Sunday, September 2

Pinjaman kepada biasiswa

Saya merupakan salah seorang pelajar yang ditaja oleh kerajaan Malaysia. Kadang-kadang, sayang terlupa bersyukur atas nikmat yang Allah kurniakan melalui rezeki ini, sehinggalah saya disedarkan. Dan apabila terbaca laporan akhbar Berita Harian pada 2 September 2007, saya betul-betul terharu dan mengharapkan saya lebih bersyukur dan ingin juga nak ucapkan tahniah kepada saudara Fairuz kita ni, best student dari UNITEN.

Akhirnya, pinjamannya yang berjumlah RM 80,000 telah ditukarkan kepada biasiswa. Walaupun ini berlaku sekelip mata, namun ia pastinya tidak semudah itu. Mari sama2 kita baca keratan akhbar ini;

Mohd Fairuz pelajar cemerlang Uniten

Oleh Norliza Abdullah

BANGI: Graduan terbaik keseluruhan Majlis Konvokesyen Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) Ke-10, Mohd Fairuz A Gani, menganggap penukaran pinjaman pendidikan Yayasan Tenaga Nasional Berhad berjumlah RM80,000 kepada biasiswa sebagai satu hadiah begitu bermakna dalam hidupnya.

Mohd Fairuz, 23, lulusan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perakaunan (Kepujian) yang kini Eksekutif Kanan di Bank Negara berkata, sebahagian daripada pendapatan yang sepatutnya diguna untuk membayar balik pinjaman pendidikan itu akan menjadi tabungan bagi meneruskan pengajian dalam program profesional.

"Biasiswa ini adalah satu pemberian paling bermakna dalam hidup saya kerana saya seolah-olah menerima wang yang begitu banyak tanpa perlu membayarnya semula selepas menamatkan pengajian," katanya ketika ditemui selepas menyampaikan ucapan wakil graduan pada majlis konvokesyen itu.

Majlis itu disempurnakan Canselor Uniten, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulaul Pinang, Tun Dr Abdul Rahman Abbas.

Hadir sama dua Pro Canselornya, Tan Sri Dr Abu Zarim Omar dan Tan Sri Dr Amar Leo Moggie serta Naib Canselor, Prof Datuk Dr Mashkuri Yaacob.

Pada konvokesyen selama dua hari yang bermula semalam itu, seramai 607 graduan menerima Ijazah dan Diploma masing-masing.

Mohd Fairuz, anak ketiga daripada empat beradik yang berasal dari Pontian, Johor, mencatatkan nilai purata gred keseluruhan 3.73 dan pencapaian cemerlang itu mencerminkan kesungguhannya untuk menjadi yang terbaik di kalangan pelajar Uniten sepanjang tempoh pengajian.

Katanya, beliau bersyukur kerana usaha bersungguh-sungguh sepanjang 10 semester mengikuti pengajian membolehkannya menimba banyak ilmu dan berkongsi pengalaman serta pengetahuan dengan rakan serta pensyarah.

"Petua kejayaan saya ialah dengan memberi tumpuan sepenuhnya di dewan kuliah di samping mewujudkan kumpulan ketika belajar," katanya.


*********************************************************************
Ada di antara sahabat saya yang tidak berjaya menempatkan diri ke universiti di luar negara, dan kini menuntut di UNITEN. Hah, ini sebenarnya cabaran buat korang. Gagal sekali tak semestinya terus gagal je.

Thursday, August 30

Saya pada 26 Julai 2007

Secara umumnya, kesemua kampung-kampung yang kami pergi dalam Misi Kemanusiaan Kemboja 2007 terletak kira-kira di antara satu jam dan satu jam setengah perjalanan daripada pekan Kampong Cham. Ini kecuali kampung ketiga yang kami lawati, kerana kami menggunakan bot untuk sampai ke kampung dalam masa lebih kurang 30 minit sahaja. Namun satu persamaan di antara semua kampung yang kami lawati ialah kehidupan mereka sangat daif.



KAMPUNG PERTAMA: Kg Ang Tung So

Kampung Ang Tung So secara literalnya bermaksud belut. Pada 26 Julai, kami bertolak seawal jam 7 pagi setelah bersarapan di pekan Kampong Cham. Perjalanan ke kampung ini adalah yang paling lama, dan jalan yang kami lalui menaiki van amat mencabar, kerana semakin kami menghampiri kampung ini, semakin teruk keadaan jalan yang sememangnya tidak berturap dengan tar. Permukaan jalan yang tidak rata bertambah buruk dengan adanya lopak-lopak air di sana sini. Namun begitu, sepanjang perjalanan, kami dihidangkan dengan lagu-lagu bahasa Khmer dan bahasa Inggeris secara selang seli yang dimainkan oleh pemandu van kami, Encik Bon Ho.

Di pertengahan jalan, kami melalui Kg Krabai, sebuah kampung yang akan kami lawati pada hari kelima nanti. Ketibaan kami di Kg Ang Tung So lebih kurang jam 8.30 pagi mendapat sambutan meriah dari penduduk kampung yang telah menunggu ketibaan skuad kami, malah mereka telah mempersiap surau dan madrasah di sebelah surau sebagai tapak majlis khatan dan klinik.


Berhenti rehat sebentar di Masjid Kg Krabai. Kelihatan Abdus Salam, pelajar perubatan Kemboja mencekak pinggang.


Meriahnya! Tak sabar makcik-makcik ni nak mendapatkan rawatan kesihatan. Beginilah keadaan ketika kami tiba.


Berus gigi beserta ubat gigi percuma diedarkan kepada kanak-kanak sebelum mereka diajar teknik gosok gigi yang betul.

Kapten misi, saudara Amin menyerah sumbangan muqaddam kepada Imam Masjid Kg Ang Tung So, sambil disaksikan oleh Dr Mousin, presiden Persatuan Perubatan Islam Kemboja.


Dari pagi hingga ke waktu Asar, kami telah menjalankan pemeriksaan kesihatan, khatan, dan memberikan ubat-ubatan kepada penduduk kampung mengikut preskripsi dikeluarkan doktor-doktor yang bersama skuad kami seperti Dr Sokry (bakal doktor), Dr Mousin (sebut: Muhsin), dan Dr el-Boravy. Di samping itu, pada sessi pagi, pendidikan pergigian juga diberikan kepada penduduk kampung dengan sasaran utama ialah kanak-kanak. Seronok budak-budak tu dapat berus gigi dan ubat gigi percuma! Saudari Iza, pelajar pergigian di Cork, Ireland telah mengendalikan sessi tersebut dengan Dr el-Boravy telah bertindak selaku penterjemah kepada bahasa Cham. Dan selepas solat Asar pula, derma dalam bentuk kewangan dan al-Quran serta muqaddam diberikan masing-masing kepada ketua kampung dan imam surau.

Ketika menjaga meja pendaftaran klinik, saya menjangkakan akan menghadapi kesukaran untuk berkomunikasi dalam usaha mendapatkan nama dan umur daripada penduduk kampung. Namun begitu, kami beruntung kerana terdapat beberapa warga kampung yang fasih berbahasa Melayu. Yahoooooo! Memang seronok sangat.

Pada mulanya, saya telah bertanya kepada Farouqin, salah seorang pelajar perubatan yang bersama kami, maksud "siapakah nama awak?" dan "berapa umur" dalam bahasa Khmer. Jadi, apabila saya bertanyakan kepada penduduk kampung, situasinya lebih kurang begini;

Saya: Chemo ai? (Siapa nama?)
Timah* : Timmah
Saya: Agok pon man? (Berapa umur?)
Timah*: !#$%&€$
Saya: (alamak!)

*bukan nama sebenar

Saya tak tahu angka dalam bahasa Khmer. Dalam keadaan saya terpinga-pinga, tiba-tiba kedengaran suara di sekitar saya berkata: "50!". Tersenyum sendiri saya pada ketika itu melihat kanak-kanak perempuan yang telah membantu saya itu, kerana dengan adanya 'penterjemah' macam ni, senang sikit kerja sepanjang hari ni! Sebenarnya, kanak-kanak perempuan tersebut sedang menunggu giliran, jadi setelah sampai gilirannya untuk pendaftaran, dan dia berlalu pergi untuk ke meja seterusnya iaitu meja untuk pemeriksaan tekanan darah, saya ingatkan sudah hilang 'penterjemah' saya. Namun sangkaan saya meleset, kerana ada pula seorang kakak membantu saya menterjemahkan bagi penduduk kampung yang tidak boleh berbahasa Melayu. Begitulah keadaannya sehingga ke waktu petang. Kadang-kadang tu, sampai 2-3 orang terjemah serentak...baik betul diorang ni......


Ramainya menunggu giliran. Sekarang turn adik botak berbaju merah pula.....


Faiz sedang tekun menyedia local anesthetic untuk khatan


kami telah dijamu dengan makanan tradisi. Ulam Je dan kuah kacang pasti menjadi hidangan di setiap kampung yang kami singgah


walaupun pada mulanya agak malu-malu, akhirnya adik berbaju kuning dan bertudung merah ini yang telah menjadi penterjemah saya telah sudi bergambar bersama sebelum pulang.

Wednesday, August 29

FAKTA KAMPONG CHAM

Kampong Cham merupakan sebuah wilayah di Kemboja. Kalau di Malaysia, kita panggil negeri.

Apa bezanya Negeri (state) dan wilayah (province)? Saya rasa, negeri ada pentadbiran dan sedikit undang-undang sendiri, sperti di malaysia, setiap negeri ada sultan. manakala wilayah pula, hanya kawasan yang di satukan di bawah satu pentadbiran dan pemerintahan

Pusat bandar Kampong Cham ialah Kampong Cham. Ia merupakan bandar ketiga terbesar di Kemboja dengan penduduk seramai 63,771 orang (2006). Ia merupakan sebuah pekan yang strategik kerana terletak di Sg Mekong, dan terletak kira-kira 124 kilometer di timur laut bandaraya Phnom Penh. Jadi kalau nak ke Kampong Cham, boleh guna jalan darat atau melalui Sg Mekong yang popular itu. Semasa Misi Kemanusiaan Kemboja bersama Persatuan Perubatan Islam Kemboja, kami telah berada di Kampong Cham selama 7 hari dan telah menjelajah masuk ke lima buah kampung untuk menjalankan klinik bergerak, dan majlis khatan secara percuma kepada penduduk kampung.


23 Julai- Tiba di Phnom Penh
25 Jul - Bertolak ke Kampong Cham menaiki van
26 Jul - Masuk Kg Ang Tung So
27 Jul - Masuk Kg Serai Ville
28 Jul - Masuk Kg Ban Pbrul
29 Jul - Masuk Kg Po Ti An
30 Jul - Masuk Kg Krabai
31 Jul - Bertolak ke Siem Reap
1 Ogos - Ke Tasik Tonle Sap
2 Ogos - Ke Angkor Wat
3 Ogos - Pulang ke Kuala Lumpur


seterusnya....5 kampung sekilas pandang

tonle sap

"akak, macam mana nak kayuh ni, banyak halangan?"

Gambar ini saya ambil ketika menaiki bot di pinggir Tasik Tonle Sap, Kemboja. Dua kanak-kanak miskin yang hidup susah sejak kecil, dan mungkin akan terus kekal hidup sebegini sampai dewasa. Tasik ni selalunya hanya seluas 2,500 km persegi. Walaupun perkataan 'hanya' digunakan, tetapi kita kena ingat, keluasan negeri Perlis pun ialah lebih kurang 810 km persegi. Jadi, tasik ni memang dah sangat luas, dah macam laut pun kalau kita yang kecil ni tengok sendiri dari bot.

Namun begitu, ketika musim monsun, Sungai Tonle Sap yang menghubungkan Sg Mekong ynag panjang tu dan tasik ini akan mengalir dalam arah yang bertentangan. Jadi, air dari Sg Mekong akan mengalir masuk ke utara ke Tasik Tonle Sap, menjadikan keluasan tasik ini kepada 12,000 km persegi! Manakala kedalamannya pula ialah 9 meter. Keluasan negeri Kedah pun ialah 9,426 km persegi. Kelantan pula 14,922 km persegi. Bayangkan hampir seluruh Kelantan daripada Kota Bharu ke Gua Musang penuh air je....

Jadi, di pinggir tasik yang luas sungguh ni, banyak perkampungan terapung atas air. Saya telah berpeluang ke Kampung terapung Chong Khneas, kampung yang paling dekat dengan bandar Siem Reap, kota yang popular dengan Angkor Wat-nya. Sekarang merupakan masa air sedang naik, jadi mereka akan berpindah ke sebuah bukit berdekatan untuk sementara sahaja. Ya, untuk temporary sahaja, kerana selepas air surut, mereka akan kembali ke tapat air yang sama. Penduduk kampung ini bukannya tak mahu berpindah dari Tonle Sap ni, cuma tak ada duit nak beli tanah, apatah lagi nak buat rumah.


beginilah cara hidup mereka yang miskin. mandi bukan di tepi tasik, tetapi di atas tasik!

Sepanjang perjalanan menaiki bot, di kiri kanan penuh dengan rumah-rumah, kedai, klinik, sekolah, malah gelanggang bola keranjang yang pelbagai guna yang semuanya terapung di atas air.

Beberapa fakta menarik:

1. Kebanyakkan penghuni kampung ini terdiri daripada orang Vietnam yang datang mencari makan di sini. Mereka boleh dibezakan daripada orang Khmer dan Champa (dua bangsa utama Kemboja) melalui susuk tubuh yang lebih kecil dan mata yang lebih sepet.

mereka mengejar bot pelancong di sini, dan menjual makanan dan minuman. ini lebih baik dari suatu masa dulu, apabila mereka sekadar meminta sedekah dengan memautkan sampan mereka ke bot pelancong. namun, kehidupan mereka tetap sukar.

2. Untuk mengenali bot-bot yang dimiliki oleh orang Vietnam sangat mudah. Bot mereka memiliki lukisan mata ikan di hujung sebelah hadapan bot.

salah sebuah bot dengan mata ikan di hadapanya, kiri dan kanan.


3. Terdapat 27 keluarga muslim di Kg Chong Khneas ini, dan terdapat sebuah surau. Mereka mengambil wuduk dengan tunduk mengambil air dari tasik. Hah, siapa yang tak biasa dengan teknik mereka, kalau silap cara, jatuh lah dalam air.


makcik ni rumahnya sebelah surau. Langkah sebelah kaki je dari surau, sampai rumah dia. Anak dia yang uruskan surau.

hujan di alor star

Cuaca di Alor Star dan kawasan berdekatan asyik hujan lebat. Memang lebat sangat dan berterusan. Dah lah sambutan kemerdekaan semakin dekat. Bukan apa, kalau berterusan macam ni, tak boleh lah pasukan-pasukan yang berlatih kawad perbarisan meneruskan latihan.

Lebih teruk lagi kalau semasa hari perbarisan 31 Ogos nanti, hujan lebat! Kesian kat diaorang yang penat berlatih, dan kepada pengurusan yang sibuk menguruskan persiapan sambutan peringkat negeri kedah di Pekan Rabu nanti.

cari mentol putih


Sebelum nak kembali ke UK 20 September, saya ingat nak cari mentol putih untuk lampu meja ni. Sebelum balik dari UK jun lalu, saya sempat beli lampu meja klasik ni di jualan but kereta di Derby. harganya GBP 1.50 je. Sepanjang tahun lepas, hall dah siapkan lampu meja, jadi bila masuk rumah sessi akan datang ni, lampu meja kene sendiri lah.

Tapi lampu meja ni mentolnya warna oren. Jadi, kena cari mentol berwarna putin jenis skru. InshaAllah, senang nak studi tahun depan.

20 September makin dekat



Tak lama lagi, saya inshaAllah akan balik ke UK kembali. Tahun kedua akan bermula. Gambar kat atas ialah ketika perjalanan pulang kami dari UK ke Malaysia pada pertengahan Jun lepas. Masa tu di Lapangan Terbang Gatwick, London.

Kepada yang tak kenal Asma dan Pie, mereka berdua ni belajar perubatan di Notts juga. Sayang betul Pie dan Asma' dengan famili diorang. Sebab tu lama betul memilih minyak wangi untuk mereka. Bagus betul diorang ni.

Wednesday, August 8

Mantap sungguh Kedah

Mantap betul pasukan Kedah tahun ni. Harap-harap, menang juga Piala Malaysia nanti!

Monday, July 23

Cambodia oh Cambodia....

Alhamdulillah, we arrived in Phnom Penh International Airport safe and sound yesterday. This Airport, formerly known as Pochentong International Airport, is relatively very small, having just four gates with aerobridges and another 2 with bus access to board a flight.

MP Dr Mousine (he is one of the MPs here!), who is the president of Islamic Medical Association of Cambodia (IMAC) was willing enough to greet us with the transport to Puncak Hotel, the place in which we will stay for the first two days. This is a fomerly Malaysian owned Hotel, just near to River Tonle Sap.

This is an interesting fact about how Phnom Penh got it's name: Wat Phnom Daun Penh (known now as just the Wat Phnom or Hill Temple), built in 1373 to house five statues of Buddha on a man made hill 27 meters high. It was named after Daun Penh (Grandma Penh), a wealthy widow.

After we had a fruitful 2 hours meeting in the Malaysian Embassy, and also we had met several medical students from IMAC. There is one brother named Ali, and the thing that amazed me most is that he has the ability to speak a very good Arabic and French, apart from
English and his mother tongue, Khmer language.

I can't online too long, as Internet canm only be used from 7 pm to 7 am, and now it is already 6.37 local time. And inshaAllah today we make a respectful visit to The Killing Fields, a place which no stands as a symbol to the horrible Khmer Rouge regime which killed 1.7 to 2.3 million out of a population of around 7 million between 1975-1979.

Thursday, July 19

Smoking is bad!

"Smoking is not something bad. Its not taking drugs. The only concern is that smoking causes cancer"

That was a statement made by Datuk Seri
Nazri Aziz, after launching a Nur Sejahtera Programme hosted by the National Population and Family Development Board to raise awareness of breast cancer.

I do personally think this was a not so good statement made by a minister like him. We will never feel the heavy burden that a cancer patient feels until we be one. Cancer is bad, and it has been scientifically proven all over the world that smoking could leads to cancer, and human haven't found any absolute treatment for it.

So, to make it simple, avoid smoking, and if you're a smoker, kill it, or it'll kills you!

Finally, this is a very touching true story about a man who died from cancer. He wanted the world to know his story, so please spread the word. My lecturer, Steven Burr was the one who told us this sad story during one of our lecture, and this article was published in iluvislam.com.


The true story of Bryan Lee Curtis

photo
Saudara Bryan Lee Curtis, pada ketika ini berumur 33 tahun, memangku anak beliau, Bryan Jr, 2, pada ketika gambar ini diambil pada March 29 photo. Curtis meninggal dunia dua bulan kemudian.


smoking kills and as you can see it cost Bryan his life age 34
Inilah gambar beliau 2 bulan kemudian.
Gambar ini diambil pada hari kematian beliau pada 3 Jun. Isteri beliau, Bobbie dan anak lelakinya, Bryan setia di sisinya.


ST. PETERSBURG -- Cigarette smoke hangs in the air in the room where Bryan Lee Curtis lies dying of lung cancer.

His head, bald from chemotherapy, lolls on a pillow. The bones of his cheeks and shoulders protrude under taut skin. His eyes are open, but he can no longer respond to his mother or his wife, Bobbie, who married him in a makeshift ceremony in this room three weeks ago after doctors said there was no hope.

In
Bryan's emaciated hands, Bobbie has propped a photograph taken just two months ago. It shows a muscular and seemingly healthy Bryan holding his 2-year-old son, Bryan Jr. In the picture, he is 33. He turned 34 on May 10.

A pack of cigarettes and a lighter sit on a table near
Bryan's bed in his mother's living room. Even though tobacco caused the cancer now eating through his lungs and liver, Bryan smoked until a week ago, when it became impossible.

Across the room, a 20-year-old nephew crushes out a cigarette in a large glass ashtray where the butt joins a dozen others. Bobbie Curtis says she'll try to stop after the funeral, but right now, it's just too difficult. Same for
Bryan's mother, Louise Curtis.

"I just can't do it now," she says, although she hopes maybe she can after the funeral.

Bryan knew how hard it is to quit. But when he learned he would die because of his habit, he thought maybe he could persuade at least a few kids not to pick up that first cigarette. Maybe if they could see his sunken cheeks, how hard it was becoming to breathe, his shriveled body, it might scare them enough.

So a man whose life was otherwise unremarkable set out in the last few weeks of his life with a mission.

* * *

Bryan started when he was just 13, building up to more than two packs a day. He talked about quitting from time to time, but never seriously tried.

Plenty of time for that, he figured. Older people got cancer. Not people in their 30s, not people who worked in construction, as a roofer, as a mechanic.

He had no health insurance. But he was more worried about his mother, 57, who had smoked since she was 25.

"He would say, "Mom, don't worry about me. Worry about yourself. I'm healthy,' " Louise Curtis remembers. "You think this would happen later, when you're 60 or 70 years old, not when you're his age."

He knew, only a few days after he went to the hospital on April 2 with severe abdominal pain, how wrong he had been. He had oat cell lung cancer that had spread to his liver. He probably had not had it long. Also called small cell lung cancer, it's an aggressive killer that usually claims the lives of its victims within a few months.

While it seems unusual to the Curtis family, Dr. Jeffrey Paonessa, Bryan's oncologist, said he is seeing more lung cancer in young adults.

"We've seen lung cancer earlier and earlier because people are starting to smoke earlier and earlier," Paonessa said. Chemotherapy sometimes slows the process, but had little effect in Bryan's case, he said.

Bryan also knew, a few days after the diagnosis, that he wanted somehow to try to save at least one kid from the same fate. He sat down and talked with Bryan Jr. and his 9-year-old daughter, Amber, who already had been caught once with a cigarette. But he wanted to do more. Somehow, he had to get his story out.

When he still had some strength to leave the house, kids would stare.

"They'd come up and look at him because he looked so strange," Louise Curtis said. "He'd look at them and say, "This is what happens to you when you smoke.'

"The kids would say, "Oh, man. I can't believe it,' " Louise Curtis said.

In the last few weeks, Bryan's mother has been the agent for his mission to accomplish some good with the tragedy. She has called newspapers and radio and television stations, seeking someone willing to tell her son's story, willing to help give him the one thing he wanted before he died. Bryan never got to tell his story to the public. He spoke for the last time an hour before a visit from a Times reporter and photographer.

"I'm too skinny. I can't fight anymore," he whispered to his mother at 9 a.m. June 3. He died that day at 11:56 a.m., just nine weeks after the diagnosis.

Bryan Lee Curtis Sr. was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Petersburg on June 8, a rare cloudy day that threatened rain.

At the funeral service at nearby Blount, Curry and Roel Funeral Home, Bryan's casket was open and 50 friends and relatives could see the devastating effects of the cancer.

Addiction is more powerful.

As the graveside ritual ended, a handful of relatives backed away from the gathering, pulled out packs of cigarettes and lit up.

Al-Fatihah

Grafik daripada NST

Jenazah Laskar Udara Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad, 27, salah seorang mangsa nahas pesawat NURI yang terhempas di Genting Sempah.
Beliau meninggalkan balu, Raflah Hussin, 24.

Kronologi ketibaan jenazah Allahyarham di Alor Star;

7.45 malam: Jenazah Allahyarham berlepas dari Pangkalan Udara TUDM Subang dan diiringi sembilan ahli keluarga

8.55 malam: Tiba di Kolej Tentera Udara di Pangkalan TUDM, Kepala Batas, Alor Star

9.30 malam: Jenazah Muhammad Ridzuan kemudiannya di bawa naiki van jenazah dan tiba di rumahnya di Kampung Kelut, Mukim Jabi, Pokok Sena, Alor Star.

Jenazah Allahyarham berada kira-kira 15 minit di rumahnya bagi membolehkan ahli keluarganya memberi penghormatan terakhir.

9.45 malam: Jenazah Allahyarham kemudian diusung ke masjid Cik Mat Zain, Kampung Kelut untuk disembahyangkan yang diimamkan oleh bapa mertuanya, Husin Salleh.

10.45 malam: selamat dikebumikan pada pukul ini di tanah perkuburan Islam Kampung Kelut, Pokok Sena.

CRM on RTM

Our Cambodia Relief Mission's team leader was on RTM on 17 July 2007

AQ, episod II

Rancangan Akademi Al-Quran musim kedua yang dihoskan oleh Abu Talib Husin dan Farrah Adeeba telah sampai ke penghujungnya semalam. Berikut ialah keputusannya:

JOHAN
Anuar Hasin dari Perak (gambar)

Kedua
Mohamad Hafas Ali dari Terengganu

Ketiga
Mohd. Muslim Ali (Kuala Lumpur)


Saguhati
Mohd. Mawardi Jamaludin (Kedah)
Hanimzah Jalaluddin (Pahang)
Nor Faizah Panut (Selangor)

(*kalau saya silap taipkan keputusannya, sila beritahu)

Anuar Hasin ni merupakan salah seorang peserta final tahun lalu, dan berjaya mendapat hadiah saguhati. Tahun, percubaan beliau tidak sia-sia- selain memantapkan bacaannya, dia berjaya mengondol hadiah tempat pertama!
Anuar membawa pulang wang tunai RM30,000 serta barangan elektrik ECE bernilai RM20,000. ECE menaja TV dalam Buletin Utama terbitan TV3. Sementara itu, ada seorang peserta wanita, saya tak pasti yang mana satu di atas, wajahnya mirip-mirip penyanyi Aishah. Pada mulanya, saya ingatkan Aishah yang masuk bertanding. Pemenang tempat kedua dan ketiga, Hafas Ali dan Muslim Ali merupakan pasangan adik-beradik. Beruntung famili mereka ni.

Berbeza dengan program realiti lain yang berasaskan SMS (khidmat pesanan ringkas), juara AQ2 ditentukan menerusi konsep pemarkahan sebanyak 40 peratus untuk tajwid manakala 30 peratus masing-masing untuk qiraat dan taranum serta lagu. Bagus sangatlah tu. Dok guna SMS ni, banyak pembazirannya!


Para hakim terdiri daripada;

Zamri Mohd Zainuddin - juri tajwid
Nazri Abdullah - juri qiraat
Radzi Kamarul Hailan - juri taranum

Pertandingan akhir ini telah ke udara secara langsung dari Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC), Putrajaya bermula pukul 9 malam selama dua jam setengah. Memang lama betul siarannya. Saya sendiri tidak pasti bagaimana penerbit boleh membiayai rancangan sebegini. Memang alhamdulillah boleh menarik penonton, tetapi adakah jumlah penontonya cukup besar?
Marilah sama-sama kita memberi sokongan kepada rancangan-rancangan sebegini. Tidak rugi...untuk ilmu di dunia dan saham di akhirat nanti!

Sunday, July 15

CUCMS

With regards to our final preparation for The Cambodia Relief Mission 2007 next Monday, 14 of us will be having our second face-to-face meeting in Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS) on this Monday (tomorrow, 16 July). This will be my first visit there. I've heard this medical school so many times but I've never got the chance to see it for myself.

From what I know, it was founded in 2005, in line with our government's aspiration to further improve the healthcare of Malaysians. It has been said that it has a state-of-the-art educational technology and training in medical sciences. Well, we could expect all structure in and facilities in Cyberjaya is superb !

I'd hope this meeting will be a fruitful one, as the team still have a few unresolved problems. After our meeting, then comes this most interesting bit: Sunathon guide session at 5 pm. Muahahahahas... I just can't wait, although as I'm still a first-year-going-to-second-year medical student, and are not expected to do much on the circumcision, but I'm sure there could be something that I could learn and practice.

Syarahan Tun Razak


Syarahan Tun Abdul Razak yang bertajuk “Recipe for National Unity in a Changing World” yang berlangsung di Sunway Resort Hotel, PJ pada 11 Julai lepas memang sangat menarik bagi saya. Bukannya apa, dapat bertemu kembali dengan ramai rakan-rakan lama. Setelah tiba dari Alor Star pada jam 1725, saya terus bergerak ke Subang Jaya. Kali terakhir saya bertemu dengan kawan-kawan yang seangkatan dengan saya (kecuali Irina, Zaffan, dan Dodoe) ialah pada March 2004..hmmm… 3 tahun lepas. Lama juga tu…. Cumanya, tidak ramai yang tidak dapat datang. Terima kasih lah kepada Joon Her ( pakatr IT ni!) Yoga (sekarang di UTP), Hamidi (actuarial scientist), Josephine Jarit (UKM), Fadhli (doctor), Naza (yang memang dah lain sangat), Jauharah (physicist in UTM) dan Zaffan, Dodoe dan Irina. Seronok dapat berjumpa dengan semua, walapun sekejap sangat kerana saya terpaksa (bukan sengaja) keluar awal meninggalkan majlis untuk mengejar kereta api. Tak dapat nak berbual panjang. Kepada kawan-kawan yang lain di luar sana, inshaAllah kita boleh berumpa di lain-lain masa..terutamanya Kishan, Aslam dan Husairil…apa cerita korang yea….

Dapat juga berjumpa Abang Ayaz, Abang Harith, dan kak Aida dan lain-lain. Mereka bertiga ni antara facilitator kami dahulu. Selain tu dapat juga jumpa Wong, dan Fikri (kini bakal menjadi seniorita di KYUEM) Mus (Mukhlis Amir, Pengarah Urusan FXplode Sdn Bhd) dan lain-lain yang juga merupakan ahli Alumni Yayasan Tun Razak selepas zaman kami.

Pada malam itu juga, barulah saya mengetahui bahawa Yayasan Tun Razak (YTR) ini telah ditubuhkan hanya 5 minggu setelah Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak meninggal dunia, dan pada julai tahun yang sama, Parlimentelah meluluskan Akta Yayasan Tun Razak 1976 (Akta 178) yang telah mendapat perkenan daripada Seri Paduka Yang di-Pertauan Agong. Wow..siap ada peruntukan dalam undang-undang lagi….


Majlis dimulakan dengan ucapan mengalu-alukan kedatangan Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar selaku Pengerusi Lembaga Pemegang Amanah YTR, dan ikuti oleh ucap utama oleh bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri pada zaman Mahathir sebelum saya lahir lagi, iaitu Tun Musa Hitam. Tun rupanya ada Degree dalam Literature.


Sebelum bermulanya majlis, saya berpeluang mengiringi dan berbual mesra dengan beberapa tokoh terkenal negara. Bukan senang beb!!


Antaranya ialah Puan Azah Aziz, salah seorang ahli Lembaga Pemegang Amanah YTR dan juga merupakan isteri kepada Prof Diraja Ungku Aziz. Beliau duduk di meja 8. Selain itu, Tan Sri Dato’ Wan Mokhtar Ahmad, bekas MB Terengganu sebelum PAS menang di Terengganu pada tahun 1999. Kata beliau, kini beliau berualng alik di dalam negara sahaja sejak tidak lagi menjadi Duta Malaysia ke Kerajaan Arab Saudi. Bekas Duta, TYT Datuk Hj Ismail Ambia pula duduk di meja nombor 6, meja yangs angat susah nak cari. Dato’ Dr Firdaus Abdullah, Pengarah DBP kita juga menyatakan rasa seronoknya berjumpa dengan orang yang bernama sama. Samalah kita Dato’!


Seterusnya, turut sama memeriahkan majlis pada malam itu ialah Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak dan isteri, dan juga adik-adik beliau. Tidak lupa juga Dato’ Seri Abdul Kadir kita, yang lama tak nampak, namum beliau turut hadir dan duduk di meja nombor 2. Tan Sri Dr Jefferey Cheah, salah seorang billionaire Malaysia, juga turut hadir bersama isteri. Senator Tan Sri Datuk Jins Shamsudin yang baru-baru ini mendaftarkan diri sebagai pelajar PhD di UUM sepatutnya hadir, namun saya tak nampak pula malam tu. Mungkin sibuk belajar agaknya pada usia 70 tahun! Juga Tan Sri Aishah Ghani, yang namanya kita menjadi salah satu pilihan jawapan soalan kuiz kemerdekaan di televisyen tempatan, sepatutnya hadir, tapi saya tak nampak pula. Biasalah, dengan cahaya kelam resort tersebut.


Encik Khairy Jamaluddin nampak tinggi dan gembira pada malam tersebut. Khabarnya dia bakal menimang cahaya mata tidak lama lagi, bila yea? Dr Syed Ali Taufik Al-Attas, Ketua Pengarah IKIM pula mengisi meja nombor 9. HE Lt Gen (B) Tahir Mahmud Qazi dari kedutaan Pakistan pula duduk di meja nombor 3. Tinggi betul Jeneral bersara ini, dan bahasa Inggerisnya sangat bagus.

Alhamdulillah, makanan pada malam tersebut sangat sedap. Terima kasih kepada chef-chef dan pelayan yang baik budiman.


Semoga aktiviti yayasan pada masa mendatang akan terus memberi impak kepada rakyat. Jangan seronok sendiri sahaja. Sememang perpaduan antara rakyat Malaysia harus terus diutamakan dalam kita menempuh ulangtahun negara ke-50.

Surau Highway PLUS

I had at least 4 trips to KL in the past 3 weeks, and each time I made a stop at my regular R&R along the PLUS highway, this is my regular view:


Why do some of us choose to pray alone instead of practicing congregational prayer lead by one imam? Is the answer “we do not know”, or “we don’t care”?


Don’t be like this my friend. Congregational (al-jamaa’ah) salaah is a duty except for those who have a valid excuse according to the sharia’h. Even when we are on a journey, Muslims are must seek ways and means to do their prayer together. But think about it! We’ll gain more rewards from Allah with jamaa’ah prayer. Isn’t receiving €27 instead of just €1 for doing a job is a good enough reason for us to do the job properly?




Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:



Whoever hears the call (al-adhaan) and thereafter does not answer it (i.e. attend the congregational salaah) there is no salaah for him except for a valid excuse.

(reported by Ibn Majjah)

So, let us adhere to jamaa’ah prayer.

Tuesday, June 19

Babar Ahmad's story

Today is a new Tuesday for me. Yesterday was Monday, the day I got my throbbing-heart-reliever result, and today I'll be visiting Abang Bahar the 2nd, whom I first met last week while shopping a few days ago.


Babar's father Ashfaq Ahmad campaigns for his son's freedom

This means that it has been exactly a week since this happened last Tuesday.

Last Tuesday, FOSIS condemned the decision by the House of Lords which has allowed for the extradition of Babar Ahmad to the United States.


Who is this guy named Babar Ahmad? Babar Ahmad is a British citizen who was born in London in 1974. He grew up and went to school in South London. He is a computer expert who no still lives in Tooting, south London. In December 2003 Babar was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. He is being accused of running websites supporting terror and of urging Muslims to fight a holy war.
But now, the UK is sending him to the US for the judgement to be held there, in the US. This is the statement released by FOSIS;

“The decision by the House of Lords is incredibly disappointing. The fact that a British Citizen can be extradited to the United States without a single piece of evidence being brought against him is shocking. If Babar Ahmad is suspected of any criminal activity then evidence should be brought forward and as a British citizen he should be tried within the legal system of the United Kingdom.”


To know more about his story and news, log on to FREE Babar Ahmad

1. These are what the Parliament in the UK consist of. The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". So, The Sovereign (the Queen!), the House of Commons (which is the lower house of Parliament and referred to as "the Commons"), and the Lords together comprise the Parliament.

Monday, June 18

Nahr al-Bared


Can you see where is Nahr Al-Bareed?

It has been a busy and hectic week for me and my colleagues. We are busy packing, moving out and wrapping souvenirs for our families and friends back home in Malaysia.

Before it become lost from my mind, I'd like to share another fund-raising that were made after the Friday prayer last week. This time, another brother from the famous Human Appeal International made a reminder that the post war Lebanon is still in crisis. Urgent donations are required from all regardless Muslims or non-Muslims. I still remember that he keep on repeating while holding the donation bucket -"Do not hesitate in helping our brothers". It doesn't really matter whether we differ in political point of view, of whether we believe in different faith, but extending our hand for help and aware of other's predicament must always happen.

For us to fathom the real situation, here is a basic fact for us to ponder upon ;

Did you know that over 40,000 Palestinian refugees have fled from the Nahr Al-Bareed refugee camp?

To understand this fact better, we must first know what is Nahr Al-Bareed. Literally in Arabic, it means Cold River. It is a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, near the port city of Tripoli. Some 30,000 displaced Palestinians and their descendants live at the camp, which was named after the river that runs south of the camp. Can you imagine how far have they traveled from Palestine?? And currently, due to the war, these people who have already lost their home, had to fled away because the camp became a centre of fighting in May 2007.

Now they are desperate. They need urgent emergency relief of food, water, medical aid, temporary shelter, mattresses and baby milk! And at the same time, thousands more are still trapped in their homes.

According to Human Appeal International (HAI), they had allocated more than GBP 100,000 (thats about RM 700,000!!) for emergency relief for the current crisis.

So, don't think twice. click here to know more from HAI.

Tuesday, June 12

Congratulation Alin!!

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My father emailed me the photo of my second sister, Alin, who graduated with flying colours from MRSM Tun Ghafar Baba (formerly known as MRSM Jasin). She's the one in the graduating gown. Really wish I can be there, but Nottingham and Alor Star is so farrrrr away, but I'm coming back soon in ten days time.

It seems like it was just yesterday when I accompany her for the enrollment in Jasin in early 2005, because during that time our parents went for pilgrimage in Makkah. She could have chose MRSM Langkawi which is nearer to home, but Jasin became her first choice, and she beat my record for being the one who went to the furthest school from Alor Star. And today, Alhamdulillah, with the blessings from Allah, she is on her right track to pursue her dream in medicine.No hurdle is insurmountable and congratulation Alin for having the great inner strength and believing in yourself!

Finally, I would like to thank those who helped her to achieve her dream and made it possible for her continue being a good Muslim. May Allah repay all your good deeds. Thank you everyone....

Sunday, June 10

Wafa Relief

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While I was having my lunch today, suddenly I remembered that last Friday, after the Friday prayer in the Portland prayer room, the main place in which students perform their prayers, there was one man who went to publicise about Wafa Relief.

Basically, it is charity body established in Manchester since 2003, whose primary focus is to help relief the suffering of the destitute communities in Africa. This is where the poorest of the poor live.

Their annual projects include Ramadhan appeal, Eid ul-Adha appeal and emergency relief wherever a crisis erupts. Their humanitarian aids in time of crisis are endless.

For the time being, Wafa's area of operation covers Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Northern Africa, Somalia and Sierra Leone, and they are planning to extend their field of work to include other African countries.

The good thing about Wafa Relief is that they work through equitable partnership with other charitable body, thus this will ensure a more effective assistance for the places which require immediate aid. For further info, feel free to visit them.

So, after this, to you who have read this, please have confidence with Wafa Relief and do not hesitate in donating to those who are really in need!! We've nothing to lose, as this will be our share in the Hereafter, after we die.

Salam.

Saturday, June 9

boycott Israeli academic

On the 30th May 2007, a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions was passed by Britain's University and College Union* (UCU) in protest at Israel's "40-year occupation" of Palestinian land and to condemn the "complicity" of Israeli academia.

Certain “pro-israeli occupation” groups have been trying to undemocratically over turn this motion.

Thus, peace-loving people out there, we need your help by signing this petition to stop these attempts.

The vehement opposition to the UCU’s motion to boycott Israeli Academics is ever intensifying. The US are now involved, threatening to take action against British academia should this motion not be reversed. Tony Blair in person requested from the UCU to ‘overturn’ this motion. Undoubtedly the UCU now find them selves under potentially unbearable pressure.


Fosis is urging all members of the public to take the following simple actions:


1. Visit this online petition and sign it


2. Write letters of support to Sally Hunt, Gen Sec of UCU at shunt@ucu.org.uk and CC President, Linda Newman (preident@ucu.org.uk). A template for the letter is provided at the bottom of this alert.


---------------------------------------------------------

Letter to Sally Hunt, Gen. Sec. UCU (TEMPLATE)


Dear Sally Hunt

I write to you to commend the UCU for their stance regarding the boycott of Israeli academics. This motion sends a strong message of solidarity and support to the Palestinian people who’ve been suffering at the hands of the Israeli occupation for more than 5 decades.

Academics play an instrumental role in shaping the perceptions and world views of a population. By standing on the fringe and refusing to actively condemn the continuous brutality of the occupation and its implications on the welfare and future of the Palestinian people, Israeli Academics are complicit in this heinous crime.

We take pride in seeing our academics taking a principled stance on this issue and supporting the struggle to attain justice for the oppressed away from the distortions and contaminations of the media and politics. This is the true spirit of academia, and we are certain that this stance by the British UCU will set an example for all such institutions around the world.

We trust that as secretary of the Union you will do whatever is in your power to ensure all such democratic decisions are duly implemented.


Regards,
(*Your name*)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



1. FOSIS (est. 1962) is the umbrella organisation of student groups in colleges and universities throughout the UK and Ireland, representing over 90,000 Muslim students.

2. UCU is the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff working in further and higher education throughout the UK

Thursday, June 7

Comparative Religion

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Ijam and Almie at the discussion

Another geart success! Yesterday, Ijam, Almie (our special guest from Bristol) and I went to a Christianity-Islam discussion in Portland Building.We had been looking forward for this event as we believe this is our chance to know and understand more about Christianity and at the same time to deepen our knowledge and understanding on Islam. Mr Matt was the guest speaker representing the Christian Union, whilst Sister Romaissa, a final year pharmacy student talked on behalf of the Muslims.

Basically, the main topic was about the creation of Adam, as the first human being. The talk started at 1930 and last for about 30 minutes, swiftly followed by small group discussion until 2130.


A big thank you to both, the Christian Union and the Islamic Society, who did an excellent job in enhancing mutual understanding between this two most dominant religion in the world. Credit also goes to Allahyarham Mr Deedat, who was and still is, a great teacher on mine. He did taught me a lot via his great debates.


All in all a great day was had, and we would like to thank all who has made this discussion a reality, especially Matt, Eden, Muaz, Ikhwan, and Johnny (our table mate), for giving us the opportunity to be part of something special, something so meaningful, that will remember forever for it did strengthen our faith in the One and Only God, Allah. May Allah Accept our good deeds on Yaumul Qiamah, inshaAllah.

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Brother Muaz (standing), Firdaus and Almie

Murahnya roti canai!



This was a news reported in Utusan Malaysia on 7 June 2007. Despite this rise in price in a lot of goods in Malaysia, this chap managed to sell roti canai at a very competitive price. Can you imagine having a glass of tea with milk, pratha bread and netted bread for just 13 pence?? Congratulation and thank you to Mr Abd. Nasir Abd. Ghaffar for the cheap roti canai, and may Allah bless your business, and Alor Star rock!

90 sen untuk roti canai, roti jala, teh O

Oleh MUHD. NIZAM ABD. HAMID

ALOR STAR 6 Jun – Mungkin ramai yang beranggapan nilai RM1 terlalu kecil ketika ini lebih-lebih lagi dengan kenaikan harga pelbagai barangan keperluan harian, namun di Restoran Nasi Kandar Aina di sini nilai itu mencukupi untuk membayar harga sarapan pagi yang lengkap dengan minuman.

Dengan 90 sen sahaja, pengunjung restoran yang terletak di Pekan Simpang Kuala itu boleh menikmati tiga jenis menu iaitu sekeping roti canai, sekeping roti jala dan segelas air teh O.

Pengurus restoran itu, Abd. Nasir Abd. Ghaffar berkata, harga baru tersebut yang menyaksikan penurunan kira-kira 50 peratus daripada harga asal telah bermula sejak semalam.

Saiz roti canai yang dihidangkan tetap sama seperti sebelum ini.

‘‘Saya mahu menyahut cabaran kerajaan agar peniaga tidak menaikkan harga barangan ekoran daripada kenaikan gaji kakitangan awam,” katanya ketika ditemui di restorannya di sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, langkah sesetengah peniaga menaikkan harga barangan termasuk roti canai pada kadar yang tidak berpatutan mungkin menyebabkan orang ramai dan kakitangan awam tidak dapat merasai kesan positif kenaikan pendapatan mereka.

Abd. Nasir berkata, beliau percaya tindakannya menurunkan harga itu tidak akan membawa kerugian kepada Restoran Nasi Kandar Aina kerana perniagaannya tidak terlalu bergantung kepada jualan roti canai.

‘‘Saya percaya lebih ramai pelanggan akan datang ke restoran ini dan kami juga menawarkan pelbagai makanan lain terutama nasi kandar dan lauk pauk masakan kampung,” ujarnya.

Beliau telah mengusahakan restoran itu sejak tahun 1998 dan menerima kira-kira 1,000 pengunjung setiap hari.

Katanya, kos sekeping roti canai mungkin kira-kira 29 sen sekeping.

‘‘Bagi peniaga yang bergantung sepenuhnya pada jualan roti canai, mereka mungkin tidak dapat menjual pada harga 30 sen sekeping kerana kos bahan mentah dan pekerja tetapi saya mempunyai makanan lain untuk dijual,” ujarnya.

Abd. Nasir yang turut mengekalkan harga makanan lain bagaimanapun mengakui kenaikan harga barang mentah antara 20 hingga 30 peratus ketika ini berbanding harga tahun lalu menyebabkan keuntungan peniaga makanan turut menurun.

‘‘Saya berharap kerajaan dapat mengambil tindakan mengawal harga barang terutama memastikan pihak pemborong dan pembekal makanan tidak menaikkan terlalu tinggi harga barang yang dibekalkan,” ujarnya.

Wednesday, June 6

Selamat Pengantin Baru Pak Lah!

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After living alone since the demise of his wife, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will marry Jeanne Abdullah, 53, on this Saturday. My friend Udon text me a message from Warwick early in the morning at 0844 Uk time, informing me about this wonderful news. The original press release was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office.

This is the official announcement from the Prime Minister's Office.

KENYATAAN MEDIA MENGENAI PENGUMUMAN MAJLIS AKAD NIKAH YAB PERDANA MENTERI
Dengan sukacitanya dimaklumkan bahawa YAB Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi akan melangsungkan majlis akad nikah dengan Jeanne Abdullah pada hari Sabtu 9 Jun 2007 bersamaan dengan 23 Jamadilawwal 1428 Hijrah.

Jeanne Abdullah dilahirkan di Kuala Lumpur pada 29 Julai 1953 dan merupakan anak sulung daripada empat orang adik-beradik. Beliau menerima pendidikan di Sekolah Menengah Assunta dan mempunyai pengalaman yang luas dalam bidang pentadbiran dan penghotelan setelah terlibat dalam pengurusan beberapa hotel terkemuka di Malaysia, termasuk Hotel Hilton Kuala Lumpur dan Hotel Pan Pacific. Jeanne juga pernah bertugas sebagai Pengelola kediaman rasmi Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Pengurus Kompleks Seri Perdana.

Jeanne mempunyai dua orang anak, Nadiah dan Nadene. Majlis berkenaan akan diadakan di Seri Perdana dan akan dihadiri oleh keluarga terdekat sahaja.


Indeed, we all believe that this is the strongest of bonds, in which Allah unites the two Muslim partners, who come together on the basis of love, understanding, co-operation and mutual advice. We know it was hard for Pak Lah (the name he is fondly known as) to live with the absence of a supporter and his greatest joy. Pak Lah had always needed a strong motivator and to a person who could renew his energy so that he may fulfill his mission of steering the country.

I've never met Jeanne before, but based from the widely circulated photo of her it seems that she doesn't wear hijab. This no good, but I hope that Pak Lah will ask her to do so after their solemnization of marriage. Hijab is a must in Islam and Muslims must obey God's word. Even I'm sure Jeanne will look more beautiful in a nice proper tudung!

Congratulation to both of them and I hope that Jeanne will be respectful towards Pak Lah and is always eager to please him and make him happy to lead the country.

And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your [hearts] . . .

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(Qur’aan 30:21)



Goodbye Loga Alleycats



I am so sorry to hear that after a long-year battle with lung cancer, Loga Alleycats, or his full name, Loganathan Arumugam died on Monday. He was young, 54 years old.


Loga and co was my favourite singer when I was about 3 or 4 years old. Obviously, I don't remember vividly how deep was my attachment with Alleycats, but apparently I liked their songs, I grew up with their wonderful tunes and Loga's and his brother's trademark of Afro hairdo. My mother keep telling me that when I was small, I'd immediately grab a seat in front of tv set to entertain myself once I hear Alleycats' song. Even years later when I first met my buddy, Dann, who has similar hairstyle, Loga's face first came into my mind.

I did run across him once at KLIA June last year. At that time his hair was huge as usual, but he was very thin and skinny. A few people was following him, asking for an autograph.

Whatever it is, for us who are reading this, its still not the time yet for us, but for Loga, he has experienced the greatest affliction, the stage at which the soul becomes disconnected from the body. He has transcended from this world (here-now) to the Hereafter. Death has agonies, the extent and severity of which are known only by those who have experience it like Loga and others. Given that death is enough as an admonition, are we prepared for our turn which will pop up anywhere and anytime soon?


In the middle of the morning on 4th June 2007, Loga died to the tune of a collection of early Alleycats songs being played on a portable disc player placed at his bedside. It was unfortunate that it was not the Quran, the words of God, that accompany his depart from this world. I don't know whether he died along with full submission to the One and Only God or not, but I surely hope he did.

Finally, I'd like to express my condolence to his widow, son and daughter, and goodbye Loga, may I wish you a fond farewell.

"And the stupor* of death will come in truth; this is what you have been avoiding!"

al-Qur'an: Qaaf, 34

*a state in which a person is almost unconscious and their thoughts are very unclear

Sunday, June 3

The King



I didn't got the chance to congratulate His Royal Highness Sultan Mizan when he was formally enthroned as the new King of Malaysia on the 26th of April as this blog was still under construction at that time. So now, as the first Saturday in June is the Kings official birthday, I would say 'Congratulation' and 'Happy Birthday' to him. In Malaysia, the king is officially known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and he is elected to a five-year term among the nine Sultans of the Malay states. Malaysia are one of the few countries which practices true elective monarchies. Other countries are Kuwait, Cambodia and Vatican City.

I'm very pleased and chuffed with our new King. I'm very happy that his consort, Her Royal Highness Sultanah Nur Zahirah wears the proper hijab as a true Muslim woman should wear. Well, this precisely is the just Islamic dress whose features have been clearly defined by the Qur'an and Sunnah. This had made her character distict, and indeed she clearly epitomises the current generation of modest Muslim women not only in Malaysia, but all over the world.

Some women wear hijab because it is a tradition or custom enherited or only to be worn on special occasion only. For instance, when a live telecast of a death of a well known person is aired, the woman news presenter will surely wears hijab. But on the very next day, everything is gone and her blond hair can be clearly seen. Now you see it, now you don't! But believe it or not!

Muslim woman wears hijab on the basic belief that this is a command from the One, Allah. If this is God's word, no wasting time...true Muslim will practice it swiftly.

Finally, may under the reign of HRH Sultan Mizan and Permaisuri Nur Zahirah, women in Malaysia will continue to participate in public affairs, playing vital role in strong family which is a core subunit of a good community, and not merely women who think sex appeal is everything.

Daulat Tuanku!!

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Friday, May 25

'No alcohol in pregnancy' advised

Berikut merupakan petikan daripada BBC bertarikh 25 Mei 2007.

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BBC bertarikh 25 Mei 2007

“ 'No alcohol in pregnancy' advised”. Upon reading this rather strict advice from the Department of Health of UK, it reminded me one powerful quote delivered by the honourable Mr Deedat in one of his great talk. He said:

“And the only religion in the face of this earth which says don't touch that stuff (alcohol) is Islam”

All praise due to Allah, as Islam teaches me preventative medicine instead of healing medicine. Ini yang rasa izzah menjadi seorang Muslim. Do you feel the same thing? Let's here a short interesting speech by Ahmed Deedat below. Dengar lah. 12 minit sahaja. The system of Islam.




Berbalik kepada laporan kesihatan BBC tersebut, laporan itu turut menyatakan:

“the revision was not based on new scientific evidence but was needed to help ensure that women did not underestimate the risks to their baby”

“semakan semula ini dibuat bukan berdasarkan kajian saintifik terbaru, tetapi semakan ini diperlukan demi memastikan kaum hawa tidak mengambil ringan kesan buruknya (alcohol) kepada bayi”


Sebenarnya sudah diakui di seluruh dunia bahawa heavy drinking ketika mengandung PASTI menyebabkan kecacatan kepada bayi yang dilahirkan. Cuma ketidak pastian timbul dalam isu samada social drinking boleh menyumbangan kepada kecacatan bayi ketika berada di dalam kandungan. Setakat ini, masih lagi tiada kajian saintifik yang mampu memberi jawapan kepada persoalan ini.


Tak kanlah nak tunggu sains terangkan segalanya, baru nak percaya.


Berikut pula ialah kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh dua individu di dalam laporan tersebut. Yang pertama ialah Dr Fiona Adshead, Timbalan Ketua Pegawai Kesihatan Jabatan Kesihatan UK. Beliau berkata:


"Our advice is simple: avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive. "This advice could also be included on alcohol packaging or labels,"

“Nasihat kami adalah mudah: Jauhi alcohol jika anda sedang mengandung atau sedang mencuba untuk mengandung. Nasihat ini juga merujuk kepada sebarang produk yang mengandungi alcohol”


Maksudnya, kalau roti yang ada alkohol di dalam kandungannya pun tak boleh! Mari kita dengar pula kata-kata Jane Brewin, ketua eksekutif Tommy's, sebuah badan kebajikan bayi yang berpusat di London yang berperanan membiayai penyelidikan perubatan dan menyampaikan maklumat yang tepat kepada para ibu bapa semasa proses kandungan. Beliau berkata:

"There is no proven safe level of alcohol to drink during pregnancy because any amount can pass through the placenta to the baby."

"Tidak ada paras alcohol yang selamat untuk diminum ketika mengandung kerana sebarang jumlah alcohol boleh menembusi plasenta untuk ke janin"


Jadi, bolehlah ramai-ramai mat saleh kat sini tinggalkan alkohol terus. Bukan senang kalau kita yang memang suka buat sesuatu habit tu, tetapi secara tiba-tiba nak kena tinggalkannya.


National Organisation on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) menganggarkan lebih 6,000 kanak-kanak UK dilahirkan dengan Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder pada setiap tahun. Bagaimana pula di negara yang mempunyai jumlah penduduk yang berganda lebih ramai seperti Amerika Syarikat, China, India dan Russia?


Menurut kajian Abel, E.L., & Sokol, R.J. (1987), di dalam kajian yang bertajuk Incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome and economic impact of FAS-related anomalies: Drug alcohol syndrome and economic impact of FAS-related anomalies, alkohol merupakan punca utama kepada kecacatan mental bayi di dunia Barat.

Alkohol menyebabkan kecacatan kekal kepada bayi. Ia menyebabkan:

Bentuk muka yang tidak normal

Pertumbuhan terbantut

Central nervous system yang tidak normal

kemahiran belajar dan mengingat yang lemah

Kanak-kanak Hyper aktif

Kajian mendapati alkohol menyebabkan gangguan kepda pembentukkan dan jangka hayat sel neuron pada otak janin, terutamanya pada tiga bulan terakhir kandungan dan beberapa tahun pertama kehidupan bayi selepas kelahiran ketika mana pertumbuhan otak bayi sedang aktif.


Jadi, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome kini menjadi syndrome kecacatan bayi yang berada di ranking pertama di antara syndrome kecacatan bayi yang boleh di elakan.

Akhir kata, mari kita dengaq sat ayat Allah:

"Mereka menanyai kamu mengenai arak dan judi. Katakanlah, 'Pada keduanya dosa besar, dan beberapa manfaat kepada manusia, tetapi dosanya adalah lebih besar daripada manfaatnya.'" (2:219)

Thursday, May 24

Menulis blog

Lepas balik dari Maghrib dan Isha' di prayer room di Portland Building (jama' Isha di dalam waktu Maghrib, kerana musim panas), saya di beritahu yang Abang Bahar datang melawat di Broadgate. Siap bawak makan malam lagi tu!

Alhamdulillah.

Kalau bagi Abang Bahar "Alah, tak ada apa pun", bagi saya besar maknanya. Terima kasih Abang Bahar!

Selepas makan, sempat lagi Abang Bahar beri nasihat dalam penulisan blog ni. Dia pernah menjadi penulis yang aktif beberapa tahu yang lalu, sehinggalah web blog dia di godam (hacked!) oleh para penggodam yang tidak berperi kemanusian di UK ni.

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Abang Bahar, simpan gambar saya baik-baik !

Menurut Abang Bahar, nak menulis ni, mestilah ada tujuan, dan matlamat kita. Pastikan mesej dakwah kita sampai. Kalau tak, sama sahajalah semua penulis blog di Malaysia, UK atau mana tempat sekali pun!

Sebenarnya saya mula menusli blog pada tahun 2004. Tetapi tersadai . Sebab saya tidak tahu lagi pada ketika itu jawapan kepada soalan:- "Mengapa aku menulis blog ni?"

Tetapi sekarang, inshaAllah, saya akan istiqamah. Care to share our passing knowledge.