Thursday 31 December 2009

Goodbye 2009, Welcome 2010


I know this blog has not been updated for more than a month. Sorry, I'm really, really sorry.

Busy? Part of it. One of the reasons is because I don't have access to the Internet at my home sweet home. Why? You may call me stingy if you want, but I really think it's not worthwhile to pay at least RM78 for a broadband service of 1.5MBps speed (or is it 3MBps now?)! Jauh betul bezanya dengan apa yang aku guna di Manchester dulu.

I don't want to nag too much on that. Let us get down to business. My take on 2009 or should I write about the decade that will leave us in a couple of hours from now? An account of a decade? Hmmm... read magazines instead! Hehehe...

Although there is no big milestones for 2009, but I still want to consider it as a good year for me. And a not too bad year for the economy. Because many scholars had predicted for a much worse recession in 2009, following the slowdown in 2008. But it turned out that Allah know best. While the Malaysian economy had shrunk, (please... this is only my personal account and don't take it seriously and this view takes into account the first 3 quarters of 2009 only) the impact, alhamdulillah has not been that damaging, at least to my standard of living. Hehehe... poyo!

First, I would like to thank Allah for the more rezekis that I've received in this year as compared to previous years. And I hope I had paid out sufficient zakat to cleanse my wealth. Also, I did not suffer any serious illness this year. Except for a slightly severe sore throat. Even that, it was only once.

Second, I received more new family members (brother-in law and baby cousins and anak buahs) and new friends this year too. And they bring along more colours into my life and I'm so thankful for that. Syukur juga di atas kurniaan ahli-ahli keluarga yang sihat dan bahagia.

Third, despite the unfavourable economic climate, alhamdulillah, I still managed to do a couple of trips to local destination as well as overseas - Kuching, Langkawi Island, Bandung, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Manila, Perhentian Island, Endau-Rompin State Park, Pangkor Island and Perlis.

Fourth, I was awarded with several accolades to recognise my small contributions either in work-related jobs or community services. Thank you very much to those who had nominated me and I really appreciate it.

Last but not least, this is my second year of freedom from credit card debt. My only obligations are housing and car financing. No personal financing and alhamdulillah, an increased savings for rainy days, insya-Allah. Harap-harap, rezeki berterusan murah hendaknya. Aamin.

Oh, sebelum lupa... biarpun aku belum temui kebahagiaan yang nyata, tapi syukur juga kerana aku dapat juga kecapi bahagia, biarpun sekumit. Thank you, thank you very much for coming into my life.

Before I stop, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a blessed year ahead and may Allah grant us with more rahmat, berkat and joy. Aamin.

And I would like to thank my sister, Lia for being a dear and supportive sister and congratulations for receiving a good man into your life.

Jutaan terima kasih buat famili, kawan-kawan dan pembaca graha residenKu. Insya-Allah, will try my best to be a better son, brother, friend and blogger.

Muaaahhh!!!

Friday 27 November 2009

Aidil Adha, Melaka dan London

Hari Raya Qorban kali ini berlainan daripada yang sebelum ini.

Mungkin tak beza mana untuk keluarga aku. Except that this is the first time Mus (my brother in-law) celebrates Aidil Adha with us as a family. Also, this year Nek Chu celebrates raya without any of her children. Only her nephews and nieces, and of course cucu-cucu saudara. I know she feels sad, but she hides it quite well.

Raya ini juga, menelanjangkan dua lagi sifat keluarga di sebelah ayah aku.

"Sedihlah Kak Midah tak balik."

"Kenapa sedih?" asked my mother.

"Yelah, anak-anak Ani, dua-dua tu dia balik. Dua-dua anak si Enon pun dia balik. Anak Akak, dua-dua dia tak balik."

"Aku tak kesah. Asalkan dia, laki bini, anak beranak sihat wal'afiat, aku tumpang gembira. Kalau diorang nak balik, RM10,000 pun belum tentu cukup. Tiket lagi, wang belanja lagi, nak belanja korang makan ikan bakar lagi."

Mak saudara aku terdiam!

That's what I admire about my beloved mother. She sees the positive side of everything. Always! I hope I could emulate this trait of her. And she knows how to respond to such remark, intelligently.

Another ugly trait of my other aunt was due to ribbon. Yeap, betul tu reben. Aku pun malas nak ulas panjang. Tapi memang sejak dulu lagi, dia ni memang tak boleh tengok orang lain lebih. Aku pun dah alah dengan perangainya.

Aku pun nasihat adik-adik aku, "Udahlah... beli sahaja reben baru. Lagipun reben tu bukan milik kita pun, biarpun empunya sudah 'wakaf'kan lebihan reben itu kepada kita. Mungkin dia nak gunakan barang percuma itu untuk majlis perkahwinan anak dia, setahun dua lagi."

Sama-samalah kita menghayati kisah korban Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Ismail. May Allah bless us with more rahmat, berkat and joy. Aamin.

Selamat menyambut hari raya aidil adha.

Monday 16 November 2009

A Voyage of Discovery

Another good weekend!

Aku menumpang kumpulan Makang Anging, yang kehilangan seorang ahlinya. Bermula dari Lanai Kijang, Kuala Lumpur santak ke Awana Kijal, Terengganu. Pengembaraan tersebut memakan masa kurang lebih 8 jam.

Thanks to Din, Rosman and Nizam for roping me in. Merasa juga menginap di Awana Kijal. It's indeed a nice resort. Cuma kekurangan masa. Teringin sangat untuk melawat ke sebuah kampung bagi melihatkan kecantikan koloni kunang-kunang.

Mungkin kena datang lagi! Jom kawan-kawan...

Dan alhamdulillah, dapatlah juga hadiah sagu hati. Dan dapat juga lepak-lepak dengan Fendy dan Dini. Dini... jangan buat macam tu lagi tau! Bahaya!

Sekalung tahniah kepada penganjur Kijang Treasure Hunt 2009. Once again, you guys had put up a good event! Maybe BSN, LHDN and other could learn more from the Persatuan Kakitangan on how to organise an impactful treasure hunt contest so that the Inter-Finance Treasure Hunt contest in the future would be more fun and professionally run.

Tapi aku rasa pemenang untuk Best Dressed category tu agak keterlaluan lah. Do you think so?

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Welcome Wan, Selamat Datang As!

Had lunch with two new DFEans, Wan and As at the Staff Centre yesterday afternoon. Thanks Juita for driving Wan, As and I to the marvelous Lanai Kijang. We were also joined by Sherina, Shahrul, Kak Mai and Raizon.

Satu kafe penuh gelak tawa kami yang cuba nasib untuk "memesrakan" Wan. Si Wan ni baru balik dari United Kingdom. Begitu juga As, yang belajar di Dublin.

Talking about Dublin, oh my... I miss Dublin - especially the people. They are totally the opposite of the Brits. They are more friendly, sincere and more importantly, they are better looking than the Brits. Well, everyone scores better than Britons in look department. Do you think so? Hehehe...

I had the healthy Club House Stack with a glass of watermelon juice, with NO ice. So predictable, kan? Sherina and Shahrul even had Lamb Shack, a dish on the menu which I never look at. Yeap, I still do not eat kambing! Why? Personal belief.

Okey, once again, welcome on board Wan and As. Feel free to join me singing and gediking in our beloved department. Of course I'm serious! ;-)

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Wong Chun Wai vs. Mujahid Yusof Rawa

Article I by Wong Chun Wai (first published on The Star)
The liberal lifestyle enjoyed by Malaysians is at stake if they support PAS leaders who, with their flowing robes and turbans, cut deals for power and position just like any other politician.
IT’S incredulous. PAS Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen have been compelled to take an oath to divorce their wives if they quit or jump to another party.

The news, which has been a hot topic in the political and media circle, has kicked off a controversy.

Even Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who is regarded as a moderate in the conservative party, does not see why anyone would want to question what PAS is doing.

It is perfectly acceptable to him. He has been quoted as saying that the oath is not against Islamic teachings as Prophet Muhammad and his companions also did the same thing and were willing to sacrifice their families and belongings.

But others, including religious scholars, have shot down the argument, saying the Prophet’s companions did not do that because of politics.

Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Hussani Zakaria explained the oath was made by the companions to show their loyalty and to defend the Prophet.

“If we want to take an oath for the sake of the party, then divorcing wives should not come into the picture,” he said.

Even the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Asso­ciation has questioned the mind-blowing decision of PAS.

But this is what happens when politics is mixed with religion; for that matter, problems too arise when politics and business are not separated.

There was a time when PAS labelled Umno as infidel because of the latter’s partnership with the MCA and the MIC.

PAS leaders and followers, especially in Kelantan and Terengganu, refused to pray in the same mosque as Umno members. Even marriages with Umno members were shunned.

But now, PAS is openly working with the DAP, PKR and even Parti Sosialis Malaysia. So, politics is essentially expedient in nature, not about religion, as PAS leaders would want its members to believe.

The reality is that PAS leaders, behind the flowing robes, turbans and beards, are just politicians who can cut deals for power and position.

Being able to walk the corridors of power in Putrajaya is a tempting goal, whether it is via cooperating with Umno or PKR.

It has showed that its leaders are quite prepared to work with Umno for purported Muslim unity after telling its non-Muslim listeners that Umno is a communal party.

But PAS is also consistent on certain issues. As much as it wants to win over non-Muslim votes, exploiting their resentment against Umno, it has been unable to fully convince the non-Muslims of their readiness to shed their orthodox slant.

The liberal lifestyle enjoyed by Malaysians is at stake if progressive and liberal forces continue to lose their battle.

Gaming and drinking liquor may be frowned upon by all religions but democracy is also about the right to make choices. We have the right to decide for ourselves whether we want to drink or not. If the sale of beer is restricted, as pursued by PAS, would it be followed with wine as the next step?

Wine is used in many churches as part of the Eucharist, a commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion.

PAS has put it plainly that it wants to set up a Saudi Arabian-style Islamic state, including chipping away the secular aspect of the Federal Constitution. If non-Muslim supporters continue to strengthen PAS, they are doing so with their eyes open.

The people of Iran overthrew the corrupt Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi monarchy in 1979 because they were against the excesses of his regime. They replaced him with Ayatollah Ruhallah Khomeini, whose return from exile was greeted by millions of Iranians.

Today, the idealistic young set of Iran has found that you have to be careful with what you wish for. Human rights continue to be violated and polls rigged with theologians holding on to power in the name of religion.

In Malaysia, non-Muslims who question PAS leaders have been told to shut up because they are not qualified to debate due to their lack of knowledge on Islam or simply because they are not Muslims.

Activists like Sisters in Islam can tell you the kind of harassment they have to face simply because their liberal views do not match the views of those who push the conservative line.

We are still struggling to open up the demo­cratic space, and discourse often degenerates to name calling and threats, especially in the blogosphere, often by those hiding behind anonymity.

When civil issues become entangled with religious concerns, the debate becomes even more emotional and often the louder ones drown out their opponents.

Even former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, despite his Islamic credentials, has found out how vicious those who evoke rules and regulations in the name of religion can be.

But those who use God’s name should beware that they too can suffer a similar fate because they are mere mortals like everyone else.


Article II by Mujahid Yusof Rawa (first published on The Malaysian Insider)
I am responding to an article by Wong Chun Wai in The Sunday Star, Nov 8 on page F 25, under his column, “On The Beat”.

This is not the first time I have read Wong’s writing. Other articles he wrote carry the sense of “responsible journalism” as he is very straightforward in his articulation of the social-economic and political happenings in this country. He does write a lot about accountability and transparency and is a critic of racial politics.

Although I do not share all his thoughts, I was taught by my religious upbringing, i.e. Islam, to respect other people’s opinions and listen although they may be contrary to your understanding. This is called in the discipline of Islamic knowledge as “I’lmu al ikhtilaf”, the science of conflict in thoughts.

Long before democracy was introduced as a political system in the West, the Islamic Civilisation has taught the world the necessities to have different ideas and thought and so knowledge bloomed and thoughts flourished. Although some are influenced by earlier Greek thinking and philosophies, there was no stop to the growth of knowledge.

That was why Islam was accepted, beside the strength of its faith that attracts the oppressed under racial and ethnic annihilation of the ruling elites. I do not need to elucidate further as the testimony of history has spoken. I wish Wong and others can accept the Islamic contribution to the civilised world today as the lists are too long to fit in this small piece of writing.

A Chinese friend (not a Muslim) alerted me yesterday to Wong’s article and urged me to read it. This morning, I had the chance to do so and feel it is my responsibility to correct some misunderstanding of his thinking on Islam.

I would not indulge in defending my party – PAS – but I’m more interested to rebut Wong’s narrow interpretation of Islam and his misrepresentation of incidents and happenings that have a direct implication of labelling Islam as backward and irrelevant to the modern world.

He kicked off with Khalid Samad’s “shocking revelation” on the oath issue, but Wong did not deliberate further and was content with comments from the Perak Mufti and the Malaysian Muslim Lawyer Association.

At the end of the bit on the oath issue he concluded with something like “Politics and Religion cannot mix”. I cannot understand why his kick off ended with no conclusion of the problem but came out with a very fundamental misrepresentation of Islam, based on the notion of “Secular Worldview”.

As long as the line of thinking behind Wong’s interpretation of Islam is based on the cut-and-paste thought of “Western Secular Philosophies” which stemmed from the Enlightenment Era, I find it difficult to convince otherwise because Islamic worldly need was not built on the antithesis of faith and the world but Islam maintained the synthesis of the two.

The Enlightenment Era developed against the backdrop of anti-religion feelings which, through the eyes of the thinking elite, was the reason for backwardness. So, they built their writings and thoughts on the axis of doing away with faith or religion in relation to worldly needs and concluded that faith should be limited into a private corner of one’s life and let the rational mind run the worldly need.

I’m not surprised if this is Wong’s premise of thought and I would presume he would have a lot of fatal mistakes in his effort to understand my party’s thought about politics!

I was also surprised to read his description of PAS leaders “… who, with their flowing robes and turbans, cut deals for power and position just like any other politician ….”

I do not know what his intention was, whether he was trying to highlight the flowing robes and turbans, or PAS’s strategy to come into power? If he was highlighting robes and turbans, he was definitely trying to signal something else because there is nothing strange about a political party making deals in accession to power.

Is it wrong for PAS, as a registered and legal political party that believes in democracy as a mean to come into power, to make deals and offer people its political manifesto?

Unless Wong’s objective is to push “religion and politics cannot mix” as his prime thought, I can’t understand why other parties can make deals in the quest for power and PAS cannot, because PAS maintains that Islam is a synthesis of Politics and Religion!

Note the word “synthesis”, there is a whole lot of explanation there if Wong would spare some time in the library and read more on the notion of the synthesis Islam offered as a way of life to fulfill one’s needs of the world and the hereafter.

Wong’s allegation on PAS’s commitment to Democracy and the Federal Constitution is outdated and purposely creates confusion among the readers, especially the non-Malays, and intentionally gives a negative impression that PAS is outside the framework of the constitution and called for something alien to fellow Malaysians. And, what’s this about Saudi Arabian style? (I thought it was Taliban style!)

Wake up, Wong! You have a lot of catching up to do on the beat! And are you telling readers that Malaysians, among them Chinese and Indians (not all are Muslims), who voted for PAS are voting for a formation of Saudi style and chipping away secular aspects of the Constitution?For the record, they voted PAS because of its moral standing and clear view to bring Malaysians together to fight corruption, and because they loath the BN’s way of doing things.

They did not vote PAS because PAS is forming a Saudi-style government and chipping away secular aspects of the Constitution! Praise be to God that, because PAS is an Islamic Party, the moral ground we enjoy is shared by the Malaysians today (I mean all Malaysians, not just Malays and Muslims).

Finally the notion of a Liberal society that Wong was espousing is another issue. What is defined as “Liberal”? Is it a concept where religion has no political and societal role? Or is it a concept where Parallelism is the basis of toleration? Where does Liberalism stem from?

Can our society today be formed in a cut-and-paste style from the western perspective? Don’t we have our own way of blending what kind of society we want? What about the backdrop of our Constitution that stipulates Islam as the Federal religion? What about Raja-raja Melayu as the symbol of Islam and its’ authority? What about the rights of other voters who wants Islam to be integral part of the multiracial society, how do you address these questions?

I would believe Wong’s articulative nature will not deprive him of the right to also address any one of these questions before he can come to a conclusion that “the liberal lifestyle enjoyed by all Malaysians is at stake if progressive and liberal forces continue to lose their battle”.

The only thing I agree with in his writing was the last sentence when he mentioned “but those who use God’s names should beware that they too can suffer a similar fate because they are mere mortals like everyone else”.

How correct your sentence was at the end but, sorry, I cannot concur with your kick-off and your substance of the article.

If I can ask you, “What do we wish for?” Ask me, I wish my article can be published in The Star to tell Malaysians that democracy is alive in The Star!

Monday 2 November 2009

Photolog: Genting Highlands - Part 1

When? Last Saturday
Where? Genting Outdoor Theme Park


Rayyan, Haiqal & Yusof, waited in line for the Grand Prix Fun Cart


Haiqal & I riding the Antique Car


Yusof was trying his luck to win a huge Chinese-made teddy bear

Tuesday 20 October 2009

My Still Unanswered Complaint to Celcom

To: careline@celcom.com.my
07/10/2009 09:14
Subject: Complaint


Good morning.

I would like to lodge a complaint regarding the following SMS which I received it yesterday:

63383
06-Oct-09 16:44
RM0.00 Nak dptkan koleksi video dan foto "projek awek dlm kereta" kpd handset? tekan REG FUN dan sms ke 33883, dptkan koleksi yg menarik ni! 0380615556


I hope your company could be more careful in the future so that such business promotion doesn't escape your vetting and jeorpadise your company's credibility and integrity for the sake of profit and material gains.

Thank you.


- Your postpaid subscriber -

Sunday 4 October 2009

Perihal Rumah Terbuka

Aku cuba memulakan puasa enam tapi tergendala. Aku baru tahu tentang perihal lebih afdal berbuka puasa (according to my colleagues, terpakai kepada puasa sunat sahaja) dan menerima undangan rumah terbuka.

Jadi aku pun menghadiri majlis rumah terbuka anjuran salah sebuah institusi kewangan pembangunan di Hotel Istana. Mewah dengan makanan. Tiada komplen daripada aku dan Linda, cuma Ajaex sedikit terkilan tidak dapat merasa beberapa juadah gara-gara perkhidmatan yang kurang memuaskan daripada Hotel Istana.

Keesokannya, aku pergi ke satu lagi majlis rumah terbuka anjuran sebuah lagi institusi kewangan pembangunan. Berbanding majlis yang berlangsung sehari sebelum, majlis pada petang jumaat itu lebih mempunyai impak, sekurang-kurang kepada aku.

Makanan tidak semewah di Hotel Istana, dan dilangsungkan di perkarangan institusi tersebut. Teratur dan lebih tenang.

Dan lebih menyenangkan untuk bertukar-tukar bicara dengan staf yang ringan mulut. Bukan hendak kata yang staf institusi yang satu lagi tidak ringan mulut, malah mereka juga ramah tamah, cuma kehadiran tetamu yang menyendatkan, dan dibingitkan dengan celoteh pengacara selebriti yang menjemukan dan dendangan lagu daripada artis jemputan yang meletihkan, membuatkan mereka kekok, tetamu pun turut kekok.

Yang satu, penuh meriah dan mewah. Yang satu lagi, sederhana. Hah, sesuai dengan konsep kesederhanaan yang aku cuba peluk sejak 1 ramadhan lagi. Mungkinkah konsep ini dicedok oleh Mus dan dikhabarkan kepada jawatankuasa penganjur di syarikatnya? Kwang... kwang... kwang...

Apa-apa pun, aku senang dengan rumah terbuka IKP yang berlangsung pada hari jumaat nan lalu. And sorry Tan Sri for "downgrading" you. Sorry for my ignorance.

Terima kasih daun keladi kepada yang menjemput aku ke majlis rumah terbuka mereka - Zack, Shah, Nazri, Fendi, Rafin, Azzril, Ema, Ida, Zul & Malisa, Abang sulung Faizal dan Kakak Ipar Faizal, Andi, Kak Ana B, Sam and Aidil. And of course the two DFIs, plus another 2/3 DFIs next week.

May Allah bless all of you with more rahmat. Aamin.

Maaf banyak-banyak kepada Zafrul kerana tidak berkesempatan untuk ke rumah beliau semalam. Jangan serik untuk ajak lagi tau!

Oh, please... don't ask me about mine. I don't have answer to that. Peace.

Wednesday 30 September 2009

oh, di mana

saat ini dan ketika ini
sangat teruja aku untuk ke pejabat
berdebar-debar tika ingin buka akaun e-mel yahoo
tapi...
belum ada rezeki lagi.

setahun lebih terputus hubung
hari khamis
tanggal 24, bulan kesembilan
21:35:07
dia utus warkah
singkat tapi bisa gegarkan hati ini:
"kat mana ni??".

teruja
gembira
betul-betul aku teruja dan gembira.

oh, di mana dikau
ku terus nanti bicara balasmu.


[This sajak was first published on Aku dan Sajak]

Friday 25 September 2009

I feel sorry for Dina Zaman and Sisters In Islam

Pagi ini, aku baca artikel Debra Chong dengan berhati-hati. Takut-takut aku tersalah anggap.

Kemudian aku bandingkan dengan artikel yang pernah ditulis oleh Dina Zaman, yang bukunya - I Am Muslim, belum aku habis baca lagi, biarpun sudah dua tahun lebih dihadiahkan oleh Noriswadi.

Berbeza. Memang patut pun, sebab kedua-duanya ditulis oleh dua orang penulis yang berlainan.

Membaca artikel Dina Zaman, seolah-olah Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno teraniaya dengan hukuman yang dijatuhkan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah Pahang di Kuantan. Tidak langsung dinyatakan fakta tentang Kartika redha dengan hukuman tersebut dan mahukan dirinya disebat secepat mungkin. Hatta gambar hiasan yang digunakan juga menunjukkan Kartika dalam keadaan sedih (atau sedikit menangis).

Tidak juga dijelaskan bahawa hukuman sebat yang dijatuhkan oleh mahkamah syariah berbeza (dan tidak sekejam!) dengan hukuman sebat yang diputuskan oleh mahkamah sivil.

Tetapi artikel Debra Chong memaparkan Kartika bersedia untuk disebat dan berharap hukuman tersebut tidak tertangguh agar dia boleh meneruskan kehidupannya. Dan gambar yang digunakan pun menunjukkannya tenang di samping suami tercinta.

Dan juga dilaporkan bahawa Kartika menyelar sikap "hidung tak mancung pipi tersorong-sorong" beberapa pihak termasuk Sisters In Islam yang "sibuk-sibuk" ingin bercakap bagi pihak beliau.

Ini membuatkan aku tertanya-tanya, mereka ini tak sekolah tinggi ke? Can't they accept NO as NO? And, they have the gut to lecture us on human rights!

I pity you, my sisters in Islam...

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Eid Mubarak

Salam.

Moga ramadhan kali ini dilimpahi Allah dengan lebih banyak hidayah, rahmat dan berkat. Maafkan segala buruk laku, salah tutur. Dan minta dihalalkan segala makan dan minum. Semoga berbahagia bersama yang tersayang di hari lebaran.
Insya-Allah, sentiasa di hati dan doa.

"Eid Mubarak"dari:
- saya -


p/: Al-fatihah buat arwah Tok Mustapha, Nek Soya, Pak Lang Jailani, Nek Long, Nek Mok dan lain-lain ahli keluarga tercinta yang telah tiada.

Thursday 10 September 2009

Desak Jeff Ooi Letak Jawatan

Let us join forces to say NO, a big NO NO to Islamophobics, racists and sexists!


Forum Penyelarasan Umat (Forum) hari ini melancarkan kempen mengutip tandatangan rakyat bagi mendesak anggota parlimen Jelutong, Jeff Ooi, memohon maaf dan meletak jawatan kerana mengaitkan Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) sebagai ekstremis.

Wakil Forum, Md Roslan Hashim berkata kempennya itu disokong oleh 30 NGO Islam di negeri itu.

Md Roslan berkata kebanyakan maklum balas yang diterima bersetuju dan berpendapat Ooi, yang juga ketua staf Pejabat Ketua Menteri Lim Guan Eng, harus meletak jawatan.

"Kami menyasarkan 100,000 tandatangan rakyat bagi membuktikan bahawa masyarakat kini menolak pemimpin yang tidak menghormati dan menghina Islam," katanya.

Md Roslan berkata beliau bercadang untuk berjumpa Lim untuk menyelesaikan isu itu sebelum ia merebak.

"Kami akan berusaha mengadakan satu pertemuan dengan Lim bagi mendapatkan penjelasan mengapa Ooi masih enggan memohon maaf dan belum mengosongkan jawatan hingga hari ini," katanya.

Source: BERNAMA

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Inikah Cinta?

Those who close to me will know that I'm not a person who fancy the word L.O.V.E.! Or should I rephrase my statement with, "someone who is afraid of commitment in a relationship".

If I were to allow to blame, I'm more than happy to point it to my first relationship. Don't get me wrong, the relationship ended on a good term and we don't have any hard feeling against each other. But the impact of the break up was so long lasting, I took almost five solid years to move on.

But lately, I feel a kind of feeling that I find it very difficult to explain.

At first, I thought this feeling was nothing different from those big crushes I used to have during school days. But, this time it has blossomed into something else. A feeling, yes... like I said earlier, very hard for me to describe.

aku suka
aku mahu
aku malu
aku rindu.

My normal crush would not have the fourth element. Their would, either have one and two or first, second and third elements for those big crushes.

But this time around, I feel all those four!

Like a song by Sheila Majid, "Inikah namanya cinta? Inikah cinta?"

Oh, Dr. Love... help me, please!

Saturday 5 September 2009

Takziah

Takziah buat Shahrul Fitri Shafii (rakan sekerja aku) dan keluarga di atas pemergian puteri kesayangan ke rahmatullah semalam. Sesungguhnya dari-Nya kita datang, dan kepada-Nya kita pulang.

Moga tabah hadapi dugaan ini dan didoakan agar rohnya ditempatkan di kalangan orang yang diredhai-Nya.

Al-fatihah.

Wednesday 2 September 2009

Lagu Buat Adik

Ibu selalu kata:
kita tak bisa gembirakan semua
tak mungkin boleh
tapi kita bisa hibur sukma sendiri.

Along genggam kemas azimat itu
seperti juga mutiara kata:
jika punyai beban
sekecil mana ataupun seberat gunung
larilah kepada Yang Esa
kerna hanya Dia yang bisa menolong
tak Ibu, tak Abah, tak sesiapapun.

Adik,
ku sanjung semangatmu
ku kagum kudratmu
ku cemburu hatimu
ku bangga denganmu.

Pengorbananmu
kesetiaanmu
kejayaanmu
terus semadi di sukma kami
selamanya.

Dan masa dan waktu yang berbaki
bagai menghambat jiwa ini
dicucuk resah, dirodok takut
bisakah diri ini bersedia?
untuk depani satu perpisahan
memeluk satu pemergian.

Ku tahu
ianya bukan hakiki
tapi jiwa ini tetap resah
betul-betul takut
sederas air mata yang menghujani pipi
tika kakakmu pergi.

Adik,
ku sanjung semangatmu
ku kagum kudratmu
ku cemburu hatimu
ku bangga denganmu.

Along bukan tamak
cuma, cuma...
belum puas menjadi abang
buatmu, adikku sayang.

Sebelum hati ini
ditawan emosi
ingatlah Adik
genggamlah kemas tuturIbu itu.


(Khas buat Lia, yang menyambut ulang tahun hari kelahirannya pada hari ini. All the best in your undertakings, sayang. May Allah bless you with more rahmat, berkat and joy. Aamin.)

Friday 28 August 2009

Perhentian Island Trip 2009 - Cerita Satu

Sebelum ini, aku belum pernah mengunjungi mana-mana pulau di sebelah Pantai Timur Semenanjung Malaysia. Aku cuma ke Langkawi, Pangkor dan Pulau Pinang.

Semuanya berubah bila aku diajak oleh Ayud untuk sertai kelas scuba diving.

Setelah menghadiri kelas di Pusat Akuatik Darul Ehsan, datanglah keseronokan menyelam di salah satu daripada 100 pulau yang tercantik di dunia (mengikut maklumat yang disampaikan oleh Kak Rahimah, yang aku tidak berpeluang untuk mengesahkan kebenarannya).

Ternyata perairan di Pulau Perhentian, baik Perhentian Besar mahu pun Perhentian Kecil, cantik dan membiru. Dan ramai pelancong asing, terutamanya daripada negara-negara Hemisfera Utara.

Rombongan kami yang seramai 25 orang itu, menginap di sebuah resort yang dikendalikan oleh bekas anggota Kumpulan Medicine, salah satu artis berkumpulan yang pernah popular di era 90an.

Dan ketika dan saat itu juga, ada penggambaran sebuah drama yang menggandingkan Fauziah Ghous dan Iqram Dinzly. Dan nak dijadikan cerita, salah seorang pelakon dalam produksi ini telah meng'usha' salah seorang daripada kami! hehehe.

Aku malas nak upload gambar-gambar berserta post ini, kerana 1) banyak sangat; dan 2) akan mengambil masa yang lama. Jadi kepada yang mempunyai akaun dengan Facebook ataupun Orkut, meh sini alamat e-mel anda. Nanti aku e-melkan pautan ke koleksi-koleksi gambar di Pulau Perhentian, terutamanya gambar-gambar aku bergaya dengan peralatan menyelam dan aksi-aksi selaman yang mengasyikan itu. hehehe.

Wednesday 26 August 2009

"Siapa Saya?" and the Two Celebrations

I'm a shy girl. But can you tell who am I by looking at my eye? Yeap, one of my beautiful pair of eyes.

Two occasions to celebrate the rezeki recently received by my dear officemate and his beloved wife. Thank you so much and all the best in your undertakings. May Allah continue to bless you (and all of us too) with more rahmat, berkat and joy. Aamin.

The event celebration was held @Cafeteria, because they closed Dinar Matahari for an important event. Important lah sangat! :)

Kelakar betul Cik Pah kan, Malisa! Tak kering gusi diusik dengan telatah seorang ibu yang punyai kuasa bertih jagung! hehehe.

And I didn't know that they have Laksa Sarawak, the only laksa that I eat because it's made from prawn paste. Bukannya ikan-ikan yang dilumat-lumatkan.


The second one was a proper farewell lunch, casually organised by Liris @Lanai Kijang. A bigger group this time, and Vivien managed to join us too. Vivien who? Rahsia! hehehe.

We went for a Western buffet. It was okay because I could try everything and they did not serve any lamb dishes. Besides pork, I don't eat duck, lamb and kerbau. Dan arnab. In other words, I eat chicken, beef and salted water fishes. But not stingray (ikan pari, kan?)

Thanks Liris and Liza M organising one for our dear Zul. We will be missing you, bro! :(

Monday 24 August 2009

Selamat Menjalani Ibadah Puasa

Today is the third day of Ramadhan, and I hope it is not too late to wish all Muslims, "Selamat menjalani ibadah puasa".

Aku tidak mahu menggunakan frasa tipikal "Selamat berpuasa" kerana ibadah puasa bukan setakat berpuasa sahaja, malah merangkumi melakukan apa yang disuruh, dan meninggalkan apa yang dilarang.

Terutamanya tuntutan solat.

Ada yang berpuasa penuh tetapi tidak bersolat sedangkan solat itu tiang agama. Jadi sama-samalah kita nasihat menasihati agar kita tergolong dalam orang-orang yang diredhai Allah taala.

Would like to take this opportunity to seek forgiveness from all if I have hurt/offended, either intentionally or unintentionally. Sekali lagi, selamat menjalani ibadah puasa dan moga-moga Ramadhan kali ini adalah yang terbaik setakat ini. Aamin.


p/s: Gumbira kerana dapat bersahur dan berbuka puasa dengan keluarga tercinta. Alhamdulillah. And to Mus, "Get well soon".