Ulang Terbit: Rindu Terlarang

Antara sajak terawal saya yang membincangkan subjek cinta dan erotika. Mungkin sajak pertama kot, dikarang di penghujung tahun 2001 dan disiarkan buat pertama kali di Aku dan Sajak.

Rindu Terlarang

Rinduku padamu
hanya Tuhan tahu
hebat penangannya.

Matamu yang memanah hati
bibirmu yang mengucup bibir ini
tubuhmu yang menekap tubuhku
melekat kukuh dalam ingatan
umpama baru semalam kita bersama
menganyam cinta.

Biar dipisah tujuh lautan
dibenteng tujuh banjaran
kau tahu aku faham
itu hanya zahir cuma.

Aku rindumu
hanya Tuhan tahu
hebat penangannya.

Bila lagi kita bisa bersama
membebas ghairah
mencantum hati nan terbelah
sebelum datang lagi rasa bersalah.


Hasmi Haron
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
28 November 2001

15 of the World's Weirdest Museums

Malaysia, in particular, the historical city of Melaka is under the radar again. This time, one of her museums, is recognised by CNN.com as Top 15 of the weirdest museums in the world. The museum was first called People's Museum, before being renamed to Museum of Enduring Beauty.

I, myself, have yet to visit this museum. Insya Allah, will include it in my itinerary for my incoming homecoming trip.

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/15-worlds-weirdest-museums-268795?page=0,2

15. Museum of Enduring Beauty, Malaysia

Our advice on beauty? Just brush your hair and smile.

Good hair day? On the third floor of the People's Museum in Malaysia is a monument to the extremes people will go to feel pretty, oh so pretty.

The records go back to the very beginnings of human history, revealing some of the outrageous concepts of beauty people will conform to: bound feet, insertion of round disks into their mouths, molding heads into oval shapes and much more.

Bring your own mirror; you'll feel a lot better about your own appearance after leaving this gallery of "real beauty."

Don't Miss: A display of how several tribes elongate the neck with brass rings or stretch ear lobes with plates. Take an aspirin after your look.

Museum of Enduring Beauty, Jalan Kota, Bandar Melaka (p. Jawa), Malaysia; +60 6282 6526\

Read more: 15 of the world's weirdest museums #3 | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/15-worlds-weirdest-museums-268795?page=0,2#ixzz1ePpWVdNH

In Malaysia, Muslim preachers now wear tudung

By Debra Chong

November 22, 2011

Siti Adibah presents herself during the first live telecast of "Solehah", in Kuala Lumpur September 23, 2011. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Already accounting for more than 60 per cent of undergraduates and over half of civil servants, Malay-Muslim women are now breaking into the male bastion of Islamic preaching.

In a New York Times (NYT) article published yesterday, it was reported that two local new reality TV programmes are shining a spotlight on the rise of women in the male-dominated arena of religion.

The reason for this phenomena, the paper appeared to suggest, was because there was a significant gender role in Islam that could only be filled by women.

"We need women preachers, rather than men," 21-year-old Siti Adibah Zulkepli, 21 a contestant on the reality TV show "Solehah" (translated as "pious" in Arabic) was cited as saying by the NYT.

 "Because they don't face what we are facing — health problems, how to manage the house, how to manage the children. The woman knows better," she added.

It also cited Greg Barton, acting director of the Center for Islam and the Modern World at Monash University in Melbourne, as saying it would be a mistake to dismiss the significance of Malaysian women's expanding engagement in Islamic education.

Both "Solehah" and "Ustazah Pilihan", which the newspaper translated as "'ideal female preacher' in Malay" are burnishing the image of female preachers here and show how women "can shape and nurture potential leaders of the future", the paper said.

Citing Zaleha Kamaruddin, the first female rector appointed to head the International Islamic University here, the NYT said Malaysia was carving a new path for women in Islam.

"I think Malaysia has started to break the glass ceiling and is trying to be one of the modern Muslim countries," she was reported saying.

Despite the massive headway, the NYT observed that Malaysian Muslim women were still barred from leading prayers.

It cited Perak mufti, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria saying he welcomed the growing number of women teaching Islam, but insisted they could not lead Friday prayers in front of mixed congregations.

"They can preach Islam to the men, but they cannot lead the prayers for men," the NYT reported Harrusani saying.

Letters, Land Title & Graduation

I was away from home since the eve of Eid Adha. I went home to my parents' in Melaka. Besides celebrating eid, I helped my sister looking after her first child, a daughter which happened to be my first niece. Also, I was helping my parents with the preparation of my youngest sister's wedding.

I returned home yesterday after sending my sister and her hubby off to the airport. They have gone to Bali for their much awaited honeymoon. I hope they will have a whale of great time there.

And last night, while waiting for Yusof and Arbain to pick me up, I bumped into my new housemate, Harees. He just got back from work. That was our second encounter since becoming housemate on the eve of 9th Zulkaedah. Yusof once again brought me to Restoran Jet for our favourite char kway teow.

This morning, I was doing nothing at home. Just laid on my bed, surfing the Internet. An hour before afternoon, I decided to go to Tiram Travel at Dataran Palma to pay for the requested deposits. Rozain (soft spoken chap with well maintained goatee and sweet smile) gave me a few copies of booklets, together with the official receipt.

Later, I went to collect my letters from the letterbox. And look what I found in it. The invitation letter from the International Islamic University Malaysia for the graduation ceremony which has been scheduled on 3 December 2011.

To those who do not know, I took up a 9-month certificate programme on Islamic Law late last year. Alhamdulillah, I managed to complete it last March. Actually, I'm very looking forward to attending this ceremony, which is my first time to experience the Malaysian-style graduation ceremony.

According to the letter, I need to pick up the robe by this weekend. This means I could bring home the robe to Melaka so that I could take a couple of pictures with my family wearing the graduation gown.

Tak sabar!

Selamat Pengantin Baru Niza & Fauzi

Semoga berbahagia santak ke akhir hayat.

Please forgive me that I do not have a single picture of the reception at the bride's side. In case you didn't know, I was in the ER of Hospital Melaka, suspected of snake bite.

On the hari langsung itself, I was busy entertaining the guests.

In fact, there was no picture of the family with the mempelai. Only my parents and the pengantins. I guess, it was because the pelamin was inside the house, unlike the two previous weddings, whereby the pelamins were outside the house.

Anyhow, the ceremonies - all three - akad nikah, malam berinai and hari langsung went off smoothly. And the weather was very kind too.

On behalf of the family, I would like to thank all - families and friends for helping out with the wedding and made it a success. Your presence meant a lot to us and only Allah could repay your support and generousity.

To the mempelais, once again, Selamat Pengantin Baru. Semoga berbahagia santak ke akhir hayat. Aamin...

Kasih Ibu Buat Si Anak

Tanda Kasih Kakak Kepada Adik

Night at A Farmosa

My friends came down to Melaka to attend my sister's wedding. They stayed at Mahkota Hotel. There are five of them, namely, Mus, Sham, Eijam, AJ and Shah.

Since I was very occupied during daytime, I could only joined them at night.

At first, I was planning to bring them to Jonker Street. Later, I found out that the area was packed with participants and fans of body building competition. If I'm not mistaken, they held the 3rd World Body Building Championship here in Melaka. I'm puzzled why they chose Jonker Walk as the venue.

In fact, the boys already strolled the infamous street themselves in the afternoon.

Instead, I met them at Mc Donalds! Nazrol was later joined us after meeting Geng Bebudak Melaka. They cannot stayed long because Fendy and Ed need to go to bed early because they will be going to Jempol for another make-up job. Similarly, Nazri need to attend a state function on the next morning.

As usual, we started our gathering with latest updates on what happened in Kuala Lumpur for the last one week plus that I'd left the city. Some are juicy indeed, some are boring. Then, the bashing part. As always, it was all about "negeri maju" vs. "metropolis kulaijaya".

If AJ didn't remind us how late it was, we could have continue talking until subuh! Before we dismiss, we promised to meet again for brunch at Restoran Ayam Golek Bachang.

Qurban: a spiritual celebration

Alhamdulillah, umat Islam berkesempatan menyambut Hari Raya Korban semalam dalam suasana tenang dan bersederhana.

Aku pulang ke Melaka, berkonvoi dengan sepupu yang baru dapat kereta baru.

Sampai di rumah pusaka arwah Cokgu Jaafar, aku dapati kedua-dua buah hati tiada di situ.

Wafri dibawa pulang ke Taiping, menziarahi dan berkenalan dengan nenek dan saudara mara di sebelah bapanya.

Damia pula, ditahan di Hospital Melaka kerana ada tanda-tanda kekuningan. Tetapi syukur alhamdulillah, Damia dibenarkan pulang pada pagi Hari Raya.

Pagi ini, Mak meminta aku ke perkarangan rumah Nek Alang, bagi turut serta gotong royong menyiang daging korban untuk penduduk Pasir Puteh. Dua ekor lembu ditumbangkan, dan dengar cerita ianya disumbangkan oleh Datuk Ali, panggilan rakyat Melaka untuk Ketua Menteri mereka.

Syukur alhamdulillah kerana suasana tenang untuk membolehkan kita mengimbau peristiwa qurban yang telah dilakukan oleh Nabi Ibrahim as dan Nabi Ismail a.s, serta melinaskan tuntutan agama.

Selamat Hari Raya Korban buat semua umat Islam dan kepada yang menunaikan ibadah haji, semoga Allah terima haji tersebut.

Damia Batrisya

This is the first post about my first niece. She was born on 1.11.11 at 7.41pm at Hospital Melaka.

Both mother and daughter were healthy. Anyhow, Damia had been admitted last Friday due to yellow. Alhamdulillah she has been discharged this morning. Syukur.

Update: No-Halal Logo Food Stalls @Viva Home

My enquiry has been forwarded to Jakim but the Management Company for Viva Home.

I'm a bit puzzled here. Are they saying that they themselves do not know whether or not the food stalls in their own food court have been halally certified!?!

Pelik!

Anyhow, let us give them benefit of the doubt. Atas nama baik sangka, mari kita tunggu penjelasan lanjut daripada pihak-pihak yang berkenaan.

Satu lagi, pihak Hotline, The Malay Mail tidak menghubungi aku lansung. Hmmm...


Begin forwarded message:

From: mkhalid_osman@islam.gov.my
Date: 3 November 2011 05:23:50 GMT+08:00
To: arenaku@gmail.com
Subject: [Portal Halal Malaysia] Pertanyaan / Maklumbalas

Terima kasih di atas pertanyaan / maklumbalas tuan.

Pihak kami akan memberi maklumbalas secepat mungkin.

Terima kasih.

Form : Pertanyaan & Maklumbalas
registered at 2011-11-02 16:23:50

Nama : Haron
Alamat Email : arenaku@gmail.com
Perkara : Lack of Halal logo @food stalls in Gurvey Drive Food Village
Pertanyaan / Maklumbalas :
From: arenaKu uKanera
Date: 31 October 2011 14:08
Subject: Lack of Halal logo @food stalls in Gurvey Drive Food Village info@vivahome.com.my

Dear Sir/Madam,
Good day. I've visited our foodcourt last Saturday and noticed that most of the stalls did not display the Halal logo, except for Western food stall. Just to confirm with your side, is the food sold in the said foodcourt really Halal? As you may aware, some of the patrons to Viva Home are Muslims, and like me, would appreciate it if you could ensure that your Muslim customers could get Halal food while shopping in your premise.

Thank you.

- Haron -
Taman Shamelin Perkasa

Ingin mendapat kesahihan pihak Jakim jika food court di Gurney Drive Food Village benar , halal? Tidak terdapat tanda Halal pada gerai-gerai di situ. Saya ingin kepastian dariapada Jakim dan saya telah email mereka untuk bertanyakan juga perkara itu. Harap Jakim boleh membantu. Terima Kasih
IP Address : 202.185.172.2

Kereta Siapakah Ini?

I drove my cousin to the 3S Honda Sungai Long to collect his new car.

Dua Petang Berpuisi

Semalam aku, Danny dan Hani bertarung dalam Temasya Pantun 2011. Lawan kami, Emas Kencana, merupakan juara bertahan.

Mereka turun dengan berpakaian songket.

Mereka berbincang sesama sendiri semasa membeli pantun-pantun kami.

Dan mereka tidak menjawab tiga pantun kami dalam masa yang telah ditetapkan.

Bak kata orang, kalau sudah namanya rezeki, insya Allah, takkan ke mana. Emas Kencana sekali lagi berjaya mempertahankan kejuaraan mereka. Tahniah uols ;)

Itu petang Khamis.

Petang Jumaat pula, aku telah dijemput oleh pihak penganjur untuk mendeklamasikan sajak bersama-sama Pyan Habib, Lan A to Z, Meor, Wanji Zin dan tiga orang lagi warga kerja.

Aku memilih untuk membaca sajak yang aku tulis pada tahun 2007, di Manchester. Tajuknya ialah Sunyi Seorang Lelaki.

Sajak ini adalah rakaman peristiwa dan rasa ketika aku menyambung pejaran di England 4 tahun nan lalu. Sunyi dan sepi seorang lelaki Melayu, di samping membuat beberapa pop culture reference.