Money! Money! Money!

To all non-ABBA people, do not worry because this posting is not about that infamous song. But it is about what concern me right now.

I don't want to sound proud and neither I want to be naive, but I really, really miss those days when money was never an issue to me. Don't get me wrong and trust me I don't come from a wealthy family. And thank God for that!

It was long time ago (sorry, I'm exaggerating again). Although I made a few hundreds below RM2,000 but I led a great life. I had enough to eat, save and spend and still managed to send a big portion of my salary home. And thank to Allah, I always have money in my pocket/wallet as well as in my savings account.

Fast forward to present time, I'm now earning almost triple of what I got in six years ago plus the monthly living allowance (in pound sterling) for another 10 months. Income-wise, I am much better off now. Alhamdulillah.

But, what puzzle me is the feeling that I'm currently have i.e. I don't have enough. I repeat, I don't have enough, money of course.

Before you accuse me of materialistic or ungrateful, allow me to explain.

I still have enough to eat, save, spend and send home although the amount is much smaller in percentage-wise. Plus I managed to maintain the monthly deductions for my Graha Residen and Neo. But my Maybank al-wadiah account is not as "fancy" as it used to be in the first two or three years of my employment.

In addition, I also experienced a number of leakages (not the embarrassing joke by those irritating YBs in our august house!).

First, it was a couple of close friends who disappeared after obtaining loans from me. Then, gone hundreds of ringgit for traffic summons. Plus a couple of bucks here and there for petty (and of course unproductive) expenses. And now, I'm about to fork up a few thousands for a mishap that happened to one of my beloved ones. O God... am I being tested?

Hmmm... wait a minute. Have I pay out enough zakat, haven't I?

Thanks, Kate!

Picture of Kate Taylor with a guest short filmmaker, Chris Shepherd

Today is the last day of my 8-week Short Film course. Wow! Time flies really fast. Although it was only an introductory programme for someone with no prior knowledge of short film like me, but I really have learned a lot from Kate Taylor. Definitely I will enrol myself for another course by Cornerhouse.

According to its December 07 listings, there are three course in next January - (1) Transnational Trends in Recent European Cinema; (2) Sembene and After: 40 years of Africa Cinema; (3) Introduction to Photography and one more in February i.e. (4) Screening the Self: Autobiography on Film.

Hmmm... it is a tough one but I am deeply interested with the third and fourth one. Although the first two sound quite tempting but I have a feeling that both courses might be too challenging for me. Anyhow, I have some time to make up my mind and I am quite used to last minute changes. Thanks to the extensive experience at my work place!

On separate matter, I am so in the mood for another cinema outing. But with whom, because my coursemates are so into their assessed essays. I know I have two to be submitted before this term ends, but I really, really need a couple of hours break.

Should I bother some of my undergraduate Malaysian friends or I should continue doing what I normally do in Kuala Lumpur, which is go all by myself.

Well... I guess I don't have much choice. Eh! Where I put the December 07 films listing?

p/s: I am so happy to receive reply from SRSI and equally happy to see that Andrew has started to bond with Bree.

Brothers and Sisters

(Pictures of early autumn in Manchester)

I was really touched by the sermon given at last week's Friday prayer. Although I have heard the gist of it at a couple of mosques in Malaysia, in both forms - Friday khutbah and ceramah, but the one that I heard recently impacted me so much.

It was about brotherhood (and of course, sisterhood too!) and its importance.

It is reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Let not any one of you desert his brother more than three days. They meet and each of them turns away from the other; but the best of the two is the one who starts with the salutation of peace.

The moment I heard the said hadith, spontaneously I remember the four people that I am not in good terms with - LAMS, SRSI, MYR and NMMY.

The imam continued talking about how syaitan manipulated a man's ego, to make him forsaking his brother in faith for more than three days. One of its ways is to forgive but not to forget.

I am sure most of us know about this but somehow or rather, it continues to happen again and again. Well, I guess enough said (if you would like to read more, kindly click this article which was published on IslamOnline.net), lets practise it.

Since I am far away from home, I am going to send an email to each one of them. I am going to apologise for any wrongdoings and to inform them that I forgive and forget any of their wrongdoings to me. Also, I would like to wish them all the best in their future undertakings and may Allah bless all of us with more rahmat, berkat and joy. Aamin.

Yes... the theme for this week is to forgive and to forget. And don't forget to wish me luck!

Condolence to Mak Lang and family...

I have just lost my beloved uncle, Pak Lang Jailani today.

May Allah bless his soul with rahmat and syufaat and place him among the believers. Aamin.

My condolence to Mak Lang and her children and grandchildren. I am very sorry for your loss.

It was 1986. My mother had just gave birth to my little brother and was in hospital for a few days. My sisters and I were put under the care of Pak Lang and Mak Lang.

I remember that single day very well. The first day I tasted my first mash potato and fried chicken at one of the two KFC outlet in Melaka with the first cousin that I have and her beloved father.

I also remember the day when Mimi's father sent my mother and I to my first state-level pidato (oral) contest in 1995.

I do not know Pak Lang as a father, but Pak is a very, very supportive uncle. He has always supported me in every single thing that I did. Besides my beloved mother and my late grandfather, he was one of a very few people who have nurtured my keen interest on politics.

Every time I visited him, be it during Eid Mubarak or school holidays - he loved to engage me into fruitful discussions. And the topic varies - from, of course, Malaysian politics to socio-economic development to religion. Although I can sensed that he might want to test me at the beginning, but as I grow up I can see the benefit from this exercise and I cannot thank him enough.

Pak Lang was admitted for more than three weeks due lung problem. Although his condition had shown some improvements from time to time, I guess Allah know better what is best for him.

I wish I was there to kiss his forehead. I wish I was there to perform the last prayer for him. I wish I was there to carry his casket. I wish I was there to comfort his beloved wife.

You were (and still are) a good uncle and a good Muslim. May Allah bless my Pak Lang and put him among His believers. Al-fatihah.

It is Official!

Yeah, it is official now that I am not coming home this Christmas break. I was hoping to attend three family functions early next month, but unfortunately I still have two more weeks before my term break starts on 15 December 2007.

I will miss two weddings and one engagement party.

The first wedding that I am going to miss is Zaid's wedding. Despite the fact that I would love to attend his wedding so much (because I have not miss any of my cousins' weddings), but with my current situation, I don't feel so bad because (1) I have attended his eldest brother's wedding last year; and (2) I am not that close to him due to our significant age difference.

The engagement party is for my sister who will be engaged to one of my junior from high school. Once again, although I would love to be at this function, my mother has successfully convinced me not to feel bad because (1) in our society engagement party is to be handled by the older family members, whose presence is more important than younger family members; and (2) insya-Allah, I still can come to her wedding.

The thing that I will regret the most is not being able to attend the wedding of one of my close (read: favourite) cousins. She is getting married on 8 December 2007 - two days before my second assessed assignment and four days after my first assessed assignment.

I feel very, very bad because this is the first wedding in her family and her family has helped me and of course my family, a great deal. In fact, her mother had just called me on Sunday, besides asking about my studies she continued to comfort me. Every time I think of this, I feel very bad and helpless too. Oh God...

Mohammed and Sarah did brought up the idea of retail therapy as a mean to ease problem. Hmmm... I don't think that I'm a shopping kind of person. Don't you think so?

Me and A Productive Weekend

Some may say that it was a cliche of me, wishing all the people that I meet at the end of weekdays (be it thursday or friday) a productive weekend. Like it was a ritual to me. And the other half, I guess, do not even bother.

I always believe that what ever you said or did to other people, will return in the same or similar form to you, sooner or later. If I wish someone well, insya-Allah, good thing will come to me and vice versa.

And I believe I got another productive weekend in this week.

It all started on Friday evening with a dinner with my coursemates - Sarah, Mohammed and Shamel. We went to a Chinese restaurant in the Chinatown. Sarah is a sweet lady from France while Shamel is from Syria. Mohammed is a bit complicated because if I am not mistaken, he is from Sudan but has been living in Canada for so many years now. But in between, he moved around to places - Sudan, Middle East and of course Canada.

I had a seafood fried kway teow while the three of them were having egg fried rice with a special duck dish. We talked a lot about each other countries, and not forgetting poor service that we have been receiving - rude waiter, waited so long for our food and how inappropriate the waiter was to quickly clear up our table as although we were still at our table (which in Malaysia or at least according to Malay custome it is a rude thing to do).

Since Mohammed, Sarah and I were not in the mood to study or to work on our group assignment, we decided to join Shamel and his friends to a bar in Deansgate. We met Ghazwan and his friends in front of BBC - Ruth and three ladies which I forget their names but one from Japan, one from Germany and one from Kyrgystan (is the spelling correct?) - and walked our way to our destination. Unlike the one that my flatmates and I went after our Jati outing, Space was a lot louder, smaller and crampier. I was like shouting throughout my conversation with Ruth and the Japanese lady. We spent time there about two hours and luckily that Shamel has suggested that we called it a day. If not, I might have losing my voice from a non-stop shouting.


Before departing, we made a plan to see The American Gangster tomorrow evening.

Our cinema outing was indeed a bigger group. There were 12 of us and thanks to Sarah for her discount vouchers, we only paid 2 pound each.

I really enjoyed this movie! First of all, Denzel Washington was superb in this film. Although in the middle of the movie I felt like watching a film on business management, but its plot was well constructed and the direction was smooth and full of control. My favourite moment is when the mother confronted the son and slapped him. It was really moving! And I was a bit struggling with a couple of scenes which I think were really violence.

It was raining by the time we went out the cinema. Everybody was really, really wet except for Mesorat, Sarah, Katrina and File, who had umbrellas with them. I guess that was one of the reason that persuaded us to straight away go home.

Alhamdulillah, at least I can get ready for another group discussion at Mohammed's place on Sunday evening.

Currently, I am in my room, trying to kill time for my next appointment with Dini and the birthday boy - Fendy at Muscana Cafe. I just finished my discussion with Sarah and Mohammed.

Well, don't you think that I've had a productive weekend? How about you guys?

Space Tourism? Hmmm...

Although Physics was one of my least favourite subjects in my school days, I am always have a great interest in aerospace. Alhamdulillah, one Malaysian - Dr. Sheikh Muszafar (I really do not know how to spell his name) has successful in realising his dream to outer space. Although it was not a cheap project, at least we managed to add one more item into our another Malaysia Boleh success stories list.

I received an email yesterday from one of my mailing list groups, which I found out very interesting.

Again, like I mentioned earlier that I am not good this subject matter so I cannot comment much about the points highlighted by the author of the letter. If anyone has anything to say, please do not hesitate to jot down comment at the bottom of this posting.

And here is the said letter (in Bahasa Melayu).

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

16 November 2007

Professor Dr. Mohd Yusuf Othman
Pengarah
Institut Islam Hadhari
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Assalamualaikum,


Professor,

PENJELASAN PROFESSOR DR. MOHD YUSUF OTHMAN BERKENAAN PROGRAM ANGKASAWAN NEGARA DALAM AL-ISLAM

Pada pagi ini, saya terbaca suatu kenyataan dalam akhbar tempatan dari seorang pelajar cemerlang UPSR yang meletakkan kejayaannya berpunca daripada motivasi akibat kejayaan angkasawan negara sampai ke ISS dan kembali dengan selamat pada akhir bulan lepas. Walaupun kita sedar bahawa pencapaian cemerlangnya langsung tiada kaitan dengan misi angkasawan negara itu, tetapi adalah kerana usahanya sendiri dan juga cikgu-cikgu yang telah mendidiknya selama beberapa tahun, tetapi disebabkan pelajar itu baru berusia 12 tahun, maka saya tidaklah tergerak untuk mempersoalkan kenyataannya.

Tetapi selepas itu, saya terbaca pula kenyataan Professor berkenaan program angkasawan negara dalam Al-Islam keluaran terbaru, maka tergeraklah saya untuk mempersoalkannya.

Professor menyatakan bahawa orang yang melihat program angkasawan negara sebagai satu pembaziran adalah orang yang berpandangan sempit dan negatif. Professor juga menyatakan bahawa orang Islam patut menguasai teknologi angkasa, bukan sekadar menjadi penggunanya.

Saya tidak bersetuju dengan kenyataan Professor bahawa orang yang melihat program angkasawan negara sebagai satu pembaziran adalah orang yang berpandangan sempit dan negatif.

Saya juga berpendapat penjelasan yang diberikan oleh Professor dalam Al-Islam terhadap program angkasawan negara tidak melambangkan kenyataan Professor bahawa orang Islam patut menguasai teknologi angkasa, bukan sekadar menjadi penggunanya.

Sebahagian daripada program angkasawan ini, iaitu misi angkasawan negara pertama hanya boleh diterima sebagai sesuatu yang tidak membazir jika kerajaan Malaysia terpaksa menerima tawaran menghantar seorang angkasawan ke ISS, iaitu kerajaan Malaysia tidak mempunyai pilihan lain seperti menghantar 1000 orang pelajar ke Russia bagi melengkapkan ijazah pertama dalam bidang kejuruteraan aeroangkasa atau membina 100 unit makmal sains angkasa di 100 buah sekolah di seluruh negara atau aktiviti lain dengan kos yang sama menghantar seorang angkasawan ke ISS, tetapi mendatangkan lebih banyak manfaat dalam bidang pembangunan aeroangkasa kepada rakyat dan kerajaan Malaysia.

Pembaziran sebenarnya berlaku apabila kerajaan terpaksa mengekalkan populariti program angkasawan negara dengan menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti yang memerlukan kepada peruntukan kewangan yang banyak dan penglibatan pelbagai pihak. Pengekalan populariti ini terpaksa dilakukan bagi membuktikan bahawa penghantaran misi angkasawan negara pertama ke ISS adalah suatu aktiviti yang betul dan praktikal. Maka terpaksalah kerajaan meneruskan aktiviti ini dengan menghantar seorang lagi angkasawan. Misi angkasawan kedua ini adalah berkali ganda lebih membazir.

Jika kerajaan tidak mengumumkan misi angkasawan kedua, program angkasawan negara akan dikritik kerana ia tidak mempunyai kesinambungan, tetapi apabila kerajaan mengumumkan misi angkasawan kedua, program ini dikritik pula kerana membazir. Sebenarnya fenomena yang merugikan kerajaan dan rakyat Malaysia tetapi menguntungkan kerajaan dan rakyat Russia ini memang telah diduga oleh kerajaan Russia. Maka terperangkaplah kerajaan dan rakyat Malaysia. Walaupun membazir di segi kewangan, masa dan tenaga, terpaksalah kerajaan menghantar seorang lagi angkasawan ke ISS.

Bagi membuktikan program angkasawan negara ini betul dan praktikal serta tidak membazir, maka diselitkan aktiviti yang dipanggil penyelidikan saintifik oleh ANGKASA. Seterusnya diumumkan bahawa objektif penghantaran angkasawan ke ISS ini adalah untuk meningkatkan minat pelajar dalam bidang sains dan teknologi. Kemudian diceritakan pula bahawa program ini bukanlah pakej pelancongan angkasa yang ditawarkan oleh ROSCOSMOS, tetapi program khas pembangunan teknologi angkasa Malaysia.

Walau bagaimanapun, dengan kemudahan teknologi maklumat pada era internet hari ini rakyat Malaysia sedar bahawa aktiviti yang dikatakan penyelidikan saintifik itu, iaitu CIS (Cell in Space) dan MIS (Microbe in Space) sebenarnya adalah aktiviti saintifik yang paling biasa dan paling mudah dilakukan oleh peserta penerbangan angkasa ISS. Rakyat juga sedar bahawa CIS dan MIS yang disediakan oleh ANGKASA itu tidak tersenaraikan sebagai penyelidikan saintifik Expedisi 15 dan 16 ISS. Malah rakyat juga sedar bahawa sesiapa sahaja yang berpeluang menjadi peserta penerbangan angkasa juga berpeluang untuk terlibat sama sekadar membantu menjalankan aktiviti saintifik ESA, NASA, ROSCOSMOS atau JAXA.

Rakyat Malaysia juga sedar bahawa misi angkasawan pertama sebenarnya adalah pakej pelancongan angkasa ke ISS yang ditawarkan oleh ROSCOSMOS dan telah dibeli oleh 5 orang pelancong angkasa sebelum ini. Malah ada di antara pelancong angkasa ini yang telah menjalankan aktiviti yang serupa dengan CIS dan MIS ketika melancong di ISS. Laman web rasmi NASA dan ENERGIA ROSCOSMOS sehingga surat ini ditulis juga masih menamakan angkasawan negara sebagai peserta penerbangan angkasa ataupun pelancong angkasa.

Rakyat Malaysia juga sedar terdapatnya beberapa pakej lagi yang ditawarkan oleh ROSCOSMOS yang lebih menarik daripada misi angkasawan pertama negara. Antaranya pakej pelancongan ke ISS yang melibatkan spacewalk dan pakej berbulan-madu di ISS. Malah ROSCOSMOS juga merancang untuk menawarkan pakej melancong mengelilingi Bulan. Maka rakyat juga sedar, misi angkasawan kedua berkemungkinan besar akan merupakan suatu lagi pakej pelancongan angkasa ROSCOSMOS.

Rakyat Malaysia juga sedar bahawa adalah tidak berbaloi untuk menghantar seorang angkasawan ke ISS semata-mata untuk mempromosikan sains dan teknologi kepada pelajar sekolah.

Ketika era program Apollo, memang terdapat statistiks yang menunjukkan peningkatan dalam jumlah pelajar Fiziks dan Kejuruteraan di universiti di Amerika Syarikat. Peningkatan ini bukanlah disebabkan oleh penghantaran angkasawan ke bulan oleh NASA, tetapi disebabkan oleh pembangunan kenderaan pelancar dan modul Apollo. Pelajar Fiziks dan Kejuruteraan tertarik kepada kenderaan pelancar dan modul Apollo yang pada ketika itu merupakan suatu teknologi angkasa yang canggih. Teknologi inilah yang mendorong minat mereka terhadap Fiziks dan Kejuruteraan, bukannya angkasawan yang pergi ke bulan.

Rakyat Malaysia juga sedar bahawa kenderaan pelancar Soyuz yang membawa angkasawan pertama negara tidak ada bezanya dengan kenderaan pelancar Soyuz yang membawa Yuri Gagarin ke angkasa pada tahun 1961, kecuali sistem komputer, komunikasi dan pengawalan serta komponen yang tidak wujud 45 tahun yang lalu. Maka tidak ada langsung kemungkinan berlakunya pemindahan teknologi secara sengaja ataupun tidak sengaja dalam program angkasawan negara ini.

Walau bagaimanapun, memang ada rakyat Malaysia yang tidak sedar akan semua perkara yang dinyatakan ini. Merekalah sahaja yang bersetuju dengan pendapat Professor yang menyatakan bahawa sesiapa yang menganggap program angkasawan negara ini membazir adalah berfikiran sempit dan negatif.

Bagi menguasai teknologi angkasa, dan tidak sekadar menjadi penggunanya, orang Islam tidak boleh membazir menghantar angkasawan ke ISS menggunakan Soyuz. Orang Islam mesti membangunkan sistem pengangkutan angkasa sendiri.

Orang Islam juga tidak perlu membangunkan sistem pengangkutan angkasa yang berupa kenderaan pelancar seperti Soyuz yang telah ketinggalan zaman. Konsep guna-sekali Soyuz wujud disebabkan kenderaan pelancar ini dibangunkan dari konsep rekabentuk dan operasi peluru berpandu antara benua yang sesuai pada era perang dingin di antara Amerika Syarikat dan Soviet Union.

Perang dingin ini telah membuatkan kerajaan Amerika Syarikat dan Soviet Union melabur dengan begitu banyak sehingga mewujudkan sistem pengangkutan angkasa berasaskan peluru berpandu antarabenua seperti Soyuz. Disebabkan operasi kenderaan pelancar seperti ini melibatkan begitu banyak pihak dan mempengaruhi ekonomi dan politik mereka, maka kerajaan Amerika Syarikat dan Russia terus mengekalkannya pada hari ini dengan membiayainya melalui aktiviti penghantaran satelit dan angkasawan secara komersil. Usaha ROSCOSMOS membawa pelancong angkasa dan angkasawan Malaysia adalah usaha terbaru ROSCOSMOS membiayai pengekalan konsep kenderaan pelancar guna-sekali.

Orang Islam tidak perlu berbelanja untuk membiayai usaha kerajaan Amerika Syarikat dan Russia menanggung beban produk perang dingin ini, tetapi memfokuskan kepada pembangunan kenderaan pelancar guna-semula yang sesuai dengan era hari ini, yang lebih bersifat ekonomi berasaskan pasaran daripada ekonomi berasaskan politik.

Pada hari ini prototaip kenderaan pelancar guna-semua suborbital yang boleh membawa seorang manusia ke angkasa iaitu lebih tinggi dari 80km dari aras laut boleh dibangunkan dengan kos yang lebih rendah dari menghantar seorang angkasawan ke ISS. Prototaip ini juga boleh diterbangkan ke angkasa berkali-kali membawa individu yang berlainan dalam setiap penerbangannya.

Prototaip ini seterusnya boleh dibangunkan lagi sehingga ke versi yang boleh berfungsi membawa penumpang secara komersil. Kenderaan pelancar guna-semula suborbital ini juga boleh berfungsi sebagai pelancar satelit kecil, pelantar pencerapan Bumi, pelantar penyelidikan atmosfera dan mikro-graviti dan pelantar misi strategik untuk pertahanan.

Seterusnya kenderaan pelancar guna-semula orbital yang boleh terbang lebih tinggi mengorbit Bumi boleh dihasilkan untuk ke ISS atau lokasi lain di orbit. Teknologi ini tidak boleh diperolehi melalui program angkasawan negara yang menghantar angkasawan ke ISS menggunakan Soyuz, tetapi hanya boleh diperolehi dari program angkasa yang lebih kreatif dan tidak membazir.

Maka rakyat Malaysia yang berpendapat bahawa program angkasawan negara adalah suatu pembaziran bukanlah berfikiran sempit dan negatif seperti yang didakwa oleh Professor. Orang Islam yang berfikiran seperti itu mungkin tidak mahu sekadar menjadi pengguna teknologi angkasa, tetapi berhasrat untuk menguasai dan menerajuinya.

Sekian terima kasih.



Norul Ridzuan Zakaria
President
Space Tourism Society Malaysia Chapter
(E: ikam290200@hotmail.com . HP: 013-6648622)


Salinan:

Naib Canselor Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia
Pengerusi Eksekutif Al-Islam

Say NO to anything pro-Aparteid!

An interesting thing happened today.

It was the General Meeting at the Students' Union, to debate and vote for the following motions:

1. Peace Through Education
2. Putting Free Education Back On Agenda
3. Clearing The Racists Off Our Campuses
4. Environmental Sustainability
5. Save NUS Democracy
6. Real Choice And Reproductive Rights
7. Proposed Wide Ranging Cuts In IT Services
8. Don't Attack Iran

Part of the poster of Right for Abortion campaign

I attended the General Meeting because I was a offended with the Motion no. 1.

To give some light, the Peace Through Education motion is a motion to cancel the twinning with the Al-Najah University in Palestine. From the posters and leaflets circulated around the campus, it alleged that Al-Najah University is associated with terrorism. I was wondering who was behind this campaign because the posters and leaflets were printed in colours and high quality (read: not cheap) papers. Unlike the camp who supporting the twinning program, whose campaign materials were more like students'.

According to UMSU Activist, the first motion is an attempt by the pro-Apartheid, pro-Israeli right at this Union to not only paint all Palestinians as terrorists (a notion racist in itself) but to overturn a progressive policy that seeks to build solidarity and a lasting peace.

And this motion was also condemned by the Students' Union of the Al-Najah University, themselves. In its statement dated 11 November 2007, they highlighted a shocking statistics accumulated since September 2000, which indicates Israel’s flagrant disregard for the law, human life and dignity, and clearly show the high human cost of the Israeli military occupation:

* 4,345 Palestinians killed by Israelis (1,027 Israelis killed by Palestinians)
* 971 Palestinian children killed by Israelis (119 Israeli children killed by Palestinians)
* 31,531 Palestinians injured by Israelis (7,633 Israelis injured by Palestinians)
* 4,170 Palestinian homes demolished (0 Israeli homes demolished)
* 40% Palestinian unemployment (9% Israeli unemployment)
* 223 ‘Jewish-only’ settlements and outposts built on Palestinian land
* 65 UN resolutions issued to Israel, none to OPT.

(Sources: If Americans Knew - www.ifamericansknew.org, B’Tselem, the Israeli Human Rights Information Center - www.btselem.org, Peace Now - www.peacenow.org.il)

At the end of the day, the motion was successfully amended (proposed by John McSweeney and seconded by Amy Pettitt) and accepted by overwhelming votes. In other words, the twinning program stays and the attempt to paint all Palestinians as terrorists had failed.

Alhamdulillah. What a day!

Anugerah Juara Lagu 2007 - Part I

Congratulations to Aishah, Nora and Ramlah Ram, and of course to the composers of all these beautiful songs for making to the final of this year's Anugerah Juara Lagu. All the best to all, especially to Samudera and Dirgahayu, which were composed/written by Johan Nawawi/Ahmad Fedtri Yahya and Raden Sri/Hairul Anuar Harun, respectively. While the other song, namely, Kasihnya Balqis was composed/written by Adnan Abu Hassan/Moharis Yaakup.

p/s: Triple celebration to birthday boys - Din, Rejas & Raymond. Good luck in your undertakings. May Allah bless you with more rahmat, berkat and joy. Aamin.

Photoblog III

Today, I participated a trip organised the International Society to the City of York. According to some of my friends that I spoke with, York is a stunning city which home to a number of great attractions like York Minster, York Castle, Cliffords Tower, Stonegate, museums and Shambles shopping.

We departed from the International Society's office at about 8.45 a.m. and arrived there at about 10.30 a.m. It was a free and easy trip, so we have until 5.20 p.m. to discover York at our own pace.

Here are some of the pictures which I am happy to share with all of you. Enjoy!

The infamous York Minster

Statue of Constantine the Great

York Castle Museum

Cliffords Tower

Regiment Museum

York Eye

War Memorial Gardens

Lendal Tower

Yorkshire Museum and Gardens

The Mansion House

York Dungeon

Newgate Market

The Roman Bath

Our Lady's Row, Goodramgate

St. Sampson Church
Treasurer's House

Monk Bar

Porta Principalis Dextra (North Western Gate)

York Theatre Royal

Gray's Solicitor