s murder together and a few hours after their meeting, the officer, together with Kpl Sirul Azhar, 36, went to Hotel Malaya where Altantuya had been staying.
He said a note seized from C/Insp Azilah’s office, which had the deceased’s name written on it in addition to her address and phone number as well as the name of Abdul Razak’s private investigator, would be tendered as part of the evidence.
In addition, the prosecution would also produce evidence to show that Altantuya had gone to Abdul Razak’s house on the evening of Oct 19 last year and the political analyst, on learning that she was there, asked the private investigator to “entertain her until his men arrived.”
Subsequently, Abdul Razak contacted C/Insp Azilah, who later came to his house in a car with Kpl Sirul Azhar to take Altantuya away.
The two policemen were the last people seen with the deceased.
According to the opening statement, Altantuya might not have been shot dead before she was blown up with explosives, as widely believed.
Tun Abdul Majid said evidence would be adduced to show that the deceased’s cause of death was “probable blast-related injuries”, which means she may have died the cruel death of being blown up alive.
Altantuya, in a police report lodged some eight hours before her disappearance, had stated that if anything were to happen to her, the police should look for someone named “Razak Baginda.”
Apart from that, the prosecution would also rely on a confession made by Kpl Sirul Azhar to his superior, and also on some items belonging to the deceased found in his house for this case.
In addition, a pair of bloodstained slippers was also found in the corporal’s car, and a DNA test concluded that it was the deceased’s blood.
Tun Abdul Majid said that it was C/Insp Azilah who led police to the crime scene.
The two policemen are charged with jointly murdering Altantuya between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006 at Lots 12843 and 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja, Shah Alam.
Abdul Razak, who is accused of abetting them, had his charge amended yesterday to having committed the offence between 9.54am on Oct 18 and 9.45pm on Oct 19 in 2006 in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
In the original charge, he was accused of committing the offence between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 at Level 10, Bangunan Getah Asli, 148, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

________________________

Me : Now that is surely nice. Apart of actually being there for the case, these people are uncovering the unopened truth, one at a time. The only thing is that we for sure do not know whether it is the truth, or just merely another true lies, like the one happened to Anwar Ibrahim.

Hey, I'm no supporter of Anwar Ibrahim, but he did got trapped in the true lies. Murder under influence, harassment. Now that is nice. Perhaps they are trying to cover up the real story behind the murder. Perhaps they are trying to cover up the story of these middlemen stuffs, as per told in the alternative medias.

Really, is there any way anyone could be blown up just like that, without having any signs of resistance? That is totally weird. Unless you are tied up or something, you will surely object to being blown up into pieces. I wondered, then, how will the defence turn in during their show?

2007-06-14T23:08:00.000+08:00

Seludup manusia: Malaysia sangkal dakwaan Washington

KUALA LUMPUR 13 Jun – Kerajaan hari ini mengkritik langkah Washington yang menyenaraikan Malaysia sebagai antara negara yang terlibat dalam penyeludupan manusia dan menyangkal dakwaan bahawa kerajaan tidak melakukan tindakan sewajarnya untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut.

Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar yang menyangkal dakwaan tersebut menyatakan ia merupakan maklumat yang salah.

“Keseluruhan situasi dalam laporan tersebut membuat pra penilaian tanpa memahami keadaan sebenar di dalam negara.

“Mereka mempunyai hak untuk bercakap mengenai Malaysia tetapi dalam apa sahaja perkara yang tidak memberikan cerita yang betul, kami mempunyai hak untuk menyangkal dan laporan tersebut adalah berdasarkan kepada beberapa tanggapan yang tidak benar dan tidak sah,” katanya.

Negara ini telah disenaraihitamkan oleh Washington bersama beberapa buah negara lain seperti Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Korea Utara dan Sudan kerana didakwa tidak melakukan tindakan sewajarnya bagi menangani masalah itu.

Malaysia yang merupakan antara rakan perdagangan penting Amerika Syarikat (AS) bersama enam negara lain termasuk sekutu Arab AS iaitu Bahrain, Kuwait dan Oman disenarai hitam oleh Jabatan Negara AS dalam laporan tahunan “Trafficking in Persons Report”.

Kuala Lumpur dipetik sebagai “gagal menunjukkan tindakan yang memuaskan” dalam beberapa perkara seperti hukuman terhadap pesalah, penyediaan perlindungan yang mencukupi dan perkhidmatan sosial yang sewajarnya kepada mangsa, serta melindungi pekerja asing daripada perhambaan secara paksa, kata laporan itu.

Menurut laporan tersebut, mangsa penyeludupan seks di Malaysia kebanyakannya adalah wanita dan gadis yang berasal dari Indonesia, Thailand, Filipina, Kemboja, Myanmar dan China.

Syed Hamid mengakui bahawa undang-undang Malaysia pada masa ini tidak mempunyai perbezaan antara penyeludupan manusia dan pendatang tanpa izin ke negara ini.

Bagaimanapun katanya, Parlimen akan meluluskan undang- undang anti penyeludupan yang akan mengenakan hukuman penjara selama 20 tahun terhadap pesalah selain daripada turut dikenakan denda.

“Dengan undang-undang baru, saya percaya kita menuju kepada arah yang betul,” kata Syed Hamid.

Sementara itu, Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) turut mengkritik perkara tersebut sebagai tidak adil kepada negara ini tetapi turut melahirkan kebimbangan terhadap isu tersebut.

“Saya setuju lebih banyak perkara mesti dilakukan tetapi meletakkan Malaysia dalam senarai tersebut adalah perkara yang tidak adil dilakukan oleh AS,” kata Pesuruhjaya Suhakam, N. Siva Subramaniam.

– AFP (Source : Utusan Malaysia)
_____________________________

Me : When I heard the news at Malaysia Hari Ini early in the morning, I was shocked too. I mean, what is their right to publicly do such things, which could easily tarnish the relationship between US and Malaysia, especially as we are trying to sell our Proton shares to Volkswagen AG. This would hurt our economy is a sense, since US is (if the source I received is still relevant) 2nd to Singapore as Malaysia's economy factor.

But nevertheless I would like to keep silent first, knowing that it would be better if I let the officials speak first. Besides, office-time is a big thing to do. I'm no manager who sits in the office, but a system tester who test PC systems. That's hard, right? So, I just kept silent and browse through previous articles in Malaysia Today, Malaysia Kini, The Star, Utusan, NST, BHarian, name it. And something caught my eyes.

If the report is true, then that would surely be a direct proof of human trafficking in Sabah, as per said by Raja Petra Kamarudin. PRK, with Deep Throat as his source, said about the Sabah officials bringing in Indonesians to vote for them, giving them a huge win all over the state, if not all over Malaysia. I forgot the link, but you can always search for it at Malaysia-Today.

Also, this could also proof that RPK's writing on illegal workers brought in by the officials is also true. Read here.

2007-06-09T03:56:00.000+08:00

Some retailers unhappy over price controls

By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: Some retailers have expressed unhappiness over the Government’s move to reduce the prices of goods, which have been on the rise after a pay increase for civil servants was announced.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said these retailers had also complained that the Government was only helping hypermarket chains with its campaign to get consumers to buy cheaper goods.
“We are not helping the hypermarkets but the 26 million consumers in the country.
“There are certain retailers who are forced to sell their goods at a higher price due to their location at rural places but we should exercise our rights as consumers by avoiding those who are taking advantage of the situation.
“Many of these retailers claim the goods are being supplied to them at a higher price than previously. If this is the case, they should inform the ministry of it and we will help them get in contact with better suppliers,” he told reporters after a dialogue with industry players and non-governmental organisations here on Friday.
Shafie said he had also asked Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for agricultural production and output of fish and other seafood to be increased, so as to ensure prices remained stable.
Six hypermarket chains had recently pledged to reduce the prices of goods sold on their premises, with one even promising cuts on some 2,300 types of goods.
Shafie had also been quoted as saying that Malaysia was trying to woo other hypermarkets such as the American Wal-Mart and Metro AG from Germany to set up stores in the country.
There has been a ban on new foreign hypermarkets since 2002.
Shafie said the ministry was concerned that the recent approval in pay increase for civil servants would lead to similar demands by staff in the private sector, which would then lead to inflationary pressure on the prices of goods.
He also said it was time for Malaysian consumers to change their buying habits as some of the recent “shortages” were due to them going on a spree.
“It’s ridiculous for a country which produces palm oil to be short of cooking oil. Consumers were panicking and buying more cooking oil packs than they usually did because of rumours of such shortages,” he said.
Shafie said between May 21 and last Thursday, the ministry’s enforcement officers had conducted checks on 64,008 premises and received 107 complaints against errant traders.
“We have also confiscated goods totalling some RM95,038 and compounded RM136,230 in fines against errant traders,” he said.
[Source: The Star Malaysia Online]

________________________________

Me : Will this be another drama unfolded, one piece at a time? Before this, Pak Dollah stated about the 'naik gaji' and COLA for gov't staffs. After that, Dato' Shafie Apdal (if I am correct, or was it Pak Dollah himself) saying that there won't be any goods' price increment. Then, a shallow voice came from the Gang2 Kedai Mamak (actually I forgot their real association name, someone could help me with that) about price-increment-gonna-be-soon at their stalls. The gov't then said this is not allowed, and the Gang2 Kedai Mamak rep. agreed and tried to compromise. The gov't then started looking for stalls selling Iced Milo at RM1.80 and other stuff with outstandingly increasing prices. Then came the retailers unhappy about the price control. Finally, perhaps, it would be like this : Due to the unhappiness of the retailers and stall-keepers, the government decided to raise up the prices of goods in Malaysia, but not to worry, the price is still control.

Yeah. That might be a logical ending in soap-opera-based country like Malaysia. There's just too much dramas in the TVs that the government is making their own drama, the only thing differs that their dramas affected our lives.

This must come to end. The 'naik gaji' thing is not a really relevant thing to do. Why did I say this? First of all, only the government staffs will enjoy this. This would come to a greater unbalance and rift between the races in Malaysia, especially the Malay-Chinese-India trio. Everyone knows that the government staffs comprises of mainly Malays. There are of course other races too, but to be compared with Bumi staffs, there would still be quite a large gap.

Secondly, price controlling could be bad for small shops. Hey, not only that they needed to fight with hypermarkets such as Tesco and Carrefour (and perhaps coming soon hyppies in Malaysia such as Walmart). This would of course give an advantage to the hypermarkets if the prices is kept low. Maybe the government would say that with lower prices, the customers would have a better choice in choosing between small sundry shops and hypermarkets. Still, customers will tend to go to hypermarket for their well-known establishment around the world. Thus, a price increase is perhaps needed by the shop owners to cover up their losses.

The next thing in mind is the fear of western globalisation. As per said in the previous paragraph, there would be a big advantage for the hypermarkets if the prices are controlled. Thus, what will happen to small sundry shops at the corner lots? Most of them will eventually cease to exist, as the earnings from their regular customers are just not good enough to keep them on the market. This will eventually leads up to great domination of hypermarkets, capitalisation at our own border. Instead of nurturing young entreprenuers, we will end up to producing workers for western entreprenuers. Yes, we still have Giant and so on, but the numbers are not as much as small sundry shops.

Sometimes it is not just about the customers. Yes, commonly customers are always right, but are they if their action ends up only in giving a big economic boom to outsiders, and throwing over a 'You sell your stuff too high la! Cut down price la!' round object to the shop owners without knowing that the round object is actually a hand grenade, which will eventually 'kills' the shop owners.

2007-06-05T01:17:00.000+08:00

Don't Go For Outdated Voting Procedures, Says Chia

PENANG, June 4 (Bernama) -- The current voting system is fair and efficient, and the Election Commission (EC) should opt for up-to-date technology rather than outdated methods if it wants to improve it further, Deputy Information Minister Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said.

"We welcome any move to enhance the system but it doesn't mean that the EC should go for outdated procedures," he told a news conference on the Bukit Bendera family day carnival here Monday.

He was commenting on EC's plan to introduce the use of indelible ink and possibly transparent ballot boxes at the next general election to prevent cheating.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said on Friday that the use of indelible ink had been agreed to in principle.

On the 4.6 million eligible Malaysians who have yet to register as voters, Chia said the ministry, through Radio and Television Malaysia, would cooperate with the EC in organising a voter registration campaign.

On the carnival, he said it would take place at the Youth Park here Sunday. Among others, visitors will be able to register as voters at the EC counter and undergo health checks.

-- BERNAMA

Me : Now this is really weird. Indelible ink, though it might look outdated, have yet been the best solution to cleanse the image of corruption in Malaysia. Everytime during the GEs, there will be some special places where for no reason, there's tonnes of ballot papers which came by post that weren't expected by anyone. And that thing changed the election result dramatically, and the election is valid, for as long as no hard evidence is found giving a clue that the election was already rigged, hacked, corrupted.

If we are going for better election technology, that is always fine. Why not we use the India technique, where they used EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) to replace booth voting ?

2007-06-05T01:04:00.000+08:00

Zam Regrets Some Media Still Using Bahasa Melayu

LANGKAWI, Jun 4 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin is disappointed that some print and electronic media are still using the term Bahasa Melayu instead of Bahasa Malaysia.

He said Bahasa Melayu should no longer be used to refer to the national language after the Cabinet made its decision on the matter in April.

"The Cabinet had made its decision and I had informed the media through Bernama (Malaysian National News Agency) on this. But unfortunately, some media choose to ignore the instruction.

"I also believe that Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka should play an important role in ensuring that the term Bahasa Malaysia be used by everyone," he told Bernama here, Monday.

He said there should be no excuse for any quarters not to use the term Bahasa Malaysia as the language to unite all Malaysians.

"The Indonesians too do not use Bahasa Melayu to refer to the Malay language but use Bahasa Indonesia instead.

"Bahasa Malaysia is for all and not just the Malays, but I regret that there are Malays who are still narrow-minded that they refuse to use the term.

"This has caused prejudice among certain quarters towards Bahasa Malaysia, hence foiling efforts to turn Bahasa Malaysia into a dynamic language," he added.

Zainuddin said there were also those who were more interested in trivial matters instead of focusing on pragmatic approaches for the development of Bahasa Malaysia.

"It is hoped that Bahasa Malaysia is used by all citizens of this country and people from outside too so as to bring it to a higher level," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Me : I wonder what is actually wrong in defining it as Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Melayu. To me, it is still the same. The reason is simple, Bahasa Malaysia is because the language is the official language of Malaysia, and Bahasa Melayu goes for the mother tongue for Malays. So what is there to be rambled about? Defining it as Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Melayu won't give a difference to this racist problem. If not, then why is English Language called as such? It is because it sourced from the Englishmen, the Britons.

If we are to built a real harmony in this multi-racial country, the very first thing to do is to avoid bringing such cases to court. Yep, the court power in high, but the effects are high too. For instance, the Lina Joy case. The Muslims won't agree if Lina Joy's appeal was allowed. The liberalists will stand by Lina Joy if she lost her appeal (and yep, they did that). Thus, the government created an open wound automatically by bringing such cases to court. Would not it be better if someone in the government just tell Miss Lina Joy that apostasy isn't allowed in this country, so please travel to another country, and change nationality and then change the religion status. Would not that be easier?

That is , of course, just a beginning. There is still much needed if we were to build a harmonic multi-racial country. Not by this Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Melayu. Please, stop becoming a laughing stock.

2007-06-04T10:47:00.000+08:00

Karaoke 50 jam tanpa henti

Kementerian Pelancongan Malaysia menganjurkan Majlis Citrarasa 2007 mulai 8 Jun ini di Tasik Titiwangsa Kuala Lumpur.

Berbagai aktiviti diaturkan termasuk persembahan kesenian, pertunjukan bunga api dan persembahan artis popular. Menganggarkan lebih 100,000 orang akan mengunjungi majlis itu, pihak penganjur turut menyediakan gerai-gerai jualan makanan.

Menurut Ketua Unit Acara Kementerian Pelancongan Malaysia, Datin Zaiton Mohd. Ali, “Kami juga merancangkan aktiviti berkaraoke selama 50 jam sepanjang tiga hari tanpa henti. Ia akan bermula pada 8 Jun pukul 3 petang dan berakhir pada 10 Jun.

“Kalau program ini berjaya dilaksanakan, ia akan dicatatkan dalam Malaysia Book of Records sebagai program karaoke terlama,” kata Zaiton.

Untuk itu, katanya pihak penganjur mengalu-alukan penyertaan orang ramai. Mereka yang berminat menjayakan program tersebut boleh hubungi Romli Bidin di talian 017-3101288.

Selain itu, pertandingan karaoke yang menjanjikan hadiah lumayan juga diadakan pada majlis yang sama. Untuk menyertainya, khalayak boleh hubungi Inet di talian 019-2484545.

Sementara itu, bagi pengunjung yang ingin menyaksikan penampilan artis popular, satu persembahan nyanyian akan diadakan pada 9 Jun pukul 8 malam di tempat yang sama.

Gandingan penyanyi-penyanyi lama dan baru pada malam itu dijangka akan dapat mencipta kenangan indah kepada pengunjung Majlis Citrarasa 2007.

Kumpulan Ruffedge misalnya akan mempersembahkan lagu-lagu popularnya seperti Lemas, Da Bomb, Bila Rindu dan Secebis Kepercayaan. Sementara Sasi The Don dengan lagunya Hey General, Anbe, Giving Thanks To Jah dan Suatu Impian, Aspalela Abdullah (Pengodaan, Ibunda Tercinta, Joget Memujuk dan Bunga Hati), Amylea AF3 (Joget Sayang, Andai, If I Ain’t Got You dan Ku Berserah).

Selain itu Farhan AF3 juga akan diundang menyampaikan lagu Still got The Blues, Route 66, Aku Saja Yang Tahu dan Dia, Kelvin Lau (Shanghai Beach, Sonata Musim Salju, Kau Ilhamku dan Pencinta Wanita), J.Sham (Suratku Untukmu, Resam Dunia, Ku Akan Pulang dan Di Pinggir Kali) dan L.Ramlee (Ayahku Kahwin Lagi, Dara Pujaan, Siapa Bilang Aku Tak Sayang dan Joget Baju Kurung).

Persembahan artis pada malam itu akan diacarakan oleh pelakon kacak, Fahrin Ahmad.
[Source : Utusan Malaysia Online]

Me : Now this is really stupid. As we are going for Vision 2020, I really can't stand it to see something as funny as this. We are in the middle of so-called globalisation, and yet we are still being kiddies in the eyes of the world. Before this we have already made stupid world records such as longest Keropok Lekor and so on. This is just lame.

We want ourselves to be known as intellectual, and we are known for our good education system. Still, even with such systems, we are not producing first-class mentality, but we are producing these kind of mentality.

I do understand that we need fun and enjoyment, but there must be a limit to these things. It is not about being an ill-socialized geek who had no fun at all, but there must be an end to all this. As we are pursuing other nations to invest in our country with WPI and so on, we are becoming a laughing stock for them as well with these things.

Or yet, is this another signal of so-called globalisation? This is the very reason why some critical-minded Easterners rejects globalisation. They are afraid that with globalisation, we are not becoming global, but we are surrendering our thoughts, minds and actions to the Westerns and agree that their agenda is correct. Booming economy is a thing, but a collapse in our morality is also a thing. This certainly does not go with Malaysian culture. This activity, known in Malaysia as 'karok' should remain as a past time hobby if it was to pass by unnoticed, no more than that.

Proton : Aftermath

2007-06-02T02:18:00.000+08:00

Talk to other firms, Proton told

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked Proton Holdings Bhd to start talks with other carmakers on a partnership because Volkswagen AG is not interested.
“I have made the decision that since Volkswagen is not interested in the proposal that Proton wants in terms of the equity participation but they want cooperation in some other form, Proton can begin to talk to others,” the Prime Minister told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting last night.
Besides the German carmaker, US-based General Motors Corp had in the past expressed interest along with French PSA Peugeot SA to work with Proton.
When both the car manufacturers pulled out, Volkswagen became the forerunner.
However, the March 31 deadline to announce the strategic foreign partner of Proton passed without any development.
The Government’s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, is offering its 38% equity in Proton for sale to save the carmaker from further losses.
Local automotive companies who have been eyeing a stake in Proton include Naza Group, Mofaz Group and DRB-Hicom Bhd.
Abdullah also called on Proton to do whatever necessary to turn around the national car industry.
It was announced yesterday that Proton’s net loss was RM591.4mil for the year ending March 31.
On whether there was a need to revamp the top management of Proton, Abdullah replied: “They have to do whatever is necessary.”
[Source : The Star Malaysia Online]

ME : Whatever is necessary :

1) Bring up all the CEOs of GLC to together help PROTON. Where's KJ this time? He said about Jihad Ekonomi ?

2) Cut their pays, including the top figures.

3) Make surveys of what people would go for their car, and let them have it for a real cheap price ? (Hey, Americans did this when they created their muscle cars)

But then again, I wonder who would eventually 'help' the company, economically. Well, Volkswagen is not going to do it, for sure. Surely people wouldn't want Naza to buyout Proton. So, perhaps Proton will go to Temasek Group ? Nope, we aren't so sure about that, but still that is a potential. Nobody knows.

2007-05-26T00:35:00.000+08:00

Decision on Lina Joy's case next Wednesday

BY RAPHAEL WONG

PUTRAJAYA: Next Wednesday, the Federal Court will deliver its decision on the appeal of Lina Joy against the Court of Appeal’s majority ruling two years ago, which ruled that the National Registration Department director-general was right in not allowing her application to delete the word “Islam” from her identity card.
Lina's solicitor Benjamin Dawson confirmed the date of decision today.
On July 3, last year, Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judge Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff reserved their judgment to a date to be fixed.
Lina, 42, was born Azlina Jailani to Malay parents. She was brought up as a Muslim but at the age of 26 decided to become a Christian.
In 1999, she managed to change the name in her identity card to Lina Joy but her religion remains as Islam.
On April 23, 2001, the High Court refused to decide on her application to renounce Islam as her religion on grounds that the issue should be decided by the Syariah Court.
It also dismissed her application for an order to direct the department to drop the word “Islam” from her identity card.
[The Star Malaysia Online]

Me : Finally the result is coming out. After about one year since she (Lina Joy) appealed for her case, there's been many rumours by both sides of the party, or perhaps it is better to unify them as a new pack of people, the havoc-creators, for nobody knew who started the rumours first, but it was surely done for the sake of raging up both sides of the parties, the ones who are clearly against the appeal of Lina Joy, the concerned Muslims (including me), and the ones who are clearly got their backs on Lina Joy, a.k.a the 'liberalists' and socialists.

But for whoever wins, it will surely be a big loss for the other. If the Court's decided not to approve her appeal, one thing for sure that the DAP will use this issue for their own sake. Well, they are socialists for God's sake, any issue which they can use against the current government will surely be raised up, even in the Parliamentary, even for issues which concerns the Batu Gajah MP. Until now they have not kept silent and is still demanding further actions taken, even after the sexist MPs made a public apology, though there are this and that in the public apology, if you get what I am trying to say.

If the Court approve her appeal, perhaps it will be the worst which has yet to come. Maybe even another May 13 ( Please be reminded that I am not approving such things, and I am against such things, as I would gladly be the first one to stop such things from happening). This will surely tarnish the image of Islam Hadhari, whereby our very own Prime Minister was boasting about our great image as an Islamic nation. Hey, what kind of Islamic nation allows apostasy who denounces Islam and converted to other religion? It is surely not in the rule of Islam, thus Malaysia is surely not an Islamic nation, but just a nation with majority Muslim in the country, and taking several parts of Islam to be implemented in the governance, even though each and every Muslims is aware of Al-Baqarah:208 where it is stated that one should take Islam as a whole.

For whatever the outcome is, one thing is for sure, our Prime Minister and his puppets is going to have a bitter day.

2007-05-25T06:17:00.000+08:00

PM: Kita mampu berjaya

Daripada AZNAN BAKAR

TOKYO 24 Mei – Malaysia mampu muncul sebagai sebuah negara Islam yang berjaya sama ada dari segi ekonomi mahupun hubungan antarabangsa kerana berpegang kepada prinsip agama itu yang sebenar, kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Perdana Menteri berkata, walaupun rakyatnya berbilang kaum dan agama, namun apa yang dilaksanakan adalah selari dengan Islam yang mementingkan keadilan dan kesederhanaan selain tumpuan kepada pembangunan modal insan.

“Hubungan dengan komuniti antarabangsa yang lebih besar juga berasaskan nilai dan prinsip Islam termasuk keamanan. Saya percaya nilai dan prinsip ini selari dengan amalan antarabangsa,” katanya ketika berucap pada Persidangan Antarabangsa Nikkei mengenai Masa Depan Asia, di sini hari ini.

Katanya, nilai dan prinsip Islam tersebut termasuk keamanan, kesederhanaan, permuafakatan, keadilan, menghormati undang-undang dan membantu yang lemah dan yang miskin.

Katanya, di sebalik apa yang dilakukan itu, Malaysia berharap dapat menjadi contoh yang baik dan dapat memberi sumbangan membina kepada dunia Islam dan kepada masyarakat antarabangsa.

Sebagai pemimpin sebuah negara dan sebagai pengerusi semasa Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC), Abdullah berkata, hasratnya adalah untuk mengembalikan asas agenda umat Islam iaitu untuk memajukan ummah.

Sebab itu katanya, OIC perlu lebih memberi penekanan kepada pembangunan dan ekonomi daripada agenda politiknya.

Katanya, umat Islam perlu mengelak isu-isu perpecahan yang menyebabkan sebahagian besar daripada mereka tidak dapat menikmati keamanan dan kemakmuran.

Menurut Perdana Menteri, untuk itu Malaysia berusaha mengetengahkan Islam sebagai agama yang progresif termasuk dengan memainkan peranan utama dalam memperkenalkan inovasi dalam bidang kewangan Islam.

Katanya, ia dilakukan melalui penawaran instrumen kewangan berdasarkan undang-undang syariah yang membolehkan pelabur, termasuk bukan Islam, membuat pilihan produk yang konsisten dengan amalan terbaik dan beretika.

Beliau berkata, begitu juga dalam membangunkan produk dan perkhidmatan halal, Malaysia sedang menetapkan piawai yang memenuhi kehendak Islam serta yang diinginkan oleh orang bukan Islam untuk tujuan kesihatan dan lain-lain.

“Ini adalah satu lagi bukti mengenai keserasian ajaran Islam dengan kehidupan moden,” katanya.

– Utusan

Me : How could we be called an Islamic nation? Looking back to comments by the Ministers before, we are not an Islamic nation, the only thing is that we are a country with majority Muslim. That is what the MCA stands for during the huh-hah of Islamic nation thing.

If we were an Islamic nation, how come there's still ISA ? The very big thing which is very likely to oppose the way of Islam. Everyone knows how much that there is no justice in ISA. You are arrested for no relevant reason, other than 'for threatening the country' and so on. You are not brought to any kind of trial before you were sentenced for the 2 years under the bars of ISA. Or very much likely said by Saari Sungib, as 'tahanan politik'.

If we were an Islamic nation, how come we still allow gamblings? The only thing Malaysia doesn't allow is illegal gambling. Under the context of Islam, is there any such thing as illegal gambling? No, there isn't. Everyone knows that gambling is haraam, forbidden in Islam. But in Malaysia, it is haraam only if it is not registered, which means for each and every penny the gambling companies received, they must allocate a certain amount known as tax to the government. Does not that means the government too is involved in gambling?

If we were an Islamic nation, how come we still have the Guinness plant in our own land, for God's sake. We kept on talking about halal foods, how we were going to be halal hub and so on, yet we are one of the producers for haraam things. Does not that sounds funny?

They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling.^[] Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: "That which is beyond your needs." Thus Allâh makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought." [Al-Baqarah:219]

The only thing which sounds true is that part of us (on the governing side) looks like Islamic nation, while in other parts, it is not. Which in the end, it means only one thing, we are not an Islamic country, because for an Islamic country, each and every ruling of Islam must be taken into account, not just to agree in some parts of Islamic rule, while at the same time denounce the others.

O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islâm (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islâmic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.[Al-Baqarah:208]

2007-05-19T04:34:00.000+08:00

Singapore Not Dictating On How To Manage IDR, Says Envoy

JOHOR BAHARU, May 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk N. Parameswaran today described as baseless allegations that the formation of a joint Malaysia-Singapore committee to oversee the cooperation in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) would affect Malaysia's sovereignty.

He said Singapore was not interested in meddling with Malaysia's internal affairs, more so dictating on how to manage the IDR.

"If there're those who have that kind of thinking, it means that they don't know the truth. There's no reason why the committee should get involved in Malaysia's affairs. And they (the committee) don't intend to do that," he told reporters after accompanying members of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce on a visit to the IDR here.

Certain parties have alleged that the joint committee would affect Malaysian sovereignty and questioned its rationale.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the formation of the committee after holding an informal meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, in Langkawi on Tuesday.

Parameswaran said the committee would only cooperate on technical matters. "Singapore hasn't expressed any intention to give ideas on the IDR. But we're ready to share our expertise, for example, in river clean-up with Malaysia," he said.

On the construction of a bridge to replace the Causeway, he said: "Let both prime ministers talk to each other. And when they're more confident, they can discuss the difficult issues," he said.

Developed by Khazanah Holding, the 2,200 sq km IDR in southern Johor covers areas like Johor Baharu, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Pontian.

___________________________________

Honestly, there's no reason why people SHOULD NOT described it as NOT AFFECTING Malaysia's sovereignty.

The very basic reason is because IDR is in Malaysia's land, not Singapore. Then why bother to ask them, to form a team to oversee IDR ? Unless, of course, Singapore is guaranteed to have a hold of IDR for themselves. It is just like you taking other's places, expect that you didn't need to withdraw guns and tanks, unlike what the States did to Iraq. All you need to do is just to disguise yourself as a 'potential partner', and then you make your way in controlling their economic path line.

Then again, in the context of our very own Malaysia, every man and woman knows how Singapore plays a big role, economically. Yep, the States and Singapore, two main economic resources of Malaysia in these days. With the States, the government is going for F.T.A agreement, though Pak Dollah Badawi himself knows that with F.T.A, his great agriculture plan would definitely fail. What about Singapore? Which is the beginning where we see the Temasek Group and IDR came into hands, and became parts of our gambling cards.

Malaysia need to sell off some things to make Singapore please. In simple words, if you sell fruits at the market, you need to attract your buyers to buy your stuffs. That's how Malaysia did it, though the costs are very great. Impossible it is not, as everyone knows politics is the art of possibility, turning the impossibles to possibles. No need to remind me of YTL proposal to built a fast train from KL to Singapore. No need to remind me of the ECM-Libra Avenue merger controversy. It's all just part of a long string.

As per said in the first place, why do we need Singapore to form a joint action to oversee IDR ? Why not we look for private companies which won't get extra-benefits from overseeing the development of IDR? Would not that sound better, rather than having a neighbour of ours to help us oversee our own land? Of course the costs might be higher, but hey, that's way better than having a country which is constantly buying sands and rocks to expand their territories, to oversee the IDR together with us. Silap-silap, masuk mulut buaya pula nanti.

Of course, not to forget just how much 'we' spent to get Durians for Lee Hsien Loong, or in better words, our own money, RM26k, used by our very own Prime Minister just to satisfy the Singapore Prime Minister. And hey, it is not shark fins or turtle meats, it is just merely durians. Is not that weird, RM26k just for durians. Wow, this is really the land of Bolehland?

2007-05-09T03:03:00.000+08:00

Beers will flow ... down the drain

By EDDIE CHUA

SEPANG: A total of 196,272 cans of beer are destined to go down the drain instead of quenching the thirst of drinkers.
The beers packed in 8,178 cartons were seized over the weekend from a syndicate specialising in reselling duty-free beers to pubs and sundry shops.

Busted booze: Madrina (left) inspecting the seized cartons of beer while KLIA Customs preventive chief senior assistant Saidi Ismail (centre) and Federal Territory Customs deputy director Zaimah Zainal Abidin look on.

The beers are being held pending the cases involving two Myanmar nationals caught during the raids by Customs officers at four shoplots in Section U5, Shah Alam light industrial estate.
It is learnt that Customs Department would not auction off the beers as the sale would affect the local market.
Federal Territory Customs chief Datuk Madrina Alwi said the beers, worth RM286,964, had an unpaid duty and sales tax of about RM1mil.
She said the syndicates worked with freight forwarders and haulers to obtain duty-free beers meant for Hong Kong, Singapore and the local duty-free outlets.
Based on the invoices and transaction records seized from the four shoplots which stored the beers, she said each carton was to be sold for RM30, one third of the market price.
She said the syndicate had been operating for more than six months.
Last week, Madrina said Customs officers arrested two Bangladeshis at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for smuggling 560 cartons of cigarettes and failing to declare RM10,000 worth of foreign currency.
They were apprehended when they tried to pass through the green lane.

Me (Undisclosed location) : Only something is wrong over here. The fellas who are selling the beers are wrong, for unpaid tax? Uhh.. c'mon. I just had a speech on Halal talk, and even Malaysia just handled the Halal Expo, right? Yet, why are we still claiming money for these things. Sorry if any non-Muslims are offended, but beers are not welcomed in Islam.

I really wondered how come a government that is saying loudly on "Katakan Tak Nak pada Rokok" just let go of the drinking issue. Even the Mix FM deejay said that his friend met an accident due to 'drink and drive'.

And what is more, Malaysia is currently being one of the backbone of OIC. Don't you feel it's wrong for us, who are leading people on what is Halal and Haram, and yet let go of beer just like that.

It is just nonsense. Like the people who asked Pak Lah "Are these halal haram only on foods? What about the other things in life?"

Halal and haram in Islam is not just the matter of what we eat, but also the money provided for us, and by us. That must also be accounted of. We would not want our sons and daughters to buy things using haram-stained money, right?

2007-05-07T13:22:00.000+08:00

Malaysian minister hatches blog control plan
A top Malaysian minister has proposed a controversial plan to classify bloggers in a bid to contain the information they send on the Internet, a report said Sunday.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said bloggers would be labelled professional or non-professional to prevent the misuse of blog sites, since professional bloggers would ensure their web content was based on truth.

Zainuddin did not elaborate how his plan would be implemented.

The proposal follows an unprecedented defamation suit launched against two bloggers who were critical of the government.

Prominent bloggers Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan are being sued by the New Straits Times Press newspaper group for posts criticising the daily and the government.

Zainuddin, who has previously accused bloggers of using lies to overthrow the government, said "the classification will also facilitate any action to be taken against those found to have violated the country's laws."

"It is feared that these (blog sites) will be misused by those who have an agenda to spread slander," he was quoted as saying in the Sunday Star newspaper.

"By right, there should be a mechanism to control the phenomenon, including classifying bloggers as professionals and non-professionals," he added.

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang, with the Democratic Action Party, said it would be impossible to implement such a plan, which he described as "definitely an attempt to obstruct and impede free blogging."

"How are we going certify who is professional and non-professional? It is a ridiculous idea," he told AFP.

Lim, a blogger himself, said the government should instead fund bloggers to generate responsible blogging.

Another popular blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin, who runs the blog site "Malaysia Today," said Zainuddin made many statements without "thinking them through properly."

"How do you evaluate what is truth? It is impossible to register bloggers. What if I refuse to register? How are you going to find out where the blogger is residing?" he said.

Rights groups have condemned government attempts to crackdown on bloggers, arguing that they offer a crucial alternative to the tightly-controlled mainstream media.

Agence France-Presse

Me: Another day of seeing democracy tarnished in Malaysia. Of course, then some of the peoples would then say, democracy in Malaysia is different than democracy in the West. To that kind of question, I would like to leave that aside and just ask them, How in the world do you define Democracy?

Some of my friends told me that all this democracy and other ism is just basically ways of the Illuminati to control us. Yep, true enough. Where does democracy comes from? Western country, right? What laws were they using then? Capitalism. Why? Because they wanted to fight another part of themselves, the Communist and Socialist. Believe me, the two people who introduced Socialist and Capitalist were friends, if not that they were from a same group of people.

The only way of attain democracy, to me, is none. There is no such thing as democracy, if some people were given absolute power. That is the mere problem happening everywhere, from United States of America to Japan. Whenever someone was given the green light, you will see the ego coming out from his head. And thus, war was started.

One simple example : The Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Before the events happened, the States needed the Commons to give them the green light, to bless their government to go away, even if it means an Unholy War.

Alright, enough on democracy. Now, on this blogathinga. Perhaps blogs needed to be control. We can see things like malaysiasucks.blogspot.com. Such blogs, perhaps might be controlled. But then again, how many Malaysians actually read blogs? The visitors' numbers might go up to 1 mil, but how many unique numbers? The urbanized areas like KL and JB, perhaps are opened to such things, but let me remind you, not everyone.

People in the kampung, it's like they care about politics. All they wanted is to have a simple life, having a place of their own, and quietly move along towards a future that they are sure of. For urban people, they know how dirty politics in Malaysia is, so they don't care. As long as their 'periuk nasik' aren't bothered, they won't care.

Politics to Malaysians are just satire. Influential people with great mouths speaking here and there, and makes people to laugh. It's just about that. Which is the reason why many Malaysians are yet to register as voters. They see the same ending everyday. "BN is gonna win for whatever reason it is. So, is there a difference if I vote?".

Honestly, there aren't any such things as dangerous blogs. Reason, these people will just say their words and after that, that's it. They won't take another step towards revolution. They can't. Malaysians are just too lazy to be revolutionists.

The thing that Zam need to stop is the porno sites, not these things. C'mon Mr. Zam, stop the politics and do something right, for all people, not just the BN. Thank you.

Endless Stories

2007-05-04T22:10:00.000+08:00

_________________

Man charged with raping his daughter

By TEH ENG HOCK

JOHOR BARU: A 42-year-old man was charged in the Sessions Court here with raping his daughter.
The man pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge of raping his 16-year-old daughter on April 26 at his house in Johor Baru.
Judge Aliman Musri denied Mohd Yani bail, and set July 24 as a date for mention while awaiting a medical report on the girl.

_________________

Gang-raped in terror carjack

JOHOR BARU: A woman who was waiting in the car while her husband went to a toilet was held up at knife-point and taken on a terror ride, gang-raped and robbed.
The 28-year-old woman who works in Singapore, was driven around Plentong for three hours after being abducted from the petrol station in Tampoi. Her three-year-old son was in the car with her.
The drama unfolded when the victim and her son had accompanied her husband to town on his way to work in Singapore at 4am several days ago.
The husband stopped the car, with his wife and son inside, at the petrol station and kept the engine running.
Soon after, the woman was shocked to see a man armed with a knife, knocking at her window demanding that she open the door.
The woman, fearing for her son's safety, complied and the suspect then drove the car to pick up his friend from a nearby area.
They blindfolded the woman and threatened to harm her son if she struggled.
The woman begged the men to let them go as she was pregnant but they instead took her to a secluded area and took turns to rape her.
They then picked up another man before dropping both mother and son in Permas Jaya and driving off with the car and her belongings.
Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Shafie Ismail said that the car had been recovered two days after the incident in Majidee. He appealed to those with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.

_________________

Endless Stories. Everyday we hear the same issue. Be it The Star, Utusan, Kosmo, Berita Harian, NST, it is always the same thing. RAPE. INCEST.

It seems that our government (I'm saying this to both sides) is like doing nothing to counter such things. The govt just spent about 36 million just to win Ijok. And the oppositions, they counter back the lies of the government. And issues like these are left behind.

Honestly, when did we start hear such things. Somewhere back in the year 2000, perhaps? What was the main thing about that? Internet. It was the starting of Internet for Malaysia. And since then, this issue also started.

Perhaps it is time for the government to start filtering the internet. It's not that they can't. If I am correct, the MCMC, or Dr. Lim Keng Yeik himself said about such filterization. But the government did not concern too much about it.

All they were concerned about was blogs and their 'lies'. All they were concerned about was their mishandlings being unfolded, one by one, in the Net, and they have just no other option left, except to deny it and campaign for support of filtering the Net from these blogs.

And the oppositions? Hmm, too much time spent on countering the government that they had no time to spend their time on this issue. They just walked away and started gossiping the government mishandlings (though most of the time the gossips appeared to be true). They just kept on commenting on the Malaysia's politic. And to some of them, it is all about politics. Politics, politics and politics.

True enough, we need to carry on with our life with politics. The Iskandar Development Region, MSC, whatever you name it. But as what cost? What is the use of such high-rising economy, or astounding technology, if no actions are taken to make sure the moral level of the Malaysians at the same time is also as the same level with the level of economy and technology. If the country trade can reach RM100 million (or what number it was, like I really care for such figures in times like these), why not make our moral level reach 100 million also, in moral currency that is. Is not this, also one of Islam Had Hari concepts (no wonder it is Had Hari, ada had dan harinya).

It does not matter who started it first. But please, someone, government or opposition, take some action please. It isn't something good if we had lost what we were once proud of, Moral, Ethic. 10 years ago in Malaysia is too different, in term of moral and ethic.

Ramblings

2007-05-01T16:07:00.000+08:00

As the Ijok by-election is already over, let's take a look on what is left to be written:

1) Proton
Alright, this news have been silent for a time. Ramblings about Volkswagen AG buying Proton is far from over yet, though the officials have yet to say anything. Then again, rumours about Naza buying Proton is also there, just in case Volkswagen AG is not interested, somehow. But, for whatever is at stake, the percentage is high. 50%, if I am correct. With such percentage you can control the company and drive it anywhere you wanted, even if you were told to only handle them technically and let the elders take care of their management. And so on, and so on.

Of course there were dismissed issues, which are actually meant to help save Proton, like the 'salvage your old car and buy a new one with a CHEAPERRRR price', but officials say it was merely a suggestion, not an implementation. Proton could be better, if they wanted to, but they could not. They very reason behind it is perhaps their inability to counter foreign cars. Creating cheap cars for Malaysians, but with moderate CCs, is certainly a hard job. Perhaps they might want to look into how the Americans created their cheap cars which run fast?

2) WPI & FTA
Quite a controversial issues. Malaysians are already scared of seeing Singaporeans and Americans to actually run the whole place up.

Under the effect of FTA, we will see our rice farmers to be gone in at least 6 months. Under WPI, we will see a 2nd Singapore, right in our country.

But then again, what else could be done? In any way, these two countries are becoming our main supporters, like it or not. Most companies are already running away from Malaysia, and set off sail for countries with better oppurtunities such as China and Vietnam. The main reason, NEP. Believe me or not, NEP may be important for a country like Malaysia, but that is the trade off that we must bear in mind.

10 years ago, NEP may be relevant, as we are one of the best negara dunia ketiga which offers places to build foundries and plants, for the very reason that there is no place else as better as Malaysia. But as time goes by, China became more democratic. Vietnam became more democratic. In the end, companies have to let go of Malaysia, because countries like China and Vietnam offers better manpower and other.

3) ECM-Libra Avenue
Well here is something. Apart from the Ijok by-election, Starbiz wrote an article about Kalimullah Maseerul Hassan who is appointed as the new executive director for ECM Libra Avenue, after he stepped down last year from ECM Libra Avenue's helm, together with Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) and his friends.

Then again, he made a comeback now, and maybe it could be worse as time flies. What people are thinking right now, at this very right time, as Malaysia's economy has gone 'boom' earlier this year, ECM-Libra Avenue is going to be a major key player in the upcoming events, at least some of the ramblings above. Also, just as a reminder, Temasek Group should also have some influence in ECM-Libra Avenue, right? And not to mention KJ (well, if Kalimullah is there, somehow, unofficially, Khairy must be there too, right? It does not need to be in the black and white, for some level of friendship)

Blog Is Up : Part III

2007-04-29T20:38:00.000+08:00

Alrite. Another widget updated today. Stat counter. Actually I had one before this, but decided to use a new one since the old one was used here and there. And not just that, you can also view the stats. Hehe. Alrite that's for now.

The Power Of Influence

2007-04-29T07:21:00.000+08:00

To be honest, how they did this was amazing. All the main stream media wrote about the Ijok by-election which at current time has the largest voters' turn out, about 80%. I am really amazed at how they come up with such number. You guys just ought to see the numbers from 8 a.m right till the election booths closed.

______________________________________

KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- About 14 per cent of the 12,272 voters in the Ijok state by-election in Selangor have cast their ballots as at 10am, two hours after polling centres opened Saturday.

....(refer:Bernama)

______________________________________

KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The percentage of voters who have cast their ballots in the Ijok by-election hovered around the 50.85 per cent figure as at 2pm compared to 33 per cent at noon today.

... (refer:Bernama)

______________________________________

IJOK: A total of 10,049 voters or 81.88 per cent of the registered voters in Ijok had cast their ballots when polling ended at 5pm. It is the highest turn-out for a by-election.

... (refer:TheStar Malaysia)

______________________________________

Seriously, you guys (the BNs) perhaps have the very great mouth, with astounding skills of influencing peoples. Getting from 20 to 80% isn't an easy job, isn't it Joe ? I would really like to ask how you guys did it ? Hey, I wanna learn those ways too. You can see anywhere there's no such high voters turn out, except in our very own Malaysia, where the impossible is always possible, or what I was told as the Bolehland.

Yes, perhaps you guys might say “Hey, PKR was there too. They also must have their power of influence over people”. Well, firstly all main stream medias said that Anwar was no longer vital in the politic of Malaysia. Second, all main stream medias also said that Khalid Ibrahim forgot about how he bought Guthrie, with the help of BN and so on. Third, there is no way PKR or anyone else can do anything when the FRU is there. You will surely get a jolt of fright, at least.

So, I must say, you guys were fantastic. GL HF in the next election, and let’s see if not only the voters turn out is this high, but the timeflow is also the same. ;)

2007-04-27T04:24:00.000+08:00

Zainuddin Questions Motives Of Foreign Media

KUALA SELANGOR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin today questioned the motives of some foreign media organisations which were giving wide coverage and publicity to an individual from a political party that had no credibility among Malaysians.

"We cannot understand the reasons. Do not underestimate the intelligence of Malaysians. The party in power in Parliament now was elected through the democratic process," he said when launching a Smart Community centre in Ijok near here today.

Under the concept of democracy, he said priority should be given to people who had majority support and in the case of the opposition it should be for its leader, namely Lim Kit Siang of the DAP.

"We are seeing a concerted effort to interfere in the internal affairs of Malaysia," he said.

Zainuddin said the English media organisations, based in West Asia, Britain and United States were giving undue attention and coverage to this "loser".

"They have an agenda to cause political instability in Malaysia," he said.

He also said that it was unfortunate that some of our own media people were joining the bandwagon in the guise of freedom of speech without understanding that democracy in Malaysia cannot be equated to that in the West.

"Why should we get outsiders to approve what we are doing. This is like saying if the West gives its stamp of approval, then it is right," he said.

At the same function, Zainuddin also said that he regretted the actions of the opposition for making wild allegations about the police when campaigning in the run-up to the Ijok by-election on Saturday.

He said that this was not good and that the force followed procedures when taking any action, and as such, opposition members should not have shielded a suspected criminal when the police wanted to arrest him in Ijok recently.

Zainuddin added that all parties should be aware that police's presence during elections or by-elections was in everyone's interest and that the opposition making baseless allegations about it was not justified.

Me : Who is the loser actually? Is he really a loser? How come, all the media are saying the same things? How come, all the blogs are saying the opposite?

Firstly, Mr Zainuddin perhaps should be a little clear about the political procedures in Malaysia. Unlike United States Of America, or England, the opposition here does not stand as one formally, but instead are made up of chunks of parties, which rally against the National Front. The National Front, might be made of different parties, which are united under one roof, named National Front. The Opposition, however, if I am correct, only have PKR and PAS as the Opposition Front, where as DAP is still a stand-alone party, which regularly make diplomatic contacts with PKR.

Secondly, human always have something called a tounge, which can be twisted. Through that, people lied. This is the reason they seeked him. Imagine if all the main stream medias is calling him a loser, one would say "Hey, doesn't it sound wrong, somewhere? Someone must have say the opposite thing". Yet, no main stream media did. Except for the blogs of course.

A person who does not have any credibility in the eyes of the commons, would surely have been left out alone when he is giving out his speech. Yet, he is not. Why is that, Mr Zainuddin. How do you justify him as having no credibility in the eyes of the commons, the eyes of Malaysians? By saying that he's a homo? Well, you might also want to consider that such charges against him was dropped.

Actions not justified, really? Then what about the incident which could cause blindness to a photographer named Paul Choo, or the assault on Dr. Lo' Lo when she was trying to give out medicines and treatments to those who needed it. Or even better, the list of voters showed in Malaysia Today. Are not they justified actions ?

Another thing, under the concept of democracy, anyone can be asked for opinions. That's what I see, as long as he is saying the truth.

Operation Freedom

2007-04-27T04:09:00.001+08:00

Congress united on Iraq pull-out

President Bush says the bill will undermine US forces in Iraq

The US Senate has voted to approve a bill which requires US troops to start withdrawing from Iraq by October.
President George Bush has said he will veto the Democrat-sponsored bill, which was also passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Mr Bush says he is committed to his "surge" strategy, under which more US troops are being poured into Baghdad.
Earlier the top US general in Iraq, David Petraeus, said reducing forces could lead to increased violence.
The Senate voted 51 to 46 in favour of the bill, which makes $100bn (£50bn) in further funding for the war conditional on a timetable for withdrawal.
It says the pull-out must start by 1 October this year, and sets a target of completion by 31 March 2008.
'Stunt'
"It sets us on a new course, away from a civil war with no end in sight toward a responsible phased redeployment that holds Iraqis accountable. This is a responsible plan for redeployment, not a precipitous withdrawal," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

(The US effort in Iraq) clearly is going to require an enormous commitment over time

Gen David Petraeus

"If the president refuses to change direction, America risks being bogged down in Iraq for years, not months."
Republicans dismissed the bill as a futile stunt, since although the Democrats control both houses of Congress, they do not have enough votes to overrule a presidential veto.
Nevertheless, it is a clear sign that Americans' elected representatives in Washington are deeply divided over the war in Iraq, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington.
It is the first time Democrats have managed to summon the support to send a bill opposing Mr Bush's war directly to the president's desk.

PRESIDENTIAL VETOES

George W Bush: 1

Bill Clinton: 38

George Bush Snr: 44

Ronald Reagan: 78

FD Roosevelt: 635

Thomas Jefferson: 0

The bill may be presented to him on Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of his speech declaring the battle of Iraq a "victory" in the war on terror.
That would be "the height of cynicism", said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
She confirmed that Mr Bush would use the presidential veto for only the second time in his two terms of office.
That is historically a very low figure, indicating how he benefited from a co-operative Congress, until Democrats seized control in November.
Withdrawal 'premature'
Mr Bush has described efforts to force a withdrawal as an attempt to "handcuff our generals".
Earlier, Gen Petraeus avoided giving a direct opinion on the bill, but said the US effort "clearly is going to require an enormous commitment over time".
He said the first few months of the Baghdad surge had led to improvements in Iraq, but said it had still to get fully into its stride, and admitted that progress was "often eclipsed by sensational attacks which overshadow our achievements".
He described the situation there as "exceedingly complex and very tough", and said "there is vastly more work to be done across the board".
Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said "any premature timetable [for withdrawal] would not be realistic".
"This is part of the politicking, basically, in Washington and this has been damaging in fact to the security, political development, not only in Iraq, but in the entire region," he added.

Me: Finally the Democrats and Republicans are fighting against each other. It is very nice to see this kind of events happening, where you got Democrats on one strong side, and the Republicans on the other. Well Mr. Bush, a veto and it might be your last day in the Oval Office. That's all I got to say. Remember the keyword everybody, might. ;)

Honestly, the American troopers have been too long in Iraq. At first, Mr. President said it was Operation Freedom (or something like that, where they were supposed to only 'free' Iraq from the tyrant Saddam Hussein.

Yes, perhaps he was a tyrant. But through his political agenda and ruling, the effects were not as big as what we are seeing now. Instead of freeing Iraq, all they did was actually injecting, or fueling more rage and anger in Iraq.

You think I am bluffing ? Well, just look at Saddam's execution, held during Eid-Adha. During that reflect something in the mind of Muslims. For sure it did. Mine too.

And now, they are proposing for a wall. After the wall, what else? Something like Palestine and Israel, is it? Hmm...

2007-04-27T04:09:00.000+08:00

Congress united on Iraq pull-out

President Bush says the bill will undermine US forces in Iraq

The US Senate has voted to approve a bill which requires US troops to start withdrawing from Iraq by October.
President George Bush has said he will veto the Democrat-sponsored bill, which was also passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Mr Bush says he is committed to his "surge" strategy, under which more US troops are being poured into Baghdad.
Earlier the top US general in Iraq, David Petraeus, said reducing forces could lead to increased violence.
The Senate voted 51 to 46 in favour of the bill, which makes $100bn (£50bn) in further funding for the war conditional on a timetable for withdrawal.
It says the pull-out must start by 1 October this year, and sets a target of completion by 31 March 2008.
'Stunt'
"It sets us on a new course, away from a civil war with no end in sight toward a responsible phased redeployment that holds Iraqis accountable. This is a responsible plan for redeployment, not a precipitous withdrawal," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

(The US effort in Iraq) clearly is going to require an enormous commitment over time

Gen David Petraeus

"If the president refuses to change direction, America risks being bogged down in Iraq for years, not months."
Republicans dismissed the bill as a futile stunt, since although the Democrats control both houses of Congress, they do not have enough votes to overrule a presidential veto.
Nevertheless, it is a clear sign that Americans' elected representatives in Washington are deeply divided over the war in Iraq, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington.
It is the first time Democrats have managed to summon the support to send a bill opposing Mr Bush's war directly to the president's desk.

PRESIDENTIAL VETOES

George W Bush: 1

Bill Clinton: 38

George Bush Snr: 44

Ronald Reagan: 78

FD Roosevelt: 635

Thomas Jefferson: 0

The bill may be presented to him on Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of his speech declaring the battle of Iraq a "victory" in the war on terror.
That would be "the height of cynicism", said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
She confirmed that Mr Bush would use the presidential veto for only the second time in his two terms of office.
That is historically a very low figure, indicating how he benefited from a co-operative Congress, until Democrats seized control in November.
Withdrawal 'premature'
Mr Bush has described efforts to force a withdrawal as an attempt to "handcuff our generals".
Earlier, Gen Petraeus avoided giving a direct opinion on the bill, but said the US effort "clearly is going to require an enormous commitment over time".
He said the first few months of the Baghdad surge had led to improvements in Iraq, but said it had still to get fully into its stride, and admitted that progress was "often eclipsed by sensational attacks which overshadow our achievements".
He described the situation there as "exceedingly complex and very tough", and said "there is vastly more work to be done across the board".
Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said "any premature timetable [for withdrawal] would not be realistic".
"This is part of the politicking, basically, in Washington and this has been damaging in fact to the security, political development, not only in Iraq, but in the entire region," he added.

Site Updated

2007-04-24T18:23:00.000+08:00

Well, it seems like the site is already a little updated.

Still, there are some errors is my site. As you can see the are same links at the right side of my blog. Currently I am trying to correct it with the help of Blogger Help Group. Hopefully the things will be solved very soon.

Ijok : A blasphemy of SPR

2007-04-24T16:10:00.000+08:00

In The Name Of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful.

Well, I was kinda shocked when I opened Malaysia Today's article on Ijok by-election.

Among the registered voters, were some pakciks and makciks as old as 100 years old. Well, that, perhaps could have been the lacking SPR in updating their voting list. Well, I do not know of that.

But, then again, there's something which makes no sense at all. Someone by the name of Ispani bin Mohd. Rejo, with serial no 1913, is actually an 8-year-old boy, who was born in 1999. Tell me now, since when SPR let kiddos as young as that to actually vote?

First of all, I thought there was some mistake in the SPR voting list, well you know, maybe they intrepeted 99 in the I/C as 1999, when it was supposed to 1899. Even then, that would also make not sense, since that would make him the oldest man in the world, and someone that old to have a new I/C? For sure the mainstream media would take a glance of him when he got his new I/C.

Well, for whatever it was, hopefully it was just another dummy or silly mistake by SPR. Cekap dan Telus. Heh.

p/s: Or were they for real, I mean, well you know...

Pic 1 : Look at Serial No 1913

Pic 2: Voter with Serial No 1913 details as in the SPR website

Mana Lagi Bagus ?

2007-04-23T18:43:00.000+08:00

Automatik layak mengundi -- Atasi masalah 4.9 juta rakyat tidak mendaftar sebagai pemilih

Oleh NIZAM YATIM dan SADATUL MAHIRAN ROSLI

KUALA LUMPUR 22 April – Pelbagai pihak menggesa kerajaan membuat kajian menyeluruh kemungkinan melaksanakan pendaftaran pemilih secara automatik bagi mengatasi masalah 4.9 juta rakyat Malaysia yang belum mendaftar sebagai pengundi.

Sehubungan itu, mereka meminta kerajaan mempertimbangkan semula keputusan dibuat pada 2005 yang menangguhkan pelaksanaan peraturan tersebut atas alasan terdapat banyak keburukan.

Presiden Majlis Belia Malaysia (MBM), Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah berkata, kajian mendalam perlu bagi membolehkan pelaksanaannya dalam memastikan orang ramai akan mendaftar sebagai pemilih.

‘‘Cadangan pendaftaran automatik pernah ditangguh oleh kerajaan, tetapi berdasarkan perkembangan terbaru ini satu kajian lengkap perlu dilakukan mengenai keberkesanannya,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, hari ini.

Beliau memberi reaksi itu sebagai mengulas kenyataan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), Tan Sri Ab. Rashid Ab. Rahman pada muka depan Mingguan Malaysia hari ini bahawa 80 peratus daripada 4.9 juta rakyat Malaysia yang masih belum mendaftar adalah orang Melayu.

Golongan terbabit memberikan pelbagai alasan termasuk tidak berminat dengan urusan politik negara, malas, terlalu sibuk dan tidak tahu di mana tempat pendaftaran boleh dibuat.

Menurut Ab. Rashid, berbanding orang Melayu, kaum lain mempunyai kesedaran yang cukup tinggi untuk menjadi pengundi sebaik sahaja mencapai usia 21 tahun.

Cadangan mendaftarkan secara automatik setiap warganegara yang mencapai umur 21 tahun dengan kawasan mengundi berdasarkan alamat yang tertera pada kad pengenalan pernah diumumkan oleh Ab. Rashid pada tahun 2001.

Bagaimanapun, SPR dalam satu kenyataan pada tahun 2005 menjelaskan pihaknya telah dinasihatkan oleh kerajaan supaya menangguhkan pelaksanaan perkara itu berikutan terdapat banyak keburukan.

Sementara itu, Ab. Rashid yang diminta menjelaskan penangguhan itu berkata, pendaftaran secara automatik tidak boleh dijalankan kerana telah termaktub dalam Perlembagaan 119 iaitu mengkehendaki pengundi mendaftar di tempat mereka bermastautin.

Katanya, sebelum ini, SPR pernah melaksanakan pendaftaran secara automatik mengikut alamat kad pengenalan tetapi didapati sistem itu tidak mencapai kejayaan kerana semasa menjalankan kempen pengesahan alamat, hampir 90 peratus surat berkenaan telah dikembalikan kepada badan tersebut.

‘‘Ini menunjukkan ramai yang tidak bermastautin lagi di alamat yang tertera mengikut kad pengenalan.

‘‘Ini adalah keburukan sistem tersebut kerana sikap rakyat Malaysia yang tidak ingin mematuhi keperluan menukar alamat dalam kad pengenalan apabila berpindah tempat kediaman,’’ kata Ab. Rashid.

Shamsul Anuar memberitahu, sebarang usaha untuk melaksanakan pendaftaran pemilih secara automatik perlu disokong dengan kempen lebih agresif bagi menggalakkan generasi muda mengundi.

‘‘Tiada gunanya jika mereka didaftar secara automatik tetapi masih enggan menunaikan tanggungjawab untuk keluar mengundi ketika pilihan raya,” ujarnya.

Pengerusi Biro Keahlian dan Daftar Pemilih Pemuda UMNO, Johan Abd. Aziz pula memberitahu, beliau telah meneliti cadangan pendaftaran secara automatik yang dibuat oleh SPR dan mendapati ia hanya boleh dilaksanakan jika segala kelemahan yang dikenal pasti diatasi.

Menurut beliau, pihaknya menyokong langkah mengkaji semula cadangan itu dan berharap semua pihak dapat mengemukakan idea baru bagi menyelesaikan segala kelemahan yang ada.

Selain itu, Johan berharap lebih banyak kaunter pendaftaran pemilih dibuka di universiti-universiti berikutan kajian pihaknya mendapati kebanyakan yang tidak mendaftar adalah daripada kalangan pelajar baru yang mencapai umur 21 tahun.

‘‘Jumlah ahli Pemuda UMNO yang tidak mendaftar kini adalah sedikit iaitu kira-kira 150,000 orang berbanding keseluruhan 740,000 ahli,” jelasnya.

Ketua Pemuda MIC, S.A. Vigneswaran pula berkata, pihaknya menyokong pelaksanaan pendaftaran secara automatik kerana ia telah berjaya dilaksanakan di negara-negara maju.

‘‘Kita perlu mempermudahkan proses pendaftaran bagi membolehkan penduduk yang layak dapat menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka tanpa masalah,’’ katanya.

Setiausaha Agung Pemuda MCA, Dr. Wee Ka Siong pula menyatakan yang pihaknya bersetuju dengan usaha tersebut tetapi dengan syarat semua kelemahan yang telah dikenal pasti diatasi terlebih dahulu.

‘‘Kita berharap lebih banyak perbincangan mendalam diadakan bagi memastikan pelaksanaannya dapat dibuat secara berkesan,’’ ujarnya.

Bagi Setiausaha Agung Pas, Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar, parti itu menyokong sepenuhnya cadangan mewujudkan pendaftaran pemilih secara automatik kerana ia mempunyai lebih banyak kebaikan berbanding keburukan.

Katanya, kelemahan yang wujud boleh diatasi dengan mudah berikutan terdapat kaedah moden termasuk Internet yang memboleh penukaran alamat dilakukan secara talian terus.

_______________________________________________________

Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Mengasihani.

Serampang dua mata. Benar sekali, sistem pendaftaran secara automatik akan memudahkan ramai orang.

1) SPR
2) Parti-parti politik
3) Pengundi

Namun, sebelum perkara seperti itu dilaksanakan, rasanya lebih bagus kalau ada beberapa 'check-up' dahulu.

Perkara paling utama mungkin sekali undi hantu. Benar atau tidak, kes-kes pengundi hantu seringkali berlaku di dalam negara kita. Memang banyak kes-kes yang dilaporkan(banyak lagi yang tak dapat dilaporkan, mungkin saja-saja sebagai provokasi, ataupun tidak cukup bukti), dan ada kes yang menang di mahkamah. Justeru itu, bukankah dengan sistem automatik ini, penipuan melalui undi hantu akan lebih berleluasa.

Alasannya ialah tiada konformasi ataupun pengesahan daripada sudut ataupun aspek pengundi itu sendiri. Cukup umur, boleh terus undi. Kalau taknak undi, 'well', jadilah undi hantu, 'nak atau tak nak'.

Perkara kedua mungkin sekali ialah kecekapan SPR sendiri. Satu sistem automatik, sekiranya dilaksanakan, memerlukan pemerhatian yang tinggi kerana kesilapan, sama ada 'fatal' ataupun tidak bila-bila sahaja boleh berlaku. Dengan kadar kecekapan SPR kini, yang masih lagi diragui sesetengah pihak, mungkin cadangan untuk membuat sistem pendaftaran secara automatik perlu dikaji dengan sepenuhnya.

2007-04-20T06:52:00.000+08:00

_____________________

Bas, lori kini boleh guna gas asli

BATU CAVES 19 April – Pengusaha bas dan lori boleh menjimatkan kos bahan bakar lebih 50 peratus dengan mengubah suai enjin diesel kenderaan masing-masing kepada enjin gas asli.

Pengubahsuaian menggunakan teknologi dari Korea Selatan itu diusahakan oleh bengkel milik syarikat bumiputera, RMWay Engineering Sdn. Bhd.

Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi, Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata, bengkel tersebut merupakan yang pertama di negara ini menjalankan aktiviti pengubahsuaian enjin diesel kepada enjin gas asli.

Jelasnya, syarikat berkenaan berjaya mengubah suai enjin sebuah bas berkuasa 7,000 cc dan lori berkapasiti 2,500 cc.

“Kedua-dua kenderaan ini telah diuji oleh sekumpulan jurutera bertauliah dan mereka amat berpuas hati dengan kekemasan kerja yang dilakukan RMWay Engineering dan mengiktirafnya setanding dengan apa yang terdapat di Korea Selatan.

“Saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa RMWay Engineering telah banyak belajar daripada teknologi ulung ini dan kini bersedia untuk menjalankan operasi pengubahsuaian secara komersial,” katanya dalam ucapan perasmian bengkel milik RMWay Engineering di sini, hari ini.

Teks ucapan beliau dibacakan oleh Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi, Datuk Samsu Baharun Abdul Rahman.

Mohamed Khaled memberitahu, sebanyak 20 bengkel yang menjalankan aktiviti serupa akan dibuka di sekitar Lembah Klang tidak lama lagi.

___________________

Me : I'm told that Natural Gas is cheaper than Petrol. Well, am I expecting lower bus fares ? Honestly, the fares have risen so much due to the constantly-increasing oil price.

Blog Is Up

2007-04-20T06:31:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum/Hello.

Sorry to say that I had stopped blogging for some time, well, mainly, due to some reasons, which I'm not gonna tell ya.

But not for now, as I am getting high again at blogging.

p/s: the shoutbox is not yet operating, as I had forgot the link. I'll try to upload it somewhere tonite afta my test.

Again

2007-04-20T06:18:00.000+08:00

He did it again. Or should I re-term is as 'They'?

First, they blame the State Govt for giving orders to the local Jab. Perhutanan not to give the Lojing statements to the Fed Govt.

Somehow, MT (Malaysia Today) uncover their blasphemy.

Well now, they say they have some more evidence. I wonder where they received it. Will they show the evidence, or not show the evidence, or even worse, well, like what happened in Batu Talam, show another piece of fake documents in front of public? Which ever choice they made, it's not their first time doing it.

______________________________

Lojing: Syarikat Singapura terbabit

KUALA LUMPUR 19 April – Menteri Sumber Manusia dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid mendakwa beliau mempunyai bukti Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan meluluskan permohonan tiga syarikat dari Singapura melakukan aktiviti pembalakan di Lojing.

Katanya, setiap syarikat itu diberi kira-kira 400 hektar kawasan untuk menjalankan aktiviti tersebut.

Sementara itu, Azmi berkata, baru-baru ini seorang exco kerajaan negeri mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa beliau (Azmi) bersifat kebudak- budakan dalam menangani isu Lojing.

“Exco berkenaan membuat kenyataan itu dalam sebuah akhbar di Pantai Timur. Ini bukan soal budak-budak atau dewasa. Saya amat serius dalam isu Lojing ini.

“Kita mahukan kebenaran dan minta mereka berhenti daripada terus memusnahkan hutan kerana kemusnahan hutan akan membawa kerugian kepada ekonomi negara dan penduduk setempat,” katanya kepada pemberita di lobi Parlimen, hari ini.

Menurut Azmi, kerajaan Pusat tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk memberhentikan kerja-kerja pembalakan kerana Lojing terletak di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri Kelantan.

Tambahnya, kini beliau hanya meminta kerajaan negeri untuk tampil memberi cadangan dalam memulihkan semula Lojing.

“Soal alam sekitar bukan melibatkan politik. Kita hanya meminta kerajaan negeri lebih bertanggungjawab dalam perkara ini.

“Saya sudah mendedahkan kepada rakyat, biar rakyat tentukan yang mana salah yang mana betul,” ujarnya.

[Taken from Utusan Melayu dated 19th April]

______________________________

[Pictures taken from Malaysia Today]

Me: Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah jua. Even according to proofs by MT, there's only 2 place where the logging areas are > 400 ha. Maybe the local Jab. Perhutanan are not doing something, or someone else is up to something.

.: Speculations :.

2007-03-13T17:41:00.000+08:00

I wonder if the 'feel good' year is starting to become a disastrous year after all.

A few days ago, Malaysia was quite shocked, joyously, when the mainstream medias reported about a 19A1 student in Johor. They even snipped some news about the State's Education Department interest and research about the girl and her successful score.

Nevertheless, my friend told me yesterday that it was just an untrue speculation. For once, I silenced, and I waited till today for the news to come out. Yep, true enough. The girl didn't actually scored a perfect 19A1s. Even then, to me, it is still OK since her scores was 18As. Not bad after all. Taking 19 subjects is not that easy, I must say.

But, the point here is not about the girl, nor the score. It is about how the mainstream media are goin for super-speculating news. Seriously, since the 1 trillion news which makes the people in the corridors of power arrogantly smiled all over the world, such big news have been reported almost everyday. All about the 'feel good' year, while the bad, ugly side of our country is being pushed to the corner so that not many would be able to see them.

From what I know, being honest and true is part of journalism. Of course, there is always an easy-ladder where you can speculate and tell lies in the media, and hoping that it will become 'true lies', but it is never an easy thing. Such cases did happen, such as the manipulation in United States of America which made Bush the President.

Yet, if the speculation turned out to be false :
1) The reporter will surely be dead. This is because such mass media must have the reporter's name together in the article. Also, the reporter is the one, usually, not only write the article, but also does the research. Thus, such speculation for sure is an insult to the media itself.

2) The mass media. When a mass media reported a false event, the reputation will surely decrease. Even if the was a scapegoat to apologise for such trembling issues, in the eyes of the commons, "A lie is a lie". That's it. A justification which not many can change.

3) The subject itself. Honestly, don't you yourself felt insulted, or humiliated, when you knew that the news about you, which was freely distributed among the citizens of Malaysia, turned out to be a false news. If it was me, it won't be easy for me to walk around the corridor of the commons, especially when there are already banners with my face in it.

As a conclusion, speculations, or better still, manipulation of mainstream media must be stopped, at all costs. Even if we are, truly, going to the 'feel good' year, news must be truly selected and scanned, for the sake of honesty.

"O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done." [Al-hujuraat:6]

To Nadiah Amirah Jamil, good luck in your future, and may the Blessings of Allah be with you.

The End

2007-03-04T21:44:00.000+08:00

Islamic-Christian Front Defends Al-Quds

IslamOnline.net & News Agencies

Al-Quds is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site.

RAMALLAH — Muslim and Christian leaders in Al-Quds (occupied east Jerusalem) announced Saturday, March 3, the formation of a joint front to defending the city and its holy sites.

"It is a non-profitable organization; open for all people and bodies interested in protecting Al-Quds, whether inside or outside Palestine," activist Hassan Khater, author of the Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Encyclopedia, said in a statement.

Khater said the front aims to defend Al-Quds city and its Muslim and Christian sanctities against Israeli aggressions.

Palestine’s Chief Judge Tayssir Al-Tamimi said the new front would serve as a melting pot for Al-Quds loving people.

"This front seeks to coordinate stances of the local and foreign bodies concerned with Al-Quds to stand up to the judaization of the holy city," Al-Tamimi told reporters at a joint press conference with Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church Attallah Hanna.

Al-Tamimi said the nascent front came at a critical time as Israel continues its excavations close to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli bulldozers started on February 6 demolishing the wooden bridge leading to Al-Maghariba Gate, sparking widespread protests in the Palestinian lands and Muslim countries.

Israel denies the work poses any risk to the holy site. But Palestinians and Muslims say that the digging is part of an Israeli scheme to shaken the foundation of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The excavations unearthed works of Islamic architecture including floors and walls dating back to the Mamluk era, including two prayer rooms lying under Al-Maghariba Gate, one of 14 gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the Muslims’ first Qiblah [direction Muslims take during prayers] and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka'bah in Makkah and Prophet Muhammad's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al Mi'raj -- the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Unity

Father Hanna said the new front reflects the Islamic-Christian unity in defending Muslim and Christian sanctities in Al-Quds.

"From now on, peoples across the world will hear Arabs, Palestinians, Muslims and Christians speak in one voice," Hanna said.

"We will expose the Israeli violations in Al-Quds," he vowed.

Hana urged all Muslims and Christians to support the front.

"Al-Quds needs you," he said.

Al-Quds is home of some of the holiest Christian worship places including ancient Jerusalem Church and Greek Orthodox Church.

Christian community in Jerusalem supports East Jerusalem being a capital to the long-hoped Palestinian state.

The UN culture agency UNESCO has designated the old city of Al-Quds as a world heritage site. In 1982, UNESCO added the holy city to the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Israel captured and occupied Al-Quds in the six-day 1967 war, then declared its annexation in a move not recognized by the world community or UN resolutions.

British daily the Guardian had unveiled a confidential UK memo accusing Israel of rushing to "judaize" Al-Quds to prevent the city from becoming the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Comatose Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon revealed plans last year to link Al-Quds with the large Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank by building thousands of new homes.

Backed by court orders and wealthy donors, ultra-nationalist Jewish groups continue to evict indigenous Palestinians from their homes in Al-Quds in forced transfers of property to Jewish settlers.

________________________________________

Somehow I remembered about one of the big signs of Qiamat, or The End of Days, which is when Islam and Christian unite to defeat a party until they live in the hills. Perhaps this is it?

S for Study (Part I)

2007-03-04T15:27:00.000+08:00

Might be that I am a little late for this, but then again, not too late for this. Somewhere last month, ESU held a talk in my campus. Well, I am not a Petronas scholar, so at first I didn't really cared about the ESU talk.

But soon after, someone forwarded a YM mass-message (by the way, in case any of you didn't know, YM means for Yahoo! Messenger). I opened it, and it was the pictures above I saw, which makes me rethink again about posting this issue.

Definitely this issue has been the 'issue of the issues', or in other words, an issue that was never resolved. I understand that sometimes it is just hard to cope with the studies. But then again, I still see people getting GPA below 2.5 for two or three consecutive semesters, and yet still have the time, or should I say, spend most of their times in other non-academic things.

Especially entertainment-based activities. I understand, if, they were subject to entertain themselves before they start study. Sometimes I do stuffs like that too. But to do it most of the times, and yet keeping the lecture notes and book aside, is of course something not right.

For me, to score is a probability, but to study is a reality, a must for all students. How do you expect people to let go of their studies, especially people who are scholar-bounded people? Let me remind you again, scholar-bounded people.

Scholar-bounded people are people that are trusted to study, local or overseas, and serve the scholar provider, if not nation, and the community. Thus, if someone was to get a GPA below 2.5 every semester, what is the point in that? Serving the community while you are not even interested in study? That is a NO for that.

One more thing that also need to be highlighted, the reality. Every year we keep hearing about jobless graduates. Well, at this time it is not a major concern for the university, but what will happen in these 2, 3 years, if more and more people are receiving the 'letter' from the university ?

2007-02-24T20:45:00.000+08:00

_____________________________________________

By SALHAN K. AHMAD
The Star

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has banned entertainment programme Sensasi, which is aired live on TV3, with immediate effect following a controversial comment by a local artiste.

Rosnah Mat Aris was said to have uttered words that were deemed by some as an insult to Prophet Muhammad’s wife.

In its investigations, MCMC found that the programme's live show on Jan 30 had failed to abide by the approval conditions and that the television station had failed to control inappropriate content.

“With this, TV3 has been asked to stop the live broadcast of the show with immediate effect,” the commission said in a statement yesterday.

MCMC corporate communications head Adelina Iskandar said the entire Sensasi programme should have “contributed to the national aspiration and not offend the sensitivity or values of the community.”

She said that TV3 should abide with procedures and obtain the Film Censorship Board’s approval should it wish to produce the show as a recording.

The statement did not clearly state if Rosnah’s comments had insulted Prophet Muhammad’s wife.

However, public reaction as reported by the media suggested that what she said should not have been connected to the Prophet’s family.

Adelina stressed that the requirement to be sensitive to the community’s feelings was contained not only in the Content Code and the Special Licence Conditions but also in the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998.

The one-hour programme hosted by Awal Ashari and artiste Intan Azura is aired on Tuesdays at 11pm and panel members from the arts and entertainment industry are invited to share their views.

In a slot last month, Rosnah when answering a question, had linked a piece of gossip about her (Rosnah) with the age of Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, Siti Khadijah.

Her short statement had caused a huge controversy.

Viewers had also sent in letters expressing their regret over her statement.

_______________________________________

Thanks a lot to MCMC for this quite immediate action. Finally the Government is doing 'something' right. Let me remind you again, something. Not everything. You ought to know that somehow.

It might be due to beuraucracy, or maybe due to the big wave that hit the whole country after the incident. Or maybe better, they too felt that it was wrong of her to utter such words.

Well, for what it may be, the action had been taken, and kudos to MCMC, again.

Yet, one thing still remains silent, TV3. Honestly, after all the incident, TV3 is the one who had been quiet. After all, it was their show, right? Wasn't it them who actually owned the show, and aired in all over the country.

Think again, it was not just about Miss Rosnah Mat Aris (RMA). Yes, she was wrong, at that time, for using such harsh words when they were other, better words which could sound less provocating, if not using non-provocating words at all. Alhamdulillah, in the end she made a public apology through Melodi.

Then again, in the same show, there were people clapping their hands after she said the unwanted words. Should they all be forgiven, just like that, after RMA apologized? No, since RMA apologized for her words, not the actions of the live-viewers.

So, what should it be? A full-apology of all the live-viewers who clapped their hands and shouted "Yeah!" during the show? For God sake that is nearly impossible, but for TV3 to address a public apology, that is practical, feasible, possible. What's the point of having a great broadcasting channel, especially with the 1-hour Buletin TV3 if they could not even spend one minute, just to say "We're sorry for the show". To me, that is enough.

"You kill a mosquito today, and tomorrow more mosquitos are born"

Uqbah ibn Nafi’

2007-01-30T06:17:00.000+08:00

[Sumber : Dakwah.info ]

(Panglima Islam yang membuka benua Afrika)

oleh:eizzudeen

Semilir bayu lautan menyapa pipi seorang panglima. Pandangannya merenung jauh ke arah lautan meniti seberang yang tidak kelihatan. Tangannya mengenggam erat bilah pedang. Namun kilauannya yang telah meredah jauh, menumpaskan kebatilan-kebatilan tidak mampu untuk melemparkan walau secebis rasa gembira di hatinya. Hatinya resah dan sayu. Matanya menadah ke langit. “Ya Allah, jika tidak kerana lautan yang menghalang aku, nescaya akanku persiapkan pasukan armadaku untuk menyebarkan kalimat agung taiyibahMu, akanku mara demi menegakkan syiar Islam nun di kerajaan barat. Akanku satukan semua empayar-empayar di bawah panji yang mulia ini jua akan ku perangi bejat-bejat yang ingkar untuk menerima mesej suci untuk mengesakan Engkau Ya Allah.”

Uqbah Ibn Nafi’ merenung kembali ke arah tenteranya. Lantas bangkit dari layanan perasaannya, kembali beliau mengatur langkah ke arah tenteranya. Hatinya berdetik, “Jika lautan yang luas tidak mampu kami redahi, masih ada bumi yang belum menerima keindahan ajaran yang mulia ini. Ayuh! Kita teruskan juga perjuangan kita.”

Bermula dari persisiran pantai Tanjah di Lautan Atlantik itu, Uqbah Ibn Nafi’ dan pasukan tenteranya mengorak langkah untukt terus menuju ke selatan. Berbekalkan amanat Khalifah Muawiyah, mereka telah menguasai seluruh Afrika Utara bermula dari kota Qairawan di Tunisia, terus ke Fazzan dan akhirnya ke kota Elzab dan Tahret.

Sifat-sifat yang berkembang segar dalam jiwa Uqbah Ibn Nafi’ dapat dilihat jelas di mana beliau tidak pernah terdetik walau sejenak rasa letih maupun rasa puas melihat kejayaan pasukan tenteranya menguasai kota-kota di utara Afirka, malah beliau rasa lebih sedih kerana tidak mampu untuk menyeberangi lautan untuk menegakkan kalimah Allah. Berbekalkan teguh dengan ayat-ayat Quran seperti Surah Fatihah dalam Ayat 2;

“Segala puji bagi Allah, Ilah sekalian alam”, beliau tidak redha di hatinya memikirkan bahawa masih ada kelompok manusia yang tidak mengagungkan Allah. Jiwanya membara untuk memastikan hayatnya akan melepaskan ikatan insan-insan di dunia ini ke arah Ilah selain Allah. Adakah rasa semangat jihad ini subur dalam jiwa kita? Jiwa para da’ie seharusnya kembang segar dengan rasa untuk memartabatkan islam di seluruh persada dunia. Melihat jahiliyah apatah lagi maksiat yang ada akan melahirkan rasa tidak puas hati dan rasa geram bagi kita untuk menghapuskan segala bentuk kemungkaran yang menular. Sedih sekali situasi sekarang rata-ratanya pemuda-pemudi di luar sana kurang sensitivitiya. Tidak langsung berputik rasa untuk menyebarkan islam malah ada yang tidak langsung rasa bangga dengan Islam…

Namun, semangat yang membara perlu dibentuk dengan sebaiknya. Tidak guna jika semangat yang asalnya marak tapi akhirnya padam dengan hanya percikan air-air. Mihnah-mihnah yang mencorakkan jalan-jalan ini seringkali menyebabkan kita tersimpang dan lebih sedih lagi menyebabkan kita tersasar jauh dari arah matlamat kita. Oleh sebab itu, amat penting untuk kita untuk melalui proses-proses tarbiyah yang akan membantu kita mengatur langkah sebaiknya.

Uqbah Ibn Nafi’ tidak setakat terkenal sebagai seorang komander perang atau jeneral yang mampu mengorak pasukan tenteranya untuk menghuru-harakan barisan musuh, namun beliau juga terkenal sebagai seorang amir yang adil yang mampu untuk memerintah sebuah kerajaan. Kota Qairawan diasaskan dan dijadikan pusat pemerintahan Islam di Afrika Utara.

Tujuan Uqbah menjadikan Qairawan sebagai pusat Islam di Afrika Utara ialah antaranya untuk mengembangkan ajaran Islam di region itu. Tidak guna jika banyak penaklukan dilakukan tetapi tidak ada tindakan susulan untuk menunjukkan keindahan Islam kepada penduduk tempatan. Tarbiyah hendaklah dilaksanakan dan dititikberatkan agar penduduk yang baru memeluk Islam benar-benar faham dan dapat merasakan keindahan Islam yang sebenar. Di samping itu, penubuhan kota itu juga akan memudahkan tentera Islam yang dating dari Damsyik untuk mengajar Islam kepada penduduk sekitar dan penduduk tempatan.

Pengajaran yang menarik di sini ialah Uqbah Ibn Nafi’ megimplementasikan sepenuhnya sunnah Rasulullah SAW dalam menyebarkan ajaran dakwahnya. Rasulullah SAW bersungguh-sungguh dalam menyebarkan ajaran Islam di mana baginda tidak hanya fokus kepada orang-orang tertentu, tapi baginda dengan sama ratanya melayan dan tidak jemu untuk mengaja manusia kembali kepada fitrahnya untuk mengesakan penciptanya. Hatta kepada orang kafir, baginda melayan dengan baik perasaan mereka walau baginda dicemuh. Kisah baginda dengan seorang Yahudi yang buta, di mana baginda akan setiap hari menyuap makanan kepada Yahudi itu. Yahudi itu mencemuh dan menghina baginda tanpa dia sedar bahawa yang menyuap makanan kepadanya adalah Rasulullah SAW. Hinggalah kepada kewafatan baginda, di mana Abu Bakar pula yang mengambil alih tugas itu. Namun, Yahudi itu dapat merasakan kelainan di mana orang yang menyuapnya sekarang tidak selembut orang yang menyuapnya dahulu. Apabila ditanya Abu Bakar menitiskan air mata dan membongkar rahsia sejak dahulu bahawa orang itu tidak lain tidak bukan adalah Rasulullah sendiri. Lantas Yahudi itu menangis dan menyatakan keislamannya. Sama seperti Uqbah, beliau menunjukkan “uswatun hasanah” sehingga menyebabkan berduyun-duyun penduduk asal dan penduduk sekitar yang terdiri daripada bangsa Barbars ramai-ramai yang memeluk Islam.

Pengajaran yang menarik di sini ialah kita tidak memilih untuk siapa kita mahu berdakwah tetapi yang penting ialah kita berusaha sepanjang masa untuk menarik orang kembali kepada Islam. Kita tidak memilih atau menapis orang sebaliknya kita sentiasa memikirkan cara dan berusaha untuk berdakwah. Contoh Rasulullah tadi menunjukkan kita mampu untuk berbuat sedemikian. Seperti mana janji Allah dalam Surah Muhammad, ayat 7:

“Hai orang-orang mukmin, jika kamu menolong (agama) Allah, niscaya Dia akan menolongmu dan meneguhkan kedudukanmu.”

Di kota Qairawan juga terdapat kisah-kisah menarik yang dinyatakan mengenai beliau. Diriwayatkan bahawa beliau pernah berdoa bahawa “Ya Allah jauhkanlah kami semua daripada binatang buas dan bahaya”. Ketika itu, Qairawan terkenal sebagai tempat yang penuh dengan binatang buas dan beracun seperti harimau dan ular. Selepas dia berdoa, penduduk tempatan melihat banyak binatang-binatang itu yang berhijrah ke tempat lain. Ini menyebabkan mereka tertarik lalu antara faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan mereka ramai-ramai memeluk Islam. Selain itu, beliau juga berdoa kepada Allah supaya memakmurkan kota Qairawan dan menjadikannaya sebagai salah satu pusat Islam. Sehingga hari, ini, kota Qairawan memang terkenal sebagai salah satu kota yang banyak menyimpan warisan khazanah Islam selain menjadi pusat penyebaran Islam yang terkemuka di Afrika utara.

Uqbah Ibn Nafi’ dibunuh ketika dalam perjalanan pulang ke Qairawan selepas beliau dan pasukan musuhnya kembali daripada pertemuran di Algeria timur pada tahun 683 M. Kisah kepahlawanan beliau sepatutnya dicontohi di mana beliau sering berusaha untuk menegakkan kalimah Allah. Selain itu, usaha dakwah yang ditunjukkan sepatutnya menjadi contoh di mana beliau sentiasa berusaha untuk mengajak manusia kembali kepada Islam tidak kira apa jua status dan martabat mereka. Beliau juga sering meletakkan masalah umat sebagai prioriti di mana beliau tidak pulang ke Damsyik sebaliknya mengasaskan kota Qairawan untuk menjadi pusat menyebarkan Islam juga sebagai pusat tarbiyah kepada penduduk sekitar.

Janji Palsu Ka ?

2006-12-13T22:46:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum. Sudah agak lama tidak menulis di dalam bahasa Melayu.

Hari ini sambil-sambil 'surf' internet sekitar media-media alternatif Malaysia, penulis terjumpa akan satu link yang amatlah menarik sekiranya dikongsi.

Di dalam link tersebut terdapat satu gambar, gambar yang secara terang-terang tentang janji Pak Lah ketika pilihanraya 2004.

Sekarang, mari kita kupas satu per satu isu-isu yang dijanjikan oleh Pak Lah.

'More oppurtunities', ataupun lebih peluang bagi sektor pendidikan, keusahawanan dan pekerjaan. Terjadikah perkara ini? Dari sektor pendidikan, peluang mungkin dapat ditingkatkan, tetapi nyata sekali kualiti universiti-universiti tempatan tidak memberangsangkan.

Lihat sahajalah akan Universiti Malaya yang terkeluar daripada senarai 'Top 200 Universities' baru-baru ini. Bagaimana sebuah universiti tempatan yang boleh dikira high-class kerana 'it's long standing in the arena of education' tiba-tiba tidak dapat memasuki 'ranking' tersebut, semuanya setelah berlaku peralihan kuasa, lebih-lebih lagi apabila kampus-kampus dipengaruhi agenda aspirasi yang sengal.

Sektor pekerjaan ? Anda yakin pekerjaan semakin banyak ? Saya tidak. Mungkin, pada dasarnya dengan kenaikan Bursa Malaysia yang agak memberangsangkan, kenaikan peluang pekerjaan itu mungkin sekali berlaku. Namun sayangnya, tidak. Memang pada dasarnya Bursa Malaysia meningkat, namun peningkatan itu hanya menguntungkan bagi syarikat-syarikat yang besar, 'the big corporates'. Anda tanyalah mana-mana golongan marhaen professional, penjual-penjual kereta sama ada mereka untung ataupun tidak? Kebanyakan mereka pasti akan mengatakan tahun ini (2006) tidak begitu baik bagi penjualan mereka.

Sebab ? Apabila GLC disatukan, apabila GLC dijual, memang secara 'overall'nya keuntungan itu ada, tetapi itu hanyalah bagi pemegang saham, bagi kerajaan sendiri. Bukannya pekerja, kerana apabila berlaku merger, penjualan syarikat, sudah tentu akan berlaku VSS ataupun apa-apa cara untuk mengurangkan jumlah pekerja, untuk mengurangkan kos 'merger' ataupun jual beli.

'Personal Safety' (Keselamatan individu) pula bagaimana ? Dengan semakin banyak isu pembunuhan saban hari. Kes Altantuya. Kes ayah bunuh anak kerana Ah Long. Kes rogol. Kes hilang laptop di sekitar Kuala Lumpur. Adakah ianya berkurangan ? Tidak sama sekali. Tidak sama sekali. Terbaru kes tembak di kepala (baca Utusan Melayu bertarikh 13 Disember 2006). Apakah ini seiring dengan janji-janji Pak Lah? Tidak sama langsung.

'Enforcement' yang konon-kononnya ditingkatkan, memang ditingkatkan. Namun ianya ditingkatkan ketika mana golongan marhaen memerlukannya, seperti kes Surau Kampung Berembang. Seperti Bloody Sunday suatu ketika dahulu. Di dalam hal-hal seperti itulah 'enforcement was increased'.

Demokrasi yang lebih matang. Haha, gelak sahajalah. Mana tidaknya, undang-undang yang lebih rimba daripada undang-undang terdahulu. Suatu undang-undang di mana seorang manusia yang bergelar Perdana Menteri Malaysia, tidak boleh dikritik sama sekali. Hatta yang mengkritik itu bergelar Tun, dan merupakan bekas Perdana Menteri. Sampai begitu sekali. Bukan setakat itu, Sang Kelembai juga, walaupun hanya kritikan sedikit pedas, namun tup-tup, terus menjadi perbincangan Majlis Tertinggi. Itu baru seorang ahli yang boleh dikira agak veteran di dalam 'web logging'.

'A Clean, Efficient Government'. Lagilah tak percaya. Sebab ? Lihat sahaja index rasuah yang baru-baru ini di'set up'. Betapa teruknya Malaysia.

Cluster analysis of the BPI results groups countries that exhibit similar behaviour in terms of their companies’ propensity to bribe abroad. As the differences in scores between adjacent countries on theranking are small, this analysis provides further material with which to interpret and understand the results.

This analysis produces four clusters (or groups) of countries. Cluster 1 comprises the countries from which companies are least likely to bribe when doing business abroad, and cluster 4 comprises those that are most likely to bribe, according to the BPI 2006.

Cluster 1: Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Austria, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, US, Japan

Cluster 2: Singapore, Spain, United Arab Emirates, France, Portugal, Mexico

Cluster 3: Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Africa, Malaysia

Cluster 4: Taiwan, Turkey, Russia, China, India.

It is important to note that although cluster 1 represents the best performers of the 30 countries, the results of the BPI highlight that companies from all countries in the survey show a considerable propensity to pay bribes. Countries in the top clusters should therefore not view this as an endorsement of their companies’ behaviour.

Once there are several comparable iterations of the BPI, these clusters will allow changes in the countries’ ratings to be tracked across time.

'Third cluster from 4'. Agak-agak, teruk ke tidak ? Cukuplah sekadar itu dahulu sebagai appetizer buat kali ini. WasSalam.

Peringkat-Peringkat Isteri

2006-12-10T02:38:00.000+08:00

[Original post by lily.miss@gmail.com at mangkukhayun@yahoogroups.com]

Isteri Siddiqin

Isteri yang tidak akan meminta apa-apa dari suaminya sekalipun yang perlu
(dharuri). Apa yang disediakan suaminya, dia terima dengan penuh malu dan
bersyukur. Kalau ada, adalah. Kalau tidak ada, dia bersabar. Tapi meminta
tidak. Apatah lagi yang tidak perlu, kalau diberi pun dia tolak bahkan
adakalanya yang perlu pun dia tolak dengan baik, dia lebih suka menolong
suaminya. Itulah golongan yang bersifat orang yang Siddiqin.

Golongan ini payah hendak dicari terutama di akhir zaman ini, macam hendak mencari belerang merah atau gagak putih. Ini adalah perempuan luar biasa.

Isteri Muqarrobin

Isteri yang tidak meminta dari suaminya kecuali yang perlu sahaja. Yang
tidak perlu dia tidak akan memintanya bahkan kalau suaminya memberi yang tidak perlu dia tolak dengan baik. Tapi kalau yang diperlukan pun tidak
ada, dia tetap sabar. Namaun dia tidak akan mendesak suaminya. Dia tetap
bersabar dengan keadaan itu. Itulah golongan Muqarrobin. Golongan ini juga
susah hendak dicari di zaman kebendaan ini, di zaman orang memburu dunia, di zaman orang memandang dunia adalah segala-galanya.

Isteri Solehin

Isteri yang meminta kepada suaminya yang perlu dan juga sekali-sekala
meminta juga yang tidak perlu seperti ingin sedikit kehidupan yang selesa
sama ada dari segi makan minum, tempat tinggal, kenderaan. Namun kalau
suaminya tidak memberi, dia tetap sabar dan tidak pula menjadi masalah.
Itulah dia golongan orang yang soleh.

Isteri Fasik

Isteri yang selalu sahaja meminta-minta bukan sahaja yang perlu, yang tidak perlu pun dia suka meminta-minta juga. Kalau diberi pun tidak pernah
puas-puas, tidak pernah rasa cukup, sudah mewah pun tidak rasa cukup. Kalau tidak diberi menjadi masalah, dia merungut-rungut, marah-marah, sakit hati, merajuk hingga menjadi masalah dalam rumah tangga. Inilah dia golongan yang fasik. Isteri ini selalu sahaja derhaka dengan suami,apatah lagi dengan Tuhan.

Racist?

2006-12-07T01:55:00.000+08:00

Pemuda UMNO buat laporan polis

KUALA LUMPUR 5 Dis. – Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO hari ini membuat laporan polis berhubung dakwaan DAP, Keadilan dan beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) bahawa UMNO merupakan sebuah parti perkauman.

Wakil pergerakan itu, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan (gambar) berkata, dakwaan tersebut menyebabkan orang awam melihat UMNO sebagai sebuah parti anti kaum bukan Melayu dan mempunyai niat jahat terhadap penganut bukan Islam.

‘‘Situasi ini harus dihentikan serta-merta agar ia tidak menimbulkan unsur hasutan dan berbaur perkauman,’’ katanya ketika ditemui di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Dang Wangi di sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, tindakan mereka yang turut mengembar-gemburkan isu itu di Parlimen, media massa, Internet dan blog juga telah memburukkan lagi keadaan.

‘‘Saya berharap polis dapat mempertimbangkan laporan ini kerana kenyataan susulan pihak pembangkang mempunyai unsur fitnah jenayah.

‘‘Isu ini timbul kerana mereka hanya memetik beberapa ayat daripada keseluruhan ucapan dalam Perhimpunan Agung UMNO,’’ katanya.

Honestly I would say, it's really a laughing stock. When you say that UMNO is not a racist party, I do not believe it, at all.

Simply say, if the party is not racist, then why called it United Malay National Organization ? Isn't the name, is fine enough, to show that the party is a racist party, why subjecting the objectives of the party to only one race ?

Secondly, if it is not a racist party, then why was the PAU 2006 looked racist ? People like Khairy Jamaludin with his new Malay agenda kept on with his bad mouths about the non-Malays.

Third, in Malaysiakini.com dated 20th November 2006, there was an article entitled 'Pak Lah, take responsibility for Umno’s racism'. So, it is not any kind of 'fitnah' or baseless accusation at all. If it is so, then why does the Premier himself agreed with the stance that UMNO is racist?

As what I can see, with or without the police report, the end should be the same, 'coz it is a fact, not just another hype of accusation.

To Cover or Not To Cover ?

2006-12-06T01:02:00.000+08:00

_______________________________________________

"Dan katakanlah kepada perempuan-perempuan yang beriman supaya menyekat pandangan mereka (daripada memandang yang haram), dan memelihara kehormatan mereka; dan janganlah mereka memperlihatkan perhiasan tubuh mereka kecuali yang zahir daripadanya; dan hendaklah mereka menutup belahan leher bajunya dengan tudung kepala mereka; dan janganlah mereka memperlihatkan perhiasan tubuh mereka melainkan kepada suami mereka, atau bapa mereka atau bapa mertua mereka atau anak-anak mereka, atau anak-anak tiri mereka, atau saudara-saudara mereka, atau anak bagi saudara-saudara mereka yang lelaki, atau anak bagi saudara-saudara mereka yang perempuan, atau perempuan-perempuan Islam, atau hamba-hamba mereka, atau orang gaji dari orang-orang lelaki yang telah tua dan tidak berkeinginan kepada perempuan, atau kanak-kanak yang belum mengerti lagi tentang aurat perempuan; dan janganlah mereka menghentakkan kaki untuk diketahui orang akan apa yang tersembunyi dari perhiasan mereka; dan bertaubatlah kamu sekalian kepada Allah, wahai orang-orang yang beriman, supaya kamu berjaya. " [An-Nur : 31]
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TheStar dated 5th December 2006 wrote an article about the strict women dressing law in Kelantan,

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MPKB: Cover up or else

By C.A. ZULKIFLE and IAN MCINTYRE

KOTA BARU: Women working in retail outlets and restaurants in Kelantan have been warned to mind their dressing or be prepared to face a fine.
The Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) has announced that it would “no longer tolerate indecent dressing” by women, both Muslim and non-Muslim.
Public relations officer Mohd Azman Daham said that under local council by-laws women who “dressed sexily or indecently” could be fined up to RM500.

“Such outfits are prohibited here as it smears the reputation of Kota Baru and affects its status as an Islamic City,” he said in an interview.
He added that although punishment for indecent dressing was in place under the by-laws, it had not been totally enforced.
“But now, MPKB will no longer tolerate skimpy outfits, following mounting complaints from the public,” Mohd Azman said, adding that under the by-laws, women working in retail outlets should wear decent clothes.
Council enforcement officers, he added, would step up checks in various localities.
Mohd Azman said MPKB would focus on “suspicious areas”, especially the shopping malls in Taman Hijau, Taman Uda and Taman Tengku Anis here.
The council had received complaints from ratepayers that certain shop assistants and waitresses here donned sexy outfits, supposedly to woo more male customers.
Under the standard dress code here, a Muslim women has to be covered until the ankles and wear a tudung. Non-Muslim women are required to wear decent clothes.
Tight-fitting tops and pants were not allowed, even for non-Muslims, Mohd Azman said.
Mohd Azman said under the council by-laws, the owners of retail outlets who employed indecently dressed workers could also be fined.
If the offence was repeated, the council could suspend the business permit of the outlet, he added.
State Local Government Committee chairman Takiyuddin Hassan said the state had not taken any tough action yet as, the MPKB had been more involved in generating awareness about proper attire.
“We define proper attire as wearing respectful clothing,” he said.
“We apologise to non-Muslims if this comes across as harsh but we must respect our Asian culture and religion in public.”
He noted that “eye-popping” outfits invited undesirable attention.
He urged the people to co-operate, especially those in the retail and restaurant businesses.
Trader Che Suraya Hulaimi Sulaiman, 32, supported the council's move, saying: “Almost everywhere there are retail assistants or waitresses wearing sexy clothes.
“This is an insult to Islam.”
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At the same time, TheStar also wrote another article,

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Shahrizat: Dress code is disrespectful and undermines women’s capabilities

Update from The Star Newsdesk

KUALA LUMPUR: The latest dress code ruling in Kelantan is disrespectful and undermines women’s capabilities.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she is appalled at the no sexy clothes ruling in Kelantan.
The state government, she said, should instead focus on how it can help the development of women instead of concentrating on flimsy issues such as dress codes.
“Why are they focusing on dressing issues when they should be thinking about how they can help women in Kelantan excel and develop fur ther, both in education and entrepreneurship?” she told The Star at the Parliament lobby Tuesday in commenting on its front-page report.
The Kota Baru Municipal Council had warned that both Muslim and non-Muslim women working in retail out lets and restaurants in Kelantan should take note of their dress ing or risk being fined.
The council said it would be conducting spot checks and women who flouted its guidelines could be fined up to RM500, Several women's organisations reacted with outrage.
Shahrizat said creating such a ruling will in the end back-fire on the Kelantan government.
“In the end, Kelantanese women will object to it," she warned.
“It is so disrespectful to the women there. The ruling makes it seem like women cannot decide for themselves what they should or should not wear and need the government to help them decide.
“It just goes to show what kind of government they are.”

_______________________________________________

Well, I honestly believe that Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil (DSSS) is partially wrong there. IMHO, I do not see, in any way at all, the law looks disrespectful to women. Just few weeks ago, there were discussions in Parliament ( if I am not mistaken ) about foreign tourists marking Bukit Bintang as a prostitute-part of KL, or something like that. Looking from that point of view, I believe that this law is quite important in order to remove such views and thinkings from the foreign tourists.

Malaysia, as we know it, is a country full of tradition, specifically The Eastern Culture. Somehow, due to what people call as 'globalisation', Malaysians are becoming more and more revealing themselves. From baju kurung with tudungs, the young Malay feminines are starting to dress like the Westerners, some even on short pants and baby-Tees, all in the name of globalisation.

For me, there is no such thing as globalisation in this aspect. Culture is something we should be proud of. Wearing such fancy things means that we are slowly eradicating the culture from the deepest of our hearts. One might say "Well, even with these dress, I still know, and love my culture. Never will I forget them". To know your culture is a thing. To love your culture is a thing. To be proud of your culture is also a thing.

Eastern cultures never taught us to wear fancy baby-Tees, revealing the upper part of the torso and the tummy. Eastern cultures never taught us to wear dress that are sexually appealing. The more we become like that, the more sex-city we are becoming. That is why the code was introduced, to further ease on issue of Malaysia having a sex-city. Imagine if the code is implemented in the whole nation, that issue would have probably be gone, or better still, never went out from anyone at all.

Do someone need to dress in a sexually appealing condition to outperform or overachieve something? For sure not, unless the person is a sex slave, a prostitute.

If we go to a microchips fabrication factories, there are stricter dress code. Every worker must wear a full-body suit while working. The idea is to remove, at any costs, probabilities of any germs, bacterias to infect the microchips and degrade it, if not making it unusable at all. The end result? Microchips with high-end technology with superb capabilities in helping humans achieve outstanding objectives. See there ? The effect of properly-dressing, no sexual-appealing dress at all ?

So, why not implement such concepts to the commons ?

Applause and Liberation

2006-12-04T23:50:00.000+08:00

"So this is how democracy ended. With applauses" kata-kata Senator Padme Amidala dalam Star Wars III ketika mana Chancellor Palpatine mengumumkan tentang pengambilalih kuasa daripada Senator kepada kuasa sepenuhnya oleh Chancellor Palpatine sendiri.

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NSTP, Utusan merger on

By Yap Leng Kuen

The merger between New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) and Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd is believed to be ongoing while operationally, a few major changes are expected to take place.
Following a series of meetings over the weekend, the parties involved are believed to have come up with another “workable and acceptable'' plan that Utusan Malaysia and possibly some profitable publications of the Utusan group will remain as they are.
In view of the tradition and identity built up over the years as well an existing market for Malay papers, the Utusan publications will be sold nationwide and will maintain an independent editorial stance, sources said.
It is believed that the Utusan group is for the merger is targeted at helping the Utusan group save millions in its operations. This is when it can pool physical resources such as bureaus, offices and printing plants with NSTP, which publishes Berita Harian, Harian Metro and a few others.
It is understood that other cost-cutting measures and divestments are also being considered, while the shareholders will be briefed of the latest operational plan today.
Under the corporate exercise, it is believed that Umno would emerge as a major shareholder in the new holding company that will own and publish The New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Harian Metro, Utusan Malaysia and others.
Trading in NSTP and Utusan shares was suspended on Friday, pending their separate announcements of material transactions to be made known today.
The expected merger is expected to lead to a share swap with a new company that will be listed on Bursa. Umno, currently the major shareholder of Utusan, will swap its Utusan shares in the newco and thus become a substantial shareholder in the new holding company.
At the end of the exercise, NSTP and Utusan will be delisted.
Umno currently owns about 50.5% in Utusan via RHB Nominees (Tempatan) Sdn Bhd; the Finance Ministry has 6.9%. Media Prima, which owns several TV stations and recently bought three outdoor advertising companies – Big Tree Outdoor Sdn Bhd (70%); UPD Sdn Bhd and The Right Channel Sdn Bhd, owns 43.3% of NSTP.

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Jenuh gak kepala hari ini berfikir, mengapa perlunya untuk Utusan dan NSTP bergabung? FYI (salah satu bahasa mIRC dan instant messaging yang membawa erti For Your Information), kedua-dua Utusan dan NSTP merupakan akhbar milik kerajaan, sepertimana yang diketahui umum.

Termasuk hal ini, 2 aktiviti 'merger' besar dijalankan selepas PAU 2006 (Perhimpunan Agung UMNO ya, bukan kuih PAU =) ). Selain daripada kes ini, the other merger is the merger of Golden Hope, Guthrie and Sime Darby by Khazanah Nasional through PNB. I wonder if this merger (Utusan & NSTP) is also a 'product' of Khazanah Nasional.

Looking at that point, it seems that Khazanah Nasional is making a big step upon Malaysia's future economy. Andai kata Khazanah Nasional memegang kesemua syarikat-syarikat ini, maka dengan senangnya Khazanah Nasional boleh mentadbir kesemua syarikat untuk menguntungkan lagi depa.

Still, the coin have 2 faces, the head and the tail. Pentadbiran baru ini, sekiranya benar, mungkin juga beerti Khazanah Nasional boleh 'mentadbir' untuk menguntungkan diri mereka sahaja, seperti mana rumours tentang isu penjualan saham Pantai Holdings.

Alright, now we come to the main issue. Why the merger? As what I see through my own naked eyes, the merger could be one thing : 'Mass media manipulation at its peak in Malaysia'. As what I've wrote earlier, both the newsgroups are owned by UMNO. However, the owners, though from the same ships, are different people.

If, this merger succeeds, for sure one have to go. Either the Utusan's or NSTP's side. With this, what I see is a big probability for KJ to yet unleash his power by controlling almost all media power in Malaysia.

With this, we could see Utusan's new face from liberty to bureaucracy, where every 'hot' issues must be seen by KJ's man. Honestly, I am pretty sure many will agree to me that between all NSTP's newspapers and Utusan Melayu, the liberty, freedom of speech, is much higher in Utusan Melayu. Even the New Straits Times and Berita Harian can't really say a thing right now. Don't believe me? Read the past news article on the issue of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa's Student Representative Council Election. If my mind remembers correctly, there were some wrongs in the article by Berita Harian about UIA SRC's election. Yet, Utusan dared its tounge to speak the truth.

With these merger, I am currently expecting the voice of Utusan to be silenced. Well, hopefully that is not true. After all, Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad is one of Utusan's Board of Directors.

Rufaqa' as in deviant group?

2006-12-03T00:47:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum.

Lama benor tak post kat sini. Almaklumlah, bz ngan final paper sejak last post.

Majoriti akhbar harian hari ini dan semalam giat menyiarkan tulisan dan berita tentang Rufaqa' dan Al-Arqam.

Apa yang penulis tahu, Al-Arqam ini dikatakan sesat, ataupun lebih tepat lagi, fasiq, lari dari ajaran Sunnah Wal Jamaah. Kalau nak tahu lebih lanjut, go to this site, sebab dalam post ini, penulis hanya hendak menguraikan apa yang terbuku di minda penulis.

Penulis sebenarnya agak hairan dengan sikap kerajaan. Asbabnya ? Rufaqa' telahpun lama ditubuhkan, dan mempunyai beberapa kepentingan ekonomi. Antaranya bandar County Homes itu sendiri, beberapa projek destinasi pelancongan, dan juga, bagi peminat-peminat nasyid tanah air, Mawaddah.

Contoh, bandar County Homes, merujuk pada gambar di bawah, menyatakan bahawa Rufaqa' Corporation telahpun giat aktif di dalam bidang ekonomi sejak akhir 90an, selepas Ashaari bin Muhammad dimasukkan ke dalam ISA.

Kalau dikira-kira balik, kerajaan mengambil masa lebih 5 tahun untuk detect pergerakan Rufaqa' sebagai Al-Arqam, a.k.a ajaran sesat. Mengapa begitu lama? Untuk menjatuhkan Anwar Ibrahim pada satu ketika tidaklah memakai masa sebegitu lama, walaupun cerita demi cerita perlu direka untuk menutup lubang. Tapi, sebuah pertubuhan yang giat aktif, sah, punyalah susah untuk dikesan sama ada mereka mengamalkan ajaran sesat atau tidak.

Apa yang bermain di fikiran penulis, mungkinkah semua ini hanyalah lagi satu lakonan sandiwara politik Malaysia semata-mata? Ataupun lebih tepat lagi, sandiwara orang tertentu di dalam kerajaan?

Jika dilihat kembali, andai kata Rufaqa' dijatuhkan sah sebagai agama sesat, maka tentu semua perniagaan mereka akan disita oleh kerajaan. Kalaulah begitu, siapalah yang untung agaknya ek? Sudahlah dengan Proton yang mungkin sekali akan dijual 51% sahamnya, kemudian dengan penggabungan 3 syarikat di bawah naungan PNB, yang di bawah jagaan Khazanah Nasional, yang di bawah bulu ketiak orang lulusan Oxford di tingkat 4 Putrajaya. Semuapun mereka nak bolot.

Kalau macam ni gayanya, bilalah agaknya Malaysia nak hidup ? Bursa Malaysia dah lepas dah 1000, tapi pakar runding ekonomi, dan juga golongan professional di Malaysia masih lagi mengatakan tiada nampak akan keuntungan itu pada pihak mereka, kerana semua keuntungan itu dibolot oleh sesetengah-sesetengah orang sahaja.

Zaman Che Det dulu, ada la jugak lahir watak-watak ekonomi (lagi-lagi Bumiputra) yang baru macam Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli, Tan Sri Halim Saad. Kini, di mana mereka semua selepas kejatuhan ekonomi? La, mano pi pengganti-pengganti depa di alaf 2000 ni, sejak pemerintahan Pak Lah ? Ke yang ada tu asik-asik muka sama.....

Finals

2006-11-02T05:16:00.000+08:00

Alif, Laam, Miim. Patutkah manusia menyangka bahawa mereka akan dibiarkan dengan hanya berkata: "Kami beriman", sedang mereka tidak diuji (dengan sesuatu cubaan)? Dan demi sesungguhnya! Kami telah menguji orang-orang yang terdahulu daripada mereka, maka (dengan ujian yang demikian), nyata apa yang diketahui Allah tentang orang-orang yang sebenar-benarnya beriman, dan nyata pula apa yang diketahuiNya tentang orang-orang yang berdusta. [Al-Ankabuut:1-3]

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Bersabarlah kamu, dan kuatkanlah kesabaran kamu lebih , dan bersedialah serta bertaqwalah kamu kepada Allah supaya, kamu berjaya (mencapai kemenangan).[Ali-Imran:200]

Ayat-ayat yang kupetik daripada Al-Qur'an, yang rasanya paling sesuai untuk memberitahu akan status diriku ketika ini, dengan test-test yang kunjung tak habis, selepas pergi satu, datang satu lagi, begitu jua dengan projek-projek dan assigment-assignment.

Untuk warga kampusku yang akan menjalani final tidak lama lagi, semoga berjaya akan adanya. Moga usaha antum diterima Allah s.w.t dan diredhaiNya agar disenangkan antum ketika final nanti. :)

Budaya Ilmu atau budaya apa?

2006-10-29T11:38:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum.

Malamku ini, walaupun di sebalik kedamaian Syawal, di sebalik hujan yang baru sahaja reda, namun terpanggil diriku ini untuk berkongsi sebuah perkara yang begitu jarang sekali kita lihat. Kebetulan hari ini membuka begitu banyak webpage berita (iyelah, semalam a.k.a rabu semua mainstream news media bercuti). Lantaran itu, terbacalah page ini, dan terkejutlah hamba akan adanya, seperti mana terkejutnya seorang ibu yang melihat anaknya hampir lemas di dalam bath tub.

Arahan sertai pesta muzik tak sesuai

SAYA berpendapat pelajar Universiti Teknologi Petronas tidak sesuai diarah supaya menyertai konsert yang dinamakan ‘Music Fest 3’ di Ipoh pada 17 September lalu. Apabila saya mendapat tahu, saya amat terkejut kerana sebuah institusi pengajian tinggi yang hebat seperti universiti berkenaan sepatutnya membudayakan ilmu ke dalam jiwa pelajarnya.

Saya berpendapat acara itu tidak menyumbang kepada pembentukan jati diri mahasiswa yang baik. Terus-terang saya katakan, sebagai seorang ayah yang prihatin masa depan anaknya, harapan saya apabila menghantar anak ke universiti supaya dia dibudayakan dengan budaya ilmu, bukan dibudayakan dengan aktiviti hiburan yang boleh menghala kepada gejala sosial.

Kali pertama saya menjejaki Universiti Teknologi Petronas, saya melihat kakitangan yang ada cukup mesra, baik, sopan-santun dan memuaskan hati saya agar anak saya terpelihara dengan baik apabila melanjutkan pelajarannya di universiti berkenaan.

Kegiatan yang dianjurkan itu membimbangkan hati saya, apakah benar bahawa anak saya akan dibudayakan dengan ilmu?

BAPA PRIHATIN,
MAHMOOD,
Medan Istana, Ipoh.

(Sumber : http://www.bharian.com.my/m/BHarian/Thursday/Surat/20061025221750/Article/)

Pertama kali membacanya, terkejut juga. Namun begitu, itulah hakikatnya berada di dalam sebuah universiti yang mengamal open-university concept. Pelajar seakan-akan bebas memperagakan apa-apa sahaja, asalkan tidak melanggar undang-undang mereka yang serba tidak ketat itu. Mana tidaknya, dalam akta, perempuan tak boleh pakai skirt pendek2, yg lebih pendek dr lutut kot. Tapi, depa pakai, tak kene saman pon. Haprak aa.

Ok, sori, off-topic. It's about budaya ilmu, and budaya hedonisma. Yes, UTPians are substansially killing themselves with such musics. Yes, music is perhaps one of the key in life, or in better words, as part of enjoying ourselves.

But, then again, too much enjoyment kills, as too much morphine taken by a soldier finally made the soldier died. It is a simple analogy.

Finally, there are some parents who are aware of such behaviours of their children. To anyone yang terase, sorry to say, but in this point, I am with this Bapa Prihatin. That's all. Thank you. Wassalam.

[Diz post was taken from my friendster blog, dated 26 Oct 2006]

ABU UBAIDAH BIN JARRAH

2006-10-27T16:54:00.000+08:00

Wajahnya selalu berseri. Matanya bersinar. Tubuhnya tinggi kurus. Bidang bahunya kecil. Setiap mata senang melihat kepadanya. Dia selalu ramah tamah, sehingga setiap orang merasa simpati kepadanya. Di sampmg sifatnya yang lemah lembut, dia sangat tawadhu’ (rendah hati) dan sangat pemalu. Tetapi bila menghadapi suatu urusan penting, dia sangat cekatan ba gaikan singa jantan bertemu musuh. Dialah kepercayaan ummat Muhammad. Namanya‘Amir bin ‘Abdillah bin Jarrah Al Fihry Al Qurasyi”, dipanggil “Abu ‘Ubaidah”.

‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar pernah bercerita tentang sifat sifat yang mulia, katanya: “Ada tiga orang Quraisy yang sangat cemerlang wajahnya, tinggi akhlak dan sangat pe malu. Bila berbicara, mereka tidak pernah dusta. Dan apabila orang berbicara kepada mereka, mereka tidak cepat-cepat mendustakan. Mereka itu ialah: Abu Bakar Shiddiq, ‘Utsman bin ‘Affan, dan Abu ‘U’baidah bin Jarrah.” Abu ‘Ubaidah termasük kelompok pertama masuk Islam. Dia masuk Islam ditangan Abu Bakar Shiddiq, sehari sesudah Abu Bakar masuk Islam. Waktu itu beliau menemui Rasulullah saw. bersama-sama dengan ‘Abdur Rah man bin ‘Auf, ‘Utsman bin Mazh’un dan Arqam bin Abi Arqam untuk mengucapkan syahadat di hadapan beliau. Karena itu mereka tercatat sebagai tiang-tiang pertama dalam pembangunan mahligai Islam yang agung dan indah.

Dalarn kehidupannya sebagai muslim, Abu ‘Ubaidah mengalami masa penindasan yang keras dan kaum Quraisy terhadap kaum muslimin di Makkah, sejak permulaan sampai akhir. Dia turut menderita bersama-sama kaum muslimin yang mula-mula, merasakan tindakan kekerasan, kesulitan dan kesedihan, yang tak pernah dirasakan oleh pengikut agama-agama lain di muka bumi ini. Walaupun beqitu, dia tetap teguh menerima segala macam cobaan. Dia tetap setia dan membenarkan Rasulullah pada setiap situasi dan kondisi yang berubah-ubah. Bahkan ujian yang dialami Abu ‘Ubaidah dalam perang Badar, melebihi segala macam kekerasan yang pernah kita alami. Abu ‘Ubaidah turut berperang dalam perang Badar. Dia menyusup ke barisan musuh tanpa takut mati Tetapi tentara berkuda kaum musyrikin menghadang dan menge jarnya kemana dia lari. Terutama seorang laki-laki, mengejar Abu ‘Ubaidah dengan sangat beringas kemana saja. Tetapi Abu ‘Ubaidah selalu menghindar dan menjauhkan diri untuk bertarung dengan orang itu. Orang itu tidak mau berhenti mengejarnya. Setelah lama berputar-put akhirnya Abu ‘Ubaidah terpojok. Dia waspada menunggu orang yang mengejarnya. Ketika orang itu tambah dekat kepadanya, dalam posisi yang sangat tepat, Abu ‘Ubaidah mengayunkan pedangnya tepat di kepala lawan. Orang itu jatuh terbanting dengan kepala belah dua. Musuh itu tewas seketika dihadapan Abu ‘Ubaidah. Siapakah lawan Abu ‘Ubaidah yang sangat beringas itu? Di atas telah dikatakan, tindak kekerasan terhadap kaum muslirnin telah melampaui batas. Mungkin Anda ternganga bila mengetahui musuh yang tewas di tangan Abu ‘Ubaidah itu tak lain ialah “Abdullah bin Jarrah” ayah kandung Abu ‘Ubaidah. Abu ‘Ubaidah tidak membunuh bapaknya. Tetapi membunuh kemuysrikan yang bersarang dalam pribadi bapaknya.

Berkenaan dengan kasus Abu ‘Ubaidah tersebut, Allah swt. berfirman sebagai tersebut

“Kamu tidak akan mendapati suatu kaum yang beriman kepada Allah dan Hari Kiamat, saling berkasih-sa yang dengan orang-orang yang rnenentang Allah dan Rasul Nya, sekalipun orang-orang itu bapak-bapak, atau anak anak, atau saudara-saudara, ataupun keluarga mereka. Mereka itulah orang-orang yang Allah telah menanamkan keimanan dalam hati mereka dan menguatkan mereka dengan pertolongan yang datang daripada-Nya. Dan dimasukkan-Nya mereka ke dalam surga yang mengalir di bawahnya sungai-sungai, mereka kekal di dalamnya. Allah ridha terhadap mereka dan mereka pun merasa puas terhadap (limpahan rahmat)-Nya. Mereka itulah golongan Allah. Ketahuilah, bahawa sesungguhnya golongan Allah itulah golongan yang beruntung.” (Al Mujadalah: 22)

Ayat di atas tidak menyebabkan Abu ‘Ubaidah membusungkan dada. Bahkan menambah kokoh imannya kepada Allah dan ketulusannya terhadap agama. Orang yang mendapat gelar ‘kepercayaan ummat Muhammad” ini ternyata menarik perhatian orang-orang besar, bagaikan besi berani menarik logam di sekitarnya. Muhammad bin Ja’far menceritakan, “Pada suatu ketika para utusan kaum Nasrani datang menghadap kepada Rasulullah. Kata mereka, “Ya, Aba Qasim! Kirimlah bersama kami seorang sahabat Anda yang Anda pandang cakap menjadi hakim tentang harta yang menyebabkan kami berselisih sesama kami. Kami senang menerima putusan yang ditetapkan kaum muslimin.” Jawab Rasulullah, ‘Datanglah nanti petang, saya akan mengirimkan bersama kalian “orang kuat yang terpercaya” Kata ‘Umar bin Khaththab, “Saya pergi shalat Zhuhur lebih cepat dan biasa. Saya tidak ingin tugas itu diserahkan kepada orang lain, karena saya ingin mendapatkan gelar “orang kuat terpercaya”. Sesudah selesai shalat Zhuhur, Rasulullah menengok ke kanan dan ke kiri. Saya agàk menonjolkan diri supaya Rasulullah melihat saya. Tetapi beliau tidak melihat lagi kepada kami. Setelah beliau melihat Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Jarrah, beliau memanggil seraya berkata kepadanya, ‘Pergilah engkau bersama mereka. Adili dengan baik perkara yang mereka perselisihkan.” Maka pergilah Abu ‘Ubaidah dengan para utusan Nasrani tersebut, menyandang gelar “orang kuar yang terpercaya”.

Abu ‘Ubaidah bukanlah sekedar orang kepercayaan semata-mata. Bahkan dia seorang yang berani memikul kepercayaan yang dibebankan kepadanya. Keberan itu ditunjukkannya dalam berbagai peristiwa dan tugas yang dipikulkan kepadanya. Pada suatu hari Rasulullah saw. mengirim satu pasukan yang terdiri dari para sahabat untuk menghadang kafilah Quraisy. Beliau mengangkat Abu ‘U,baidah menjadi kepala pasukan, dan membekali mereka hanya dengan sekarung kurma. Tidak lebih dri itu. Karena itu Abu ‘Ubaidah membagi-bagikan kepada para prajuritnya sehari sebuah kurma bagi seorang. Mereka mengulum kurma itu seperti menghisap gula-gula. Sesudah itu mereka minum. Hanya begitu mereka makan untuk beberapa hari. Waktu kaum muslimin kalah dalam perang Uhud, kaum musyrikin sedemikian bernapsu ingin membunuh Rasulullah saw. Waktu itu, Abu ‘Ubaidah termasuk sepuluh orang yang selalu membentengi Rasulullah. Mereka mempertaruhkan dada mereka ditembus panah kaum musyrikin, demi keselamatan Rasulullah saw. Ketika pertempuran telah usai, sebuah taring Rasulullah ternyata patah. Kening beliau luka, dan di pipi beliau tertancap dua mata rantai baju besi beliau. Abu Bakar menghampiri Rasulullah hendak mencabut kedua mata rantai itu dan pipi beliau. Kata Abu ‘Ubaidah, “Biarlah saya yang mencabut nya!” Abu Bakar menyilakan Abu ‘Ubaidah. Abu ‘Ubaidah kuatir kalau Rasulullah kesakitan bila dicabutnya dengan tangan. Maka digigitnya mata rantai itu kuat-kuat de ngan giginya lalu ditariknya. Setelah mata rantai itu tercabut, gigi Abu ‘Ubaidah tanggal satu. Kernudian digigit nya pula mata rantai yang sebuah lagi. Setelah tercabut, gigi Abu ‘Ubaidah tanggal pula sebuah lagi. Kata Abu Bakar, “Abu ‘Ubaidah orang ompong yang paling cakap.”

Abu ‘Ubaidah selalu mengikuti Rasulullah berperang dalam setiap peperangan yang dipimpin beliau, sampai beliau wafat. Dalam musyawarah pemilihan Khalifah yang pertama (Yaumu s-saqifah), ‘Umar bin Khaththab mengulurkan tangannya kepadà Abu ‘Ubaidah seraya berkata, “Saya memilih Anda dan bersumpah setia dengan Anda. Karena saya pernah mendengar Rasulullah saw. bersabda:. “Sesungguhnya tiap-tiap ummat mempunyai orang dipercayai. Orang yang paling dipercaya dan ummat ini adalah Anda (Abu ‘Ubaidah).” Jawab Abu ‘Ubaidah, “Saya tidak mau mendahului orang yang pernah disuruh Rasulullah untuk mengimami kita shalat sewaktu beliau hidup (Abu Bakar). walaupun sekarang beliau telah wafat, marilah kita imamkan juga dia.” Akhfrnya mereka sepakat memilih Abu Bakar inenjadi Khalifah Pentama, sedangkan Abu ‘Ubaidah menjadi penasihat dan pembantu utama bagi Khalifah. Setelah Abu Bakar, jabatan khalifah pindah ke tangan ‘Umar bin Khatthab Al Faruq. Abu ‘Ubaidah selalu dekat dengan ‘Umar dan tidak pernah membangkang perintahnya, kecuali sekali. Tahukah Anda, perintah Khalifah ‘Umar yang bagaimanakah yang tidak dipatuhi Abu Ubaidah? Peristiwa itu terjadi ketika Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Jarrah memimpin tentara muslimin menaklukkan wilayah Syam (Syria). Dia berhasil rnemperoleh kemenangan demi ke menangan berturut-turut, sehingga seluruh wilayah Syam takluk ke bawah kekuasaannya sejak dan tepi sungai Furat di sebelah Timur sampai ke Asia Kecil di sebelah Utara Sementara itu, di negeri Syam berjangkit penyakit menular (Tha’un) yang amat berbahaya, yang belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya, sehingga korban berjatuhan. Khalifah ‘Umar datang dan Madinah , sengaja hendak menemui Abu ‘Ubaidah. Tetapi ‘Umar tidak dapat masuk kota karena penyakit yang sedang mengganas itu. Lalu ‘Umar menulis surat kepada Abu ‘Ubaidah sebagai berikut: “Saya sangat penting bertemu dengan Saudara. Tetapi saya tidak dapat menemui Saudara karena wabak penyakit sedang berjangkit dalam kota. Karena itu bila surat ini sampai ke tangan Saudara malarn hari, saya harap Saudara berangkat menemui saya di luar kota sebelum Subuh. Dan bila surat ini sampai ke tangan siang hari, saya harap Saudara berangkat sebelum hari petang.”

Setelah surat Khalifah tersebut dibaca Abu ‘Ubaidah, dia berkata, “Saya tahu maksud Amirul Mu’minin memanggil saya. Beliau ingin supaya saya menyingkir dari pe nyakit yang berbahaya ini.” Lalu dibalasnya surat Khalifah, katanya; “Ya, Amirul Mu’minin! Saya mengerti maksud Khalifah memanggil saya. Saya berada di tengah-tenciah tentara muslimin, sedang bertugas memimpin mereka. Saya tidak ingin meninggalkan mereka dalam bahaya yang mengancam hanya untuk menyelamatkan diri sendiri. Saya tidak ingin berpisah dengan mereka, sehingga Allah memberi keputusan kepada kami semua (selamat atau binasa). Maka bila surat ini sampai ke tangan Anda, ma’afkanlah saya tidak dapat memenuhi permintaan Anda, dan beri izinlah saya untuk tetap tinggal bersama-sama mereka.”

Setelah Khalifah ‘Umar selesai membaca surat tersebut, beliau menangis sehingga air matanya meleleh ke pipinya. Karena sedih dan terharu melihat Umar menangis, maka orang yang disamping beliau bertanya, “Ya, Arniral Mu’ minin! Apakah Abu ‘Ubaidah wafat?” “Tidak!” jawab ‘Umar. “Tetapi dia berada di ambang kematian.” Dugaan Khalifah tersebut tidak salah. Karena tidak lama sesudah itu Abu ‘Ubaidah terserang wabak yang sangat berbahaya. Sebelum kematiannya Abu ‘Ubaidah berwasiat kepada seluruh prajuritnya: “Saya berwasiat kepada Anda sekalin. Jika wasiat ini kalian terima dan laksanakan, kalian tidak akan sesat dari jalan yang baik, dan senantiasa berada dalam bahagia. “Tetaplah menegakkan shalat. Laksanakan puasa Ramadhan. Bayar sedekah (zakat). Tunaikan ibadah haji dan ‘umrah. Hendaklah kalian saling menasihati sesama ka lian. Nasihati pemerintah kalian, jangan dibiarkan mereka tersesat. Dan janganlah kalian tergoda oleh dunia. Walaupun seseorang bisa berusia panjang sarnpai senibu tahun, namun akhinnya dia akan menjumpai kematian seperti yang kalian saksikan ini. “Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh…” Kemudian dia menoleh kepada Mu’adz bin Jabal. Katanya, “Hai, Mu’adz! Sekarang engkau menjadi Imam (Panglima)!” Tidak lama kemudian, ruhnya yang suci berangkat ke rahmatullah. Dia telah tiada di dunia fana. Jasadnya tidak lama pula habis dimakan masa. Tetapi amal pengorbanannya akan tetap hidup selama-lamanya. Mu’adz bin Jabal berdiri di hadapan jama’ahnya, lalu dia berpidato:

“Ayyuhannaas! (Hai sekalian manusia!) Kita semua sama-sama merasa sedih kehilangan dia (Abu ‘Ubaidah). Demi Allah! Saya tidak melihat orang yang lapang dada melebihi dia. Saya tidak melihat orang yang lebih jauh dan kepalsuan, selain dia. Saya tidak tahu; kalau ada orang yang lebih menyukai kehidupan akhirat melebihi dia. Dan saya tidak tahu, kalau ada orang yang suka memberi nasihat kepada umum melebihi dia. Karena itu marilah kita memohon rahmat Allah baginya, semoga Allah melimpahkan rahmat-Nya pula kepada kita semua.

Amin!! ***

[dipetik daripada www.dakwah.info dengan kebenaran author, ameersyuhada]

Which 'D' are you on?

2006-10-27T00:12:00.000+08:00

On one side it is dictatorship, and on the other, it is 'democracy'.

In year 2002, we watched one of the biggest war in the millenium, which was 'supposedly' to give a 'freedom' to Iraq.

Many challanged the USA's decision, but Uncle Sam's word was final, WAR. FREEDOM. DEMOCRACY.

Well, like it is.

AP) - COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix on Wednesday described the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq as a "pure failure" that had left the country worse off than under the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein.

In unusually harsh comments to Danish newspaper Politiken, the diplomatic Swede said the U.S. government had ended up in a situation in which neither staying nor leaving Iraq were good options.

"Iraq is a pure failure," Blix was quoted as saying. "If the Americans pull out, there is a risk that they will leave a country in civil war. At the same time it doesn't seem that the United States can help to stabilize the situation by staying there."

War-related violence in Iraq has grown worse with dozens of civilians, government officials and police and security forces being killed every day. At least 83 American soldiers have been killed in October - the highest monthly toll this year.

Blix said the situation would have been better if the war had not taken place.

"Saddam would still have been sitting in office. OK, that is negative and it would not have been joyful for the Iraqi people. But what we have gotten is undoubtedly worse," he was quoted as saying.

Blix led the UN inspectors that searched for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. He came under heavy fire from Washington when he urged U.S. President George W. Bush to allow the weapons inspectors and the IAEA to continue their work as a way to stave off a war.

Ultimately a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq and no weapons of mass destruction were found.

Perhaps, that is what U.S is all about. Not the people, but the one who sit on top of them, the one who governs them, through the Oval Room, through the White House, through the Pentagon.

Honestly, I believe many had already smell the lies said by ze Mr. President. When he said 'kill Osama', did he make it? No, all he did was 'freeing' Afghanistan, and put his 'henchman' there, Hamid Karzai. Even the Sept 11 attack had already look ambigiously strange. Like a soap drama.

When ze same person say 'Iraq has WMD', they searched for it. Even though they had to overthrow the government. And yet, nothing was found.

I believe that this man is only trying to use all the U.S' funds for himself, using the U.S Armed Corps for himself, and his family. If he was trying to take down the hostile countries with the capability of having a nuclear weapon, or WMD, why is North Korea left, and he let them do their 'dirty' job?

Not just that, the same person, is already planning on another attack, Iran. His next pit-stop. Under the name of 'democracy'. Pity you Mr. President. You are just being rhetoric.

2006-10-20T14:57:00.000+08:00

What's With Numbers?

2006-10-18T03:59:00.000+08:00

asSalamualaikum.

again, another English post. It's just that I went through a breeze of English Day, where I had reading a lot of english-based web logs and newspapers, apart from my studies, of course.

It just came to my attention that this 'thing' needs a real attention.

18/9% or 45%

First of all, what's in it? It's about the total of bumiputra-owned companies. The ASLI reported that the percentage is about 45% of total companies in Malaysia, while the EPU insisted that it is only 18.9%. Why so much difference?

There had been rumours, a lot of them. But then again, one of the most popular 'myth' is because of the difference in terms of calculation, whereby quite a number of bloggers said that ASLI also take into consideration the GLC in calculating the percentage.

Well, enough for that. I leave that case opened, for another day, because from what I've heard in TheStar Malaysia Online, DPM Dato' Seri Najib is going to make the calculation public very soon. Hopefully, those calculations are not 'fresh baked cookies', if you understand what I mean.

What bothers me a lot is perhaps, the Premier's leadership.

Honestly, in this few months that had just passed by, Malaysia had seen the image of the Premier tarnished, so badly that I don't think there's any chance of him reborn again, like a phoenix.

From the issue of IFC, and then Oil-For-Food,and then Tun Dr. Mahathir's critiques, followed by this new issue, the Premier seems to be in a very weak state. It's always his underlings that do the talking, unlike our ex-Premier Tun Dr. Mahathir. During his regime, the times were very, very different. It was like no one dared to speak to the ex-Premier, to advice him. Also, his think tank, and himself too as a think tanker, was a success, in term of logics. However, the tides certainly had changed now.

The Premier is always backed up by his underlings, until he came into a state, whereby he is like a 'speechless guy', who can't ever be trusted. Who raised the IFC issue ? Wasn't it his own underlings? Who raised the issue of the ASLI's assessment? Wasn't it his own underling? Honestly, from the point of a leader, he is certainly losing his grip there.

p/s : Maybe this all is just another type of conspirasy, for Tun Dr. Mahathir to gain back his popularity, after his popularity was smeared, smashed, burned by the Black 14, Reformasi, Anwar era. Hehehe.. if that is so, then you know who to vote for the next General Election.

Apa Yang Cinta Perlukan

2006-10-16T23:24:00.000+08:00

[Post from my other blog]

Alkisah di suatu pulau kecil, tinggallah benda abstrak. Ada Cinta, Kekayaan, Kecantikan, Kegembiraan, dan Kesedihan. Pada awalnya mereka hidup bersama-sama dengan aman dan saling memerlukan. Namun pada suatu hari, badai datang menghempas pulau kecil itu dan air laut tiba-tiba bergelombang dan menimbulkan ombak yang sangat besar dan akan menenggelamkan pulau itu. Semua penghuni di pulau itu segera berusaha menyelamatka diri.

Cinta sangat bimbang kerana ia tidak pandai berenang dan tidak memiliki perahu. Ia berdiri di tepi pantai untuk meminta bantuan. Sementara itu air semakin naik membasahi kaki Cinta. Tidak lama kemudian kelihatan Kekayaan sedang mengayuh perahu.

Kekayaan! Kekayaan! Tolonglah aku!Teriak Cinta. Dengan segera Kekayaan pun menjawab, ?Ohh! Maafkan aku Cinta? kata Kekayaan. Perahuku telah penuh dengan semua hartaku. Aku tak dapat membawamu bersama, nanti perahu ini akan tenggelam. Lagi pun tak ada ruang lagi untuk kau di perahuku ini.?

Cinta amat sedih sekali, namun kemudiannya dia melihat Kegembiraan melintasi di depannya dengan sebuah perahu.

Kegembiraan! Tolonglah aku! Teriak Cinta. Oleh kerana Kegembiraan terlalu gembira kerana dia telah menjumpai sebuah perahu, dia langsung tidak mendengari teriakan Cinta. Air semakin meninggi membasahi Cinta sampai ke paras pinggang dan Cinta semakin panik. Tidak lama selepas itu, lalulah Kecantikan di depannya.

Kecantikan! Bawalah aku bersamamu!Teriak Cinta

Wah, Cinta kamu sudah basah dan kotor. Aku tak boleh membawamu bersama. Nanti kau akan mengotorkan perahuku yang indah ini, sahut Kecantikan. Cinta amat sedih mendengarnya. Cinta mula menangis terisak-isak.

Apa kesalahanku, mengapa semua orang tidak mempedulikan aku?? Rintihnya sayu.Ketika Cinta sedang menangis, lalulah pulak Kesedihan dengan perahunya.Ohh, Kesedihan, bawalah aku bersamamu, kata Cinta.

Maaf, Cinta. Aku sedang bersedih dan aku ingin bersendirian, kata Kesedihan sambil terus mendayung perahunya. Cinta sudah mula putus asa. Air semakin naik dan akan menenggelamkannya. Cinta terus berharap agar dirinya akan diselamatkan orang. Dia berdoa kepada Tuhan. Oh Tuhan tolonglah aku, apa akan terjadi pada dunia tanpa aku, tanpa Cinta?.

Pada saat yang kritikal itu, tiba-tiba terdengar suara memanggilnya, Cinta! Mari cepat naik ke perahuku!.Cinta menoleh ke arah suara itu dan melihat seorang tua berjanggut panjang memutih sedang mendayung perahunya. Cinta pun naik ke perahu itu, tepat sebelum air menenggelamkannya.

Kemudian setibanya di pulau yang berhampiran, orang tua itu menurunkan Cinta dan segera meninggalkan pulau itu. Pada ketika itulah, baru Cinta sedar bahawa dia tidak mengetahui siapakah gerangan orang tua itu yang baik hati dan telah menyelamatkannya itu. Cinta segera bertanya kepada seorang penduduk tua di pulau itu, siapa sebenarnya orang itu.

Oh, orang tua tadi? Dia ialah Waktu, kata orang itu.

Cinta pun bertanya lagi, tapi mengapakah dia menyelamatkan aku? Aku tak kenal dia. Sedangkan kawan-kawan yang mengenaliku langsung tidak mahu menolongku, tanya Cinta kehairanan.

Sebab, hanya Waktulah yang tahu betapa berharganya Cinta itu, kata orang itu. Setelah itu fahamlah Cinta akan kepentingannya di dunia ini.

Moral:
Adakah CINTA perlukan KEKAYAAN, KECANTIKAN, KESEDIHAN dan KEGEMBIRAAN?

Expected

2006-10-16T13:27:00.000+08:00

asSalamualaikum.

1:24 p.m. Opened TheStar Malaysia Online. Guess what I found? This article :

____________________________________________________________

Petrol price won’t be reduced

TAPAH: The Government will not reduce the price of petrol despite the global price of crude oil dropping to US$57.24 (RM210) a barrel.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk S. Veerasingam said this was because the Government still had to subsidise petrol to maintain the present price.
(Consumers are now paying RM1.92 a litre for petrol and RM1.58 for diesel.)
“With the lower crude oil prices, it means the Government will spend less on petrol subsidy. We hope to accumulate some savings and make up for the loss in income when the oil price shot up early this year,” he told reporters after handing out Deepavali goodies to 300 senior citizens here yesterday.
It was reported that the US crude oil traded at a session low of US$57.24 a barrel on Thursday. Opec had confirmed that production was in excess of one million barrels a day.
In March, the Government decided to increase petrol price by 30 sen a litre after the crude oil prices soared to US$62. 91 (RM232) a barrel.

______________________________________________________________

To be honest, I had already expected this. Not just me, but I think many other great thinkers in Malaysia (I'm just a normal Malaysian, never to be considered as a great thinker).

Imagine if the price of crude oil fell down, which company will be affected so much? PETRONAS, for sure. What is PETRONAS? The main GLC in Malaysia, aite? So, surely the government felt a big burden when the price of crude oil fell down.

Even if they used 'savings' as their main reason, I don't think anyone will actually believe that. The reason is quite simple, anyone playing stocks, or kept a non-stop look on our economy side, will surely see that our economy is alhamdulillah, expanding to a new limit as KLCI is already reachin 1000. Surely there will be no reasons such as savings to actually be used.

Apart from that, I really wonder, what do they really means by 'savings'? I wonder if the money will truly be used to cover the expenses (the subsidy paid by the Government earlier this year). Looking from the transparency aspect of Malaysian Government, with Malaysia listed among the top countries with high percentage of 'rasuah', surely this 'savings' could be in other different meaning.

Well, I do not know, as I am not part of the Government. But one thing is already assured, a simple conclusion we expected as obtained. Crude oil price increases, commrecial oil price increases. Crude oil price decreases, commercial oil price no changes. In other meaning, the price won't ever, ever go down?

Diari diri 6

2006-10-15T15:32:00.000+08:00

Bersediakah aku?

"Wahai pemuda-pemuda, sesiapa yang mampu di antara kamu (mempunyai belanja serta keinginan) hendak berkahwin, hendaklah ia kahwin, kerana sesungguhnya perkahwinan itu akan memejamkan matanya (terhadap orang yang tidak halal dilihatnya) dan terkawal kehormatannya dan sesiapa yang tidak mampu berkahwin hendaklah ia berpuasa, bahawa puasa itu menjadi benteng". ( Riwayat Muslim )

Akhirnya, aku melepasi salah satu daripada haluan hidupku. Bukanlah kahwin, tapi kursus pra-perkahwinan.

Pada asalnya, aku agak keberatan hendak pergi, iyelah, masih lagi keanak-anakan, seolah-olah belum sampai waktu lagi untuk ke kursus. Namun, seorang sahabatku mengajakku untuk menemaninya kerana beliau keseorangan.

Itupun aku belum memberi kata dua lagi. Cuma, ditakdirkan, semalam, ketika aku balik daripada solat Subuh di masjid, on the way nak masuk rumahku, tiba-tiba nampak sahabatku ini yang sudahpun ingin ke kursus tersebut. Kasihan melihat beliau keseorangan, lebih-lebih keadaan beliau yang demam, aku pun turut serta.

Aku pun akurkan diriku ke kursus pra-perkahwinan tersebut. 2 hari ianya berlangsung, dan secara tulus hati, pening juga kepalaku cuba menerima semua input-input, iyelah, budak tak matang lah katakan.

Namun, di akhir kursus tersebut, di dalam kereta, aku berfikir, bukankah aku sudahpun 20 tahun? Even aku sendiri kini berada di pertengahan hayatku di UTP (kalau dipanjangkan umur InsyaAllah), dan satu persoalan timbul di benak hatiku, "Am I ready?"

Apa Rasionalnya?

2006-10-15T06:52:00.000+08:00

Salam ukhuwwah.

6:48. Penulis membuka website Utusan Hairan. Bukannya penulis saja-saja nak memanggilnya Utusan Hairan, tapi memang, semakin lama semakin hairan media massa yang satu ini.

___________________________________________________________

Ina sudi ‘terima’ Mawi

KUALA LUMPUR 14 Okt. – Nordiana Md. Naim, 22, sudi menerima kehadiran bekas tunangnya, Mawi, sekiranya penyanyi itu ingin berkunjung ke rumahnya di Felcra Sungai Ara, Kota Tinggi, Johor pada hari raya Aidilfitri nanti.

Nordiana atau Ina berkata, dia tidak pernah bermusuh dengan sesiapa dan menganggap mereka yang datang ke rumahnya adalah tetamu bagi mengeratkan silaturahim.

‘‘Kalau Mawi yang datang, Ina tidak akan mengenepikannya kerana dia adalah tetamu dan Ina akan melayan dia dengan baik,’’ katanya.

Ina ditemui pada majlis berbuka puasa bersama anak-anak yatim di Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, di sini malam ini.

Ina yang merupakan penyanyi syarikat rakaman Hijazz Records berkata, jika benar bekas tunangnya itu ingin menziarahinya, dia tidak menafikan berasa terkejut dengan kunjungan tersebut.

Bagaimanapun kata Ina, dia gembira seandainya perkara itu benar-benar berlaku kerana ia akan memperlihatkan kepada orang ramai mereka sebenarnya tidak bermusuh.

Sementara itu, bapa Ina, Md. Naim Samijan, 52, berkata, dia menganggap perkara yang lepas itu biarlah berlalu dan hubungan silaturahim yang pernah dijalinkan sebelum ini jangan dibiarkan putus.

Namun katanya, selepas keluarga Mawi memutuskan pertunangan dengan anaknya pada Julai lalu, mereka tidak pernah lagi berhubungan antara satu sama lain.

‘‘Sempena kedatangan Syawal nanti, kalau Mawi dan ahli keluarganya nak datang kami mengalu-alukannya,’’ katanya.

Jelas Md. Naim, dia gembira melihat kejayaan anaknya untuk menjadi penyanyi dan mengakui menitiskan air mata mendengar lagu Tidak Punya Siapa nyanyian Ina.

_____________________________________________________________

Mengapa saya hairan dengan berita ini. Halnya kerana ini :

Berita ini diletakkan di dalam seksyen MUKA HADAPAN UTUSAN.COM.MY.

Sebelum ini sudahpun saya huraikan tentang media massa dan peranannya di dalam memanipulasi sesuatu masyarakat.

Mana-mana media massa yang mampu memungut pembaca yang ramai untuk membaca hasil tulisan media massa tersebut, mampu untuk memberi suatu kesan mendalam kepada pembaca-pembaca tersebut daripada sudut pemikiran, dan seterusnya memberi kesan terhadap keseluruhan hidup mereka.

Sejarah menunjukkan bagaimana pihak-pihak seperti Kesatuan Melayu Muda, menggunakan lembaran akhbar dan risalah untuk membawa mesej kemerdekaan kepada rakyat Tanah Melayu.

Sejarah menunjukkan bagaimana Imam Hassan Al-Banna menyebarkan risalah-risalahnya ke peringkat umum dan menjadi salah satu sumber kejayaan dakwah Ikhwan Muslimin di Egypt suatu ketika dahulu.

Begitulah juga dengan Utusan Hairan ini.

Hari demi hari, kita semakin lama ditakutkan dengan budaya hedonisma yang semakin menjadi-jadi. Ustaz Hasrizal di dalam salah satu karangannya, membicarakan tentang Malaysia yang boleh buat 7 'show' berkonsepkan hiburan serentak, sementara di Ireland tidaklah sampai ke tahap itu. Begitu jahil dan dasyhatnya sebuah negara 'Islam' bernama Malaysia ini, yang semakin lama semakin tercalar dengan cakaran hedonisma, hiburan melampau.

Maka, bukankah media massa, mampu, secara informal, untuk menjadi satu agen pengubah untuk mengubah kembali 'state of equation' Malaysia yang kini telahpun parah dimamah hedonisma, kepada satu budaya yang lebih bagus, budaya ilmu contohnya, seiring dengan alaf yang kita katakan alaf informasi, The Information Age.

Oleh itu, apa rasionalnya berita tersebut, diletakkan di Muka Hadapan? Mengapa tak diletakkan di seksyen Hiburan? Ataupun memang media massa ini hendak menjerumuskan lagi manusia bernama rakyat Malaysia ke dalam budaya hedonisma, hiburan melampau lagi melalaikan lagi, bukannya membawa rakyat Malaysia kepada suatu arah yang lebih baik?

"Dan ada di antara manusia: orang yang memilih serta membelanjakan hartanya kepada cerita-cerita dan perkara-perkara hiburan yang melalaikan; yang berakibat menyesatkan (dirinya dan orang ramai) dari ugama Allah dengan tidak berdasarkan sebarang pengetahuan; dan ada pula orang yang menjadikan ugama Allah itu sebagai ejek-ejekan; merekalah orang-orang yang akan beroleh azab yang menghinakan." [Luqman:6]

Haqq

2006-10-13T14:53:00.000+08:00

Hari ini, patik mendapat satu e-mel yang diforward :

_______________________________________________________________

Tuan/puan warga kerja yang dihormati,

Marhaban Ramadhan, semoga kita semua mendapat manfaat dan keberkatan daripada bulan yang mulia ini.

Sebagaimana yang tuan/puan sedia maklum bahawa selain dari perayaan Aidil Fitri yang akan disambut oleh umat Islam pada bulan ini, penganut agama hindu juga merayakan 3 perayaan mereka seperti yang disebut dalam subjek di atas.

Sukacita saya ingin maklumkan bahawa kakitangan Takaful Malaysia perlu berhati-hati dengan ungkapan ucap selamat sempena perayaan tertentu yang selain daripada perayaan yang terdapat dalam Islam. Ucap selamat tersebut mestilah diteliti impilikasinya terutama yang melibatkan hukum dan akidah.

Antaranya ialah ucap selamat Happy Durga Pooja atau Durga Pooja Greetings. Ia bermakna selamat menyambut hari kebesaran Dewi Durga. Sambutan ini adalah festival yang paling penting bagi orang-orang Hindu. Ia menandakan ketaatan dan kepatuhan kepada Dewi Durga yang dianggap sebagai Mother of the Universe. Ia disambut oleh oleh penganut agama Hindu pada hari-hari berikut:

29 Sept 2006 - Durga Pooja - Saptami

30 Sept 2006 - Durga Pooja - Mahastami

01 Okt 2006 - Durga Pooja - Navami

02 Okt 2006 - Dussehra - Vijaya Dasami

Untuk makluman tuan/puan, Durga Pooja mengikut kepercayaan penganut agama hindu adalah tuhan dewi yang mempunyai tangan yang banyak dan bersilang yang biasanya kelihatan di kuil-kuil hindu.

Antaranya lagi ialah ucap selamat Happy Deepavali atau lebih dikenali di Benua Kecil India dengan nama Happy Diwali. Deepavali atau Diwali menandakan kemenangan kebaikan mengatasi kejahatan. Ia berkaitan dengan agama hindu juga di mana mitosnya bagi penganut agama hindu di Malaysia ialah tuhan agama hindu yang bernama Krishna telah membunuh Narakasura. Lalu penganut agama hindu merayakan kemenangan ini dengan menyalakan lampu serta berpesta. Manakala mitos di Benua Kecil India pula ialah kemenangan Ramayana membunuh Ravana.

Mengikut kepercayaan hindu, sempena perayaan deepavali mereka akan menerangi rumah mereka dengan cahaya kerana dewi Lakshmi iaitu dewi kekayaan akan berkunjung ke rumah yang diterangi cahaya dan akan memberkati keluarga terbabit. Oleh itu perayaan Lakshmi Pooja akan diadakan 2 hari sebelum deepavali untuk mendapatkan rezeki dan berkat yang berganda.

Setelah meneliti ketiga-tiga perayaan tadi maka jelaslah ianya ada kaitan secara langsung dengan kepercayaan agama hindu. Seluruh kakitangan Malaysia adalah dilarang untuk mengucapkan ucap selamat kepada ketiga perayaan di atas dan lain-lain lagi yang sepertinya kerana ianya boleh menyebabkan berlakunya syirik. Budaya korporat Takaful Malaysia yang bersendikan Syariat tidak mengizinkan ianya berlaku sekalipun untuk pelanggan yang beragama hindu atau agama lain yang mana ucap selamat tadi membabitkan tuhan mereka. Ucapan Happy Durga Pooja, Happy Lakshmi Pooja dan Happy Deepavali seolah-olah mengucap selamat buat tuhan hindu yang bernama Durga, Laksmi dan Krishna. Dan ianya jelas bertentangan dengan akidah Islam.

Allah berfirman dalam surah ali-'Imran ayat 18 yang bermaksud: "Allah telah bersaksi bahawa tiada tuhan selain Dia". Dalam surah Muhammad ayat 1 Allah berfirman yang bermaksud: "Maka ketahuilah bahawa tiada tuhan selain Allah".

Bagi mereka yang telah terlanjur mengucap selamat kepada penganut hindu seperti ketiga-tiga greetings di atas maka hendaklah segera bertaubat dan tidak mengulanginya lagi pada masa-masa akan datang.

Semoga usaha kita untuk mengamalkan Syariat sebagai budaya korporat Takaful Malaysia diberkati Allah dan mencapai kejayaan yang kita harapkan.

Sekian untuk makluman. Terima kasih.

MOHD FAUZI MUSTAFFA

Shariah Dept

CEO's Office

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Berhad (TAKAFUL MALAYSIA)

Level 10, Main Block

Dataran Kewangan Darul Takaful

No.4, Jalan Sultan Sulaiman

50000 Kuala Lumpur

_______________________________________________________________

Kemudian, patik membuka pula TheStar.com.my, dan terbaca pula berita ini :

_______________________________________________________________

kim: Sack Takaful man

PETALING JAYA: The Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) has called for the sacking of Takaful Malaysia's Syariah Department head for issuing an e-mail banning staff from wishing Hindus Happy Deepavali.
Its director-general, Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al Attas, said Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa should be sacked because he was not fit to hold the position.
“Fauzi should also repent for his arrogance in thinking that he has the knowledge on the matter,” said Dr Syed Ali in a statement to The Star's Bahasa Malaysia news portal mStar Online yesterday.
He also agreed with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin who said on Wednesday that the ban imposed by Mohd Fauzi was his personal view and based on a narrow understanding of Islam.
In the e-mail that was sent to the staff of the Islamic insurance company, Mohd Fauzi said wishing “Happy Durga Pooja”, “Happy Lakshmi Pooja” and “Happy Deepavali” was deemed as expressing greetings to the Hindu Gods Durga, Lakshmi and Krishna, which he viewed as going against the Islamic faith.
In the e-mail dated Oct 3, Mohd Fauzi said Takaful Malaysia staff were prohibited from conveying their greetings for the three celebrations and other similar festivities because they could be deemed as blasphemous.
He also said those who had uttered such greetings to Hindus should repent immediately and not repeat them.

_____________________________________________________________

Beginilah yang jadinya apabila seorang yang jujur lagi ikhlas di dalam memperjuangkan agamanya yang semakin lama semakin ditindas.

Antara musuh seorang dai'e : Pemerintah yang zalim. Apa itu zalim? Tidak meletakkan sesuatu pada tempatnya.

Seorang manager Takaful Malaysia, bahagian syariah, mana mungkin tidak tahu akan selok-belok agamanya, kerana untuk memegang jawatan seperti itu, beliau haruslah memiliki credentials yang mencukupi, seperti ada Degree dalam Syariah dan sebagainya.

Namun, bagi seorang yang bekerja Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, beliau tidak perlu credentials sedemikian. Kalau The Boss letak dia di jawatan itu, itu adalah hak The Boss. Boleh jadi di masa hadapan, orang yang tidak tahu tentang agama Islam, secara langsung, memegang jawatan itu. Dan hari itulah antara hari yang dikira penghujung zaman. Maka, apa hak seorang yang lebih cetek ilmunya untuk memberi ulasan ataupun pendapat terhadap orang yang lebih dalam ilmunya, ataupun dibolehkan beliau memperkatakan yang sedemikian hanya kerana beliau berjawatan lebih tinggi daripada orang yang lebih berilmu itu? Begitukah? Kalau begitu tidak hairanlah kata-kata Mufti pun boleh diabaikan begitu sahaja!

Dr Syed Tawfik Al Attas mengatakan Encik Fauzi ini angkuh, kononnya, dengan pengetahuan yang beliau miliki, padahal mungkin pengetahuan itu sebenarnya cetek. Wahai Dr Syed Tawfik Al Attas, cuba anda berikan dalil-dalil beserta hujah-hujah yang kuat dan kukuh untuk membalas segala apa yang diperkatakan oleh Encik Fauzi.

Pluralisme, bukankah ini suatu cabaran umat Islam masa kini? Dan bukankah perkara-perkara sebegini terletak di dalam pluralisme. Islam tidak menghalang agama ini dianuti, malah kedatangan Islam ke bumi Madinah, tidaklah sehingga terhapus segala ajaran-ajaran yang lain. Namun begitu, tidaklah pula sehingga kita boleh memperkatakan Selamat Ini dan Itu, andaikata kata-kata tersebut boleh membawa kepada murtad!

Jangan lupa antara faktor-faktor seorang itu murtad adalah kerana kata-kata. Maka, tidakkah bahaya mengucapkan ucapan sedemikian sekiranya percakapan itu sampai ke tahap memperakukan Tuhan mereka, yang jelas salah di sisi Islam. Islam memberi laluan kepada agama lain untuk dianuti, tetapi tidaklah sampai memperakukan Tuhan mereka. Itu pluralisme namanya Tuan Dr.

"Sesungguhnya ugama (yang benar dan diredai) di sisi Allah ialah Islam. Dan orang-orang (Yahudi dan Nasrani) yang diberikan Kitab itu tidak berselisih (mengenai ugama Islam dan enggan menerimanya) melainkan setelah sampai kepada mereka pengetahuan yang sah tentang kebenarannya; (perselisihan itu pula) semata-mata kerana hasad dengki yang ada dalam kalangan mereka. Dan (ingatlah), sesiapa yang kufur ingkar akan ayat-ayat keterangan Allah, maka sesungguhnya Allah Amat segera hitungan hisabNya. "[Ali-Imraan:19]

Diari diri 5

2006-10-12T17:41:00.000+08:00

5,6,9,10

Kira-kira pukul 3 petang tepat.

Kejadian ini berlaku di Multi Purpose Hall.

Aku ke sana untuk mengambil slip exam.Baru saja nak masuk, ada Pak Gad tahan budak ramai-ramai kat depan pintu.

"5,6 masuk dulu. Kamu berapa, 9, 10? Ok 10 masuk dulu."

Budak-budak tersebut masuk berpusu-pusu. Sekejap je pastuh,

"Ok, yang lain tunggu"

Aku terpinga-pinga. Aku tanya orang sebelah aku.

"9,10 tu ape? nombor matriks ke?"

Dia mengangguk, dan aku pun lantas ke pintu masuk tersebut

"Pak cik, jap, saya 6. Boleh masuk?"

"6? Kejap. Ok, 6 pergi kaunter tuh. Kosong lagi kaunter tuh"

Di dalam hatiku, "Oh, dah sampai 10000 rupenye no matriks. Kiranya tualah aku nie ek. Aih..." sambil mengambil slip examku

Sekitar berbilang-bilang jemaah

2006-10-12T05:17:00.001+08:00

5.15. Only minutes to go before dawn arrives, and for me, it's time for Suboh prayers!

OK, let's not waste any time anymore.

But first, I would like to change the writing from English Language to Bahasa Melayu.

Baiklah, mari kita sama-sama merungkaikan sedikit tentang taadud jemaah.

Secara ikhlas dan jujurnya, taadud berjemaah bukanlah sesuatu topik yang bisa dibincangkan, kerana, jika tersilap bincang, boleh membawa kepada satu konklusi yang amat menakutkan, pemecahan di antara gerakan-gerakan amal islami di mana jua berada.

"Dan taatlah kamu kepada Allah dan RasulNya, dan janganlah kamu berbantah-bantahan; kalau tidak nescaya kamu menjadi lemah semangat dan hilang kekuatan kamu, dan sabarlah (menghadapi segala kesukaran dengan cekal hati); sesungguhnya Allah beserta orang-orang yang sabar."[Al-Anfal:46]

"Dan berpegang teguhlah kamu sekalian kepada tali Allah (ugama Islam), dan janganlah kamu bercerai-berai; dan kenanglah nikmat Allah kepada kamu ketika kamu bermusuh-musuhan (semasa jahiliyah dahulu), lalu Allah menyatukan di antara hati kamu (sehingga kamu bersatu-padu dengan nikmat Islam), maka menjadilah kamu dengan nikmat Allah itu orang-orang Islam yang bersaudara. Dan kamu dahulu telah berada di tepi jurang neraka (disebabkan kekufuran kamu semasa jahiliyah), lalu Allah selamatkan kamu dari neraka itu (disebabkan nikmat Islam juga). Demikianlah Allah menjelaskan kepada kamu ayat-ayat keteranganNya, supaya kamu mendapat petunjuk hidayahNya."[Ali-Imran:103]

Dua ayat tersebut menjadi nas-nas yang kuat bagi mana-mana imam yang sampai tahap untuk membuat ijtihad, tentang kepentingan adanya persepakatan di antara jemaah-jemaah.

Namun begitu, banyaknya bilangan jemaah-jemaah masih lagi sama. Mengapa begitu?

Perpecahan pada lazimnya adalah normaliti kehidupan manusia. Namun begitu, datangnya Islam adalah sebagai suatu resolusi, ataupun kesimpulan, pengakhiran kepada perpecahan-perpecahan yang berlaku.

Kita melihat kembali ayat kedua yang dibentangkan, ayat 103, surah Ali-Imraan. Ayat ini merupakan sebahagian daripada ayat 100-107 yang diturunkan oleh Allah s.w.t kerana suatu hal yang telah berlaku suatu ketika dahulu.

Asbab an-nuzul ayat-ayat tersebut adalah ketika mana kaum Aus dan Khazraj hampir-hampir bergaduh, setelah kedua-dua kelompok ini mengaku akan keimanan mereka terhadap Allah s.w.t. dan Islam itu sendiri.

Al-kisah, Syas Ibn Qais, seorang tokoh musyrikin pada masa Jahiliah yang sangat memusuhi dan membenci kaum Muslimin, pernah berjalan melalui suatu majlis yang terdiri daripada beberapa sahabat Rasulullah s.a.w yang terdiri daripada kaum Aus dan Khazraj.

Melihat perkara itu, dan mengetahui bahawa kedua-dua kaum itu suatu ketika dahulu merupakan musuh natural, beliau berkata "Para tokoh Bani Qilah telah bersatu di negeri ini. Demi Allah! Kami tidak akan membiarkan mereka bersatu di negeri ini."

Maka, beliau memerintahkan seorang pemuda Yahudi pergi ke majlis tersebut dan mengingatkan kembali akan permusuhan di antara dua kaum tersebut.

Orang Yahudi tersebut kemudian menghebohkan di dalam majlis tersebut tentang peristiwa Bu'ats, suatu pertempuran yang terjadi di antara kaum Aus dan Khazraj , yang dimenangi oleh suku Aus, sehingga timbul satu pergaduhan di antara puak Aus , Aus bin Qaizhi dan seorang lagi dari puak Khazraj, Jabar bin Shakar.

Mendengar perkara ini, Rasulullah s.a.w bersama beberapa orang Muhajirin datang lalu baginda s.a.w bersabda :

"Wahai kaum Muslimin! Takutlah kepada Allah! Takutlah kepada Allah! Apakah seruan-seruan jahiliah (muncul lagi) sedangkan aku masih ada di antara kamu? Apakah setelah Allah menunjukkan kamu kepada Islam, memuliakan kamu, menghapuskan cara Jahiliah daripada kehidupan kamu, menyelamatkan kamu daripada kekufuran dan menjinakkan hati kamu, kamu kembali lagi kepada kekafiran?"

Setelah itu barulah mereka sedar akan kesilapan mereka dan bagi membalas perbuatan Syas bin Qais ini, Allah s.w.t turunkan ayat-ayat tersebut, surah Ali-Imraan:100-107 (mengikut sesetengah riwayat ayat-ayat tersebut daripada 98-107).

Namun begitu, perpecahan, seperti yang diperkatakan, adalah suatu norma hidup dari segi:
1)Tabiat Islam [Al-Insaan:2]
2)Tabiat Bahasa [Al-Azhab:36]
3)Tabiat Manusia[Ar-Rum:22]
4)Tabiat Alam dan Kehidupan[Faathir:27-28]

Oh No! It's almost subuh already!

Mungkin setakat ini dahulu ungkapan-ungkapan tentang berbilang-bilang jemaah. Cukup sekadar satu kisah lama, sirah Rasulullah s.a.w dan sahabat sebagai permulaan kepada pentingnya akan kesatuan di bawah lembaran sayap Islam.

Sebelum itu, beberapa ringkasan tentang satu hal yang penting jua dibicarakan, perbezaan-perbezaan yang tercela, yang insyaAllah cuba penulis rungkaikan dalam post-post akan datang.

1) Bermotifkan bangkangan
2) Mengakibatkan perpecahan dan permusuhan umat

[Sumber : Fiqh Al-Ikhtilaf antara gerakan Islam, antara Perbezaan yang dibolehkan dan perpecahan yang dilarang, karangan Dr. Yusuf Al-Qardhawi.]

Asbabul Nuzul

2006-10-10T15:06:00.000+08:00

asSalamualaikum.

lama sudah tidak menulis.

Sibuk dengan gerak kerja yang banyak, akademik, dan lain-lain hal.

Memang susah apabila kita mempunyai perkara-perkara yang berlaga antara satu sama lain, lebih-lebih lagi apabila keterlagaannya adalah dari sudut masa, kepentingan. Yang penting perlulah dilakukan dahulu, barulah yang kurang penting.

Begitulah juga dengan blog ini. Bukanlah bermaksud tidak penting untuk penulis update nukilan di sini, tetapi kepentingannya amatlah jauh berbeza berbanding dengan assignment, projek, banyak lagi.

Ok, enough with the reasonings.

Hari ini, tanggal 17 Ramadhan. Apa kepentingannya?

Terdapat dua pendapat mengikut ahli sejarah, termasuk pendapat para ahli hadis, tentang Al-Quran yang diturunkan (diwahyukan) kepada Nabi Muhammad saw.

Pendapat pertama menyatakan bahawa Al-Quran diturunkan pada malam Isnin tanggal 17 Ramadhan, 13 tahun sebelum hijrah (6 Ogos 610 M). Pendapat kedua pula menyatakan bahawa Al-Quran telah diturunkan pada malam Isnin, tanggal 24 Ramadhan (13 Ogos 610 M). Pendapat yang pertama adalah berdasarkan ayat 41 dari Surah Al-Anfaal, manakala pendapat kedua dasarnya adalah ayat 1 Surah Al-Qadr dan ayat 1-4 Surah Ad-Dukhan.

Walaupun tradisi Nuzul Al-Quran telah lazim diperingati pada tanggal 17 Ramadhan, namun sesungguhnya pendapat kedua adalah lebih kuat dan lebih mungkin benarnya. Ini adalah kerana malam Lailatul Qadar yang dipercayai sebagai malam turunnya Al-Quran bukanlah terjadi pada tanggal 17 Ramadhan.

Adapun dalam firman Allah SWT pada ayat 41 surah Al-Anfaal, yaitu: "…jika kamu beriman kepada Allah dan apa-apa yang Kami turunkan kepada hamba Kami (Nabi Muhammad saw) pada hari Furqan,iaitu di hari bertemunya dua pasukan (diperang Badar, antara muslimin dan kafirin)…" (TTQ 8 : 41) Ayat tersebut tidak ada sangkut-pautnya dengan Nuzul Al-Quran.

Tetapi sebenarnya ayat tersebut merupakan penjelasan tentang hukum pembahagian harta rampasan perang (seperti yang terdapat pada awal ayat tersebut). " Ketahuilah sesungguhnya apa saja yang dapat kamu peroleh sebagai rampasan perang, maka sesungguhnya seperlima untuk Allah, RasulNya, kerabat-kerabat (Rasul), anak-anak yatim, orang-orang miskin dan ibnussabil (orang yang sedang dalam perjalanan)…" (TTQ 8 : 41).

Dan apabila diteliti dengan lebih lanjut, yakni dengan menghubungkan hadis-hadis tentang turunnya Al-Quran, iaitu pada Lailatul-Qadar dan kelahiran Rasullullah pada hari Isnin serta pada catatan-catatan waktu di dalam takwim, maka akan diperolehi kesimpulan yang lebih tepat, iaitu Al-Quran diturunkan pada hari Isnin, malam 21 bulan Ramadhan, 13 tahun sebelum Rasullulah saw berhijrah ke Madinah.

Menurut para mufassirin, Al-Quran yang diturunkan pada malam "Lailatul Qadar" sebagaimana disebut di atas adalah Al-Quran yang turun sekaligus di "Baitul Izzah" di langit dunia. Sedangkan Al-Quran yang diturunkan ke bumi dan diterima Rasullullah sebagai wahyu terjadi secara beransur-ansur selama sekitar 23 tahun.

Adapun ayat-ayat yang pertama diturunkan (diwahyukan) kepada Nabi Muhammad saw adalah ayat 1-5 surah Al-'Alaq.

Dan peristiwa ini terjadi ketika nabi saw sedang bertahannus (menyendiri) di Gua Hira. Sedangkan ayat Al-Quran yang terakhir sekali diturunkan adalah ayat-ayat riba iaitu ayat 278 sehingga 281 dari surah Al-Baqarah.

Apa-apapun, ketahuilah, 17 Ramadhan ataupun 23 Ramadhan, bukanlah itu yang kita kejar sebenarnya, kerana yang patutnya dikejari ialah keredhaan Allah s.w.t. Ramai yang begitu cukup ingin mengejar malam Lailatul Qadar, namun mengapa tak semua yang dapat berjumpa dengannya? Alasannya cukup mudah, di manakah keikhlasan, di manakah kejujuran kita, di dalam ingin mempertemukan diri kita dengan malam Lailatul Qadar itu?

And The War Begins...

2006-09-29T20:13:00.000+08:00

Salaam.

Mungkin post kali ini tidak panjang, kerana penulis diberi masa 5 minit sahaja untuk meng'goreng' apa-apa yang perlu, maka penulis perlu menggunakan rahmat 5 minit yang diberi ini sebaik mungkin.

Namun, akan penulis cuba untuk update post ini mungkin selepas beberapa jam, ataupun paling lambat ahad ini, insyaAllah.

Perang Saraf

Apa itu perang saraf ? Perang saraf itu adalah peperangan tanpa pertumpahan darah, tetapi, musuh tetap diserang.

Mengapa perang saraf ? Hari ini, ditulis di dalam akhbar Harakahdaily.net, tentang Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin, ataupun Zaharin telah dipecat daripada PEKEMBAR sendiri.

Siapa beliau? Pemilik blogsite Sang Kelembai.

Mengapa beliau disingkirkan daripada parti? Baca blog ini.

Ok,time's up. Gtg. Salam mahasiswa, dan salam perjuangan...

2006-09-27T02:34:00.000+08:00

asSalamualaikum.

Lately, I've been hearing so many luahan hati dan perasaan from my friends, about their uneasiness of their friends'.

Aku pun tak tau nak kate ape. Seriously, I take this as an urgent matter. Mungkin some boleh anggap benda-benda macam ni biasa, norma kehidupan. But in reality, it's a total difference.

Aku rasa kalau aku tak bukak balik konsep sahabat yang aku belajar dulu-dulu, mungkin benda ni akan jadik parah.

Ok, so, get set, GO!

Memberi Teguran Di Depan Orang Lain

Benda ini kadang-kadang terjadi. Bila marah sangat, pendam banyak-banyak, inilah hasilnya.

Ada yang rasa teguran depan orang lain tu bagus, sebab yang ditegur tu mungkin terasa, sampai dia berubah menjadi better.

Hakikatnya, inilah salah satu virus ukhwah yang membahayakan.

Imam Asy-Syafie pernah berpuisi di dalam Diwan Asy-Syafii:

nasihatilah diriku di kala aku sendiri
jangan kaunasihati aku di tengah
keramaian
kerana nasihat di muka umum
adalah bagian dari penghinaan yang
tak suka
aku mendengarnya
jika engkau enggan dan tetap melanggar
kata-kataku
maka jangan menyesal jika aku enggan menurutimu

Apabila ditegur di depan khalayak ramai, ada yang akan terasa dan tersinggung. Masalahnya akan bermula apabila penerima teguran terasa tersinggung. Yang ditakuti ialah perasaan tersinggung itu bercampur dengan malu kerana seolah-olah dia diaib di hadapan khalayak ramai.

Kalau nak boleh, tapi jangan bagi satu klu pun siapakah sahabat yang dimaksudkan itu. Maksud kata di sini, teguran itu adalah seperti tazkirah, tetapi disampaikan secara keras, namun tidak mengarah ke mana-mana individu.

Seperti mana Saidina Umar menegur seorang kaki judi ketika khutbah Jumaat melalui khutbahnya di mana beliau memberitahu akan larangan berjudi dan sebagainya, tanpa mengarah sedikitpun kepada kaki judi tersebut, tetapi kaki judi itu masih terasa. Namun, disebabkan dia tidak dimalukan, di mana nama dan ciri-cirinya tidak disebut langsung, dia berubah dan tidak berjudi lagi.

Seperti mana Rasulullah s.a.w pernah mendengar berita tentang beberapa orang yang bertekad meninggalkan beberapa perkara yang dibolehkan dan dilakukan oleh Rasulullah s.a.w, maka Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda :

"Apa gerangan yang membuat beberpa orang bertekad untuk meninggalkan perbuatan yang aku lakukan. Sesungguhnya aku - demi Allah - adalah orang yang paling mengetahui mengenai (hukum) Allah dan paling takut kepada-Nya di antara kamu semua" [Sumber hadith : Virus-virus ukhwah karangan Abu 'Ashim Hisyam bin Abdul Qadir Uqdah: m/s 72]

p/s : sebenarnya cerita ini dah ditulis semalam, tapi update kat blog lagi satu~

Diari Diri - 5

2006-09-25T18:01:00.000+08:00

Puasa

Alhamdulillah. Berjaya berpuasa di dalam hari pertama Ramadhan tahun ini, dan berjaya berbuka puasa di bulan Ramadhan.

Paling best, bukak puasa kat masjid. Sebab makan besar. Macam main roda impian sambil jerit "Wang besar, wang besar". Nie masyaAllah, makan 1 talam 5 orang, sorang seketul ayam, ngan kurma lagi, ngan sayurnya (kobis rasanya tadi, ntah, aku bukan kaki sayur, uwek.. [Bukan membenci ciptaan Tuhan, tapi aku tak makan sume jenis sayur, ada sayur yang aku tak makan mcm ulam raja]), ngan air sirap segelas.

Fuh.. nikmat terasa bukak puasa beramai-ramai.

Tapi, satu yang buat kucukup terasa. Tahun ni, pihak masjid dengan kerjasama Rakan Masjid buat sesi tazkirah 10 minit sebelum bukak puasa. Nama best dah. Kire smart la kan, sambil-sambil tunggu masuk waktu, dapat ilmu. Bukan senang syeikh.

Tapi, agak slack apabila tengok ramai orang yang masih lagi mundar-mandir, mencari tempat duduk. Ok fine, boleh dimaafkan, sebab tadi memang ramai gile umat manusia yang hendak bukak puasa sekali.

Tetapi, bagi mereka yang berborak-borak, ketika mana tazkirah sedang diberikan, alangkah ruginya mereka kerana berbincang tentang hal dunia, sedangkan tazkirah, ataupun makna katanya peringatan, yang mengingatkan manusia akan Allah s.w.t, diabaikan. Last-last, aku pun tak dapat dengar-dengar sangat tazkirah.

Tensen gak kawe klu ade ore gini. Takleh tahan. Tapi dokpe ah, sesungguhnya puasa itu mengajar umat Islam agar bersabar, at least beberapa minit sebelum habis tazkirah tu sume da stat senyap menunggu azan, ok la tuh. Dapat la input sikit.

"Ramai yang ingat mereka berpuasa namun begitu mereka tidak sebenarnya"

Teknologi

2006-09-24T04:01:00.000+08:00

Salaam..

Mungkin kali ini penulis cuba membawa sedikit bahan yang ringan buat renungan, iyelah, insyaAllah bermula pagi yang menjelang tiba nanti, umat Islam di Malaysia akan berpuasa secara wajib di dalam bulan Ramadhan, bulan turunnya Al-Quran.

Seringkali di dalam dunia yang boleh kita katakan dunia informatif, teknologi merupakan sesuatu yang dipandang berat oleh mana-mana masyarakat. Kadang-kadang, ada yang terlampau berbangga dengan pencapaian teknologi masing-masing.

Contohnya, Merkava, antara kereta kebal yang sebelum ini digeruni ramai, dan membuatkan pihak Yahudi laknatuLlah riak dan bongkak, secara tiba-tiba jatuh dengan kehebatan tentera Hizbullah yang bersenjatakan misil yang tidak mempunyai peratusan ketepatan yang tinggi.

Kisah Semut

Rasanya, ramai yang pernah mendengar kisah semut ini. Namun, tak ada masalah rasanya kalau kita buat ulang tayang.

Alkisah, ada seekor semut masuk ke dalam poket seorang peniaga secara tidak sengaja. Peniaga ini pula 'on the way' ke London untuk suatu 'business trip' menaiki kapal terbang. Maka, semut itu juga tidak semena-mena pergi ke London bersama peniaga ini. Setelah peniaga itu habis dengan 'meeting'nya, beliau pulang kembali ke tanah air. Setibanya kembali di tanah air, semut ini kembali ke sarangnya dan menceritakan dengan bongkak tentang kisah beliau yang naik kapal terbang.

Pengajaran

Daripada kisah tersebut tadi, dapat dilihat bagaimana semut ini cukup bangga dengan apa yang dialaminya, sedangkan semuanya itu bukanlah ciptaannya, tetapi ciptaan manusia. Begitu juga kita dengan Allah. Kita seringkali takabbur, riak dengan hasil ciptaan kita, dan kita terlupa bahawa semuanya sebenarnya adalah milikNya.

Seriously, ramai di antara kita kadang-kadang tidak mensyukuri nikmat pemberian Tuhan, malah berbangga-bangga akan sesuatu yang dikecapi itu sehingga tidak mahu berkongsi ilmu dengan sahabat-sahabatnya yang lain, kerana dianggapnya itu sebagai salah satu kelebihan.

"Bacalah ! Dan Tuhanmu yang Maha Pemurah, Yang mengajar manusia melalui pena dan tulisan, Ia mengajarkan manusia apa yang mereka tidak tahu"[Al-Alaq:3-5]

Kisah kaum Tsamud, kaum Nabi Saleh, wajar menjadi suatu tanda dan peringatan buat diri kita yang acap kali cuba mengejar sesuatu yang baru, yang futuristik, yang unik, yang tak pernah dibuat orang, yang menjadi kebanggaan sesuatu kaum, yang menjadi 'landmark' sesebuah negara.

Kaum Tsamud telah mewarisi kemakmuran dan kemewahan hidup serta kekayaan alam yang dahulu dimiliki dan dinikmati oleh kaum Aad.Tanah-tanah yang subur, binatang-binatang perahan dan lemak yang berkembang biak, kebun-kebun bunga yang indah-indah, bangunan rumah-rumah yang didirikan di atas tanah yang datar dan dipahatnya dari gunung. Kesemua itu telah mereka kecapi, bahkan diceritakan di dalam Al-Qur'an akan kehebatan mereka.

"Dan kenanglah ketika Allah menjadikan kamu khalifah-khalifah selepas kaum Aad, dan ditempatkan kamu di bumi, untuk kamu mendirikan istana-istana di tanahnya yang rata, dan kamu memahat gunung-ganangnya untuk dijadikan rumah. Maka kenangkanlah nikmat-nikmat Allah itu dan janganlah kamu bermaharajalela melakukan kerosakan di muka bumi."[Al-A'raf:74]

Namun mereka ingkar, kufur, lalai terhadap Tuhan, Allah s.w.t yang Maha Esa. Bukan itu sahaja, malah ada yang begitu takbur sehingga tidak mahu mengikut ajaran Allah s.w.t yang disampaikan melalui Nabi Saleh A.S. Dan mereka sanggup untuk membunuh seekor binatang yang pada awalnya mereka berjanji untuk memelihara pada awalnya, kerana ingin cuba mencabar kuasa Allah s.w.t.

Dan akhirnya mereka menemui balasan yang setimpal, mereka ditimbus seperti dalam ayat Al-Qur'an :

"Oleh itu, mereka pun dibinasakan oleh gempa bumi, lalu menjadilah mereka mayat-mayat yang tersungkur di tempat tinggal masing-masing."[Al-A'raf:78]

Seharusnya, peristiwa ini cukup untuk menjadi satu sumber tarbiah, pengajaran buat kita yang bernama insan, yang tidak boleh lari daripada melakukan kesilapan, kerana melakukan kesilapan itu adalah fitrah bagi seseorang yang bergelar insan, tetapi tidaklah bermakna kesilapan itu diulangi dan diulangi.

Cuba kita kaitkan balik dengan realiti, tidakkah pada hari ini, kita juga meratah tanah yang ada di muka bumi ini, istana-istana seperti KLCC dibina pada tanah-tanah pamah, dan bukit-bukit ditarah, gunung-gunung digondol, seperti mana Mon't Kiara.

Dan ingatlah juga kita akan Highland Towers, satu kejadian yang pada asalnya, jika difikirkan kembali, begitu berkait rapat dengan kisah Nabi Saleh A.S.

Moga-moga semua ini menjadi satu peringatan buat diri kita.

Diari Diri - 4

2006-09-24T00:47:00.000+08:00

Aku kembali lagi dengan diari hidupku, banyak yang xpernah aku luahkan, hari ini aku luahkan.

Perempuan

Sesiapa yang mengenali aku, mungkin mengetahui ini, ya, aku memang susah hendak bergaul dengan perempuan. Seriously. Bergurau senda, mungkin boleh, sikit-sikit, tapi, itulah, sikit-sikit. Lama-lama, dari senyum jadi serius, dari hepi jadi marah.
Begitulah aku.

Mengapa?

Jangan tanya mengapa. Di MRSM dulu, boleh la. Aku tidak sebegini.

Tetapi, sejak masuk kampus, aku berubah. Ramah dengan perempuan, tapi untuk beberapa ketika sahaja.

Bila ia bermula? Hehe, rahsia. Tapi, cukuplah sekadar mengatakan suatu event, back then when I was still a junior, 1st year 1st sem. The 1st time I took the job of a head department. Ade la suatu kes, yang menyebabkan aku mewarisi mentaliti 'perempuan itu lemah' sampailah kini.
Dan kini, andai kata aku tahu orang ini membuat salah ini, dan dia seorang perempuan, mesti aku marah kaw2 punya. So bias with women. What to do? Something happened to me that it changed my life.

And honestly, it changed a lot. I mentioned about my problem, bias with women. Yes, it is just so damn true. Kadang-kadang, sampai tahap berbalah depan orang ramai. Begitu dasyhat sekali aku dengan ke anti-perempuananku kadang-kadang. Bukan aku anti, tapi aku yang tidak boleh menerima cara kerja mereka.

Well, nak taknak, terpaksa jugalah relakan diri ini untuk bekerja bersama golongan-golongan hawa ini.

"Dan kami ciptakan tiap-tiap jenis itu berpasang-pasangan, agar mereka mengingati (kekuasaan kami dan mentauhidkan kami"[Adz-Dzariyaat:49]

Kerja

Lately, kerja juga menjadi suatu benda yang pening bagi aku. Setiap minggu, ada aje kerja yang nak kene disiapkan. Tutorial? That's fine. Tapi minggu ini dan minggu depan, bukanlah suatu yang biasa bagiku. Malam-malam kerja banyak la pulak tiba-tiba, ditambah dengan demam waktu malam yang aku tulis dalam diari no.3, aisey, susah gini.

Akhirnya, aku kadang-kadang terpaksa memilih antara gerak kerja dengan akademik, dan gerak kerja dengan urusan keluarga. Ada sesetengah kerja yang terpaksa aku tangguhkan, namun alhamdulillah tak menggangu sangat jadual hidupku.

Still, there's a lot to be done. 1 presentation due on Monday, 1 test Khamis ini, 1 projek yang bermula minggu ini, 2 tutorial yang perlu disubmit pada Selasa dan Rabu (ada satu lagi, tapi tak perlu disubmit, alhamdulillah), haa, ape lagi... makin weng kepala yang dah sedia weng ini. Selamat aku memang kaki kerja.

"Patutkah manusia menyangka bahawa mereka akan dibiarkan sahaja dengan mereka 'Kami telah beriman' sedangkan mereka belum diuji? Dan demi sesungguhnya! Kami telah menguji orang-orang yang terdahulu sebelum mereka, maka (dengan ujian yang demikian), nyata apa yang telah diketahui Allah tentang orang-orang yang benar, dan nyata apa yang diketahuiNya tentang orang-orang yang berdusta"[Al-Ankabuut:2-3]

Talk Too Much? Now you pay...

2006-09-23T21:58:00.000+08:00

Salaam. Got this from the Net :

Mahathir akan dikenakan tahanan dalam rumah?
Oleh Zulkifli Mohamed

KULIM: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dipercayai sedang menimbang untuk mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap Tun Dr Mahathir bagi menutup mulut bekas Perdana Menteri itu.

Dalam perjumpaan dengan Umno Johor, sebelum berangkat menemui Presiden Amerika baru-baru ini, Abdullah dikatakan menerima beberapa cadangan bagi mengekang kemaraan Dr Mahathir.

Cadangan mengenakan tahanan dalam rumah, seperti yang dilakukan oleh Junta Tentera Myanmar ke atas pejuang demokrasi Aung San Suu Kyi dikatakan mendapat pertimbangan Abdullah.

Mendedahkan perkara itu, aktivis Keadilan Saifuddin Nasution Ismail berkata cadangan itu dibuat oleh salah seorang Ketua Bahagian.

Berucap dalam ceramah di Kampung Siam, di sini, Khamis, Saifuddin menjelaskan maklumat itu diperolehinya daripada sumber dalaman Umno Johor.

Dalam perjumpaan itu juga, katanya Abdullah turut melahirkan perasaan serba salah untuk bertindak ke atas Mahathir.

Sebelum itu katanya, Umno Johor turut mempertikaikan tindakan kerajaan yang banyak menyerahkan projek negara kepada negara jiran - Singapura.

Difahamkan, Abdullah gagal menjawab persoalan yang dibangkitkan itu

Menurut Saifuddin, beliau membangkitkan perkara ini bukan bermaksud menyokong mana-mana pihak, tetapi bagi membuktikan Umno kini sedang menghadapi krisis kepimpinan yang semakin parah.

Sehubungan itu, katanya penyokong dan pendokong Barisan Alternatif perlu melipat ganda usaha bagi mempercepatkan kejatuhan Barisan Nasional pada pilihan raya akan datang.

Mahathir sebagai Singa luka

Sementara itu, Mahathir kini disifatkan sebagai Singa luka yang akan ‘mengganas’ ekoran ‘tragedi’ beliau dimalukan di ‘kubangnya sendiri’ - Kubang Pasu pada 9 September lalu.

Bekas Presiden Umno itu bertekad akan meneruskan kritikan kerasnya terhadap pentadbiran Abdullah.

Katanya hanya satu-satunya cara boleh menutup mulutnya ialah dengan menyumbat beliau ke dalam penjara.

“Satu-satunya cara mereka boleh menyekat saya ialah menyumbat saya dalam penjara,” katanya pada sidang media di Putrajaya 11 September lalu.

Keazaman Mahathir untuk mendedahkan kepincangan Abdullah turut dibayangkan oleh editor Malaysia Today, Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin, yang menjangkakan sesuatu yang menggemparkan bakal berlaku November ini.

Raja Petra menganggap isu-isu yang dibangkitkan Mahathir selama ini hanya sebagai mukaddimah. Abdullah dikatakan kehabisan isu, sementara Mahathir belum lagi bermula.

Katanya Mahathir belum lagi mendedahkan dokumen ‘Oil For Food’ yang jelas menyenaraikan nama Abdullah sebagai penerima keuntungan berjuta-juta tong minyak Iraq.

Mahathir juga katanya, masih belum lagi mendedahkan kediaman keluarga Abdullah di Perth, Australia bernilai AUD 25 juta (RM69.2 juta) dan kereta-kereta milik keluarga Abdullah di London bernilai 15 juta pound (RM104.9 juta)

Bahkan dakwanya, pentadbiran Abdullah sedang ‘membunuh’ Proton untuk melucutkan aset-aset Proton bagi mengambilalih kekayaan kereta nasional itu.

Patrick Lim, rakan perniagaan anak Abdullah, Kamaluddin sedang menanti peluang untuk membaham Proton.

___________________________

My comments:

If I'm not mistaken, Mahathir said something about revealing all the secret things this November. Surely that gave a direct hit to Pak Lah, even after he stated about "I'M IN CONTROL" a few days ago. Isn't that supposed to be enough.

Surely, coz' he just powerless. People had revealed his weakness in taking care of his underlings.

Not that just, he just can't get things right.

When he was asked about Scomi's deal with government, especially the Penang Monorail Bridge, he denied. But the facts turn out to be the vice versa. AND HE DID NOT KNOW.

People kept on talking bad things about him on the Net. What did he do? He tried to impose new laws, in 'governing' the Net. Governing the Net? Come on, even Mahathir did not do like this. Not just that, why govern now, why not at the early stage of the so-called Islam Hadhari, coz' we all know Islam prohibits pornographic stuffs. So, u should do an act and make sure actions are taken, but you did nothing.

And when people complained about you, you tried to silenced them up. How really great of you.
Well, better hope the end would not be like what happened in Thailand. Where the Premier was ousted, and he waited outside, scared to get back. Haha

Diari Diri - 3

2006-09-23T07:16:00.000+08:00

Demam

Minggu ni, entah dah berapa kali demam.

Masa paginya ok aje. Sihat walafiat alhamdulillah.

Tapi bila datang malam,

"Awat panas semacam badan ni?"

Lantas terlantarlah sekujur badan kaku di katilnya, berselimut, kerana tidak mampu bergerak ke mana-mana sangat, akibat panas badan yang semacam.

Diari Diri - 2

2006-09-22T14:55:00.000+08:00

Subuh

Aku suka waktu subuh. Dan aku suka solat subuh. Dan aku suka solat subuh di masjid.
Perhatikan suasana waktu subuh. Kalau diperhati betul-betul, tersinar pancaranNya.
Ada pergi masjid naik kereta. Ada yang naik moto. Aku? Aku gemar walking je.

Walking? Student kampus lazimnya mesti agak terkejut kalau aku kata yang aku gemar walking ke masjid, lagi-lagi pada waktu subuh.

Begini. Kalau naik kenderaan, dalam 2-5 minit sahaja dah boleh sampai ke masjid, dengan syarat konsentrasi perlulah tinggi pada jalan, mata kena alert, tangan kena alert, kaki kena alert. Kalau tak, macam mana nak tekan brek kaki, macam mana nak bagi signal, macam mana nak pastikan kenderaan yang dipandu tak terkeluar dari jalan raya? Kiranya, baguslah bawa kenderaan ke masjid, sebab meningkatkan 'alertness' kita.

Tapi, bagiku lain. Aku gemar walking. Walking distance daripada bilikku ke masjid aku anggarkan antara 10-15 minit. Konsentrasi itu perlu, tetapi tidak setinggi memandu kenderaan. So, dalam masa 10-15 minit itu, aku boleh gunakan untuk zikrullah, bertasbih, mengingati Allah, melihat alam ciptaan Allah dan berfikir akan kebesarannya. Dibandingkan dengan 3-5 minit, 10-15 minit 'for sure'lah dapat lagi banyak zikirnye, kan?

Selain itu, aku gemar akan konsep 'qawiyyul jism', ataupun kekuatan badan. Jadual harian aku selalunya penuh, jarang-jarang sangat dapat masa untuk beriadah. Maka, 10-15 minit ini dapat aku gunakan untuk beriadah sebenarnya. Kalau pergi ke masjid sahaja mengambil 10-15 minit, maka jumlah masa untuk pergi dan balik mestilah 20-30 minit, kira bolehlah tu. Sambil-sambil jalan, bersenam-senam sikit.

Aku pun sebenarnya kaki borak gak. So, kadang-kadang, kalau terserempak dengan mamat-mamat Sudan yang juga jalan kaki ke masjid, aku borak ngan depa. Best gak. Baru rapat ukhuwwah, kan? Tak pun, kadang-kadang aku borak ngan adik-adik yang duk v2, v1, yang juga jalan kaki pi masjid, sebab desasiswa depa dekat banding ngan aku yang duk nun jauh ketengah kampus nie.

So basically, Subuh, especially di masjid is a wonderful thing to do.

Diari Diri - 1

2006-09-22T14:50:00.000+08:00

asSalamualaikum.

Mungkin ini kali pertama bagiku untuk menulis diari diri di dalam blog ini, maka maaf sangat-sangat andai kata tulisan terlalu formal, ataupun tampak lain. Apa nak dikato, daku bukanlah penulis diari yang hebat macam sahabat sahabiah lain...

KEHIDUPAN ITU TARBIAH

Minggu ini boleh dikatakan satu tarbiah hebat bagi diriku. Sejak bermulanya semester, tiba-tiba badan jadik demam masa malam-malam. Panas semacam tiba-tiba. Segala-gala yang diingatkan hendak kulakukan pada malam hari terpaksa ditangguhkan, berat sangat kepala. Akhirnya, kudapati begitu banyak masa yang telah kuguna untuk berehat, dan hampir tidak cukup masa untuk membuat kerja lain.

Akhirnya, kerja yang tidak siap terpaksa ditangguhkan. Bukan itu sahaja, malah kerja baru bertambah-tambah, macam cendawan selepas hujan. MasyaAllah, macam mana ni amin? Payah, payah.

Tak habis dengan itu, bermula hari Selasa, malamku mula dipenuhi dengan meeting, dan meeting. Meeting ini, meeting itu, dan ditambah pula dengan test. Maka, hal akademik macam nak terabai. Selamat semuanya boleh dihantar pada hari Jumaat. Maka terpaksalah malam ini kukorbankan untuk siapkan semua kerja akademik yang bertangguh. Dan alhamdulillah siap.

20

Akhirnya, 18 September yang lalu, aku menjejak seperempat daripada usiaku (dengan kiraan manusia lazimnya hidup sehingga 80 tahun).

Namun, hatiku gelisah, gundah, gelana. Mengapa begitu?

Aku tidak tahu, apakah 20 tahun sebelum ini telah kugunakan untuk Islam, untuk Allah s.w.t, ataupun selama 20 tahun ini, aku khianati janji dan sumpah bai'ahku kepada Allah s.w.t di Lauh Mahfuz, aku langgar undang-undang syar'iah milik Allah s.w.t.

Aku tidak tahu, apakah 20 tahun sebelum ini aku menjadi seorang Islam yang sesempurna mungkin, ataupun aku menjadi seorang Munafiq yang sehina-hinanya.

Apabila kurenungi hidupku sebelum ini, tanpa disedari, air mataku mengalir, mengenangkan kehidupanku yang dasyhat tak terbayang. Mungkin bagi orang biasa, hal sebegitu tampak biasa, tapi bukan bagi seorang dai'e ilaLlah, yang mengharapkan keampunan dan rahmatNya yang Esa.

10

2006-09-21T17:56:00.000+08:00

10 Wasiat Imam Hassan Al-Banna

1.Apabila mendengar azan maka bangunlah sembahyang serta-mertawalaubagaimana keadaan sekalipun.

2.Bacalah al-Quran, tatapilah buku-buku ilmu, pergilah ke majlis-majlis ilmu, dan amalkanlah zikrullah dan janganlah membuang masa dalam perkara yang tiada memberi faedah.

3.Berusahalah untuk bertutur dalam bahasa Arab kerana bahasa Arab yang betul itu adalah satu-satunya syiar Islam.

4.Janganlah bertengkar dalam apa-apa perkara sekalipun kerana pertengkaran yang kosong tiada memberi apa-apa jua kebaikan.

5.Janganlah banyak ketawa kerana hati yang sentiasa berhubung dengan Allah itu sentiasa tenang lagi tenteram.

6.Janganlah banyak bergurau kerana umat yang sedang berjuang itu tidak mengerti melainkan bersungguh-sungguh dalam setiap perkara.

7.Janganlah bercakap lebih nyaring daripada kadar yang dikehendaki oleh pendengar kerana percakapanyang nyaring itu adalah suatu resmi yang sia-sia malah menyakiti hati orang.

8.Jauhilah daripada mengumpat-umpat peribadi orang, mengecam pertubuhan-pertubuhan, dan janganlah bercakap melainkan apa- apa yangmemberi kebajikan.

9.Berkenal-kenalanlah dengan setiap Musliminyang ditemui keranaasas gerakan dakwah kita ialah berkenal-kenalan dan berkasih-sayang.

10.Kewajipan-kewajipan kita lebih banyak daripada masa yang ada pada kita, oleh itu gunakanlah masa dengan sebaik-baiknya dan ringkaskanlah perlaksanaannya.

BACALAH -- RENUNGILAH -- KEMUDIANAMALKANLAH

Datangnya Ramadhan

2006-09-19T19:06:00.000+08:00

asSalamualaikum.

Akhirnya, setahun menunggu, datang kembali bulan yang agung. Bulan Ramadhan.

Apa yang istimewanya Bulan Ramadhan ini?

Di dalam bulan Ramadhan, umat Islam diseru agar memperbanyakkan 'amalan-'amalan yang sunat, antaranya menghadam Al-Qur'an sepanjang bulan Ramadhan, perbanyakkan zikrullah, pertingkatkan qiamullail, dan juga persempurnakan solat taubat.

"Apabila tiba bulan Ramadan, dibuka pintu-pintu Syurga dan ditutup pintu-pintu Neraka serta syaitan-syaitan dibelenggu." (riwayat Muslim)

“Wahai manusia, menjelang tiba bulan agung lagi berkat. Bulan yang di dalamnya ada satu malam yang lebih baik dari 1000 bulan. Sesiapa yang mendekatkan dirinya dengan mengerjakan amalan Fardhu, seolah-olah dia telah mendapat 70 pahala Fardhu di bulan-bulan yang lain. Sesiapa yang mendekatkan dirinya dengan amalam-amalan Sunat, seolah-olah dia mendapat pahala amalan-amalan Fardhu di bulan-bulan yang lain. Ia adalah bulan sabar. Ia adalah bulan yang awalnya rahmat, tengahnya keampunan dan akhirnya selamat dari Neraka…” (Riwayat Ibn Khuzaimah)

[bersambung esok insyaAllah, penulis agak sibuk belajar, ada 2 test pada hari rabu]

Words oh Words

2006-09-18T09:37:00.000+08:00

How many of you believe this article when you read it?

HAVANA: “I am in control.” Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asserted his authority when he told his critics that he has not lost control of his administration.

The Prime Minister said he was committed to making reforms in the country but would do things “my way.”

However, he added that he would not resort to making arbitrary changes or without consulting his Cabinet colleagues.

Abdullah said it was wrong of people to assume that he had lost control just because ministers had differing opinions on certain matters.

“This does not happen every day,” he added, saying that in such cases he would refer to the Cabinet to correct things.

The different views were normally due to some “grey areas” in the role of the ministries, he told Malaysian journalists at the end of the NAM Summit here yesterday.

“People who don’t understand say Pak Lah has lost control.

“But it is their view. What can I do?

“From the political perspective, I do not have any problem in the Barisan Nasional or Umno,” he said when asked to comment on remarks in Parliament by Kota Baru MP Datuk Zaid Ibrahim that the Prime Minister had not made reforms that had been promised after he took over the position three years
ago.

Abdullah said reforms could not be made overnight, adding that everyone had his way of doing things but should not lose sight of the objectives.

“I consult the Cabinet on all matters. That’s my way of doing things.”

Abdullah said several Cabinet committees and parliamentary select committees had been set upfor specific issues to ensure decisions made would not result in problems for the people.

“In some cases, it could take long periods to decide, as much deliberation is needed.

“After the committee makes a decision, the Cabinet will discuss and make adjustments before implementing them.

“It’s okay if it takes a longer time but, at least, we will know that the decisions are good and the problems resolved. The bottom line is that our objectives are met.”

Abdullah added that he constantly asked his officers for information and they kept him updated. “It is not that we forget problems or ignore them,” he said.

Citing examples of reforms already in place, the Prime Minister said he had allowed the setting up of select committees to give the opportunity to MPs to give their views on important matters affecting the people.

“We even include Opposition members in the committees. This is how Parliament should operate and this is one example of the reforms we initiated,” he said.

Honestly, I don't believe a thing.

1) During the Mahathir's regime, no one dares to blind-shoot any department in the Ministry. Yet, in the era of Pak Lah, we are all suprised when Ong Tee Keat suddenly bashes the Education Ministry officers. Due to that, Datuk Ong was counter-attacked by Dato' Seri Hishamuddin who urged Datuk Ong to apologise to him. Yet, he DID NOT.

CYBERJAYA 17 Sept. – Timbalan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Ong Tee Keat tidak akan meletak jawatan atau memohon maaf kepada Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berhubung dakwaan wujudnya penyelewengan wang peruntukan khas untuk sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Sabtu lalu.

Menurutnya, beliau hanya akan bertanggungjawab terhadap apa yang diucapkan di Johor minggu lalu tetapi tidak kepada perkara yang telah disalah tafsir oleh sesetengah pihak.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata, tidak ada sebarang sebab baginya memohon maaf kepada Hishammuddin kerana kenyataan asalnya tidak mempertikaikan kewibawaan dan ketelusan kementerian berkenaan.

2) He surely lost control of Dato' Seri Nazri Aziz when his cabinet was critised by Tun Dr. Mahathir. Unlike any other cabinet members, Dato' Seri Nazri Aziz was the 'big-guy' in defending all the attacks by Tun Dr. Mahathir. Not just that, he even cursed back Tun Dr. Che' Det. When Pak Lah asked him to keep his mouth shut, what did he do? Nothing

3) During the Mahathir regime, no one DARES to SHOOT HIM. Even when Anwar was falsely accused and humiliated in public, the cabinet still gave a green light to Dr. Mahathir, because people are afraid of him and his four horsemen (Police, SB, Military, Power as a Prime Minister). Yet, in the Pak Lah era, his own kids critise him. He can't even get a grip on his own kids.

Umno MPs startle party by criticising Abdullah
Comments by two lawmakers suggest PM should beware of perceptions of his inaction

By Carolyn Hong

The Straits Times

TWO Umno MPs went against the grain this week by openly criticising the Prime Minister for his lacklustre reform initiatives.Speaking in Parliament earlier this week, the two MPs - one a respected veteran and the other somewhat of a maverick - said Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi's pledges have not been met with real action. [Full text at Malaysia Today]

4) When he said that Scomi didn't received any government tender, as Scomi received tenders from Shell and Esso, and so on, he didn't know that he was lying. Actually, he didn't know of his workers' actions. That's the main problem. Surely he does not want Kamaluddin to be linked, in any form at all, with the government project. If his son does, surely that will tarnish his 'Mr Nice Guy' image. Yet, above all that, Scomi did received government tenders, not just a bit, but a lot.

In March, The Malay Mail reported that KTM had in 2005 awarded a five-year RM50 million contract to Scomi Group ‘to overhaul and maintain’ as many as 1,000 wagons.Also in March, Business Times reported that Scomi Group was going to submit a bid for a RM120 million contract ‘to make body parts for about 400 buses for state-owned Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd’.
Then in April, The Edge reported that Scomi Engineering Bhd is acquiring a 51% stake in MTrans Transportation Systems Sdn Bhd for RM30 million to provide it a platform to be a key player in urban transportation.Scomi Engineering had on April 28 signed an agreement with Kiara Kilau Sdn Bhd, which owns 100% stake in MTrans, to acquire the 51% stake. MTrans owns bus manufacturer MTRans Bus Sdn Bhd and MTRans Technology Bhd, which specialises in monorail systems and technology. This is, of course, for the Penang monorail project.

And I thought he said that Penang monorail project is not reserved for Scomi.

Recently, Scomi Marine Bhd received a letter of intent from TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd for a coal shipment contract for three years from Oct 1, with an option to extend for another two years, the company said. Scomi Marine announced to Bursa Malaysia on April 14 that under the contract, it would be required to transport 500,000 tonnes (with 20% variation) of coal from Australia, Indonesia and South Africa yearly.
Also recently, Scomi Group Bhd, an oil services company, won a contract from Petronas Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn Bhd to provide drilling fluids and other services for exploration works in Block 1, offshore Turkmenistan.In a statement issued by Scomi which was published by Business Times, Scomi said the contract would contribute about RM57 million a year to its coffers. [Also taken from Malaysia-Today]

Well, if any of you still believe in his words, I do not know what else to say.

University to produce thinkers?

2006-09-05T01:39:00.000+08:00

PENANG, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday he wants universities to be the pulse in the creation of thinkers who can provide productive input and feedback to nation-building efforts.

In line with the universities' status as the primary source of intellectuals, Abdullah said, he hoped that academicians, including those from other social institutions, would be prepared to share their expertise and knowledge in the effort to find quality and original ideas.

Betulkah ini? Penulis agak terkejut. Good enough too be true, memang antara objektif mana-mana universiti ialah untuk menghasilkan graduan yang bukan sahaja intelek dari segi akademik, tetapi juga cemerlang di dalam bidang-bidang lain, dan antaranya ialah menjadi 'think tank' negara.

Antara contoh terbaik yang boleh diambil daripada sudut sebagai seorang muslim itu adalah hasil pilihanraya Palestin awal tahun 2006. Dilihat daripada sudut rasuah dan sebagainya, terus-terang saya katakan memang itu adalah antara alasan pihak Hamas memenangi pilihanraya tersebut. Namun begitu, satu aspek yang tidak boleh ditolak ialah kebanyakan mereka yang dipilih rakyat merupakan graduan universiti (saya tidak pasti jika kesemua wakil tersebut merupakan graduan universiti).

Jika tidak salah, antara survey yang dibuat, rata-rata mana-mana negara sekalipun, andainya diberi peluang untuk memilih calon mereka secara 'terbuka' dan 'demokrasi', mereka akan memilih calon yang mempunyai ijazah, terutamanya Masters dan PhD, kerana mereka ini mampu untuk berfikir secara global.

Satu hadith yang diriwayatkan Ibn 'Abdul Bar dalam kitab Al-'Ilmu, daripada Mu'az bin Jabal RadiyaLlahu 'anhu telah berkata; Rasulullah s.a.w telah bersabda :

"Kamu pelajarilah 'ilmu, sesungguhnya 'ilmu itu sekiranya kamu pelajari kerana Allah adalah membawa takut kepadaNya, menuntutnya adalah 'ibadat, mengulangkajinya adalah tasbih, mencarinya adalah jihad, mengajarnya kepada orang yang tidak mempunyainya adalah sedekah, menghabis-habiskannya untuk keluarganya adalah mendekatkan kerana ia adalah tanda-tanda bagi mengenal halal dan haram, penerang jalan ahli syurga, dia adalah teman ketika keseorangan, pencakap dalam 'ibadat, penunjuk ketika suka dan duka, senjata terhadap mush dan
perhiasan ketika kesunyian. Dengannya Allah mengangkat beberapa darjat kaum dan menjadikan mereka pemimpin pada kebaikan yang boleh dijejaki kesan mereka dan boleh diikuti tingkah-laku mereka dan boleh dibuat keputusan melalui pendapat mereka. "[Hadis ini diambil dari kitab Tasawwur Asasi Gerakan Islam karangan Fathi Yakan cetakan pertama Dewan Pustaka Fajar 2004, muka surat 238-239]

Utopia

Namun begitu, penulis terus-terang mengatakan ini adalah suatu kata-kata yang retorik.

1) Di dalam perkara sebegini diperkatakan, demokrasi mahasiswa disekat, aktivisti mahasiswa diharamkan, demi keselamatan orang-orang rosak yang sudah ada di atas. Golongan-golongan yang hanya tahu beretorik, berkata-kata di sambil mengipas orang-orang yang berada di atas, pula dibenarkan membuat ini dan itu, sedangkan perkara yang dibuat mereka tidak menunjukkan keprihatinan terhadap masyarakat.

Tidaklah penulis di sini menuntut apa yang dikatakan sebagai 'absolute freedom'. Memang 'absolute freedom' merupakan sesuatu yang mustahil, malah kalau disalah-ertikan, boleh membawa kepada murtad, kerana boleh timbul isu individu menganggap dirinya terlampau memerlukan 'freedom', sehingga freedom daripada arahan dan perintah Allah s.w.t. Namun itulah yang dibentuk oleh pihak berkuasa sekarang. Kebebasan pemakaian, walaupun melanggar hukum dan perintah Allah.

Freedom ataupun kebebasan yang dimaksudkan di sini ialah kebebasan untuk berkuasa memberi kritikan kepada pihak berkuasa. Dilihat kembali, sejarah menunjukkan bagaimana satu pihak berkuasa yang tidak menerima pendapat orang bawah, akhirnya digulingkan. Shah Iran sebagai contoh. Suharto sebagai contoh. Malaysia merupakan negara demokrasi berparlimen? Mengapa demokrasi dimatikan pula di kampus? Yang menyokong kerajaan diberi subsidi, sedangkan yang mengkritik pula dimaki, dihamun, dihina. Dua kes (Shah Iran, Suharto) merupakan antara dua kes di mana para siswa-siswi dengan panji kebenaran dan intelektualan yang ingin dibawa oleh mereka kepada masyarakat telah menjatuhkan pihak berkuasa di tempat mereka.

Ingat kembali ketika zaman Khulafa Ar-Rasyidin , apabila Saidina Umar Al-Khattab dinaikkan sebagai Khalifah, Saidina Umar berkata agar ditegur/diperbetulkan sekiranya beliau membuat kesalahan sebagai Amirul Mukminin. Lantas bangun seorang sahabat yang berkata, sambil menjulang tinggi pedangnya, bahawa beliau akan memperbetulkan Saidina Umar dengan pedangnya sekiranya Saidina Umar melakukan kesalahan. Saidina Umar menangis kerana adanya sahabat seperti ini.

Maka di sini perlunya diingatkan akan pentingnya demokrasi/freedom/kebebasan di kampus, sebagai salah satu peluang untuk pihak berkuasa memperbaiki diri, bukan untuk diri sendiri, akan tetapi untuk rakyat Malaysia amnya.

2) Di samping perkara ini dibahaskan, siswa dan siswi di Malaysia dicernakan pula dengan Rock The World, dihadamkan pula dengan Jom Heboh, disajikan pula dengan Akademi Fantasia, dihidangkan pula dengan Malaysian Idol. Terus-terang, budaya hedonisma yang semakin lama semakin berleluasa, makin lama makin merosakkan pemikiran masyarakat kampus seMalaysia. Daripada berbincang tentang kepincangan Parlimen, strength yang perlu dibina untuk masyarakat Malaysia amnya, mereka ini (masyarakat kampus) semakin lama semakin lalai dan tenggelam dengan perkara-perkara hedonisma seperti ini. Pergilah ke mana-mana kampus sekalipun, dan lihatlah antara perkara yang sering dibincangkan, konsert, Jdorama dan Kdorama, dan pelbagai lagi sumber-sumber perkara yang melalaikan sehingga objektif universiti-universiti untuk menghasilkan think tank negara gagal.

Perkara ini tidaklah begitu buruk sehingga perlu kritikan sebegini, namun impaknya terhadap masyarakat kampus yang begitu besar, memerlukan kepada pihak yang bertanggungjawab untuk melakukan sesuatu agar masyarakat kampus dapat dibentuk kembali untuk menasihat seterusnya memimpin masyarakat. Adakah golongan-golongan intelektual yang hendak dibentuk merupakan mereka yang pemikirannya hanya mampu memikirkan tentang hiburan, dan tidak lebih daripada itu?

Ke mana perginya Islam Hadhari yang ingin dibawa oleh pihak berkuasa? Ataupun ianya sebenarnya Islam Hedonisma (Na'uzubillahi min zalik, wa Na'uzubillahi min dzaalimin)

Sekian, buat percambahan pemikiran.

Drama Melankolik

2006-09-05T00:53:00.000+08:00

salaam..
penulis cume terfikir perkara ini apabila membaca website malaysia-today.net.

ibnu hakeem menulis di dalam malaysia-today.net tentang pentingnya Dr.M untuk naik balik menjadi PM menggantikan Pak Lah yang hanya tahu berkata "Saya tak tahu".

Persoalan yang ingin ana timbulkan dari benak hati penulis.

Dr.M , seperti yang diketahui, telah 'turun takhta' selepas berlakunya zaman yang dipanggil the Black 14, di mana berlaku begitu banyak revolusi dan demonstrasi serta reformasi di kalangan rakyat yang rata-rata simpati dan kasihan serta marah akan tindakan Dr.M terhadap Anwar.
Maka, Dr.M , yang for sure tahu ratingnya di dalam rakyat telah tenggelam, like it or not, terpaksa berhenti. Well, now he's retired. And what did he do? He gained his reputation again, as a legacy yang guide Malaysia selama 22 tahun. Kemudian, Tun Dr.M naik dan semakin naik apabila mempertikaikan isu Pak Lah.

Even pemilihan Pak Lah menimbulkan beberapa keraguan. Dr.M sendiri mengaku ingin memilih Najib Tun Razak sebagai pengganti, namun begitu, Dr. M memilih Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, dengan alasan mengikut kata MT UMNO dan parti.

Apakah, sekiranya semua ini hanya lakonan semata-mata? Apakah, sekiranya penurunan Dr.M hanya untuk memudar lantas menghilangkan zaman lampau Dr.M yang penuh peristiwa-peristiwa hitam sejak 1997. Apakah, sekiranya kenaikan Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hanyalah sebagai boneka sementara, untuk Tun Dr. Mahathir naik kembali sebagai the Premier, the Prime Minister of Malaysia?

Lihat Dan Rasa

2006-09-03T15:21:00.000+08:00

Mungkin sedikit penat hari ini. Smartgroup lepas subuh, kemudian ada riadah sebentar pukul 7.30, dan kemudiannya dalam pukul 8-9.30 bersiap sedia untuk promosi Kembara Sufi. Pukul 9.30, terus bergerak ke Taman Bemban.

MasyaAllah, memang tempat tersebut Rumah Petempatan Tersusun, sehinggakan jalan pun tidak nampak mana satu. Hebat betul jurutanah Majlis Daerah Kinta Barat ini, entah bagaimana agaknya mereka boleh katakan kawasan tersebut sebagai RPT. Satu rumah di sini, kemudian nun jauh di sana baru ada lagi satu rumah. Apa yang lebih menarik, jalan yang menghubungkan rumah-rumah tersebut bukanlah jalan tar, mahupun jalan tanah merah, akan tetapi seperti jalan yang dibuat sendiri. Bukan itu sahaja, ada yang lagi menarik. Pemilik rumah-rumah ini sampai memiliki kereta Mercedes. Wow.

Kemudian, bergerak pula ke Taman Permai ___ . Di sana lagilah dasyhat. Rumah-rumahnya masyaAllah, umpama mahligai. Terkejut dibuatnya tengok kereta besar-besar, rumah besar-besar di Batu Gajah. Nak promote Kembara Sufi pun segan.

Lastly, kami semua dibelanja 'lunch' oleh Encik Direktor Kembara Sufi (tQ encik albategnius07). Kenyang alhamdulillah. Lepas makan, kami pergi ke masjid Batu Gajah kira-kira pukul 1.20 untuk solat zuhur. Finally, balik kampus semula.

Namun begitu, banyak juga kenangan yang mungkin takkan dilupakan sepanjang promosi.

Pertama-tamanya, konsep dakwah itu sendiri. Kadang-kadang terasa di dalam hati untuk memilih sama ada hendak memberi 'pamphlet' kepada semua penduduk kawasan, ataupun hanya memberi kepada penduduk beragama Islam. Namun begitu, apabila fikir-fikir semula, penulis memberi kepada semua, walaupun mulut kata lain. Alasannya, inilah jalan dakwah. Islam ini adalah agama yang relevan sepanjang zaman, dan merupakan agama untuk sejagat, tidakkah begitu? Kita diajar bahawa Islam itu bersifat syumuliyyah dan 'alamiyyah. Oleh itu, perlukah kita bersikap berbelah bahagi di dalam konsep berdakwah? Begitulah juga dengan persembahan nasyid ini. Penulis masih lagi ingat akan kata-kata seorang ustaz dahulu :

Ustaz dahulu pernah di'approach' oleh seorang non-muslim. Dia mengatakan Islam itu tidak 'alamiyyah. Hujahnya senang, orang Islam confirm masuk syurga, manakala orang kafir confirm masuk neraka. Di mana sense of justice di sana kalau seorang itu dilahirkan kafir dan mati sebagai kafir?

Ustaz menjawab dengan jawapan yang mudah. Ustaz beritahu bahawa semuanya berbalik pada tujuan hidup orang Islam dan orang kafir. Tujuan hidup orang kafir ialah untuk mencari Islam, dan tujuan hidup orang Islam ialah untuk menyebarkan Islam pada orang kafir. Itulah hakikat yang sebenarnya. Namun begitu, umat Islam kini semakin lama semakin dikafirkan, melalui budaya hedonisma dan sebagainya.

Penulis juga teringat akan satu hadith yang sudah sedia maklum buat semua :

Barangsiapa yang mengucap kalimah syahadah merupakan seorang dai'e

Dari sini penulis sudah merasakan akan pentingnya konsep dakwah secara general itu. Kadang-kadang seorang naqib usrah ataupun fasilitator smartgroup hanya menekankan dakwah di dalam usrah ataupun smartgroup itu sendiri, dan diabaikan di dalam gerak kerja.

Pada pendapat penulis, nuqaba ataupun fasilitator-fasilitator smartgroup harus sedar, sesungguhnya yang akan datang ke usrah ataupun smartgroup itu bukanlah sembarangan orang. Hanya sesetengah orang yang dipilih oleh Allah s.w.t sahaja akan kekal setia bersama usrah ataupun smartgroup. Di sinilah perlunya setiap nuqaba sedar akan tanggungjawab untuk dakwah secara fardiyyah, secara tersendiri, tidak perlu kertas kerja, tidak perlu program, tidak perlu mesyuarat dan arahan untuk melakukan dakwah secara fardiyyah.

Dakwah ini boleh dijalankan mengikut sesuka hati, selagi mana tidak menyalahi syarak. Contoh, ajak kawan-kawan makan sekali, dan suruh mereka membaca doa sebelum makan. Itu sudahpun dikira satu dakwah, bukannya susah sangat.

Kemudiannya, penulis juga terharu apabila berlaku beberapa perkara yang tak diduga. Antaranya ialah dikejar anjing, kereta hampir-hampir menggelek tahi lembu dan sebagainya. Penulis menganggap semuanya sebagai kemuncup-kemuncup di dalam jalan dakwah. Apabila kita berdakwah, mana mungkin dakwah itu senang, kerana sirah perjuangan Rasulullah s.a.w. sendiri sudahpun menunjukkan bagaimana apabila dakwah dijalankan secara terang-terangan pada pertama kalinya, Abu Lahab, pakcik Baginda s.a.w. yang amat menyayangi beliau, boleh menghina Baginda s.a.w di hadapan khalayak ramai, sehingga turun satu surah yang mencela Abu Lahab ini.

Duri-duri dalam perjuangan yang suci ini tetap ada, tidak kira di paksi mana kita berada sekalipun. Lihat dan rasa. Mungkin kita melihat dari jauh akan duri-duri perjuangan yang dihadapi oleh golongan sebegini, yang turun kepada golongan marhaen untuk berdakwah. Apabila mereka mengeluh, kita hanya melihat dan memberi komen, ulasan. Namun, apabila kita lihat dan rasa, baru kita faham akan duri-duri perjuangan itu. Namun begitu, Allah s.w.t telahpun berfirman :

Patutkah manusia menyangka bahawa mereka akan dibiarkan dengan hanya berkata: "Kami beriman", sedang mereka tidak diuji (dengan sesuatu cubaan)? Dan demi sesungguhnya! Kami telah menguji orang-orang yang terdahulu daripada mereka, maka (dengan ujian yang demikian), nyata apa yang diketahui Allah tentang orang-orang yang sebenar-benarnya beriman, dan nyata pula apa yang diketahuiNya tentang orang-orang yang berdusta. [Al-Ankabut:2-3]

Ayat di atas cukup untuk kita jadikan renungan bersama, akan payah dan susahnya perjuangan ini, kerana timeframe perjuangan ini bukanlah sesuatu yang kita tahu, ianya milik Allah s.w.t. Yang kita boleh harapkan agar kemenangan itu didekatkan agar kita dapat merasainya, ataupun anak cucu kita dapat menggapainya.

Juga suatu perkara yang menarik minat penulis ialah pemikiran "Islam itu Melayu" di dalam masyarakat Muslim Malaysia umumnya. Sedang giat penulis mengedarkan risalah ataupun pamphlet Kembara Sufi, penulis telah meng'approach' sepasang suami isteri yang di dalam jangka umur 50an. Apabila penulis memberi pamphlet tentang Kembara Sufi, sebuah persembahan nasyid yang insyaAllah akan dipersembahkan oleh Rabbani. Pasangan ini pelik apabila melihat penulis berbicara tentang nasyid. Cuma apabila penulis memberi salam terakhir atau salam wida' untuk meneruskan kerja ke rumah lain, barulah si isteri berkata "Oh, makcik ingat kamu Cina tadi". Astaghfirullah. Terkejut penulis. Tidak sangka perkataan itu yang keluar.

Ingat lagi penulis akan Ustaz Riduan Tee Abdullah (mungkin ejaan nama salah, sesiapa yang tahu diharap dapat memberi ejaan nama yang betul). Pada suatu ketika ibu Ustaz Riduan meninggal dunia. Apabila Ustaz Riduan pergi ke rumah keluarganya untuk menziarah jasad ibunya, rata-rata masyarakat "Muslim Malaysia" ini, ataupun spesifiknya "Muslim Melayu" ini mengutuk perbuatan itu, dengan mengatakan perkara itu tidak dibolehkan atas alasan emaknya Cina. Mereka menegaskan Ustaz Riduan ini bukan Melayu kalau begini. Astaghfirullah. Melayu tidak semestinya Islam. Dan Islam tidak semestinya Melayu. Lina Joy, Melayu, tapi murtad? Korporal M. Moorthy ataupun Abdullah, India, tetapi Muslim? Sampai bilakah konsep minda ini akan kekal dan tidak berubah.

Ingat, Islam bukannya seperti agama-agama samawi sebelumnya, yang diturunkan untuk puak-puak tertentu, tetapi Islam itu bersifat 'alamiyyah seperti yang diperkatakan tadi, sejagat, sesuai dengan firman Allah s.w.t :

Dan tiadalah Kami mengutusmu (wahai Muhammad) melainkan untuk umat manusia seluruhnya, sebagai Rasul pembawa berita gembira (kepada orang-orang yang beriman), dan pemberi amaran (kepada orang-orang yang ingkar); akan tetapi kebanyakan manusia tidak mengetahui (hakikat itu). [Saba':28]

Inilah bukti secara sahihnya bahawa agama Islam ini bukanlah agama yang diturunkan untuk sesetengah golongan sahaja, tetapi baik Melayu, ataupun Cina, mahupun India sekalipun, semuanya layak untuk memeluk agam Islam.

Para pembaca yang dihormati, diharap perkara ini dapat meluaskan lagi minda kita tentang Islam dan dakwah. Janganlah menjadi terlampau jumud, centred sangat tidak keternampakkan akan kita jalan-jalan yang lain. Janganlah terlampau bergayut pada tali yang sama, yang hampir-hampir putus, sedangkan masih ada banyak lagi tali-temali lain, yang masih kuat, kukuh, utuh, untuk digunakan. Hanya kita yang tidak menyedarinya. WaLlahua'lam.

Mana Satu Betul??

2006-09-02T14:19:00.000+08:00

3 hari lepas

KUBANG PASU: 29 Ogos 2006 - Daripada 136 Cawangan Umno di Bahagian Kubang Pasu, Dr Mahathir kini, sudah dicalonkan oleh 79 cawangan untuk mewakili Bahagian tersebut di Perhimpunan Agung Umno pada 13-15 November 2006.Dr Mahathir sedang mendahului Bahagian Kubang Pasu dengan mendapat lebih 60% pencalonan. Bahagian Kubang Pasu akan mengundi untuk memilih calon pada 9 September 2006. [Malaysia-Today.net]

Hari ini

Kubang Pasu Umno division secretary Shamsuddin Ahmad tops the list of nominees for the divisional delegates contest with nominations from 97 branches.

Second on the list is Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir with 50 nominations.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is also contesting the post against 16 Kubang Pasu division committee members has garnered nominations from 15 branches.[TheStar.com.my]

Penulis :

Mana satu yang betul?

Mari Membajet Lagi...

2006-09-02T13:33:00.000+08:00

asSalamualaikum...

Ramai yang sudah memberi komentar-komentar sendiri akan Bajet 2007 yang dibentangkan di Parlimen oleh Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Sememangnya ada yang akan bersorak apabila mendengar berita yang menggembirakan mereka, di dalam Bajet 2007, namun tetap adanya suara-suara suram yang sedih, marah, kecewa kerana Bajet 2007 tidak memberi apa-apa erti kepada mereka, sebaliknya menyusahkan mereka.

Isu Akademik

Berita baik buat semua pelajar dan juga ibu bapa, yuran UPSR, PMR, SPM dan STPM akan dibatalkan bermula tahun 2007. Ingat lagi penulis ketika menanda subjek-subjek untuk diambil ketika membuat subject confirmation untuk SPM. Satu kertas yang diambil perlu dibayar RM10 agaknya, penulis pun tidak pasti lagi. Namun apa yang pasti ialah setiap kertas perlu dibayar asing-asing, bukannya seorang pelajar perlu membayar RM15 sahaja untuk semua kertas yang diambil, contohnya.

Begitu juga berita baik buat pelajar-pelajar yang kurang bernasib baik, di mana mereka akan diberi elaun sebanyak RM50-70 sebulan. Namun begitu, prasangka buruk penulis merasakan mungkin adanya penyalahgunaan duit oleh pelajar-pelajar ini, di mana mereka akan menghabiskan duit mereka ke arah lain.

Bonus
Saban tahun benda yang sama berulang kembali. Bonus, bonus dan bonus. Memang, bonus ini tidak dinafikan antara teknik yang bagus untuk menolong mereka yang kurang bernasib baik mengorak langkah di dalam alaf siber yang memerlukan kepada duit sebagai salah satu keperluan hidup.

Namun begitu, bonus tidaklah seberapa sangat. Alasannya mudah. Bonus akan memberi bantuan kepada sesetengah golongan tidak bernasib baik sahaja. Contohnya, nilai RM750 berbeza di tempat-tempat yang lain. Contohnya, pekerja am di Kuala Lumpur dan pekerja am di Kuala Terengganu akan merasa perbezaan besar nilai RM750 tersebut. Hal ini kerana penggunaan wang pada kadar sebulan berbeza di setiap tempat. Pekerja am yang bekerja dan bermastautin di ibu kota metropolitan akan menggunakan lebih banyak duit berbanding pekerja am yang bekerja dan bermastautin di bandar, pekan dan sebagainya.

Mungkin cara terbaik sebenarnya ialah dengan kenaikan gaji seperti yang dikatakan oleh pihak Cuepacs, dan juga kadar maksimum bagi kenaikan gaji berbeza bagi tempat-tempat yang berlainan.

Duti eksais arak

Perkara ini menimbulkan sedikit keraguan. Mengapa agaknya duti eksais arak dinaikkan sebanyak RM5.00 seliter hanya bagi arak yang mengandungi alkohol melebihi 40% ? Mengapa tidak duti eksais arak dinaikkan sebanyak RM5.00 seliter bagi setiap arak yang mempunyai hatta 0.01% alkohol sekalipun? Adakah negara Islam Hadhari ingin menggalakkan arak dengan syarat kuantiti alkohol di dalamnya haruslah tidak melebihi 40%?

Lain-lain

Perkara-perkara yang lain seperti pengurangan cukai dan sebagainya membawa erti yang besar kepada penduduk Malaysia secara amnya. Namun begitu, penulis masih lagi menanti akan berita-berita seperti penurunan harga minyak, penurunan harga barang.

Hiburan??

2006-09-01T01:16:00.000+08:00

Manusia lazimnya berkata mereka perlu kepada hiburan. Seakan-akan hiburan itu sudah menjadi suatu kewajipan. Memang, tidak dinafikan, manusia perlu berhibur. Kepentingan hiburan kepada manusia itu ada, tapi tidaklah sehingga menjadi kewajipan. Pada dasarnya hiburan itu perlu, tetapi tidaklah sehingga jatuh hukumnya wajib bagi manusia berhibur.

Dan ada di antara manusia: orang yang memilih serta membelanjakan hartanya kepada cerita-cerita dan perkara-perkara hiburan yang melalaikan; yang berakibat menyesatkan (dirinya dan orang ramai) dan ugama Allah dengan tidak berdasarkan sebarang pengetahuan; dan ada pula orang yang menjadikan ugama Allah itu sebagai ejek-ejekan; merekalah orang-orang yang akan beroleh azab yang menghinakan. [Luqman:6]

Ayat di atas menjadi dalil naqli yang paling sesuai untuk mendefinisikan hiburan yang melalaikan, ataupun dipersingkatkan lagi kepada lagha, benda yang sia-sia. Namun begitu, manusia seringkali lupa, ataupun sengaja melupakan fakta-fakta seperti ini, dan mendesak agar dapat membuat konsert, gig, function, yang pada akar umbinya suatu perkara yang jelas statusnya lagha, melalaikan.

Dan konon-kononnya untuk menghalalkan gig itu, membuang status lagha pada konsert itu, ditempek pada function itu kempen-kempen kesedaran, umpamanya Belia Benci Dadah, Katakan Tak Nak Pada Rokok, dan sebagainya. Konon-kononnya dengan adanya perkara seperti ini status lagha, status lalai itu hilang. Namun pada hakikatnya tidak, kerana usul fiqh sudahpun mengatakan "Matlamat tidak menghalalkan cara". Adakah kerana ingin membantu masyarakat yang kurang upaya, miskin, maka aksi yang konon-kononnya heroik seperti Robin Hood dihalalkan, sedangkan pencurian itu tidak boleh dan wajib dikenakan hukuman bagi mereka yang ditangkap mencuri.

Apa yang teruknya lagi, kadang-kadang bukanlah sehingga sampai hukum lagha bagi perkara-perkara seperti ini, tetapi apakan dayanya, malanglah lagi apabila sesetengah majlis-majlis seumpama begini begitu dasyhat hukumnya sehingga boleh jatuh hukum HARAM, seperti mana Sure Heboh.

Pada surface ataupun dasarnya, ia tampak biasa, tiada apa-apa yang mencurigakan. Namun begitu, apabila tiba waktunya, begitu banyak kondom-kondom yang dijumpai selepas habis majlis. Agaknya apa lagilah kegunaan kondom-kondom ini kalau bukan untuk berzina, eh bukan, open-zina? Apabila kaum Adam dan kaum Hawa dibenarkan bergesel-gesel, bersentuh-sentuhan, mana tidaknya berlaku hal-hal sebegini. Dan kemudian mereka yang terlibat di dalam gejala sosial seperti ini, akhirnya ditangkap dan masuk ke dalam akhbar harian kerana kes rogol, sumbang mahram dan sebagainya. Apa yang kerajaan lakukan? Kerajaan membuat Pendidikan Seks, dengan harapan mereka ini sedar apa yang mereka lakukan.

Tumpang tanya, Pendidikan Seks? Rasa patik, wahai tuan hamba yang bijaksana, perkara seperti itu tidak lain tidak bukan seperti menumpahkan kari di atas nasi putih, tuan hamba. Namun begitu apa yang boleh penulis lakukan, di hadapan mereka, penulis hanyalah pacal yang hina, kalaupun mampu bersuara, macam ingin mereka mendengar suara seorang pacal yang hina ini.

Sesiapa sahaja yang mempelajari Health, Safety and Environment, sudah pasti mengetahui, antara langkah pencegahan terbaik untuk mengelakkan pollution ialah pengubahsuaian pada source of pollution, sumber pencemaran tersebut. Katakanlah kalau kita ingin mengaplikasikan konsep itu kepada open-zina dan rogol tadi, tidakkah pengharaman konsert sebegitu merupakan antara langkah pencegahan terbaik untuk mengelakkan kes-kes rogol daripada berlaku?

Mungkin sudah tiba masanya bagi kita rakyat Malaysia insaf, akan perkara-perkara buruk yang saban hari terpapar di berita utama dan kebanyakan media massa dan media alternatif, isu rogol, isu ikan haruan makan anaknya, isu sumbang mahram. Tidak cukupkah lagi impak-impak negatif perkara seperti konsert terhadap masyarakat Malaysia umumnya?

Puisi Ukhuwwah

2006-09-01T00:23:00.000+08:00

Puisi ini dipetik daripada kitab Virus-Virus Ukhuwwah oleh Abu 'Ashim Hisyam bin Abdul Qadir Uqdah

tahukah engkau, di mana ia bersemayam?
dialah saudaramu...ke mana ia melangkah?
sanggupkah matamu memandangnya?
sedang matanya tak sanggup menatapmu?
saudaramu hidup laksana sejarah
berjalan beriringan mengikuti langkahmu
tanpa bahasa yang dapat menyapa
bercucur air mata jika bersua
jika bumi menghimpitnya
hanya hatimu tempal mengadu
engkau bermurah hati tanpa pamrih
memupus duka nestapa yang ia derita
engkau memikul beban bertl tanggungannya
ketika letih pilu merasuk kedua bahunya
jika bumi menghimpitnya
hanya hatimu tempat mengadu
engkau selimutkan tirai di sekujur tubuhnya
ketika syaitan datang memperdayanya
engkau tersenyum bangga dengan ranum buah akhindit
engkau bahagia pula dengan kesuburan
ladang dunia saudaramu
jika bumi menghimpitnya
hanya hatimu tempat mengadu

Lagi Merdeka

2006-08-31T10:57:00.000+08:00

Lagi tentang isu merdeka. Memang tepat sekali fikiran penulis apabila memikirkan anak muda sekarang yang memikirkan apabila tibanya hari kemerdekaan, bermakna mereka 'merdeka' , terlalu merdeka untuk berbuat apa-apa. Petikan di bawah cukup dasyhat, untuk menerangkan tentang keadaan malam semalam ketika detik menghampiri 31 Ogos 2006, berdekatan dengan Masjid As-Syakirin, Menara Berkembar PETRONAS.

Konsert hiburan diadakan semata-mata untuk memberi santapan 'rohani' anak muda kota supaya lupakan sejenak kisah kerja atau keluarga kerana yang penting 'kebebasan' sempena Malam Kemerdekaan.

Di tengah-tengah asyik Mawi mendendangkan lagu, di hujung padang konsert terdapat pasangan yang bercumbu ada yang sambil memangku dan ada yang berbaring.

Semuanya dirasakan 'halal', maksiat atau 'botol air neraka' tidak lagi nampak dosanya kerana merdeka membenarkan segalanya mengikut tafsiran buta mereka.

Lebih menyedihkan ada juga yang berani berpelukan di tepi-tepi tangga masjid sedangkan dalam masa yang sama satu program kerohanian sedang dijalankan oleh sekumpulan manusia yang memohon keberkatan Allah meneruskan nikmat merdeka.

Merdekanya mereka, yang haram juga boleh jadi halal. Namun, anak-anak muda ini tidak berhenti di situ sahaja.

Di celah kelekaan itu muncul sekumpulan anak muda yang dipimpin oleh Naib Ketua Pemuda PAS, Mazlan Aliman untuk mengedar risalah kesedaran tentang gejala murtad dan masalah sosial serta penghayatan merdeka menurut Islam.

Menurutnya, sejumlah 50,000 risalah berjaya diedarkan, dan Pemuda PAS tidak bersendirian dalam mengedarkan risalah dakwah itu.

...

Namun, anak-anak muda Kuala Lumpur masih segar menghirup 'kebebasan maksima' di tengah-tengah suram lampu-lampu taman di sekitar KLCC, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa dan dibeberapa lokasi lain di Kuala Lumpur.

Yang tertiarap bersama hembusan 'air syaitan' mula bercakap merapu dan berjalan terhoyong hayang, sementara yang bercumbu terus asyik dibelai 'kisah cinta malam merdeka'.

Ada yang berpelukan hingga lupa 'sijil nikah' tidak pernah dipohon, sementara ada yang sekadar main mata, duduk berdua sambil berseloka kisah 'uda dan dara' kota yang lupa ibu bapa serta asal-usulnya.

Hampir tiga jam aktivis-aktivis Pemuda PAS berada di Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.Segala macam rupa bentuk manusia ditemui.Seketika rombongan pemuda bertemu dengan sekumpulan anak muda yang dalam lingkungan 10 hingga 16 tahun asyik mengayuh basikal membawa bendera Malaysia.

Operasi cegah maksiat diteruskan hingga jam 3.35 pagi dan akhirnya di pagi yang penuh 'kebebasan' bagi warga kota itu rombongan Pemuda PAS bertemu dengan beberapa pasangan 'tegar' yang bercumbu tetapi tidak mahu diganggu.

Begitulah senario anak-anak muda, yang satu hari nanti bakal menjadi pemimpin masyarakat. Begitulah betapa hebatnya pihak barat yang telah menjajah minda anak muda sehingga mereka merasakan mereka bebas, padahal pada hakikatnya perilaku mereka merupakan satu tanda kejayaan brainwash project oleh pihak Barat yang ingin merosakkan adat ketimuran dan nilai-nilai keIslaman dalam diri anak muda.

Masa penulis masih lagi kecil, muda, perkara ini tidaklah seteruk ini. Mungkin ya, memang pada natjiahnya ada perkara sebegini, tetapi bukannya anak muda yang berusia 10-16 tahun. 10 tahun, tidakkah muda dan masih tidak matang untuk anak muda sebegitu berpeleseran tengah-tengah malam buta. Tidak tahulah jikalau si ayah dan si ibu tidak kisah dengan anak mereka, ataupun worst situation, di mana kesombongan anak itu terlampau tinggi sehingga tidak dapat diperbetulkan lagi dengna kayu, dengan rotan, si ayah tidak mampu mengubah anaknya dengan tangan, si ibu tidak mampu mengubah anaknya dengan lidah, menjadikan rosak anak itu, hanyut dengan hiburan melampau.

Pihak jabatan agama? Ke mana pergi golongan ini? Semasa Mufti Perak giat perkatakan tentang isu murtad, JAKIM bangkit dan berbincang tentang kesahihan fakta jumlah orang murtad di Malaysia. Tanggal 31 Ogos, mana mereka pergi?

Menurutnya, sejumlah 50,000 risalah berjaya diedarkan, dan Pemuda PAS tidak bersendirian dalam mengedarkan risalah dakwah itu.

Sebaliknya Pemuda PAS ditemani sekumpulan anak muda dari Institut Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA) serta beberapa NGO islam lain yang turut mengedar risalah dakwah yang hampir serupa, katanya.

"Saya pelik, dalam pada kita (Pemuda PAS) membuat operasi ini, kelibat penguatkuasa agama Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah (Jawi) lansung tidak dilihat.Apa mereka buat tatkala anak muda mabuk asmara bercumbu tanpa melihat batas agama," katanya sambil mempertikai peranan Jawi menyelesaikan masalah sosial di Kuala Lumpur.

Mungkin yang perlu diubah sekarang ini bukannya anak muda, tetapi pihak berkuasa?