Izwan Ismail

Wang HO buat locum = Halal/Haram?

2011-08-03T15:43:00.002+08:00

Isu 'houseman' (HO) membuat locum buat suatu perkara yang baru. Kebanyakannya membuat locum di luar waktu kerja bagi menambah sumber pendapatan.

Walaubagaimanapun mengikut Undang-undang Malaysia Akta 50 - Akta Perubatan 1971, adalah menjadi satu kesalahan bagi HO (ie. pemegang APC sementara) untuk membuat locum serta hukuman boleh dikenakan kepada mereka. Malah ada HO yang pernah ditangkap sebelum ini dan dikenakan tindakan tatatertib diatas kesalahan mereka itu.

Realitinya, ramai HO yang membuat locum.

HO buat locum = Langgar peraturan = Kerja yg salah
Apabila kerjanya salah, maka apakah status wang yang diperolehinya? Halal atau haram?

Menurut pandangan ulama-ulama, pada waktu wujudnya akta rasmi yang melarang, ia secara rasminya dianggap haram dari sudut hukum Islam atas dasar "kewajiban taat kepada pemerintah dalam hal yang tidak berkait dengan maksiat dan demi kemaslahatan umum yang dilihat oleh pemerintah". Pada masa yang sama, HO itu sendiri dapat memudaratkan pesakit locum yang mereka temui ketika memberikan rawatan dan ubat kepadanya kerana pengalaman serta pengetahuan yang masih cetek dan baru di dalam bidang perubatan.

"Ish boleh je, ramai je HO yang buat, so ok la takde masalah," kata Houseman A.

"Halal duit locum aku itu sebab aku buat locum di luar waktu kerja, pada masa lapang aku sendiri dan atas usaha penat lelah aku sendiri. Jadi aku berhak dapat duit tu," kata Houseman B pula.

Tapi fikir-fikirkan sekali lagi,

HO buat locum = Langgar peraturan = Kerja yg salah

Apabila kerjanya salah, maka apakah status wang yang diperolehinya?
Halal atau haram?

Anda sanggup menggunakan duit daripada jalan yang salah?

Matlamat tidak menghalalkan cara. Tepuk dada, tanya Iman.

Kebenaran itu kadang kala sungguh pahit.

Puasa dan Solat bagi mereka yang mengandung, keguguran dan beranak di bulan Ramadhan

2011-08-01T05:48:00.009+08:00

Sedikit perbincangan di kalangan Doktor tentang fiqh di bulan Ramadhan bagi mereka yang mengandung, keguguran dan melahirkan anak di MOSIT (Medical Officer & Specialist in Training) di FB.

Assalamualaikum wbt,

A friend of mine in ONG department was asking few questions regarding fiqh during Ramadhan. need some help if guys has experiences regarding this. thank you

1. Patient yg kite perlu undergo MGTT, apa nak bgtau bila diorg tanya apa hukumnya diorg tinggal puasa sbb kena buat MGTT? (Batal. This is for diagnostic reason so that we can properly manage the disease. It is important to have diagnosis rather than speculative especially managing during Ramadan month)

2. Patient having threatened miscarriage shud still be able to fast right? sama cam solat kan? tp kalo aborting terbatal kan puasa? and bleeding after miscarriage is same as darah nifas la kn? (For threatened miscarriage no problem to continue fasting. If abortion yes puasa batal, darah itu dikira darah nifas)

3. Spt yg kita tau, those high risk patients, cthnye PIH on treatment, gdm on insulin biasanya dinasihatkan utk x berpuasa as they will need tds meds, so sbgai doktor, whats the best way to advise these pts? (Have to explain to the patient about their condition and risk if fasting. Most of the patient selalunya memang tidak akan berpuasa. Panduan membuat keputusan merawat pesakit mesti berdasarkan maqasid syariah (memelihara agama, jiwa, akal, keturunan dan harta)

4. For confirmation, pt with prom/ pprom / aph semua bole puasa cam biasa kan? (If u think the best interest of the patient is not to fast, then tell her the truth. If PROM per se it's ok, u may have to administer antibiotic which is acceptable)

5. Prosedur cam ve,and other procedures that introducing something into the vagina apa hukunmya?batal ke x posa? (Hukumnya tidak batal puasa. Boleh baca di sini)

There might be other issues that can be raised and discussed along the issues i wrote here. Thank you.

Nur Asyhraff

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Dan ulangkaji tentang darah wiladah, nifas dan solat bagi ibu-ibu mengandung, keguguran dan melahirkan anak:

1) Maksud wiladah dan nifas:

Wiladah: Wiladah ialah darah yang keluar apabila seorang perempuan itu melahirkan anak atau mengalami keguguran janin sekalipun hanya berupa darah beku (‘alaqah) atau hanya berbentuk seketul daging (mudhghah). Maka wajib bagi perempuan itu mandi kerana beranak (wiladah) setelah berlakunya kelahiran atau keguguran sebagaimana disebutkan. Mandi tersebut tidak semestinya sejurus selepas melahirkan anak.

Nifas: Nifas ialah darah yang keluar dari rahim perempuan selepas melahirkan anak sekalipun hanya setitik. Maka dalam hal ini diwajibkan mandi kerana nifas. Tempoh kebiasaan nifas keluar adalah dalam tempoh 40 hari setelah seseorang perempuan melahirkan anak.

2) Bagi perempuan yang hampir melahirkan anak, selagimana belum pecah ketumban maka wajib baginya menunaikan solat dengan cara yang sesuai dan tidak memudaratkan dirinya dan bayi yang akan dilahirkan.

3) Bagi perempuan yang keguguran, selagimana janin tidak dikeluarkan daripada rahim maka wajib baginya menunaikan solat seperti biasa kerana dia belum berada dalam keadaan yang diharamkan solat (wiladah).

4) Bagi mereka yang mengalami pendarahan ketika mengandung dan bayi dalam kandungan masih selamat mereka juga wajib menunaikan solat seperti biasa kerana darah yang keluar itu adalah darah yang dikategorikan sebagai darah penyakit bukan wiladah.

Ramadhan blues

2011-07-31T00:09:00.005+08:00

H0orray! Ramadhan is finally here. The month of blessings and forgiveness. The month of soul searching and reflections. The month of training and upgrading.

I am always looking forward to Ramadhan. My targets are simple this year - to be 'hamba yang soleh' for myself and my parents, complete terawih prayers for the whole month, stopped my bad habits and preparing myself to be a good husband :)

Salam Ramadhan. May we all gain what we aim for this Ramadhan.

Ulangkaji buat Doktor dan Staf perubatan di bulan Ramadhan

2011-07-28T09:58:00.012+08:00

Ramadhan is just around the corner. Every year the same questions will be asked by my patients during Ramadhan for which medical intervention that will or will not nullify their fasting. Hence as we prepared ourselves for Ramadhan, here's a quick and simple revision for those in the medical fields.

From the 9th Fiqh-Medical Seminar, convened at Casablanca, Morocco, during 8-11 Safar 1418, corresponding to 14-17 June 1997, under the eminent auspices of the Commander of the Faith- ful, His Majesty King Hassan II. The theme of the seminar was “An Islamic View of Certain Contemporary Medical Issues”, and it was held jointly with the Hassan II Institute for Scientific and Medical Research on Ramadhan, the ISESCO, the Islamic Fiqh Academy, and the World Health Organisation Regional Office.

Artikel diambil dari Seminar Fekah Perubatan ke 9 yang diadakan di Casablanca, Morroco, 8-11 Safar 1418 bersamaan 14-17 Jun 1997.

(Substances and actions that nullify the fasting)
Bahan-bahan dan perbuatan yang boleh membatalkan Puasa

According to the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the prophet (pbuh) three actions nullify fasting: eating, drinking and sexual intercourse. Therefore, the passing of any solid or liquid sybstance that can be described as food or drink, in any quantity through the gullet would nullify fasting.

Menurut Al Quran dan Hadis yang sahih dari Nabi Muhammad SAW, tiga perlakuan yang boleh membatalkan puasa: Makan, minum, dan melakukan hubungan seks. Oleh yang sedemikian, apa-apa bahan yang dapat melalui rongga samada berbentuk pepejal atau cecair dalam apa jumlah sekalipun, ianya boleh membatalkan puasa.

Accordingly, the participants agreed unanimously that the following do not nulIify fasting:

Menurut ahli majlis/peserta seminar tersebut dan telah sepakat bersetuju bahawa perkara-perkara berikut TIDAK MEMBATALKAN PUASA.

Eye and ear drops, and ear wash.
Ubat titis mata, titis telinga dan basuh telinga
Nitroglycerine tablets placed under the tongue for the treatment of angina.
Ubat tablet Bawah lidah yang digunakan oleh pesakit Angina (Jantung).
Insertion into the vagina of pessaries, medical ovules, vaginal washes, vaginal speculum, and doctor’s or midwife’s fingers during pelvic examination.
Memasukkan ubat melalui faraj, memasukan alat perubatan, membasuh, spekulum dan jari doktor atau bidan semasa pemeriksaan vagina (sebelum bersalin).
Insertion of the urethroscope into man or woman radio-opaque media for X-ray diagnosis or bladder irrigation.
Memasukkan teropong kesalur kencing lelaki atau perempuan untuk penyediaan xray.
Tooth drilling, extraction, cleaning or the use of mis-~ and toothbursh, provided nothing is swallowed into the stomach, do not nullify fasting.
Menampal, mencabut, mengorek dan mencuci gigi atau menggunakan alatan dan berus gigi, dengan syarat TIADA apa-apa bahan yang memasuki perut dari prosedur tersebut.
Injections through the skin or muscle or joints or veins, with the exception of intravenous feeding.
Suntikan melalui kulit, otot, sendi atau pembuluh darah, KECUALI memberi makanan melalui pembuluh darah.
Blood donation or receiving blood transfusion.
Penderma atau menerima pemindahan darah.
Oxygen and anaesthetic gases.
Oksigen dan Gas Bius.
All substances absorbed into the body through the skin, such as creams, ointments, and medicated plaster.
Semua jenis bahan yang boleh menyerap kedalam badan melalui kulit seperti krim, jelly atau plaster berubat.
Drawing blood samples for laboratory testing.
Mengambil sampel darah untuk ujian makmal.
Catheter and media for arteriography of heart or other organs.
Sesalur dan bahan perantara untuk arteriografi (pemeriksaan xray khas jantung) atau organ lain.
Endoscopy for diagnostic or intervention purposes.
Teropong dalam rongga perut (endiskopi) untuk mencari punca penyakit.
Mouth wash, gargle or oral spray, provided nothing is swallowed into the stomach.
Membasuh mulut, berkumur atau semburan mulut, dengan syarat tiada bahan masuk kedalam perut.
Hysteroscopy or insertion of an intrauterine device.
Teropong ke dalam salur peranakan atau memasukkan alat kedalamnya. (ie. UICD)
Biopsy of the liver or other organs.
Mengambil tisu (biopsi) hati atau organ lain.

A majority of participants added the following:
Majority peserta menambah perkara berikut TIDAK MEMBATALKAN PUASA

Nose drops, nose sprays, and inhalers.
Ubat titis hidung, semburan hidung and ubat sedut.
Anal injections, anoscopes, or digital rectal examination.
Suntikan kedalm dubur, teropong dan pemeriksaan digital ke dalam dubur.
Surgery involving general anaesthetic, if the patient decided to fast.
Pembedahan yeng melibatkan bius sepenuhnya jika pesakit mengambil keputusan untuk berpuasa.
Machine or intraperitoneal renal dialysis.
Mesin atau dialisis buah pinggang melalui perut
Use of gastroscope, provided it does not entail the introduction of liquids or other substances into the stomach.
Penggunaan teropong perut, dengan syarat tidak memasukkan apa-apa bahan cecair atau bahan seumpamanya kedalam perut.

Credits to Papisma.org

My journey so far

2011-07-26T21:43:00.005+08:00

The past two years have been a meaningful and wonderful journey for me. Housemanship training in Alor Setar, the birth of my handsome nephew Ariff Hakimi and my beautiful niece Siti Aisyah, bought a new ride and the awesome MacBook Pro, meeting new friends, colleagues and bosses, family trip to Terengganu and my recent travel to Dublin and London. But the highlight of my journey so far has always been my engagement to my beautiful lady and soon we are going to be together at last. Can't wait for the day to come, right dear ? :)

Come September I will complete my housemanship training and will be joining the surgical department if everything goes as planned. Being a medical officer is what a houseman kept looking forward to. But with great power comes great responsibility as Uncle Ben says, hence a bigger and greater responsibility awaits me in treating my patient as a medical officer soon.

So far, I am blessed and my journey continues..

Dr Izwan Ismail

2009-06-22T14:43:00.002+08:00

Alhamdulillah, finally after 5 years of hardwork, luck and support, I am finally a doctor.. :)

Thanks to Mak Abah, my family, lecturers, PMC staff and last but not least my buddy and pals especially the "Jelutong Boys"..

Dr Izwan Ismail
MB BCh BAO (PMC-RCSI)

Final Exam

2009-05-03T18:40:00.002+08:00

Maaf kerana menyepi setelah berbulan-bulan lamanya. Sebenarnya sedang sibuk menyiapkan diri untuk final medical exam yang hanya tinggal kurang dari sebulan lagi.

Makan sudah tak kenyang, mandi sudah tak basah, tidur sudah tak lena..

Doakan kejayaan saya dalam peperiksaan ini..

Erdogan vs Peres

2009-01-30T20:42:00.005+08:00

What happened on the second day of Davos 09 really hit the nail on the Zionis Israel government's head.

Mr Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey fired back at Shimon Perez, the President of Israel and speaks against the attitude of Peres which is totally rude with high volume and in a mood that wants people to obey Israel's ridiculous behaviors.

Way to go Mr Erdogan ! Shame on Peres

Turkish PM admonishes Israel president over Gaza

DAVOS, Jan 30 — Turkey's prime minister stalked off the stage at the World Economic Forum red-faced yesterday after reproaching Israel's president over the Gaza offensive by saying "You kill people."

The packed audience, which included President Barack Obama's close adviser Valerie Jarrett, appeared stunned as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli President Shimon Peres raised their voices and traded accusations.

Peres was passionate in his defence of Israel's three-week offensive against Hamas militants, launched in reaction to eight years of rocket fire aimed at Israeli territory. As he spoke, Peres often turned towards Erdogan, who in his remarks had criticised the Israeli blockade of Gaza, saying it was an "open air prison, isolated from the rest of the world" and referred to the Palestinian death toll of about 1,300, more than half of those civilians. Thirteen Israelis also died.

"Why did they fire rockets? There was no siege against Gaza," Peres said, his voice rising in emotion. "Why did they fight us, what did they want? There was never a day of starvation in Gaza."

The heated debate with Israel and Turkey at the centre was significant because of the key role Turkey has played as a moderator between Israel and Syria. Erdogan appeared to express a sense of disappointment when he recounted how he had met with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert days before the offensive, and believed they were close to reaching terms for a face-to-face meeting with Syrian leaders.

Obama's new Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, will be in Turkey for talks on Sunday.

Erdogan was angry when a panel moderator cut off his remarks in response to an impassioned monologue by Peres defending Israel's offensive against the Hamas rulers of Gaza.

"I find it very sad that people applaud what you said," Erdogan said. "You killed people. And I think that it is very wrong."

The angry exchange followed an hour-long debate at the forum attended by world leaders in Davos. Erdogan tried to rebut Peres as the discussion was ending, asking the moderator, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, to let him speak once more.

"Only a minute," Ignatius replied.

"Mr Peres, you are older than me. Your voice is too loud," Erdogan told Peres, saying his emotion belied a guilty conscience.

"You kill people," Erdogan told the 85-year-old Israeli leader. "I remember the children who died on beaches. I remember two former prime ministers who said they felt very happy when they were able to enter Palestine on tanks."

When Erdogan was asked to stop, he angrily stalked off, leaving fellow panellists UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon and Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa.

"When it comes to killing, you know it too well," the Turkish leader said.

When the moderator tried to cut short Erdogan's remarks, saying it was past time to adjourn for dinner, he answered in frustration, "Don't interrupt me. You are not allowing me to speak."

He then said: "I will not come to Davos again."

Ultimately, Erdogan stressed he left not because of a dispute with Peres but because he was not given time to respond to the Israeli leader's remarks. Erdogan also complained that Peres had 25 minutes while he was only given 12 minutes.

"I did not target at all in any way the Israeli people, President Peres, or the Jewish people," Erdogan told a news conference afterwards.

"I am a prime minister, a leader who has specifically expressly stated that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity," he said.

Peres and Erdogan raised their voices — highly unusual at the elite gathering of corporate and world leaders, which is usually marked by polite dialogue.

Moussa, a former Egyptian foreign minister, said Erdogan's action was understandable.

"Mr Erdogan said what he wanted to say and then he left. That's all. He was right." Of Israel, he said, "they don't listen."

Erdogan brushed past reporters outside the hall. His wife appeared upset. "All Peres said was a lie. It was unacceptable," she said, eyes glistening.

"I have known Shimon Peres for many years and I also know Erdogan. I have never seen Shimon Peres so passionate as he was today. I think he felt Israel was being attacked by so many in the international community. He felt isolated," said former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik.

"I was very sad that Erdogan left. This was an expression of how difficult this situation is."

Earlier yesterday, Israeli election front-runner Benjamin Netanyahu told another session that keeping nuclear weapons out of Iran's hands was more important than the economy because the financial meltdown is reversible.

"What is not reversible is the acquisition of nuclear weapons by a fanatic radical regime ... We have never had, since the dawn of the nuclear age, nuclear weapons in the hands of such a fanatical regime," said Netanyahu, who is seeking to return to the Israeli prime minister's office.

Iran maintains that it is seeking nuclear power for peaceful purposes and not for a weapons programme.

An Iranian official in Davos appeared to extend a hand to the Obama administration as discussion broadened to include Iran, oil and what might be expected from the new leaders in Washington.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tehran would take a "cooperative approach" with the US as long as it saw changes that go beyond words.

"We do believe that if the new administration of the United States, as Mr Obama says, is going to change its policies not in saying but practice, they will find in the region a cooperative approach and reaction," Mottaki said.

Obama has stressed the importance of engaging Iran, a country the Bush administration often singled out as the most dangerous in the Middle East. — AP

Palestin

2009-01-29T23:33:00.004+08:00

Perkara pokok dan isu utama di Palestin masih tetap sama - ketidakadilan dan kesengsaraan penduduk Palestin. Dalam hal ini, saya tidak salahkan pihak zionis Israel sepenuhnya kerana bagi mereka yang rajin bertadabbur dengan Al-Quran pasti sudah jelas akan perangai dan tingkah laku Bani Israel sejak dari zaman Nabi Musa lagi yang telah Allah 'rakamkan' di dalam Al-Quran. Penipu, pemutar-belit, penindas, penakut dan bermuka-muka - itulah antara sifat-sifat Bani Israel yang telah diceritakan di dalam Al-Quran dan nyata mereka akan terus begitu. Maka pada hemat saya, tiada gunanya untuk kita terus menyalahkan pihak zionis Israel seratus peratus kerana mereka tidak mungkin akan berubah kerana pada mereka hanya orang Bani Israel sahaja yang paling mulia di sisi Tuhan dan paling layak memerintah dunia. Bangsa-bangsa lain hanya sampah belaka.

Apa yang Dr Mahathir katakan di dalam blog nya tentang Israel sangat menarik dan tajam sekali serta benar-benar berani.

Oleh sebab itu, dalam isu Palestin ini, saya lebih suka jika kita fokuskan bahawa masalah sebenar kepada isu ini ialah kelesuan umat Islam itu sendiri. Baik yang di dalam Palestin itu sendiri mahupun yang di luar Palestin. Di dalam Palestin, angkara masalah politik Fatah dan Hamas yang tidak putus-putus berpanjangan, manakala di luar Palestin- sikap penakut dan berdiam diri umat Islam di tempat lain serta ketiadaan pemimpin Islam yang dapat menyatukan mereka.

Jika tidak, pasti umat Islam sudah ada pasukan tentera mereka sendiri sama seperti NATO, yang bersedia pada bila-bila masa untuk membantu sekiranya ada negara-negara umat Islam yang diserang. Atau pasti kita sudah ada dana kewangan umat Islam yang ber'trillion' dollar, memandangkan negara umat Islam adalah negara pengeluar minyak yang kaya-raya, yang mana dana itu pasti dalam menyelesaikan semua masalah kemiskinan di negara-negara umat Islam khususnya.

Terlalu banyak yang boleh kita bincangkan dan perkatakan tentang hal ini. Namun selagi tiada kesedaran untuk semua kembali bersama-sama berpaut di tali Islam, Iman dan Ihsan, serta mengenepikan perbezaan fahaman dan kepentingan diri sendiri, maka bukan sahaja masalah Palestin akan berterusan, malah masalah kemiskinan, penindasan dan ketidakadilan umat Islam akan terus berlaku.

Di bawah merupakan artikel yang saya tulis kira-kira 2 tahun yang lalu, yang ingin saya munculkan kembali untuk tatapan semua.

Inside Palestine
Izwan Ismail, 21 Jan 2007

Saya baru sahaja habis menonton satu rancangan dokumentari di BBC bertajuk The World Uncovered - The Tea Boy of Gaza yang memaparkan kehidupan harian sebenar rakyat Palestin di Semenanjung Gaza dari kaca mata Mahmoud, seorang kanak-kanak penjual air teh di Hospital Syifa', Gaza Palestin. Saya rasa umurnya baru sahaja mencecah usia 12 tahun, tetapi daripada cara percakapannya, memang menunjukkan kematangannya dan semangat juang yang tinggi untuk meneruskan kehidupan yang serba kekurangan dan penuh dengan dugaan di Semanjung Gaza bagi membantu menampung kehidupan keluarganya. Dokumentari ini dirakamkan sebelum dan selepas peristiwa penangkapan 2 orang tentera Israel oleh pihak Hamas dan disusuli dengan sekatan ekonomi, wang dan bekalan makanan serta perubatan dan penangkapan beramai-ramai menteri-menteri dan anggota-anggota kabinet Kerajaan Hamas Palestin oleh pihak Zionis Israel.

Terlalu banyak kerosakan dan kemusnahan bangunan-bangunan, sekolah-sekolah, rumah-rumah, jalan-jalan raya, jambatan, kenderaan-kenderaan serta satu-satunya tempat penjana eletrik di kawasan itu (di mana menyebabkan hampir 60% daripada kawasan itu tiada bekalan elektrik, dan yang selainnya terpaksa bergantung kepada 'generator' motor untuk bekalan elektrik) dirakamkan. Sungguh sayu sekali apabila melihat kelibat anak-anak kecil Palestin yang duduk bertebaran di tepi-tepi runtuhan rumah mereka yang musnah akibat bedilan bom dan peluru tentera Zionis Israel.

Dokumentari ini turut merakamkan situasi di Hospital Syifa', tempat di mana Mahmoud menjual air tehnya. Daripada temubual dengan beberapa doktor-doktor di hospital itu, dapat dilihat mereka sama sekali tidak pernah berputus asa dan sentiasa memberikan khidmat yang terbaik untuk rakyat-rakyat Palestin walaupun sudah hampir 6 bulan mereka tidak menerima gaji akibat sekatan dana kewangan kepada kerajaan Hamas Palestin. Ditambah pula dengan kekurangan ubat-ubatan, dan peralatan-peralatan hospital yang lain termasuklah benda yang paling asas sekali bagi setiap orang doktor sebelum merawat pesakitnya iaitu sarung tangan, pun tidak mencukupi, menyukarkan lagi tugas mereka di situ. Namun daripada temubual ini, mereka sememangnya menunjukkan semangat yang sangat tinggi dan optimis bahawa keadaan akan bertambah baik suatu masa nanti dengan izin Allah. Mereka mempersoalkan mengapa perlu disekat dana kewangan untuk kerajaan Hamas Palestin, padahal ketika Hamas memenangi pilihanraya Palestin yang lalu, demokrasi akhirnya telah tiba dan rakyat majoritinya telah memilih untuk bersama-sama dengan kerajaan Hamas Palestin. Jika mahu dikatakan Hamas itu militan, maka Zionis Israel itulah lebih lagi militannya.

Juga dalam dokumentari itu, kelihatan Ismail Haneya, Perdana Menteri Palestin, mengimami salah satu daripada solat 5 waktu di sebuah masjid yang sarat dengan rakyat Palestin yang lain dan seterusnya memberikan ucapan yang penuh bersemangat dan lantang kepada makmum-makmum yang lain. Beliau mengatakan bahawa rakyat Palestin tidak sama sekali akan takut dan gentar dengan tindakan pihak Zionis Israel yang semakin menjadi-jadi sejak penculikan 2 askar Israel itu, malah rakyat Palestin akan terus bangkit menentang ketidakadilan dan penindasan yang mereka alami itu. Bumi Palestin akan aman dan dunia akan menyaksikannya. Dan setelah itu, beliau ke pejabat beliau, Pejabat Perdana Menteri, yang mana hanya tinggal serpihan sahaja telah dimusnahkan oleh sebuah peluru berpandu pihak Zionis Israel pada malam sebelumnya. Apabila tiba di pejabat, beliau hiba dan hanya dapat menggelengkan kepalanya. Namun beliau tetap bersemangat dan terus mengecam pihak Zionis Israel yang memusnahkan pejabat beliau dan menculik menteri-menteri dan anggota kabinet beliau ketika sidang akhbar selepas itu.

Apa yang menarik perhatian saya ialah dalam pada masa semua ini berlaku, terdapat satu delegasi Kesatuan Eropah (EU) yang telah datang ke Hospital Syifa' untuk meninjau keadaan hospital itu yang serba kekurangan. Namun doktor-doktor di situ hampa, apabila mereka hanya datang untuk melihat dan meninjau keadaan mereka dan cuma menyerahkan sedikit bekalan minyak petrol yang hanya cukup untuk 2 minggu untuk 'generator' motor di hospital itu. Hospital itu kini terpaksa bergantung kepada 'generator' motor untuk mendapatkan bekalan elektrik. "All the people like them (the EU delegates) is the same, they are interested to know our situation, but no more than that, just like you too," salah seorang daripada doktor itu mengatakan kepada jurnalis BBC yang sedang membuat rakaman itu. "Isn't that right? So what will you do after this, after knowing our situation?," katanya lagi.

Ternyata dokumentari-dokumentari sebegini perlu diperbanyakkan lagi dan ditayangkan di seluruh dunia supaya semua orang dapat tahu bagaimana kehidupan sebenar rakyat-rakyat Palestin. Jika mahu dilihat daripada berita-berita CNN dan media massa Barat yang lain yang ternyata berat sebelah, sampai bilapun ia tidak akan muncul.

Umat Islam perlu bersatu. Sebagaimana kata salah seorang doktor di Hospital Syifa' itu, "In any country, it should be like a pyramid. At the top of the pyramid, there is one leader or one group who leads, and the bottom part of the pyramid, is the followers who follows and being look after by the leaders. But in Palestin, the pyramid is upside down. There are many groups (Hamas, Fatah and others), at the top of the pyramid, leading and going into many direction and the followers are small because being divided between this groups. This is not helpful for the situation in Palestin."

Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha

2008-12-07T21:40:00.000+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya Haji kepada semua muslimin dan muslimat seluruh dunia. Moga-moga kita mendapat taqwa, rahmat dan redha yang kita cari-cari selama ini.

InsyaAllah, jika dimurahkan rezeki dan diberi kesempatan, saya merancang untuk melaksanakan ibadah Haji pada usia 30an. Pergi di waktu muda, insyaAllah lebih berkat dan memudahkan. Lebih-lebih lagi, tahun depan sudah mula bekerja dan sudah boleh menyimpan tabungan.

Masanya memilih jalan yang lurus

2008-11-20T18:40:00.001+08:00

Pak Hamka ketika memetik pepatah Melayu Makasar berkata:

"Anak laki-laki tidak boleh dihirau panjang, hidupnya ialah buat berjuang, kalau perahunya telah dikayuhnya ke tengah, dia tak boleh surut pulang, meski bagaimana besar gelombang. Biar kemudi patah, biarkan layar robek, itu lebih mulia daripada berbalik haluan pulang."

Finals Countdown

2008-11-08T17:06:00.000+08:00

Very hilarious haha !

TG Nik Aziz di Off The Edge

2008-11-08T00:43:00.006+08:00

Buat pertama kali Tuan Guru Nik Aziz menjadi cover story bagi majalah Inggeris, Off The Edge. Ternyata temubual Tuan Guru dengan penulis Farish A Noor sangat menarik sekali dan disertakan juga latar belakang Tuan Guru Nik Aziz, sejarah PAS, sejarah Ulama di Malaysia, dan 'in-sight' tentang Negeri Kelantan.

Temubual yang dibuat oleh Farish A Noor ini dibuat dalam bahasa Melayu Kelantan dan Kedah dan dibawah setiap perenggan soal-jawab itu ada terjemahan dalam bahasa Inggeris. Kalau selama ini anda ada salah faham atau skeptikal mengenai Tuan Guru Nik Aziz, maka saya sarankan anda membeli majalah ini.

Tuan Guru Nik Aziz, You are the man !

post-script:
Kalaulah sistem perlantikan Perdana Menteri kita ini seperti sistem perlantikan Presiden Amerika, sudah tentu Tuan Guru Nik Aziz lah yang paling sesuai, selamat dan layak menjadi PM buat masa ini.

Dan tidakkah pernah kita terfikir, mengapa kita hanya biarkan 192 Umno Bahagian sahaja yang menentukan siapa Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Bukankah seluruh rakyat Malaysia berhak memilih Perdana Menteri kita sendiri, dengan undi 24 juta rakyat Malaysia? Fikir-fikirkan.

Mr President Barrack Obama

2008-11-05T17:59:00.003+08:00

A great speech ! - Obama's victory speech in Chicago

: Yes, we can! :

A new chapter in history was written today in the United States Presidential election.

After a long two years of campaigning, road rallies, debates, and with an Electoral College landslide win today, Senator Barrack Obama is the new and 44th President of United States of America. A good read of his long journey, here.

What's more amazing about this is that his name etched in history as America's first black president, where no one could ever imagine since the birth of United States of America. A very good change indeed, where for once, race is not a factor in determining the people's vote. And I bet that this change will lead to more changes in the future in America. Maybe in the next election a woman or a gay or even a Muslim can become the President of America. How's that?

It is no surprise to me actually, and as I expected, Obama will win this election easily. His victory is a triumph of vision, strategy and tactics, which something that should be followed and learned by all, not just for the old and future politicians, but also to all leaders in any kind of work stream.

But now after all the celebrations, cheers and jubilation of victory all around the world with his win, comes the big question - Will he be an excellant President? Will he bring change to America? Can he manage the sobering challenge of leading a nation worried about economic crisis, two unfinished wars and global uncertainty? Will he be able to turn around the US economy? Will he close down Guantanamo Bay and stop the Afghanistan and Iraq wars? Will it change anything for the rest of the world?

This is what I am waiting to see.

Can we see a change in Malaysia's political and administrative system? Yes, we can. Either sooner or later. I am a strong believer in this.

...

:CHANGE:

CHANGE - A good Japanese drama series, featuring Takuya Kimura as a grade school teacher who became the newly elected Prime Minister of Japan, the youngest ever at the age of 35. I am touched with the series, and the message is excellant.

Do watch it, here.

(Episode 1 and 2 are broken, so start watching from episode 3)

Photos of Hari Raya Open House in PMC

2008-11-01T17:44:00.001+08:00

Photos are from Abadi's collection.

My batch, Class of 2009.

Inside the cafeteria.

Calling the lucky winners.

More pictures here.

Hj Ahmad Termizi Mat Nor

2008-10-29T20:58:00.006+08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. Been busy with books since the big exams are just around the corner. Paeds, Psyc and O&G exams all in a go.

...

Last Sunday, I came back to Ipoh. My uncle, Apak passed away early in the morning. He's ten years older than my dad and was a well-known teacher and Nazir Sekolah in Perak. One thing people won't forget about him is that he was one of the few Malaysians who was sent to 'Kampong Kirkby' in Lancashire, England between 1951-1962 for training.

I bet that not many of my friends at my age know that the Government of the Federation of Malaya once established the Malayan Teachers’ Training College at Kirkby, in far-away Lancashire, England in 1951? The aim was to train talented young Malayans of different racial background to become good educators. They were to be the catalyst in the development process of this young nation which shall come into being.

You can read more about this 'Kampong Kirkby' here. Something that I am very proud of and amazed that my uncle was part of it.

So, Al-Fatihah to Apak - Hj Ahmad Termizi Mat Nor.

Photo taken during Raya 1 Oct 08

Deepavali Nal Valthukhal

2008-10-25T22:02:00.001+08:00

I would like to wish Happy Deepavali to all my friends who will be celebrating the festival of lights this Monday. Enjoy the festival, the food and your time with family and friends.

May the year ahead be filled with hope and blessings. Happy Diwali !

Puisi Taubat

2008-10-13T13:23:00.001+08:00

Ya Rabb, kini aku berada di sisi-Mu
Aku datang dengan mata menangis
Kudatang dengan rintihan, kegelisahan, dan kesedihan
Telah kuperbuat banyak kejahatan dan dosa
Sehingga jadilah aku sang pendosa
Di sisi-Mu-lah sekarang, hai Sang Maharaja
Aku datang dengan penuh penyesalan
Hati ini sudah dipenuhi kesalahan
Aku sangat malu saat menerima soalan
Bagaikan burung yang terikat sayapnya
Aku datang sambil jatuh bangun Wajahku merunduk ke tanah
Aku datang dengan pandangan sembab
Wahai penguasa alam, lihatlah
Aku datang dengan hati terbakar

Tiada yang dapat menenangkan hatiku selain Dzat-Mu
Akulah makhluk-Mu yang hanya berharap redha-Mu
Kerna Engkaulah penentu semua perbuatan dan prilaku
Hanya pada-Mu-lah kegundahanku dapat berlalu
Hanya dari mata air sayang dan kemuliaan-Mu-lah Ya Allah
Air lain tidak mengalir ke sungai-sungai tubuhku
Semenjak diriku tercakup dalam inayah-Mu
Tiada beban dalam tubuhku selain beban kegundahan-Mu

Ya Allah, hariku gelap, perbuatanku salah
Ya Allah, akulah pendosa dan bermasalah
Ya Allah, maafkanlah hamba-Mu ini
Ampunilah hamba-Mu yang malu ini
Meski kejahatan segunung dosa
Di sisi ampunan-Mu, lebih kecil dari biji gandum
Jangan Kau masukkan daku ke dalam neraka-Mu
Aku yang kebingungan, sedih, dan merintih
Berharap pada-Mu, hai Yang Mahahidup lagi Mahasuci
Aku Mohon pada-Mu, sebuah hati yang menangis dan letih
Kerna tempat-Mu di hati yang hancur.

Ya Allah, lindungi mereka yang tak punya perlindungan
Tataplah mereka yang keletihan
Betapa sedikit peminta yang beroleh perhatian si sultan
Banyaknya kebutuhan membuatku gelisah
Saksikanlah kegelisahanku, Wahai Tuhan
Ya Allah, kusandarkan diriku pada kasih sayang-Mu
Kerna tiada yang layak disandar selain kasih sayang-Mu
Bimbinglah hati yang gundah-gulana
Kerna hati tanpa pembimbing kan jatuh dalam sumur
Kepala menempel ke tanah rumah-Mu
Sambil meminta, butuh, dan menghatur ampunan
Telah datang pada-Mu tawanan yang pemalu lagi pendosa
Sambil berharap kasih sayang dan ampunan-Mu
Seorang pengemis dengan tangis penyesalan
Menjadi tak berguna karna beban dosa
Kugapai tangan Yang Maha Pengampun
Agar dianugerahkan sesuatu yang istimewa

Ya Tuhan, jika aku jatuh cinta, cintakanlah aku pada seseorang yang melabuhkan cintanya pada-Mu, agar bertambah kekuatanku untuk mencintai-Mu.

Ya Tuhan, jika aku jatuh hati, izinkanlah aku menyentuh hati seseorang yang hatinya bertaut pada-Mu, agar tidak terjatuh aku dalam jurang cinta semu.

Ya Rabbi, jika aku jatuh hati, jagalah hatiku padanya agar tidak berpaling dari hati-Mu.

Ya Tuhan, jika aku rindu, jagalah rinduku padanya agar tidak lalai aku merindukan surga-Mu.

Ya Tuhan, jika aku menikmati cinta kekasih-Mu, janganlah kenikmatan itu melebihi kenikmatan indahnya bermunajat di sepertiga malam terakhir-Mu.

Ya Tuhan, jika aku jatuh hati pada kekasih-Mu, jangan biarkan aku tertatih dan terjatuh dalam perjalanan panjang menyeru menusia kepada-Mu.

Ya Tuhan, jika Engkau halalkan aku merindui kekasih-Mu, jangan biarkan aku melampaui batas sehingga melupakan aku pada cinta hakiki dan rindu abadi hanya kepada-Mu.

Ya Tuhan ampuni dosa hambamu..

Fat Rumalean

Berita paling merepek abad ini

2008-10-11T17:51:00.000+08:00

Shah Rukh Khan dianugerah gelaran Datuk

What? Merepek tahap gaban betul negeri Melaka. Tak tahu lah pula apa jasa si Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) ni pada Melaka atau Malaysia. Mungkin dalam filem bollywood nya ada promosi besar-besaran pasal Melaka or Malaysia kot? Tapi takkan sampai dapat title 'Datuk'. Or memang orang-orang Melaka minat tahap gaban pada Shah Rukh Khan ni? Adui, hancur! Patut terus bagi title 'Tun' la, sebab jasa SRK ini memang tak ternilai sekali.

Tahniah la negeri Melaka!

Salam Lebaran

2008-09-30T05:43:00.008+08:00

1 Syawal 1429H, Ipoh

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone especially my Muslim brothers and sisters “SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI ~ MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN” and “HAPPY HOLIDAYS”.

Alhamdulillah, we are about to complete our Ramadhan this year and hopefully we will meet Ramadhan again next year insyaAllah. Remember to continue doing all the good things that we have done in this Ramadhan month even after Ramadhan ends. Hope that we have found the ‘taqwa’ that we seek and become a better person after a month in Ramadhan Madrasah.

Drive carefully for those driving back home and for others please come back in one piece. Enjoy your holidays and enjoy your time with your family and friends in this festive season. Make full use of the holidays ya ! Enjoy it !

And don't eat like there's no tomorrow. Over-eating is dangerous ! Haha

Ada ketikanya MATA silap memandang,
TELINGA salah mendengar, LIDAH terlanjur berkata,
FIKIRAN khilaf menafsir & HATI silap menduga.
Mohon maaf atas segalanya.

I am 24 !

2008-09-26T23:06:00.002+08:00

26 September 1984 @ 1 Muharam 1405H

Thanks to all for all the warm wishes and prayers. Now I am 24, one year older, and one year wiser. Hopefully I will achieve my dreams and targets as planned, InsyaAllah. And I hope to inspire more people and to be inspired by them :)

This week, I had a tiring but exciting week of obstetrics and gynaecology. Even though my schedule is packed everyday (Hospital 8am-1pm, Lectures & Tutorials 2-5pm, and On-calls 5-10pm), but I find it more interesting than paeds and psychiatry, haha maybe because there is more hands-on work I guess. And I ve just finished my O&G on-call tonight. Tired !

But, now the Raya holidays just started. Nice ! So I will be going back home tomorrow morning and will be in Ipoh the whole week.

Jemputlah ke rumah for Raya ! :)

Some nice tune at the moment:

Zakat: Have you pay them?

2008-09-25T12:56:00.008+08:00

Tidak dapat dinafikan setiap kali di bulan Ramadhan, kita sentiasa dinasihatkan dan diberi banyak peringatan supaya menjaga puasa kita, solat lima waktu, memperbanyakkan solat sunat dan solat malam, berzikir, menimba ilmu dan memperbanyakkan bertadarrus al-Quran. Namun sering kali kita lalai dan alpa akan rukun Islam yang keempat, yang juga sangat penting dilaksanakan iaitu membayar zakat.

Rasanya kita semua sedia maklum yang zakat terdiri daripada 2 jenis iaitu Zakat Fitrah dan Zakat Harta. Yang ingin saya 'highlight' kan di sini kali ini ialah berkaitan dengan Zakat Harta kerana ramai di antara rakan-rakan yang sebaya dengan saya sudah mula dan akan bekerja dalam jangkamasa yang terdekat dan sudah mula mengumpulkan wang serta harta bagi menampung masa hadapan. Jadi mari kita 'recap' tentangnya.

Jadi apa harta yang wajib dizakatkan?

Ada 2 jenis zakat iaitu ZAKAT FITRAH DAN ZAKAT HARTA:

1. Zakat Fitrah

Pengertian:

Zakat Fitrah ialah zakat diri yang difardhukan ke atas setiap individu lelaki dan perempuan muslim yang berkemampuan dengan syarat-syarat yang ditetapkan.

Syarat wajib zakat:

Orang Islam yang wajib mengeluarkan zakat fitrah untuk diri dan keluarga atau tanggungannya ialah:

Individu yang mempunyai lebihan makanan atau hartanya dari keperluan tanggungannya pada malam dan pagi hari raya.

Anak yang lahir sebelum matahari jatuh pada akhir bulan Ramadhan dan hidup selepas terbenam matahari.

Memeluk Islam sebelum terbenam matahari pada akhir bulan Ramadhan dan berkekalan Islamnya.

Seseorang yang meninggal selepas terbenam matahari akhir Ramadhan.

Waktu mengeluarkan fitrah:

Waktu mengeluarkan zakat fitrah terbahagi kepada 5:

WAKTU WAJIB
Apabila terbenam matahari akhir 30 Ramadhan sehingga terbit matahari esoknya.

WAKTU YANG PALING AFDHAL
Sebelum sembahyang Hari Raya

WAKTU SUNAT
Sepanjang bulan Ramadhan

WAKTU MAKRUH
Selepas sembahyang Hari Raya sehingga terbenam matahari pada satu Syawal

WAKTU HARAM
Selepas terbenam matahari satu Syawal

Kadar fitrah

Kadar fitrah pula bergantung kepada tempat/negara/negeri. Di Malaysia kadarnya ialah satu gantang Baghdad bersamaan 2.70 kg beras atau senilai dengannya. Kadar ini berdasarkan ketentuan oleh Pihak Berkuasa Agama Negeri-Negeri.

Pada kebiasaannya, bagi mereka yang masih belajar dan di bawah tanggungan ibu bapa, maka zakat fitrah mereka dibayar oleh bapa atau ibu mereka. Namun bukan bermakna mereka perlu melepaskan tanggungjawab sepenuhnya kepada ibu bapa mereka. Ambil kesempatan yang ada untuk bertanyakan kepada ibu bapa masing-masing, sudahkah membayar zakat fitrah, sama-sama kita ingatkan.

Saya masih ingat lagi ketika di Dublin dahulu, saya sendiri membayar zakat fitrah saya di sana walaupun abah sudah pun membayarnya di Malaysia. Namun tiada masalah sebenarnya kerana jika membayar lebih, maka duit itu dikira sedekah. Dan yang uniknya, jika di Malaysia kita perlu membayar zakat fitrah kepada 'Amil Zakat, tetapi di Dublin saya hanya perlu memasukkan wang zakat fitrah itu ke dalam 'Tabung Zakat Fitrah' yang disediakan di dalam masjid dan sudah dikira selesai membayarnya apabila jumlah zakat fitrah pada tahun itu dimasukkan ke dalamnya. Sungguh mudah sekali !

Manakala

2. Zakat Harta

Jenis-jenis harta yang dikenakan zakat adalah seperti berikut:

Zakat Pendapatan
Zakat Wang Simpanan
Zakat Emas dan Perak
Zakat Saham
Zakat Perniagaan
Zakat Binatang Ternakan
Zakat Pertanian
Zakat Ma'adin, Kunuz dan Rikaz *

***

Ma'adin - Ialah segala galian yang diperolehi dari perut bumi sama ada beku atau cair di darat atau di laut.

Kunuz - Ialah harta yang tersimpan di dalam bumi (harta karun).

Rikaz - Ialah harta benda yang tersimpan di dalam bumi dan terdapat tanda-tanda yang menunjukkan ia tersimpan sebelum kedatangan Islam. (Jumhur ulama mengatakan semua jenis simpanan jahiliah)

SYARAT WAJIB ZAKAT HARTA

1. Islam

2. Merdeka

3. Sempurna Milik

4. Hasil usaha yang baik sebagai sumber zakat.

Hasil usaha tersebut termasuklah pendapatan dan pengajian yang merangkumi upah, gaji, bonus, elaun, komisen, pemberian, ganjaran profesional, hasil sewaan, perkhidmatan dan sebagainya. Pendapat para fuqaha' menyebutkan semua hal berkenaan pendapatan dan penggajian disebut sebagai 'mal mustafad' iaitu perolehan baru yang termasuk dalam takrifan sumber harta yang dikenakan zakat.

5. Cukup nisab.

Nisab bagi zakat pendapatan adalah berasaskan kepada nilai 85 gram emas harga semasa, memandangkan pendapatan biasanya diterima dalam bentuk mata wang yang disandarkan kepada emas. Jika bagi Perak dan Selangor, nisab tahun ini ialah RM6400.

6. Cukup haul (cukup setahun masanya).

Jangka masa setahun adalah jarak untuk mempersatukan semua hasil-hasil pendapatan untuk pengiraan zakat pendapatannya. Dalam hal ini, apa yang lebih penting ialah seharusnya zakat pendapatan ini dilihat dari segi persoalan harta perolehan atau penghasilan dan bukannya harta wang simpanan ini bersesuaian dengan tuntutan dan roh Islam terhadap kewajipan berzakat.

Jadi yang ingin saya 'highlight' kan di sini hanyalah berkaitan dengan zakat pendapatan, zakat wang simpanan dan zakat emas dan perak kerana ianya lebih berkait rapat untuk saya dan rakan-rakan yang lain.

ZAKAT PENDAPATAN

Pendapatan bermaksud perolehan yang merangkumi pendapatan gaji dan pendapatan bebas seperti pendapatan ahli profesional. Walau bagaimanapun perolehan hasil harta yang tidak mempunyai struktur zakatnya tersendiri dan juga sumbangan daripada mana-mana pihak jua sekalipun adalah juga diserapkan dalam perbincangan ini. Kesemuanya ini dibincangkan sekaligus kerana persamaan asasnya yang menjadikan hukum bagi kesemuanya adalah sama.

Pengertian gaji ialah pendapatan pengajian seseorang yang merupakan ganjaran perkhidmatannya dengan sesuatu majikan atau orang perseorangan atau syarikat atau institusi.
Contoh:
* Gaji tahunan
* Tunggakan gaji
* Pelbagai elaun (kenderaan, makan, mesyuarat)
* Lain-lain (termasuk bonus atau sesuatu yang boleh dikira sebagai pendapatan yang berkaitan dengan penggajian.

Pendapatan bebas ialah pendapatan seseorang melalui sesuatu kerja atau usaha kepakaran atau perkhidmatan yang merupakan ganjaran daripada khidmatnya. Contoh:

* Khidmat guaman
* Khidmat nasihat
* Juru perunding
* Rawatan perubatan
* Kejuruteraan
* Seniman
* Lain-lain

Jadi bagaimana membayarnya?

KAEDAH PENGIRAAN ZAKAT PENDAPATAN

Terdapat beberapa garis panduan mengira zakat pendapatan:

KAEDAH 1

2.5 % atas jumlah pendapatan kasar setahun (jika pendapatan tersebut melebihi nisab. Nisab=RM6400)

CONTOH:

Jika jumlah pendapatan kasar dari sumber setahun ialah sebanyak RM33,800.00, maka zakatnya sebanyak RM33,800.00 x 2.5 % = RM845.00

KAEDAH 2

Membayar zakat setelah menolak perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan asas yang dibenakan (berlandaskan kaedah penolakan yang dibenarkan).

CONTOH:

Jumlah Pendapatan dari semua sumber dalam setahun (Gaji, elaun, bonus, lain-lain) = RM38,800

Jumlah Perbelanjaan yang dibenarkan dalam setahun (Diri, Isteri, Anak-anak, Ibu Bapa, Caruman KWSP, Caruman Tabung Haji) = RM21,000

Jadi pendapatan bersih = RM38,800 - RM21,600 = RM17,200 (melebihi nisab RM6400)

Maka zakat yang wajib dibayar ialah 2.5% x RM17,200 = RM430

Tetapi sekarang lebih mudah, sebab zakat pendapatan kini boleh terus dipotong setiap bulan daripada gaji kita, jadi cuba periksa sama ada zakat pendapatan kita ini dipotong setiap bulan ataupun tidak. Jika tidak, boleh diatur dengan majikan dan pusat pungutan zakat negeri.

ZAKAT WANG SIMPANAN

Jika keenam-enam syarat wajib zakat harta di atas lengkap, maka perlu dizakatkan wang simpanan kita. Tidak kira berapa banyak akaun simpanan yang kita ada, tetapi jika jumlah kesemua wang simpanan kita melebihi nisab RM6400 dan cukup setahun haulnya maka perlu dizakat 2.5% daripada jumlah kesemua wang simpanan itu.

CONTOH:

Setelah cukup 1 tahun tempohnya, jumlah wang di:

Akaun Simpanan 1 = RM2,000
Akaun Simpanan 2 = RM3,000
Akaun Simpanan 3 = RM2,000
Akaun Simpanan Tetap / Amanah Saham = RM3,000

Jumlah Besar Wang Simpanan = RM10,000 (melebihi nisab RM6,400)

Jadi jumlah yang perlu dizakat = 2.5% x RM10,000 = RM250

Selalunya untuk pelajar-pelajar universiti, wang simpanan inilah yang lupa untuk dizakatkan. Tetapi sekiranya bapa mereka sudah mengambil kira wang simpanan ini dan dibayarkan jumlah zakatnya, maka tiada masalah sama sekali. Jika tidak, pelajar itu sendiri yang perlu membayar zakat wang simpanan ini sebab ada juga di kalangan rakan-rakan saya yang wang simpanan mereka kini sudah lebih daripada RM10,000 dan sudah cukup haulnya tetapi masih belum dibayar zakat olehnya ataupun bapanya. Jadi cuba periksa, sudahkah membayarnya?

Bagaimana pula dengan wang biasiswa? Pendapat majoriti ulama dan fatwa semasa mengatakan wang biasiswa itu adalah wang bantuan daripada kerajaan atau mana-mana badan kepada pelajar-pelajar dan tidak perlu dizakatkan kerana pada kebiasaannya setelah cukup setahun, wang biasiswa itu pasti akan habis digunakan atau tidak cukup nisabnya (tidak cukup RM6400) untuk dikira wajib bayar. Tetapi jika wang biasiswa itu sangat lumayan dan setelah digunakan dan cukup setahun, jumlah lebihannya masih banyak (melebihi RM6400), maka boleh dizakatkan. Tetapi pendapat ulama masih kuat mengatakan tidak perlu dizakatkan wang biasiswa pelajar-pelajar kerana itu adalah wang bantuan.

ZAKAT EMAS & PERAK

Zakat diwajibkan ke atas pihak yang memiliki emas dan perak apabila sampai nisab dan telah cukup haul setahun.

KAEDAH KIRAAN ZAKAT EMAS & PERAK:

* Emas Perhiasan Wanita

Emas perhiasan wanita ialah emas yang dibeli atau digunakan sebagai perhiasan di badan. Kadar uruf emas bagi pemakaian perhiasan tersebut diambil kira. Jika kadar pemakaian itu tidak mencapai atau melebihi kadar uruf, maka tidak wajiblah membayar zakat emas perhiasan tersebut. Kadar uruf emas di negeri Selangor dan Perak ialah sebanyak 800 gram.

CONTOH:
(Timbangan emas x harga semasa x 2.5%)
900 gram x RM50 = RM45000 x 2.5% = RM1125

* Emas Yang Disimpan

Bermaksud emas yang selain daripada perhiasan wanita yang dipakai di badan samaada dalam bentuk mata wang, simpanan, galian, peralatan rumah dan sebagainya.

Ia dikenakan zakat sebanyak 2.5% daripada jumlah yang ada sekiranya kadar yang dimiliki itu sama atau melebihi nisabnya iaitu 85 gram. Ia tidak sama dengan emas perhiasan yang dipakai. Nisab emas yang tidak dipakai ialah sebanyak 85 gram.

CONTOH:
Timbangan emas x harga semasa x 2.5%
90 gram x RM50 = RM4500 x 2.5% = RM112.50

* Perak

Bagi logam perak, samaada dipakai sebagai barang perhiasan ataupun tidak (disimpan sebagai perhiasan di rumah), maka pengiraannya adalah berdasarkan nilai barang perak tersebut. Nisab bagi perak adalah sebanyak 595 gram atau lebih.

CONTOH:
800 gram perak x RM0.90(segram) x 2.5% = RM18

Jadi mudah sahaja kan untuk memahami syarat-syarat dan pengiraan zakat harta. Kesemua maklumat di atas, saya ambil daripada Lembaga Zakat Selangor dan Perak. Saya sekadar menyampaikan sahaja kepada yang lain sebagai ilmu dan peringatan. Zakat Saham, KWSP, Pertanian dan Penternakan juga perlu kita ketahui.

Untuk lebih maklumat tentang zakat, saya syorkan website lembaga zakat yang terbaik setakat ini, layari website Lembaga Zakat Selangor.

Ramadhan so far (2)

2008-09-21T08:32:00.000+08:00

Alhamdulillah sudah 20 hari Ramadhan ditempuhi, dan hanya berbaki lagi 10 hari sahaja lagi dalam mengejar takwa yang dicari. Ramadhan kian pergi, maka ayuh perbanyakkan lagi amalan dan solat malam, perbanyakkan membaca, memahami dan mentadabbur al-Quran, perbanyakkan doa, moga-moga mendapat Lailatul Qadar yang dicari dan pengakhiran Ramadhan dengan redha dan rahmat yang didambai.

[1]
Sesungguhnya Kami telah menurunkan (Al-Quran) ini pada Malam Lailatul-Qadar,
[2]
Dan apa jalannya engkau dapat mengetahui apa dia kebesaran Malam Lailatul-Qadar itu?
[3]
Malam Lailatul-Qadar lebih baik daripada seribu bulan.
[4]
Pada Malam itu, turun malaikat dan Jibril dengan izin Tuhan mereka, kerana membawa segala perkara (yang ditakdirkan berlakunya pada tahun yang berikut);
[5]
Sejahteralah Malam (yang berkat) itu hingga terbit fajar!

{Al-Qadr 97:1-5}

Artikel yang bagus daripada Ust Zaha, klik sini.

.....

Saya terjumpa satu website Al-Quran yang menarik, di mana Al-Quran itu adalah dalam bentuk flash. Jadi ia memang mirip seperti Al-Quran yang selalu dibaca di rumah. Check it out here.

Tafsir Al-Quran dalam bahasa Melayu, klik sini.

It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter

2008-09-20T12:54:00.001+08:00

A true friend is one who constantly encourages, supports, motivates and believes in your ability but at the same time slaps you awake (not literally, of course) when you need a reality check. Not one who pretends to do all that, then puts you down at every chance he/she gets. Lucky for me, I've found quite a handful of such friends in their purest form.

So many people have walked in and out of my life. There are those who left great impacts and have continued to do so until today while others are merely there to fill the gaps. I try my best to surround myself with positive people but i guess this world ain't a fantasy. every now and then, you get those who are just out to get you. I'd like to think that they're inferior. they need to make negative remarks about others in order to feel good about themselves. well, I pity them.

I know, no one is all that perfect. I'm sure we've all made some kinda horrible comments about others at least once in our lives. But I believe that if you have a good heart and are sincere towards others as opposed to being a hypocrite, that should suffice :)

Jelutong boys: Azreey, Azza, Hazim, Azwan, Johan, Razmi, Nik, Syafiq

Not to forget: Hani, Nuzul, Abadi, Asyraff, Ariff Fahmi, Haikal, Najmi, Munawwar, Syed Jeffrey, Ikhwan

Perkara yang tidak membatalkan puasa dalam perubatan

2008-09-17T12:59:00.000+08:00

People always confused about things which can prevent or nullified them from fasting especially in term of medical treatment.

Here's an article which is really helpful. Taken from PAPISMA website:

From the 9th Fiqh-Medical Seminar, convened at Casablanca, Morocco, during 8-11 Safar 1418, corresponding to 14-17 June 1997, under the eminent auspices of the Commander of the Faith- ful, His Majesty King Hassan II. The theme of the seminar was “An Islamic View of Certain Contemporary Medical Issues”, and it was held jointly with the Hassan II Institute for Scientific and Medical Research on Ramadhan, the ISESCO, the Islamic Fiqh Academy, and the World Health Organisation Regional Office.

Accordingly, the participants agreed unanimously that the following do not nulIify fasting:

Eye and ear drops, and ear wash.
Ubat titis mata, titis telinga dan basuh telinga
Nitroglycerine tablets placed under the tongue for the treatment of angina.
Ubat tablet Bawah lidah yang digunakan oleh pesakit Angina (Jantung).
Insertion into the vagina of pessaries, medical ovules, vaginal washes, vaginal speculum, and doctor’s or midwife’s fingers during pelvic examination.
Memasukkan ubat melalui faraj, memasukan alat perubatan, membasuh, spekulum dan jari doktor atau bidan semasa pemeriksaan vagina (sebelum bersalin).
Insertion of the urethroscope into man or woman radio-opaque media for X-ray diagnosis or bladder irrigation.
Memasukkan teropong kesalur kencing lelaki atau perempuan untuk penyediaan xray.
Tooth drilling, extraction, cleaning or the use of mis-~ and toothbursh, provided nothing is swallowed into the stomach, do not nullify fasting.
Menampal, mencabut, mengorek dan mencuci gigi atau menggunakan alatan dan berus gigi, dengan syarat TIADA apa-apa bahan yang memasuki perut dari prosedur tersebut.
Injections through the skin or muscle or joints or veins, with the exception of intravenous feeding.
Suntikan melalui kulit, otot, sendi atau pembuluh darah, KECUALI memberi makanan melalui pembuluh darah.
Blood donation or receiving blood transfusion.
Penderma atau menerima pemindahan darah.
Oxygen and anaesthetic gases.
Oksigen dan Gas Bius.
All substances absorbed into the body through the skin, such as creams, ointments, and medicated plaster.
Semua jenis bahan yang boleh menyerap kedalam badan melalui kulit seperti krim, jelly atau plaster berubat.
Drawing blood samples for laboratory testing.
Mengambil sampel darah untuk ujian makmal.
Catheter and media for arteriography of heart or other organs.
Sesalur dan bahan perantara untuk arteriografi (pemeriksaan xray khas jantung) atau organ lain.
Endoscopy for diagnostic or intervention purposes.
Teropong dalam rongga perut (endiskopi) untuk mencari punca penyakit.
Mouth wash, gargle or oral spray, provided nothing is swallowed into the stomach.
Membasuh mulut, berkumur atau semburan mulut, dengan syarat tiada bahan masuk kedalam perut.
Hysteroscopy or insertion of an intrauterine device.
Teropong ke dalam salur peranakan atau memasukkan alat kedalamnya. (ie. UICD)
Biopsy of the liver or other organs.
Mengambil tisu (biopsi) hati atau organ lain.

A majority of participants added the following:
Majority peserta menambah perkara berikut TIDAK MEMBATALKAN PUASA

Nose drops, nose sprays, and inhalers.
Ubat titis hidung, semburan hidung and ubat sedut.
Anal injections, anoscopes, or digital rectal examination.
Suntikan kedalm dubur, teropong dan pemeriksaan digital ke dalam dubur.
Surgery involving general anaesthetic, if the patient decided to fast.
Pembedahan yeng melibatkan bius sepenuhnya jika pesakit mengambil keputusan untuk berpuasa.
Machine or intraperitoneal renal dialysis.
Mesin atau dialisis buah pinggang melalui perut
Use of gastroscope, provided it does not entail the introduction of liquids or other substances into the stomach.
Penggunaan teropong perut, dengan syarat tidak memasukkan apa-apa bahan cecair atau bahan seumpamanya kedalam perut.

Ramadhan with Upin & Ipin

2008-09-14T14:31:00.002+08:00

A simple but cute and hilarious series with good advices not just for kids but also for the adults. Check it out:

CHANNEL : TV9

DURATION : 5 Minutes

AIR TIME : Starting 5th September, Friday - Sunday, 7pm

OVERVIEW

Upin & Ipin is an animation series about two 5-year-old twins, Upin and Ipin, telling their first experience fasting for the first time in the month of Ramadhan. It is being told from their perspective in such a way that is simple, comical and hilarious. Their grandmother, Opah and elder sister Ros, will give them advice and guidance as the story goes on. The good values will be easily understood by the children and will give a lasting impression upon them, as it is interwind into the plots and subtle manner. Although the series is tailored during the fasting month, they are also suitable to be shown all year round as it has educational and moral values for children.

SYNOPSIS

Upin & Ipin are back in the new Ramadhan series with more fun and exciting experience in learning how to fast. Meet their new friends Mail-the mischievous one, Jarjit a young boy with a huge voice who always gets left out, and not to forget, their kindergarten teacher Miss Jasmin. Both of them were exhilarated to fast the whole month again this year. This time Upin and Ipin learn more about the real meaning of Ramadhan and Syawal, giving and sharing with others and learn to appreciate with what they had. Moral values are instilled in the series but in an entertaining way, teaching children to be grateful and cherish the holy month.

Want more Upin & Ipin? Click here.

Merdeka 51 @ PMC

2008-09-10T14:44:00.003+08:00

We had a simple but grand merdeka celebration in PMC a few days before the merdeka day. Apart from the official ceremony and dinnner, we had a few indoor and outdoor games just for the sake of creating and promoting unity among us. Yes, 'Unity is the foundation to success' and it is the this year's Merdeka theme, for those who didn't know. The table tennis fiesta, Wii games and tug of war were fun. The dinner was delicious and the performances were superb even though it's all about merdeka. A million thanks to those who involved.

More pictures of the event, click here http://pmc-sa.org/?p=57

After table tennis, Wii games and tug of war, its time for the official ceremony.

Giving my speech, "... Remember to be proud of ourselves, our family, our PMC and our country. And with that, I end my speech and thank you."

The Christian Fellowship Society's choir becomes better with me joining them. Hehe. Lovely merdeka songs.

And not to forget, the Merdeka cake. (From left, the Dean - Prof Amir, PMC President and CEO - Mr Brendon and the student's president. And Prof Amir's son)

Merdeka !! More pictures here.

Big Apple Donuts

2008-09-08T18:35:00.001+08:00

Yummy ! I'm always crazy about donuts.

Talking about donuts, there is a new donut and coffee shop just opened in my hometown at Jusco Kinta City, Ipoh. So far they had the best donuts that I ever had in my life, better than Dunkin Donuts. It was a melt in my mouth, heavenly sensation! And there are so many yummy varieties to choose from.

There is a constant queue outside the shop. And I am not surprised!

They have an impressive range of yummy flavors to choose from. And the donuts are light textured and are simply yummy.

Their donuts range:

Pink Panther, Duren Duren, Chocoring, Rolling Stone, Kiwi Blitz, Semi Glacier, Say Cheese, Go Nutz, Kimochi, Green Teaser, Chocoholic, Iceberg, Whitnut, Snowy, 101 Dalmation, Choreo, Spicy Flossy, Mango Tango, Glacier, Californian Almond, Moonraker, Chococinno and The Alien.

All together there are 23 types.

The open kitchen concept.

These donuts are a must-try!

Simply delicious ! I wonder if there is Big Apple in Penang?

Now time for 'berbuka'. Donut donut, you made me hungry.

Ramadhan so far..

2008-09-05T09:27:00.003+08:00

Dua hari lepas dan semalam saya berkesempatan untuk menyampaikan kuliah pendek / tazkirah kepada jemaah di Surau Bukit Dumbar dan pelajar-pelajar asrama Penang Free School ketika solat terawih. Walaupun hanya 10-15 minit sahaja, namun keseronokan itu terasa kerana dapat menyampaikan sesuatu kepada orang lain lebih-lebih lagi kepada jiran-jiran setempat, kepada masyarakat yang lebih besar. Tambahan pula apa yang disampaikan hanyalah berkaitan dengan Ramadhan dan amalan-amalannya, namun diolah dalam bentuk yang baru dari perspektif seorang bakal doktor, bakal profesional dan berbeza sedikit daripada cara 'orang agama'. InsyaAllah kesempatan yang beginilah yang saya nantikan dan akan saya teruskan. Dan kawan-kawan yang lain juga, jika ada kesempatan sebegini, rebutlah peluang itu, kerana ia bagus untuk diri kita berlatih 'public speaking' dan pada masa yang sama menyampaikan apa sahaja ilmu yang kita ada kepada masyarakat. Masyarakat kita terutamanya orang Islam sangat kurang ilmunya dan masih tebal pemikiran mereka dengan pemikiran lama yang belum terbuka dan kurang asimilasi di antara ilmu dunia dan akhirat . Hidup bukan sahaja untuk menerima ilmu sahaja, tetapi juga untuk menyampaikan kepada yang lain.

Malangnya saya tak berkesempatan untuk merakamkan audio kuliah pendek saya itu. InsyaAllah di lain masa.

// Di Penang Free School (Pics courtesy of Acab)

// Penang Free boys

// With Cikgu Omar, both Ustaz and Syafiq. Acab is the photographer

...

Finding Mrs Izwan?

Haha maklumlah dah masuk final year, soalan-soalan seperti ini sering kali ditanya oleh sanak saudara dan kawan-kawan. InsyaAllah, sudah ada dalam plan jangka panjang. Namun semuanya terpulang kepada Allah kerana Dia yang menentukan. Tapi yang pasti diimpikan pasangan yang bagus agamanya, sekufu, terbuka dan pelengkap diri. Cari yang beragama InsyaAllah yang lain akan selamat, ini berdasarkan pengalaman saya sendiri. Biasalah waktu 'muda-muda' dahulu masih mentah dan terlalu terikutkan keadaan persekitaran yang tidak membina.

Dan saya sangat berpegang kuat yang cara yang terbaik untuk kita mulakan perkenalan ialah dengan melalui proses 'taaruf'. Dan kemudian jika dua-dua dapat menerimanya, maka hubungan antara kedua-duanya hingga ke jinjang pelamin perlu dijaga dengan baik agar tidak dilanggar halal dan haramnya. Sebabnya semua yang dibuat sebelum perkahwinan akan memberi kesan setelah berkahwin dan di masa depan. Jika banyak haramnya yang dibuat sebelum berkahwin (berdua-duaan di tempat sunyi, berpegang tangan, peluk-memeluk, 'bertepuk tampar', cium-mencium, sms atau call berlebihan dan lain2), maka akan buruklah perkahwinan itu. Itu kalau dapat kahwin. Tapi jikalau ditengah-tengah kehangatan'bercinta' itu, berlaku 'break-up', kan tidak seronok rasanya, sebab dua-dua sudah 'ditebuk' dan 'dirasai' oleh bekas masing-masing seperti yang saya katakan di atas. Jika saya pasangannya yang baru atau seterusnya, sudah pasti saya tidak akan meneruskannya. Jika dijaga halal dan haramnya, InsyaAllah Allah akan tolong dan redha akan hubungan kita itu.

Ingatlah bahawa lelaki yang baik untuk perempuan yang baik, dan begitu jugalah sebaliknya. Jadi, berusahalah menjadi yang terbaik, InsyaAllah jodoh yang baik akan datang dengan sendiri. Dan yang paling penting sekali, perlu dikawal perasaan cinta dan nafsu, sebab ramai yang tersungkur kerananya. Ingat jaga halal dan haram.

Ramadhan al-Mubarak

2008-09-01T20:27:00.000+08:00

1 Ramadhan 1429H

Salam Ramadhan to all my Muslim brothers and sisters. May we achieved the 'TAQWA' that we are seeking for in this Ramadhan..

Setting our Niat,
Upgrade our Iman,
Install Yakin,
Download Sabar,
Upload Khidmat,
Configure Tertib,
Delete Dosa,
Update Doa,
Top-Up Ilmu,
Link Ukhwah,
Autorun Solat and zikir,
Play Tadarus,
Replicate Kebajikan,
Hide Keburukan,
Activate Antivirus Kemungkaran,
Screensaverkan Senyuman,
Backup Amalan,
Thrash riak, ujub and takabbur.

Sudahlah pelajar UiTM

2008-08-20T15:16:00.002+08:00

Sungguh memalukan. Itulah yang dapat saya katakan apabila melihat dan membaca berita tentang demonstrasi mahasiswa-mahasiswi UiTM minggu lepas yang kononnya mempertahankan dan memperjuangkan hak orang-orang Melayu dan turun berdemonstrasi atas kemahuan sendiri. Padahal di sebalik semua itu, majoriti turun berdemonstrasi setelah mendapat surat arahan daripada pentadbiran UiTM yang mengarahkan pelajar berdemonstrasi. Bukankah dahulu dicanang-canangkan yang berdemonstrasi bukan budaya kita. Pelik. Memang seperti 'lembu dicucuk hidung, ikut sahaja kata tuannya'. Dan yang lebih peliknya cadangan supaya diberi kuota 10 peratus kepada bukan bumiputera bukanlah satu benda yang baru. Saya masih ingat lagi pada tahun 2002, cadangan yang samalah telah disuarakan oleh Tun Dr Mahathir supaya UiTM membuka 10 peratus kemasukan kepada bukan bumiputera dan seperti biasa cadangan itu disambut hebat dengan pujian-pujian melangit tinggi dan terus dilaksanakan. Memang 'Melayu mudah lupa' dan budaya mengampu masih menebal dalam diri orang Melayu. Namun seperti kata Prof Khoo Khay Kim, sehingga kini walaupun dibuka kepada bukan bumiputera namun bilangan mereka yang mengambil peluang itu amat sedikit sekali dan bilangan mereka di UiTM tidak sampai pun 10 peratus.

Yang lebih pelik lagi sejak bila mahasiswa-mahasiswi UiTM ada kesedaran dan peka tentang hal-hal semasa, hal-hal negara dan orang Melayu. Sepanjang dua tahun saya di UiTM dahulu, yang dapat saya perhatikan, jika ada diskusi intelek atau ceramah ilmiah yang dianjurkan, kehadiran pelajar (jika tanpa paksa) boleh dibilang dengan jari dan kadangkala cabut awal daripada program itu. Tetapi jika konsert dan program hiburan diadakan, ribuan pelajar yang hadir dan menunggu sehingga program tamat. Itu belum lagi disentuh dengan isu keruntuhan akhlak dan masalah sosial pelajar yang semuanya Melayu Islam - isu 'couple', seks luar nikah, lelaki berpakaian dan berperwatakan wanita antara isu-isu yang memalukan. Jika mahu perjuangkan hak-hak Bumiputera, perjuangkan semuanya. Bagaimana dengan kuota biasiswa 55-45 bagi pelajar Bumiputera dan bukan Bumiputera untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negera yang baru sahaja dilaksanakan (dahulu 90-10), ada diperjuangkan? Bagaimana pula dengan dasar kerajaan persekutuan yang membuka 10 peratus pengambilan Maktab Rendah Sains MARA kepada bukan Bumiputera? Bagaimana pula dengan isu masalah sosial orang Melayu, isu kecetekan ilmu agama di kalangan mahasiswa, isu kurang kepekaaan mahasiswa dengan isu-isu semasa dan isu pengangguran mahasiswa setelah tamat pengajian? Isu AUKU bagaimana pula? Mahu sangat berjuang, maka perjuangkanlah semua.

Pada saya, tidak salah jika mahu berdemonstrasi tetapi biar betul pada isunya dan bukan menjadi bahan politik mana-mana pihak. Mahasiswa dan mahasiswi perlu bebas menyuarakan suara dan pandangan mereka sendiri dan bukan menjadi boneka pihak lain. Dan pada masa yang sama juga, kualiti UiTM sebagai 'Universiti orang Melayu' perlu ditingkatkan dan setanding dengan universiti terhebat di dunia. Jangan hanya gah pada kata-kata sahaja tetapi buktikan dengan menjadikan di antara 100 universiti terbaik dunia. Sekarang ini pun, di dalam senarai 400 universiti terbaik dunia pun tiada, tetapi masih mahu mendabik dada. Bagaimana mahu maju jika begitu?

Kelakar kadangkala memikirkannya. Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) diwujudkan untuk integrasi kaum, tetapi UiTM mengamalkan diskriminasi kaum. Sama-sama kita fikirkan.

Beijing 2008

2008-08-17T17:43:00.002+08:00

It's amazing. Beijing Olympics 2008 is truly extraordinary and so far the best I have seen since Barcelona 1992. Starting from its opening ceremony, the colourful and vibrant artistic performances, the unique 'flying-man' lighting the Olympics fire, the tremendous fireworks, the all stars line up of world class athletes especially in swimming, diving, athletics, tennis, football, basketball, gymnastics and others and up to now with all the sporting events and the world record breaking performances, they truly have set up a very high standard and excitement of Olympics. Even though there are a few issues happening in this Beijing 2008 - Tibet issue, the faking scandal over girl who sang the opening "Ode to the Motherland", the doping cases of a few athletes - but still Beijing 2008 is the best so far.

I salute Michael Phelps for achieving his dream and target of collecting 8 gold medals and broke 7 World records and 1 Olympic record in the swimming events. He is now has 14 gold medals from 2 Olympics games and the highest ever. Usain Bolt also did the same thing getting his gold medal and setting up a new World record of 9.69secs in 100m men final. He is really really fast and I think if he maintained his technique at the last 20 metres he surely can set a better time, maybe 9.60secs. Amazing both of them. Both are young, 23 and 21 years old respectively and their hardwork paid off. Again I salute them and also to others - Lin Dan, Guo Jing Jing, Yao Ming, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Elena Isinbayeva, and other Olympians.

Chong Wei did well for getting a silver medal, our first Olympic medal in 12 years, even though he lost in the final men single. Lin Dan was definitely at his best during the final game and deserved the gold medal. Anyway Kudos to Chong Wei. He made us proud and showed that indeed 'Malaysia Boleh'.

Nothing is impossible. With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination, and that's something I learned and something that helped me."
-Michael Phelps

It's good to be home

2008-08-13T22:38:00.003+08:00

At last, I am at home (Ipoh) for my 6 weeks electives. It is kind of a holiday too since I am doing it in my hometown and the rotation is totally not busy. Very very nice indeed. Home sweet home as people used to say. And living with your parents feels like heaven. Warm feeling..

So far my electives in Ipoh Hospital is really relaxing and it feels good. No pressure, no busy schedule as in paeds and psyc rotation, just tagging the Specialist, MOs, and HOs, asking them questions, seeing procedures, doing body examination, learning patients' management and be prepared to be bombared with medical questions from them. At the same time, hanging with Bapeq, Nuzul, Shamini, Cheen Werne and Yee Leng are enjoyful and indeed a lot of things we have learned especially in O&G. I am really looking forward for paeds next week, since I ve heard that the Head of Paeds Department is really cool and humble. Can't wait to revise my paeds. My big Exams are in Dec for Paeds, O&G and Psyc !!

...

Friends still keep asking me to write in my blog about my trip to China last July. Wait ya, have to finish the official report and the videos first. But I have told some of the stories and my experiences there to some of you. The trip was wonderful, since I ve got to go to a few places in China which is totally different from one another. Guanzhou or Canton, Xi'an and Zhangjia Chuan were totally different from one another. Each place is unique and full of history which dated thousand years back.

Xi'an and Guangzhou are big cities in China while Zhangjia Chuan is just a rural area at the hills Northwest of China. But what amazed me is that Xi'an has the highest population of Chinese Muslims in the whole of China. It was recorded that there is about 100 million of Chinese Muslims in China but the number is actually more than that. The highest concentrations are found in the northwest provinces of Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia, with significant populations also found throughout Yunnan province in southwest China and Henan province in central China. Of China’s 55 officially recognized minority peoples, ten groups are predominately Muslim. The largest groups in descending order are Hui (9.8 million in year 2000 census, or 48% of the officially tabulated number of Muslims), Uyghur, Kazak, Dongxiang, Kyrgyz, Salar, Tajik, Uzbek, Bonan, and Tatar. However, individual members of traditionally Muslim ethnic groups may profess other religions or none at all. Muslims live predominantly in the areas that border Central Asia, Tibet and Mongolia, i.e Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai, which is know as the "Quran Belt".

Why they are all in the northwest region? This is because the muslims had to run to that region during the Qing Dinasty. The rise of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) made relations between the Muslims and Chinese more difficult. The dynasty prohibited ritual slaughtering of animals, followed by forbidding the construction of new mosques and the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Qing rulers belonged to the Manchu, a minority in China, and employed the tactics of divide and conquer to keep the Muslims, Hans, Tibetans and Mongolians in conflict with each other. These repressive policies resulted in five bloody Hui rebellions, most notably the Panthay Rebellion, and the Dungan revolt, which occurred mostly in Xinjiang, Shensi and Gansu, from 1862 to 1877.
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Sun Yat Sen, who established the Republic of China immediately proclaimed that the country belonged equally to the Han, Hui (Muslim), Meng (Mongol), and the Tsang (Tibetan) peoples. Conditions for the Muslims worsened during the Cultural Revolution. They can't practise their faith at that time.

But, the government began to relax its policies towards Muslims in 1978. So today, Islam is experiencing a modest revival. There are now many mosques in China and many nation-wide Islamic associations have been organized to co-ordinate inter-ethnic activities among Muslims. It is a good thing indeed. But still most them have a bad living condition like in Zhangjia Chuan, the place that I went which is situated in the hills of Gansu province and 99% of them are muslims. Even though their living conditions are really bad, their faith are still strong.

Superb !!

2008-04-04T21:24:00.000+08:00

I have just finished reading these two amazing books.

Kite Runner is superb !! A story about 2 Afghan boys and their lives are so touching. I was glued to that book and just cannot stop reading it. It took me only one and a half day to finish it. And it has been a while, since I had that effect from a fiction book. I don't want to spoil the story for those who haven't read it, but I highly recommend this book for reading. Kite Runner the Movie has also been released, but the book is better :)

Purification of the Heart is amazing. It is the writing of Imam al-Mawlud Matharat al-Qulub on signs, symptoms and cures for spiritual diseases of the heart, which was translated and commented by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf. Our heart is the source of all good things and also all bad things in this world. If our hearts are good, the world will be in peace and harmony. But if our hearts are bad, the world and everyone will suffer. The key is our heart. I highly praised this book and recommend it for reading. I will definitely read this book again and again.

Excerpted from Sheikh Hamza Yusuf's Introduction:

This is the difference between someone whose heart is purified and one whose heart is impure and corrupt. Impure people oppress, and the pure-hearted not only forgive their oppressors, but elevate them in status and character. In order to purify ourselves, we must begin to recognize this truth. This is what this book is all about - a book of self-purification and a manual of liberation. If we work on our hearts, if we actually implement what is suggested here, we'll begin to see changes in our lives, our condition, our society, and even within our own family dynamics. It is a blessing that we have this science of purification, a blessing that this teaching exists in the world today. What remains is for us to take these teachings seriously....

The 'Fitna' Short Film

2008-04-02T18:52:00.000+08:00

I have managed to watch the 15 minutes 'Fitna' short film by the Dutch politician Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Dutch parliament from the LiveLeak website. But currently it has been removed due to copyright issues.

It is a sad thing for me and I do condemned the making of the short film. Wilders' action is very provocative and stupid. He tries to relate Islam and terrorism, Islamisation and violence by quoting a few verses from the Quran. I do hope that he understands that every verse from the Quran which was given to Muhammad saw must be interpreted according to the situation at the time of the revelation of each Quranic verse, and not to be interpreted literally. You have to know the reason of the revelation of each Quranic verse (Asbabun Nuzul) before you can understand and interpret the verse.

If you want to relate Islam and terrorism, then you are totally wrong as you do not understand the basic principles of Islam, which is peace and harmony. Each religion has their own black sheep, and so does Islam. Even the Jews, Christians, Hindus or Buddhists have their own people who are involved in terrorism, holocaust, killings, ethnic cleansing but why only Muslims are being linked with those things. I can definitely say that those who are involved with terrorism in the name of Islam are wrong and there are not good Muslims.

And at the same time, all of us Muslims should be ashamed of ourselves because we let 'them' hijacked our religion and potray Islam badly. We must act with wisdom on this issue and not to be reactive by the provocation of the short film. Be proactive and not reactive. This is our chance to let the world understands better about the Islamic fundamentals and principles, which have flourished the world from the Prophet Muhammad's era up to now. And history has proven that without the Muslim Scientists and Islamic civilization scientific contribution, there would not be the European Renaissance and modern world. It is our job to bring back the glory. Look at the past, learn from it and evolve from it.

Role Models

2008-04-01T17:16:00.000+08:00

When reading stories about Wan Azizah and others like Norzie Pakwan Che', Nurul Izzah and Wardina, they make me smile and inspired me to be 'with' someone like them. Moderate yet devoted muslimah and doing a lot of things which inspire others and excel in their fields. Good role models. And you can be one too. I am hoping for more good role models for the future. But nothing can compare to the best role models I have - my mum and my dad. Thank you God for giving me them.

PMC Islamic Society's Maulidur Rasul Talk

2008-03-30T09:46:00.001+08:00

UPDATE: My Speech and Dr Haniffah's talk on 'Faith & Function of Undergraduate Medical Students'

Aiyoh, I closed my eyes..haha

To commemorate the Maulidur Rasul, my PMC Islamic Society organised a talk, given by our very own lecturer cum consultant neurologist, Dr Haniffah Abdul Gafoor, entitled "Faith & Function of Undergraduate Medical Student". It was open to all Muslims and non-Muslims and indeed it was an excellent talk by him. We discussed some basic Islamic principles, pillars and lots of Quranic verses. We also discussed some historic issues concerning Islam and Prophet Muhammad saw, some past issues, current issues, future issues and most importantly the role of Muslim doctors in his life and work. It will be much better if you watch and listen the talk for yourself. So I will update with his slide presentation file and the talk video later ya. The talk is totally superb and different from a typical 'ceramah agama'.

In the meantime, here is my speech (President's speech) for the opening event:

Assalamualaikum wbt and a very good evening.

First of all, I would like to welcome and thank everyone who are here in this hall tonight for this event to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad SAW (peace be upon him). So I wish welcome and thank you to our guest speaker Dr Haniffah, Prof Amir, Prof Lee, their families and fellow friends for coming.

We are very honoured tonight to have Dr Hj Haniffah bin Hj Abdul Gafoor, our well-known consultant neurologist and PMC lecturer, to be the guest speaker for this event. With the theme "Love For The Beloved", he is going to give a talk entitled 'Faith & Function of Undergraduate Medical Students'. This talk, which is open to both Muslims and Non-Muslims, seeks to explore a topic that is highly relevant to us all, and as such, is an opportunity not to be missed!

Just a brief introduction to Maulidur Rasul (or in English, The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW) and about Prophet Muhammad SAW.

Maulidur Rasul falls on the 12 Rabi'-ul-Awwal (in the Islamic calendar or also known Hijriah calendar) every year and it is celebrated and remembered by all Muslims worldwide in different ways all over the world. This year, it coincides with 20th of March, which is last Thursday. But everyone must know that during the life of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, there is no such thing as his birthday celebration. Later after his death, muslims have this Maulidur Rasul to remember and honour him.

I love to read biographies of well-known people. If I am not a Muslim and after reading books on Muhammad written by unbiased authors like Martin Lings and Karen Armstrong, I think everyone here Must Know This MAN.

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all times to come.

“HIS NAME IS MUHAMMAD” May Peace of God Be Upon Him (peace be upon him)

He was born in Arabia in the year 570 C.E. (Common Era), started his mission of preaching the religion, Islam (submission to One God) at the age of forty and departed from this world at the age of sixty-three.

During this short period of 23 years of his prophethood, he changed the complete Arabian Peninsula from paganism and idolatry to worship of One God, from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion, from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety, from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living, from utter bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence. Human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since - and IMAGINE all these unbelievable wonders in JUST OVER TWO DECADES.

The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were one sided figures who distinguished themselves in but one or two field, such as religious thought or military leadership. The lives and teachings of these great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that is impossible for humanity to reconstruct accurately the lives and teachings of these men.

Not so this man. Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) accomplished so much in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human history. Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the records so preserved are vouched for not only by the faithful followers but even by his prejudiced critics.

Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father - all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these different aspects of life - but it was only for the selfless personality of Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) to achieve such incredible perfection.

Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) was nothing more or less than a human being. but he was a man with a noble mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE GOD and to teach them the way to honest and upright living based on the commands of God. He always described himself as, ‘A Servant and Messenger of God’ and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.

Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating mankind’s many ills, which they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of Muhammed’s (Peace be upon Him) followers, but the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.

The least you can do as a thinking and concerned human being is to stop for a moment and ask your self: Could these statements sounding so extraordinary and revolutionary really be true? And supposing they really are true and you did not know this man MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon Him) or hear about him, isn’t it time you responded to this tremendous challenge and put in some effort to know him?

It will cost you nothing, but it may prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.

So, I invite you to make a discovery of this wonderful man, MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon Him).

And with that I end my speech and Thank You.

Uncle, Nephews and niece

2008-03-30T02:58:00.000+08:00

Last week, I was finally on a holiday after a long academic semester. At God's will, my uncle, Pak Chu Amin passed away on Thursday evening, March 20th due to advanced liver tumour. Very sad for our family and his, so Al-Fatihah for him.

Both Yong's and Kak Ina's family came back home to Ipoh for the funeral. And later on Saturday, some swimming lessons for the kids, haha, so cute and fun.

Now I am back in Penang, new semester, new rotation starting with paediatrics. Neonate, toddler, infants and kids...

Malay Lit under threat

2008-03-29T05:31:00.000+08:00

Sudah lama
berjabat tangan
Mengapa tidak
juga berkenalan?

-A.Samad Said-

Sangat pendek sekali puisi ini, namun sungguh mendalam maksudnya. And I do love his writings, especially his poems. Lately our National Laureate is sad, angry and frustrated with the state of serious Malay literature in our country and I do agree with him. I do believe that works by our national laureates (poems, novels, books) should be included in the school curriculum and should be exposed to students from the early age. Not the 'heavy' one of course, but the one suitable for their age. Their works are truly something to be read and full of 'pengajaran'. So we must appreciate them and guard our Malay literature. Do read the interview with A.Samad Said, here.

Ayat-ayat Cinta

2008-03-15T08:15:00.000+08:00

Salah satu kegemaran saya ialah menonton filem, namun filem-filem yang bermesej lebih menarik minat saya untuk menontonnya. Yang paling terbaru yang saya tonton adalah filem yang diadaptasikan daripada novel 'Ayat-ayat Cinta' karya Habiburrahman Saerozi, Universiti Al Azhar, Cairo. Ternyata filem cinta ini lain daripada yang lain kerana penuh dengan unsur-unsur pengajaran lebih-lebih berkaitan tentang percintaan dalam Islam. Dating? Surat Cinta? Taaruf? Jodoh? Fitnah? Pengorbanan? Pengharapan? Kesolehan? Semuanya ada dipaparkan di dalamnya dan saya rasakan ia adalah satu usaha yang sangat baik yang sedikit-sebanyak telah menyentuh hati dan fikiran saya. InsyaAllah kepada yang lebih baik.

Ayat-Ayat Cinta The Movie Website

Ayat-Ayat Cinta di YouTube

Post-election

2008-03-14T23:11:00.001+08:00

Alhamdulillah, selesai sudah pilihanraya Malaysia yang ke-12. Ternyata, pilihanraya kali inilah yang saya rasakan paling menarik sepanjang 23 tahun saya di dunia ini, penuh dengan kejutan demi kejutan. Apa yang dibanggakan ialah rakyat kini sangat prihatin tentang negara, lebih-lebih sejak kebelakangan ini, di mana terlalu banyak masalah-masalah dalam negara yang timbul yang sedikit sebanyak menganggu-gugat keselamatan, keselesaan dan kesejahteraan semua. Itu belum dikira dengan masalah-masalah yang melibatkan sistem eksekutif, kehakiman dan polis kita. Namun diharapkan dengan bertambahnya bilangan suara pembangkang di Parlimen dan dengan kejayaan 'Barisan Rakyat' merampas Kedah, Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan sekali lagi berjaya di Kelantan, maka akan adalah keseimbangan kuasa dan suara di Malaysia ini bagi semua kaum, Melayu, Cina dan India, tidak kira kaya ataupun miskin.

Sentimen perkauman yang mula dimain-mainkan di dada-dada akhbar kini, lebih-lebih lagi di akhbar berbahasa Melayu, patut dihentikan. Nanti lain pulak jadinya. Bagi peluang kepada barisan rakyat untuk mentadbir dan membuktikan yang mereka lebih telus dan efisyen daripada kerajaan yang sebelumnya. Politik perkauman sudah tidak relevan lagi. Namun sikap hormat-menghormati antara satu-sama lain amat penting sekali dalam mengharungi cabaran yang mendatang. Ingat ! Respect others and be fair to everyone.

8 March 2008

2008-03-02T11:07:00.003+08:00

Vote wisely ! For my country, your country, our country..

Everything under the sun about this coming Malaysia General Election, here.

Yes we can change

2008-03-02T11:02:00.000+08:00

Cool. Yes, we can. Change for the future.

The 'Net' Power

2008-02-11T16:27:00.000+08:00

It is really quiet interesting when I found out that the votes of American youth in this year's US Primaries and Caucuses have increased dramatically, almost triple than the years before. More and more American youth are taking part in the Primaries and Caucuses as they are gaining more political awareness thanks to the technology of the internet, world wide web and television. The Democratic and Republican candidates are clever too. They know that the votes from the youth are important to them, to win the primaries and caucuses, hence most of the candidates like Senator Obama and Clinton make full use of the internet, as they 'invade' most of the websites that are filled with youth - Facebook, Friendster, MySpace, Flickr, Digg, Twitter and even YouTube. Their issues, speeches, debates and news are updated daily in those websites, with a cool-type presentation, making the youth much more interested in politics, nation-building and development. Furthermore, people like Senator Barack Hussein Obama, who 'speaks' the youth language, really attracts the attention of the youth on the issues that he brought up in his campaign. By the way, his website is really cool. Just wish that any of our politicians or leaders have their own cool website and yes some do have their own blogs, but still not interesting and quite boring.

For me, this is a very good sign and development as there is really a way to create political awareness in our youth. It is not that I want the youth to join politics or any political parties but for them to have a good political awareness because in Malaysia, politics is part of our lives, which controls almost everything - economy, education, judiciary, law, labour and etc. With a good political awareness, our youth will have more pride and sense of self-belonging towards our country and can gain good experiences, knowledge and attitude to be a good citizen and maybe a future leader, who can pursue a good change in our lives and society.

I personally think thatour youth in Malaysia are not being exposed with all the issues concerning our country correctly in a language that the youth can understand. In addition with the presence of AUKU in universities and colleges are making them more afraid to discuss and debate on this issues openly and wisely. If we cannot stimulate them to discuss and debate wisely (but not emotionally) on this issues, than how can we develop good leaders and also good followers for the future. Developing youth to be good leaders is important, not just to be the leaders of the country but also leaders in other various sectors - companies, universities, NGOs, societies and maybe OIC, PBB, UNESCO etc. And good followers are also important so that they will support the leaders, have good principles and know when to follow or reject their leaders.

So, our elder people have to train the youth using a language or method that can attract them and make them understand. Using the internet is a good way to educate and train them, but we are still lack behind (if I compare Malaysia and Ireland), in terms of access to internet at home or educational centers. Even our fastest broadband in Malaysia is only 2Mb/s, but in Ireland they are already up to 10Mb/s this year. Easy access to internet will definitely change our country, the society and our youth particularly.

Gaza Diary

2008-02-09T15:22:00.000+08:00

A very touching story (below). Approximately 1.48 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, of whom almost 1.0 million are UN-registered refugees. The majority of the Palestinians are descendants of refugees who fled or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The vast majority of the population are Muslims, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Christians who are now suffering, due to the Israeli government action of power and fuel cut to Gaza Strip. Shameful that as the Chairman of OIC, the Prime Minister of Malaysia has done nothing about this issue, not even a word about the power and fuel cut to Gaza strip. Not even a word..

Gaza Diary: Not a life for children

By	Omar, a humanitarian worker in partnership with Oxfam

A young Palestinian girl wounded in an Israeli air strike on Gaza [GALLO/GETTY]

"Why us? Why are we cold? What is happening?" my children ask all the time.

They are six and two. When they ask for chocolate and I cannot give it to them, they ask why. I explain to them that it is because of the closure, but this does not explain things any further to them, they still ask: "Why? Why us?"

What they least understand is why their lives are being affected by something which they are not responsible for.

It is hard for me to explain. I am 37-years old and have spent my whole life under occupation. My father was a refugee from Barbara, my original village. He said to me the other day: "Son, we have never lived in a situation like this before. I hope that this will be the last time that we live like this, forever".

But people live in hope. They believe, even after all this time, that peace will return to us.

It has been five days now since I have had a shower. This is due to a lack of power to fuel the water system and to the hectic times that are upon us.

It is winter and we are all beginning to get very cold. Without electricity, all my family and I can do to stay warm it to huddle around a gas lamp. We cover ourselves in sheets...

A happy note

2008-02-09T14:50:00.000+08:00

Good news for my Turkey friends. Now they can set foot in their universities and get their degrees, masters and phds. Secularism kills religion and democracy. Education is for all, no matter their skin colours, religions, beliefs, or what they wear. And I supposed education doesn't teach us to discriminate others.

Turkey set to relax headscarf ban

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey's government is expected to lift a decades-old ban on Islamic head scarves in universities on Saturday in a significant victory against the secular establishment.

Women, including one with a paper bag on her head, protest the head scarf ban at Turkish universities.

In predominantly Muslim Turkey, which seeks European Union membership, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party has channeled the frustration of devout masses who feel excluded from the establishment into political action.

"We will end the sufferings of our girls at university gates," Erdogan said Thursday in reference to pious female students who have been forced to remove their head scarves at the entrance to campuses.

Some have attended classes wearing wigs.

The Parliament will hold brief debates and vote on two crucial amendments to the secular constitution to allow female students to wear head scarves on campus

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/08/turkey.headscarf.ap/index.html

Happy Chinese New Year

2008-02-07T13:28:00.000+08:00

Wishing a Happy Chinese New Year to all my Chinese friends and colleagues around the globe. May the 'rat' year will be a prosperous year and fill with happiness till the end.

Munich, Feb 6th 1958

2008-02-07T02:06:00.000+08:00

Election fever

2008-02-07T00:05:00.000+08:00

Rumours are spreading that our 12th Malaysian General Election will be held on the 1st Mac this year, which is a Saturday. Since this is the first time I will involve in a general election, I am very very excited. Can't wait to use my right and to do my responsibility for our country. But sadly, most of my peers and colleagues are still infected with the 'aku malas nak peduli' syndrome. Still being a 'katak di bawah tempurung' who doesn't even know what's happening around them, except for their exams. They are not interested with issues concerning our society and our people, and don't even bother discussing about it or at least to take note on it. As long as they can pass their exam and spend their scholarship or Pa&Ma's money, they are happy. Come on guys. Don't be so childish and selfish. We are part of a bigger thing in this world. We are all connected to one another and any problem affecting any one of us will affect us all as a society. Do register for the next election and do your rights please.

And at the same time, I personally think that both political parties either right or left should be given an equal opportunity to present their manifesto to the people. Both sides should be given equal chances to appear in the mass media and present it professionally to the people. Educate the people and let them choose themselves. But unfortunately it's not happening in our country, because of two things - the government is afraid of losing and our people is not ready yet for this. And why is our people still not ready for it? Because they were not expose to a good political debate between both sides and they were never really expose on the important issues concerning our society. The important issues are always kept far away from the people, and to fill in the vacuum, pure 100% entertainment is given to the people to escape from the reality. Pity our nation, and pity the Malays even more. In this coming election, I still can't find the manifestos for both political sides, except hearing about the 'Negara Kebajikan' from Pas. How can the people vote if they don't even know each parties manifestos? How can the people vote if they don't even know what will the 'calon wakil rakyat' fight for? This is just like a big joke, asking people to vote blindly. Educate the people please ! Thank God, there is an alternative - the internet.

Kuala Kangsar

2008-01-31T17:35:00.000+08:00

I just came back from my 3 weeks posting in Kuala Kangsar for my Community Health Services Study (CHSS) which is part of the Public Health subject. Actually my class was divided into 6 big groups of 20 or 21 people and was assigned to 6 different places, 5 in Perak and 1 in Kedah, which were Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Manjung, Kerian, Batu Gajah and Baling. I was very lucky haha as i got to go to 'Kuala' which is only 20 minutes from my house in Meru Heights, Ipoh. We are not suppose to be assign to a place which is near our parent's house because my lecturers are afraid that we might stay at home and skip all the visits and briefings. But maybe my lecturers just missed me, haha but i did stay in Kuala for the whole 3 weeks and only went back home on the second weekend.

Anyway, the posting was really fun and a lot of things I learned there. During the 3 weeks, I was exposed with our Malaysian Health System and Services in the district level setting. Basically all health related issues in Kuala are under the responsibility of Kuala Kangsar Health District Office. From the Kuala Kangsar Hospital, 7 health clinics and 27 community clinics to vector contol, garbage disposal, drug rehab center, school health, old folks home, sanitation, factories, alternative medicine and orang asli settlement, all are under their care. A tough job indeed, especially with the lack of funding and manpower. I personally think that our health system is quite good and all the problems in the system are just due to the lack of funding, manpower and political commitment. If this 3 main issues can be resolved, definitely we can have one of the best health system in the world. I think there is no other place in the world than Malaysia, that the health treatment fee is only one ringgit per admission. Problems are there, but it is not impossible to solve it. Impossible is nothing.

Kuala is nice and peaceful. The people are very friendly, haha maybe because my kampung are there in Padang Rengas, only 10 minutes from the town of Kuala. The food are quite good and not too difficult to find a place to eat there, since Kuala is just a small town. For the whole 3 weeks we stayed at the Rest House with air-conditioner in our rooms, Thank God ! because it was very very hot there in Kuala. The rest house is situated near the river bank, on the way to Istana Bukit Chandan. I do miss my time there especially during maghrib, since during the 3 weeks time I went to Masjid Ubudiah for my maghrib prayers everyday. Masjid Ubudiah is really beautiful, built from the unique Moorish architecture. Even though it is small and not as big as the Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, but when i was there i feel like at home. A very nice feeling indeed.

The orang asli settlement visit was a new experience for me. Seeing them living in that kind of condition, far away in the rural area, with lack of basic infrastructures and facilities, makes me feel sad and grateful at the same time. Meanwhile the visit to Pusat Serenti in Lintang was really an eye opener. We do have lots of drug addicts and their living condition there are quite bad too especially the toilets and bathrooms. Something needs to be done. The factory visit to Kilang Kicap Tamin was fun, but they don't give free 'Kicap' to anyone of us. Haha.

So, now I am busy again with all the reports to be done and the exams are coming nearer. Do pray for me, so that I will excel in my exams.

I have been following closely the US Primaries and Caucuses since last December. Quite interesting and I do hope Obama will win and then become the next President of the United States of America. If you read and listen to his speeches, you will have the feeling that he is the one that can bring a change in US politics, administration and world peace. So let's hope that he will succeed. Our own election is also just around the corner, but I guess we all know who will win again, right? After 50 years, we do need to bring our country to a greater height and to become a developed country, lived by citizens with first class mentality. So, to make it comes true, we need to have a good leadership, and to have a good leadership, we have to do our right - VOTE ! It is our right....

Welcome 2008

2008-01-01T22:47:00.000+08:00

A new year has come, with a new beginning, a new chapter in life, a new hope and a new aim. I hope that this year will be a great year, full of happiness, success, accomplishment and opulence. And it's only one and a half years more before I'll get my MB BCh BAO. InsyaAllah, may Allah help me in achieving my dreams.

2007 was a great year for me. Even though I had to leave Dublin in February, but coming back home (Ipoh) was indeed the best thing last year. Truly what Alice in Wonderland said, "There is no place like home". And my second home (Penang), was superb - diverse in ethnicity and culture, rich in history, beautiful beaches, but the best of all - a food paradise. Don't be jealous ya! Medical college (PMC) is quite stressful but fun. I was offered with a lot of President posts in various societies (Students' Association, Islamic Society, Literature n Debate Society etc.), but I chose only one, the Islamic Society (ISOC) since I feel that it is my obligation and duty to strengthen ISOC and to put in a new approach and ideas into it - so just see what have been done within this 8 months, here. I decline the Students' Association (SA) Pres post because I think I can do more for PMC in ISOC rather than SA and indeed, it's true.

Summer was fun with MSLS (see below) and the two visits to PizzaHut - I ve found a gem. And celebrating Hari Raya at home with my family was more memorable in 2007 since my last three Hari Raya were in Dublin. But holidays are becoming shorter and shorter in my clinical years now. Not good but I have to accept it.

I think that's quite it for 2007. Coming home to my family and beloved country was indeed the best thing for 2007.

Bye bye 2007. Welcome 2008.

Man jadda wa jadda.

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

2007-09-17T11:27:00.000+08:00

Taken from www.pmcisoc.org

Madrasah Ramadhan has come again. Alhamdulillah.

Let's welcome the month of Ramadhan, the month when Allah SWT is most gracious and generous to us. All of the rewards for our ibadah in this month will be multiplied by Allah SWT, so do take care of our fasting and other ibadah. It will be a waste if we don't increase the quality of our ibadah, be it through solat jamaah, solat sunat, reciting Al-Qur'an, do'a and supplications, by giving alms, preventing from doing maksiat and mungkar, and increasing our takwa to Allah SWT. And also increasing the quality of our studies or work and our bonds with our family, neighbours and friends.

May we have the strength and momentum to perform our ibadah so that this Ramadhan shall be a better Ramadhan than our previous ones.

A summary on MSLS

2007-09-16T11:01:00.000+08:00

Personally i think that this summit was a very good move and effort to gather all the young future leaders, who are interested and concerned about our nation and at the same time, are idealists with the same vision that our nation can further be developed to a higher standard of quality. This summit was also a very good exposure to me and others who attended it, in discussing about certain issues about our nation, listening to other people thoughts, seeing their visions and aspirations, exchanges ideas and building network for the benefits in the future. According to Ibnu Khaldun, each generation span is about 40 years before the next generation will take over from their predessors, so 50 years have already passed and now this is the time for the next generation to lead our country. Hopefully all those who came will somehow eventually involved actively in our nation building in any fields that they are into and together we build a better future and hope for our country and for the next generation.

This was what happened during the 2 days:

Speeches by Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah, Prof Emeritus Dr Mohd Arif, Mr Tony Fenandes, Mr Karam Singh Walia, Dr Khoo Kay Kim, and Prof Shamsul Amri were very inspiring.

Some of the presentations slides can be found and downloaded (use Save Target as) here:

Datuk Rafiah Salim - Unity in Diversity – Myth or Reality?
Professor Ariff - Economy – Past Present and Future
Professor Shamsul Amri - DEB/ National Economic Policy – Is it still relevant?
Admiral Tan Sri Anwar - On Command & Leadership
Tan Sri Dr. Wan Zahid - Higher Education - The Way Forward
YAB Dato' Haji Abdul Ghani Othman - Iskandar Development Region
Dato' Tony Fernandes - Corporate Challenges for the Young & Bright

You may find His Royal Highness Raja Nazrin's speech in the following link: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=18846

And finally our declaration after the 2 days summit:

Theme: Remembering 50 Years Independence
Malaysian Students Leadership Development Initiative

The MSLS Declaration
5th August 2007
Hotel Nikko, Kuala Lumpur

Kumpulan Tunku Abdul Rahman

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to Democracy and Transparency in Malaysia, in line with the fact that Tunku Abdul Rahman as the founding father of the nation had to deal with these issues.

The group believes in democracy in line with the principles of Separation of Powers and the Rule of Law, therefore believing:

1. In an independent and impartial Judiciary; where the appointment process of the Chief Justice of Malaysia includes a time frame for valid objections to surface.
2. In a free press; where, inter alia, the decision of the Minister in matters pertaining to the issuance and renewal of media licenses are subject to judicial review.
3. that Parliament’s first duty is to the people; where a Parliamentarian votes according to his or her conscience, taking into account the sentiments of his or her constituents.
4. In the freedom of speech; where inter alia, preventive detention laws are not used arbitrarily for political ends.
5. In absolute free and fair elections; thus we commend the Elections Commission in its move to increase transparency and public confidence in the electoral process, especially in the usage of indelible ink.

Kumpulan Tun Abdul Razak

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to Education in Malaysia, in line with the fact that Tun Abdul Razak came up with the Penyata Razak which was a foundation to the Education system in Malaysia.

The group believes in the 5 Guiding Principles:

A. EMPOWERMENT
-Lifelong learning @ learning culture.
-Educators, parents and students.
-Recognizing that every individual is different.

B. DEPOLITICISATION OF EDUCATION
-Subjects at primary and secondary level.
-Administration
-Promotion: Scrap PTK!

C. FUNDING AND TREATMENT
-Equality for all institutions.
-Urban/rural divide.
-Public/private.

D. AUTONOMY
-Community involvement (Parents & teachers).
-Academic freedom for ALL!
-Interdisciplinary studies.
-Different means to the same standard.

E. SYLLABUS AND RESEARCH
-Thinking rather than memorization.
-Researching culture!
-Long term benefits instead of immediate returns..

Kumpulan Tun Hussein Onn

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to Unity in Diversity in Malaysia, in line with the fact that Tun Hussein Onn was well known as Bapa Perpaduan Malaysia.

The group:

1. recognizes that national economic policies, it’s implementations and continuity should focus on the eradication of poverty instead of awarding unneeded privileges to any racial communities
2. recognizes that there should be national schools which truly cater for the need of different racial communities ;
- In particular the teaching of cultural history in schools
3. rejects any form of ethno-religious politics that creates discontent between racial communities;
- In particular on the part of the politicians and the media
4. recognizes that the Malaysian identity should be based upon embracing diversity
5. recognizes the need to encourage meritocracy, transparency, accountability and general equality to reduce disparity amongst racial communities;
- In particular the implementation of the duty to give reasons for public decisions

Kumpulan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to the Corporate sector in Malaysia, in line with the fact that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed was well known as Bapa Pemodenan Malaysia.

The group separates the issue into:

A. PROBLEMS:
1. Corruption
2. Corporate social responsibility
3. Hardcore poor
4. Benchmarking of competition

B. RESOLUTIONS:
1. 3 legged-model
• self discipline
• market discipline
• regulatory discipline
2. Lower taxes for those who practise corporate social responsibility
3. To support the GLC model and we support that the Government provides essential services under the Government.
4. Implementation of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) must improve.
5. Encourage research & development through fiscal benefits and attracting better human resources as well as increasing marketing standards.

Kumpulan Dr Ismail

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to the National Economic Policy.

The group:

1. Acknowledges the successes of the NEP in enlarging the middle class and reducing racial tensions.
2. Emphasizes the need to implement the original tenet of the NEP ;
- ie Poverty eradication regardless of race as well as increasing efforts to reduce income inequality
3. Agrees that to be against any attempt to exploit the NEP to enrich the few or to gain political capital, it proposes an independent watch dog to police these concerns
4. Believes there should be efforts to gauge public opinion of the NEP
5. Suggests promoting awareness as well as rational and tolerant discussion of the NEP and it’s effects on all stakeholders
6. Believes any prospective reform/non-reform should be based on points 4 and 5

Kumpulan Ghafar Baba

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to the Media control in Malaysia.

The group discussed on:

1. Exposure: Usage of media to promote
2. Quality of content
3. Disallow political parties to have ownership – “Direct/indirect”
4. Reorganization to ensure more transparency to maintain a balanced/tolerating exposure to public
5. Regulatory body consisting of government, media and public; for better sense of censorship

Kumpulan V Sambanthan

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to the Environment issues in Malaysia.

The group believes:

1. That Humanity and the environment interact through technology and it is our responsibilty to use efficient technology to ensure sustainable development.
- Technology here is defined as the means to all human ends. This is not restricted to scientific/electronic devices, but also organizations, corporations, legislations and economic structure
2. To improve technology by importing existing technology, inventing new technology, and implementing new technologies effectively.
3. To improve ourselves via education and empowerment
4. In creating awareness, using the following avenues :
- Education, incorporating environmental awareness since young
- School campaigns involving students and public
- Mass media, through the innovative of reality tv and media campaigns
5. In highly recommending the government in encouraging careers in environmental management through a systematic performance oriented system of incentives.
6. In condemning any lax enforcement of environmental governance and hope that the government will attract the right people in the sector who are passionate and responsible.
7. In imploring all Malaysians through their sense of morality to be vigilant against pollution and champion environmental injustices.
8. To appeal to all Malaysians whether students, regular citizens, corporate leaders or political leaders to encourage the fellow humans in all arena whether work, home or academia to adhere to these standards and further spread the words for a better Malaysia and the world

Kumpulan Cheng Lock

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to the Foreign Policy in Malaysia.

The group believes:

1. To be firm in foreign policies by having more assertive leaders who execute the nation stand, preserving neutrality and the integrity of the federal constitution
2. To participate pro actively in various international organizations and alliances as well as to sign and ratify international accords which produce win-win synergy.
3. Boosting Malaysia’s economic growth through exchange foreign expertise while collaborating in the field of science and technology
4. Establishment of Malaysia as an education hub through mutual exchange of culture and knowledge whilst strengthening foreign ties
5. To address environmental issues more openly and to undertake pro active approach in the exchange of research findings dedicated to environmental conservations

Kumpulan Siew Sin

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to the Malaysian Economy.

The group believes:

1. in revamping the education system to produce a dynamic workforce which can adapt easily to face the demands of an ever-changing world economy
2. in diversifying the economy by intensifying R&D through sharing expertise bilaterally, regionally and internationally to kick start/improve identified areas of growth
3. in setting up proper conditional protectionism guidelines to ensure that infant industries thrive and are able to eventually compete globally
4. that economic development must benefit everyone.
5. to eradicate corruption and promote good governance
6. in ensuring sustainable development in order
7. in improving and promoting financial and economic literacy (ie reaching out to the ordinary citizen)

Kumpulan Temenggung Jugah

This group concentrated on discussing issues related to the Human Rights issues in Malaysia.

The group calls upon:

- the Government to stop misusing Acts of Parliament passed for the specific purpose of combating communism/terrorism against citizens who are exercising their lawful rights of freedom of opinion, speech, and expression;
- Malaysia to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ratify it with an Act of Parliament, hence empowering the Courts; and
- the provision for judicial review against all arbitrary decisions by the Government violating human rights.

The group proposes:

- for the incorporation of human rights and civil liberties in the national education curriculum; and
- for the mass media to take up the watchdog role against violations of human rights and to educate the public about these rights.

AL-Fatihah

2007-08-13T22:54:00.000+08:00

Actually i've plan to update on Malaysian Student Leaders Summit that i went last weekend but then i've got a sad news from a friend that my schoolmate, Fadil Ahmad had passed away at 9.15 pm today. I m totally sad. Fadil and I were our batch leaders in STAR. Semoga Allah mencucuri Rahmat keatas beliau dan ditempatkan dalam golongan orang-orang yang beriman.

Al-Fatihah...

KL again

2007-08-02T23:24:00.000+08:00

I am off to KL tomorrow for the First Annual Malaysian Student Leaders Summit 2007. I ll be staying at my sister's house in Shah Alam. I ll be back on Monday.

Menjunjung Kasih Tuanku

2007-08-02T00:18:00.000+08:00

"Corruption was mankind’s most deadly social disease as it could undermine good governance, weaken institutional foundations, distort public policies, compromise the rule of law and constrain the economy.
Corruption curbed competitiveness to the detriment of economic and social developments, would lead to tremendous misallocation of resources and make cost of doing business to become unacceptably high.
Corruption exists because of man’s enduring desire for personal gains. Once corruption becomes widespread, it will no longer seem immoral and unlawful, just business as usual.
There must be concrete anti-corruption measures and management practices based on efficiency, transparency and accountability.
Those with a chequered past or clear evidence of questionable morality should be prevented from taking office.

There should be zero tolerance for corrupt practices."

Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah

Summer of Love

2007-07-31T23:09:00.000+08:00

This is just a quick entry. I've received so many wedding invitations to my friends' wedding this summer, but i could only managed to go to only a few of them due to my tight schedule this month. I am so sorry guys.

Anyway, I would like to congratulate them and wish my newly wed friends - "Selamat Pengantin Baru", "Moga bahagia di dunia dan di akhirat InsyaAllah" =)

Syahril Izwan and Haly Rozie

Imran Idris and Aliyya

Fairuz Azmi and Asma' Mohd Hatta

Fadzleeyanna Yahya and Lutfi

Khamizi Aziz and Ainun Nadwah

Mustaza and Faizah

Haikal Ghazali and Hidayah Mohd Rudin

Mosque

2007-07-30T00:02:00.000+08:00

There was a great article in The Star last Sunday (22 July 2007), on "Building friendlier mosques" from an architectural point of view which I totally agree with the writer, but i think more can be done for our mosques here in Malaysia.

Anyone who have been to Istanbul, Turkey must be amazed to see that all the mosques there are always packed with people during each prayer times. Even for the Subuh prayer, the mosques are packed with brothers and sisters and the number of people who came is just like our Friday prayer in Malaysia (I am really amazed and happy at the same time). But in Malaysia, I am quite disappointed that most of the Muslims' mindset here are still the same as before, go to the mosque/surau for jemaah only for Maghrib prayer, Friday prayer and the 2 Hari Raya prayers. Meanwhile for Subuh, Zuhur, Asar and Isyak, only one or two 'saf' can be seen. Furthermore, the 'loyal' visitors of the mosque are always those from the 'pencen' group who have nothing more to do apart from getting ready to see the Almighty and only a few youths and children can be seen at each prayer times. This must be changed, as Allah loves youth who goes to the mosque for prayer more than those in the old age.

I think our mosque here should be more than just a prayer hall, wudhu' area, toilets and parking spaces. We must go back to the ideal mosque concept during the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) time - Mosque build on takwa as the House of Allah and also as a community center. I really like the mosques that I went for prayers in Dublin (Dublin Mosque and Clonskeagh Mosque) and also a few others I visited in Lisbon, Cordova, Granada, London, and Manchester as they served both of these concepts, the House of Allah and a community center.

Our mosque now, apart from the prayer hall, wudhu' area and toilets, should also be build with a multipurpose hall with seats like in a cinema, LCD projectors and screens, TVs and etc. for any programs that the community wants to conduct ('Ceramah', 'Kuliah', Conference, Hari Keluarga, Kenduri kahwin, other kenduri kendara etc.). Also each mosque should be build with a library which has all the great books written by both Islamic and Non-Islamic Scholars, computers, internet, printers, TVs and videos, so that the people can come to read, study and borrow books from the mosque. Also each mosque must be build with other rooms for meetings, shops, and restaurants and even a playroom the children and youths. Futsal and basketball court can be build to attract the children and youths to come to mosque, not just for the game but also for prayers and it really works in Dublin. The mosque should be used as the center of administration and the center of the community. If this can be done, people will be more attracted to go the mosque, more keen to be there and will be proud to be a part of the mosque which serves both as the House of Allah and also a community center for the Ummah.

Hiburan

2007-07-21T23:32:00.000+08:00

Kebetulan setelah pulang daripada solat maghrib di masjid sebentar tadi, saya telah menonton Buletin Utama di TV3. Apa yang menariknya, ada berita tentang 4 kertas kerja yang telah dibentangkan di Seminar Kemerdekaan Negara dan salah satu daripada kertas kerja yang dibentangkan adalah berkaitan dengan generasi remaja dan belia pada masa kini. Pembentang kertas kerja tersebut (saya tidak ingat namanya) telah memberikan komen dalam berita tersebut yang mana beliau mengatakan bahawa generasi muda di zaman 50an dan generasi muda kini sangat berbeza. 'Mindset' mereka sangat berbeza. Generasi muda di zaman 50an apabila berkumpul pasti membicarakan tentang kemerdekaan, penjajahan, kepimpinan, ingin memajukan diri dan negara, perpaduan, keselamatan dan keamanan bersama. Namun berbeza dengan generasi muda pada masa kini (generasi saya yang beliau maksudkan), di mana 'mindset' mereka hanya penuh dengan hiburan, hiburan dan lagi hiburan. Yang betul-betul mengambil berat tentang negara dan ingin 'membetulkan' negara amatlah sedikit sekali. Jadi saya amat setuju sekali dengan apa yg beliau katakan.

Kini terlalu banyak sangat hiburan di Malaysia, lebih-lebih di media massa. Agak gerun saya melihatnya, sejak pulang daripada Dublin 5 bulan yang lalu. Apa yang saya dapat lihat, yang menjadi mangsanya adalah masyarakat Melayu dan Islam. Anak-anak kecil Melayu kini kebanyakannya apabila ditanya apa cita-cita mereka, pasti menjawab - "Nak jadi penyanyi dan penghibur". Aduh, rosak bangsaku. Bangsa Cina dan India tiada pula begini. Sudahlah terkenal dengan malasnya, rasuahnya, panas baran di jalan raya, korupsinya dan kelambatan, kini ditambah dengan hiburan 24 jam. Hiburan tidak salah, tetapi ada hadnya dan jalannya yang betul, lebih-lebih sebagai seorang Muslim. Bukalah mata, berapa ramai anak-anak remaja yang kini sudah rosak agamanya, akhlaknya, budi bahasanya, dan kepandaian yang disia-siakan. Kalau ini diteruskan bagaimana ingin membina modal insan? Cuba jawab.

Ini belum diambil kira dengan masalah jenayah yang makin meningkat setiap hari. Saya rasa di Dublin lebih selamat lagi daripada Malaysia sekarang ini.

Something need to be done fast.

Cuti

2007-07-21T09:03:00.000+08:00

Lama sudah tidak menulis apa-apa di sini. Sibuk sedikit sejak akhir-akhir ini, lebih-lebih lagi apabila memulakan kehidupan sebagai 'full time clinical student', di mana hospital telah menjadi 'rumah tetap kedua' sepanjang 4 bulan ini. Penat tetapi menarik berjumpa dengan pelbagai ragam dan karenah pakcik-makcik-auntie-uncle-adik-adik (pesakit-pesakit) di hospital. Lebih-lebih lagi dengan 'patient' yang tidak fasih berbahasa Melayu dan Inggeris. Jadi akan belajar Bahasa Hokkien cuti ini supaya dapat berinteraksi dengan mereka dengan lebih mudah. "Lu ho bo, uncle?", "Pang ling ling, auntie", "Ada Chuan ke?", "Tia?", "Kamsiah aa Uncle" antara 'simple Hokkien words' yang sering saya gunakan di hospital. Di Penang Hospital sungguh unik kerana kebanyakan doktor-doktor di sini boleh berinteraksi dalam semua bahasa, baik Melayu, Inggeris, Hokkien dan Tamil. Jadi, sangat memudahkan kerja dan saya sedang menuju ke arah itu. Dulu sering kali terdengar kata-kata daripada Mozo, Ghani dan Syafiq Ayman, "Tunggu la korang clinical years nanti, sibuk dan penat". Kini baru tahu sebenarnya macam mana rasa mereka dahulu. Akhirnya cuti pun bermula setelah tamat exam 'long case' Khamis yg lalu.

Akan pulang ke Ipoh hari ini. Lama sungguh tidak pulang ke rumah menjenguk mak dan abah. Tidak sabar juga rasanya untuk ke Kuala Lumpur 2 minggu lagi untuk program Malaysian Student Leaders Summit 2007 dan atas urusan peribadi.

Berfikir dalam zikir

2007-04-02T22:54:00.000+08:00

Oleh DR. SIDEK BABA

BERFIKIR adalah suatu fitrah. Allah memberi manusia akal membolehkan manusia berfikir. Allah mengurniakan manusia pancaindera membolehkan manusia memandang, memerhati, melihat, menyaksikan, mendengar, menghidu, merasa dan menyentuh supaya darinya manusia memperolehi maklumat, pengalaman dan juga tanggapan.

Darinya manusia berusaha untuk melakukan kajian dan penelitian supaya manusia dapat memahami apa yang ada di sekitarnya dan apa yang diperlukan dalam hidup ini.

Alam ini Allah jadikan seluas-luasnya untuk mengajak manusia berfikir dan mengetahui kebesaran-Nya. Planet bumi di mana manusia hidup dilimpahkan rahmat dan nikmat yang amat banyak. Setiap kejadian yang Allah ciptakan terkandung hikmah yang amat luar biasa sifatnya.

Apa yang mampu dikaji dan diteliti dan dinikmati oleh manusia masih sedikit. Bayangkan alam yang terlalu luas dengan rahsia yang belum diteroka oleh manusia tentunya mengandungi hikmah yang amat menakjubkan. Allah memberikan kita al-Quran supaya manusia mendapat pertunjuk dan pedoman bagaimana memahami benda yang nyata dan benda yang ghaib, bagaimana manusia dapat berfikir tentang sesuatu di sekitarnya dan menghubungkannya dengan Pencipta. Inilah asas berfikir dalam zikir bagi orang-orang yang beriman.

Para remaja amat perlu membina tradisi berfikir dalam zikir supaya asas berfikir yang sebenar dapat dirasai dan dinikmati. Berfikir secara akliah semata-mata selalunya tersisih dengan hikmah mengenai sesuatu. Ia hanya menghubungkan pemikiran dengan asas yang rasional dan logik pada pertimbangan akal semata. Sesuatu yang di luar batas akal dianggap tidak rasional dan tidak logik dan ia ditolak.

Keyakinan remaja kepada kuasa Pencipta sudah tentu tidak sama dengan keupayaan manusia dengan akal dan pancaindera yang terbatas. Sekiranya akal manusia dan kemampuan berfikir adalah segala-gala sudah tentu manusia berupaya menyelesaikan banyak masalah kehidupan yang kelihatan semakin parah dan membimbangkan.

Apa daya manusia menyelesaikan pelbagai jenis penyakit yang datang silih berganti kalau hanya bergantung dengan akal semata-mata. Apa daya manusia mengatasi masalah kerosakan akhlak kalau hanya bergantung dengan pertimbangan akal semata. Dan apakah daya manusia mengatasi musibah banjir, gempa bumi, ribut dan taufan kalau hanya berpandu dengan kajian dan penelitian sahaja.

Para remaja yang menggunakan pendekatan berfikir dalam zikir tentunya mengetahui bahawa tidak semua yang terdapat dalam alam ini diketahui manusia dan tidak semua yang berlaku dalam alam ini di bawah kudrat dan kawalan manusia.

Mengajak remaja berfikir dalam zikir bermakna menghubungkan alam ini dengan Pencipta dan menghubungkan kejadian dan peristiwa dengan kuasa Pencipta.

Berfikir dalam zikir bagi remaja bermakna bagaimana remaja sejak awal umur lagi didedahkan dengan jalan berfikir yang mengingati kebesaran Allah. Memahami faktor ghaibiyyat dalam hidup remaja harus dihubungkan dengan tanda-tanda kebesaran Allah yang terdapat di mana-mana di muka bumi apalagi di angkasa.

Al- Quran memberi remaja pedoman dan panduan bagaimana memahami kebesaran Allah dengan menyaksikan tanda-tandanya. Kejadian siang dan malam, hujan dan panas yang berlaku silih-berganti, kehidupan manusia dan faktor alamiah yang berpasang-pasang, diturunkan hujan menghidupkan pohon-pohon dan haiwan adalah tanda-tanda kebesaran-Nya bagi remaja yang berfikir.

Manusia tidak mampu menguruskan perjalanan kejadian tersebut malah menerima saja apa yang berlaku dengan urus tadbir yang terbatas.

* Zikir

Berfikir dalam zikir membimbing remaja untuk memahami bahawa seluruh kejadian alam ini adalah di bawah urus tadbir Allah s.w.t. Manusia yang diberi amanah sebagai khalifah perlu melakukan urus tadbir mengikut pedoman yang Allah telah berikan menerusi kalam-Nya al-Quran supaya ia menjadi pertunjuk bagi manusia. Mengingkari akan menyebabkan kerosakan kepada kehidupan dan muka bumi ini.

Berfikir dalam zikir bagi remaja mampu mendekatkan remaja kepada kebesaran Allah. Berzikir dalam erti kata yang luas bermaksud mengingati dan mengakui kebesaran dan keagungan Allah.

Bila remaja melafazkan kalimah zikir Subahanallah atau Allahu Akbar, ia tidak hanya terpancar dengan kalimah dan dibenarkan atau ditasdikkan dalam hati semata tetapi lafaz kalimah itu memberi dorongan ilmu mengenai rahsia kebesaran Allah dalam alam ini yang perlu dikaji oleh remaja supaya manfaatnya dapat dirasai oleh manusia.

Sains dalam tradisi Barat mengkaji sesuatu benda seadanya dan mengkaji sesuatu fenomena seadanya. Dalam tradisi berfikir dan zikir mengkaji sesuatu benda tidak saja dikaji seadanya tetapi dikaji hikmah di sebalik kejadiannya. Apalagi bila mengkaji fenomena sesuatu kejadian ia tidak hanya dikaji mengenai kejadian itu tetapi berfikir dalam zikir memberikan pedoman, hikmah dan iktibar di sebalik sesuatu kejadian supaya manusia mendapat pengajaran dan pertunjuk dari sesuatu benda dan kejadian.

Mengapa manusia dilahirkan ke dunia kemudian dimatikan, mengapa manusia yang sihat kemudian jatuh sakit, mengapa manusia yang zaman mudanya cerdik dan sampai terlalu tua hilang ingatan, mengapa manusia suatu ketika kaya kemudian tiba-tiba jatuh miskin, mengapa suatu ketika manusia berada di tempat yang amat berkuasa kemudian jatuh sebagai manusia yang hina.

Mengapa manusia di suatu zaman membina tamadun yang hebat tetapi kini menjadi penciplak kepada tamadun orang lain, adalah gambaran fenomena kejadian manusia sejak dari dahulu sehingga kini.

Memahami fenomena ini dalam dalam fikir dan zikir memberikan remaja iktibar tentang kejadian dan kuasa Allah yang seharusnya manusia mengambil iktibar darinya.

* Penyakit

Hal yang sama juga berlaku terhadap pelbagai jenis penyakit yang sedang menghinggapi manusia kini, keadaan cuaca yang tidak menentu, lapisan ozon yang semakin menipis, sungai-sungai yang tercemar, udara yang semakin kotor adalah gambaran tentang ketidakseimbangan yang berlaku dan sebahagiannya adalah akibat perbuatan tangan-tangan manusia.

Berfikir dalam zikir bagi remaja membawa remaja ke arah dorongan mengkaji dan menyelidik tidak saja dalam batas benda yang nyata tetapi harus memiliki pedoman dari Pencipta tentang pedoman-pedoman mengurus yang betul supaya wujud pemahaman yang seimbang bahawa sesuatu itu adalah kejadian dan milik Allah.

Manusia diberi amanah untuk mengurusnya dengan baik dan betul. Darinya lahir sifat amanah yang tinggi dan terjadinya sesuatu ia ada hikmah yang membimbing manusia berfikir tentang upayanya yang terbatas dan upaya Allah yang tidak terbatas.

Berfikir dalam zikir meningkatkan keyakinan dan keimanan remaja tentang kekuasaan dan kebesaran Allah kerana tidak ada sesuatu yang terjadi dan diciptakan di alam ini tanpa kuasa-Nya.

Ilmu yang ada pada remaja hanya sedikit dan kalau yang sedikit itu remaja tidak bersyukur dengan-Nya malah sesetengah remaja sombong dan takbur terhadap-Nya, ia menyebabkan remaja akan kehilangan pedoman ilmu dan hikmah dan akhirnya remaja akan merasakan ia adalah segala-gala dan ia bakal menjerumuskan remaja ke arah kerosakan dan kebinasaan peribadi dan pemikiran.

- PROF. DR. SIDEK BABA ialah pensyarah Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM).

Inspiration

2007-03-08T07:04:00.000+08:00

Kejayaan beliau merupakan satu inspirasi dan contoh yang baik kepada yang lain-lain. Pelajar yang seperti inilah yang mahu kita lahirkan dan kita bentuk, pelajar yang bukan sahaja bijak di dalam bidang akademik, tetapi juga seorang yang 'serba bidang', yang bagus agamanya, yang bagus akhlaknya, yang bagus pergaulan sosialnya, yang boleh berkebolahan berpidato dan berbahas, yang aktif menyumbangkan sesuatu kepada masyarakat, serta yang mahir dalam kemahiran-kemahiran IT, komunikasi dan yang lain-lain. Barulah dapat kita katakan bahawa diri itu adalah cemerlang. Ayuh, mari membentuk diri kita ke arah kecemerlangan di dunia dan di akhirat, kecemerlangan di dalam syariat Allah dan sunatullah.

Utusan Malaysia, Rabu, 7 Mac 2007:

Cara Nadiah mendapat 19 A dalam SPM

BELAJAR secara berjadual dan fleksibel merupakan rahsia pencapaian cemerlang Nadiah Amirah Jamil, 18, sebagai pelajar terbaik Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2006 dengan memperoleh 19 A.

Lebih-lebih lagi, beliau terpaksa belajar sendiri lapan mata pelajaran tambahan yang diambil bagi mencapai impian memecahkan rekod idolanya, Nur Amalina Che Bakri yang mendapat 17 1A dalam Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2004.

Lapan mata pelajaran tambahan yang terpaksa beliau belajar sendiri ialah Ekonomi Asas, Tasawwur Islam, Pendidikan al-Quran as-sunnah, Pendidikan Syariah Islamiah, Sains, Geografi, Sastera dan Perdagangan.

Sebelas lagi mata pelajaran yang diambil ialah Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris, Matematik, Matematik Tambahan, Fizik, Kimia, Biologi, Sejarah, Pendidikan Islam, English For Science and Technology (EST) dan Prinsip Perakaunan.

“Sepatutnya saya nak ambil 21 subjek tetapi ibu melarang kerana katanya 19 subjek sudah cukup membebankan,’’ katanya.

Menyedari mata pelajaran yang diambil bukan calang-calang jumlahnya, pelajar pintar ini terpaksa menyusun jadual secara teliti agar tidak ada satu pun mata pelajaran yang diambil akan ketinggalan dan tercicir dari segi penumpuan.

Anak sulong daripada tiga adik-beradik kepada pasangan guru, Jamil Omar, 55, dan Zakiah Zakaria, 51, ini memberitahu, bagi mengimbangi jadual pembelajaran hariannya yang cukup ketat, beliau akan memberi penekanan yang lebih kepada matapelajaran utama atau penting.

Beliau berkata, bagaimanapun, penekanan kepada mata pelajaran penting ini pada ketikanya akan diubah sekiranya dirasakan perlu dilakukan setelah membuat penilaian terhadap semua pencapaian mata pelajaran dalam peperiksaan penggal.

Katanya, selepas melihat keseluruhan pencapaian, biasanya beliau terpaksa mengubah jadual dengan memberi penekanan pula kepada mata pelajaran yang mengalami kemerosotan.

Tambah Nadiah, beliau perlu memastikan setiap mata pelajaran mencapai keputusan yang seimbang.

“Ini penting bagi menentukan saya boleh mencapai keputusan A1 dalam semua mata pelajaran yang diambil dan jika boleh mencatat markah 100 peratus,” katanya.

“Apabila berlaku keputusan markah yang kurang seimbang tersebut, saya akan mengubah semula jadual belajar iaitu memberi penekanan kepada mata pelajaran yang mengalami kemerosotan,” katanya ketika ditemui MEGA di rumahnya di Kampung Sungai Tongkang Tambak, Batu Pahat, Johor.

Nadiah memberitahu bermula dari tingkatan empat dan percubaan peperiksaan SPM, beliau berjaya mencapai keputusan cemerlang dalam hampir kesemua mata pelajaran kecuali pernah menghadapi masalah di peringkat awal dalam mata pelajaran perakaunan.

Beliau berkata, oleh kerana perakaunan merupakan satu bidang yang terlalu baru baginya dan ketika mula mengambilnya, keputusan awal tidak begitu memberangsangkan.

Namun beliau berjaya mencapai markah 100 peratus selepas berusaha lebih dan mengikuti kelas tambahan.

Katanya, bagi mata pelajaran yang terpaksa diambil secara sendiri, beliau mengakui banyak menerima bimbingan daripada guru-guru di sekolahnya termasuk ayahnya sendiri yang merupakan guru geografi di sekolahnya.

Di samping itu katanya, beliau melakukan perbincangan dengan rakan-rakan lain yang mengambil subjek yang sama bagi memantapkan lagi kefahamannya.

Nadiah mengakui beliau sebenarnya bukanlah tergolong sebagai pelajar yang mengambil waktu terlalu lama untuk mengulangkaji mata pelajaran selepas waktu kelas di rumah.

Seperti remaja-remaja lain beliau juga turut menggunakan waktu lapang yang ada dengan membaca buku-buku di luar bidang akademik khususnya buku-buku motivasi dan dia amat meminati hasil karya Dr. H.M. Tuah serta buku-buku resipi masakan kerana Nadiah juga minat memasak.

Bagi Nadiah memasak mampu menjana otak untuk menjadi lebih kreatif dan beliau sudah pandai menyediakan nasi goreng untuk diri sendiri ketika di sekolah rendah dan mampu memasak untuk keluarga dan tetamu khususnya nasi ayam ketika berada di tingkatan satu.

Menyentuh mengenai cara belajar lagi, Nadiah memberitahu beliau lebih memberikan tumpuan ketika berada di kelas dan seboleh-bolehnya menyelesaikan masalah yang ada ketika itu juga dengan bimbingan guru-guru.

“Saya jarang berjaga sehingga larut malam untuk mengulangkaji pelajaran di rumah dan biasanya saya akan masuk tidur tepat jam 11 malam,'' katanya.

Bagaimanapun, Nadia mengakui beliau akan bangun lebih awal iaitu kira-kira jam 3.30 pagi untuk bersolat sunat terlebih dahulu, menghafal al-Quran sambil menunggu waktu solat subuh dan kemudian bersiap-siap ke sekolah.

Beliau mengakui melakukan mind setting amat penting bagi mengekalkan tumpuan kepada pelajaran dan pengajaran guru di kelas.

Katanya, apa pun kesulitan termasuk gangguan mengantuk ketika belajar dapat diatasi jika seseorang pelajar mampu menguasai pemikirannya.

“Jika kita kata kita mengantuk, maka kita akan jadi mengantuklah... dan begitulah sebaliknya,” katanya yang mengakui suatu ketika dahulu pernah menjadi seorang gadis yang kuat tidur sehingga mendapat gelaran ‘Ratu Tidur’ di kalangan rakan-rakan sekelasnya gara-gara pernah tertidur dalam kelas dan ketika menjawab soalan Peperiksaan Menengah Rendah (PMR).

Kejayaan dan kecemerlangan Nadiah juga banyak dibantu dengan keyakinannya terhadap kekuatan dan keupayaan menghafal ayat-ayat suci Al-Quran.

Beliau yakin membaca dan menghafal kitab tersebut merupakan kaedah yang baik untuknya untuk sentiasa dapat berfikir dan bertindak secara lebih tenang dan mudah membuat hafalan.

Oleh itu katanya, beliau berusaha menghafal Al-Quran sejak di tingkatan satu dan menjadi amalan hariannya sehingga kini, walaupun dilakukan secara sedikit demi sedikit.

Nadiah kini telah berjaya menghafal lapan surah antaranya Yasin, Al-Mulk, Ar-Rahman, Al-Sajdah, Al-Waqiah dan Luqman.

“Saya menyimpan cita-cita untuk menghafal kesemua juzuk dalam al-Quran kerana yakin ia mampu memberi ketenangan dan menguatkan ingatan,” katanya.

Bersesuai dengan keyakinan terhadap ajaran Allah dapat mambantunya berjaya dunia dan akhirat, Nadiah juga menjadi seorang yang sangat pemilih terhadap persekitaran khususnya muzik yang perlu didengarnya setiap hari untuk menghilangkan kebosanan atau tekanan.

Nadiah mengakui beliau banyak mendengar lagu-lagu nasyid yang baginya sesuai untuk membentuk jiwa seseorang menjadi lembut dan amat meminati Kumpulan Raihan.

“Jika kita sentiasa terdedah dengan lagu-lagu bercorak keras, lama kelamaan jiwa kita juga akan menjadi keras,” katanya yang turut meminati Datuk Siti Nurhaliza dan berharap dapat bertemu dengan penyanyi pujaan ramai itu suatu hari nanti.

Jika mendapat kesempatan, Nadiah memberitahu, beliau berhasrat melanjutkan pelajaran di bidang farmasi kerana beliau mempunyai impian menjadi usahawan berjaya dalam bidang tersebut dengan membuka sebanyak mungkin rangkaian farmasi di dalam dan luar negara.

Katanya, beliau juga berharap dapat melanjutkan pelajaran di bidang farmasi di University of Cambridge, United Kingdom hingga ke peringkat kedoktoran falsafah (PhD) kerana beliau juga bercita-cita menghasilkan ubat yang mampu meningkatkan sel-sel neuron dalam otak manusia.

Nadiah menasihatkan pelajar-pelajar khususnya yang akan mengambil peperiksaan penting agar tidak mengambil jalan singkat untuk berjaya.

Katanya, sikap suka meniru juga merupakan tabiat yang sangat buruk dan boleh menyebabkan sesuatu bangsa itu akan mundur.

“Ingat... di sebalik kesulitan ada kemudahan dan kejayaan itu sangat manis,'' katanya.

Beliau juga mengakui belum mempunyai teman lelaki istimewa kerana baginya ia tidak perlu ketika masih di bangku sekolah kerana tanggungjawab seorang pelajar adalah menuntut ilmu.

Katanya, ketika ini kasih sayang ibu bapa, adik-beradik, guru-guru dan rakan-rakan sudah memadai.

“Saya mempunyai seorang kawan lelaki yang sangat rapat tetapi setakat ‘teman tetapi mesra’,” katanya sambil tersenyum.

Sorry la Liverpool Fans..

2007-03-03T23:21:00.000+08:00

Haha I'm sorry guys. Man U just have to win. Even though Liverpool was the better side yesterday (they played really well) but luck was on the Man U side. We surely will win the English Premier League EPL this season. Glory glory Man United ~~

Rancangan Amerika menyerang Iran

2007-03-03T01:27:00.000+08:00

Peningkatan ketegangan dan tekanan terhadap Iran kini amat membimbangkan. Ini boleh dilihat daripada kenyataan-kenyataan agresif oleh pentadbiran Bush terhadap keupayaan nuklear Iran di media-media massa utama dunia. Entah apa muslihat Amerika di sebalik semua ini. Pendirian Amerika yang 'double standard' terhadap keupayaan nuklear Iran sememangnya dipertikaikan. Manakan tidak, pemilikan bom nuklear oleh Zionis Israel tidak pula dihebah-hebahkan dan diberikan tekanan. Pada pandangan saya, semua negara di dunia ini tidak berhak mempunyai bom nuklear. Semua perlu dimusnahkan. Ini juga mengingatkan kembali kita, bahawa cara yang sama telah diguna-pakai sebagai persiapan Amerika sebelum serangan ke atas Iraq pada tahun 2003 yang lalu.

Dunia umumnya dan Timur Tengah khususnya tidak dapat menerima suatu lagi serangan ke atas kedaulatan dan kemerdekaan mana-mana negara. Apa-apa serangan ke atas Iran akan mengeruhkan lagi hubungan dengan dunia Islam yang sememangnya sudah rapuh dan goyah. Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), Pertubuhan Negara-Negara Islam (OIC) dan semua negara-negara Islam yang lain perlu melakukan sesuatu demi untuk mempertahankan kedaulatan Iran dan perlu merayu kepada rakyat Amerika untuk mendesak pentadbiran Bush agar tidak mengambil tindakan ketenteraan sebegitu.

Constantinople: The Last Great Siege 1453

2007-03-02T01:49:00.000+08:00

This is a book by Roger Crowley

"On May 29, 1453, Ottoman forces, under the leadership of Mehmet II, concluded their long and bloody siege of Constantinople by storming the city and overtaking it. According to Crowley, who works in publishing in England;the Ottoman conquest of the city brought to an end centuries of conflict between the Byzantine Empire and Islam. In overwhelming detail and colorless prose, Crowley chronicles the story of an ancient city and its attraction to members of two major religions. Before Mehmet's conquest, Constantinople had faced various unsuccessful sieges, and Crowley faithfully records them. The most destructive events came between 1341 and 1371, when earthquakes and the Black Death devastated the city, turning it into a forlorn series of villages. Although the Byzantine capital recovered enough of its former glory to entice Mehmet to its walls, even he felt tremendous disappointment, finding the city didn't live up to its reputation. Crowley drones through the day-by-day events of Mehmet's siege and the results of the conquest. Perhaps the author's most instructive point, made by others as well, is that Mehmet turned the city into one where religious toleration and multiculturalism flourished.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition."

I've just bought this book last weekend at Kinokuniya during my outing with Kak Ina in KLCC. It is definitely an excellent buy for me. As i was reading the book, scenes from the movies of The Lord of The Rings and Kingdom of Heaven started to pop-up in my imagination. The siege was really fascinating and it should be made into a movie. The book is chock-full of interesting facts about the siege and where the facts are unclear, Crowley gives us the opposing stories and lets us decide. The facts are clearly explained and Crowley tells us the details of the event before and after the siege in an awesome presentation from many different point of views and from both sides, the Muslims and Christians. I can imagine how great Mehmet was.

In addition "1453" is a very readable, fast-paced history. It's one of the few history books I've read where I can honestly say I wished it was much longer. And the pictures shown were indeed fascinating, especially the picture of the Great Chain which strung across the Golden Horn, the Theodosian Wall and the complete map of Constantinople during the Mehmet's siege. But do mind Crowley's lack of understanding of the concept of Jihad, but still the facts are quite accurate and the book is not bias.

Do buy this book and read it. (Find it at Amazon.com) It is not like an ordinary boring history book.

Seriously, best !!

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2007-02-20T01:43:00.000+08:00

Wishing all my Chinese friends, a Happy Chinese New Year.
May this new year brings you prosperity and lots of good luck.
(18-19 Feb 07)

NISA' Games 2007

2007-02-19T10:36:00.000+08:00

Jom join NISA' Games 2007

Tahniah saya ucapkan di atas kejayaan penganjuran NISA' Games 2007 yang sememangnya membuka minda semua orang, terutamanya umat Islam di Malaysia, bahawa Islam sama sekali tidak menghalang seseorang itu untuk aktif bersukan dan berjaya dengan cemerlang di dalam bidang tersebut, terutamanya bagi kaum wanita yang meminati bidang ini. Asalkan cara perlaksanaan kejohanan sukan itu tidak melanggari hukum syarak, maka semuanya dibolehkan dalam Islam. Boleh saya katakan bahawa NISA' Games merupakan satu contoh alternatif yang terbaik setakat ini yang membolehkan wanita Islam bersukan tanpa melanggar hukum syarak. Syabas sekali lagi saya ucapkan. Namun apa yang mengecewakan ialah tidak ada langsung berita atau publisiti tentang NISA' Games ini di media-media massa utama di negara kita. Terpaksa pula saya mencari berita ini di saluran alternatif yang lain. Entahlah...adakah kerana mereka takut atau kerana mereka malu ??

Nisa’ Games setanding sukan berprestij lain

Sun | Feb 18, 07 | 07:52:16 AM

KOTA BHARU, 18 Feb – Majlis perasmian Nisa’ Games 2007 yang berlangsung di Stadium Sultan Muhammad ke-1V dekat sini malam tadi dianggap hampir menyerupai pembukaan sukan berprestij lain di negara ini.

Bagaimanapun suatu kelainan kelihatan apabila 27 kontinjen yang mengandungi seramai 1,200 atlet dari seluruh negara berarak masuk ke dalam stadium sebelum acara perasmian bermula, di mana kesemuanya wanita.

Perarakan masuk didahulukan enam anggota Nisa’ yang membawa bendera Malaysia diikuti 27 kontinjen mewakili 11 negeri dan 14 kawasan Parlimen di Kelantan. Apa yang membanggakan kontinjen dari Sabah dan Sarawak turut menyertai kejohanan Nisa’ Games yang berlangsung semalam dan hari ini.

Kehebatan tambah menyerlah lagi apabila perarakan masuk tiga kuda yang ditunggang tiga anggota Nisa’ dengan membawa bendera Malaysia, Kelantan dan Nisa’ Malaysia, kemudian diikuti kereta kuda juga membawa anggota Nisa’...

Menutup aurat tidak halang bersukan – Ruqqaya Al Ghasara

Salmah Mat Husain
Sat | Feb 17, 07 | 01:03:29 PM

KOTA BHARU, 17 Feb – Jaguh pecut Asia, Ruqqaya Al Ghasara memberitahu Kelantan merupakan negeri luar pertama menjemputnya secara rasmi selepas menjuarai sukan berprestij itu tahun lalu.

Beliau merakam ucapan terima kasih pada Nisa’ dan kerajaan Kelantan kerana menjemputnya untuk hadir pada kejohanan Nisa’ Games yang berlangsung di sini, hari ini dan esok.

“Saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada kerajaan Kelantan kerana memberi ruang pada Nisa’ untuk menampilkan acara sukan yang mempamerkan pesertanya menutup aurat.

“Menutup aurat tidak boleh dijadikan penghalang kepada wanita Islam aktif dalam bersukan kerana ia sedikit pun tidak menganggu seseorang maju dalam sukan,” katanya ketika ditemui di sini.

Beliau yang mula aktif dengan acara sukan sejak berusia 12 tahun dan tidak menafikan pelbagai halangan yang terpaksa dihadapinya sebelum menjulang pingat emas pada Sukan Asia Doha.

“Antaranya, penampilan saya yang menutup aurat di tengah-tengah masyarakat dunia sewaktu beraksi menjadi rasa pelik serta janggal oleh peserta dan pengurus pasukan negara lain.

“Bagaimanapun, saya tidak menafikan mereka tidak pernah mendiskriminasikan walaupun penampilan saya sebegini, saya dilayan sebagaimana peserta lain,” ujarnya.

Bukan itu sahaja, ujarnya dengan menutup aurat juga beliau dapat menonjolkan imej Islam sebenar walau di mana sahaja kita berada termasuk bersukan.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berharap tindakannya itu dapat dijadikan contoh kepada semua atlet Islam supaya menutup aurat termasuk di Malaysia.

“Saya juga berharap atlet Malaysia iltizam dengan pakaian Islam serta menutup aurat walau di mana sahaja berada, termasuk ketika bersukan, sebab ia jelas tidak menghalang seseorang itu aktif dalam sukan,” katanya.

Menurut Ruqqaya kerana pendiriannya sentiasa teguh dalam menutup aurat menyebabkan kedua ibu bapanya tidak menghalang beliau aktif dalam sukan.

Sebelum ini Ruqqaya pernah mencipta beberapa kejuaraan lain di kejohanan Liga Arab antaranya 100 meter dan 200 meter pada tahun 2003.

Beliau mempunyai tujuh adik beradik iaitu tiga lelaki dan empat perempuan.

Ruqqaya juga akan menyambung pengajian dalam jurusan perniagaan Universiti Bahrain. Sebelum itu belajar di Kolej Telok yang memberikan sokongan padu kepadanya sehingga berjaya dalam sukan.

Selepas menjulang pingat emas 200 meter tahun lalu, beliau menerima ucapan penghargaan daripada Raja Bahrain di atas kemenangan itu.

Palestin: Melihat dimensi Saudi

2007-02-18T11:00:00.000+08:00

Utusan Mingguan, 18 Feb 2007.

Lega rasanya apabila Persetujuan Mekah dicapai antara Hamas dan Fatah bagi tujuan menubuhkan kerajaan perpaduan. Tahniah wajar diberikan kepada Raja Arab Saudi, Raja Abdullah yang berusaha menjadi orang tengah dalam perselisihan Hamas-Fatah yang telah pun mengorbankan pejuang mereka sendiri dan hampir menyeret Palestin ke dalam kancah perang saudara, sedangkan musuh mereka iaitu Israel terus bermaharajalela.

Tetapi perjalanan masih jauh. Persetujuan Mekah ini hanya menyelesaikan satu perkara yang tidak patut berlaku iaitu perbalahan antara Hamas dan Fatah.

Tetapi masalah ini berlaku kerana Amerika Syarikat (AS) tidak mahu mengiktiraf kerajaan Hamas. Maka hakikatnya ia bukan masalah Palestin tetapi lebih kepada sikap hipokrisi AS terhadap demokrasi.

Sepatutnya apabila Hamas menang pilihan raya, maka ia berhak menubuhkan kerajaannya tanpa syarat. Dunia termasuk AS wajar akur pilihan rakyat Palestin. Sememangnya lebih bijak bagi Hamas menubuhkan kerajaan campuran dengan mengajak Fatah menyertainya. Tetapi kemenangan Hamas adalah kuat dan ia tidak perlu menubuhkan kerajaan campuran.

Masalahnya AS tidak mahu mengiktiraf kerajaan Hamas dengan alasan pertubuhan itu enggan mengiktiraf Israel, di samping ia masih tidak menolak penggunaan senjata.

Demokrasi memberi hak untuk mana-mana pihak memiliki pendirian. Begitu juga dengan Hamas. Ia sudah mempunyai pendirian sedemikian dan tidak wajar ia dipaksa untuk mengiktiraf Israel. Banyak negara di dunia yang tidak mengiktiraf Israel. Itu tidak bermakna kerajaan mereka tidak boleh diiktiraf.

Apabila kerajaan Hamas tidak diiktiraf AS, maka ia dihalang daripada mendapat bantuan kewangan. Kesatuan Eropah (EU) juga menurut jejak AS. Kesemua punca pendirian ini ialah Israel yang mahu kerajaan Palestin mengiktirafnya sebelum diadakan rundingan damai.

Untuk sebarang rundingan, mestilah pengiktirafan dilakukan antara satu sama lain. Israel mengiktiraf Palestin, dan pihak Palestin juga mengiktiraf Israel.

Tetapi tidakkah boleh rundingan terus dijalankan tanpa pengiktirafan? Hakikatnya walaupun Palestin tidak mengiktiraf Israel, tetapi rejim Zionis sudah menguasai Palestin. Begitu juga walaupun Israel tidak mengiktiraf Palestin, kerajaan Hamas sudah dipilih rakyatnya. Rundingan boleh dilakukan untuk cari jalan damai walaupun kedua-dua pihak tidak mengiktiraf antara satu sama lain.

Bagaimanapun, Israel menggunakan isu pengiktirafan ini untuk menekan Hamas. Baginya ini adalah peluang untuk mendapatkan pengiktirafan ke atasnya secara paksa.

Bagi mereka yang menjunjung sejarah, Israel sememangnya tidak boleh diiktiraf. Tanah-tanah Israel itu adalah milik kedaulatan Palestin. Britain yang menguasai Palestin selepas kejatuhan Khalifah Uthmaniah ekoran Perang Dunia Pertama memegangnya sebagai mandat, iaitu amanah. Maka secara demokratik, ia perlu mengembalikannya kepada rakyat Palestin. Apabila rakyat Palestin mahukan sebuah negara merdeka dan berdaulat, maka itulah yang patut diwujudkan.

Tetapi selepas Perang Dunia Kedua, Britain menyerahkan mandat itu kepada Zionis untuk dijadikan Israel. Ia merupakan suatu pengkhianatan dan adalah zalim untuk sesiapa mengiktiraf Israel.

Bagaimanapun, Israel berjaya mempengaruhi AS dan EU. Maka untuk menekan Hamas, mereka menghentikan bantuan kepada kerajaan Palestin. Akibatnya kakitangan kerajaan Palestin lumpuh kerana tidak memperoleh gaji. Sementara kakitangan kerajaannya pula terdiri daripada anggota Fatah.

Maka sudah tentulah Fatah marah kepada dasar Hamas dan mereka mahu kerajaan Palestin mengiktiraf Israel supaya bantuan kewangan dapat disalurkan semula.

Inilah akibatnya apabila kerajaan Palestin bergantung kepada dana kewangan AS dan EU.

Tetapi mengapakah kakitangan kerajaan Palestin umumnya terdiri daripada anggota Fatah dan tidak disertai oleh orang Hamas?

Ini kerana semasa penubuhan pentadbiran Pihak Berkuasa Palestin (PA) ekoran Persetujuan Oslo yang membawa kepada kepulangan Pertubuhan Pembebasan Palestin (PLO) serta pengerusinya Yasser Arafat, Hamas tidak melibatkan diri.

PLO mengambil jalan mengiktiraf Israel, sebab itulah rejim Zionis itu membenarkan penubuhan kerajaan Palestin, lengkap dengan bantuan AS dan EU sendiri.

Hamas tidak mengiktiraf Israel dan terkeluar daripada persetujuan itu. Selama Yasser masih hidup, Fatah memenangi pilihan raya Palestin kerana Hamas tidak menyertainya.

Pertubuhan yang berasaskan fahaman Islam itu tidak menyertai pilihan raya Palestin kerana ia tidak mengiktiraf Israel.

Tetapi apa yang mendorong kepada Persetujuan Oslo dan penubuhan PA serta kepulangan PLO adalah intifadah atau kebangkitan rakyat Palestin melawan penjajah Israel pada akhir tahun 80-an. Penggeraknya ialah Hamas. Pada masa itu PLO berada dalam buangan di Tunisia. Maknanya, apa yang menyebabkan penubuhan PA dan kepulangan PLO ialah gerakan yang asasnya pada Hamas.

Mungkin keadaan berbeza andai kata Yasser dahulu mengundang Hamas menyertai kerajaan PLO. Walaupun Hamas tidak menyertai pilihan raya, kerajaan perpaduan akan membawa Hamas ke arus perdana.

Tetapi pada masa itu, perkara itu tidak difikirkan kerana mereka sengaja mahu meminggirkan Hamas. Lagipun Israel, AS dan EU tentu tidak mahu Hamas menyertai kerajaan pimpina Fatah.

Kini setelah Hamas menang pilihan raya, ia juga tidak dapat berfungsi kerana kerajaan tidak mempunyai dana. Sememangnya dana tidak boleh terkumpul kerana hakikatnya Palestin sedang dijajah dan diduduki.

Keadaan akan lebih mudah jika Israel mengundurkan diri daripada menjajah Palestin tetapi realitinya ia tidak mahu Palestin merdeka. Kalau diberikan kemerdekaan pun, ia berbentuk palsu kerana Israel tidak mahu negara Palestin berdaulat.

Bagi menekan Hamas, pejuang Fatah melancarkan serangan, malah menangkap pemimpin Hamas. Sementara Israel bersedia memberi bantuan dan ruang untuk Fatah bertindak ke atas Hamas. Begitu pilu keadaannya kerana pejuang Palestin menggunakan sokongan Israel untuk menekan pejuang Palestin yang lain.

Hamas cuba mendapat sokongan dan bantuan dana bagi kerajaannya dari luar. Banyak negara Islam sedia membantu. Antaranya, Arab Saudi dan Iran.

Tetapi sebarang pertumpahan darah di Palestin hanya akan mendatangkan penderitaan kepada rakyatnya. Hamas boleh mempertahankan pendiriannya dan negara-negara Islam boleh membantunya tetapi peperangan yang berlanjutan bukan saja daripada pihak Israel tetapi pertembungan sesama Hamas-Fatah akan hanya menyusahkan rakyat biasa.

Keutamaan sekarang adalah tindakan menghentikan sebarang pertumpahan darah dan membuka jalan damai untuk masa depan dalam kerangka bahawa kekuasaan dunia dipegang oleh AS, EU dan Israel.

Maka perdamaian antara Hamas dan Fatah mesti dirintis dan Riyadh adalah pihak yang paling sesuai untuk melakukannya. Ia mempunyai kemampuan untuk menyalurkan dana bagi menggerakkan jentera pentadbiran di situ.

Lagipun jika Riyadh tidak berperanan, Teheran akan masuk dengan lebih pesat dan keadaan menjadi sulit kerana ia adalah musuh AS. Jalan masa depan lebih kepada berbentuk ketenteraan, peperangan dan penderitaan.

Arab Saudi dan Palestin adalah sesama Arab dan Sunah Waljamaah, maka peranan ini lebih mudah dimainkan. Hubungan baik Arab Saudi dengan AS juga boleh digunakan bagi melicinkan usaha ke arah damai.

Dari segi latar belakang sejarah, Hamas yang merupakan cawangan Ikhwanul Muslimin mendapat dukungan ideologi dari Arab Saudi yang pada satu masa menentang golongan kiri Arab. Sedangkan Fatah dan PLO berada di pihak nasionalis kiri bersama Mesir pimpinan Gamal Nasser.

Tetapi tindakan aktif Arab Saudi dalam usaha menyelesaikan masalah Palestin adalah dimensi baru untuk meluaskan penglibatan pihak lain daripada Quartet.

Quartet atau kumpulan empat kuasa terdiri dari AS, EU, Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) dan Rusia yang dipertanggungjawabkan mencari penyelesaian antara Israel dan Palestin.

AS dan EU dilihat sebagai pihak di sebelah Israel sementara PBB dan Rusia di pihak Palestin. Tetapi sehingga hari ini Quartet gagal mendapatkan jalan damai bagi masalah ini.

Kegagalannya adalah kerana kedua-dua pihak, Israel dan Palestin tidak mahu berganjak daripada kedudukan masing-masing. Israel mahu membolot banyak perkara kerana beranggapan ia kuat sedangkan Palestin tidak mahu menyerahkan haknya kerana ia sudah banyak kerugian.

Dalam keadaan lemah dan realistik, Fatah bersedia mengalah. Tetapi Hamas tidak sanggup lagi untuk berganjak lebih-lebih lagi setelah banyak pengorbanan dilakukan.

Maka tercetuslah pertembungan berdarah antara Hamas dan fatah. Bagi Israel, adalah tanggungjawab Fatah menumpaskan Hamas. Bagi Hamas, Fatah melakukan kerja-kerja pemusnahan bagi pihak Israel. Yang terkorban dan terus menderita adalah rakyat Palestin sendiri.

Di sinilah negara-negara Islam terdorong untuk mencari penyelesaian. Presiden Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf telah pun mengadakan pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang juga Pengerusi Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC) bagi mencari inisiatif.

Masalah Palestin tidak boleh dibiarkan kepada Quartet saja. Negara-negara Islam mesti terlibat sama. Musharraf juga mempunyai hubungan baik dengan Washington dan Riyadh.

Maka sewajarnya kedua-dua pemimpin Hamas dan Fatah, Khaled Meshaal dan Mahmoud Abbas bertemu di Mekah dan melakukan persetujuan di depan Raja Abdullah.

Sekembalinya ke Palestin, Perdana Menteri Ismail Haniyeh meletak jawatan bagi membolehkan penubuhan kerajaan perpaduan. Jauh lagi perjalanan bagi mewujudkan perpaduan lebih luas. Tetapi dana yang disalurkan oleh Saudi akan meredakan keadaan di Palestin.

Selepas ini, terpulang kepada AS dan EU untuk penerimaan selanjutnya. Sama ada kerajaan perpaduan ini dapat diterima oleh mereka atau tidak. Washington dan Brussels mesti meyakinkan Tel Aviv supaya meneruskan rundingan.

Dunia sudah muak dengan peperangan yang berlanjutan di Palestin hingga kini menghasilkan pelbagai bentuk keganasan, baik dari golongan militan mahupun tentera AS. Apa yang AS anggap sebagai keganasan global adalah akarnya pada konflik di Palestin.

Tetapi lebih penting lagi ialah Riyadh wajar lebih aktif bagi memastikan Persetujuan Mekah itu akan akhirnya mendatangkan hasil perdamaian.

Sikap dan usaha Arab Saudi wajar didukung oleh negara-negara OIC lebih-lebih lagi mereka yang mempunyai hubungan baik dengan AS dan EU khususnya seperti Pakistan dan Turki.

Riyadh juga kini bukan saja wajar aktif menyelesaikan masalah Palestin tetapi juga di Iraq. Golongan Sunah di sana mesti disokong supaya terdapat perimbangan antara pengaruh Iran dengan yang lain.

Kedua-dua Arab Saudi dan Iran boleh saling lengkap-melengkapi dalam perjuangan membela kepentingan umat Islam. Tindakan berbentuk militan didukung diplomasi adalah amalan biasa dalam mencapai objektif politik dari sejak dulu lagi.

Kalau di Palestin, Hamas mewakili pihak militan sementara Fatah di pihak diplomasi. Israel juga melakukan kaedah yang serupa. Pihak tenteranya menggunakan kekerasan untuk menundukkan Palestin, sementara kerajaannya menampilkan cara diplomasi.

Kalau di peringkat global, Iran menggunakan pengaruh kekuatan tentera, Arab Saudi pula melaksanakannya secara diplomasi.

Tiba akhirnya...

2007-02-16T10:41:00.000+08:00

Alhamdulillah, selamat sampai akhirnya di KLIA jam 6.30 ptg tadi. Sangat seronok sekali kerana dapat bertemu kembali dengan keluarga tercinta.

Terima kasih banyak-banyak diucapkan kepada semua kawan-kawan, lebih-lebih lagi kepada yang sudi menghantar saya pulang di Dublin Airport pada Rabu yang lepas.

Memang terharu dan terkejut apabila ramai betul yang datang ke airport, baik lelaki mahupun perempuan, untuk menghantar saya pulang. Sampai 'terkejut beruk' juga orang-orang putih yang di airport tu apabila melihat budak-budak lelaki mengambil gambar yang beramai-ramai tu. Haha..

Moga kita berjumpa lagi di lain masa. Teruskan perjuangan di bumi Ireland...

Gambar-gambar di airport akan saya 'update'kan di lain masa.

Selamat Tinggal Ireland

2007-02-15T11:01:00.000+08:00

Terasa waktu berganti dengan pantas tanpa henti-henti, seperti perjalanan sungai yang sentiasa mengalir meninggalkan hulunya dan tidak pernah berpatah balik. Terasa seperti baru semalam menjejakkan kaki di bumi Ireland, namun angin malam bumi Dublin yang dingin akhirnya mengejutku dari lamunan, "Eh! Esok aku akan berangkat pulang".

Perasaan bercampur-baur memenuhi diri ini. Gembira, kerana akhirnya dapat kembali semula ke pangkuan keluarga tercinta. Sedih, kerana akan meninggalkan tempat yang sudah mula sebati dengan diri ini, medan mempelajari ilmu hidup di sini dan di sana. Terharu, kerana sokongan, nasihat, tunjuk-ajar dan doa rakan-rakan yang cukup akrab, yang sememangnya tidak dapat dilupakan. Geram, kerana masa mencemburui kita.

Terlalu banyak yang telah dipelajari. Terlalu banyak yang telah dialami. Terlalu banyak yang telah dirasai. Terlalu banyak yang telah dilihat. Terlalu banyak yang telah didengari. Terlalu banyak yang telah dicontohi. Terlalu banyak yang telah ditinggalkan. Terlalu banyak yang telah dijejaki. Terlalu banyak yang telah dikenali. Terlalu banyak yang telah disukai. Terlalu banyak yang telah disayangi. Semuanya nikmat daripada Allah yang Maha Agung. Moga-moga diri ini telah mendapat apa yang sepatutnya didapati dari sini.

Luaskan pengalaman, selagi kaki larat berjalan. Tambahkan ilmu, selagi masa mengizinkan kita. Banyakkan berbakti, selagi hayat dikandung badan.

Terima kasih diucapkan kepada semua terutamanya rakan-rakan serta pensyarah-pensyarah di RCSI yang mana, tanpa mereka tidak lengkaplah diri ini dalam menjadi insan yang berguna. Terima kasih juga kepada bumi Ireland dan bumi Eropah yang penuh dengan seribu satu pengalaman dan penuh dengan pancaroba.

Selamat tinggal Ireland.....

Dublin, 14 Februari 2007.

Criminalising War: Dr M on YouTube

2007-02-14T10:22:00.000+08:00

Saying NO to WAR

For the full speech by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at The War Criminal Conference and Exhibition, 24 Jan 07, click here.

The effort taken by him to criminalize the war should be supported by us. Even TG Dato' Nik Aziz supports this effort, even though both are not in the same 'boat'. The least is that, we should be aware of the situation happening around us, since we are all connected, needing one and another.

Taken from Jeff Ooi :-

A glow in the dark... a global peace effort by a treasured son from Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir's keynote address at the third series of the Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO) conference this morning was 70 paragraphs long, taking him some 60 minutes to deliver. It's titled: Criminalising War.

It was an impactful presentation as he had cleverly interspersed the speech with two well-crafted video clips, one on the horrors of depleted uranium (DU), and the other on what was inside the infamous Abu Ghraib prison and human torture.

Despite his age at 81, Mahathir is still a deft hand in reading from the tele-prompter, effortlessly. That made his well-knitted thoughts perfectly articulated with numerous emphatic pauses and accentuations at the right places.

According to Malaysiakini, some 3,000 people had packed the Merdeka Hall of the Putra Wold Trade Center (PWTC), while about 1,000 people were outside the hall watching his speech on the large television monitors.

This series of the PGPO Conference is a follow through to The Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Criminalise War which concluded last year.

At the end of the conference, a declaration will be made to invite international jurists of repute to establish an International War Crimes Tribunal, where laws and its jurisdiction will be proposed.

People-run Tribunal for War Crimes

Mahathir said conventions such as the Geneva Convention had been inadequate in identifying crimes of warmongers who ultimately caused brutalities in countries they waged wars in.

Mahathir also underscored the fact that laws, the concept of laws, justice and jurisdiction of national laws have changed over time.

"Now, certain nations enforce their laws extra-territory," he added. "The US invaded Panama to capture Noreiga and to bring him before a US court for trial and punishment under US laws."

Hence in the case of criminalising war, he added, laws must now be enacted not by the Government, but by the people, their organisations and the jurists.

"In a world where powerful countries can decide on regime change for other countries, the laws that are designed to criminalise wars are no more unusual than the regime change laws, the laws to legitimise the attacks against Afghanistan and Iraq, the extra-territorial laws," Mahathir said.

"These laws of the people are as legitimate as can be," he added.

Blair, Bush and 'pocket' Bush

The key task of the Tribunal is to try, in absentia if necessary, the war criminals as identified by the victims and the countries which have suffered from ther attacks ordered by the leaders of the invading countries identified.

Not mincing his words, Mahathir had cited George Bush, Tony Blair, and John Howard as targets for trial by the Tribunal for their roles in waging atrocities in modern Iraq.

"Bush and Blair are now totally reviled and condemned by the world and by their own people," he said. "To a certain extent, they have been tried and sentenced by their own people and media."

He equated that as a trial in absentia.

However, should the trio be found guilty by the people's Tribunal, death sentence was obviously not on his mind. Quote:

History should remember Blair and Bush as the Killer of Children or as the Lying Prime Minister and President. What Blair and Bush had done is worse that what Saddam had done. We should not hang Blair if the Tribunal finds him guilty but he should always carry the label War Criminal, Killer of Children, Liar.
And so should Bush and the pocket Bush of the bushlands of Australia.

Mahathir said war criminals tried and found guilty by the Tribunal should be remembered for the crimes against humanity, for the people they kill, and the destruction they wrought. Quote:

"People and the NGO's for peace should make these War Criminals feel unwelcome wherever they go. They should be literally hounded. They should have full frontal and profile pictures put up everywhere as war criminals.
And historians should always refer to them as War Criminals in history books."

Knowing that truth about war is being muffled by ‘lies and propaganda’ of powerful media corporations ‘owned and controlled by warmongers’, Mahathir called for the establishment of an international network of activists and groups to counter such media-slanting to ensure that the people know the truth about war.

The 3-day conference will see scores of internationally-renowned researchers and specialists, present and former government officials, journalists and lawyers speak on the horrors of war and the ‘global military-industrial-financial-media’ complex behind global conflicts, Malaysiakini reported.

LensaPress photos by Jeff Ooi

In conclusion, Mahathir described war, a form of organised crime, as primitive and not in keeping with the stage of human civilisation we are in.

In pushing for the new approach to criminalise war crimes, Mahathir reasoned that a respectable and totally impartial Tribunal applying recognised laws will find its findings respected by the world, "just as the world respects the Nobel Laureates".

It was made known yesterday that Mahathir has been nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2007 by four organisations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

FOSIS Annual Conference 07

2007-02-13T10:15:00.000+08:00

Come and join

2007-02-12T10:48:00.000+08:00

It is running..

2007-02-02T16:31:00.000+08:00

The new PPIMI website has officially running. Do register yourself. Click the picture below to enter the website.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

2007-02-01T08:29:00.000+08:00

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (a.k.a. Chavez: Inside the Coup ) is a 2002 documentary about the April 2002 Venezuelan coup attempt which briefly deposed Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

A television crew from Ireland's Radio Telifís Éireann happened to be recording a documentary about Chávez during the events of April 11, 2002. Shifting focus, they followed the events as they occurred. During their filming, the crew recorded images of the events that they say contradict explanations given by Chávez opposition, the private media, the US State Department, and then White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. The documentary says that the coup was the result of a conspiracy between various old guard and anti-Chávez factions within Venezuela and the United States.

Hugo Chavez who was elected as President of Venezuela in 1998, is an unpredictable folk hero, beloved by his nation's working class and a tough-as-nails, quixotic opponent to the power structure that would see him deposed. The filmmakers were inside the presidential palace on April 11, 2002, when he was forcibly removed from office. They were also present 48 hours later when, remarkably, he returned to power amid cheering aides. Their film records what was probably history's shortest-lived coup d'état. It's a unique documentary about political muscle and an extraordinary portrait of the man The Wall Street Journal credits with making Venezuela "Washington's biggest Latin American headache after the old standby, Cuba."

The film has won twelve awards at film festivals and has been nominated for another four. A Spanish language documentary, Venezuela Bolivariana: People and Struggle of the Fourth World War, covers much of the same subject and uses some footage from The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Although the documentary was not widely distributed, a number of groups are distributing copies and it is available on the internet.

An awesome documentary !

The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History

2007-02-01T07:36:00.000+08:00

I bought this book - The Muqaddimah, last year in November, together with another book - The Travels of Ibn Battutah, but only recently i've started reading this book, as i was busy preparing for my exam in December and January. The author of this book is

IBN KHALDUN
Sociology, Philosophy of History, Political Science
(1332--1395. C.E. )

His name is Abd al-Rahman Ibn Mohammad, generally known as Ibn Khaldun after a remote ancestor. His parents, originally Yemenite Arabs, had settled in Spain, but after the fall of Seville, had migrated to Tunisia. He was born in Tunisia in 1332 C.E., where he received his early education and where, still in his teens, he entered the service of the Egyptian ruler Sultan Barquq. His thirst for advanced know- ledge and a better academic setting soon made him leave this service and migrate to Fez. This was followed by a long period of unrest marked by contemporary political rivalries affecting his career. This turbulent period also included a three year refuge in a small village Qalat Ibn Salama in Algeria, which provided him with the opportunity to write Muqaddimah, the first volume of his world history that won him an immortal place among historians, sociologists and philosophers. The uncertainty of his career still continued, with Egypt becoming his final abode where he spent his last 24 years. Here he lived a life of fame and respect, marked by his appointment as the Chief Malakite Judge and lecturing at the Al-Azhar University, but envy caused his removal from his high judicial office as many as five times.

Ibn Khaldun's chief contribution lies in philosophy of history and sociology. He sought to write a world history preambled by a first volume aimed at an analysis of historical events. This volume, commonly known as Muqaddimah or 'Prolegomena', was based on Ibn Khaldun's unique approach and original contribution and became a masterpiece in literature on philosophy of history and sociology. The chief concern of this monumental work was to identify psychological, economic, environmental and social facts that contribute to the advancement of human civilization and the currents of history. In this context, he analyzed the dynamics of group relationships and showed how group-feelings, al-'Asabiyya, give rise to the ascent of a new civilization and political power and how, later on, its diffusion into a more general civilization invites the advent of a still new 'Asabiyya in its pristine form. He identified an almost rhythmic repetition of rise and fall in human civilization, and analyzed factors contributing to it. His contribution to history is marked by the fact that, unlike most earlier writers interpreting history largely in a political context, he emphasized environmental, sociological, psychological and economic factors governing the apparent events. This revolutionized the science of history and also laid the foundation of Umraniyat (Sociology).

Apart from the Muqaddimah that became an important independent book even during the lifetime of the author, the other volumes of his world history Kitab al-I'bar deal with the history of Arabs, contemporary Muslim rulers, contemporary European rulers, ancient history of Arabs, Jews, Greeks, Romans, Persians, etc., Islamic History, Egyptian history and North-African history, especially that of Berbers and tribes living in the adjoining areas. The last volume deals largely with the events of his own life and is known as Al-Tasrif. This was also written in a scientific manner and initiated a new analytical tradition in the art of writing autobiography. A book on mathematics written by him is not extant.

Ibn Khaldun's influence on the subject of history, philosophy of history, sociology, political science and education has remained paramount ever since his life. His books have been translated into many languages, both in the East and the West, and have inspired subsequent development of these sciences. For instance, Prof. Gum Ploughs and Kolosio consider Muqaddimah as superior in scholarship to Machiavelli's The Prince written a century later, as the former bases the diagnosis more on cultural, sociological, economic and psychological factors.

I am still reading the first chapter of the book, but it has already fascinates me. I highly recommend this book for those who love history, sociology and political science, like me. If you want it in Bahasa Melayu, you can get the book from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

RCSI Batch 2004-2009

2007-01-31T08:27:00.000+08:00

All The Best Guys..

Inside Palestine

2007-01-21T04:56:00.000+08:00

Saya baru sahaja habis menonton satu rancangan dokumentari di BBC bertajuk The World Uncovered - The Tea Boy of Gaza yang memaparkan kehidupan harian sebenar rakyat Palestin di Semenanjung Gaza dari kaca mata Mahmoud, seorang kanak-kanak penjual air teh di Hospital Syifa', Gaza Palestin. Saya rasa umurnya baru sahaja mencecah usia 12 tahun, tetapi daripada cara percakapannya, memang menunjukkan kematangannya dan semangat juang yang tinggi untuk meneruskan kehidupan yang serba kekurangan dan penuh dengan dugaan di Semanjung Gaza bagi membantu menampung kehidupan keluarganya. Dokumentari ini dirakamkan sebelum dan selepas peristiwa penangkapan 2 orang tentera Israel oleh pihak Hamas dan disusuli dengan sekatan ekonomi, wang dan bekalan makanan serta perubatan dan penangkapan beramai-ramai menteri-menteri dan anggota-anggota kabinet Kerajaan Hamas Palestin oleh pihak Zionis Israel.

Terlalu banyak kerosakan dan kemusnahan bangunan-bangunan, sekolah-sekolah, rumah-rumah, jalan-jalan raya, jambatan, kenderaan-kenderaan serta satu-satunya tempat penjana eletrik di kawasan itu (di mana menyebabkan hampir 60% daripada kawasan itu tiada bekalan elektrik, dan yang selainnya terpaksa bergantung kepada 'generator' motor untuk bekalan elektrik) dirakamkan. Sungguh sayu sekali apabila melihat kelibat anak-anak kecil Palestin yang duduk bertebaran di tepi-tepi runtuhan rumah mereka yang musnah akibat bedilan bom dan peluru tentera Zionis Israel.

Dokumentari ini turut merakamkan situasi di Hospital Syifa', tempat di mana Mahmoud menjual air tehnya. Daripada temubual dengan beberapa doktor-doktor di hospital itu, dapat dilihat mereka sama sekali tidak pernah berputus asa dan sentiasa memberikan khidmat yang terbaik untuk rakyat-rakyat Palestin walaupun sudah hampir 6 bulan mereka tidak menerima gaji akibat sekatan dana kewangan kepada kerajaan Hamas Palestin. Ditambah pula dengan kekurangan ubat-ubatan, dan peralatan-peralatan hospital yang lain termasuklah benda yang paling asas sekali bagi setiap orang doktor sebelum merawat pesakitnya iaitu sarung tangan, pun tidak mencukupi, menyukarkan lagi tugas mereka di situ. Namun daripada temubual ini, mereka sememangnya menunjukkan semangat yang sangat tinggi dan optimis bahawa keadaan akan bertambah baik suatu masa nanti dengan izin Allah. Mereka mempersoalkan mengapa perlu disekat dana kewangan untuk kerajaan Hamas Palestin, padahal ketika Hamas memenangi pilihanraya Palestin yang lalu, demokrasi akhirnya telah tiba dan rakyat majoritinya telah memilih untuk bersama-sama dengan kerajaan Hamas Palestin. Jika mahu dikatakan Hamas itu militan, maka Zionis Israel itulah lebih lagi militannya.

Juga dalam dokumentari itu, kelihatan Ismail Haneya, Perdana Menteri Palestin, mengimami salah satu daripada solat 5 waktu di sebuah masjid yang sarat dengan rakyat Palestin yang lain dan seterusnya memberikan ucapan yang penuh bersemangat dan lantang kepada makmum-makmum yang lain. Beliau mengatakan bahawa rakyat Palestin tidak sama sekali akan takut dan gentar dengan tindakan pihak Zionis Israel yang semakin menjadi-jadi sejak penculikan 2 askar Israel itu, malah rakyat Palestin akan terus bangkit menentang ketidakadilan dan penindasan yang mereka alami itu. Bumi Palestin akan aman dan dunia akan menyaksikannya. Dan setelah itu, beliau ke pejabat beliau, Pejabat Perdana Menteri, yang mana hanya tinggal serpihan sahaja telah dimusnahkan oleh sebuah peluru berpandu pihak Zionis Israel pada malam sebelumnya. Apabila tiba di pejabat, beliau hiba dan hanya dapat menggelengkan kepalanya. Namun beliau tetap bersemangat dan terus mengecam pihak Zionis Israel yang memusnahkan pejabat beliau dan menculik menteri-menteri dan anggota kabinet beliau ketika sidang akhbar selepas itu.

Apa yang menarik perhatian saya ialah dalam pada masa semua ini berlaku, terdapat satu delegasi Kesatuan Eropah (EU) yang telah datang ke Hospital Syifa' untuk meninjau keadaan hospital itu yang serba kekurangan. Namun doktor-doktor di situ hampa, apabila mereka hanya datang untuk melihat dan meninjau keadaan mereka dan cuma menyerahkan sedikit bekalan minyak petrol yang hanya cukup untuk 2 minggu untuk 'generator' motor di hospital itu. Hospital itu kini terpaksa bergantung kepada 'generator' motor untuk mendapatkan bekalan elektrik. "All the people like them (the EU delegates) is the same, they are interested to know our situation, but no more than that, just like you too," salah seorang daripada doktor itu mengatakan kepada jurnalis BBC yang sedang membuat rakaman itu. "Isn't that right? So what will you do after this, after knowing our situation?," katanya lagi.

Ternyata dokumentari-dokumentari sebegini perlu diperbanyakkan lagi dan ditayangkan di seluruh dunia supaya semua orang dapat tahu bagaimana kehidupan sebenar rakyat-rakyat Palestin. Jika mahu dilihat daripada berita-berita CNN dan media massa Barat yang lain yang ternyata berat sebelah, sampai bilapun ia tidak akan muncul.

Umat Islam perlu bersatu. Sebagaimana kata salah seorang doktor di Hospital Syifa' itu, "In any country, it should be like a pyramid. At the top of the pyramid, there is one leader or one group who leads, and the bottom part of the pyramid, is the followers who follows and being look after by the leaders. But in Palestin, the pyramid is upside down. There are many groups (Hamas, Fatah and others), at the top of the pyramid, leading and going into many direction and the followers are small because being divided between this groups. This is not helpful for the situation in Palestin."

Selamat Tahun Baru 1428H

2007-01-20T03:24:00.000+08:00

Selamat Menyambut Tahun Baru Hijrah 1428 saya ucapkan kepada semua. Saya berasa sangat gembira setiap kali tiba Tahun Baru Hijrah, permulaan yang baru untuk diri saya dengan resolusi yang baru, matlamat yang baru dan semangat yang baru. Lebih-lebih lagi saya dilahirkan pada 1 Muharram 1405H itu sendiri, 23 tahun yang lalu. Terlalu istimewa tarikh ini buat saya. Baik dari segi sejarahnya, hijrah mengajar kita supaya berubah kepada sesuatu yang lebih baik, daripada kegelapan kepada cahaya, daripada kelemahan kepada kekuatan, daripada kemalasan kepada kerajinan, daripada ketakutan kepada keberanian, daripada kebiasaan kepada kecemerlangan. Matlamat perlu ditetapkan, usaha gigih yang setimpal dengan matlamat perlu diikuti, ilmu untuk mencapai matlamat perlu digarap, kaedahnya perlu betul, barulah kejayaan dapat dicapai.

'Always be the best among the best'. Itulah matlamat yang selalu saya pegang di mana saja saya berada. Minda perlu berhijrah supaya tidak ditakuk lama, perlu berfikiran luas, kritis tetapi mudah menerima pandangan orang lain. Sikap perlu berhijrah supaya tidak statik, hanya mementingkan diri sendiri tanpa memikirkan apa yang boleh disumbangkan untuk agama, keluarga, masyarakat dan negara. Amalan perlu diperbanyakan supaya seimbang pertumbuhan jasmani dan rohani. Muhasabah diri, matlamat, kejayaan dan kegagalan pada tahun yang lepas perlu sentiasa dilakukan dan dinilai serta diperbaiki untuk tahun yang baru ini.

The Golden Age of Andalusian Science

2007-01-19T04:20:00.000+08:00

This article is a reflection on the Andalusian achievement in science and their significance to human civilization. A true inspiration. Have a read ! Click here for the pdf file.

Osman Bakar is a Professor of Islamic Thought and Civilization at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) in Malaysia.

Hulurkan Tangan, Ringankan Beban

2007-01-18T02:57:00.000+08:00

Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu yang memikulnya. Banjir yang melanda Selatan Malaysia, terutamanya di Johor sudah hampir sebulan lamanya dan dijangka akan berlanjutan sehingga ke penghujung bulan Februari. Banjir ini sedikit sebanyak memberikan pengajaran kepada kita. Kuasa Tuhan bukan sesuatu yang boleh kita permainkan dan musibah yang melanda mungkin sebagai satu ujian dalam kehidupan kita. Kita hanya merancang tetapi Tuhan yang menentukan. Dalam pada itu, dalam keadaan sebeginilah, kita dapat melihat hati budi yang sebenar pada orang-orang yang terlibat dalam banjir ini - hati budi kaum keluarga, jiran tetangga, kawan-kawan, orang ramai, ketua kampung, ketua daerah, ahli DUN, ahli Parlimen dan yang lain-lain lagi. Ada yang bersikap sangat bertimbang rasa, ingin menghulurkan bantuan dan cuba mencari inisiatif untuk meringankan beban pihak yang menanggungnya. Namun ada juga yang bersikap acuh tak acuh dalam membantu mereka, seperti melepaskan batuk di tangga. Sikap ini sangat memalukan dan memualkan.

Lebih 100,000 terpaksa berpindah buat sementara, 17 orang dilaporkan meninggal dunia akibat banjir, kerugian lebih RM40 juta, dan kebanyakannya kini hanya tinggal sehelai sepinggang sahaja. Wang bantuan RM500 untuk setiap keluarga teramat sedikit pada hemat saya. Apa sangat yang boleh dibeli dengan duit sebanyak itu setelah tinggal sehelai sepinggang sahaja. Bantuan kewangan perlu ditambah, bantuan makanan, pakaian dan kesihatan perlu diperbanyakkan dan diperkemaskan agar semua dapat menerima dengan cepat dan berkesan. Cuba untuk menyenangkan mereka, dan bukannya menyusahkan lagi mereka. Sehingga kini bantuan yang diberikan di sana masih belum cukup banyak, baik yang daripada kerajaan mahupun pihak-pihak swasta, syarikat-syarikat korporat dan yang lain-lain. Ini amat memalukan bagi yang mahu menggelarkan diri mereka sebagai rakyat Malaysia yang sinonim dengan tinggi budi bahasanya, sangat murah hatinya, suka membantu orang. Sikap perlu diubah. Semua perlu menghulurkan bantuan, baik yang muda mahupun yang tua, yang kaya mahupun yang miskin, yang senang mahupun yang susah. Jadi, hulurkanlah bantuan.

Tabung Mangsa Banjir PPIMI (Persatuan Pelajar Islam Malaysia Ireland)

Nama account: Malaysian Muslim Students Society of Ireland
Bank: Bank of Ireland (BOI)
No. account: 57828888
Account branch : St Stephen's Green branch

Maka berakhirlah sudah..

2007-01-11T18:35:00.000+08:00

Majlis Tertinggi Persatuan Pelajar Islam Malaysia Ireland PPIMI Sesi 2006

Hadapan dari kiri: Johan, Izwan, 'Ariff, Haikal, Tun Azlan, Nik Farhan, Adlan, Hakimin
Belakang dari kiri: Yusra, Ain, Asriah, Allaiyna, Shahrina, Fauzah, Hajar Marlina
Tiada dalam gambar: Nur Zaidah, Firdausi, Hajar Salleh, Abadi Sufaat

Dengan berakhirnya Mesyuarat Agong Tahunan PPIMI Kali ke-27 dan Pemilihan Tanzim PPIMI yang baru bagi sesi 2007 pada 6 Januari yang lalu di Cheyne Lecture Theatre RCSI, maka berakhirlah sudah khidmat dan tugas saya selaku salah seorang daripada exco tertinggi PPIMI. Dua tahun lamanya saya berada di dalam tanzim PPIMI dan memang banyak sekali pengalaman serta pengajaran yang saya perolehi dalam bekerja bersama-sama sahabat-sahabat yang sehati dan sejiwa dengan saya dalam melakukan kerja sebagai seorang da'ie, menjayakan setiap projek dan program yang dirancang, menjalinkan hubungan yang erat dengan semua lapisan masyarakat Malaysia muslim terutamanya di Dublin, dan bersama-sama membimbing dan menimbulkan kesedaran kepada diri saya sendiri dan semua rakan-rakan pelajar muslim Malaysia di Dublin akan kepentingan penghayatan terhadap Islam itu sendiri. Sikap perlu diubah, sebagai muqaddimah kepada agama, perjuangan dan perubahan kepada kecemerlangan diri, keluarga, masyarakat dan negara. Terima kasih kepada semua. Namun, perjuangan kita masih belum selesai...

Another misadventure in the making

2007-01-10T16:35:00.000+08:00

As you are reading this entry, the US military has started bombing Somalia, hunting down members of Union of Islamic Court (UIC) who are suspected members of al-Qaeda. The pretext being used by the US for its attacks on Somalia is painfully reminiscent of its justification for war in Iraq.

This is what Dr Azzam Tamimi wrote in his article on 10 January 2007.

All the evidence suggests that the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in Somalia was a 100% local project. The UIC consisted of pious "men of religion" who were trusted by the public in Mogadishu to restore law and order after years of lawlessness and havoc reeked by tribal warlords, each of which had regional or international sponsors. It was the model set by the UIC inside Mogadishu that encouraged the Somalis in other towns across the country to appeal to them to rescue their communities from the chaos brought upon them by gangs run and funded by unrepentant warlords.

The UIC leaders and members had no personal ambitions; their only ambition was to restore order and enable the Somalis to live their lives as they wished. All claims of association between the UIC and al-Qaida have been unfounded. They were merely pretexts for foreign regional and international intervention aimed at halting the progress of the UIC in establishing its authority across the country. Now we know that the ultimate objective of the invading power, Ethiopia, has been more than just stemming the growth of the UIC phenomenon. Supported by the US, Ethiopia has been after the total destruction of the UIC project in prelude to installing a puppet regime led by the warlords' "interim government".

Faced with an armed-to-the-teeth regional power, the lightly armed and poorly trained UIC members preferred to disband rather than fight a losing battle. Designed as a policing and law enforcement project, the UIC had not been readied for a conflict with Ethiopia let alone with the United States. A blood bath is something they wished to avoid.

Learning not a single lesson from its misadventures in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States is now bombing Somalia under the pretext of hunting down "terrorists". We are painfully reminded of the false pretexts used to justify the invasion of Iraq more than three years ago. Initially, the United States claimed it wanted to rid the world of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction and punish him for an alleged link to al-Qaida. When it turned out that Iraq had no such weapons and that the al-Qaida link had never existed, the justification for occupying Iraq changed to bringing the Iraqi people freedom and democracy. Indeed, the United States freed the Iraqis from the regime of Saddam Hussein but brought them instead chaos and anarchy. Al-Qaida soon surfaced in Iraq whereas it never had a chance to do so under Saddam and weapons of mass destruction are being devised by the only beneficiary from the invasion of Iraq across the borders in Iran.

What will become of Somalia is a question that can readily be answered on the basis of the precedents of both Afghanistan and Iraq. Al-Qaida will surface and lawlessness will prevail. The United States will eventually be bogged down in another hopeless war.

There was hope until Ethiopia invaded Somalia that the country, under the UIC, might return to normalcy and be rid forever of the criminality of the warlords. Now, the Horn of Africa seems to be on the verge of a long-term war of attrition that will claim the lives of thousands of innocent people, and that will eventually make our world much less safe.

Two awesome events

2007-01-10T06:55:00.000+08:00

PAMERAN KEGEMILANGAN SAINS DALAM TAMADUN ISLAM
"Sains Islam Mendahului Zaman"
KLCC Convention Center, 8 - 14 Jan 2007.

At first, i plan to write this entry after my exam, but since i am so excited, i just can't wait to write.

Previously, on 21 and 22 Mac 2005, FOSIS (Federation of Student Islamic Societies) in association of IHRC (Islamic Human Rights Commisions), HAI, FOA and UCD Islamic Society had organised a two day 'End The Occupation Conference' (ETOC) in Astra Hall, Dublin. I was in the organising committee.

All the speakers that were invited, are from all over the world and well-known.

Among the speakers are Dr Ilan Pappe (Univ Haifa,Palestine), Dr Azzam Tamimi (Institute of Islamic Political Thought), Danny Morrison (Republican Writer), Massoud Shadjareh (Director, Islamic Human Rights Commision), Yvonne Ridley (award winning British journalist), Ismail Adam Patel (Chair, Friends of al-Aqsa), Imam Achmad Cassiem (South African anti-apartheid activist who spent time with Mandela in Robbin Island), Imam Muhammad al-Asi (USA), Akhmad Zakaev (Special Envoy to Europe of the late Chechen president, Aslan Maskhadov), Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss (pokesperson for the Neturei Karta, Jews against Zionism), Dr Abbas Aroua (Director of Hoggar Institute of Human Rights and expert on Algeria) dan Richard Boyd-Barrett (Chair of Irish Anti-War Movement).

The aim of the 'End the Occupation Conference' can be summed up by the motto of the conference: “When injustice is law, resistance is duty”. Wherever we look around the world today, whether it is Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq or Tibet, where there is occupation for self-interest, there is oppression and injustice. There is inherent injustice within the system which necessitates people from around the world to resist in whatever way they can. Only an end to the occupation in these areas can bring about justice and freedom.

End the Occupation does not just refer to ending military occupation. It also refers to the occupation of the mind. Today, the mass media has by and large become a tool of the political establishment designed to legitimate the occupation of these lands. Through certain terminology, the omission of certain facts, the cover up of history, the usage of mass media has sought to strengthen the roots of the injustice. ETOC aims to expose this and train delegates to challenge these myths.

The event was really successful. And i was really excited to meet all the speakers, especially Dr Ilan Pappe, Dr Azzam Tamimi dan Yvonne Rodley. So, after the event, i pledge to myself that one day, i will organise the conference again in the future (5-10 years from that day), but this time in Malaysia. The theme will be the same, 'End the Occupation', but this time will involve much more internationally renowned panel of speakers.

But then, my idea of doing the conference again in Malaysia had already been in Dr Mahathir's mind as i came up to this news article. Damn i was late haha.

So, The Perdana Foundation is organizing a conference cum Exhibition entitled EXPOSE WAR CRIMES: CRIMINALISE WAR from 5th to 7th February 2007 from 8.30am. to 5.30pm. at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur. You can read about it here.

This Conference and Exhibition is the continuation of their efforts to publicise and garner as much support as possible to the Kuala Initiative to Criminalise War which was launched by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed in December 2005.

The War Crimes exhibition would be the first of its kind to be held in a Muslim country and will highlight atrocities committed in Bosnia, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Vietnam and not forgetting the nuclear devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An interactive exhibition, visitors would be exposed also to the horrors of the tortures inflicted on detainees held in the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons.

And the speakers are awesome. So do come and join up the conference. I am going to miss it though, since my flight back to Malaysia is on 15 Feb. And do go and visit KLCC Convention Center for the PAMERAN KEGEMILANGAN SAINS DALAM TAMADUN ISLAM "Sains Islam Mendahului Zaman".

Both events are awesome and exciting.

Challenge yourself, be a Da'ie

2007-01-06T09:58:00.000+08:00

Just choose which-ever topics suitable for u!!

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN !!!
Places are limited to 40 each seminar.
RESERVE NOW!!

RESERVE VIA;
1)E-mail, simply give us your:
NAME, HP NUMBER, UNIVERSITY OR WORKING PLACE AND SEMINARS THAT U WANT TO ATTEND

2) phone, simply text us your:
NAME, E-MAIL, UNIVERSITY AND THE INITIAL NUMBER OF SEMINARS THAT U WANT TO ATTEND (e.g. Seminar 1)

FOR REGISTRATION;
PLEASE Download the form below and bring to us during that 1st day u attend any seminar u want.

Event Details:

All seminars will be conducted on Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
The forum will be conducted from 1pm to 3pm.
Refreshments will be provided.
Please bring your own stationaries.

Speakers' Details

Seminars 1, 2 and 3 : Mr. Mustafidh
Mr. Mustafidh obtained an MA in Islamic studies from Birmingham University. He now works with ICCI and specialized in Islamic Sciences and Thought.

Seminar 4 : Mr Marwan
Mr. Marwan is currently a student in University College Cork. He's really interested in evolution and has conducted an in-depth research on it.

Seminar 5 : Dr. Maamun Mobayed
Dr. Maamun Mobayed is a muslim psychiatrist. He's currently working as a lecturer in Queen's University Belfast.

Seminar 6 : Mr. Ali Selim
Mr. Ali Selim graduated from Al-Azhar University, Cairo. He's currently working with ICCI as a theologian and has a deep understanding about major religions in Europe.

FORUM:

It will conducted by students,
whom are new muslims.
Find out how they embrace Islam, their new lifestyle and how they facing the new challenges..

Don't miss it!

Saddam Hussein digantung

2007-01-01T04:38:00.000+08:00

Tatkala umat islam di seluruh dunia sedang bergembira menyambut Hari Raya Eidul Adha, Saddam Hussein baru sahaja mati di tali gantung dan mayatnya sudah dikebumikan di dalam liang kubur. Adakah ini satu penyelesaian konflik di Iraq? Sama-sama kita saksikan. Namun dalam sudut kecil hati saya ini, berpendapat bahawa konflik Syiah, Sunni dan Kurdish di Iraq akan bertambah buruk selepas ini, lebih-lebih lagi, masing-masing cuba merebut kuasa dan bukannya mahu berkongsi kuasa dan membangunkan Iraq kembali. Rakyat Iraq yang menjadi mangsa.

Samada Saddam Hussein bersalah atau tidak, itu terpulang kepada Allah. Siapa yang tidak tahu dosa Saddam. Banyak sekali mangsa kejahatan beliau sepanjang pemerintahannya di Iraq. Tetapi Iraq bertambah teruk selepas kejatuhan Saddam. Suasana bertambah kucar-kacir, berserabut dan rakyat bertambah menderita. Pembunuhan berlaku setiap hari. Namun beliau telah menjadi satu simbol keberanian, kekuatan dan harapan umat Islam dalam menentang Amerika Syarikat dan sekutu-sekutunya, dalam pada umat Islam di Iraq yang kian lemah dan hanyut. Bukan bermakna saya setuju dengan kesemua tindakan Saddam Hussein, lebih-lebih dengan pembunuhan orang-orang Iraq sendiri di tangannya, namun pada satu ketika, beliau telah menunjukkan contoh keberanian dalam mempertahankan Iraq dan menentang pihak kuffar.

Yang menyedihkan lagi, kenapa tarikh Hari Raya Eidul Adha dipilih untuk dilaksanakan hukuman gantung itu. Padahal di UK dan Ireland, hukuman gantung kesemuanya ditangguhkan sehingga selepas cuti Hari Krismas. Seolah-olah ada pihak lain yang menekan dan mendesak kerajaan terbaru Iraq supaya hukuman itu dipercepatkan. Mungkin ini untuk menghina umat Islam itu sendiri. Kegembiraan puak Syiah di Iraq atas hukuman Saddam ini pula, ibarat menyapu garam di luka, yang memburukkan lagi imej umat Islam di mata dunia. Kegembiraan dan kemenangan yang diraikan oleh puak Syiah di Iraq sememangnya tidak bermakna dan hanya menambahkan kebencian sesama umat Islam.

Selepas ini, boleh la pula kita memanggil Bush ke mahkamah dan menjatuhkan hukuman yang sama kepadanya atas penipuan dan pembunuhan umat Islam di Afganistan dan Iraq atas apa yang Bush katakan 'fight against the terrorists'.

Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Adha

2006-12-31T17:23:00.000+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Adha saya ucapkan kepada semua rakan-rakan dan pembaca blog ini. Moga-moga kita sentiasa di dalam kerahmatan Allah SWT dan terus cemerlang di dunia dan di akhirat.

Dalam meraikan kegembiraan eid mubarak, satu berita gembira buat semua STARIAN. Dipetik daripada Berita Harian. Setinggi-tinggi tahniah saya ucapkan buat semua cikgu-cikgu STAR yang sentiasa saya kasihi dan syabas buat STARIAN Batch 48 yang mendapat kejayaan yang sangat cemerlang dalam PMR tahun 2006. 97 out of 117 students got straight 8A's. A new STAR record. We are currently the best in Malaysia and we have also beaten MCKK !!

STAR: A Tradition of Excellence

Warmest regards,
Izwan Ismail
Ketua Umum 2001
STARIAN 1997-2001, Batch of 41

Star Ipoh paling cemerlang
Berita Harian, 30 Disember 2006.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mencatat keputusan sebagai sekolah paling cemerlang dalam Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) kelmarin, melakar sejarah paling bermakna kepada Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Star), Ipoh.

Sempena dengan sambutan Jubli Perak selaras penubuhannya yang menjangkau 50 tahun, sekolah berasrama penuh itu mencatat kenangan manis apabila daripada 117 pelajar yang menduduki PMR, 97 berjaya mendapat 8A.

Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bekas Pelajar Star (Staroba), Azlan Abdullah, berkata, jumlah itu sekali gus mewakili 83 peratus pelajar yang mendapat keputusan 8A, berbanding 53 peratus tahun sebelumnya.

Beliau berkata, menjadi sekolah paling cemerlang dalam peperiksaan PMR adalah peristiwa paling bermakna dalam sejarah Star, berbanding menjadi sekolah keempat terbaik dalam PMR 2003.....

Selesai sudah ber'PUISI'

2006-12-26T17:05:00.000+08:00

Alhamdulillah, selesai sudah program Perhimpunan Ukhuwwah Insaniyyah Seluruh Ireland (PUISI) tahun 2006. Terasa sangat singkat 4 hari ber'PUISI', namun rasa syukur, puas dan seronok memenuhi hati dan jiwa ini - mendengar pengisian dari Ustaz Hasrizal, berkongsi pengalaman dan pandangan Ustaz, bertemu sahabat-sahabat baru, duduk bersama, solat bersama, makan bersama, berkerja keras bersama-sama sahabat-sahabat pihak penganjur PUISI, Tuan Pengarah Program, Ariff Fahmi, Fasilatator-fasilatator, orang AV, orang dapur, serta semua ajk ajk yang lain.

Terima kasih kepada semua. Moga-moga kesemua 250 peserta dan ajk-ajk PUISI dapat menjadikan 7 Habits of Highly Effective Muslim ini sebagai SIKAP yang patut kita semua ada dan digunakan untuk kebaikan kita semua - diri kita, keluarga dan masyarakat Islam terutamanya.

Banyak pengalaman Ustaz yang saya dapat dlm 4 hari menjadi teman sebilik Ustaz Hasrizal

Sahabat-sahabat se'Bengkel' - Naqiu, Nawi, Hasrul, Kamal, Ronny, Amin, Ikram dan Imran

Sahabat-sahabat dari UK

Seek first to understand

2006-12-19T03:16:00.000+08:00

The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) has just launched two new publications on Islamophobia in EU.

The first report, entitled “Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia”, published presents available data on discrimination affecting Muslims in employment, education and housing. Manifestations of Islamophobia range from verbal threats through to physical attacks on people and property. The report stresses that the extent and nature of discrimination and Islamophobic incidents against European Muslims remain under-documented and under-reported. The EUMC report recommends therefore that Member States improve the reporting of incidents and implement measures to counter discrimination and racism more effectively. The report also includes initiatives and proposals for policy action by EU Member State governments and the European institutions to combat Islamophobia and to foster integration.

Meanwhile the second report, is a study on “Perceptions of discrimination and Islamophobia”, which is based on in-depth interviews with members of Muslim communities in ten EU Member States. This study provides a snapshot of the opinions, feelings, fears, frustrations, and also the hopes for the future shared by many Muslims in the EU.

Have a read !

Pics with thousands of memories (Updates)

2006-12-15T07:28:00.000+08:00

Last class - 'The last man standing'

The guys

The DOC.

'Goofying' around

Future Doctors

Future LengChai Doctors

The Man U Fans (except yg hujung kiri tu hehe), After the last Patho class

The boys

With Prof. Fitzpatrick

With Gerry O'Sullivan, my groupmate

"Poverty is the Absence of All Human Rights"

2006-12-14T03:01:00.000+08:00

I would like to congratulate Prof Muhammad Yunus on winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize and for all his works against poverty. I think we should all learn from his work, his determination and his dedication in creating a better future for his people in Bangladesh by creating the Grameen Bank, a microcredit institution committed to providing small amounts of working capital to the poor for self-employment.

This is the speech given by him when he and the Grameen Bank received the Nobel Peace Prize last Sunday in Oslo. Read and be humbled. If you want to congratulate him, go to www.grameenfoundation.org.

Nobel Lecture, Oslo, December 10, 2006.

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Honorable Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Grameen Bank and I are deeply honoured to receive this most prestigious of awards. We are thrilled and overwhelmed by this honour. Since the Nobel Peace Prize was announced, I have received endless messages from around the world, but what moves me most are the calls I get almost daily, from the borrowers of Grameen Bank in remote Bangladeshi villages, who just want to say how proud they are to have received this recognition.

Nine elected representatives of the 7 million borrowers-cum-owners of Grameen Bank have accompanied me all the way to Oslo to receive the prize. I express thanks on their behalf to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for choosing Grameen Bank for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. By giving their institution the most prestigious prize in the world, you give them unparalleled honour. Thanks to your prize, nine proud women from the villages of Bangladesh are at the ceremony today as Nobel laureates, giving an altogether new meaning to the Nobel Peace Prize.

All borrowers of Grameen Bank are celebrating this day as the greatest day of their lives. They are gathering around the nearest television set in their villages all over Bangladesh , along with other villagers, to watch the proceedings of this ceremony.

This years' prize gives highest honour and dignity to the hundreds of millions of women all around the world who struggle every day to make a living and bring hope for a better life for their children. This is a historic moment for them.

Poverty is a Threat to Peace
Ladies and Gentlemen:

By giving us this prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has given important support to the proposition that peace is inextricably linked to poverty. Poverty is a threat to peace.

World's income distribution gives a very telling story. Ninety four percent of the world income goes to 40 percent of the population while sixty percent of people live on only 6 per cent of world income. Half of the world population lives on two dollars a day. Over one billion people live on less than a dollar a day. This is no formula for peace.

The new millennium began with a great global dream. World leaders gathered at the United Nations in 2000 and adopted, among others, a historic goal to reduce poverty by half by 2015. Never in human history had such a bold goal been adopted by the entire world in one voice, one that specified time and size. But then came September 11 and the Iraq war, and suddenly the world became derailed from the pursuit of this dream, with the attention of world leaders shifting from the war on poverty to the war on terrorism. Till now over $ 530 billion has been spent on the war in Iraq by the USA alone.

I believe terrorism cannot be won over by military action. Terrorism must be condemned in the strongest language. We must stand solidly against it, and find all the means to end it. We must address the root causes of terrorism to end it for all time to come. I believe that putting resources into improving the lives of the poor people is a better strategy than spending it on guns.

Poverty is Denial of All Human Rights
Peace should be understood in a human way 3/4 in a broad social, political and economic way. Peace is threatened by unjust economic, social and political order, absence of democracy, environmental degradation and absence of human rights.

Poverty is the absence of all human rights. The frustrations, hostility and anger generated by abject poverty cannot sustain peace in any society. For building stable peace we must find ways to provide opportunities for people to live decent lives.

The creation of opportunities for the majority of people − the poor − is at the heart of the work that we have dedicated ourselves to during the past 30 years.

Grameen Bank
I became involved in the poverty issue not as a policymaker or a researcher. I became involved because poverty was all around me, and I could not turn away from it. In 1974, I found it difficult to teach elegant theories of economics in the university classroom, in the backdrop of a terrible famine in Bangladesh . Suddenly, I felt the emptiness of those theories in the face of crushing hunger and poverty. I wanted to do something immediate to help people around me, even if it was just one human being, to get through another day with a little more ease. That brought me face to face with poor people's struggle to find the tiniest amounts of money to support their efforts to eke out a living. I was shocked to discover a woman in the village, borrowing less than a dollar from the money-lender, on the condition that he would have the exclusive right to buy all she produces at the price he decides. This, to me, was a way of recruiting slave labor.

I decided to make a list of the victims of this money-lending "business" in the village next door to our campus.

When my list was done, it had the names of 42 victims who borrowed a total amount of US $27. I offered US $27 from my own pocket to get these victims out of the clutches of those money-lenders. The excitement that was created among the people by this small action got me further involved in it. If I could make so many people so happy with such a tiny amount of money, why not do more of it?

That is what I have been trying to do ever since. The first thing I did was to try to persuade the bank located in the campus to lend money to the poor. But that did not work. The bank said that the poor were not creditworthy. After all my efforts, over several months, failed I offered to become a guarantor for the loans to the poor. I was stunned by the result. The poor paid back their loans, on time, every time! But still I kept confronting difficulties in expanding the program through the existing banks. That was when I decided to create a separate bank for the poor, and in 1983, I finally succeeded in doing that. I named it Grameen Bank or Village bank.

Today, Grameen Bank gives loans to nearly 7.0 million poor people, 97 per cent of whom are women, in 73,000 villages in Bangladesh. Grameen Bank gives collateral-free income generating, housing, student and micro-enterprise loans to the poor families and offers a host of attractive savings, pension funds and insurance products for its members. Since it introduced them in 1984, housing loans have been used to construct 640,000 houses. The legal ownership of these houses belongs to the women themselves. We focused on women because we found giving loans to women always brought more benefits to the family.

In a cumulative way the bank has given out loans totaling about US $6.0 billion. The repayment rate is 99%. Grameen Bank routinely makes profit. Financially, it is self-reliant and has not taken donor money since 1995. Deposits and own resources of Grameen Bank today amount to 143 per cent of all outstanding loans. According to Grameen Bank's internal survey, 58 per cent of our borrowers have crossed the poverty line.

Grameen Bank was born as a tiny homegrown project run with the help of several of my students, all local girls and boys. Three of these students are still with me in Grameen Bank, after all these years, as its topmost executives. They are here today to receive this honour you give us.

This idea, which began in Jobra, a small village in Bangladesh, has spread around the world and there are now Grameen type programs in almost every country.

Second Generation
It is 30 years now since we began. We keep looking at the children of our borrowers to see what has been the impact of our work on their lives. The women who are our borrowers always gave topmost priority to the children. One of the Sixteen Decisions developed and followed by them was to send children to school. Grameen Bank encouraged them, and before long all the children were going to school. Many of these children made it to the top of their class. We wanted to celebrate that, so we introduced scholarships for talented students. Grameen Bank now gives 30,000 scholarships every year.

Many of the children went on to higher education to become doctors, engineers, college teachers and other professionals. We introduced student loans to make it easy for Grameen students to complete higher education. Now some of them have PhD's. There are 13,000 students on student loans. Over 7,000 students are now added to this number annually.

We are creating a completely new generation that will be well equipped to take their families way out of the reach of poverty. We want to make a break in the historical continuation of poverty.

Beggars Can Turn to Business
In Bangladesh 80 percent of the poor families have already been reached with microcredit. We are hoping that by 2010, 100 per cent of the poor families will be reached.

Three years ago we started an exclusive programme focusing on the beggars. None of Grameen Bank's rules apply to them. Loans are interest-free; they can pay whatever amount they wish, whenever they wish. We gave them the idea to carry small merchandise such as snacks, toys or household items, when they went from house to house for begging. The idea worked. There are now 85,000 beggars in the program. About 5,000 of them have already stopped begging completely. Typical loan to a beggar is $12.

We encourage and support every conceivable intervention to help the poor fight out of poverty. We always advocate microcredit in addition to all other interventions, arguing that microcredit makes those interventions work better.

Information Technology for the Poor
Information and communication technology (ICT) is quickly changing the world, creating distanceless, borderless world of instantaneous communications. Increasingly, it is becoming less and less costly. I saw an opportunity for the poor people to change their lives if this technology could be brought to them to meet their needs.

As a first step to bring ICT to the poor we created a mobile phone company, Grameen Phone. We gave loans from Grameen Bank to the poor women to buy mobile phones to sell phone services in the villages. We saw the synergy between microcredit and ICT.

The phone business was a success and became a coveted enterprise for Grameen borrowers. Telephone-ladies quickly learned and innovated the ropes of the telephone business, and it has become the quickest way to get out of poverty and to earn social respectability. Today there are nearly 300,000 telephone ladies providing telephone service in all the villages of Bangladesh . Grameen Phone has more than 10 million subscribers, and is the largest mobile phone company in the country. Although the number of telephone-ladies is only a small fraction of the total number of subscribers, they generate 19 per cent of the revenue of the company. Out of the nine board members who are attending this grand ceremony today 4 are telephone-ladies.

Grameen Phone is a joint-venture company owned by Telenor of Norway and Grameen Telecom of Bangladesh. Telenor owns 62 per cent share of the company, Grameen Telecom owns 38 per cent. Our vision was to ultimately convert this company into a social business by giving majority ownership to the poor women of Grameen Bank. We are working towards that goal. Someday Grameen Phone will become another example of a big enterprise owned by the poor.

Free Market Economy
Capitalism centers on the free market. It is claimed that the freer the market, the better is the result of capitalism in solving the questions of what, how, and for whom. It is also claimed that the individual search for personal gains brings collective optimal result.

I am in favor of strengthening the freedom of the market. At the same time, I am very unhappy about the conceptual restrictions imposed on the players in the market. This originates from the assumption that entrepreneurs are one-dimensional human beings, who are dedicated to one mission in their business lives 3/4 to maximize profit. This interpretation of capitalism insulates the entrepreneurs from all political, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental dimensions of their lives. This was done perhaps as a reasonable simplification, but it stripped away the very essentials of human life.

Human beings are a wonderful creation embodied with limitless human qualities and capabilities. Our theoretical constructs should make room for the blossoming of those qualities, not assume them away.

Many of the world's problems exist because of this restriction on the players of free-market. The world has not resolved the problem of crushing poverty that half of its population suffers. Healthcare remains out of the reach of the majority of the world population. The country with the richest and freest market fails to provide healthcare for one-fifth of its population.

We have remained so impressed by the success of the free-market that we never dared to express any doubt about our basic assumption. To make it worse, we worked extra hard to transform ourselves, as closely as possible, into the one-dimensional human beings as conceptualized in the theory, to allow smooth functioning of free market mechanism.

By defining "entrepreneur" in a broader way we can change the character of capitalism radically, and solve many of the unresolved social and economic problems within the scope of the free market. Let us suppose an entrepreneur, instead of having a single source of motivation (such as, maximizing profit), now has two sources of motivation, which are mutually exclusive, but equally compelling 3/4 a) maximization of profit and b) doing good to people and the world.

Each type of motivation will lead to a separate kind of business. Let us call the first type of business a profit-maximizing business, and the second type of business as social business.

Social business will be a new kind of business introduced in the market place with the objective of making a difference in the world. Investors in the social business could get back their investment, but will not take any dividend from the company. Profit would be ploughed back into the company to expand its outreach and improve the quality of its product or service. A social business will be a non-loss, non-dividend company.

Once social business is recognized in law, many existing companies will come forward to create social businesses in addition to their foundation activities. Many activists from the non-profit sector will also find this an attractive option. Unlike the non-profit sector where one needs to collect donations to keep activities going, a social business will be self-sustaining and create surplus for expansion since it is a non-loss enterprise. Social business will go into a new type of capital market of its own, to raise capital.

Young people all around the world, particularly in rich countries, will find the concept of social business very appealing since it will give them a challenge to make a difference by using their creative talent. Many young people today feel frustrated because they cannot see any worthy challenge, which excites them, within the present capitalist world. Socialism gave them a dream to fight for. Young people dream about creating a perfect world of their own.

Almost all social and economic problems of the world will be addressed through social businesses. The challenge is to innovate business models and apply them to produce desired social results cost-effectively and efficiently. Healthcare for the poor, financial services for the poor, information technology for the poor, education and training for the poor, marketing for the poor, renewable energy − these are all exciting areas for social businesses.

Social business is important because it addresses very vital concerns of mankind. It can change the lives of the bottom 60 per cent of world population and help them to get out of poverty.

Grameen's Social Business
Even profit maximizing companies can be designed as social businesses by giving full or majority ownership to the poor. This constitutes a second type of social business. Grameen Bank falls under this category of social business.

The poor could get the shares of these companies as gifts by donors, or they could buy the shares with their own money. The borrowers with their own money buy Grameen Bank shares, which cannot be transferred to non-borrowers. A committed professional team does the day-to-day running of the bank.

Bilateral and multi-lateral donors could easily create this type of social business. When a donor gives a loan or a grant to build a bridge in the recipient country, it could create a "bridge company" owned by the local poor. A committed management company could be given the responsibility of running the company. Profit of the company will go to the local poor as dividend, and towards building more bridges. Many infrastructure projects, like roads, highways, airports, seaports, utility companies could all be built in this manner.

Grameen has created two social businesses of the first type. One is a yogurt factory, to produce fortified yogurt to bring nutrition to malnourished children, in a joint venture with Danone. It will continue to expand until all malnourished children of Bangladesh are reached with this yogurt. Another is a chain of eye-care hospitals. Each hospital will undertake 10,000 cataract surgeries per year at differentiated prices to the rich and the poor.

Social Stock Market
To connect investors with social businesses, we need to create social stock market where only the shares of social businesses will be traded. An investor will come to this stock-exchange with a clear intention of finding a social business, which has a mission of his liking. Anyone who wants to make money will go to the existing stock-market.

To enable a social stock-exchange to perform properly, we will need to create rating agencies, standardization of terminology, definitions, impact measurement tools, reporting formats, and new financial publications, such as, The Social Wall Street Journal. Business schools will offer courses and business management degrees on social businesses to train young managers how to manage social business enterprises in the most efficient manner, and, most of all, to inspire them to become social business entrepreneurs themselves.

Role of Social Businesses in Globalization

I support globalization and believe it can bring more benefits to the poor than its alternative. But it must be the right kind of globalization. To me, globalization is like a hundred-lane highway criss-crossing the world. If it is a free-for-all highway, its lanes will be taken over by the giant trucks from powerful economies. Bangladeshi rickshaw will be thrown off the highway. In order to have a win-win globalization we must have traffic rules, traffic police, and traffic authority for this global highway. Rule of "strongest takes it all" must be replaced by rules that ensure that the poorest have a place and piece of the action, without being elbowed out by the strong. Globalization must not become financial imperialism.
Powerful multi-national social businesses can be created to retain the benefit of globalization for the poor people and poor countries. Social businesses will either bring ownership to the poor people, or keep the profit within the poor countries, since taking dividends will not be their objective. Direct foreign investment by foreign social businesses will be exciting news for recipient countries. Building strong economies in the poor countries by protecting their national interest from plundering companies will be a major area of interest for the social businesses.

We Create What We Want
We get what we want, or what we don't refuse. We accept the fact that we will always have poor people around us, and that poverty is part of human destiny. This is precisely why we continue to have poor people around us. If we firmly believe that poverty is unacceptable to us, and that it should not belong to a civilized society, we would have built appropriate institutions and policies to create a poverty-free world.

We wanted to go to the moon, so we went there. We achieve what we want to achieve. If we are not achieving something, it is because we have not put our minds to it. We create what we want.

What we want and how we get to it depends on our mindsets. It is extremely difficult to change mindsets once they are formed. We create the world in accordance with our mindset. We need to invent ways to change our perspective continually and reconfigure our mindset quickly as new knowledge emerges. We can reconfigure our world if we can reconfigure our mindset.

We Can Put Poverty in the Museums

I believe that we can create a poverty-free world because poverty is not created by poor people. It has been created and sustained by the economic and social system that we have designed for ourselves; the institutions and concepts that make up that system; the policies that we pursue.

Poverty is created because we built our theoretical framework on assumptions which under-estimates human capacity, by designing concepts, which are too narrow (such as concept of business, credit- worthiness, entrepreneurship, employment) or developing institutions, which remain half-done (such as financial institutions, where poor are left out). Poverty is caused by the failure at the conceptual level, rather than any lack of capability on the part of people.

I firmly believe that we can create a poverty-free world if we collectively believe in it. In a poverty-free world, the only place you would be able to see poverty is in the poverty museums. When school children take a tour of the poverty museums, they would be horrified to see the misery and indignity that some human beings had to go through. They would blame their forefathers for tolerating this inhuman condition, which existed for so long, for so many people.

A human being is born into this world fully equipped not only to take care of him or herself, but also to contribute to enlarging the well being of the world as a whole. Some get the chance to explore their potential to some degree, but many others never get any opportunity, during their lifetime, to unwrap the wonderful gift they were born with. They die unexplored and the world remains deprived of their creativity, and their contribution.

Grameen has given me an unshakeable faith in the creativity of human beings. This has led me to believe that human beings are not born to suffer the misery of hunger and poverty.

To me poor people are like bonsai trees. When you plant the best seed of the tallest tree in a flower-pot, you get a replica of the tallest tree, only inches tall. There is nothing wrong with the seed you planted, only the soil-base that is too inadequate. Poor people are bonsai people. There is nothing wrong in their seeds. Simply, society never gave them the base to grow on. All it needs to get the poor people out of poverty for us to create an enabling environment for them. Once the poor can unleash their energy and creativity, poverty will disappear very quickly.

Let us join hands to give every human being a fair chance to unleash their energy and creativity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me conclude by expressing my deep gratitude to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for recognizing that poor people, and especially poor women, have both the potential and the right to live a decent life, and that microcredit helps to unleash that potential.

I believe this honor that you give us will inspire many more bold initiatives around the world to make a historical breakthrough in ending global poverty.

Thank you very much.