A quick dash ‘thru’ Pakatan states

***
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80)

*************

INTICIPATING the 13th general election that is just around the corner, the writer made a quick dash through the four Pakatan Rakyat administrated states (Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Kedah and Kelantan) from 17th to 21 December to hear grouses and comments by man on the street.

From my hometown in Melaka, I took the North South Highway heading north on Saturday morning and stopped at Masjid UPM (situated in Selangor) to perform the ‘zuhur’ and ‘asar’ jamak (combined) prayers. On the grounds of Masjid UPM, I saw two groups of people gathered around two would be ‘pengantin perempuan’ (brides) that would be ‘nikah’ (solemnized in marriage) in the masjid.

Late that afternoon, the writer attended a wedding reception of a friend’s son at a masjid in Ampang (also in Selangor). Some non-Malays were seen attending the ‘majlis’, so it was a harmonious one.

That scene was lovely; and as at the ‘masjid’ people were going and doing their routine chores in the state; everything is apparently in place and not going through a ‘terrible condition’ as described by a few Selangor delegates in the recently concluded Umno General Assembly. One speaker said she was “terseksa” (facing torture) under the Pakatan Rakyat administration.

Regarding the eagerness of Umno leaders to capture Selangor, my friend Ramli Adam who is involved in the media industry and lives in Klang, told me that “UBAN “ (Umno-Barisan Nasional) would ‘throw everything’ they have the administration of the state is back into the hands of Umno.

As an example he said, Datuk Habibah Mohd Yusof, the Tanjung Karang Wanita Umno Chief, said they would face the "do the die battle." She belittled the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat with this poem, entitled ‘Selangor Kini’:

“Pakatan rakyat makin terdesak,
DAP pula sentiasa mengasak,
Otak MB dah makin rosak,
Keputusan dibuat,
Betul ke tidak?
Rakyat Selangor sudah masak,
Lakonan mereka,
Semakin nampak,
Ke mana-mana orang,
Dah mula berborak,
Menyokong PR parti,
Yang haprak”.

(Pakaran Rakyat is under pressure
The DAP always aggressive
The MB's brain has degenerated
Decisions made
Are they correct?
The people of Selangor are conscious
Their act is obvious
Whence people are now talking
Supporting the PR,
A useless party)

After Selangor, I continued my journey to the northern states. The North South highway was ‘merry’ during this school holiday. I stopped a few times at the RR for some quick naps; and before the ‘azan subuh’ (dawn call for prayers) I was already in a masjid in Pendang, Kedah.

The calmness and sereneness of the morning while driving on the Pendang-Alor Setar road with paddy fields on each side of it, lit up inspiration in me. Alor Setar traffic was busy as usual that morning; people doing their usual chores.

From Alor Setar, I took the trunk road to Kangar and then to Arau before heading back to the Kedah state capital via Jitra. During the journey, I stopped to have a rest at Dataran Rindu Alam, near Kangar.

The tourist spot with a cave to explore has excellent facilities such as two ‘surau’ (for men and women) but they are in dire condition; such as the ablution area which is dirty. I too stopped at a restaurant named Anjung Keli; the food served there especially the fried ‘keli’ (catfish) was excellent. In Kedah I had a stop at some areas and spent the night in Kota Kuala Muda.

In Kedah, the locals told me, the Pakatan Rakyat government did a good job; the majority of people had nothing to complain. They said there was no big issue in Kedah; the opposition had to resort to making a mountain out of a mole hill for example making an issue out of a surau that had to be shifted in an urban area of Alor Setar.

After Kedah, I left for Pulau Pinang; entering the island by using the ferry. Then I drove along the expressway to Bukit Jambul where I stayed at level 22 of a hotel. The view of Pulau Pinang from my hotel room was lovely; high rise buildings dominated the area.

While driving along its highways and roads, I noticed Pulau Pinang roads were without plots or pots and vases of expensive flowers on road shoulders or dividers as seen in other cities and towns. In some areas, the grass had grown too long; perhaps the authorities were trying to cut the cost of operations. Overall Pulau Pinang (Georgetown) is a clean city.

While having lunch at a Malay restaurant in Bukit Jambul, I saw a group of about 10 Indian youth entering and having food in it. Then while driving along a back road, I saw tens of people lining to buy food at a ‘mamak’ (Kayu) restaurant. So things are going as usual in this Pakatan Rakyat controlled state.

After Pulau Pinang, I travelled along the ‘Jambatan Pulau Pinang’ and then moved to the Kulim highway, then was on the road to Grik, Perak. I drove along the East West Highway; it was smooth all the way and in four hours I reached Jeli, a small town in another Pakatan Rakyat (PAS) administered state (Kelantan).

I moved on to Tanah Merah and then took the alternative road to Kota Bharu via Pasir Mas. For the night, I stayed at a homestay near Wakaf Che Yeh. The homestay was near a surau, after prayers I had the opportunity to talk to a few ‘jemaah’ (congregators).

One ‘jemaah’ told me that for the coming general election, the chances of Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional winning the election was 50-50; but another one predicted Pakatan (PAS) would still have the edge if PAS spiritual leader, Tok Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat led his party in the election.

This ‘jemaah’ surprised me when he said, some PAS state leaders are liabilities and they should be removed or not chosen as candidates in the coming election.

He said as a local, he knew their ‘games’, hence it was better for them to give up their position before they were told to do so by party leaders.

He warned some Umno candidates would make inroads in the coming elections; PAS had to work extra hard to maintain their status quo.

From Wakaf Che Yeh, I drove to Kota Bharu in the morning of 21st December. The Kuala Kerai-Kota Bharu road was chocked with traffic; it took me almost an hour to reach the city centre.

Business runs as usual in Kota Bharu but surprisingly the markets and shopping areas are not crowded with people as experienced during school holidays; perhaps outsiders had been warned about the probability Kelantan would hit by the flood during this period.

From Kota Bharu, I drove to Pasir Putih and then passed the Kelantan-Terengganu border; thus ended my quick dash thru the Pakatan Rakyat states. In my opinion, these states would be still under the Rakyat administration after the 13th general election, but beware because UBAN would be up to its tricks to wrestle it at any costs!

Bus fares: Which is the ‘fairest’ of them all?

***
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection

The Declining Day (Al-'Asr)
1. By the declining day,
2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss,
3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort
one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.
***

ONLY recently did I discover that express bus fares vary from one company to another although the route the companies take is the same.

For instance for the Kuala Lumpur-Melaka route that I often use, the highest fare is that of Transnasional at RM12.50 while the cheapest is offered by Delima Ekspres at only RM9.00.

Between the highest and lowest; the Mayang Sari fare is at RM10, Metro charges RM9.20 and KK-KL is RM12.20. I have not tried Jebat and a few other bus companies, so I did not know their fares. I too did not know whether this activity (competing to have the lowest fare) is legal or not.

From my experience traveling almost daily on the Melaka-Kuala Lumpur-Melaka route, express buses are only full during weekends and public holidays; on weekdays they are 'dry' of passengers especially in the middle of the month until the end of the month when the public's spending power is at its lowest.

A few days ago, on the morning journey from Melaka to Alor Gajah I was the only passenger in the bus; luckily at that small town it picked up three more passengers; so there was only the four of us during the one hour journey from Alor Gajah to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, Integrated Southern Terminal (TBS) in Bandar Tasik Selatan. Imagine there were only five souls (including the driver) in the whole big bus!

Once I asked a bus driver why the fares varied; to which he answered bus companies are now fighting to get passengers and this meant survival of the firm they were working with. When I asked him if his company was making a big profit; he shook his head and said: "If the owner concentrates only on running the buses, his business would have folded up a long time ago. Luckily, this company also runs other businesses."

If express bus operators are 'shaky' in the businesses; what could be said about stage bus operators? Reports from all over the country note that several bus companies especially serving in rural areas resolve their woes by cutting services; angering the man on the street.

Last month, thousands of commuters in Seremban were stranded when a consortium stopped serving a dozen routes, mostly in the outskirts.

Kampung folks have been complaining that buses that ply their route were not turning up as usual and it was normal for them to wait for two or three hours for the bus. Bus commuters who are depended to the bus service to their workplace time after time are frustrated; their woes were not treated with respect by the authorities concerned.

If leaders could boast in spending billions and billions of ringgit to upgrade the public transportation system in the city including setting up a new MRT line, what about the needs of the poor rakyat living in rural areas such as on the Jasin (Melaka) and Tangkak (Johor) road.

Recently a commuter has this to say: "We hope the authorities would help us. On 29th June, MOS bus for route Tangkak-Jasin from 8.45 am to 11.15 am, failed to picked up passengers. We, workers who depended on that bus service had to confront with our employer regarding this matter. Why do not inform earlier? Why create trouble for commuters?"

Recently a news report said that Cityliner which is owned by Konsortium Transnasional had stopped 21 of its 25 routes in Kuala Selangor, including villages around Klang, Banting and Shah Alam. Areas affected include Pandamaran, Kampung Delek and Taman Seri Sentosa. About 60,000 to 80,000 passengers were disrupted; they had to find other means of transportation.

Those at helm of the company said revenue from fares could not sustain stage buses as costs had gone up, but fares had not increased in tandem. To overcome this serious situation which affect the poor rakyat, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is scrambling to get bus service operators such as ‘bas sekolah’ (school buses) and ‘bas kilang’ (factory buses) to service the routes left vacant. About 3,000 buses are needed ‘to fill in the gap’ left by Cityliner in Selangor.

SPAD chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, in blaming the fiasco in Selangor to the state government refusal in assisting Cityliner in their economic woes, claimed his side would not stand in the way of any initiative that would benefit the public.

Tan Sri, why only blame the Selangor state government; the bus service in other states such as Negeri Sembilan and Pahang was also affected, they were in dire situation; so why not look at a broader scope because bus operators throughout the country are facing difficulties at this hard time.

Regarding the woes of bus operators of not being able to sustain businesses what’s more obtaining profit, I talked over the phone with Deputy President of Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA), Razali Endun who admitted it is not only ‘a Selangor problem’ but were faced by almost all of its members all over the country.

He said his side is working out for a solution including pressing SPAD to provide aid to bus operators based on a pay of RM1-per-kilometre formula but response from the government was not very encouraging. A meeting with Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najb Razak scheduled in October was also postponed.

PMBOA President, Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali in a local daily was reported saying: “We have been asking for help for more than a year now, but there has not been much response. The Melaka government has bought up all stage bus operators in the state, but the federal government is slow in responding.”

Razali who is also President of Melaka Bus Operators, clarified that the Melaka government had only suggested that a fund of RM5.4 million (the money forked out from the municipal council in the state) to assist the bus operators in the state.

“It was only an idea, nothing had already been put on ground,” said Razali. He also said the state government failed to secure a RM36 million loan from the federal government to ‘pay’ for the bus operators as it had promised more than two years ago in upgrading public transportation in the state.

Nevertheless Razali urged the state government to honour it promise in giving assistance to local bus companies, saying the money was urgent as operations by local bus companies in Melaka are in a dire situation as they are facing acute financial problem.

He said while waiting for the state’s assistance, operators were facing more trouble as the authorities such as the Road Transport Department (RTD) had compounded several of the old buses because they are not roadworthy.

Razali said he too had no idea how to renew permits for his buses next year as almost all of them are in dire condition. "Permits can only be renewed if the buses that are more than 15 years are replaced by new ones or upgraded," he said.

About 10 local bus operators that are facing financial problems are in dire straits and could cease operations, including in 2,000 employees being laid off, Razali said.

Thus he hope the state government would come to the rescue by honoring its pledge in helping local bus operators, if not they would cease operations, resulting in difficulties for thousands of commuters who depended on public transport.

So, to SPAD and Tan Sri Syed Hamid, don’t just look at the public woes in Selangor; but please act fast in other states too especially in Negeri Sembilan and Pahang where thousands of commuters are stranded when the buses they wait for, fail to turn up!

Hanya 20% isi rumah berpendapatan lebih RM3,000

****************
DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

Renungan

Daripada Aisyah r.a., berkata: "Saya mendengar Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Semua manusia dikumpulkan tanpa memakai alas kaki, telanjang dan belum dikhatan.' Aisyah bertanya; 'Apakah antara lelaki dan perempuan akan saling melihat antara satu dengan yang lain?' Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: 'Urusan pada hari itu lebih dahsyat daripada mementingkan hal-hal seperti itu.'" (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim)

*************

Kita mengucapkan terima kasih dan tahniah kepada kerajaan dan rakyat dalam pemberian wang bantuan RM500 sekali beri, tetapi dalam keghairahan pemimpin negara dan media massa membesar-besaran pemberiaan berkenaan kepada isi rumah yang berpendapatan kurang RM3,000 sebulan; terdedahlah satu hakikat yang perlu direnungkan – hanya 20 peratus saja isi rumah di negara ini yang berpendapatan lebih RM3,000 sebulan!

Kementerian Kewangan menyatakan RM2.6 bilion akan mula dibayar mulai pertengahan Januari depan yang akan memanfaatkan 5.2 juta isi rumah atau 79.5 peratus daripada isi rumah di negara ini. Jika 79.5 peratus daripada seluruh isi rumah berpendapatan kurang RM3,000 sebulan, bermakna hanya ada 20.5 peratus saja isi rumah yang berpendapatan lebih RM3,000 sebulan.

Sekarang ini pendapatan isi rumah biasanya disumbangkan oleh suami dan isteri; ini bermakna jika sebuah keluarga itu berpendapatan RM3,000 sebulan; masing-masing hanya berpendapatan dalam lingkungan RM1,500. Jika perkiraan begini dilakukan apakah ini bermakna kira-kira 80 peratus daripada rakyat berpendapatan kurang daripada RM1,500 sebulan?

Dengan berpendapatan RM1,500 atau kurang daripada itu sebulan, hakikat ini perlulah menjadi bahan renungan kita – benarkah rakyat dalam ambang berpendapatan tinggi seperti yang dicita-citakan sesetengah pemimpin negara ini. Bagi kita perolehan sebanyak RM1,500 sebulan tidak begitu jauh daripada garis kemiskinan apatah lagi jika seseorang itu tinggal di kota dan bandar-bandar besar.

Jika sedar bahawa sebahagian besar daripada rakyat adalah miskin atau golongan sederhana (kira-kira 80 peratus daripada penduduk), maka sewajarnya langkah-langkah drastik dan berkesan dilakukan untuk mengatasi masalah ketidak-mampuan rakyat ini. Dengan pendapatan RM1,500 sebulan di kota sebenarnya tidak banyak perkara keperluan hidup yang boleh dilunaskan. Sewa (bayaran ansuran) rumah, tambang pengangkutan dan bayaran utiliti bulanan sudah cukup untuk melangsaikan wang sebanyak itu

Jadi bagi kita, usaha mengurangkan beban golongan majoriti rakyat golongan miskin dan sederhana ini bukanlah dengan pemberian sekali beri tetapi merancang mengurangkan penderitaan dan kesempitan hidup mereka. Isu jelas yang paling membelenggu rakyat adalah kenaikan harga barangan keperluan dan perkhidmatan yang sejak akhir-akhir ini seperti tidak dapat dikawal oleh pihak berkuasa.

Memberi rakyat wang tunai RM500, dengan cepat mereka boleh menghabiskannya tetapi dengan berwibawanya kerajaan memastikan harga barangan keperluan harian seperti beras, gula, kopi, tepung, susu, minyak, sayur-sayuran, ikan serta ayam dan daging dalam jangkauan rakyat miskin, inilah seribu kali lebih baik dan mulia.

Demikian juga menyediakan perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam yang baik dan efisien terutama di kawasan luar bandar adalah amat dialu-alukan. Kini krisis pengangkutan awam di kawasan pinggir kota dan kawasan luar bandar menjadi terlalu buruk sehingga ribuan penumpang di Seremban, Temerloh, Shah Alam dan Kuala Selangor terkandas gara-gara penguasaha pengangkutan awam seperti bas berhenti-henti terpaksa memberhentikan perkhidmatan kerana syarikat mereka mengalami kerugian yang teruk.

Kita sedar syarikat-syarikat ini rugi besar kerana penggendalian perkhidmatan di luar bandar tidak menguntungkan tetapi bukankah menjadi tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk menangani permasalahan seperti ini. Jika kerajaan boleh berbelanja berbilion-bilion ringgit untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam canggih seperti MRT di ibu kota, mengapa tidak boleh diperuntukkan sedikit sebanyak untuk melegakan penderitaan rakyat luar bandar?

Berkenaan bantuan sekali beri RM500, kita berharaplah ia bukan umpan di kail, tetapi jika betul-betul umpan, harap-haraplah ikan yang ‘bersekolah’ akan mengigit-gigitnya secara bijaksana, jangan mulut tersangkut di kail sudahlah. Biarkah umpan habis tetapi ikan tak dapat-dapat juga!

Wang bantuan RM500 akan lenyap dengan cepat…

*************
Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
***************
Renungan
"...Sesungguhnya masjid yang didirikan atas dasar takwa (Masjid Quba'), sejak hari pertama adalah lebih patut kamu solat di dalamnya. Di dalam masjid itu ada orag-orang yang ingin membersihkan diri. Dan sesungguhnya Allah menyukai orang-orang yang bersih." (Maksud Ayat 108 Surah At-Taubah)
****************

TAHUN 2011 akan melabuhkan tirainya, kini jendela 2o12 hampir terbuka. Sesuai dengan tahun baru, tentulah ramai yang bersemangat baru. Kebanyakan daripada kita berharap melalui tahun baru dari sudut positif.

Walaupun demikian, banyak daripada peristiwa yang dialami menjelang tahun baru menunjukkan sesuatu yang negatif. Ramai yang tersenyum girang kerana bakal mendapat bantuan sekali beri RM500, tanpa menyedari wang itu akan lenyap dalam masa singkat disebabkan penanggungan rakyat yang sangat berat.

Satu perkara yang kerap dikaitkan dengan tahun baru ialah permulaan sesi persekolahan. Berhubung perkara inilah banyak ibu bapa yang 'pening-pening lalat' bagi memenuhi keperluan anak-anak.

Perbelanjaan untuk menyekolahan anak-anak pada zaman ini bukannya murah. Sekarang tidak lagi sesuai untuk berkata: "Cikgu saya serahkan anak saya ini pada cikgu, pandai-pandailah cikgu buat apa-apa yang baik ke atasnya."

Sekarang 'penyerahan' dilakukan dengan wang ringgit. Sekalipun pihak berkuasa kerap menguar-uarkan yuran persekolahan sudah dimansuhkan dan pendidikan adalah percuma hakikatnya banyak wang perlu dikeluarkan.

Bagi yang pertama kali menghantar anak ke sekolah, jangan terperanjat jika melihat pada 'book list' kanak-kanak itu dinyatakan jumlah wang bagi pembelian buku tulis, latihan dan pelbagai yuran yang boleh mencecah RM100 bagi sekolah pagi (SK) dan lagi RM100 bagi sekolah petang (agama rakyat)

Seseorang anak yang bersekolah rendah bukan saja menghadiri sesi pagi tetapi juga sesi petang (sekolah agama). Yuran untuk sekolah agama lain pula daripada sekolah pagi. Demikian juga pakaiannya, begnya dan juga bukunya.
Bagi yang mempunyai anak di sekolah berasrama lagi membebankan. Yuran makanan, asrama, Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG) boleh mencecah RM1,000 seorang. Jika ada tiga anak di sekolah berasrama, laratkah kita sediakan RM3,000? Itu belum termasuk pakaian dan peralatan lain seperti beg dan kasut.

Demikianlah betapa beratnya bebanan ibu bapa hari ini. Jika untuk seorang anak di sekolah rendah, terpaksa dibelanjakan RM300 (bayaran di sekolah dan pembelian pakaian), hitunglah wang yang perlu disediakan untuk menyekolahkan lima orang anak, atau pun lapan orang anak. Jumlahnya tentulah membabitkan ribuan.

Ditambah dengan perkhabaran tambang bas sekolah yang akan dinaikkan, tentulah ibu bapa semakin pening. Dengan belanja harian (duit poket) anak-anak yang juga perlu dinaikkan sejajar dengan peningkatan usia mereka, tentulah ibu bapa semakin terpinar-pinar biji mata mereka.

Selepas termenung memikirkan belanja anak-anak, ibu bapa boleh merenung pula perbelanjaan yang membabitkan diri mereka pula. Jika yang terpaksa menggunakan lebuh raya, kadar tol lebuh raya mungkin dinaikkan. Demikian juga tambang bas. Inilah yang saban tahun berlaku apabila tahun berubah.

Bagi yang menaiki pengangkutan awam lain, dengar khabar tambangnya juga akan dinaikkan. Demikian juga dengan tambang bas dan teksi. Sekarang ini susah benar rakyat di kawasan luar bandar mendapatkan perkhidmatan bas berhenti-henti kerana banyak syarikat sudah gulung tikar kerana kos operasi yang tinggi sedangkan bantuan yang dipohon kepada kerajaan tidak diperolehi. Jadi tersadailah rakyat di stesen bas Temerloh, Seremban dan Klang serta Kuala Selangor.

Tidak cukup dengan perkhabaran itu, tarif kemudahan awam juga dikatakan akan dinaikkan. Jika 'semua' naik, tentulah sewa rumah, sewa kedai, sewa pejabat dan 'segala' macam sewa juga akan naik.

Demikianlah betapa rakyat begitu tertekan dewasa ini. Malangnya mereka tidak bersuara. Mereka adalah golongan majoriti, kata orang putih 'the silent majority'. 'The silent majority' inilah yang perlu disuntik semangat mereka untuk bangun menyuarakan ketidakpuasaan hati mereka terhadap pembahagian kekayaan negara yang tidak adil. Salah satu caranya adalah melalui pilihan raya umum ke-13 yang akan berlangsung tidak lama lagi. Fikir-fikirkanlah siapa yang layak anda berikan undi anda yang sangat berharga itu!

Of RM100 aid in Malaysia and KD1,000 in Kuwait

******************* In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Reflection ******************** "Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80) ********************** A close friend who was working and residing in Kuwait recently posted an e-mail to me asking whether I had received the RM100 cash given by the government to each school going child before school session ended last November. ********************* Yes, I replied to him, I had received RM200 cash because I have two school going children (two other children are in universities and the third one had just taken her SPM); but the money has finished. ******************* My wife had spent all of it to buy the children's school necessities; in fact I had to fork out another RM900 – a huge amount of money had to be allocated because one of the children needed to buy a blazer as he was appointed a prefect and he too needed a new pair of spectacles as he had lost his old one in his residential school. ******************** The money spent did not include books and fees scheduled to be bought and paid when school reopens on 4th January 2012. As I write this article, I looked at their book and school fees lists; the one in Primary Four needed a least another RM200 - RM100 for her SK school and another RM100 for her ‘agama’ (religious) school. ********************** For the boy in Form Three; his boarding fees which included food and student welfare fees (yuran asrama) amounted to RM780 per year. This amount is to be paid by parents whose monthly income exceeded RM5,000 per month while those with an income of less than that should pay RM280. ******************** The PIBG (Parents and Teachers Association) fees amounts to RM350. These include about 15 items such as the PIBG annual contribution (RM50), computer fees (RM50), tuition classes (RM120) and dhobi RM60). For exercise books and other requirements such as name tag, outing T-shit, the money needed is about RM120. So, I have to get ready about RM1,250 for this boy (RM780 + RM350 + RM120). *********************** Luckily for the boarding fees (food), parents could pay two times; RM390 during the first session of school and another RM390 during the second session (normally in the middle of the year). So the actual amount of money I had to fork out for this boy when school reopens on 4th January 2012 is about RM860 (RM390 + RM350 + RM120). ********************** As for the girl in Year Four; I had also to get ready RM50 for her school bus fees and perhaps another RM100 for unexpected payments such as buying her school house T-shirt and writing and reading materials. ************************** I had to get ready at least RM1,000 (excluding the RM900 I had given to my wife earlier) for my two school going children; so it is very expensive to sent to your children to school nowadays. ********************** Yes the RM100 cash given to each child helped parents a lot; so thanks to the government; but to the authorities concerned especially to top political leaders please do not go around boasting that education is free in Malaysia! ******************** If school going children in Malaysia were given RM100 each and in a month's time, citizens with a household income of less than RM3,000 a month would receive RM500 cash aid from the government, my friend in Kuwait sent me this news item just to ‘broadened my knowledge’. Perhaps he did not want me to be a ‘katak di bawah tempurung’ (a frog under the coconut shell)! ******************* KD1,000 ‘to every Kuwaiti’ Happy anniversaries! *********************** KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has issued instructions granting EVERY Kuwaiti citizen KD1,000 (about RM10,000) as well as free food rations for 14 months as of next month, a Cabinet statement said Sunday. *************************** The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, said it took note of the Amiri grant which would coincide with Sheikh Sabah’s 5th anniversary. ****************************** The Cabinet assigned the ministry of finance to take necessary steps to disperse the grant, which reflected the Amir’s keenness to helping citizens overcome their living conditions, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan said in a statement after the government meeting. ***************************** The Amir, he noted, also instructed food rations to be offered for free between Feb 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012. ***************************** The grants, he noted, marked the occasion of the 50th independence anniversary, 20th liberation anniversary and 5th anniversary of Sheikh Sabah’s assumption of office, due next month. ************************** The Cabinet, meanwhile, paid tribute to late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-sabah who passed away five years ago. ******************************* Speaking to reporters, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi said “I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude to HH the Amir and stress the happiness of every citizen on the occasion of the country’s National and Liberation days and 5th year of the Amir’s taking over.” He stressed that the grant is not a new initiative for the Amir and said he hoped Kuwait and its people will continue to enjoy more such grants. *********************************** MP Khalid Al-Adwa commended the Amiri grant decision, saying “HH the Amir has always been supportive of common citizens who are facing economic difficulties of late due to the drastic hike in prices of consumer products.” He asked the government, particularly the Minister of Commerce and Industry; to monitor prices in the market over the next period for fear that some traders would take advantage of the Amiri grant to hike prices. ***************************** MP Hussein Al-Mezyad also praised the Amiri grant, stressing that the generosity of HH the Amir is well-known and that he had managed to spread happiness among all Kuwaitis. He also commended the Amir for ordering free distribution of foodstuffs to Kuwaiti families “which indicates his generosity and his concern for his children. We hope the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and municipality will strictly monitor markets to ensure that traders don’t play with prices and the Amiri grant is not wasted.” He also called for quick payment of the grant and suggested it be paid with salaries of February.

The sincere Preacher

****************************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ***************************** Reflection **************************** The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) ***************************** 1. By the declining day, *************************** 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, ****************************** 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort ************************************ one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. ****************************** THE closure of the Klang Bus Stand also known as Pasarama Kota Bus Terminal, making way for a MRT project evokes fond memories of my younger years in Kuala Lumpur. ********************** The bus station which used to be one of the most notable landmarks in the Kuala Lumpur, ceased operations on 1st November to facilitate the construction of the new underground Pasar Seni MRT station. ************************* The Klang Bus Stand, located in Jalan Sultan Mohammed which was near the Klang River, has been serving Klang Valley folk for over 40 years. It was built in the late 1960s, and in the middle of 1980s, I was one of the regular patrons there. So the news on the demolition of the Klang Bus Stand brings back nostalgic memories to me. ************************** In early 1985 I began my university journalism practical training with a giant media house in Bangsar and a year later I was accepted as one of its staff. During those early years, as a green reporter, with my old trustworthy Yamaha Cup, I roamed the streets of Kuala Lumpur. ***************************** Some seniors told me, if you needed to 'master' the roads and areas in the city, during your off-day, just filled up the tank of your motorcycle to the maximum and have a 'jolly' ride without any specific destination in mind. ***************************** I did what they told me and in not more than a month, I had 'mastered' many areas in Kuala Lumpur including its 'red districts' such as Lorong Haji Taib in Chow Kit, Bukit Bintang and a side road at Padang Kelab Selangor, nowadays known as Dataran Merdeka. So to young reporters out there, try your luck by following my footsteps! ************************** During my 'rounds' I would stop at some interesting landmarks (to me-'lah') such as Campbell Shopping Complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Klang Bus Stand, Hentian Puduraya (now Pudu Sentral), Dayabumi and of course Masjid Negara (the National Mosque) to say my prayers. ******************** One day during that 'carefree' time, I stopped at the famous cave of Batu Caves and had a try climbing the hundreds of steps there. It turned out to be history because it was the first and the last time I entered it until this day. ************************* Among those landmarks, the Klang Bus Stand stood above the rest because it was here since 1986 I normally fixed appointments to meet my sweetheart (now she had been my wife for more than 20 years and we have been blessed with five children); she would travel all the way from her campus in Shah Alam and I waited for her anxiously at the bench of the dirty and crowded terminal. ********************* At that time I I have nothing to complain because the anxiety and feeling to meet my 'rose' was too great, much greater than effect of the miserable condition of the station. ********************** At times she would arrive at the Klang Bus Stand by the famous KL-Klang-Port Swettenham red buses. ****************** At that time mobile phones were unheard of so meeting with one's love was a 'great and much awaited event' that was much treasured. ***************8 If she came to the meeting spot by bus, normally I would ride my Yamaha Cup and parked it at a lane that was sandwiched by two rows of shop-houses near Klang Bus Stand before making my way to the station. ************** I would leave the bike there; move to the premises of Klang Bus Stand and after meeting 'my girl', we would went on our way walking, taking buses or taxis to move around Kuala Lumpur. ********************* It was troublesome and not a 'cool' thing to bring one's helmet, what’s more when one is on a date, so I would just lock it at the bike. *************** One evening after sending off 'my love' to Shah Alam from the Klang Bus Stand, I went to seek my bike and was at a loss for words after discovering my helmet was gone. The thief had cut off the strap of the helmet, and without it, I had a long night at the station; only at 10.00 pm I did manage to call a friend who came an hour later with an extra helmet for me. ****************** The Klang Bus Stand had 'taught me a lesson' - never, never leave our things unattended or expose yourselves to danger because the place was hangout for many types of people; vagrants, beggars and drug pushers! But what 'a great impact' Klang Bus Stand had on me. It was at this spot, I 'watered and tendered' the seed of love that I had planted in since 1986; in 1988 I pulled enough courage to sweep 'my rose' off her feet as my fiancée and a year later, she and me got married and we 'live happily ever after' hopefully until our final breath. ***************************** When I was used to the life in Kuala Lumpur, I ventured to some 'trouble' spots such as the famous Lorong Haji Taib. Some senior journalists told me to be a ‘jack of all trades’ in the field of journalism; one had to have a true life experience meeting all sorts of people including prostitutes. *************************** All the years, I had heard about this 'red light district', after a few months of being a reporter, one night I went to the spot alone. It was easy to go there; I parked my bike near the Maybank building in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, walked along a small side road and then entered the red light district of Lorong Haji Taib. ***************************** I swear I did not indulge in any unmoral activities there; I was only to please my curiosity and of course ‘to broaden’ my knowledge and experience as a ‘thoroughbred’ reporter and writer. **************** After many nights observing activities there; I was attracted to a ‘pendakwah’ (preacher) at a roadside who would talk and talk about religious matter especially about the heavy punishment by Allah SWT to people who indulged in adultery. At one point, I saw him shout to some men who were seen entering a back entrance of a cheap hotel. *************** “Don’t enter!” he reminded them. “Adultery is a great sin. You would be thrown into Hellfire!” The men ignored him, but that did not dampen the preacher’s spirit. He continued his ‘lecture’; but people just passed him, they were more interested gathering around peddlers who sells items such as sex toys and stimulus products or around those who had opened fast gambling activities. ************************ That preacher had truly captured my heart. If an ‘ordinary’ religious teacher (ustaz) lectures or gives lesson in masjids (nowadays many masjids are fully air-conditioned), this man would surely stand high above them all. Perhaps he was not paid even a cent for his‘dakwah’ work. ******************* In my opinion he was very sincere in his work, he was only hoping to be rewarded by the Master of the Universe, Allah SWT who says: “Every self will taste death. You will be paid your wages in full on the Day of Rising. Anyone who is distanced from the Fire and admitted to the Garden has triumphed. The life of this world is the just the enjoyment of delusion.” (Qur’an, 3:185)

Haji, hajah perlu muhasabah diri

********************* DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ****************** RENUNGAN ***************** "Hai orang-orang yang beriman, bertakwalah kepada Allah, carilah wasilah yang dapat mendekatkan kepada-Nya, dan berjuanglah di jalan-Nya." (Al-Maidah 5:35) ******************** Bersyukur ke hadrat Illahi kerana diberi-Nya kesempatan untuk kita memuzakarahkan isu membabitkan ummah. Kali ini kita ingin membicarakan perihal jemaah haji yang hampir semuanya sudah kembali ke tanah air masing-masing selepas menunaikan Rukun Islam kelima. *************************** Jemaah mengharapkan haji mabrur yang tiada balasannya kecuali syurga. Kemabruran haji (yang diterima Allah) inilah yang perlu dipertahankan seseorang haji dan hajah itu sehinggalah dia meninggal dunia. Seseorang 'haji' sewajarnya mengekalkan peranannya sebagai utusan kebenaran dan menjadi model kepada masyarakatnya. Jika berada di Tanah Haram, seseorang itu berusaha mematuhi segala hukum hakam Allah SWT termasuk menentang kebatilan sepanjang berada di sana, kini dengan kembalinya ke tanah halal (tanah air masing-masing), dia perlu terus istiqamah dalam amalannya. **************************** Sebagai contoh mudah, bagi seorang Muslimah, jika dia boleh menutup aurat sepenuhnya di Tanah Suci, tiada sebab dia 'membogelkan' kepala dan membuka anggota auratnya yang lain di tanah air. Hukum Allah SWT bukan hanya termaktub di Tanah Suci saja; ia diguna pakai pada sebarang masa dan di mana-mana seseorang itu berada. ******************************* Kita berpendapat ingatan kepada 'haji' dan 'hajah' itu tepat pada masanya bagi membolehkan mereka yang telah menunaikan rukun Islam terakhir, memahami, menjiwai seterusnya mengamalkan segala pengajaran dan falsafah daripada ibadat yang mereka laksanakan itu. Mereka perlu dingatkan bahawa mengamalkan Islam sepenuhnya dan menegakkan segala hukum-hakamnya termasuk hudud menjadi tanggungjawab setiap Muslim apatah lagi mereka yang kini bergelar 'haji' dan 'hajah'. Jika mahu berpolitik, mereka perlu melakukannya mengikut peraturan Islam yang sudah pasti menolak amalan buruk yang berleluasa sekarang ini seperti mengamalkan asabiyah (perkauman), menipu dalam pilihan raya, rasuah, memfitnah dan merompak harta negara. **************************************** Apabila dinyatakan mengamalkan Islam sepenuhnya, ia bermaksud menjadikan al-Quran dan hadis itu sebagai panduan hidup dalam semua bidang kehidupan. Ia bukan sahaja dalam soal ibadat khusus seperti solat dan puasa seperti difahami sesetengah pihak tetapi merangkumi segala-galanya - daripada soal yang dipandang remeh temeh oleh manusia kepada urusan mengatur masyarakat seperti politik, muamalat dan perundangan. Ketika berada di Tanah Suci, jemaah haji diberi nasihat mengenai hukum hakam Islam oleh Kementerian Hal Ehwal Haji dan Wakaf Arab Saudi melalui buku 'Panduan Untuk Jemaah Haji dan Umrah serta Pengunjung Masjid Rasul' yang antara lain menegaskan perkara-perkara yang membatalkan Islam. ********************************* Selain syirik iaitu mempersekutuan Allah yang dianggap kesalahan terbesar, turut disenaraikan perkara batil lain ialah berkeyakinan bahawa petunjuk yang lain daripada Nabi s.a.w. adalah lebih sempurna atau berkeyakinan bahawa hukuman yang lain daripada hukuman Nabi s.a.w. lebih baik seperti mereka yang mengamalkan peraturan thaghut (aturan manusia yang melampaui batas dan menyimpang daripada hukum Allah) dan mengenepikan Rasulullah s.a.w. Maka orang yang berkeyakinan seperti itu adalah kafir. ********************************** Sebagai contoh; a) berkeyakinan bahawa peraturan atau perundangan yang dibuat oleh manusia lebih utama daripada Syariat Islam; atau perundangan Islam tidak sesuai dilaksanakan sekarang; atau Islam adalah sebab kemunduran umat Islam; atau Islam hanya mengatur hubungan manusia dengan Tuhannya sahaja dan bukan urusan kehidupan dunia. ******************************** b) Berpendapat bahawa melaksanakan hukum Allah seperti melaksanakan hukum hudud, memotong tangan pencuri dan merejem penzina yang telah berkahwin (muhsan) tidak sesuai lagi pada masa kini. **************************** c) Berkeyakinan bahawa dibolehkan untuk mengamalkan perundungan yang lain daripada Syariat yang diturunkan oleh Allah SWT sama ada dalam hukum muamalat (perdagangan) atau dalam melaksanakan hukum hudud (jenayah) atau lainnya sekalipun tidak disertai dengan keyakinan bahawa hukum-hukum tersebut lebih utama daripada Syariat Islam kerana dengan sedemikian, ia telah menghalalkan perkara yang diharamkan oleh Allah SWT menurut ijmak (kesepakatan) ulama. ************************************ Setiap orang yang menghalalkan perkara yang sudah jelas dan tegas diharamkan oleh Allah SWT dalam agama seperti zina, arak, riba dan melaksanakan perundangan yang lain daripada Syariat Islam adalah kafir menurut kesepakatan umat Islam. **************************** Perkara lain yang boleh membatalkan Islam ialah membenci sesuatu yang telah ditetapkan oleh Rasulullah s.a.w. sebagai Syariat walaupun ia mengamalkannya. Dengan melakukan demikian dia telah menjadi kafir, kerana firman Allah SWT yang bermaksud: "Demikian itu adalah kerana mereka benci terhadap sesuatu yang diturunkan Allah, maka Allah menghapuskan (pahala) segala amal perbuatan mereka." *************************** Selain itu, mempersendakan Allah SWT atau Kitab-Nya, atau Rasulullah s.a.w. atau sesuatu daripada ajaran agama, maka dia telah menjadi kafir, kerana firman Allah yang bermaksud: "Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): Adakah terhadap Allah dan ayat-ayat-Nya serta Rasul-Nya kamu sekalian memperolok-olok? Tiada ertinya kamu meminta maaf kerana kamu telah kafir setelah beriman." ************************ Dalam urusan masyarakat hari ini banyak perkara termasuk hukum-hakam disandarkan kepada undang-undang ciptaan manusia. Berdasarkan hakikat ini, sedar dan insaflah betapa banyak dosa yang telah kita lakukan. Hanya kepada Allah SWT-lah kita memohon keampunan kerana kegagalan kita melaksanakan hukum-hakamnya. ************************* Kepada insan yang bergelar haji dan hajah yang baru kembali, disarankan supaya berpegang teguh kepada perlakuan manasik dan falsafah haji yang telah sedaya upaya diterapkan semasa di Tanah Suci. Kita ulangi, di Tanah Suci sudah istiqamah membungkus diri dengan pakaian menutup aurat, termasuk rambutnya sekali, tetapi kenapa di tanah air kembali mendedahkannya?

Parti Islam perlu kembalikan maruah ummah

************************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ************************ Renungan ************************* "...Sesungguhnya masjid yang didirikan atas dasar takwa (Masjid Quba'), sejak hari pertama adalah lebih patut kamu solat di dalamnya. Di dalam masjid itu ada orag-orang yang ingin membersihkan diri. Dan sesungguhnya Allah menyukai orang-orang yang bersih." (Maksud Ayat 108 Surah At-Taubah) ************************** Bersyukur ke hadrat Illahi kerana kita dipanjangkan usia bagi memuzakarahkan isu-isu membabitkan umat Islam, kali ini kita ingin mengucapkan tahniah di samping mengemukakan beberapa syor kepada parti-parti Islam yang telah memenangi seterusnya membentuk kerajaan di beberapa negara di dunia Arab. ************************************* Parti-parti Islam dilaporkan berjaya dalam pilihan raya di negara seperti Mahgribi (Parti Keadilan dan Pembangunan), Tunisia (Pergerakan Trend Islam, Ennahdha) dan kini gabungan Ikwanul Muslimin melalui partinya, Parti Kebebasan dan Keadilan (AJP), Parti An-nur (Salafi) dan Al-Wasat ke arah membentuk sebuah kerajaan baru di Mesir selepas meraih lebih 65 peratus undi pilihan raya negara itu. ************************************** Di samping bersyukur ke hadrat Illahi di atas nikmat kemenangan ini, kita berharap dan mendoakan parti-parti Islam yang membentuk kerajaan akan dapat menyemarakkan seterusnya mengembalikan maruah umat Islam yang telah dihina sejak sekian lama. Sejak zaman penjajahan dan jatuhnya kedaulatan kerajaan Islam terutama hancurnya pemerintahan Uthmaniyah pada tahun 1924, nasib umat Islam sebahagian besarnya bergantung kepada kuasa-kuasa besar yang mencatur dunia mengikut nafsu mereka. *************************************** Hari ini legasi cengkaman Barat terus kukuh di dunia Islam; mereka bukan saja ‘membaham’ negara ummah seperti Palestin, Iraq dan Afghanistan tetapi meneruskan penjajahan pemikiran dan teknologi yang melumpuhkan umat Islam seluruhnya. Bukan saja umat Islam yang tunduk kepada apa didakwa kemajuan oleh dunia Barat tetapi pemerintah Islam juga tunduk akur kepada kehendak Washington, London dan Moscow. Agak mengusarkan apabila penguasa di Washington kononnya lebih tahu tentang Islam seterusnya mengarahkan bonekanya yang menerajui negara umat Islam mengamalkan Islam mengikut kehendak mereka. Mereka nampaknya begitu berpengaruh sehingga mampu menentukan bentuk pengajian Islam (seperti membuang silibus jihad) di universiti-universiti terkemuka termasuklah Al-Azhar. ******************************** Kini dengan kesedaran tinggi umat Islam yang memberikan kemenangan kepada parti-parti Islam menerajui negara, adalah diharapkan pihak ini dapat kembali mengembalikan maruah ummah. Tidak guna pucuk kepimpinan bertukar tangan tetapi permasalahan umat Islam tetap sama. Kita menaruh harapan besar agar pemimpin baru ini dapat mengukuhkan ikatan perpaduan ummah sejagat yang sudah pun terasas melalui pembentukan Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC) untuk ke tahap lebih tinggi. ****************************** Jika dulu OIC tiada kemampuan untuk menangani secara berkesan permasalahan umat Islam global seperti isu Palestin, Iraq, Afghanistan dan kezaliman dilakukan ke atas umat Islam minoriti seperti di Kashmir (India), Xinjiang (China), Pattani (Thailand), Mindanao (Filipina) dan Arakan (Myanmar-Burma), kini pemimpin-pemimpin parti Islam yang sudah menerajui negara dapat melakukan tindakan berkesan. ****************************** Jika dulu OIC , negara serta umat Islam hanya mendiamkan diri ketika Amerika menghancurkan bumi Iraq dan Afghanistan, kini kita menaruh harapan pemimpin parti Islam yang sudah menerajui negara ini menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai khalifah di bumi Allah ini. Jangan sesekali membiarkan umat ini dihina, lakukanlah sebagaimana Khalifah Al-Mutassim yang menghantar bala tenteranya hanya kerana seorang muslimah dijatuhkan maruahnya! ********************************** Sekalipun kita menaruh harapan yang tinggi kepada pemerintah baru ini, kita berdoa agar apa yang berlaku di Afghanistan selepas kumpulan Mujahidin mendapat kuasa di Kabul selepas menewaskan tentera Soviet Union pada 1989 dulu tidak berulang. Kumpulan Mujahidin berpeluang memakmurkan Afghanistan namun terus bertelagah, negara menjadi huru-hara, kemudianTaliban mendapat kuasa dan diakhiri oleh serangan dahsyat oleh penjarah Amerika Syarikat yang diketuai si laknatullah Geoge W Bush. Afghanistan kembali dikuasai oleh rejim pro-Barat, ternyata pemimpin Islam telah mensia-siakan peluang; kita berdoa hal ini tidak berulang di negara Arab seperti Mesir dan Tunisia.

Cerita selak kain...

********************* Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang, selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan ********************* "Dan janganlah kamu menghampiri zina, sesungguhnya zina itu adalah satu perbuatan yang keji dan satu jalan yang jahat yang membawa kerosakan." - Maksud Ayat al-Quran Surah al-Israa': 32 *********************** BARU-BARU ini ada beberapa kisah selak kain yang saya dengar. Pertama kes Ketua Wanita Umno, Shahrizat Jalil yang menjawab 'isu lembu' ketika Perhimpunan Agung Umno. Saya melihat memek muka beriya-iya Shahrizat melalui siaran langsung TV3. Saya lihat Shahrizat selinsing lengan; dan ugut untuk selak kain, tapi taklah dia selak kain. Namun perlakuannya itu mendapat sokongan gemuruh perwakilan Wanita, kebanyakannya bertudung merah. ********************************* Dia ugut untuk selak kain pada lain kali. Namun sepanjang Perhimpunan Agung Umno yang mendapat liputan besar-besaran semua siaran TV tanah air (sehingga seorang anak kecil saya pun naik 'boring'), dia tidak pula ditunjukkan selak kain. Jadi tiadalah peluang orang ramai tengok Shahrizat selak kain, mungkin pada pilihan raya umum nanti kot, jika dia tidak... ******************************* Melalui siaran TV3 juga, suatu pagi saya terdengar seorang pakar motivasi menceritakan kisah seorang wanita pada zaman Nabi dulu menyelak kain. Katanya, wanita ini akan masuk syurga terlebih dulu daripada Sayidatina Fatimah binti Rasulullah. Ya, Fatimah az-Zahra diumpamakan akan tunggang unta dan wanita itu memegang tali unta; jadi dia akan masuk syurga dulu. ********************************** Pakar motivasi itu tidak menamakan wanita itu; tetapi daripada pembacaan saya, agak saya wanita itu adalah Atiqa, orang yang dikhabarkan oleh Rasulullah kepada puterinya, Fatimah sebagai berakhlak tersangat mulia sehingga membuatkan Fatimah teringin mengetahui siapa wanita itu. ******************************* Kali pertama mengunjungi Atiqa, Fatimah tidak dibenarkan memasuki rumahnya malah diminta pulang saja sebab suami Atika tidak ada dan keizinannya pun tidak diperolehi; beliau berjanji akan memberitahu hal itu kepada suaminya. Kali kedua, Fatimah membawa seorang anaknya (Hussein atau Hasan); beliau juga tidak dibenarkan masuk kerana keizinan suami hanyalah untuk Fatimah seorang dan bukan bersama anaknya. ********************************** Kali ketiga barulah Fatimah dibenarkan masuk. Beliau mendapati wanita itu menyediakan air minuman dan rotan sambil menunggu kepulangan suaminya. Apabila si suami balik, Fatimah mendapati dia menyambutnya dengan begitu baik sekali; kata pakar motivasi itu di samping memberi minum sehingga puas, dia menyelak kainnya untuk tatapan suami; bertanya sama ada si suami inginkan dirinya. *************************** Fatimah tertanya-tanya apa guna rotan itu, katanya itulah bagi suaminya merotan dirinya jika layanan diberikan tidak memuaskannya. Demikianlah wanita mulia itu menyelak kain untuk suaminya dan bukan untuk tatapan umum termasuk berjuta-juta biji mata yang menyaksikan siaran TV. ********************************* Kisah selak kain (malah lebih daripada itu) berikutnya saya temui melalui pembacaan. Laporannya menyatakan, sebuah kelab isteri-isteri taat melalui buku seorang pemimpinnya, berkata cara untuk menyambut suami pulang adalah dengan berbogel. Saya tergelak membaca laporan itu; terbayang dalam fikiran 'jahat' saya, jika pasangan muda baru kahwin, bagus juga jika si isteri dengan badan yang ada 'cutting' dan seksi menyambut suami dalam keadaan berbogel, tetapi jika sudah veteran, si suami boleh pengsan melihat si isteri yang sudah londeh anggota badan, berbogel menyambutnya. ***************************** Kisah berikutnya, suatu pagi terkejut saya menyaksikan seorang pembaca berita wanita TV3 yang mengenakan 'tube' yang mendedahkan sebahagian besar bahagian atas dadanya. Sekalipun mengenakan 'kot' penampilannya yang menyelak 'penutup atas' membuatkan ramai 'kurang selesa'. Teringat saya zaman Tok Mat dulu (Menteri Penerangan, Allahyarham Dato' Mohamed Rahmat), selebriti pakaian kurang sopan termasuk lelaki berambut panjang yang muncul di kaca TV, akan dipanggilnya. Sekarang ini tidak adakah 'orang kuat' sanggup memanggil kakitangannya menghadap atas soal disiplin berpakaian ini? *************************** Baru-baru ini terdengar pula saya kisah seorang guru dipanggil menghadap pegawai tinggi kementerian kerana berkopiah ke sekolah; persoalannya kenapa kini orang sanggup menegur orang berkopiah (berpakaian bagus) sedangkan yang mendedahkan sana sini termasuk mengugut menyelak kain atau sudah berbuat demikian di tempat umum tidak ditegur? *********************** Kalau wanita nak sangat selak kain atau dedah dada, lakukanlah depan suami, insya-Allah akan mendapat kedudukan tinggi di sisi-Nya seperti pengiktirafan Nabi s.a.w. ke atas Atiqa!

Kejatuhan Umno sudah dekat...

******************* Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Renungan ****************** "Sesungguhnya Kami menurunkan Kitab itu sebagai al-Quran yang dibaca dengan bahasa Arab, supaya kamu (menggunakan akal untuk) memahaminya." (Yusuf: 2) ******************* HANYA Umno-BN mampu buat itu dan ini. Hanya Umno-BN mampu perintah negara - demikian antara lain kita disogokkan dengan slogan berbentuk indoktrinasi. Sejak kecil sehingga dewasa dan seterusnya tua, kita menerima apa saja yang disogokkan tanpa kita berusaha menyelidiki kebenaran atau hakikat sesuatu perkara itu. ******************* Sebagai contoh ramai daripada kita diajar hal ehwal agama semasa kecil tanpa memahami apa yang sebenar kita pelajari. Ramai orang mengaji (membaca al-Quran) tetapi sangat sedikit daripadanya memahami maksud ayat yang dibaca apatah lagi mengamalkannya. Orang dewasa menyuruh kita sembahyang tetapi ramai daripada kita tidak faham apakah tujuan kita berbuat demikian dan pengertian ayat yang kita baca ketika solat. ************************ Ketika kecil, ramai daripada kita dipaksa menyerap dan menanam fahaman dan ajaran ke dalam diri kita secara bulat-bulat tanpa dapat mempersoalkan apa yang kita lakukan. Ini termasuklah bab hantu. Apabila dewasa dan tiada lagi pihak berkuasa (ibu bapa sudah jauh dari mata) mengawasi dan memaksa kita melakukan ibadat tersebut (seperti sembahyang), sebahagian daripada kita secara perlahan-lahan meninggalkan atau melakukannya hanya sebagai satu kebiasaan saja. ********************* Mereka yang melakukan ibadat tersebut, sebahagiannya hanya mengharapkan pahala (balasan baik) dan dijauhkan daripada seksaan api neraka. Hal yang sama berlaku tatkala kita dewasa. Kita dipaksa menerima fahaman-fahaman yang ternyata kita sendiri tidak faham tetapi kita juga tidak mempunyai hak mempersoalkannya. Orang lain cuba mengambil kesempatan daripada kelemahan kita untuk menanamkan fahaman-fahaman dan kepercayaan ini. ************************ Berdasarkan Perhimpunan Agung Umno terbaru di ibu kota, kita dapat saksikan betapa indoktrinasi parti tua ini sudah sampai ke kemuncaknya. Ambil saja ucapan berapi-api Ketua Wanitanya, Dato' Seri Shahrizat Jalil. Sebahagian ucapannya tiada 'substance', hanya mengekspoitasi serta memain-mainkan perasaan perwakilan. Lihatlah betapa bijak Shahrizat mengalihkan serangan musuh dalam isu 'lembu' terhadap dirinya kepada Wanita Umno pula. Kononnya kejituan Wanita Umno dicabar dan uji, hakikatnya serangan ditujukan kepada dirinya sehingga ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan (BN), Datuk Bung Moktar Radin juga meminta dia meletakkan jawatan. ******************** Kenapa Shahrizat berlindung di belakang Wanita Umno dan majoriti perwakilan Wanita beriya-iya bersorak menyokongnya? Persoalan ini begitu kompleks; jadi marilah kita teliti kisah 'The Emperor's New Clothes' (Pakaian Baru Raja) yang sudah sudah baca di sekolah rendah dulu tetapi tidak kita aplikasikan dalam kehidupan. 'The Emperor's New Clothes' menceritakan bagaimana seseorang yang berkuasa itu sentiasa dikatakan betul sekalipun dia tidak betul (raja berbogel tetapi dikatakan berpakaian paling cantik dan hebat). Hanya kebijaksanaan seorang budak dapat mengalahkan raja; memang raja bersalah (berbogel tetapi dikatakan berpakiaan paling mewah dan cantik) dan tidaklah payah untuk diselindungkan keaiban raja seperti dilakukan menteri-menterinya. *********************** Ringkasnya pemimpin benar kerana dia berkuasa. Yang penting di sini bukannya lojik sesuatu perkara itu tetapi siapa yang mengutarakan pendapat atau kata-kata tersebut. Kata-kata seorang pengemis atau tukang sapu sampah mengenai politik sudah tentu tidak akan dipandang dengan sebelah mata walaupun apa yang mereka katakan itu ada kebenaran dan lojiknya. Keadaan sebaliknya akan berlaku jika seorang raja atau mengemukakan pandangan. Walaupun kadang-kadang hal itu tidak masuk akal, disebabkan begitu berpengaruhnya orang tersebut, maka hal itu diterima juga orang awam (perwakilan) kerana masing-masing terpaksa atau dipaksa mengakuinya. Lebih-lebih lagi masing-masing ada kepentingan tersendiri. ***************************** Kenapa perwakilan bersorak, menyatakan sokongan tanpa menyelidik sama ada yang dikatakan itu fakta atau suatu manipulasi? Ilmuan psikologi dan sosiologi mengaitkan perlakuan manusia ini sebagai ‘collective behaviour’ (tindak-tanduk bersama). Kelakuan manusia berbeza sama sekali apabila di bersendirian atau berada dalam sesebuah kumpulan (beramai). Kelakuan beramai mempunyai ciri tertentu yang membolehkan kita mengenal pasti dan mengkaji tingkah-laku manusia dalam situasi itu.Individu yang termasuk dalam keramaian, bertindak kepada sesuatu perangsang (stimulus) yang berupa orang, peristiwa atau apa-apa saja yang boleh menimbulkan emosi rancak. ************************** ‘Collective behaviour’ telah menyebabkan perwakilan Wanita Umno (sebagai contoh) begitu berani. Berani kerana ramai, bukan kerana benar. Apabila bersendirian seseorang adalah lemah dan penakut – ibarat seekor tikus yang sentiasa takut akan bayang-bayang kemampuannya, jauh daripada takutkan bayangkan kucing. Sebenarnya kucing tidak wujud, tikus hanya takut pada dirinya saja. Namun apabila berkumpulan, barulah manusia berani dan lantang. Berani bercakap berapi-api dan lantang bersuara termasuk untuk ‘menyelak kain’ kerana dia yakin mendapat sokongan dan akan dibela oleh ribuan bahkan jutaan pak turut di belakangnya. ******************** Indoktrinasi begitu berkesan pada jangka pendek, tetapi dari segi jangka panjang pula terutama pada era teknologi maklumat kini, amalan jenis ini tidak dapat diterima kerana manusia mempunyai naluri untuk memikirkan fahaman serta ajaran apa yang mereka fikirkan baik apabila mereka diberi kebebasan dan ruang untuk berfikir dan menambah maklumat. ************************* Ambillah iktibar indoktrinasi fahaman komunis yang selama 70 tahun membelenggu rakyat Soviet Union dan negara Eropah Timur, akhirnya hancur saja. Setiap perkara (benda) yang sudah sampai di kemuncaknya akan jatuh. Lemparlah batu ke udara, selepas ia mencapai kemuncak ketinggian, ia akan jatuh. Apabila Umno sudah sampai ke kemuncak indoktrinasinya, percayalah ia juga akan hancur!

TV, computers - parents' nightmares this holiday

************************ In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************* Reflection ************************** "Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80) ************************** IT is school holidays again. It is a very long season; schools only reopen on 3rd January 2012. The days of November are slowly ticking away, we have another full month of December before kids scramble back to school. ************************* At home, I have a 14 year old boy and her sister aged 9, having a 'boring' holiday; they are waiting for me to announce a holiday package for the family but again it is about my busy schedule that hampers their wish. ********************** Hopefully before the holiday ends, I can manage to have a week or so off; only then I can take them to a few local favorite spots such as Cameron Highlands and Penang. ************************ Overseas destination for the whole family is definitely out of question; the hard truth is that we could not afford it. Perhaps if the journey involves only the two of us (my wife and I) we could managed to go to some not so far destinations such as Medan or Jakarta. ****************** For the time being, the children have to spend most of their time at home - the main trouble, they would spend hours and hours glued in front of TV or playing games, chatting and working FB over computers. ******************* Yes, the idiot box and computers keep the children at bay (busy at home) and help stop them from going out too often; but spending too much time on these electronic devices, are too bad for them. ******************* Beware; perhaps too much TV will kill your children. A review of published studies in the past 40 years has shown a higher risk of diabetes, heart problems and early death among people who watch lots of television, US researchers said. The results of the meta-analysis performed by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Heath are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association recently. ********************** An AFP-Relaxnews reported that more than two hours per day of TV watching boosted risk type two of diabetes and heart disease, while more than three hours a day increased a person's risk of dying prematurely. ********************** I was quiet concerned about this warning as my children especially the girl spent hours and hours in front of the box. If she was a 'kaki TV' (a person glued to the TV), my son would spend hours and hours on the computer. ************************* It was annoying when you had to face this situation - when you go out to work in the morning your child is in front of the computer and when you come back late in the evening, he is still there! ********************* The report noted that each two-hour increment in viewing per day was linked to a 20 percent higher risk for type two diabetes; a 15 percent increased risk for fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular disease; and a 13 percent higher risk for all-cause mortality. ******************** While the association between time spent viewing TV ad risk of type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease were linear, the risk of all-cause mortality appeared to increase with TV viewing duration of greater than three hours per day. ********************8 The habit of plunking oneself down in front of the television and watching for hours makes up about five hours of daily activity on average in the United States, but is also prevalent practice around the world. ******************** In Europe, people spend about 40 percent of their daily free time - or three hours - in front of the tube, and in Australia, the average is 50 percent of daily free time or four hours, the study said. ************************ "The message is simple. Cutting back on TV watching can significantly reduce risk of type two diabetes, heart disease, and premature mortality," said senior author Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard to the news agency. "We should not only promote increasing physical activity levels but also reduce sedentary behaviors, especially prolonged TV watching." *************************** Television and computers are modern day gadgets; during my childhood days in 1960s and 1970s, my family home did not even have a television set. If today's boys and girls would spend hours and hours in front of the TV and computers this school holidays, during ‘our school holidays’, my brothers, friends and I spent the days among others playing small sampans made from ‘seludang kelapa’ (sheath of the palm blossom) in a small river near my house. ************************* We would also play various games with rubber bands such as catapulting rubber bands arranged on a stick and throwing slippers to hit rubber bands put on tins. We also played ‘rounders’, ‘police sentry’, ‘hantu galah’, ‘teng-teng’ and ‘captay’ (a few feathers of fowl strapped on a circular rubber which was kicked or thrown at one another). ************************** Regarding the bad effects of TV and computers, experts said parents can improve family life by switching off televisions and computers to communicate better. Technological advances combined with hectic schedules have led to parents and children spending less quality time with each other, according to human development researchers. Their findings also show people who devote more time to digital technology are more likely to eat unhealthy, exercise less, and do worse in exams. **************************** Recently a news agency reported Prof Kelly Warzinik, from the University of Missouri, gave this advice: "Powering down digital devices is a vital step in maintaining family relationships. Instead of watching television or talking on a mobile phone, parents can take advantage of daily opportunities to interact with their children at meal times or in the car. Touch base throughout the day by calling, emailing or texting, and after children are asleep, out down the iPhone, turn off the television and just focus on each other." ************************* As well as strengthening family connections, turning off the television could lead to better health, said University of Missouri human development specialist, Saralee Jamieson. "People who devote more time to digital technology are less likely to make healthy food choices or be physically active and are less successful academically. Those who watch a lot of TV are exposed to thousands of ads for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods as well as violent programming. While it might not seem harmful, having a muted TV on while sleeping disrupts healthy sleep patterns and contributes to chronic fatigue." ********************** Tips for parents include limiting time with TV, video or computer screens to two hours daily, removing TV from bedrooms and learning to negotiate and take turns watching different shows. And families are encouraged to turn TVs off when eating or socializing and develop hobbies and become more involved in the community. *********************** So during this long and 'dull' holidays (many of the 'rakyat' cannot afford to have a good holiday because life is hard as prices of necessary items and services are high), dear parents, why not organized ‘old time games’ such as playing ‘hantu galah’, ‘teng-teng’ and ‘chaptay’ with your beloved ones instead of leaving them glued hours after hours in front of the TV sets and computers!

'Awek' punca kemalangan jalan raya meningkat?

*********** Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ************* Renungan ************ "Dialah (Allah) yang menciptakan bagi kamu pasangan-pasangan (jodoh) daripada makhluk (jenis) kamu sendiri agar kamu condong kepadanya dan berasa tenteram dengannya. Kemudian Allah menciptakan kasih dan sayang antara kamu." (Surah Ar Rum: 21) ******************** MALAYSIA dan Maghribi adalah antara negara paling tinggi kadar kemalangan jalan raya manakala yang terendah adalah Norway dan Malta. **************** Di Malaysia, pihak berkuasa dikatakan sudah buntu menangani masalah ini kerana pada setiap kali operasi keselamatan jalan raya pada musim perayaan, jumlah kemalangan dan kematian terus meningkat. **************** Pelbagai faktor dikaitkan dengan peningkatan kemalangan jalan raya; pada tulisan kali ini saya mengajak pembaca yang pihak berkuasa berfikir di luar kotak; memuhasabah akan kebarakahan dan keselamatan serta jaminan Allah ketika berada di jalan raya terutama lebuh raya. Sebagai pengguna lebuh raya yang hampir saban hari menaiki bas ekspres (tidak memandu sendiri), saya berpeluang memandang bebas panorama keindahan alam termasuklah iklan-iklan gergasi (billboard) di sepanjang lebuh raya. ********************8 Daripada banyak-banyak iklan barangan dan perkhidmatan dipaparkan di 'billboard' berkenaan, sebahagiannya mempamerkan gambar-gambar gergasi wanita yang ada daripadanya dalam aksi tidak senonoh, misalnya ada iklan seorang wanita muda lagi cantik sedang memeluk sebatang kayu bulat yang besar. ************************ Ada pula wanita yang sedang melompat, bajunya terangkat sehingga menampakkan pusatnya, ada gambar wanita sedang sedap tidur di atas tilam katilnya dan paling dahsyat (pada pendapat saya), gambar wanita berpakaian seksi yang memfokuskan tepian bahagian sensitif tubuh (juga sentitif pada pandangan mata lelaki) seperti ketiaknya. Iklan 'Italia Series' ini bukan satu tetapi saya sedari ada beberapa buah sepanjang lebih 100 kilometer perjalanan saya itu. *********************** Terpandang iklan-iklan ini, saya 'tertunduk malu', terasa sebal di muka; inikah gambaran luaran (yang dapat dilihat secara fizikal termasuk oleh pelancong asing) sebuah negara Islam yang sering diuar-uarkan itu? Saya pernah berjumpa seorang pelancong dari Afrika Selatan yang berkata dia datang ke Malaysia semata-mata untuk menyaksikan dan mengalami sendiri 'kesyahduan' Islam di sini; jadi apa katanya jika terpandang iklan gergasi wanita menunjukkan ketiak? *********************** Berdasarkan pengalaman saya, iklan-iklan provokatif seperti ini tidak saya temui ketika berada di lebuh raya negara maju seperti Britain; mungkin mereka sedar kehadiran 'awek-awek yang menunjukkan ketiak' ini adalah bahaya kepada keselamatan pengguna lebuh raya. ************************ Pihak berkuasa manakah yang bertanggungjawab ke atas iklan-iklan gergasi ini? Sebagai pengguna lebuh raya yang terpaksa 'mengorek' wang bagi membayar tol (dalam dalam kes bas ekspres, membayar tambang), saya berpendapat saya berhak untuk menyatakan bantahan terhadap pengeksploitasi tubuh wanita di tepi lebuh raya ini. ******************** Saya tidak rela mata saya dibiarkan untuk menatap ketiak wanita ketika saya menggunakan lebuh raya. Saya bayar tol untuk mendapatkan perkhidmatan lebuh raya yang bagus dan bukan untuk melihat ketiak atau pusat wanita! ********************* Mungkinkah kemalangan terus meningkat kerana cara hidup jahiliah kita yang mengundang kemarahan Allah SWT? Mana adalah barakahnya kehidupan dan jaminan keselamatan jika ketiak dan pusat wanita sudah dipamerkan di sepanjang lebuh raya!

The ‘durian’ lesson

********************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************ Reflection ********************** Surah 114 ******************* An-Nas, the second of the two cries for refuge and protection, takes its name from a recurring word which marks the rhythm in the Arabic. In this case protection is sought especially from the evil in a man's own heart in the hearts of other men. An early Meccan revelation ****************** MANKIND ****************** Revealed at Mecca ***************** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. **************************** 1. Say; I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, ************************ 2. The King of mankind, ************************ 3. The God of mankind, ************************* 4. From the evil of the sneaking whisperer, *************************** 5. Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind, ******************************* 6. Of the jinn of mankind. ****************** (The Meaning of the GLORIOUS QUR'AN, The Final Revelation, An Explanaory Translation by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall) ***************** QUESTION: ***************** When I was young; when I could finish off two or three durian fruits in one go, at that time my wallet was thin, my purchasing power was not strong enough so I had to be satisfied by having a small portion of the fruit. ******************* But sad to say when I grew older and my wallet became 'fatter and fatter' each day, I could not eat much of the fruit as I had now developed diabetes, have high blood pressure and my cholesterol level is too high. ******************** Nowadays with the money I have, I can not only buy a fruit or two but baskets of durians, perhaps a lorry tucked with durians but the problem is that I could only sample (have a taste of) the fruit. ********************* So, dear teacher, how could I accept this situation with an open and contented heart, not blaming Allah SWT for the 'misfortune' that had befallen to me? In short how am I to lead a happy, contented and meaningful life? ****************** ANSWER: *************** If you wish to buy a basket or two baskets of durians, please do so. But as you could not consume it, what about donating all the fruits (accept one for you to sample) to those who can eat them for example to pupils of a 'tahfiz' (school for remembering the Qur'an) or to a group of children in your neighborhood; they would gladly finish them off in a few minutes…! ****************** The above question was posed by me to a ‘tok guru’ (religious teacher) during a question and answer session after the ‘tok guru’ had given a ‘kuliah subuh’ (post dawn prayer class) on the topic of ‘Allah’s Blessing’ in a masjid not far from my home recently. The answer pierced deep inside my heart...ooh, what an easy solution to my problem. If you could not eat or consume something, give them to those who could...! ******************* The ‘tok guru’ continued: “To attain calmness in life one has to do the ‘dhikr’ (remembrance of Allah SWT at all times). Allah, the Exalted, is remembered in all kinds of ways, whether in our hearts, verbally, during prayer, by reading the Qur’an, by discussing Islamic issues or by reading different kinds of Islamic books. ***************** “You should ‘basahkan lidah’ (wet your tongue) with words of praise, glorification, affirmations and supplication to Allah SWT such as ‘alhamdulillah’, ‘subhanallah’, ‘allahuakbar’, la ilaha illalla and so on. ‘Dhikr’ will give you calmness; you would accept whatever Allah SWT has given to you; your heart should be tamed in acknowledging that Allah SWT knows what are the best things for you.” ********************** At home, while lying on my bed, I kept on thinking what the ‘tok guru’ has said – accept and be pleased whatever Allah SWT has set upon us and in my case – of not having enough money to buy ‘good food’ such as the durian fruits that I had mentioned when I was young and could consume a large amount of it and at a later age, I had the money but was restricted to taking only a little of the fruits as I had developed some serious illnesses. *********************** So what is the moral of my case? As I lie down on my bed, I realized how vulnerable, weak and small we human beings are; we are at the mercy of Allah SWT, even though I had the money (and power) to buy large quantities of durians, I was only able to sniff and have a little taste of the fruit. ****************************** Had I not learned a lesson here – money and power could not buy everything. Perhaps you too could buy trucks of durians because you are rich, but you too could only eat a little of it. If you try to ‘beat the advise’, remember there were cases people die after consuming too many durians. *************************** The same could be said about love – power and money could not buy love. Great kings and princesses could have beautiful women and girls as their consorts but to have their love, it was a different story. ********************* Sickness is one form of warning from Allah SWT that one has to constantly remember that his days in this world are coming to the end. The same could be said about a person whose hair starts becoming white by each day. Allah SWT gives us ample time to repent but most of us waste that golden opportunity. ******************* The warning from Allah SWT should be appreciated, because it means Allah SWT loves us; if not we would be like the Pharaoh at the time of Nabi Musa (Moses) who was said did not once fall sick during his lifetime of about 500 years. ******************* The same could be said those who Allah SWT blessed with loads of treasures; an example given in the Qur’an is that of Qarun; the keys to his treasures were loaded on camels of a caravan; he was so rich but his wealth could not help him; he was destroyed by Allah SWT. ********************* Regarding richness and power; it was reported that, as the great Caliph Harun Ar-Rashid was taking his final breaths, he selected a shroud and, staring at it, recited the Qur’an verse 69: 28,29, with the meaning: “My wealth has not availed me. My power and arguments (to defend myself) have gone from me!” ******************** The ‘tok guru’ also advised congregators at the ‘masjid’ to broaden their knowledge because a person who has some knowledge about the reality of life, his attitude about life, and its goals and ambitions will be different and so will be the ways of fulfilling his desires. He will found himself bond to adopt only the fair and legal ways even if they are bestowed with money and power! ******************* Knowledge enable its possessors to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to Heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless; it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an ornament amongst friends, and an armor against enemies. ********************** By often reading the Qur’an one could get closer to Allah SWT and on the road to attain calmness in life for Allah SWT says: “…For without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (Qur’an 13:28) *********************** If in this world we could not take too much durian (or any other food), do not feel sad; why not from this second, work hard to attain the pleasures promised by Allah SWT in His Book (Qur’an) to those who enter His Paradise. Allah SWT says: “Its shading branches will droop down over them, its ripe fruit hanging ready to be picked.” (Qur’an, 76:14) ********************** Allah SWT also says: “In them are fruits and date-palms and pomegranates.” (Qur’an, 55,68); “And fruits in abundance never failing, unrestricted.” (Qur’an, 56: 32-33) **************** Of course in His Heaven, there is no such thing as diabetic illness, so you could have ‘durians’ as much as you like! So work hard to attain it - donate your baskets or trucks of durian in this world so that you could have your 'durians' in the HereAfter.

Antara bapa popular, bapa bertanggungjawab

*********************** DENGAN Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. *********************** Renungan ****************** Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda, maksudnya: "Jika salah seorang antara kamu minum maka janganlah bernafas di dalam bejana (tempat air minum). Jika kamu ke bilik air maka janganlah menyentuh kemaluan dengan tangan kanan, dan janganlah beristinjak dengan tangan kanan." (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim) ***************** Bagi sebahagian rakyat, Perdana Menteri adalah bagaikan bapa mereka. Sebab itu ada gelaran diberikan kepada mereka seperti Bapa Kemerdekaan dan Bapa Pembangunan. Isu Perdana Menteri popular sekarang ini mendapat perhatian sesetengah pihak jadi pada kesempatan kali ini kita ingin mengajak pembaca memuzakarahkan kedudukan seorang bapa sama ada dia mahu menjadi bapa popular atau bapa bertanggungjawab sekali gus penyayang terhadap anggota keluarganya. ********************* Dalam sesebuah keluarga, bapa bertanggungjawab terhadap isteri dan anak-anaknya. Dia adalah ketua keluarga. Bertanggungjawab terhadap mereka di dunia supaya bahagia di akhirat. Dalam Surah at-Tahrim ayat 6, Allah SWT berfirman yang maksudnya: "Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, selamatkan diri kamu dan anggota keluarga kamu daripada api neraka." Tentunya pada peringkat awal perkahwinan, hanya ada suami dan isteri. Terpulanglah kepada si suami sama ada mahu menjadi popular (disenangi) isteri atau menjadi suami bertanggungjawab sekali gus menyelamatkan isterinya daripada ceburan api nereka. ************************* Seorang suami jika mahu popular atau dalam istilah orang sekarang 'abang begitu supporting' kepada isterinya, berilah kebebasan sepenuhnya kepada isteri. Jika isteri mahu keluar rumah berjumpa temannya tidak kira lelaki atau perempuan, biarkan; usah ditanya ke mana dia pergi. Jika dia keluar rumah tanpa mengenakan pakaian menutup aurat sepenuhnya seperti yang biasa dilakukannya sebelum berkahwin, biarkan. Ini kerana jika si suami cuba menghalang isteri daripada berbuat demikian, dia tidak lagi jadi popular malah ada kalanya menjadi bahan kemarahan. ************************* Kemudian berilah peruntukan (wang) yang besar kepada isteri. Apa isteri nak buat atau belanjakan wang itu biarkan. Jika isteri meminta diberikan cincin emas dan permata yang harganya tidak mampu dibiayai dengan wang gaji, usahakan untuk menjayakannya, hatta sehingga terpaksa makan wang rasuah pun tak apa. Ikutlah semua cakap isteri, pasti dia bertambah popularlah si suami. ************************* Si isteri pasti sentiasa mahu suami berada di sampingnya, jadi tak payahlah si suami pergi solat berjemaah di masjid; tak payahlah hadiri kelas pengajian di masjid; tak payahlah sertai jemaah memperjuangkan Islam apatah lagi berjihad di jalan-Nya. Jika dibuat semua ini pasti si suami akan menjadi popular di hati isterinya. Si isteri pula tak payahlah diminta ke masjid untuk mengikuti kelas pengajian kerana ia akan membuatkan si suami tidak popular. Sebaliknya biarkan si isteri bermalas-malasan menonton filem Hindustan, dari pagi sampai malam. *************************** Apabila sudah beranak pinak, untuk menjadi popular berikan anak wang belanja yang besar, sediakan pelbagai kemudahan kepada mereka. Apa yang anak-anak buat dengan duit itu biarkan kerana dengan itu si bapa akan popular di hati anak-anak. Jika anak-anak tidak menunaikan ibadat seperti solat atau puasa, biarkan kerana dengan menyuruh mereka, si ayah akan mengundang kemarahan mereka dan menjadi tidak popular. Jika anak-anak mula merokok biarkan kerana jika ditegur bapa akan tidak menjadi popular. Bapa tak 'supporting', kata mereka. Jika anak-anak sudah lebih teruk lagi seperti mengambil minuman keras dan main judi, biarkan kerana bapa 'supporting' akan popular di kalangan anak-anak. *************************** Bapa bertanggungjawab yang sentiasa menyeru ke arah kebaikan biasanya tidak popular di kalangan anak-anak. Asyik-asyik ajak sembahyang, kata mereka; tetapi percayalah kesannya tersangat hebat. Apabila seorang anak itu sudah dewasa lebih-lebih lagi jika si bapa sudah meninggal dunia, barulah dia menghargai kesungguhan si bapa termasuk sentiasa teringat bagaimana dia dirotan tatkala tidak solat; sesungguh bapa yang tidak popular itulah yang berjuang bermati-matian menyelamatkannya daripada diceburkan ke dalam api neraka. Jadi yang mana satu pilihan pembaca, seorang bapa (atau PM) yang popular atau bapa yang bekerja kuat bagi kebahagiaan keluarganya bukan saja di dunia bahkan bersambungan di akhirat nanti!

Apabila sekolah diberi kuasa menentukan bahasa…

******************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas Junjungan Besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Renungan ********************* "Langit yang tujuh, bumi dan semua yang ada di dalamnya bertasbih kepada Allah. Dan tidak sesuatu pun melainkan bertasbih dengan memuji-Nya tetapi kamu tidak mengerti tasbih mereka. Sesungguhnya Dia Maha Penyantun, Maha Pengampun." (Surah Al-Isra, ayat44) ********************** ISU Pembelajaran dan Pengajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) saya ikuti penuh minat sejak sebelum Perdana Menteri keempat Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad memaksakannya di sekolah-sekolah mulai 2003. ********************* Sebelum pelaksanaannya, pelbagai pihak sudah melaung, menjerit, menentang pelaksanaannya termasuk mengemukan kajian Unesco yang membuktikan pembelajaran subjek ini dengan menggunakan bahasa ibunda (mother tongue) adalah yang terbaik tetapi Mahathir tidak mengendahkannya; pemimpin Umno-BN, media massa kawalannya semuanya kaki ampu, menyatakan sokongan, kononnya inilah yang terbaik untuk generasi masa depan dan negara. ************************ Masa berlalu, dengan bantahan kuat rakyat termasuk perhimpunan besar-besaran anjuran Gerakan Mansuh PPSMI (GMP) pada Mac 2009, kerajaan melalui Timbalan TPM merangkap Menteri Pelajaran, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengumumkan pemansuhan PPSMI dan digantikan dengan program Memartabatkan bahasa Melayu dan Memperkukuh bahasa Inggeris (MBMMBI) mulai 2012. ********************* Antara alasan pemansuhan PPSMI kerana hanya kira-kira lima peratus saja daripada sekolah yang melaksanakan program ini sepenuhnya manakala yang lain bercampur-aduk antara bahasa Inggeris dan Melayu manakala prestasi subjek Sains dan Matematik semakin merosot manakala tiada pula peningkatan keupayaan pelajar dalam bahasa Inggeris. ******************************* Dalam bahasa ringkas dan kasar, projek Mahathir dan Menteri Pelajaran Hishammuddin Hussein yang menelan kos berbilion-bilion ringgit dan ‘menyakit-jiwakan’ ribuan warga pendidik telah GAGAL (kalau tak buat apa dimansuhkan PPSMI). **************************** Kini muncul Muhyiddin mahu membaiki keadaan, usah bagai tikus membaiki labu sudahlah. Apabila Muhyiddin muncul dalam slot Soal Jawab TV3 yang dihoskan oleh tokoh media, Dato’ Ahmad A Talib baru-baru ini yang saya ikuti penuh minat, antara lain beliau berkata sekolah diberi kebebasan untuk menentukan bahasa apa yang akan digunakan untuk pembelajaran subjek Sains dan Matematik sehinggalah dasar PPSMI berakhir keseluruhannya pada tahun 2021. ******************************* Beliau juga berkata bagi murid yang bakal memasuki tingkatan satu tahun depan, mulai awal bulan depan (Disember) bolehlah ke sekolah dengan ibu bapa masing-masing bagi mengetahui bakal sekolah menengah yang menawarkan pengajian bahasa mengikut kesesuaian mereka (sama ada bahasa Melayu atau Inggeris). **************************** Tindakan Muhyiddin membenarkan sekolah menentukan penggunaan bahasa, begitu mengejutkan saya kerana jika dalam soal dasar seperti bahasa pun pihaknya tidak boleh membuat keputusan tegas, dikhuatiri akan berlaku keributan nanti. ************************ Siapa sebenarnya yang akan membuat keputusan mengenai bahasa ini (atau mahu belajar dalam bahasa apa); pengetua (guru besar), guru-guru, ibu bapa, PIBG atau murid-murid sendiri? Sejumlah PIBG baru saja mengatur pertemuan bagi membincangkan perkara ini sedangkan Muhyiddin sudah menyuruh ibu bapa dan pelajar ke sekolah awal Disember bagi mengetahui sekolah mana pilihan mereka. ************************* Sesungguhnya ketidak-tegasan dalam soal pokok atau dasar (seperti bahasa) ini, jika betul untuk memenangi hati semua pihak (penentang dan kumpulan pro PPSMI) bagi mendapatkan sokongan demi survival politik adalah sangat bahaya; saya bimbang ia akan menjerumuskan bangsa dan negara ke jurang kehancuran. ************************* Amat-amatilah kata-kata hikmat cendekiawan James Freeman Clarke ini: “A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation. “ (Seorang politikus hanya memikirkan untuk menang pilihan raya berikutnya, seorang negarawan memikirkan generasi masa depannya).

SEA Games: Welcome to Palembang, 'homestate' of the Malays

************************ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************************ Reflection ************************** "O ye who believe! Retalation is prescribed for you in the matter of the murdered; the freeman for the freeman, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. And for him who is forgiven somewhat by his (injured) brother, prosecution according to usage and payment unto him in kindness. This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. He who transgresseth after this will have a painfull doom." (Al-Baqarah, 178) ************************** PALEMBANG, the co-host of the 2011 SEA Games this month along with Jakarta, is the provincial capital of South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan or in short Sumsel). It was once the centre of Malay civilization during the Sriwijaya Kingdom in the 7th century and the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam beginning from 1659 until the 19th century when the state fell into the hands of the Dutch. *********************** I was fortunate to be in Palembang some time ago; thus I have some interesting notes to share with first time visitors to this second largest city in Sumatra after Medan. ************************** During my stay there, I gathered this information on Palembang: "The city was traditionally a trade center, and, for about 500 years up to the 13th century, Palembang was one of the principal ports of the world, meaning a central point for the bulk of the Indonesian islands trade. ********************************** "Mahayana Buddhism came here around the 7th century. A Chinese-Buddhist pilgrim, I-Tsing, who was going to India, arrived at Sriwijaya University in 671AD, and spent six months studying Sanskrit. He stayed here for four years writing his memoirs and giving a valuable description of the city. ***************************** "Palembang was believed to be the predatory power, and was once the capital of Sriwijaya Empire. There were regular ships that laid anchor here and it sent its mercenaries as far as Mesopotamia. There were many scholars and monks, and perhaps thousands of them, who learned Buddhist teaching and translated Sanskrit texts here. ****************************** "At the end of the 13th century, Sriwijaya had splintered into eight small kingdoms, the largest of which, MALAYU, was centered on Jambi and became a strong power. But finally, with the rise of Melaka, in the 14th century, Sriwijaya became a remote backwater. The region around Palembang still produces fine woven fabrics and performs unique Hindu-like dances. ****************************** "The population of Palembang is estimated at 1.4 million and they came from all ethnics in Indonesia, especially from South Sumatera and original inhabitant called ‘Wong Palembang’." ************************ Palembang was one of the ‘kampung asal’ (roots) of the Malays; their language included. To know more about Palembang and its history, one of the right places, was of course the museum. There I was fortunate to have visited the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum near the banks of the Musi River (the longest and largest river in Sumatra that divides Palembang into two parts – Ulu and Ilir). *************************** The museum was also not far away from the famous Jambatan (Bridge) Ampera that was built by the Japanese as a compensation for its invasion in Indonesia. At the museum I was one lucky guy (in Malay it is call ‘langkah kanan’ (right step) to meet Abi Sofian, an administer at the museum, who showed enthusiasm and was very energetic as he took the writer almost two hours touring and explaining the artifacts there. ************************** As we walked along the many artifacts displayed, he told me the earliest Malay/Sanskrit inscription (writing) was traced on the Prasasti Kedukan Bukit (683 AD) and Prasasti Talang Tuwo (684 AD or 608 Saka Year of the Sriwijayan calendar). ******************************** "The writing on the stone, proved the Sriwijayan had a great civilization," said Abi Sofian. "The Malay world covers a vast area. Even though the Sriwijayan empire during its peak covers almost the areas in Sumatera and the Malay Peninsula; its sailors and travelers went as far as Madagasdar and Polynesia," he said. ******************************** Abi Sofian said, although one of the Palembang king, Ariodamar who ruled from 1455-1486 converted to Islam and used the name of ArioAbdillah or Aridillah, the majority of his people were not Muslims, not until the formation of the state of Palembang Darussalam in 1659 headed by its Sultan, the famous of them was Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II who ruled from 1803 to 1821. ********************************* "This great Sultan choose not to be cooperative with the Dutch by accepting its adviser (the same status as the British Resident in the Malay states), but he was determined to push out the invader. War broke out, and at last the great city of Palembang fell in the hands of the Dutch. Today Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II had been declared as a national hero," said Abi Sofian. Palembang international airport was also named after him. *********************************** "Bahasa Melayu is a great language. When the kingdom (for example Sriwijaya and the Sultanate of Palembang) was strong, that language had become lingua franca of the people in vast parts of Asia. Bahasa Melayu is great, for example to describe various types of cannons, the Malays used different words such as ‘lela’, ‘rentaka’ and ‘meriam’ proved that it could be easily cushioned and adapted itself to changes including in scientific world of today," he said. ***************************** In a lighter note, Abi Sofian pointed out that the word ‘meriam’ derived from the word ‘maria’ (Santa Maria), the prayers offered by the Dutch soldiers every time they took a shoot from their cannons. ********************************** Regarding the ‘baju Melayu’ (traditional Malay dress), Abi Sofian surprised me by saying it was actually derived from the traditional Chinese two piece outfit; the only difference was that the Malays added ‘sampin’ (a piece of short sarong wrapped at the waist) to refine the dress. ****************************** But to historians and scholars that information was nothing strange as Palembang had witness close relations with the Chinese, the visit of Admiral Cheng Ho and his entourage in the 15th century was a testimony of the relationship. Nowadays when one visits the historical site at Bukit Siguntang, one would have the chance to see a craved replica that explicitly shows the visit of the entourage. *********************************** Another place to visit in Palembang is the Masjid Agung (Great Mosque) built by Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin I in 1738. Sermons and lectures in this masjid use the standard Malay language, the same language at home. ************************************* Palembang was also said to be the ‘homestate’ of some of the Malay rulers of the Peninsula and across the Malay Archipelago according to several manuscripts such as the ‘Sejarah Melayu’ (Malay Annals). In the second topic (Alkisah Cetera Yang Kedua) of the ‘Sejarah Melayu’, it was mentioned the origin of many of the Malay Sultanates; Melaka included. The offspring of the Malay king of Palembang then went and explored various parts of the Malay world such as Melaka and Johor-Riau. In ‘Sejarah Melayu’, Singapore (Singapura) was said to be found by Sang Nila Utama, also a prince from Palembang after he had seen sight of a lion. ********************* So this month SEA Games would help transformed Palembang into a tourist destination. Thousands of people would flock this city to watch the sport events at the main venue of Jakabaring Sports Complex and during their free time, they should not waste opportunity to visit some of its mystic sites such as Bukit Siguntang Historical Site, Archaeological Park of Sriwijaya and Pulau Kemaro. ********************* And don’t forget to sample some of its delicious and exotic food such as ‘empek-empek’ or 'pempek' (to me it is like yong tau fu) and don’t forget to buy ‘songket’ and ‘sarung’ as souvenirs for Palembang is a legacy city of the Malays of more than a thousand years!

Pemimpin Umno-BN huru-harakan sistem pendidikan

*********************** DENGAN nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Penyayang; selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. ***************** RENUNGAN ***************** "Sesungguhnya umatku akan ditimpa oleh suatu penyakit umat. Para sahabat bertanya: 'Apakah penyakit umat itu?' Nabi menjawab: '1. kufur nikmat, 2. sombong, 3. tamat, 4. berlumba-lumba, 5. benci-membenci, 6. dengki mendengki sehingga melampaui batas (belaku kejam) dan kemudian bunuh-membunuh'." (Maksud Hadis Riwayat Ibnu Abid Dunya) ************** Bersyukur kita ke hadrat Ilahi kerana dipanjangkan usia dan dapat sekali lagi memuzakarahkan isu semasa. Kali ini kita ingin menyentuh isu Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) yang menurut Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang juga Menteri Pelajaran, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin akan hanya dimansuhkan sepenuhnya di sekolah rendah pada 2016 manakala di sekolah menengah pada 2021. ******************** Apa yang kita ingin ulas di sini pendekatan 'soft landing' yang dikatakan oleh Muhyiddin yang memberi sekolah kebebasan penuh untuk menentukan sama ada untuk terus menggunakan bahasa Melayu atau bahasa Inggeris dalam pelaksanaan program PPSMI sehingga kohort terakhir tamat pada 2015 (sekolah rendah) dan 2020 (sekolah menengah). ********************** Muhyiddin yang dilihat sebagai tunduk kepada kedua-dua pihak yang menentang dan menyokong PPSMI, mungkin bagi kepentingan politik diri dan partinya; seolah-olah memberikan situasi menang-menang (win-win situation) yang diharapkan dapat memuaskan Gerakan Menentang PPSMI (GMP) yang terbabit dalam satu demonstrasi besar-besaran di ibu kota pada Mac 2009 yang turut disertai Sasterawan Negara, Dato' A Samad Said dan juga kumpulan pro-PPSMI yang digerakkan oleh Persatuan Ibu Bapa Untuk Pendidikan (Page) yang diterajui oleh Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim. ********************** Pengerusi Page ini sebelum ini mengertak Muhyiddin bahawa pihaknya tidak akan memberi undi kepada Umno-BN jika desakan mereka tidak dipenuhi. Gertakan ini dipercayai menyebabkan Muhyiddin terpaksa mengambil pendekatan memanjangkan tempoh hayat PPSMI sehinggalah pada tahun 2021 dan bukannya serta-merta seperti dituntut GMP! ********************** Jika diamat-amati akhbar harian bahasa Inggeris mereka menganggap keputusan Kementerian Pelajaran untuk terus membenarkan murid-murid diajar dalam bahasa Inggeris bagi subjek berkenaan sehingga lima tahun lagi bagi sekolah rendah dan 10 tahun bagi sekolah menengah, adalah kemenangan kepada pihak pro-PPSMI manakala akhbar Melayu yang dulunya bermati-matian memuji inisiatif PM (kini bekas) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang memaksakan PPSMI di sekolah-sekolah mulai 2003, kali ini menyokong kuat pula inisiatif Muhyiddin mengikut dasar Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu dan Memperkukuhkan Bahasa Inggeris (MBMMBI). ****************************** Berhubung PPSMI, semua sekolah diberi kebebasan penuh sama ada untuk menggunakan bahasa Melayu atau bahasa Inggeris dengan Muhyiddin berkata bahawa pihak sekolah lebih mengetahui keadaan pencapaian murid dan pelajar masing-masing selepas PPSMI dilaksanakan (2003). "Sekolah lebih mengetahui keadaan pelajar dan murid mereka, kerana sekarang pun sekolah sudah membuat keputusan sendiri. Misalnya, sewaktu kita meminta mereka (sekolah) menggunakan bahasa Inggeris untuk PPSMI, tetapi mereka tidak berbuat demikian sebaliknya memilih bahasa Melayu kerana ada pelajar dan murid yang tidak faham, jadi mereka boleh teruskan. Lagipun, kita (kementerian) tidak mahu mengganggu proses pembelajaran sedia ada, lebih-lebih lagi jika mereka (guru dan pelajar) sudah biasa dengan keadaan ini," Muhyiddin dipetik sebagai berkata. ************************* Bagi kita, memberi kebebasan kepada sekolah (perlu diingat ada hampir 10,000 sekolah di tanah air kita), dalam perkara dasar seperti bahasa adalah 'kerja gila' yang secara terang memperjudikan masa depan generasi muda dan negara dan jika hal ini dibuat berdasarkan kepentingan untuk mendapatkan sokongan politik, ia tindakan paling jelek kerana menjadikan anak-anak sebagai mangsa. ********************************* Murid dan pelajar menjadi 'guinea pig' (tikus eksperimen) bagi memenuhi nafsu pemimpin yang rakus meraih undi sokongan demi untuk berkuasa dulu, kini dan selamanya. Bagi kita tiada kompromi dalam soal pendidikan; jika dulu dan kini kita sudah mempunyai sistem pendidikan pelbagai dengan kewujudan sekolah kebangsaan dan jenis kebangsaan (hal ini tidak berlaku pun di negara lain seluruh dunia) dengan memberi kebebasan kepada sekolah untuk memutuskan apa bahasa yang sesuai akan mewujudkan 'standard' (piawai) yang berbeza-beza. Kita amat khuatir jurang pendidikan akan semakin melebar; akan wujud sekolah-sekolah kelas satu, dua dan tiga. *********************************** Itulah, dunia pendidikan kita sudah dicemari oleh tangan-tangan kotor politikus, sewajarnya tiada campur tangan politik dalam pendidikan; biarkan mereka yang arif dalam bidang ini menjalankan tugas dan tanggungjawab masing-masing. ********************** Mengikut maklumat yang kita terima, guru-guru sudah bosan dengan permainan politik ini kerana bukan saja anak murid yang menjadi 'tikus eksperimen', mereka berlebih lagi, ramai menggalami gangguan jiwa kerana terpaksa menanggung bahana akibat sudah huru-hara sistem pendidikan kita. Masakan tidak tanggung-langgangnya dunia pendidikan kita kerana sekolah (siapa dia; pengetua, guru, murid atau PIBG?) berhak menentukan bahasa apa yang akan digunakan di sekolah mereka!