What do you want most in life?

To Forgive and Forget

2011-12-29T13:17:00.001+08:00

To forgive a person, the person must first admit that he or she has
made a mistake.
If he or she does not admit that it is a mistake, of course he or she
will never ever ask for forgiveness.

Maybe to you it is a big mistake. Super big. Humongous. But for the
person, it is nothing. It is common and acceptable. Hence, either one
must learn to adapt - either to admit that the action was wrong and
ask for forgiveness or for the other person to learn to accept that
there is nothing wrong at all!!!

People expect different things in life because each of us has
different set of values, principles, obedience to teachings of the
religion, ambition and finally, what you want to bring on to your life
after this life. Not to mention, what legacy you want to leave behind
for your children and their children and their children. Due to this
very differences, Allah has said it in His verse, for us to get to
know each other and recognize that it is one of the signs of the
prowess of the Almighty. Alhamdullillah. Ada sebab kenapa semuanya
berlaku. Kita juga insan yg penuh dosa dan banyak membuat kesalahan.
Kena selalu solat sunat taubat.

Ustaz kata, org pompuan punya memori yg sgt bagus, jauh lebih hebat
dari komputer chip. Kalau file dlm komputer kita delete, dia akan dok
kat Recycle Bin. Then bila kita delete, dia akan delete terus. Unless
you put a hacker to extract back all the deleted files. Tapi org
pompuan, dia akan ingat sampai mati. Sampai bila2 lah. Memori ni akan
tersimpan kemas deep inside the brain, and can be extracted anytime
when the need arises. Inilah kelebihan org pompuan. Tapi ini juga
merupakan kelemahan pada org pompuan. There are certain events where
we want to delete the memories forever, but it can never be deleted.
Ever. Susah wooo....kadang2 rasa aku dah x nak ingat mende ni. Tapi
mende ni mcm piring hitam sentiasa berputar2...esp when we are
frustrated or disappointed. How to delete it? Forever?

Sentimental Value of the Work Place

2011-12-22T17:29:00.001+08:00

People go to work not just for the money.
Money, yes - to priority.
But other than money, people value friendship, recognition, building
up of character and life out of the work place.

Last year, 1 company was terminated. This company had gone through
thick and thin with us for the past 20 over years. The owner cried. My
boss would say, it is all business. Nothing else.

Soon, they may want to terminate some more. Of course there are
reasons. But sometimes the reasons do not reach the root cause, which
may render the decision to terminate to be premature, and then,
damaging. What is the end in mind exactly?

It is hard to be in a business where you have no niche. Nor support
from the government. Nor the interest of the workforce to join your
industry. I have not found any single justification on why we still
hang on to this business. Sentimental value?

In a modern world where money rules over other things, do feelings and
friendships and bond of brotherhood or sisterhood count anymore? Serve
me and I pay you. Make no mistake and I pay you more - what you call
incentives. Serve me and then you make mistake, even though we have
gone through all the turmoil in business for the past umpteenth years,
out you go. The gate is always open.

What they don't realize is, there is no queue outside who want to come
in. When you throw a company out, you expect a much better one will
replace them. For new companies who are manned by YUPPIES, business is
all about easy money. Perhaps in the old school, business was about
friendship, pride and money. But for the YUPPIES, sorry man, money and
only money rules. When you offer me such a low money for such high
risk nature of works, good bye. So what we will be left with?

People say its better to know the devil you know, rather than the
angels you dont know...or something like that....

I am pretty sad when people say I have served through this place for
such a long time, lending helping hands, sweat through with the
clients with you, and yet, for a mistake, where root cause is not yet
determined, I will punish you forever. He was sad. I am too. Pride and
relationships. Recognition and emotional connection. Where have all
those gone to?

Are we all robots now? Capitalism. Karl Marx is still laughing in his grave.

Pity PTPTN - or should we?

2011-11-08T17:54:00.000+08:00

The Star, 8th Nov. 2011.

KUALA LUMPUR: Laziness and forgetfulness. These were among the lame excuses used by several National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan defaulters when questioned why they had dodged repayments when the New Straits Times did a mini survey yesterday.

An executive with a private firm, who wished to be known only as Kayla, said she did not repay her RM3,000 loan since the 2005 application because she had forgotten all about it. "I had applied for a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship but due to a late reply from the PSD, PTPTN had already banked-in money for my first semester." She said her studies were later fully funded by the scholarship and the PTPTN loan was forgotten. Late last year, PTPTN sent a legal notice to my old address informing me to appear in court but I was unaware of it." The 24-year-old added she was now blacklisted and not allowed to leave the country without repaying the loan.

Another defaulter, who wished to be known only as Malik, said he stopped repaying the loan after a career change. "I just got lazy as my particulars had changed and there are too many forms to fill for a new address," said the 27-year-old advertising agent. Malik said he had only paid less than RM500 of his RM28,000 loan.

Private school teacher Veronica Anthony said loan defaulters were putting graduates who were repaying their loans in a bad light. "I am paying more than RM160 each month and wish to clear my RM48,000 loan as soon as possible." She said PTPTN authorities should provide more information on their website on how to make repayments as many graduates were clueless.

Polymer engineer Agilan Suparmaniam agreed that many defaulters did not know the proper channels to repay their loans. "I believe every graduate should be able to repay a minimum of RM80 each month, which I am currently paying to PTPTN." Agilan added it was his fifth month in repaying his RM28,000 loan.

PTPTN chairman Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said said he was compiling data and would hold a press conference on the matter today.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Should we pity our PTPTN? That is where some of my tax money goes to. It went off to some ungrateful people who just refuse to understand the term "HUTANG".

If you pay RM160 per month to pay off your RM48,000 study loan, you will need 300 months to settle off, or 25 years.

If you pay only RM80 per month for your RM28,000 loan, you will need 350 months or 29.2 years to clear off your study debt. What a whopping unimaginable unacceptable stupidity!

25 years ago, about the year 1986, a cup of coffee may cost you around 60 cents. Today it costs about RM1.50. What's the price of a cup of coffee 25 years from now? RM5 perhaps? This is a cup of KOPI O from a mamak or warong stall you know. I'm not talking about Coffee Bean, Starbucks or San Fransicso coffee here.

People refuse to pay the loan since there have been zero harsh action ever taken and publicized widely in the media. What they can do, I suggest:

Ensure the people are blacklisted in CTOS or CCRIS - cannot take loan for car or house or personal loan.
Cannot go overseas - betul ka sudah enforce?
Start to publicize the hard core who hutang only RM5,000 pon tak mau bayar. What a shame! And you call yourself graduates??

Haiya, next time if you want to hire people, must ask - ada hutang PTPTN? Sudah bayar? Ada niat mahu bayar?

This is exactly why my dear JPA loan giver embedded the ayat Quran and Hadith in every statement of loan sent monthly to its students. If you dont start to pay up, either you will lead a miserable life (now and later) or your soul will be hanging around in between the bumi and langit. It has been clearly stated.

Basically, start lah to pay up. Please lah increase your contribution the moment your salary goes up. I am proud to announce that my loan balance has now become only 4 digits. Bravo!!!! This is from 6 digits mind you. Asked to pay up to 5 digits. Sikit2, lama2 jadi bukit. Just like investment, practice Dollar Cost Averaging.

JPA Style - The Upgraded Version

2011-09-21T17:56:00.001+08:00

Somehow this month the JPA's bill for Tuntutan Bayaran Balik Pinjaman looks different. First I thought it's the quality of the paper, rougher. Then the big logo in the middle. Then only today I realized, JPA has changed the ayat Quran used to remind people to pay up. Now they are quoting a hadith. Here goes:

Sabda Rasullullah yang diriwayatkan oleh Abu Hurairah r.a. yg bermaksud "Roh seorang mukmin yg berhutang jika hutangnya tidak dijelaskan, maka tergantung-gantunglah ia di antara langit dan bumi, yg bererti tersiksalah roh itu hingga dibayarkan hutangnya itu".

Wah, this is great. Kutip hutang sambil beramal. Such a great idea. I don't know what PTPTN has done to collect the RM2b or so from the errant loan defaulters. They should try this approach. To block people from leaving for overseas is also good, but maybe they can try this approach as well. Alamat sudah tidak wujud, that sounds incredible. There should be a body set up to ensure PTPTN can collect back all those money.

Knowing Malaysians household is having among the highest loans in the world, it is not surprising that people will put loans on low interest, or no interest at all (like JPA's), as the last to be paid up in their priority list. I was actually very surprised to note that some of the higher level people in my organization are encouraging people to take up personal loan to settle all the various other loans. It's like opening a new hole to cover all the old many holes. Only this one hole is huge, eat you up for the next 20 years. *sigh*.

OK Mr. JPA. Your reminder in terms of ayat Quran and Hadith have really gotten into me. I am paying up more amount these days. Promise.

Is Organ Donation considered as Sedekah Jariah?

2011-08-10T11:22:00.001+08:00

I have not read any articles lately which promote our organs for donation to the needy. Is the subject too sensitive? I'm sure it won't be such a case when you or your family members are in need of it.

I have with me here a booklet entitles Mati Otak & Pendermaan Organ. When your brain is dead, even though your heart may still be beating, but you are still considered dead. This is since it is the brain that controls all the bodily functions. Normally brain dead patients are put on ventilator and is in coma. If you decide to sign up as donor, they can switch the machine off faster since the fate is still the same, you are already dead.

If you are a Muslim, we all know that all that we have are only loans from Allah. Shall we give some that we have to benefit others? I think that organ donation is part of sedekah jariah, or pencen akhirat. But I have not got a concrete proof of this. Perhaps our Jabatan Agama can do more promotion on this, to benefit the patients in this world, and the donor in the hereafter.

Organs that you can donate are heart, liver, skin, bone, pancreas, cornea, hepar (hati) and kidney. Would you sign up? I am more likely to sign up once I am brain dead lah!
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Arowana Stay or Go?

2011-07-26T23:53:00.001+08:00

2 out of 3 arowana at the lobby. Do they count in the due diligence? Fixed assets? Depreciation value or potential hike in value? Will be auctioned off?

If only the arowanas could talk...they have surely seen it all.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Al-Qasas

2011-07-14T08:27:00.001+08:00

Antara kupasan dalam terjemahan surah Al-Qasas, Allah memujuk rasulullah supaya jgn bersedih bila kaum kafir di Mekah menolak ajakan baginda utk memeluk islam. Allah menyuruh supaya rasulullah kuatkan semangat sebagaimana kuatnya semangat Nabi Musa semasa menentang firaun. Bila org kaya di Mekah persoalkan ajaran rasulullah, Allah bagi perbandingan kisah Qarun. Jgn lah berbangga sgt dgn harta kekayaan yg diberi, kalau Allah nak ambil, anytime. Seperti harta Qarun, dia dan hartanya sekali diterbalikkan dan ditelan bumi dlm sekelip mata.

Bersyukurlah dgn apa yg kita miliki. Semuanya milik Allah, hanya diberi pinjam.

Rupanya nama Nabi Musa disebut 122 kali dalam Al-Quran. Allah saja tinggalkan piramid dan segala harta Firaun di Mesir supaya ia menjadi peringatan kepada umat manusia hingga akhir zaman. Semua yg ada, ada byk maknanya.

Semoga Allah murahkan rezeki aku lagi, boleh pegi melawat Mesir pulak. Mudah-mudahan boleh menziarah ke Bukit Tursina, tempat Allah berkata-kata direct dgn Nabi Musa. Amin....
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

My Favourite Sushi

2011-07-05T12:43:00.001+08:00

I can eat this for 1kg.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Senang Buat Pahala Berbanding Dosa

2011-07-05T08:02:00.001+08:00

Dalam kitab karangan ulama' Sufi Syaikh Abd al-Shamad al-Jawi al-Falimbani yang bertajuk 'Jalan Kemuliaan Ahli Sufi' telah diriwayatkan sebuah hadis oleh Anas r.a :

Telah bersabda Rasulullah SAW "Apabila seorang hamba melakukan dosa, maka dituliskan atasnya."

Maka bertanya seorang Arab Badwi : "Jika dia taubat..?"

Maka Rasulullah SAW menjawab: "Jika dia taubat dihapuskan dosa itu daripadanya."

Badwi itu bertanya lagi: "Jika dia mengulanginya..?"

Rasulullah SAW menjawab: "Dituliskan pula atasnya."

Badwi itu bertanya lagi: "Sampai bila..?

Rasulullah SAW menjawab: "Sehingga dia mengucapkan istighfar dan bertaubat kepada Allah Taala daripada dosa-dosanya. Sesungguhnya Allah Taala tidak pernah bosan mengampuni hamba-Nya hinggalah hamba-Nya itu bosan memohon keampunan daripada-Nya.

Apabila seorang hamba bercita-cita hendak melakukan kebaikan, maka malaikat yang di sebelah kanannya akan menuliskan baginya satu kebaikan, dan jika dia mengerjakan kebaikan itu , maka dituliskan pula baginya sepuluh kebajikan, yang kemudiannya digandakan lagi menjadi tujuh ratus kali ganda oleh Allah Taala.

Sebaliknya, seorang hamba yang bercita-cita hendak melakukan kejahatan, maka tidak dituliskan lagi baginya satu kejahatan. Jika dia telah melakukannya,

maka barulah dituliskan baginya satu kejahatan dan disebaliknya itu masih terbentang sebaik-baik kemaafan daripada Allah 'Azza wa Jalla."

Idolakah Dia?

2011-06-01T13:09:00.001+08:00

Today aku dapat forwarded email Salih Yacob kahwin isteri ke-4. Budak Johor rupanya, nikah di masjid Kulaijaya. Apa agaknya dalam perancangan isteri baru dia ni, setelah bergelar isteri?

Wah, dalam forwarded email tu, adalah lelaki2 yg komen, antaranya, "Siapa yg bujang tu cepat sikit kahwin, sebelum kami tambah lagi....". Wah wah wah....tambah nasi ke bang? Agaknya tambah isteri ni senang bangat mcm tambah nasi kot? Sebab tu ada berita last week kes di Sarawak yg nikah di seberang hanya RM18. OKlah tu kan, harga Nasi Ayam kat Tesco pon dah naik jadi RM8 sepinggan, so tak lama lagi jadiklah dia RM18, tunggu masa je tu. Agaknya memang betul lah, nak tambah isteri ni mcm nak tambah nasi. Ye tak? Begitu mudah.

Salih Yacob memang idola ramai lelaki. Lelaki yg bagaimana? Tahu tak nak panggil Salih Yacob jadi pengacara majlis makan malam 1 jam kena bayar RM20 ribu? Itu harga dia sekitar 3 tahun lepas. Tak tahulah berapa market rate Salih sekarang. Sebab tu dia boleh pakai BMW. Kalau satu jam satu malam RM20k, katalah 4 minggu ada 4 shows, maknanya RM80k, weekend money. Gaji di Suria FM Sinar Pagi, berapa agaknya...kalau Linda Onn RM18k, Salih mungkin dekat2 kot. So, katalah RM20k jugak, so dah RM100k. Lain2 drama, show, movie lagi....jadik jurucakap produk lagi...katalah sekitar RM150k sebulan....nah.....boleh lah ada 4 cawangan....cukup ke, kalau Nasi Ayam dah jadi RM10 sepinggan nanti nak tanggung 20 anak? Salih mungkin boleh...lelaki lain boleh ke?

Itu baru bab duit...memberi nafkah zahir. Bagaimana soal nafkah batin? Nafkah batin bukan setakat bermaksud *tooooot* je tau, ia merangkumi soal didikan agama, kasih sayang, pengisian jiwa dan yg sewaktu dengannya. Kalau sorang isteri pon rasa mcm ZERO, camana nak jawab kalau beristeri lebih. So nanti kat Padang Mahsyar masa kiraan hisab, org yg kahwin lebih ni kena jawab lebih byk soalan lah ye. Bukan mulut yg jawab bang, tapi seluruh anggota badan menjadi saksi. Mereka pon "I followwwww....".

Fikirlah masak2, hidup di sana lebih lama dan kekal abadi. Maka jadikanlah ia penghidupan yg jauh lebih baik dari hidup kita di dunia sekarang. Pesanan buat diri aku dan diri mu.

Getting Half Way There

2011-05-30T08:12:00.001+08:00

Well well well, today is the day. According to Insurance companies, female in Malaysia can live up to age 78 on average. Men are about age 73.

Hence, age of 35 - 39 can be considered as getting half way there. If I look back and reflect at all those years, some moments can make me proud, while some moments can make me feel ashamed of myself. Sometimes I did think, what if I had reacted or acted differently. What if....But then again, we are not supposed to have regrets in our life. What ever happens, happens for a reason. It's part and parcel of growing up, regardless of your stages in life, until the day you die. Ultimate aim must always be - get ready when you are to face your Al-Khaliq - Sang Maha Pencipta.

Hadith - "The most brilliant among you is the ones who always remember about death". And what the life is going to be next.

Yesterday on IKIM radio, the ustazah said, always remember about your "bekalan" or "pencen akhirat". That's the nicest way of putting it. Hadith - "When a person dies, all his deeds will die with him, except for three things - sedekah jariah, ilmu yg bermanfaat yg diamalkan, dan doa dari anak yg soleh". I did discuss this with Mr. X, I told him that ilmu dan doa can only last for a certain period, but sedekah jariah is the best, since it is the easiest that can be passed from generation to generation. Sedekah is best done when your left hand does not know what your right hand gives away. If you reach this stage, you'll be one of the groups of people who can get great protection from Allah on the day where there is no other protection (in Padang Mahsyar).

Wow wee....the deeper we reflect, the more we feel that we have not done enough. There are so many gaps that need to be filled.

The best doa to ask for Ustaz says:

Ampunkan dosa.
Berikan rahmat.
Luaskan rezeki.
Berikan kesihatan yg baik.

Ya Allah, ampunilah dosaku, berikan rahmat kepadaku, luaskanlah rezeki ku dan berikan aku kesihatan yg baik supaya aku boleh buat kebajikan dan amalan yg lebih byk lagi. Aminnnnn........

Pak Arab di Jabal Uhud

2011-05-16T20:18:00.001+08:00

Tentera islam tewas dlm perang menentang musyrikin di Jabal Uhud kerana melanggar perintah rasullullah. Rasulullah kata jgn turun dulu utk ambil harta rampasan perang, tapi mereka telah turun, dan diserang dgn hebat sekali. Beribu juga syuhadak yg terkorban. Jabal Uhud ialah antara makhluk yg akan masuk syurga. Pak melayu sakit kepala sebab cuaca 46 deg C. So kena jadik Pak Arab jugak. Nasib baik kat arab ni, semua places of attractions ada byk org berniaga. Bawak duit je kak, semua ada. Bahaya utk org kaki shopping!
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Perjalanan di Tanah Gersang

2011-05-16T19:35:00.001+08:00

Dulu, rasullullah berhijrah dari mekah ke madinah mengambil masa 1 minggu perjalanan. Jalannya penuh dgn ranjau padang pasir dan bukit bukau berbatu. Not to mention mengharungi ribut pasir. Now sudah ada 3 lane hiway, takde tol u. It takes about 6 hours. In the future, there will be a fast train service for this route. Masya Allah. Sungguh beruntung generasi kita dan anak cucu kita kelak. Apa lagi alasan utk tidak menziarahi bumi tanah suci ini?
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Perjuangan Berdoa di Raudhah

2011-05-16T18:08:00.000+08:00

Inilah pintu pemisah buat kaum hawa bersolat dan berdoa di Raudhah. Raudhah ini bersebelahan dgn makam rasullullah, antara tempat mustajab utk berdoa dan ia adalah salah satu taman syurga. It's opened 24 hours to men, but for ladies, restricted 2 hours AM and 2 hours PM. Ia adalah satu perjuangan sebab ko kena berebut nak masuk n apalagi nak bersolat kat situ. Kena kuat semangat n must have group strategy. Well, there's a price to pay for great returns. Syukur dpt solat di situ, setelah penat berjuang! Thanks to fellow frens yg hard up jugakkkk!!!
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Antara Pencakar Langit Lambang Akhir Zaman

2011-05-15T22:06:00.001+08:00

Betul2 sebelah dan keliling masjidil haram. Clock Tower can be seen 17km away.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Khutbah Jumaat di Masjidil Haram

2011-05-15T22:03:00.000+08:00

Alhamdullillah, aku sempat tunaikan solat jumaat dan mendengar khutbah. Extract back all the arabic which was long buried underneath the cereblum since schooling days. Antara kandungannya yg aku paham, hari kiamat dah semakin hampir. Tanda2 akhir zaman semuanya telah jelas. Oleh itu segeralah berbuat kebaikan. Dibacakan hadith rebutlah 5 perkara sebelum dtg 5 perkara. Lihatlah, even around the haram, bangunan tinggi kepunyaan yahudi sgt bermaharalela. Imam hanya mampu suarakan secara kias, kalau tak boleh kena ISA arab style juga. Inilah dia akhir zaman.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Doa di Jabal Rahmah

2011-05-14T23:55:00.000+08:00

Jabal Rahmah terletak di kawasan Arafah yg luas. Semasa dibuang dari syurga, Nabi Adam diturunkan di sekitar negara Arab manakala Hawa di India. Setelah 40 tahun berdoa, akhirnya Allah makbulkan doa Nabi Adam utk bertemu isterinya Hawa. Nah, di sinilah byk kekeliruan berlaku. Mereka bertemu di kawasan Arafah yg luas, bukan spesifik di Jabal Rahmah. Jabal Rahmah ini ada 1 gua di mana rasullullah berdoa di kaki bukitnya dan tidur di satu gua di kawasan kaki bukit ini. Hence, Jabal Rahmah ialah antara salah satu tempat mustajab doa, tak kira lah soal jodoh atau tidak. So, jgn keliru lagi. It's not a bukit where people can doa for carik jodoh or panjangkan jodoh saja. It serves more purpose than just that.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Safa dan Marwah nan Nyaman

2011-05-14T17:19:00.000+08:00

Dulu, Siti Hajar berlari-lari antara bukit safa dan bukit marwah mencari air utk anaknya nabi ismail. Bawah terik matahari dan jalan berbukit serta berbatu. I'm sure her legs would have been badly blistered. But for the love of her son, his need for water far outweighed other pains. How strong was Siti Hajar. Jarak antara dua bukit ialah 380m. Ulang alik 7 times. Means about 4km beb. Now nak buat saie ada 5 tingkat. Floors are made of marbles. Buat kat underground level, ada aircond lagik. But kaki still sakit. Nilah org zaman moden. Tak dpt aku bayangkan betapa suffernya Siti Hajar. I hope n pray that I can have equal amount of strength n loyalty she had for nabi ismail n nabi ibrahim. Subhanallah.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

View of Masjid Nabawi n Baqik Cemetery from hotel

2011-05-13T12:43:00.000+08:00

Best betul bila hotel hanya beberapa tapak ke masjid di madinah. Syukur alhamdullillah. Tak berapa best sebab wanita dilarang masuk ke makam rasullullah bersama saidina abu bakar n omar n perkuburan Baqik. Alkisah byk betul org famous dlm sejarah islam ada di situ spt saidina othman, halimatussadiah, saidatina aisyah, muaz bin jabal, etc. Looks plain, but great reflection inside.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Sang Onta Yg Istimewa

2011-05-13T12:35:00.000+08:00

Antara haiwan yg akan masuk syurga. Onta menangis di kala rasullullah membacakan khutbah terakhir, kerana dia tahu saat hampir wafat baginda. Onta tak akan berjimak dgn ibunya dan tak akan berjimak depan manusia atau haiwan lain. Kulit dibuat khemah, hati dibuat ubat asma, daging dimakan, hatta tulang pon berguna jua. Sungguh istimewa sang onta ini (ini cakap pengaruh mutawif ku dari kalimantan).
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

IMG-20110504-00199.jpg

2011-05-12T21:02:00.000+08:00

Rebutlah 5 perkara sebelum dtg 5 perkara-muda b4 tua, waktu lapang b4 sempit, kaya b4 miskin, sihat b4 sakit n muda b4 tua. Hidup b4 mati. Alhamdullillah wa syukurillah.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Hadapi Masalah Dengan Bijak

2011-04-12T14:40:00.001+08:00

Hadapi Masalah Dengan Bijak!

HADAPI MASALAH DENGAN BIJAK!

Oleh: Haslinda Lukman

Setiap individu baik remaja, dewasa atau orang tua, sudah semestinya pernah menghadapi masalah dalam hidup. Kata orang hidup tanpa masalah bukan hidup namanya. Berlegar dari masalah yang paling besar hinggalah masalah yang paling kecil, semuanya tetap dinamakan masalah. Cuma masalah yang dihadapi oleh seseorang itu berbeza. Bagaimana cara untuk mengatasinya juga adalah juga satu masalah. Namun hakikatnya setiap masalah pasti ada jalan keluarnya. Biasanya sebelum masalah itu selesai kita akan berasa sangat tertekan, hampir putus asa kerana tidak tahan menghadapinya.

Antara masalah yang wujud di persekitaran kita ialah masalah kemiskinan, kehilangan orang tersayang, masalah cinta, pertengkaran dengan ibu bapa, corot dalam peperiksaan serta beribu-ribu masalah lagi. Masalah juga boleh menyumbang kepada masalah yang lain, contohnya masalah remaja yang tidak tahan dengan leteran ibubapanya boleh membawa remaja itu kepada masalah lepak, pergaulan bebas, dirogol, diculik dan juga mungkin dibunuh. Masalah yang kecil apabila tidak ditangani dengan baik boleh membawa kepada mudarat yang amat besar.

Setiap hari kita tidak akan terlepas dilanda dengan masalah, sekiranya bukan kita yang bermasalah, orang lain pula yang mendatangkan masalah. Oleh itu kita perlu bersedia menghadapi permasalahan tersebut dan <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />cuba mencari kaedah untuk mengatasinya. Sempena kedatangan bulan Ramadhan dan Syawal yang mulia ini, mari kita renung sejenak apa sebenarnya maksud setiap masalah itu, kaedah untuk mengatasinya serta panduan menghadapi masalah dengan tenang.

UJIAN IMAN

Masalah sebenarnya adalah ujian Allah kepada kita untuk mengukur sejauh mana tahap keimanan dan ketakwaan kita terhadap-Nya. Sebab sebagai manusia kita sering terlupa serta lalai dengan tanggungjawab kita sebagai hamba Allah apabila hidup kita sentiasa dilimpahi kesenangan dan kemewahan. Lebih-lebih lagi ketika usia remaja, hidup penuh dengan keseronokan dan sentiasa ingin mencuba sesuatu yang baru walaupun perkara itu jelas haram di sisi agama dan menyalahi undang-undang dunia, contohnya mengambil dadah dan hanyut dengan maksiat, dengan adanya ujian seperti ini, ia akan kembali mengingati apakah hidup kita selama ini mengikuti peraturan atau landasan yang telah ditetapkan oleh Allah ataupun telah jauh menyimpang.

Setiap masalah, kesukaran, kesakitan dan apa jua yang menyeksa jiwa adalah merupakan ujian dari Allah untuk menguji sejauh mana iman kita. Iman perlu kepada ujian. Ini jelas sebagaimana maksud firman Allah :

"Adakah manusia itu menyangka bahawa mereka dibiarkan saja mengatakan; "Kami telah beriman," sedangkan mereka tidak diuji? Dan sesungguhnya Kami telah menguji orang-orang yang sebelum mereka, maka sesungguhnya Allah mengetahui orang-orang yang benar dan sesungguhnya Dia mengetahui orang-orang yang berdusta." ( al-Ankabut: 2 - 3)

DARJAT DI SISI ALLAH

Ujian atau dugaan yang datang adalah dari Allah, sama ada ujian itu sebagai 'kifarah' dosa yang telah kita lakukan atau untuk mengangkat darjat kita di sisi-Nya. Allah juga tidak menduga hamba-hamba-Nya tanpa mengambil kira kesanggupannya atau keupayaan mereka untuk menghadapinya, ujian dan dugaan yang diturunkan Allah kepada hambanya adalah seiring dengan keupayaan individu itu untuk menyelesaikan masalahnya. Ini bersesuaian dengan firman Allah dalam surah al-Baqarah:286 yang bermaksud" Allah tidak membebankan seseorang melainkan dengan kesanggupannya".

Oleh itu sekiranya kita berhadapan dengan masalah, cubalah bawa bertenang, bersabar dan setkan dalam minda bahawa kita sedang diuji oleh Allah, orang yang melepasi ujian itu adalah orang yang berjaya dan mendapat kedudukan yang mulia di sisi Allah.

"Sesungguhnya Allah telah membeli dari orang-orang mukmin, diri dan harta mereka dengan memberikan Syurga untuk mereka." ( at-Taubah: 111)

CARA MENGATASI MASALAH

1.Sandarkan Harapan Pada Allah

Setiap ujian yang datang sebenarnya mempunyai banyak hikmah di sebaliknya. Yakinlah bahawa setiap kesusahan yang kita tempuhi pasti akan diganti dengan kesenangan. Ini bersesuaian dengan firman Allah dalam surah al-Nasyrah ayat 1hingga 8 yang antara lain maksudnya " …Sesungguhnya selepas kesulitan itu pasti ada kemudahan…."

"Cukuplah Allah bagiku. Tidak ada Tuhan selain dari-Nya. Hanya
kepada-Nya aku bertawakal."( At-Taubah: 129)

2.Minta Pertolongan Dari Allah

"Dan mintalah pertolongan (kepada Allah) dengan jalan yang sabar dan dengan mengerjakan solat; dan sesungguhnya solat itu amatlah berat kecuali kepada orang-orang yang khusyuk." ( al-Baqarah: 45)

3.Jangan Sedih dan Kecewa
"Janganlah kamu bersikap lemah dan janganlah pula kamu bersedih hati, padahal kamulah orang-orang yang paling tinggi darjatnya jika kamu orang-orang yang beriman." ( al-Imran:139)

Yakinlah dengan janji Allah itu dan jangan cepat putus asa dengan masalah yang dihadapi sebaliknya tingkatkan usaha dan kuatkan semangat untuk mengatasinya, lihat maksud firman Allah di bawah:

" ...dan janganlah kamu berputus asa dari rahmat Allah. Sesungguhnya tiada berputus asa dari rahmat Allah melainkan kaum yang kafir"( Yusuf : 12)

4.Luahkan masalah tersebut pada teman-teman yang dipercayai, walaupun dia mungkin tidak dapat membantu, tetapi sekurang-kurangnya ia dapat meringankan beban yang kamu tanggung.

5.Bandingkan masalah kita dengan masalah orang lain, mungkin masalah orang lebih besar dari masalah kita, perkara ini juga boleh membuatkan kita lebih tenang ketika menyelesaikan masalah.

Penutup

Ujian yang datang juga tandanya Allah sayangkan kita. Jadi ambillah masa untuk menilai diri dan meningkatkan ketakwaan kita kepada Allah dalam apa jua yang kita lakukan. Lakukanlah untuk mencari redha Allah. Fikir dengan positif bahawa setiap dugaan datang dari Allah dan pasti ada hikmah yang tersendiri.

"Boleh jadi kamu membenci sesuatu padahal ia amat baik bagimu dan boleh jadi pula kamu menyukai sesuatu padahal ia amat buruk bagimu. Allah mengetahui sedang kamu tidak mengetahui." – (al-Baqarah: 216)

Kuasa Cinta

2011-04-12T14:13:00.001+08:00

Kuasa Cinta

Oleh : Haslinda Lukman (Panel Penulis JAKIM)

Majalah Cahaya keluaran Februari 2010

Pendahuluan

Rasulullah SAW bersabda : "Cintailah siapa yang ada di bumi supaya kamu akan dicintai oleh makhluk yang berada di langit " (Riwayat Tabrani)

Kamu tidak akan beriman sehingga kamu berkasih sayang. Mereka berkata : "Kami semua pengasih" Rasulullah SAW bersabda : "Sesungguhnya bukanlah mengasihi seorang sahabatnya sahaja, akan tetapi membawa rahmat kepada manusia, mengasihi semua manusia". (Riwayat Tabrani)

Erti Cinta

"Kata pujangga cinta letaknya di hati. Meskipun tersembunyi, namun getarannya nampak sekali. Ia mampu mempengaruhi fikiran sekali gus memberi kesan kepada tindakan. Sungguh, cinta dapat mengubah pahit menjadi manis, debu beralih emas, keruh menjadi bening, sakit menjadi sembuh, penjara menjadi telaga, derita menjadi nikmat, dan kemarahan menjadi rahmat. Cinta mampu melembutkan besi, menghancurkan batu karang, membangkitkan yang mati dan meniupkan kehidupan padanya serta membuat hamba menjadi pemimpin. Inilah dahsyatnya cinta!" (Jalaluddin Rumi).

Alangkah indahnya Islam! Di dalamnya ada syariat yang mengatur bagaimana seharusnya manusia mengelola perasaan cintanya, sehingga menghasilkan cinta yang lebih dalam, lebih murni, dan lebih abadi.

Islam mengajarkan bahawa seluruh kuasa cinta manusia harus dipupuk menuju pada Allah Yang Maha Pencipta, sehingga cinta kepada-Nya jauh melebihi cinta pada sesama makhluk. Justeru, cinta pada sesama makhluk dicurahkan semata-mata karena mencintai-Nya. Asasnya adalah firman Allah SWT dalam surah al-Baqarah ayat 165, 'Dan di antara manusia ada orang-orang yang mengambil selain Allah untuk dicintainya; mereka mencintainya sebagaimana mereka mencintai Allah. Sedangkan orang-orang yang beriman amat dalam(taat) cintanya kepada Allah.'

Pengurusan Cinta

Islam mengajar manusia tentang pengurusan cinta, iaitu bagaimana manusia seharusnya menyusun skala prioriti cintanya. Urutan tertinggi perasaan cinta adalah kepada Allah SWT, kemudian kepada Rasul-Nya . Cinta pada sesama makhluk diuruskan sesuai dengan firman-Nya iaitu kedua orang ibu-bapa, kaum kerabat , anak-anak yatim, orang-orang miskin, jiran tetangga yang dekat dan jiran tetangga yang jauh, rakan sekerja, ibnu sabil dan hamba sahaya. Sedangkan harta, tempat tinggal, dan kekuasaan juga mendapat posisi untuk dicintai pada tempat yang lebih rendah . Maha Suci Allah, Allah Maha Hebat!

Perasaan cinta adalah abstrak. Namun perasaan cinta mampu diwujudkan dengan tindakan yang nampak oleh mata. Di antara tanda-tanda cinta seseorang kepada Allah SWT adalah memperbanyakkan bermunajat, mendirikan solat sunnah,membaca al-Quran dan berzikir kerena dia ingin selalu bersama dan mencurahkan semua perasaan hanya kepada-Nya. Apabila Sang Khaliq memanggilnya melalui suara azan maka dia bersegera menuju ke tempat solat untuk berjumpa dengan-Nya. Bahkan bila malam tiba, dia ikhlas bangun tidur untuk berduaan (berkhalwat) dengan Tuhan kekasihnya melalui solat tahajjud. Betapa indahnya jalinan cinta itu!

Ini dapat dilihat daripada kata-kata di bawah:

"Seseorang tidak akan memiliki kebaikan, meraih kemenangan, merasakan kenikmatan dan kesenangan hakiki kecuali mengesakan cintanya kepada Allah SWT semata, dan Allah lebih dicintainya daripada yang lainnya" ( Ibnu Qayyim al-Jauziah)

Bukti Cinta

Namun hati-hati juga dengan cinta, karena cinta juga dapat membuat orang sihat menjadi sakit, orang gemuk menjadi kurus, orang normal menjadi gila, orang kaya menjadi miskin jika cintanya itu disambut oleh para pencinta palsu. Cinta yang tidak dilandasi kepada Allah. Itulah para pencinta dunia, harta dan wanita. Dia lupa akan cinta Allah, cinta yang begitu agung, cinta yang murni.

Ramai yang mengaku mencintai Allah, dan sering mengatakan mencintai Rasulullah, namun mustahil semua itu diterima Allah tanpa ada bukti yang diberikan. Contohnya ketika Allah menguji cintanya, dengan memisahkannya daripada apa yang membuat dia lalai dalam mengingat Allah, selalunya manusia sukar menerimanya. Ketika Allah memisahkan seorang gadis daripada kekasih hatinya, selalunya sang gadis itu akan lemah, lesu, sedíh. kecewa dan terbaring sakit. Pada ketika seorang isteri dipanggil menghadap Ilahi, sang suami pun tidak mempunyai semangat untuk meneruskan kehidupan.

Ketika harta yang dimiliki hangus terbakar, ramai yang masuk ke hospital sakit jiwa, semua ini adalah bentuk ujian daripada Allah, kerana Allah ingin melihat seberapa dalam cinta hamba-Nya pada-Nya. Allah menginginkan bukti, namun manusia kadangkala tidak berdaya membuktikannya, justru cintanya pada Allah selalu kecundang ketika Allah menarik sedikit nikmat yang telah diberikan-Nya. Itu semua adalah bentuk cinta palsu. Sedangkan semuanya sudah diatur oleh Allah, rezeki, maut, jodoh, dan setiap tarikan nafas kita, itu semuanya sudah ada suratannya pada Allah, kita hanya harus berusaha untuk merealisasikannya.

Sungguh merugikan apabila manusia hanya diletihkan oleh cinta dunia, mengejar cinta makhluk, memburu harta dengan segala cara, dan tidak mahu membantu orang yang memerlukan pertolongan. Sedangkan nasib di akhirat nanti adalah ditentukan oleh amalannya ketika hidup di dunia, Bersungguh-sungguh mencintai Allah, atau terlena oleh dunia yang fana ini. Hanya orang yang bertakwa sahaja yang mampu membuktikan cintanya yang sejati kepada Allah SWT.

Kata-kata yang tepat untuk itu seperti di bawah:
'Aku mencintaimu kerana agama yang ada padamu, jika kau hilangkan agama dalam dirimu, hilanglah cintaku padamu.' {Imam Nawawi)

Cinta Allah

Yakinlah wahai saudaraku, kesenangan dan kesusahan adalah bentuk kasih sayang dan cinta Allah kepada hambanya yang beriman. Kesusahan yang diberi Allah adalah tarbiyah terhadap ruhiyah kita daripada Allah SWT, agar kita sedar bahwa kita sebagai makhluk adalah bersifat lemah, kita tidak mampu berbuat apa-apa pun kecuali atas izin-Nya. Akhirnya tinggal bagi kita membuktikan, dan berjuang bersungguh-sungguh untuk memperlihatkan cinta kita pada Allah, agar kita terhindar daripada cinta palsu.

Dan Allah tidak akan menyia-nyiakan hambanya yang betul-betul berkorban untuk-Nya.Untuk membuktikan cinta kita pada Allah, ada beberapa perkara yang perlu kita persiapkan iaitu iman yang kuat, ikhlas dalam beramal, berusaha bersungguh sungguh untuk melaksanakan ibadah wajib dan sunah, seperti qiyamullail, puasa sunnah, membaca al-Quran dan menuntut ilmu. Buah daripada ibadah yang kita lakukan pada Allah, dengan keistiqamahan mengamalkannya dalam setiap hembusan nafas dan langkah hidup ini, Insta-Allah kita akan dapat menggapai cinta dan keredhaan-Nya.

Cinta dan kasih sayang membawa kepada kebahagiaan. Isteri menyayangi suami, ibu bapa menyayangi anak-anak, anak-anak menyayangi ibu bapa, jiran-jiran menyayangi jirannya, maka hasilnya masyarakat akan hidup dengan berkasih sayang dan dunia pun akan aman dan damai.

Kasih sayang penuh dengan rasa ikhlas kerana mencari redha Allah. Kasih kepada seorang saudara mencegahnya daripada menderhakai Allah, sayang dalam persahabatan dalam memburu kejayaan yang diredhai Allah Maha Pencipta, kasih kepada masyarakat dengan seruan ke arah kesejahteraan hidup di dunia dan akhirat. Itulah kasih sayang yang sejati.

Islam menggalakkan umatnya hidup berkasih sayang. Haram hukumnya membenci serta memutuskan kasih sayang sesama manusia, kerana ia mengundang azab Allah.

Penutup

1.Hidup dalam berkasih sayang membawa kepada keamanan masyarakat.

2.Cinta dan kasih sayang merupakan motivasi paling hebat dalam diri manusia.

3.Tanpa kasih dan sayang hidup tidak bermakna dan bahagia.

4.Suburkan kasih sayang sesama manusia dengan mengamalkan segala yang diredhai Allah.

Rujukan :

Tafsir Pimpinan al Rahman

Terjemahan Hadis Bukhari dan Muslim

Cinta Allah, Ibnu Qayyin al Juzyiah

55 Petua Orang Berjaya, Dato' Dr Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah & Ahmadi Fadzli Yusof, PTS Millennia sdn bhd

12 Peribadi Cemerlang, Yusuf al Qaradawi Blue T Publication

Lagu ziana lah

2011-04-11T13:22:00.000+08:00

Semalam aku pegi majlis kahwin anak sorang colleague ni. Ada sorang budak pompuan ni nyanyi lagu ziana zain. Ada 3 lagu dia nyanyi. Lagu2 ziana ni kan ke susah nak nyanyi, but this girl could sing them well. Suara sampai tapi x merdu lah. Agak garau sikit. But utk wedding, shud be ok lah.
Dalam 3 lagu tu, ada 2 lagu yg mesejnya agak OK utk kita hayati la kan. 1 tu Korban Cinta n 1 lagi tu tajuk dia Joget somethinglah kot..
Moral dia, kalau cinta berpada2, usah serah segala. Turutkan hati turutkan rasa, kelak diri akan rosak binasa. Memang betul la tu.
Lawyer suzana pon dah kata, simpan sikit rasa cinta utk diri sendiri, supaya kita lebih dihargai.
Sent by Maxis from my BlackBerry® smartphone

Drama Swasta Dalam Ujian

2011-03-28T13:37:00.001+08:00

Kadang2 aku rasa, the turbulence of my life boleh dijadikan drama swasta lah. Aku nak buat skrip, pas tu jual kat Ziela Jalil ke, Khabir Bhatia ke, sure cerita Nur Kasih tu tak terbanding dgn cerita hidup aku lah. Begini antara plot2 drama yg berkaitan, boleh dijadikan unsur pengajaran dan reflection in our society:

1) Cinta - tidak pernah mengenal erti cinta sebenar jika cinta manusia yg dikejar, bukan cinta kepada dan kerana Allah. Cinta manusia tidak kenal erti tanggungjawab sedia ada, malah unsur tanggungjawab menjadi bebanan, yg harus ditinggalkan dgn segera, kerana mengejar cinta nan satu, cinta impian di dunia. Cinta ini kalau dimiliki, barulah hidup menjadi sempurna. Kehidupan sempurna di dunia inilah yg dikejar, tiada peduli akan kehidupan yg lebih lama dan kekal abadi di akhirat. Buang anak, buang saudara, cinta kasih ini aku turutkan.

2) Perkahwinan - hanya sekadar hiasan, bukan untuk mencari keredhaan Allah. Kenapa kita berkahwin? Sebab org lain kahwin, kita kena kahwin juga. Ia sebagai satu status dalam hidup, antara lambang kejayaan di dunia. Atau perkahwinan yg sementara sebagai satu persinggahan, dalam pada menunggu waktu tibanya perkahwinan dgn si cinta hati yg sebenar? Hanya Satu Persinggahan, penuhi dgn harta dan anak2, kemudiannya dibuang ke tepi, kerana perkahwinan impian dgn si cinta sejati telah tiba. Wah, nampak tak the conflict in the story? Kan aku dah kata, Nur Kasih pon tak terbanding!

3) Halangan dalam mengejar impian - wah, elemen ni sgt penting. Kalau tak, takdelah namanya Drama Swasta. Org kata, cinta yg dihalang adalah merupakan cinta yg paling seronok. Sebab dia ada bigger challenge. So the people involved will try their best ways to overcome all the halangan - be it mak, ayah, kakak, abang, masyarakat, BF sedia ada, etc. Lagi byk halangan, lagi seronok utk bercinta. Tak gitu? OKlah, then bila mereka kahwin, halangan ni pon dah takde, so hidup dah jadik boring semula. Tak gitu? Then they will invent new adventure lah. Create more and more cinta terhalang. Seronok agaknya hidup kalau kita sentiasa mempunyai halangan dalam memiliki cinta sejati. Ini kes org takde cita2 tinggi dalam hidup lah ni. Org kalau cita2nya melangit, takde masa aku nak bermain cinta terhalang ni lah weiii... byk lagi mende berpaedah aku nak fikir. Aku nak selamatkan bumi, tolong warga miskin, ziarah rumah kebajikan, buat bisnes utk memajukan ummah, the list is endless. Bila org takde cita2 begini, hatinya penuh dgn perkara2 "lagho" - ini bahasa budak sekolah agama ni. Lagho ni maksudnya perkara2 keseronokan dunia yg melalaikan....contohnya mcm hiburan dan bermain cinta lah....memang la seronok beb, tapi sampai bila?

Wah, agaknya kita kena tgu kesudahan Drama Swasta ni. Bahagia kah? Bagaimana ia berakhir? Jeng jeng jeng....kita tunggu dan lihat. Sambil tu berdoa supaya hidup lebih tenang dan diberkati Allah selalu.

Pesanan Buat Suami

2011-03-25T18:14:00.001+08:00

Petikan dari web - Dato' Dr Fadzilah Kamsah.

1. Selalu menghargai usaha dan penat-lelah isteri, terutama isteri yang bekerja dan sama-sama terpaksa menanggung hutang suami.

2. Bila isteri bercakap, pandanglah mukanya dan buka telinga luas-luas. Biar apa yang dikatakannya masuk telinga kanan dan tersumbat di telinga kiri. Sambil tu otak suami kenalah memproses informasi yang diterima daripada isteri dengan bijak serta prihatin.

3. Jangan sekali-kali membandingkan masakan isteri atau cara isteri menghias rumah dengan mak anda kecuali masakan/cara menghias isteri anda lebih baik dan canggih dari emak anda..

4. Jangan demand sex sekiranya isteri tak ada mood atau letih. Agama suruh kahwin bukan semata-mata untuk penuhi nafsu syahwat saja.

5. Kalau pasangan dah ada anak, sama-samalah menjaga anak. Benih dari awak juga.. Ada suami, isteri sedang makan disuruh cebok kencing n berak anak sedangkan suami duduk tersandar kekenyangan macam maharaja.

6. Jangan sekali-kali duduk tersandar depan TV atau relax-relax sedangkan isteri bila balik dari kerja, buka saja kasut terus masuk dapur, memasak, mengemas, membasuh, kejar anak dsbnya. Berbulu mata dan sayu hati isteri bila kami tak cukup tangan nak menguruskan rumahtangga sedangkan suami lepas tangan.

7. Sekiranya suami makan dahulu, tinggalkan sedikit lauk utk isteri. Jangan bedal semua sampai turn isteri yang tinggal cuma ekor ikan sekerat, janggut sotong dan ekor taugeh.

8. Kalau nak ajak member bertandang ke rumah, beritau isteri dulu, kalau boleh sehari-dua in advance. Jadi bolehlah dia memasak yang best-best dan mengemas rumah cantik-cantik. Bayangkan perasaan isteri kalau tetamu datang terpacak sedangkan kain-baju masih berlonggok belum sempat dilipat, permainan anak masih berselerak dan isteri cuma masak mi maggi saja.

9. Jangan sekali-kali menyakat isteri tentang saiz badannya yang semakin sihat atau semakin melidi. Tengok body sendiri dalam cermin dulu.

10. Jangan kentut depan isteri. Masa bercinta dulu kenapa boleh control kentut?

11. Hormatilah ibu-bapa dan kaum keluarga isteri walaupun anda cuma main wayang, bodek mereka masa nak mengurat isteri anda dulu. Jangan sekali mencaci mereka walaupun secara bergurau.

12. Jangan kedekut dengan isteri serta keperluan rumahtangga.

13. Jagalah maruah anda sebagai suami dan lelaki. Selagi boleh, jangan bebankan isteri dengan masaalah kewangan anda. Selalunya perempuan ni, semakin suami "degil" tak nak minta pertolongan, selagi itulah dia rela nak tolong.

14. Jangan bersepah dan bersikap pengotor. Dah buka baju, letakkan dalam bakul baju kotor, dah guna cungkil gigi, buanglah dalam bakul sampah, bila dah guna ubat gigi bubuh balik penutupnya, dah ambil sesuatu barang simpan balik ditempat asal, dah berak flush. Susah sangat ke nak buat macam tu? Semua nak kena ajar ke?

15. Rajin-rajinlah bertanya isteri kalau dia perlukan bantuan anda dengan kerja rumah/menjaga anak. Tapi jangan tanya dua tahun sekali. Jangan tunjuk rajin bila ada tetamu di rumah saja.

16. Hormatilah isteri anda sebagaimana anda mahu dihormati. Isteri pun manusia. Allah berikan banyak keistimewaan kepada para isteri tapi diputar-belitkan tafsirannya oleh orang lelaki untuk kepentingan diri sendiri.

17.. Jangan main kayu tiga dengan perempuan lain. Main lain lagi tak boleh. Kalau isteri awak yang buat, tentu awak tak boleh tolerate, jadi mengapa isteri awak kena tolerate kalau awak buat?

18. Kalau tak menyukai sikap atau perbuatan isteri, tegurlah secara baik, jangan asyik nak menengking aja. Kalau awak sakit nak mati nanti, siapa yang kena jaga awak? Bai jual roti? Apek jual sayur? Jiran sebelah rumah awak?

19. Kalau isteri nampak tak sihat, cepat-cepatlah bawa jumpa doktor. Tunjuklah anda mengambil berat tentang dirinya.

20. Berbincanglah dengan isteri sebelum sesuatu keputusan dibuat. Walaupun suami megah ada kuasa veto, tak jadi bapok kalau pendapat isteri diambil kira. Pokok pangkalnya ialah timbangrasa dan saling menghargai. Cubalah ketepikan ego yang keterlaluan. Bukannya laku bila dah mati nanti.

21. Dalami agama dan bimbinglah anak isteri dengan ikhlas seperti yang dituntut agama. Ingat, kalau seorang suami masuk syurga, besar kemungkinan isteri pun masuk syurga. Kalau suami masuk neraka belum tentu isteri juga masuk neraka. Kalau isteri masuk neraka, besar kemungkinan suami juga masuk NERAKA tapi kalau isteri masuk syurga belum tentu suami pun masuk syurga.Ini bukan rekaan saya tapi saya dengar dari seorang ustaz.

22. Berusahalah dengan ikhlas untuk mempertahankan keharmonian rumahtangga. Jangan buat apa yang isteri tak suka. Percayalah, kalau suami buat baik sekali dengan isteri, isteri balas sepuluh kali

23. Jangan buat donno kalau isteri merajuk atau berkecil hati. Kalau perlu minta maaf, minta maaf, kalau perlu dipujuk, pujuk. Hati orang pompuan ni sensitif. Kalau kami rasa suami tak ambil kisah, perasaan bagai dihiris-hiris. Perkara yang dipandang remeh oleh suami boleh menjadi kanser kepada isteri. Kepada para suami khususnya dan kaum lelaki amnya, janganlah dianggap masalah hati dan perasaan orang perempuan ni enteng sahaja.

Allah s.w.t. berfirman, "Dan ketahuilah bahawasanya Allah mengetahui apa yang didalam hatimu, sebab itu berhati-hatilah dengan Tuhan".

Rahmat Untuk Suami Isteri Yang Bangun Malam

2011-03-25T14:05:00.001+08:00

Kebahagiaan dan kesejahteraan hidup yang merupakan impian setiap insan bukanlah sekadar terletak pada nilaian harta benda dan wang ringgit. Banyak rumah tangga yang hancur kerana mengikut teori kebahagian sendiri. Mereka menyangkakan wang adalah segala-galanya... Namun setelah memperolehi semuanya itu, rumah tangga masih tidak bahagia. Suami isteri tidak mesra. Bahkan sentiasa berkrisis, bermasam muka dan berburuk sangka. Hubungan ibu bapa dan anak-anak renggang.

Justeru itu, kebahagiaan bukan terletak kepada material semata-mata, yang paling utama ialah pimpinan suami itu sendiri.Suami perlu mendidik isteri ke arah mencapai cinta Allah, cinta agama dan cinta akhirat. Cinta kepada Tuhan akan mendorong seseorang itu untuk berbuat kebaikan demi mencari redha Allah.

Setiap pasangan perlu saling bantu-membantu untuk memajukan diri mencari keredhaan Allah terutama sekali pada waktu keheningan malam.Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud:"Dan bantu-membantulah kamu dalam kebaikan dan takwa, janganlah kamu bantu-membantu dalam melakukan dosa dan pelanggaran." (Al-Maidah: 2)

Malah baginda s.a.w. sangat suka kepada suami isteri yang saling bantu-membantu dalam ketaatan, rukuk dan sujud dalam kegelapan malam ketika semua manusia tidur dengan lenanya. Itulah sebenarnya petua kebahagiaan dunia dan akhirat.

Diriwayatkan daripada Abu Hurairah r.a, katanya:Baginda Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: "Mudah-mudahan Allah merahmati seorang suami yang bangun pada tengah malam lalu mengerjakan solat dan membangunkan isterinya sama-sama melakukan solat. Sekiranya dia enggan, maka dipercikkannya ke wajahnya." "Mudah-mudahan Allah merahmati seorang isteri yang bangun tengah malam untuk mengerjakan solat dan juga membangunkan suaminya, jika dia enggan, maka dipercikkanlah air ke mukanya." (Riwayat: Abu Daud dan Ibnu Majah)Menerusi

hadis di atas jelaslah kepada kita betapa indahnya saat-saat seorang suami membangunkan isterinya dengan lemah-lembut seperti memercikkan air ke mukanya pada tengah malam supaya sama-sama melakukan ibadat kepada Allah s.w.t. apatah lagi jika anak-anak dapat ikut serta.

Betapa sayunya hati ketika ini mengenali dosa-dosa yang telah dilakukan. Air mata menitis tanda keinsafan. Zikir dialunkan tanda kesyukuran. Doa dipanjatkan memohon kesejahteraan keluarga dunia dan akhirat. Kebahagiaan seperti inilah akan melahirkan jiwa yang tenang, aman damai, tiada ketakutan, tiada kebimbangan malah berada di dalam keadaaan redha dan diredhai Allah dunia dan akhirat.

Ini jelas dalam firman Allah bermaksud:"Wahai jiwa yang tenang kembalilah kamu kepada Tuhanmu dalam keadaan kamu redha dan diredhai. Masuklah dalam hamba-Ku dan masuklah ke dalam syurga-Ku." (Al-Fajr: 27-30)

Diriwayatkan daripada Abu Hurairah dan Abu Said r.a. katanya: Baginda Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: "Apabila seorang suami membangunkan isterinya pada waktu malam kemudian mereka mengerjakan solat dua rakaat, maka mereka termasuklah atau tergolonglah ke dalam golongan orang-orang yang banyak berzikir kepada Allah." (Riwayat: Abu Daud, Ibnu Majah dan Ibnu Hibban)

Oleh itu, luangkan masa untuk bermunajat kepada-Nya agar tidak timbul penyesalan pada hari kemudian.

(KOLEKSI ANIS / Oleh Ustazah Siti Bahyah Mahamod)

50 Langkah Bistari Suami Mithali

2011-03-23T16:21:00.001+08:00

From Dr. Hj Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah.

1. Pasang niat dan berdoa untuk menjadi suami terbaik. Tanpa berniat dan berdoa anda tidak mungkin jadi suami yang cemerlang. Ramai suami terlupa.

2. Bersyukur kerana mempunyai pasangan hidup. Yakinlah bahawa isteri anda adalah pasangan terbaik yang Tuhan tentukan untuk anda. Ketentuan Tuhan adalah yang terbaik.

3. Suami mithali menjadi kebanggaan isteri. Pastikan anda membentuk sifat positif dan istimewa. Cuba tanya diri apakah sifat atau amalan yang boleh dibanggakan oleh isteri anda.

4. Setiap hari pulang dengan senyum dan bersemangat. Apabila suami tersenyum, isteri dan anak-anak akan bahagia dan rahmat Tuhan akan turun. Senyumlah apabila sampai ke rumah.

5. Pastikan anda ada masa untuk berbual dengan isteri setiap hari. Semua isteri bahagia apabila dapat berbual dengan suami. Berapa minit yang anda luangkan unutk berbual dengan isteri setiap hari ?

6. Telefon isteri ataupun hantar SMS sekadar untuk menyatakan yang anda sayang ataupun rindu pada isteri. Isteri anda akan berasa seronok dan bahagia apabila mendapat panggilan ataupun mesej tersebut.

7. Hiburkan hati isteri anda dengan bercerita, buat lawak atau gurauan yang mesra. Setiap gurauan mengubat hati isteri dan mengeratkan hubungan suami isteri.

8. Pastikan anda bergurau senda dengan isteri di dalam kenderaan semasa dalam perjalanan ke tempat kerja ataupun ke mana sahaja. Ramai suami membazir masa dengan membisu semasa di dalam kenderaan.

9. Amalkan makan bersama setiap hari. Berbual mesra dan nasihat menasihati semasa makan. Amalan ini akan menarik hidayat Tuhan dan mengeratkan hubungan. Elakan berbual perkara yang melalaikan semasa makan.

10. Ajak isteri mandi bersama sekali sekala. Bergurau senda semasa mandi bersama adalah sunah yang dapat mengeratkan hubungan suami isteri.

11. Bantu isteri melakukan kerja rumah. Ini adalah sunah yang dapat meringankan beban isteri, mengeratkan kasih sayang dan menbahagiakan pasangan anda.

12. Amalkan mesyuarat keluarga sekerap yang mungkin. Amalan bermesyuarat menarik hidayat Tuhan,mengeratkan hubungan dan menyelesaikan banyak masalah.

13. Pastikan penampilan anda anggun, kemas, bersih, wangi, sihat dan ceria. Ramai suami inginkan isteri yang mengancam, tetapi mengabaikan Penampilan diri sendiri. Mana adil ?

14. Didik isteri dengan memberi nasihat dan perigatan secara hikmah. Jadikan tindakan dan amalan anda sebagai contoh teladan yang cemerlang. Elakan cakap tak serupa bikin.

15. Berikan nafkah kepada isteri mengikut keperluan keluarga dan kemampuan suami. Ramai suami mengabaikan nafkah kerana isteri bekerja. Ramai suami yang kedekut dan berkira. Ini menyebabkan isteri derita dan rumah tangga terancam.

16. Jadikan penawar hati kepada isteri. Ambil berat keperluan dan kemahuan dan peka kepada emosi dan situasi isteri. Isteri yang bahagia membentuk keluarga sejahtera

17. Sentiasa taat kepada semua perintah Tuhan dan memastikan keluarga juga patuh kepada Tuhan.

18. Suami mithali sentiasa menyimpan rahsia isteri. Ramai suami secara sengaja ataupun tidak sengaja menceritakan keburukan isteri kepada orang lain. Ini wajib dihentikan.

19. Muliakan keluarga isteri seperti keluarga sendiri. Ada suami yang menbeza-bezakan antara keluarganya dan keluarga isteri. Ada suami yang memusuhi keluarga isteri. Anda bagaimana ?

20. Bentuk sifat cemburu yang positif. Cemburu tanda beriman, sayang dan endah. Suami yang tidak cemburu adalah dayus. Isteri amat suka apabila suaminya ada sifat cemburu. Dia rasa dihargai.

21. Jadilah suami yang pemaaf. Syurga isteri di bawah tapak kaki suami. Maafkanlah isteri setiap malam sebelum tidur supaya rumah tangga bahagia dan isteri mudah masuk syurga.

22. Tegur kesilapan isteri dengan hikmah dan kasih sayang. Isteri merajuk bukan sebab ditegur, tetapi cara ditegur yang kasar. Apabila suami kasar, isteri jadi takut, bingung, hiba dan memberontak.

23. Gunakan Nabi Muhammad sebagai model. Hidupkan amalan sunah dalam rumah tangga. Sebut nama rasul apabila mendidik dan menasihati keluarga bagi mendapat hikmah.

24. Mendahulukan keperluan isteri daripada orang lain. Ini adalah tertib memberi khidmat. Ramai suami yang melebihkan orang lain daripada isterinya. Elakan kesilapan ini.

25. Suruh isteri dirikan sembahyang dan ibadah lain. Apabila berjauhan, telefon ataupun SMS bagi mengingatkan sembahyang.
Wasiatkan isteri untuk sembahyang fardu dan sunat. Buat pesanan ini sehingga suami meninggal dunia.

26. Cintai isteri sepenuh hati. Cintai tanpa syarat, bertambah mengikut usia, penuh kemaafan, memberi tenaga,tidak pernah sensara serta berteraskan iman dan takwa.

27. Sentiasa berubah secara positif. Sebelum cuba ubah isteri dan keluarga, ubah diri dulu. Apabila suami berubah, keluarga akan turut berubah. Apabila suami cemerlang, isteri akan gemilang.

28. Pamer keprihatian yang tinggi terhadap keluarga. Ramai suami tidak ambil kisah dengan keluarga mereka.Cuba tanya apa lagi khidmat tambahan yang patut berikan kepada keluarga.

29. Pamer kematangan yang tinggi. Orang yang matang tenang, sabar, waras, bijaksana, dapat membuat keputusan dan cekap menyelesaikan masalah.

30. Memuliakan semua perempuan bukan sekadar isterinya. Ramai lelaki cuba hormat wanita tertentu sahaja.Ramai isteri yang kecewa terhadap suami yang menghina atau tidak hormat sebarang wanita termasuk pembantu rumah.

31. Bentuk beberapa sifat wanita yang terpilih dalam diri suami. Nabi Muhammad amat pemalu, pemaaf, peka,endah dan mudah menangis. Sifat wanita yang ada pada lelaki menaikkan martabat lelaki dan lebih disayangi wanita.

32. Mahir dalam menguruskan keluarga. Peka dengan masalah dan karenah ahli keluarga, cekap mencari punca masalah, mencari alternatif penyelesaian dan memilih penyelesaian yang optimum.

33. Membaiki diri secara berterusan. Tingkatkan iman dan takwa, cuci hati dengan sembahyang taubat, istighfar,memaafkan dan minta maaf, berkawan dengan orang yang baik, pendapatan yang berkat dan baiki amalan dan tindakan.

34. Jadi contoh atau model terbaik untuk keluarga. Doa dan usaha supaya setiap perbuatan anda dapat dicontohi dan dibanggakan ahli keluarga. Apakah sifat dan amal anda yang dapat dicontohi oleh ahli keluarga ?

35. Jadikan diri anda pendorong dan motivator berkesan unutk keluarga. Sentiasa beri galakan dan belaian. Elak marah, kritik ataupun hina keluarga. Fikir positif dan bersangka baik terhadap keluarga.

36 Tingkatkan ilmu berkenaan agama. Lazimnya, suami yang mendidik keluarga berkenaan agama. Belajarlahilmu agama dengan niat mendidik diri dan keluarga.

37. Sentiasa menegakkan kebenaran. Tegas menyatakan apa yang buruk dan apa yang baik. Elak mengenepikan kebenaran semata-mata bagi menjaga hati ahli keluarga. Tegakkan kebenaran dengan hikmah.

38. Bertindak tegas dan lemah lembut mengikut situasi. Tegas dalam menyeru ke arah kebaikan. Lemah lembut dalam menegur dan memberi nasihat. Tegas sangat orang memberontak, lembut sangat orang pijak.

39. Latih diri memuji dan menghargai isteri. Ramai suami yang pandai kritik tetapi tidak tahu memuji. Belaian merawat emosi dan fizikal isteri dan membuat dia terasa disayangi. Cari peluang untuk sentiasa memuji.

40. Cari peluang untuk bertindak romantis terhadap isteri. Ini termasuk senyum, lemah lembut, sebut sayang tiga kali sehari, buat sebelum disuruh, sentuhan sayang, pujian dan memberi hadiah.

41. Fahami yang isteri ingin selalu di sisi suami. Suami pula berjauhan dengan isteri sekali sekala. Apabila berjauhan, telefon, SMS ataupun e-mel unutk bertanya khabar, berikan maklumat dan mengubat rindu.

42. Bentuk kerjasama yang mantap dengan isteri. Pamer kesatuan hati dan pendapat kepada anak-anak dan orang lain. Wujudkan kerjasama melalui mesyuarat, berbual, tolak ansur, bermaaf-maafan dan banyak berdoa.

43. Nilai diri daripada kaca mata isteri. Buang sifat dan amalan yang isteri benci. Berusaha keras melakukan perkara yang isteri suka. Apabila isteri bahagia, suami akan bertambah bahagia.

44. Apabila suami melayan isteri seperti mana dia melayan kawan, pasti isteri bahagia. Bayangkan cara anda melayan isteri sebelum kahwin. Ulangi layanan itu sekarang. Pasti hebat kesannya.

45. Suami wajar belajar jadi mengikut setia. Patuhi cadangan, Pandangan dan pandapat isteri yang betul. Jangan bangkang perkara yang baik. Kawal macho dengan saksama.

46. Buat undang-undang dalam rumah tangga. Apabila suami marah, isteri mesti senyap. Apabila isteri marah,suami mesti senyap. Ini mengelakkan daripada bergaduh. Orang tidak boleh bergaduh sendirian.

47. Latih gerak batin anda supaya serasi dengan gerak batin isteri. Serasikan gerak batin dengan berdoa, patuh perintah Tuhan, maafkan isteri, bersangka baik dan lakukan perkara baik untuk isteri mengikut sebarang lintasan dalam hati.

48. Pimpin isteri dengan nasihat dan kasih sayang. Pesan selalu dan nasihat sekali-sekala. Waktu terbaik nasihat adalah semasa rehat, minum petang, waktu bersiar-siar dan semasa hendak tidur.

49. Seimbangkan hidup dengan sempurna. Rajin di tempat kerja, Rajin juga di rumah. Peramah dengan kawan, peramah juga dengan isteri. Disiplin di pejabat, disiplin juga di rumah. Sabar dengan orang, sabar juga dengan isteri. Di luar dan di dalam rumah serupa.

50. Urus stress dengan sempurna supaya keluarga tidak terjejas, lakukan riaadah, berdiet, hentikan merokok,bercampur dengan orang positif, bermain dengan bayi, tengok ikan di akuarium, menyanyi, sembahyang taubat dan maafkan semua orang.

3 Kebahagiaan Insan - Menurut Hadith

2011-03-22T09:47:00.001+08:00

Tiga kebahagiaan Insan

Tiada siapa yang inginkan kesedihan, kemurungan dan keresahan. Jika ditanya kepada sesiapa sahaja pun, saya yakin dan pasti yang merekan akan berkehendakkan akan kebahagiaan. Hidup tanpa bahagia ibarat terbakar dalam neraka dunia.

Namun, apakah itu kebahagiaan sebenarnya? Adakah wang ringgit? Adakah makanan yang lazat? Adakah anak-anak? Atau segala perkara material yang mampu kita lihat atau mungkin ianya merupakan satu perasaan yang mana kita merasa aman, sentiasa ceria walaupun bermasalah.

Sebenarnya, langkah paling awal untuk mengecap kebahagiaan adalah memahami diri sendiri. Dalam erti kata lain, menguasai segala sifat negatif yang selama ini terbentuk dalam benak minda hingga ada yang dizahirkan dengan perbuatan. Selagi kita duduk dalam lingkaran energi negatif, maka kita tidak akan dapat lagi dari tempiasnya.

Lebih memburukkan keadaan, apabila tenaga negatif-negatif ini terkumpul dan terpendam menjadi seakan satu gunung berapi dalam diri yang boleh meletus pada bila-bila masa sahaja. Setelah itu kita akan melihat kedatangan kebahagiaan, namun jangan dilupakan bahasa kebahagiaan duniawi anak Adam terbit atas tiga perkara yang kadang kala kita lupa untuk mengupasnya dengan penuh hikmah.

Dalam sebuah hadis, daripada Saad bi Abi Waqqas dinyatakan bahwa Rasulullah SAW bersabda yang bermaksud, "Kebahagiaan anak Adam itu ada tiga, manakala kecelakaannya juga ada tiga. Sesetengah daripada kebahagiaan anak Adam itu ialah isteri yang solehah, tempat tinggal yang baik dan kenderaan yang elok. Dan sebahagian kecelakaan manusia itu ialah isteri yang jahat, rumah yang buruk dan kenderaan yang buruk." (Hadis riwayat Ahmad)

Secara mudahnya, kebahagian akan datang dengan jelas apabila kita mempunyai tiga perkara, iaitu, isteri (pasangan), tempat tinggal dan kenderaan. Mungkin lebih bagus seandainya kita dapat mengupasnya sedikit secara satu persatu.

1 – Isteri

Sebelum mendapat isteri yang solehah, kita sendiri mestilah soleh. Jika diri sendiri tidak soleh, agak mustahil pula kita dapat membentuk seorang isteri yang solehah. Berkenaan isteri atau pasangan hidup, hal ini dilihat cukup linear kerana seandainya kita dan isteri tidak sehaluan, mana mungkin kita akan mengecap kebahagiaan. Kita sering mengatakan pasangan hidup mestilah sekufu, dari sudut sekufu yang sama arah dan tahap pemikiran. Jika kita mempunyai masalah dalam rumahtangga, kita selalunya akan membawanya ke tempat kerja, maka hasil produktiviti akan merudum dan mungkin lama kelamaan kita boleh hilang pekerjaan dan kepercayaan yang diberi majikan.

Masalah dalam berpasangan ini sering mencetus emosi yang tidak terhenti dan emosi yang ada dalam minda akan memberi reflek fizikal yang negatif juga. Dari emosi ini, lahirlah kata-kata nista, timbullah prasangka dan akibatnya kita akan sentiasa diselubungi suasana yang negatif.

Apa yang lebih buruk adalah apabila ia melibatkan rezeki kerana apabila rezeki mula terjejas, hilanglah kewarasan minda. Kita akan mula membuat keputusan yang di akhirnya memberi beban yang berat dalam mengharungi kehidupan.

Justeru itu, apabila diri kita sudah menjadi positif, kita juga perlu sehaluan dengan pasangan ktia dan apabila isteri adalah isteri yang solehah, maka ketaatannya akan membuat kita kurang berlaga fikiran. Ini akan membawa kepada keharmonian dan rezeki yang lebar lagi luas.

2 – Tempat tinggal

Pernahkah anda merasakan semenjak berpindah ke rumah baru, terasa keperitan dari pelbagai segi, sedangkan semasa tinggal di rumah lama, rezeki anda mencurah-curah? Semenjak tinggal di rumah baru, masalah demi masalah mendatang dan banyak perkara yang merudung malang menjelma. Mengapa perkara sebegini berlaku? Jawapannya ada di dalam hadis tadi. Apabila tempat tinggal yang kita diami tidak mempunyai energi yang baik, maka secara automatik kita juga akan merasa kurang selesa.

Keadaan kurang selesa akan menimbulkan keluhan. Keluhan pula akan memberi impak negatif dalam suasana rumah, maka sebab itulah orang dahulu cukup pantang mengeluh di dalam rumah. Melihat penjelasan tentang rumah yang buruk (dalam hadis) itu bukan dari sudut fizikalnya, tetapi dari sudut gelombangnya. Cuba kita lihat, sebuah rumah yang besar dan indah tetapi apabila kita masuk ke dalam ruangannya, kita merasa kurang aman, kurang selesa dan banyak keresahan.

Hal ini mungkin terjadi apabila penghuninya tidak mengingati Allah SWT dengan sewajarnya dan mungkin juga apabila pulang ke rumah, masalah serta tekanan tempat kerja yang ada dalam minda di bawa ke rumah.

Nah... Gelombang tekanan (beta) kini mengambil rumah sebagai terminalnya dan akhirnya rumah tersebut penuh dengan ketidakselesaan. Apa yang terjadi? Kita mengambil pserkara pokok yang banyak diperkatakan orang, iaitu rezeki.

Apabila keadaan rumah penuh dengan negativiti, maka rezeki dengan sendirinya akan bermasalah. Maka kita menjadi orang yang bukan sahaja rugi akhirat, bahkan rugi juga di dunia. Masalah banyak, sakit berarak.

3 – Kenderaan

Perihal kenderaan ini, rasanya sudah ramai yang sedia maklum bahawa jika kita ingin menjual kereta, kita dilarang untuk memperkatakannya dalam kereta tersebut kerana nanti ditakuti akan merajuk, selalu meragam dan rosak. Ini yang dikatakan kebahagiaan kenderaan, jika sering rosak, maka seringlah bocor poket kita.

Justeru, kenderaan yang baik juga datangnya dari kita. Apa yang dikatakan kenderaan buruk itu hanyalah metafora, tidak bermakna kita perlu membeli kenderaan baru untuk bahagia. Maka kenderaan juga memperlihatkan perjalanan yang baik.

Jagalah tiga perkara ini dan renung-renungkanlah tiga perkara ini sebagai langkah awal untuk mengecap kebahagiaan kerana ketiga-tiga perkara ini memberi impak dalam perjalanan kita menemui Allah yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang.

Forwarded message.

Tawakkal Sebagai Satu Ibadah

2011-03-21T14:20:00.001+08:00

Tawakal satu ibadah hati paling utama dan akhlak iman paling agung.
Oleh Ahmad Sabki Mohd Tahir , Berita Harian, Selasa, 02 Jun 2009 , 8 Jamadilakhir 1430

Tawakal satu ibadah hati paling utama dan akhlak iman paling agung

HIDUP tidak sunyi daripada berdepan masalah. Yang membezakannya hanya jenis masalah itu tidak sama antara seorang dengan seorang. Seseorang itu mungkin berdepan masalah besar menentukan hidup atau mati perniagaannya pada masa depan, manakala yang lain hanya sekadar mendapatkan rumah untuk dibeli.

Apa juga keadaan, mereka perlu mencari jalan menyelesaikannya. Masalah tidak akan selesai jika hanya berdiam diri berpeluk tubuh. Kejayaan atau kegagalan bergantung sejauh mana usaha dilakukan.

Selepas puas berusaha keras dengan pelbagai cara dan kaedah untuk menyelesaikan masalah, mereka boleh berserah kepada Allah iaitu bertawakal kepada Allah.

Tawakal satu ibadah hati paling utama dan akhlak iman paling agung. Seorang ulama menyatakan tawakal ialah percaya kepada Allah dan hanya kepada Dialah kita mengharapkan segala sesuatu, bukan kepada siapa pun.

Imam al-Ghazali menyatakan tawakal satu manzilah (keberadaan) bagi orang beriman, bahkan tawakal darjat muqarrabin atau orang yang dekat dengan Allah.

Ali al Qari pula menyebut tawakal adalah mengetahui dan yakin tidak ada yang mampu berbuat dalam alam ini kecuali atas kehendak Allah.

Abu Ali Ad-Daqqaq berkata, tawakal itu ada tiga tingkatan. Tawakal itu sendiri, kata Abu Ali Ad-Daqqaq: "Berserah diri, kemudian pasrah. Orang bertawakal berasa tenang kerana ada janji daripada Allah, orang berserah diri cukup dengan pengetahuan mengenai Allah dan orang pasrah reda terhadap hikmah Allah. Tawakal adalah permulaan, berserah diri adalah pertengahan dan pasrah adalah penghabisan."

Kata Abu Ali Ad-Daqqaq lagi: "Tawakal sifat orang mukmin, berserah diri adalah sifat wali dan pasrah adalah sifat muwahhidin. Tawakal sifat orang awam, berserah diri sifat orang khusus dan pasrah sifat orang lebih khusus lagi. Tawakal ialah sifat nabi, berserah diri ialah sifat Ibrahim dan pasrah sifat Nabi Muhammad."

Orang yang tawakal selalu menggantungkan diri dan menyerahkan diri sepenuhnya kepada Allah. Mereka sentiasa berlapang dada dan tidak resah bila dibelit masalah. Mereka tidak cepat berputus asa, sebaliknya sentiasa yakin dan percaya kepada kemampuan diri sendiri. Mereka hanya berserah (tawakal) kepada Allah selepas segala usaha dan ikhtiar dilakukan.

Mereka bertawakal kepada Allah kerana mereka mempunyai perasaan kuat Allah Yang Maha Pemberi segala-galanya. Allah memberi rezeki, memberi kejayaan, memberi kepandaian, memberi kesenangan, memberi keselamatan dan semuanya datang daripada Allah. Kita hanya berusaha mencari dan mendapatkannya.

Dalam al-Quran Allah berfirman bermaksud: "Dan percayalah (tawakallah) dirimu kepada Allah, jika kamu betul-betul beriman." (Surah al-Maidah ayat 23).

Allah sangat mencintai hamba-Nya yang bertawakal. Dan Allah akan memberikan jalan keluar serta akan memberikan rezeki yang datang tanpa disangkanya. Dengan kata lain, mereka (orang tawakal) tanpa gusar yakin terhadap ketentuan dan kekuasaan Allah hingga menyerahkan segenap permasalahan kepada-Nya semata.

Allah berfirman bermaksud: "Dan memberinya rezeki dari arah yang tiada disangka-sangkanya. Dan barang siapa bertawakal kepada Allah, nescaya Allah akan mencukupkan (keperluannya). Sesungguhnya Allah melaksanakan urusan yang (dikehendaki-Nya). Sesungguhnya Allah mengadakan ketentuan bagi setiap sesuatu." (Surah Ath Thalaq ayat 3).

Dalam bukunya Para Kekasih Allah, Abdillah F Hasan berkata dalam al-Quran tidak kurang dari 40 ayat membahas masalah tawakal, baik dalam bentuk perintah mahupun keutamaan bagi hamba mampu melaksanakannya.

Yusuf al Qaadhawi dalam kitabnya Ath Thariq Ilalah, At Tawakal mengungkapkan mengenai keistimewaan disandang hamba Allah bertawakal kepada-Nya, iaitu timbul ketenteraman jiwa, kekuatan jiwa (kekuatan spiritual), kewibawaan, keredaan dan percaya diri.

Orang beriman yakin akan pertolongan Allah. Allah tidak akan membiarkan orang berjuang di jalan-Nya. Allah tetap menolong mereka, cuma cepat atau lambat saja.

Orang yang mantap dan teguh imannya tidak ragu-ragu dengan janji Allah ini. Mereka penuh yakin Allah tidak mengingkari janji kerana mereka tahu dan ingat keagungan Allah, kesempurnaan ilmu-Nya dan kudrat-Nya. Allah ingat kepada hamba-Nya yang tidak pernah lupa mengingati-Nya di mana-mana.

Firman Allah dalam al-Quran bermaksud: "Dan Kami selalu berkewajipan menolong orang-orang yang beriman." (Surah Ar-Rum ayat 47).

Senyumlah Di Kala Hati Ingin Menangis

2011-03-18T16:57:00.000+08:00

Adakalanya….
Hari yang panas dan ceria
Bertukar mendung seketika
Mentari merangkak pergi
Gumpalan awan bertandang sisi
Hati gundah
Tercari-cari
ke mana perginya mentari yang dinanti

Begitulah hidup…
Di saat kau selesa dengan kehidupan
tiba-tiba kau diuji dengan kehilangan
kehilangan nikmat harta
kehilangan nikmat ilmu
kehilangan nikmat rakan dan keluarga
dan kau meratapinya….

Bila kau memandang segalanya dari Tuhanmu…
Yang menciptakan segalanya
yang menimpakan ujian
yang menjadikan sakit hatimu
yang membuatkan keinginanmu terhalang
serta menyusahkan hidupmu
pasti akan damailah hatimu kerna…
masakan Allah sengaja mentakdirkan segalanya untuk sesuatu yang sia-sia

Bukan Allah tak tahu derita hidupmu…
retaknya hatimu
sengsaranya sukmamu
Mungkin itulah yang Dia mahukan
kerna
Dia tahu
Hati yang sebeginilah
selalunya lebih lunak dan mudah untuk
DEKAT dan AKRAB dengan-Nya

Saat hujan turun membasahi hatimu
kau menangis kerna
merasa beratnya ujian tidak tergalas
~SenYumLaH~

kerna

Allah mendatangkan kepadamu pelangi nan indah
selepas hujan sirna kelamnya

'Allah tidak membebani seseorang melainkan sesuai dengan kesanggupannya. Ia mendapat pahala (dari kebajikan) dan ia mendapat siksa (dari kejahatan) yang dikerjakannya'
(Al-Baqarah:284)
"kerana sesungguhnya sesudah kesulitan itu ada kemudahan, sesungguhnya sesudah kesulitan itu ada kemudahan."
(Al-Insyirah 5-6)

From Halaqah.net.

Amanah Allah itulah anak2 Ku

2011-03-10T11:03:00.002+08:00

husna eka, huda eka dan eusoff ikbar eka

Wahai Suamiku

2011-03-09T08:52:00.001+08:00

Adaptasi dari Wahai Adam, Maafkanku - Halaqah.net.

Wahai Suamiku,
Yang di mana, melalui redha mu akan hadirnya redha ALLAH..
Yang di mana dengan mencintaimu , akan ku berasa rindu dengan cinta ALLAH..
Yang di mana dengan menyentuhmu, akan ku merasai 'sentuhan' kedamaian hati dari ALLAH..
Yang di mana dengan memandang wajahmu, akan ku merasai pandangan belas dari ALLAH..
Yang dimana dengan senyum kepada mu, akan ku merasai ketenangan hati dari ALLAH..

Wahai Suamiku,
Isteri mu ini mengharap kalau kau mengimami solatku pada setiap waktu..
Akan ku aminkan bacaaan doamu..
Isterimu ini seringkali memasang impian untuk bertahajud bersamamu..
Di malam hari yang akan lebih indah dengan kehadiran mu..
Isteri mu ini berharap agar kau kenalkan aku pada majlis-majlis agama..
Kau ajari aku dan anak-anak kita untuk pandai membaca dan memahami Al-Qur'an..
Kau khabarkan kepadaku tentang fardu-fardu yang aku patut tahu..
Kau tunjukkan perkara sebenar yang patut aku tahu wahai suamiku..

Wahai suami ku,
Melalui redha mu, tertentulah samada syurga atau neraka ku nanti..
Maka, tolonglah ajari aku agar menjadi isterimu yang solehah..
Didiklah aku supaya aku tunduk, patuh dan menghormatimu setiap waktu..
Tolonglah aku wahai suamiku..
Agar aku tidak beku..
Bantulah aku agar otakku tidak buntu..
Selamatkanlah aku dari seksa neraka yang sudah tentu tiada siapa yang tegar menanggungnya...

Bagus doa ni - untuk solat istikharah

2011-03-08T14:37:00.001+08:00

Mahfum Hadis: Dari Jabir ra., ia berkata: "Nabi pernah mengajarkan kepada kami Istikharah dalam berbagai urusan, seperti mengajarkan sebuah surah dalam Al Quran. Kalau seseorang dari kamu menghendaki sesuatu, maka hendaklah ia solat dua rakaat, kemudian berdoa:

"Ya Allah! Aku mohon pemilihan Mu menerusi pengetahuan Mu dan aku mohon kekuatan Mu menerusi kudrat Mu serta aku minta pada Mu sebahagian dari limpah kurnia Mu yang sangat besar. Sesungguhnya Engkau amat berkuasa sedangkan aku tidak berkuasa, Engkau amat mengetahui sedangkan aku tidak mengetahui dan sesungguhnya Engkau amat mengetahui segala yang ghaib. Ya Allah kiranya Engkau mengetahui bahawa perkara ini adalah baik bagiku dalam urusan agama ku juga dalam urusan penghidupan ku serta natijah pada urusan ku, kini dan akan datang, maka tetapkan lah ia bagi ku dan permudahkanlah ia untukku, serta berkatilah daku padanya. Dan kiranya Engkau mengetahui bahawa perkara ini membawa kejahatan kepadaku dalam urusan agamaku, juga dalam urusan penghidupanku dan natijah urusanku, kini dan akan datang, maka elakkanlah ia dariku dan tetapkanlah kebaikan untukku sebagaimana sepatutnya, kemudian jadikanlah daku meredhainya."

It All Depends on Your View

2011-03-08T09:09:00.001+08:00

This morning's Motivasi Pagi at Radio IKIM was very good indeed, quite a turning point when you feel so low in your life.

When looking at things, the views come from:

Physical View
Emotional View
Spiritual View

We are always thought to view things from the first 2 perspectives, very seldom we can view things from the third perspective.

When we view things from spiritual aspect, that's when you will try to connect with your Al-Khaliq - Yg Maha Mencipta.

Why is this happening to me?

Why I feel this is so heavy?

Why the misery is taking so long?

Then, comes the answer.

Your Al-Khaliq will never suppress you, He wants you to find Him. Go back to Him.

Dia tidak akan menzalimi hamba Nya.

He is creating something for you, now it's your time to find that out.

How cool. At least this boost up my motivation a bit. I can eat 2 slices of the bread today. This evening insya Allah I'll be meeting my 2 handsome and young mentees. It's been so long.

Well, at least something to take your eyes and views away from the Ujian and focus on other things.

Ya Allah, please give me more strength to persevere through this challenge. Ya Aziz Ya Alim.

Kasih Tercipta

2011-03-07T08:26:00.001+08:00

Kasih hilang tiada bicara
Setelah cintaku kau puja
Rintihan rindu terus melanda
Redup cahaya oh hati lara

Bisiklah kiranya aku bersalah
Sedetik tersirat rasa
Kau cipta kasih yang kumiliki
Cintaku jujur selama ini

Carilah aku dalam hatimu
Sayang sebutlah kau rindu
Hanya pintaku
Kasihmu kekal setia
Usah biarku oh terus terluka
Oh kasih tercipta
Oh carilah ku sayang
Mesra suaramu kini berbeza
Gagal sembunyi sedih
Kenangan lalu menusuk jiwa
Manis seindah berganti pedih
Ohh...
Ohh...

Carilah aku dalam hatimu
Sayang sebutlah kau rindu
Hanya cintaku
Kasihmu kekal setia
Usah biarku oh terus terluka

Pabila bersamamu
Debaran darah arus mengalir cinta
Lahir selamanya
Berilah kucupan sayang
Biar terukir wajah
Kasih tercipta
Berilah kucupan sayang
Biar terukir wajah
Kasih tercipta

Oh kasih tercipta
Kini ku mengerti
Walau berbisa
Kurela kiranya kau bahagia

My Being for the Day

2011-03-03T08:38:00.001+08:00

Perasaan saya hari ini bercampur baur.

Ada rasa takut.

Ada rasa benci.

Ada rasa mungkin ini lah peluang nak membuat ibadat the "unconventional" way, something out of the box.

Ada rasa marah.

Ada rasa geram.

Ada rasa syukur, maybe sikit lah part ni.

Ada rasa meluat and menyampah.

Ada rasa terribly being betrayed.

Ada rasa macam nak potong jer anggota badan orang mana2 yg patut.

Eh, dah macam2 rasa lah. Sebab tu rasa kadang2 OK, but most of the time, aku kena selalu bermujahadah.

Wow, mujahadah. Nama seakan-akan muhasabah lah.

Muhasabah - hisab - hitung diri, berapa byk pahala dah buat, berapa byk dosa dah buat.

Mujahadah - jihad - perjuangan mesti diteruskan, perjalanan masih jauh, hidup adalah satu perjuangan.

So, have to combine both. Pening kepala makcik.

Memang betullah. Allah takkan kurniakan iman sesuka hati, Dia akan bagi ujian dalam hidup, setanding amal dan ilmu kita.

This is something really out of the conventional way of helping people.

It also means that I have to sacrifice myself and also my children's future.

Ini topic berat.

Emotional roller coaster. Iman pon macam roller coaster jugak. Teringat aku naik roller coaster kat Six Flags and Cedar Point dulu.

Nak luahkan, mcm nak kena rahsia. Lagi pening lah.....

I can only mengadu and reveal to Allah all my challenges in life. But being normal human being, sometimes I need ideas too, bounce ideas how to make things better.

It's quite difficult also to choose what to reveal and what to keep during interactions with fellow listeners.

Hah....the only channel - Forum dalam Internet. Anonymous and can say whatever you want, get whatever advice you want.

Tips dari Soleh.Net

2011-03-01T16:39:00.001+08:00

Kebetulan musim kahwin ni, elok kita cerita sikit tentang keluarga bahagia, ok tak? Tips ini adalah dari seorang mufti untuk kita kongsi bersama.

Di awal perkahwinan semuanya terasa indah. EQ kedua-dua pengantin masih di tahap yang tinggi lantaran masing-masing cuba bertoleransi dalam setiap situasi dan cuba untuk memahami dan mengenali pasangan dengan lebih baik lagi.

Namun, masalah akan muncul bila sikap sebenar mula timbul. Orang putih kata, that's the true colour. Ego, pemarah, panas baran, tak sabar, pemalas, kedekut, pengotor, dan segala macam sikap mazmumah lagi.

Jadi tips untuk kekalkan kebahagiaan rumahtangga ialah:

Sentiasa bersyukur
Banyakkan bersyukur pada Allah dan terima pasangan kita seadanya. Bukankah Allah pernah berjanji pada hamba-Nya, jikalau kamu bersyukur akan Aku tambah nikmat-Ku.
Kawal emosi dan bermujahadah
Bersabarlah, jangan sakiti hati pasangan dan jangan berdendam, kerana walaupun semasa bergaduh rasa menang tetapi hakikatnya dua-dua kalah (rugi). Rumahtangga yang menjadi mangsa. Zip mulut dengan memperbanyakkan zikir, baca quran dan jangan buang masa dengan perkara-perkara yang melalaikan. Sentiasa baik sangka dengan pasangan.
Muhasabah diri
Selalu minta ampun dengan Allah kerana kita hamba-Nya yang lemah tak akan pernah lepas dari membuat kesilapan. Kenali hati budi pasangan, jadilah orang yang suka memaafkan dan meminta maaf. (indah bukan?) Jangan rasa rugi atau malu jika kita (terutama suami) meminta maaf terlebih dahulu.

Akhir kata, sesungguhnya kasih sayang yang berasaskan keimanan lebih berharga dari harta benda, rupa paras dan nafsu syahwat (yang tidak kekal).

Bring me to the Fantasy Land

2011-03-01T14:02:00.001+08:00

Who does not want to be in the fantasy land?

In fantasy land, there is no:

Dosa and Pahala - everything goes.
Halal and Haram - everything is good and beneficial and pretty.
Days of hereafter - life for NOW, no need to think of the repurcussions and consequences.
Headache of not enough money - well, money is always there, just spend it, it will not deteriorate.
Responsibility - heck with your family members - who are they anyway?
Accountability - I am alone NOW man, do not disturb me. Heck with the rest.

Wow, isn't life so good in the Fantasy Land?

keadaan saya hari ini

2011-02-18T08:25:00.001+08:00

Hari ini makanan saya makan semua terasa pahit.

Saya rasa agak dizzy bila berdiri.

Kadang2 saya rasa mcm nak pengsan.

Saya masih byk batuk.

Fikiran saya berkecamuk.

Saya cuba untuk lupakan semua masalah.

Saya cuba untuk mengumpul kekuatan untuk ke tempat kerja.

Saya ke klinik semalam dan doktor kata tekanan darah saya rendah, mungkin sebab batuk berpanjangan.

Saya perlukan banyak motivasi.

Nasib baik saya jumpa laman yg bagus - www.imotivasi.com. Lega rasanya.

Inilah agaknya lumrah kehidupan. Masalah itu Allah cipta untuk kita serlahkan potensi diri.

Saya suka prinsip ini.

Mudah-mudahan saya akan dapat mengumpul kekuatan untuk lebih bersemangat mengharungi kehidupan.

Sifat Mahmudah Suami dan Isteri

2011-02-11T18:42:00.001+08:00

Dipetik dari buku - Doa Menjadi Pengantin Baru Setiap Hari - Ustaz Zahazan Mohamed.

Taubat - kuatkanlah keazaman utk meninggalkan segala kesalahan dan dosa-dosa besar melalui jalan ilmu, penyesalan dan niat untuk tidak mengulanginya. Kesalahan dosa-dosa kecil akan terhapus dgn istighfar, zikir, tahmid dan berwuduk.Takut akan Allah - Orang yg takut kepada Allah adalah orang yg berilmu. Gandakanlah amalan2 soleh dan tinggalkanlah amalan yg dimurkaiNya.
Mahabbah (kasih akan Allah) - mengasihi Allah dan Rasul melebihi segala-galanya.
Zuhud - tidak terlalu gembira apabila mendapat sesuatu dan tidak terlalu sedih apabila kehilangan sesuatu, sentiasa memandang sama antara org yg memuji dan mencela dan sentiasa berasa tenang ketika beribadat dan terdorong utk membuat amalan taatkan Allah dan Rasul.
Sabar - dalam melakukan ketaatan, menghadapi kesusahan dan tuntutan nafsu yg ingin melakukan kejahatan.
Syukur - ilmu, amalan dan suasana. Bersyukur atas nikmat kesihatan, rezeki, kemudahan hidup, kurniaan pancaindera dan sbgnya.
Ikhlas dan Benar - patahkan dorongan hawa nafsu dan keseronokan dunia. Benar dalam perkataan, niat dan kehendak, keazaman, menepati janji dan benar dalam amalan mulia.
Tawakal - letakkan keyakinan sepenuhnya kepada Allah, setelah melakukan usaha dan ikhtiar.
Redha - segala ketentuan diterima dgn syukur dan sabar.
Mengingati Mati - hadith nabi,"Sepintar-pintar manusia ialah orang yg sentiasa ingat akan mati dan sentiasa bersedia menghadapinya, mereka itulah orang yg bijaksana".

"Katakanlah bahawa maut yg kamu sekelian ingin lari daripadanya itu pasti mendatangi kamu, kemudian kamu sekelian akan dikembalikan kepada Zat Yg Maha Mengetahui segala yg ghaib serta yg nyata. Kelak Dia akan memberitahu kamu segala yg kamu telah lakukan". Surah Al-Jumuah:8.

Tribute to Rosmiza Osman

2011-02-09T17:59:00.001+08:00

I need to say a few words to my friend, Allahyarhamah Rosmiza Osman - My friend cum college mate cum group work team member cum a person who brought me closer to my current life partner.

She passed away peacefully last 29th Jan. 2011.

Dear Memeq,

I did not know you well when we were at PPP, Subang Jaya. I knew you were in class 2E, same with my good friend Azlina Yatim. Your close friend had always been Azura aka Zack from your same hometown of Kelate.

I did get to know you a little bit more when we were at PPP, Shah Alam, since we were majoring in the same area - the boring Economics classes and all those elective classes. I knew you were always jovial and that you had a boyfriend since your schooling days (STF), who would visit you on and off at Shah Alam.

Suddenly you were there in the same college with me in IU. Somehow we never got to be roommates. Different wavelengh?

Somehow some things connected us, and 1 of the phenomenal surprise, a gentleman named Izwan Johari. Macam hebat. Well, let bygones be bygones. I am sure all of us did learn a lot from the incident. It is part of growing up.

Your cheerfulness had attracted a lot of guys after that, I reckon. That's a big advantage, not many gals have that.

I travelled with you with 6 other gangs to Canada, Pennsylvania, Washington, Boston and New York. As the hadith quoted, "If you want to know a person, go travel with the person". And so we got to know each other better, I assumed. Remember, we rent a van from "Rent-A-Rack" and it broke down at the highway? The sheriff came for rescue and you were so anxious to snap pix with him? Oh I remember that vividly. In the end, nobody dared to approach the big fat round tummy sheriff, and regretted for not doing just that.

Then the fun started to taper off, when school was about to end, you got to know a guy, who happened to study in UMN, TC.

And somehow you have helped me to get to know a guy from UMN too. Remember the incident at the UMich Ann Arbor Book Store? Man oh man. He was supposed to know me online, not in person.

You were one gal who had impacted my life.

When I went to your wedding in Tanah Merah, I was so happy for you last March 2010. I had no clue of what's happening. I even told you, "Meq, syukur ko dapat budak muda ni, bukan org 50-an tua punye". You just had that big laugh. Remember I hugged you and said a few words of wisdom, among them:

"Sebagai seorang isteri, kita kena sentiasa bersabar. Walaupun kita di dalam keadaan benar, kadangkala kita perlu tunduk dan patuh, kerana syurga seorang isteri adalah di kaki suaminya".

In my mind I was thinking of a hadith "Kalau Allah benarkan seorang manusia sujud pada seorang manusia lain, aku akan suruh seorang isteri sujud pada suaminya". I hugged you for a long time, Meq.

I've been married for quite some time now, and I really wanted you to have and remember that piece of advice on your gracious wedding day. I didn't know that you had much bigger priority then, than all of my advice to you.

You were sick. Dead sick. But on your wedding day, you looked as usual. Your usual self. Pandai ko Meq. I don't know whether I can do the same if I were you.

I thought you would "bersanding" next in Penang, and you would continue your happening life in KL.

Apparently not ya Meq. Nobody informed me you were hospitalized. Until Zack SMS me and asked, "Do you hear anything about Memeq?" "Mana ada. Last aku pegi wedding dia, ceria semacam jer".

Then came another SMS from Zack, forwarded from Amalin, your cousin Meq. "Memeq has passed away at 11.50am today due to ovarian cancer".

Masya Allah Meq. Innalillah wa inna ilai hi rajiun. Semoga Allah tempatkan roh mu bersama mereka yg beriman Meq.

You know in your life, you may get to know millions of people, but some people create big impact to your life. In my life, Rosmiza Osman is one of those persons. Luckily I managed to whisper that to her on her wedding day. Dalam pada aku berbisik tu, aku yg sedih. Member relax jer. Mungkin air mata ko dah habis tak Meq, waktu tu? Aku frust sebab I had no clue that you were dead sick.

Ya Allah. Selamatkanlah roh sahabatku, jadikanlah dia roh yg aman, dan tempatkan rohnya bersama roh orang yg beriman.

Aku pon respek kat laki hang tu. He knew that you were sick and he consciously agreed to continue to get married with you and take care of you....alamak Meq, mana ko nak dapek laki mcm tu zaman sekarang Meq....sungguh bertuah ko Meq, usia muda, hansem, jiwa yg cekal and hati nurani yg sungguh murni. Salute lah. Nama dia Azad kan?

When I tried to reflect, you were so damn lucky Meq. Allah amik sebahagian dari nikmat, dan Dia beri lebih byk rahmat. Semoga Allah cekalkan hati Azad yg hanya sempat berumah tangga dgn Meq selama 10 bulan.

I miss you, Meq. I wish we could have some talks before saying goodbye. I know Allah has better plans for you.

Al-Fatihah.

Thank You Allah

2011-02-09T08:05:00.001+08:00

Alhamdullillah, aku masih sihat, supaya aku boleh lebih banyak beribadah dan membantu insan lain, dalam mencuba menjadi khalifah yg baik.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih boleh bekerja, supaya aku boleh membantu meringankan beban kewangan suami.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih bernafas hari ini, supaya aku boleh melihat anak-anakku membesar dgn kasih sayang dari ibu dan ayahnya.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih bertahan di tempat ini, supaya aku dapat membantu ia lebih maju dan menjadi lambang kejayaan anak watan yg majoritinya adalah muslim.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih diberi peluang untuk mengetuai, supaya aku dapat membimbing anak watan ke pencapaian yg lebih baik.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih lagi seorang isteri, supaya aku dapat berkhidmat kepada seorang lelaki bernama suami.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih lagi seorang ibu, supaya aku dapat mencurahkan kasih sayang dan didikan yg sebaiknya untuk darah daging ku sendiri.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih punya teman-teman, supaya aku boleh berkongsi saat suka duka bersama.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih punya iman, supaya aku dapat mengawal perasaan marah, benci, meluat, dan yg sewaktu dengannya.

Alhamdullillah, aku masih punya pegangan agama, supaya aku sedar akulah seorang daripada hiasan dunia.

Wanita adalah perhiasan dunia, dan sebaik-baik perhiasan, adalah wanita solehah.

Syukur alhamdullillah, Thank You Allah.

"Dialah Allah Yg Menciptakan, Yg Mengadakan, Yg Membentuk Rupa, Yg Mempunyai Nama-Nama Yg Paling Baik. Bertasbih kepada-Nya apa yang ada di langit dan dibumi. Dan Dialah Yg Maha Perkasa lagi Maha Bijaksana". (Al-Hasyr:24).

Positive Charge

2011-02-08T17:57:00.000+08:00

Sometimes whatever it is in your subconscious will haunt you, in your free thinking time or in your sleep.

If what is inside your subconscious mind is good, then you will be happy all the time.

However, if what's inside your subconscious is like "mimpi ngeri" or kes "luka lama berdarah kembali", no matter how hard you try to suppress it, it is still there in your subconcious perimeter.

How do you throw away this "zan" in Arabic means "syak wasangka"?

The prophet said, "Half of Presumptions are Sinful" = Sebahagian dari perasaan syak wasangka adalah dosa.

This goes back to 1 talk by Dr Fadzilah Kamsah, we must always have this principle called "Husnu Zan" = sentiasalah bersangka baik.

It's not easy to have Husnu Zan when some bad experience had happened in the past. On the other hand, you cannot have "syak wasangka" all the time. Whatever you believe, will come true.

Be careful of your thinking, since you are what you think. While you cannot control what happens to you, you can control how to react to the event. This comes to the notion = Always think positive. Think positive, so your actions and reactions will be positive, and you will lead a positive life. Everyone is given 24 hours a day, might as well spend the time positively. Enrich your mind and soul.

Just now I talked about being and trying to stay positive no matter what events were to happen to you. This is the way:

Surround yourself with positive people.
Always listen to positive talks e.g. motivational CDs, brief spirit uplifting talk on Light FM at 7.30am, or IKIM motivasi talk 7.30am also.
Say the positive words always, try to limit yourself from saying all the bad sentences

Well, they liked the talk. Suffice to say, after what had happened, it is crucial for majority of us to stay positive.

What is life without a challenge. Allah also says "Bagaimana kamu katakan kamu beriman jika kamu tidak diuji?" and "Allah akan menguji setakat kemampuan seseorang untuk menerima".

Means, there are certain things which you can control, and for those which you cannot control, take it positively, because it is part and parcel to make you a much better Muslim.

Now go back to the subconscious, try to press the negative thoughts harder. Apply the Husnu Zan to kill off that wasting-time-of-no-use-GTH kind of thinking.

Supress it harder everyday. Even though sometimes it may appear in your dreams, try to clarify and see the results.

We'll know the results soon.

Alahai - what's up what's up...

2011-02-07T08:44:00.001+08:00

Alahai, nampak gaya masih ada orang berminat nak baca blog gua yg sudah penuh dgn sesawang ni. OKlah, gua tulis sikit.

Alahai, Puan Khamisah dah selamat meninggalkan kerjaya lama dan telah pun mulakan kerjaya baru di tempat serba baru. Bukanlah satu kejutan, kerana Puan Khamisah memang seorang yg cekal, ada matlamat, dan sentiasa bersedia menuju matlamat tak kira apa rintangan yg bakal dihadapinya. Pertama kali dia beritahu akan berhijrah, terus gua ucap "Tahniah!". Ingat senang ke nak berhijrah setelah hampir 20 tahun berkhidmat? Gua salute lah! Ramai jugak kawan2 gua yg dah berkhidmat lebih 10 tahun telah berhijrah. Gua berprinsip bahawa hijrah itu akan membawa lebih byk kebaikan. Hijrah akan membentuk peribadi mulia dan akan meningkatkan taraf hidup seseorang. So, bila gua nak berhijrah? Payah nak jawab ni. Mungkin gua akan berhijrah rumah kot. Nak kena cari rumah yg lebih dekat dgn tempat gua carik makan. Penat lah. Kaki dah semakin lenguh.

Alahai, sungguh seronok bila kita dapat membina hidup di luar negara, terutama di negara maju. Tak kira lah berapa usia, kalau diberi peluang, gua akan terus grab untuk menimba pengalaman hidup di luar negara. Baru hari tu gua chit chat dgn pemandu teksi ke KLIA, dia kata ramai pelancong asing suka datang ke Malaysia kerana byk yg best2, except for the bloody public toilet. Baguslah. Gua pun turut bangga jadik rakyat Malaysia. Dalam pada tu gua sempat gak cucuk jarum suruh driver tu cari peluang ke luar negara. Dia kata dia dah pegi Thailand. Baguslah, at least kita akan lebih menghargai apa yg ada di tanahair sendiri setelah kita melihat keadaan daif di negara yg kurang maju dari negara kita. Kalau kita tengok rakyat miskin di negara jiran dan jugak di India tu, sungguh lah gua bersyukur menjadik seorang Muslim di negara Malaysia tercinta ini. Org Malaysia susah nak miskin. Kalau mereka miskin, that's a choice. Kecuali mereka yg keluar kat program Bersama Mu tu lah, bila ibu tinggal kena besarkan ramai anak, atau orang tua yg dah sakit atau cacat, itu yes. Diterima. Yg muda belia dan bertenaga kalau miskin, memang patut hantar mereka ke Somalia. Baru dia tahu jerih perih nak hidup, sampai sanggup jadik lanun, dah dapat free travelling ke Malaysia tu...silap haribulan tak balik, jadik UNHCR refugee pulak. Kang silap2 gua tengah makan kat warung, member datang jual jam tangan dan tali pinggang....perghh.....inilah negara ku, macam2 boleh jadik juga.

Alahai, 2 minggu lepas projek MDP gua menang The Best Project and gua sudah menang The Best Student dalam program MDP tu. Phewittttt....ingat senang ke nak buat group work bila team members nya bersepah? Kat Sabah, KL, Thailand and Pasir Gudang. Kata je ada Skype, YM, etc, tapi method lama jugak yg berguna. Pakai email jugak yg selamat. Sungguh mencabar nak siapkan assignment and group work dalam masa yg singkat, with such high expectation. Tapi gua sudah berprinsip, biar berkerat arang dan berpatah rotan, my mind was already set, that this would be The Best Project ever! Hahaha.....lepas tu dah rezeki pulak bila other groups punya topic tak berapa nak ngam with the assessors. Yg part Best Student tu, was really unexpected lah. Itu pon rezeki jugak lah. Dalam pada "berjuggling" with daily operational matters in the office and at home, gua sempat menghabiskan semua assignment. Dan agaknya memang gua suka menulis, the professors liked what I had to express. Dah dapat 2 biji pewter mugs yg memang cun lah.

Byk lagi alahai....to be continued...

Money & Religion Cannot Be Separated

2011-02-01T08:32:00.001+08:00

Tuesday February 1, 2011

Managing our finances aptly

IKIM VIEWS
By MOHAMAD AZHAR HASHIM, Centre for Economic and Social Studies

To enhance the effectiveness and to make it more practical to society, it is vital to include the religious dimension into the content of the financial education.

ABOUT 1,430 years ago, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), through an incident that befell one of his companions, taught us a supplication (Du'a) in response to the burden of debt.

The Prophet advised his companion to utter these words: "O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debt and being overpowered by men."

In the present era, debt continues to be a predicament to mankind, as proven by the current global economic and financial crisis.

Retrospectively, if one may recall, the Asian financial crisis, which occurred more than 10 years ago was also due to debt, in the form of corporate loans.

For individuals like us, the prevailing economic trend either may have forced us or enticed us into debt.

At a time when household loans are common currency, taking a loan from a bank or a lender and carrying the burden of paying the principal plus interest or profit has been the trend of our lifestyle.

Various groups in the community have continuously voiced their concerns about this, and reminded us against the troubles and perils of debt.

Nevertheless, economic reality may suggest otherwise.

Inevitably, in recent years, due to the volatility in the external economic environment, the domestic household consumption needs to be boosted to offset the slackening external demand for goods and services.

This factor, coupled with the steady income and job prospects, as well as the breakthrough in new technology that brings about more innovative and attractive features in consumer goods, has pushed up the demand for household loans.

In response to this, financial institutions and other household lenders have inundated the market with easy consumer loans products, which make it less of a hassle for households to borrow.

The target market is fixed-income earners, particularly those who work in the civil service.

Recently, Bank Negara Malaysia revealed that household debt stood at RM577bil or 74.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) compared to RM561.5bil or 78.1% of GDP as at August 2010.

At this level, loans to households accounted for about 50% of total loans extended by the banking system.

Based on this, the central bank said that household debt was still at a prudent level.

The statistics may have limitation, as it only accounts for household loans within the banking system.

Hence, we do not know the real exposure of household debt.

It appears to be that there are a lot more lenders in the economy, which operate outside the banking system.

These lenders comprise cooperative societies, licensed and unlicensed moneylenders, and other sources of household credit, which are not classified as financial institutions under the Central Banking Act.

In recent times, these institutions have thrived with advertisements and flyers found everywhere.

Through these lenders, applicants can bypass the Credit Bureau's Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS).

In other words, those who are unable to acquire household loans from financial institutions in the banking system can still enjoy the facility.

Apart from these lenders, various government and state agencies also provide study loans to individuals, and there are household loans provided under employment schemes by certain organisations.

These loans are not accounted for under the banking system and thus, not included in the statistics.

The spending trend of our younger population is also of great concern.

Many observers feel that our younger generation has been adopting a lavish and luxurious lifestyle.

Nevertheless, if we look at current economic realities, it is natural for those who have just entered the job market to incur debt.

Should someone need a housing loan to purchase a reasonably priced house for his own occupancy, he would also require taking a personal loan to pay for the down payment of the house.

Those who intend to own a car will likely face similar circumstances.

In addition to that, financial institutions are also generous to offer credit cards or overdraft facilities with certain credit limits to the borrower.

It is quite common today for a person to end up having three or more loan facilities instead of only one that he actually requires —thanks to cross selling strategy adopted by financial institutions.

Inevitably, this may create a psychological impact on the borrower — he may think that his purchasing power has been increasing.

The business strategy of the financial institutions warrants observation.

To achieve their goals and performance targets, several financial institutions have outsourced their sales and marketing activities of their personal loan products.

As a result, we can now see an aggressive trend of sales and marketing strategies for consumer loans products. This is obvious with the presence of sales agents almost everywhere at strategic locations.

Apparently, their income depends on the number of applications and approvals; hence, the more loans approved, the better for them as that is how they earn their living.

In response to the prevailing trend, what we need now is to increase our level of financial literacy.

In this regard, the latest financial education programme called Power (Pengurusan Wang Ringgit Anda) organised by Agensi Kaunseling and Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) is timely and essential for all Malaysians.

We look to this programme for the essential financial knowledge it provides in instilling the confidence in us to make our own financial decisions effectively.

It is our hope to see the outreach of the programme covering all Malaysians from various walks of life.

Not only the urban dwellers, but also for those in the rural areas and encompassing a wide target group from schools to mosques.

In a nutshell, financial management is about managing our lifestyle.

In this regard, as to enhance the effectiveness, and to make it more practical to society, it is vital to include the religious dimension into the content of the financial education programme.

For example, the programme could include discussions on the position of debt and wealth from the religion's perspective.

In addition, spiritual input in managing our daily life needs to be included so that we can have a more holistic approach in our financial education programme.

Indeed, being one of the pillars of our Rukun Negara, religion input is necessary in all aspects, as it would lead us to live a better life.

Charles Lamb, a British essayist, once wrote, "The human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed of two distinct races, the men who borrow and the men who lend."

So long as these two races of the human species continue to exist, likewise, the issue of debt will continue to persist and continue to be the bane of our prosperity.

This is what Malaysian Kids Think

2011-01-22T08:30:00.001+08:00

From The EdgeDaily.

A new survey has popped up in my inbox and it claims to be Malaysia's first children career survey. It has been done five times in Singapore and twice in Thailand.

The survey asks five simple questions like what do you want to be when you grow up and what is more important: to make lots of money or spend time with your family?

Now this is intriguing. Swiss human resource firm Adecco said it gives "insight into what the Malaysian workforce of tomorrow thinks about the world that they live in and what they aspire to do and become in the future".

About a fifth of Malaysian kids, aged 7-14, that were surveyed wants to be doctors, followed by pilot and police officer. This has also been the top choice in Thailand for two years running and it is among the top five in Singapore.

Interestingly, Singaporean kids' top job pick is to be a soccer player, according to Adecco's latest survey. That actually makes a lot of sense to me, because successful players in the English Premier League get paid hundreds of thousands of pounds a week.

The survey results reinforce what we know to be true about kids, which is the fact that they care and they like to help others. This is probably why being a doctor or policeman would always rank in the top five popular jobs.

But after studying the survey results between Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, there was one thing that worried me. Only 75 per cent of kids surveyed in Malaysia think it's better to spend more time with the family than to make more money. The number is over 90 per cent in Singapore and Thailand.

The main question would be why is our number lower? The results mean that in Malaysia, roughly every one in four kids between 7 and 14 think it's better to work than to spend time with the family. Something is not quite right here.

One reason could be that Malaysian parents have to work harder to make ends meet. This means the father and mother work, leaving little quality family time. Now why would the average Malaysian husband and wife spend more time at work to make more money?

The answer to that could be the rise in prices. For example, monthly food charges at a boarding school more than 20 years ago were about RM30. It has since tripled.

Another possible explanation is that our wages have not grown much faster than the prices of goods and services over the years. According to a survey by Towers Watson, another HR firm, average salaries grew by 5 per cent in 2010. Companies expect another 5-6 per cent salary increase in 2011.

But it rightly pointed out that this is not enough. If Malaysia wants to double its gross national income over the next 10 years, salaries must rise by an average of 7.2 per cent a year.

My Tefal My Dear

2010-12-29T17:45:00.001+08:00

We went to Genting Highlands again last weekend, after 1.5 years. Things have not changed much, but this time we brought along 5 other people. It must have been a thrilling once-in-a-lifetime for these people though. This time I tried the Space Shot. It was a drop dead shot from top of the tower, almost like 200m high? Man oh man....it was nice view on top of the Space Shot, you could see the Genting resort at its peak. But the sudden drop after that was the most precarious. It was like people pulling over your chair and you fall down hard, very hard. I surely let my heart out on that. But it was nice. It was the first ride, and I felt like to ride on it again, except that time was limited to cover the almost 40 rides available. I will have to wait for Eusoff to come of age, so that he too can enjoy most of the rides. Poor Husna, the rides are either too tall for her (meant for adults) or too low for her (meant for kids below age 4). It's tough when your height is caught in between. Nevertheless she got to enjoy the boat rides and log ride where the water would splash at the end and definitely makes you wet (I argued with Mr.X, since he said he wouldn't get wet, until proven guilty - I told you so).

I wrote about how to confront the dearest mom-in-law when she used my steel spatula for the almost brand new Tefal frying pan in my Facebook last night. The response was overwhelming. From both men and women. How thoughtful of these people, thanks so much. OK, it may sound trivia to some, but it is a big deal for me OK. I bought the Tefal frying pan from Mustaffa Center Singapore last Sept. 2010, after a long investigation and pondering over it again and again. It's like a tool to motivate you to cook. Somehow your dish will taste better and looks better when it is cooked using the branded pan. It's that kind of feelings. That satisfaction of using the non-stick branded frying pan. Nothing can compare to that satisfaction in the kitchen, and at that dinner table. Because of its exclusivity, I hang it on the kitchen's window, to be used only for cooking of omelette and any vegie dish, of course by using wooden spatula. Everybody knows that. You are supposed to know that. It's like e=MC2 by Einstein. Who doesn't know it?

I was actually dumbfounded when I found the pan with steel spatula in it on my stove when I came home yesterday. Like who's on earth doesn't know the rule....non-stick pan requires wooden utensils. Get it? So the surface won't get scratched and you will end up ruining that special layer. Get it? Aiyaiyaiyaiyai.....I quickly washed them over and dried both items. I was at awed. Should I say something - Dear Mom-in-Law, I expect you to know the rule, how on earth you don't know the rule. Apparently it is not in your universe to care for such things. This one sounds very bad. I shall be labelled as overly materialistic. But then who cares? But to be an obedient child-in-law mind you, I kept quiet. It is that battle to say it out loud - next time for this type of pan, please use the wooden spatula. I care for my pan just like Sponge Bob cares for his spatula OK. Hahaha....

Is there any remote chance that she actually knows the rule, but just to proof something to me? To test me? Enough of all the tests laaaaa....I have long suffered already....hahahhahaa....

Pilihlah Yang Terbaik

2010-12-17T14:22:00.001+08:00

Ada orang memilih jalan yang menyakitkan, walaupun jalan yang mudah telah tersedia.

Ada orang memilih untuk bersengketa, walaupun jalan muhibbah itu lebih berkat.

Ada orang memilih untuk menerajui KPI sendiri at the expense of the team, walaupun kata pujangga - Bersatu Kita Teguh, Bercerai Kita Roboh.

Ada orang memilih untuk memijak kepala staf2 dia bawah untuk menonjolkan diri, walaupun dia tahu Allah tahu akan niat tersembunyi setiap insan.

Ada orang memilih untuk kejayaan singkat, walaupun dia tahu matlamat jangka panjang perlu didahulukan.

Ada orang memilih untuk memikirkan kepentingan diniya sendiri sahaja sepanjang masa, walaupun dia tahu kubur itu sempit dan doa orang yg masih hidup itu perlu utk meringankan seksaan.

Ada orang memilih untuk mengusai hal2 duniawi dan berjaya di dunia, walaupun dia tahu kehidupan di akhirat adalah yg kekal abadi.

Ada orang memilih untuk berdiam diri bila melihat kemungkaran, wlaupun dia tahu malaikat ada disebelah kanan dan kiri dan sentiasa bersedia untuk mencatit apa yg terzahir dan apa yg ada di dalam kalbunya.

Apakah yg akan terjadi kepada orang2 yg bersikap negatif seperti di atas?

Bekerja adalah ibadah. Setiap niat, pergerakan dan matlamat perjuangan di dalam pekerjaan adalah ibadah. Dah namanya ibadah, buat lah perkara2 yg menyenangkan hati, secara ikhlas.

Janganlah pula memilih jalan yg bertentangan.

Antara Tips untuk menjadi Orang Cemerlang karya Dr. Fadzilah Kamsah, sentiasalah Mengingati Mati. Mungkin mati itu telah hampir, tetapi kita tidak ambik pot.

Itulah antara kata2 perangsang staf aku kat ofis pagi ni. Bagus betul. Nabi pon kata, orang yg bijak ialah orang yg senantiasa memikirkan tentang kematian.

Mudah-mudahan bahan ini dapat menjadi santapan minda di hari Jumaat yg mulia ini.

Wisdom of New Year

2010-12-08T13:21:00.001+08:00

Does age come with wisdom or does wisdom comes of age?

Or does it boil down to your life's exposure and challenges which you have to face?

The more work or life challenges you face, the more wisdom you will gather. Yes? No?

When something happens to you, mostly events where you consider as "bad luck", you will despise the event. But soon, as in the Malay community, people will say - "Sabarlah, mesti ada hikmah di sebalik ujian ini, atau di sebalik terjadinya perkara ini". It sounds as a little bit cliche, albeit true. There are always hikmahs behind a bad event, only you will realize it later if not sooner. As a result, to comfort yourself of any bad events, try to convince yourself that - there will definitely be something positive here. Dig and you will concur.

As in the marriage life, you can never know your partner's overall true color until the day you die. BUT, if something unexpected were to happen (the bad ones la...e.g. husband got transferred elsewhere further from your eyes and nose), it will expedite the emergence of the true color of the couple - for both men and women. If trial like this happens, we can judge and see how much perseverance, strengths, patience and loyalty both parties have to overcome the endless challenges they have to face. Getting out from it, the phase of "getting to know each other up to the bottom of it" will either makes the marriage better or worst. This kind of exposure, especially when couples are separated for a very long time, would undoubtedly bring them up one level higher in their relationship. But then again, caution here, people can change. It can never be "ceteris paribus", or so I learnt during my Economics class back in college. We can only hope for the best.

People change. That's a fact. In conjunction with this Maal Hijrah - well today is the 2nd Muharam, I hope people around me and also myself, will change for the better. All those life experiences, should be reflected and converted into pieces of key learnings, which will make us better individuals, or much better Muslims and Muslimahs. As the years pass by, so do our life's experiences. Go and seek new challenges, meet new people, try new things and try to revive and cherish whatever you already have, people who you love and especially with your parents (caution : mom in law tak masuk). Haha....that one is a great barrier reef which I have not understood how to swim and scuba dive into....

Experience can be converted into wisdom, when we reflect on it and try to find all the hikmahs or the good things behind its happenings.

Therefore, I am of the opinion that wisdom definitely comes with age. Not the other way.

Girl Power Giler

2010-12-08T09:09:00.001+08:00

Wednesday December 8, 2010

Zeti first woman to get Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah award

PUTRAJAYA: Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz was named Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 1432H at the national-level celebration of the Muslim New Year at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here yesterday.

Zeti, 63, is the first woman named as the recipient of the award since it was introduced 24 years ago.

The award comes with RM100,000 in cash, medal, plaque and certificate.

Interestingly, Dr Zeti's father, Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid, was the recipient 11 years ago. He was present at the event to see his daughter receive the award from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Speaking to reporters later, she said: "This will be an encouragement and inspiration for me to continue to work hard."

Saying he was very proud of his daughter, Ungku Aziz said her success was due to her own hard work.

He said he had never told Dr Zeti what studies or job to take up as he believed she should make her own decisions.

"I always gave her the freedom to decide. She chose what studies she wanted to pursue and the areas she wanted to carry out her doctorate in," he said.

The award recognises her work in enhancing the national economy and developing and transforming the country's financial system into one that is competitive and strong.

She also led the country out of the economic slowdown and ensured Malaysia's continued economic growth.

Her contributions have not been limited to within the country as she has also played an important role in developing financial cooperation in the region.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Zeti said as well that this is a motivation for women to achieve greater heights and strive for excellence. I heard it over the radio this morning and she was talking inspirationally to all women out there. Why the heck the newspaper talked about the father's view point??? I bet the reporter for NST is a man.

She said that women at work must prove that we can also excel, same as our male counterpart. Just like at Bank Negara, the Timbalan is also a lady and the 2 Ketua Penolong Pengarah, guess what...are also ladies....huhu.....I wonder what she'll do with the 100k.....beli gold bar ke, beli tanah ke, beli amanah saham ke, or she'll spend it for overseas trip ka, wow....best nyer dapat rezeki terpijak like that.....this is 1 hell of a lady that deserves highest amount of respect from male and female in Malaysia. Thoughts for the day.

Hermoine the Girl

2010-12-06T08:56:00.001+08:00

I watched Harry Potter movie last 2 weeks and totally at awed with the growing up of the leading role the actress Emma Watson (betul kan?). She played Hermoine (pronounced as Harmaini). She was just so gorgeous, from being a cute little blond girl from previous Harry Potter movies to this so decent-looking, smart and very beautiful teenage girl. I was just thinking, perhaps my next girl I would name her Hermoine. But then again, not all people watch Harry Potter movies, and the risk of being called as per what the spelling says, is just a big turn off. I scrolled through a few YouTube videos, and stumbled upon a bunch of guys making fun of Potter, Weasley and Hermoine. It was done so creatively but caused so much humiliation not to the characters, but to themselves. I can't imagine people have got so much talent in acting and videotaping, but chose to waste their God-given talent by de-grading themselves.

Sometimes when I got some ideas to write, I wish I can have the brand new iPhone or Blackberry with the paid subsription, that allows me to straight away write and record when the ideas are still fresh. Unfortunately, my BB only has the basic communication tool. I have chosen not to subscribe to the full service which allows internet access 24 hours. Mind you Mr.X has all those gadgets and he is practically hooked up with the toys. If plus me, then all our children would be the victims of technology addicts (remember the 6-months old baby that died in Korea because the mom and dad were busy playing with video games?). *sigh*

Coming back to Hermoine. I wrote about my thoughts in my Facebook status (not that I always do), and people were shocked. Well, some people thought that having 3 kids are suficient in this modern world we live in. It all depends, I would say. It would be nice to have another kid - be it boy or girl. There are always pros and cons at having many children. It's the quality that matters, not the quantity. Sometimes when I have to spend hundreds to buy that diapers and mlik powder, a thought came across my mind that those single ones, or those married couple with no children, they must have got so much money to spend on themselves. Lucky them. Lucky or unlucky? Well, that relationship of money and happiness, no one can find the definite relation. Is it co-relate? Inversely related? Diagonally related? Only you can determine your level of happiness. Does it really depend on how much money you have? Money can't buy happiness, but all those that make you happy, must have some elements of financial related to it.

Thoughts of the day.

Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti?

2010-12-03T08:23:00.001+08:00

I received this yesterday. Worth sharing with those who are contemplating to come home after working abroad. It is a fact. We still have a 3rd world country mentality and the infra structure and the support system are a long way to go for Malaysia. But take this optimistically, it's for the good of the nation. I still love Malaysia, no matter what.

Ramlee was poached and enticed to return to Malaysia which he did in 1964. Wrong step it seems. All promises "back home in Malaysia" were not kept by his new masters. Sounds very very familiar here.
By The Ampas Man

Question: Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti?

Answer: Not in Malaysia

Those who watched the heart wrenching P. Ramlee documentary on the History Channel on 31st October 2010 must have gone to bed with a heavy heart. It transpires that Malaysia's one and only film icon had died penniless and shunned by the public including his own colleagues. And the way it was done appears to have uncanny resemblances to what's happening today in Malaysia, almost 45 years after Ramlee returned to Malaysia.

The documentary, narrated by British actor, Timothy Watson and 12 years in the making included precious interviews by some of his friends, actors and actresses who had passed on. The underlying tone was one of profound melancholy.

Ramlee, borne out of poverty along Caunter Hall Road at an Achenese community in Penang, had to endure a brutal Japanese occupation whose schools incidentally inculcated a certain discipline in him. In his formative years then, this discipline proved crucial as a founding platform for his eventual brilliance, creativity and innovation in film and music.

He subsequently gained phenomenal success at Shaw brothers' Jalan Ampas studios in Singapore. His success at Jalan Ampas was the apparent result of the studio's incredible milieu of experienced film crew, choreographers and directors which the Shaw brothers had assembled from India, Hong Kong and Indonesia. With the load of management and finance off his shoulders, Ramlee was able to thrive and focus on his talent of creating music, acting and eventually direction, screenplay and editing.

The Shaw brothers invested and created such a conducive environment at Ampas that Singapore became the mecca for the Malay film industry for an entire genre of actors and actresses from the whole of the Malay Archipelago from Pontianak, Penang to Medan. Apart from Ramlee, Ampas provided careers for other actors and actresses like Nordin Ahmad, S. Kadarisman, Ahmad Daud, Normadiah, Saloma and Saadiah.

But this talent could not have been developed without the expertise of directors such as B. S. Rajan, L. Krishnan and Phani Majumdar. Directors such as Majumdar already had something like 15 years experience in directing films in various languages in Calcutta and Bombay before they came to Singapore. It was on this wealth of experience that the Malay film industry flourished.

Majumdar directed Ramlee in "Anakku Sazali" which won Ramlee Best Actor in 1956. And when Majumdar returned to India, he discovered another great Indian actor, Feroz Khan and directed Khan in his first big hit "Oonche Log" in 1965. Yes it was happy times then at No.8 Jalan Ampas and Boon Kheng Road. But it had to end. Or so it seems.

Things appear to have taken a turn for the worse during the confusion of the Malaysia-Singapore separation in 1963 when Lee Kuan Yew had trouble reigning a tight leash on Trade Unions involving Lim Chin Siong, and his own PAP leaders led by Che'Awang and Devan Nair. Ramlee appears to have been an inadvertent victim of the unions' unreasonable demands leading Shaw brothers to call it a day at Jalan Ampas when they couldn't keep up with unions' demands for higher pay.

Other views suggest that Ramlee was poached and enticed to return to Malaysia which he did in 1964. Wrong step it seems. All promises "back home in Malaysia" were not kept by his new masters. Sounds very very familiar here. Merdeka studios was poorly equipped and its rookie staffing meant the legend had to multitask which ended up eventually in him churning out shoddy movies. All 18 movies he directed in Malaysia flopped. Sounds like the same stories we hear from some of our Malaysians "trying" to return home from overseas.

Ramlee lost his glitter, his money and apparently so his fame. His partner and colleague, H.M. Shah, tried to form a company called PERFIMA to enable Ramlee to relaunch his career and produce his dream of colour films. But PERFIMA apparently ended up in the hands of inexperienced and connected cronies leaving the talented Ramlee then, as in now, even as a Malay, blatantly unrecognized, ignored and out in the cold.

The documentary brutally exposes how Ramlee tried in vain to set up P. Ramlee productions, but was again shut out by this country's media and entertainment industry including RTM. He had to sit in the canteen at Ankasapuri while Saloma had her own show in RTM! He could not secure any government aid, grants or "Private Financial Initiatives" despite his passion for Malay music and culture.

He tried to reinvent himself and sought a bank loan – but was rejected! With his wealth of experience and in his early 40s then, he should have easily qualified. Poor Ramlee didn't know that in Malaysia it is the "know who" that counts then the "know how". If he had known George Tan from the Carrian Group then, Ramlee may have received a few million from BMF without even having to pay back. Or he should have "nurtured" some connections like how Daim, Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Syed Mokhtar and Amin Shah did.

Ramlee by now, tragically stressed out, overweight, disheveled, completely down and out with passion and spirit broken, had to now do almost any job he could including running mahjong tables and singing at weddings and other functions to put food on the table for his family. He had to live on rice and eggs. It was truly Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur for Ramlee. A court summons a day prior to his death for being a guarantor finally tipped the balance and done him in when he suffered a massive heart attack and he died on 29th May 1973 at the age of 44 years.

On the day he died, there was no rice in his house. And Saloma had no money for his funeral. The man and legend, P. Ramlee paid a very heavy price returning to Malaysia. The country just did not have the infrastructure, manpower and expertise to accommodate his enormous talent. He would have been better off in Singapore even with the unions there. He would not have gone broke in the club and wedding scene there and perhaps Singapore TV could have given him a break as compared to our own RTM. All the belated accolades and titles were a waste of time as far as the man himself was concerned. He died hopelessly broke and broken.

The documentary is not only an eye opener but a very good case study for anyone contemplating returning home to Malaysia. Whether you are a scientist, engineer, accountant, doctor, etc beware of the conditions enticing you to return. If your kid is an aerospace engineer, a naval architect or a transplant surgeon, it's a no brainer that he /she should not return at all unless you are absolutely sure the country has the infrastructure and skilled manpower to support these fields. Don't believe in these stories that you should come home to "help" and "develop" your areas of expertise. That's not going to happen. That sought of thing will only go to the chaps who have the connections. Assess any offer carefully and do not trust anyone including this government. Make certain all agreements are enforceable in Singapore and the UK .

In retrospect P. Ramlee, with no formal education but was able to compose more than 360 songs and 66 movies, probably returned to a society that was not developed nor had the brain power and skills to match up to his vision. In short he was just surrounded with a whole lot of officials and journalists with serious hang ups who were not interested in the industry itself. There was no driving force like another Shaw brothers.

And the prevailing attitude at that time and probably even now was and still is a third class mentality. In an environment such as this, no one with creativity, innovation, skills and brains can ever hope to survive let alone thrive. Its better they stay back where they can develop and nurture their talent. If a star as bright as Ramlee could be extinguished with such impunity, the rest are nothing. Ramlee and his entire family had been wiped out financially despite his immense talent. But he remains still till this day, the Malay Archipelago's cinematic legend.

With apologies.

Hancur badan dikandung tanah

Budi baik dikenang juga

Biar alam hancur dan musnah

Jasa mu tetap dikenang juga

THE AMPAS MAN

Lifestyle Allowance?

2010-11-30T08:53:00.001+08:00

Tuesday November 30, 2010

No staff or allowance for PM's wife

THE Prime Minister's wife does not have regular staff or contract employees working for her.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) in a written reply that officers from the Prime Minister's Office would occasionally assist her in carrying out her official duties.

He said the Government also did not provide an allowance or fixed annual allowance for overseas trips for the wife of the Prime Minister.

"However, under the Privileges and Special Allowances of Members of Parliament (Remuneration ) Act, it is stated that she is entitled to claim for expenses such as fees, meals, accommodation, lifestyle allowance and clothing while accompanying the Prime Minister during his official visits overseas and locally," he said.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wow wee....if the PM makes official visits every day, locally and internationally, does that mean the allowance will snowball everyday too? No matter whether she has programs or not, the word is "accompany".

Lifestyle allowance hey........any girls don't like it please raise your hand...

Do you know under the Cost Reduction thingy my company does, if you get meals during your outstation duties, you're not entitled for the subsistence allowance? That means if you're send for a course provided with breaks and lunch, you'll get 0 for claims on that day. No matter where it is in Malaysia. Lucky you Rosmah! Fees paid for, super duper meals served, accommodation tip top, lifestyle allowance and clothing given too?????? Good God.....see how life in this world works. Life is so full of unfairness.

Just what the heck is Lifestyle Allowance? My guess would be hair-stylist - no. 1, then comes Spa, Pedicure, Manicure, Body Massage, make-up specialist, etc etc.....and clothing too??? Does that include designer bags and jewellery??? Do you think this allowance has limits?

Somebody should write a book on this. Just like the book I read - How Malaysian Government is Spending the Money. I forgot the actual title, but it was proper revelation of how they are spending my tax money. Good God!!!!

Fat Chance for JPA

2010-11-24T08:42:00.001+08:00

Wednesday November 24, 2010

PTPTN writes off RM59m loans to top students

TEMERLOH: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has written off RM59mil in loans to 2,162 students who obtained Class One Honours from January to July.

Corporation chairman Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said advised students to get in touch with the corporation to cancel the contracts they had signed when they were given the loans.

"Otherwise, the contracts will be considered to be still operative and they will have to settle the loans," Ismail told reporters here.

He also said that more than 190,000 borrowers had ignored letters the corporation had sent to them concerning repayment of their loans.

"I advise them to contact us or come to our office. If they fail to do so, legal action will be taken against them," he added. — Bernama

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jeleslah gua. Dulu gua mintak dgn JPA, dia balas, pinjaman tetap pinjaman. Walaupon nama dia Pinjaman Boleh Ubah.

Daripada take legal action, and makes the lawyers even richer, why not just deduct their salary? They can be found through EPF or Tax account. Even if they own a business, they surely pay business tax right? Dia ginilah, kena selalu ingat apa yg surat tuntut hutang JPA hantar kat gua ever month tu...."Sesiapa yg berhutang dgn niat melunaskan, Allah akan memudahkan. Sesiapa dgn niat melesapkan, maka Allah akan membinasakan orang itu".

Huhu...peringatan tetapi ada nada2 jeles gitu. Beruntunglah mereka yg dapat pelepasan tu ye. Jgn lupa bagi duit kat parents lebih sikit....

Faktor Lain Itulah Faktor Utama

2010-11-23T08:31:00.001+08:00

Isnin November 22, 2010

Pengangguran Di Kelantan Meningkat Kerana Kurang Pekerjaan

KOTA BAHRU: Jumlah penganggur di Kelantan meningkat kepada 25,733 orang bagi tempoh Januari hingga September tahun ini berbanding 24,336 orang untuk tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.

Penolong Pengarah Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Kelantan, Mohamad Yaacob, memberitahu Bernama antara penyumbang utama kepada pertambahan itu ialah kurangnya pekerjaan di negeri itu.

Beliau berkata faktor lain ialah sikap rakyat Kelantan yang memilih pekerjaan atau enggan berhijrah ke tempat lain kerana mahu bekerja di negeri itu.

Mohamad berkata jabatan itu sedang meningkatkan kesedaran dalam kalangan penganggur dan lepasan sekolah dan institusi pengajian tinggi menerusi Program Penempatan Pekerjaan (3P) Azam Kerja Peringkat Negeri 2010 yang akan diadakan di sini pada Sabtu dan Ahad ini.

Katanya melalui program itu sebanyak 2,124 peluang pekerjaan akan ditawarkan yang merangkumi dalam bidang profesional dan teknikal (107); pengurusan (398); perkeranian (20); tenaga mahir dan separuh mahir (440) serta am/buruh/operator pengeluaran (1,159).

Mohamad berkata peserta program akan diberi elaun RM100 dan tambang percuma sepanjang dua hari itu. - BERNAMA

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I think the no. 1 reason is not the lack of jobs in Kelantan, that's rather the last reason. The foremost reason is the ones cited as "faktor lain".

There are thousands of available jobs in Malaysia. Kelantanese who seek some success in life have gone out of the state and become successful in other states. Just drop by any warong in Malaysia, be it in Melaka, in Langkawi, in JB of course, and in KL, the stalls selling tomyam are mostly full of Kelantanese. Maybe sometimes you can find Siamese people also. Hence, it is in fact a matter of choice.

"Allah tidak akan mengubah nasib sesuatu kaum sehingga kaum itu mengubah nasib mereka sendiri".

In Malaysia, the word "Menganggur" or "Unemployed", pictures the attitude of oneself of not being able to try and do something new or put simply, not having a vision in life. There's no harm in doing some clerical job right after you graduate. In fact I did employ one, until she decided to further her studies. I could not employ her as her degree did not match with the kind of degree the company is seeking for. Well, at least she could learn some new things while working albeit in short time.

In my work place, the contractors are looking for workers high and low since people in Malaysia have that choice of not working. In desperate needs to find workers, the only way out is to employ foreigners. Cheaper, tak banyak cekadak, can do dirty jobs in dark and risky areas. Try find Malaysians that want to do those kind of jobs.

I really hope the government will not resort to giving allowance or coupons for food to those unemployed in Malaysia. I wonder why the US still do that, and in UK as well. Perhaps their government have that extra money to sponsor those who choose not to work. This will only encourage people not to earn their own living. I really pray that in wanting to win more votes, our government will not resort to such solution, no matter how desperate they aspire to win the votes.

There are clear distinctions between "helping" and "pampering". As we move towards becoming high income nation, I hope these people will change their attitude, or be at risk of losing behind all those developments planned for the nation.

Where's the Priority? Goodness Gracious!!!

2010-11-18T08:42:00.001+08:00

Never too old for good sex life

KUALA TERENGGANU: Sex is not just for the young and an inaugural workshop has been organised to rejuvenate the sex lives of elderly couples in Terengganu.

A host of health specialists and geriatricians, including renowned sex therapist Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Mohd Tambi, have been invited as facilitators in the pioneer workshop to start tomorrow in Setiu. Some 300 senior citizens are expected to take part.

The pioneer workshop, a brainchild of the Terengganu Family Development Foundation (YPK) comprises a series of courses with modules exclusively designed for elderly couples to bring back the joy of sex in their marriage.

One focus was on how the participants should maintain a high level of self-hygiene and what to wear when the couples were together.

YPK director Mohd Shafaruddin Mustafa said the workshop was aimed at correcting the perception of many that elderly couples had had enough romance after being married for decades.

"Many of them are lonely although their spouses live with them," he said in an interview.

In most cases, couples had strained relationships in their twilight years as they slept in separate bedrooms and focused on other matters, mainly the welfare of their children and grandchildren.

"This is unhealthy as elderly couples could still continue to have vibrant intimate relationships especially with all kinds of therapy and health supplements available these days," Mohd Shafaruddin said.

He also observed that senior couples easily get agitated with each other, probably due to their own aging process which could strain their union.

"All these can be prevented if they were given tips on how to make their twilight years more exciting through renewed intimacies."

Mohd Shafaruddin lamented that elderly couples also seldom communicate with each other and were very embarrassed to openly talk about their health issues like erectile dysfunction or even menopause.

"Through the workshops, we hope those with health problems could seek help from a panel of health specialists. The first session received an overwhelming response, and we believe those in other districts would be just as eager," he said.

Congrats Husna & Welcome to the Real School

2010-11-13T14:11:00.001+08:00

We were invited as VIP guest for Husna's graduation last 31st Oct. 2010. The grand event was held at UTM Hall, just as if she was a true graduate. Except that the students were a bit less discipline but nevertheless, they were cute. As VIP, we had to come early, enter the room together with the guests of honor, and worst of all, we had to act as "VIP". Imagine that. Proper attire. No fooling around. Sit straight. Smile. Walk graciously. Speak eloquently. Jaga imej lah. Kena berlakon lah nampaknya sikit2. We brought Huda along so she could witness the grand celebration for the graduates. So this kind of spoilt the VIP mood a little. Heck with it.

Nuri teachers and management never told us on what ground we were selected as one couple out of 5 other parents as VIPs. I reckon that was because Husna was the Best Student, again, for the 3 consecutive years since she began in J4 pre-school. At the lunch table, I tried to peek into the assurance game. The retired teacher who was also invited as VIP told me that some parents did argue, why their children were also GOOD, but did not get the Best Student award. The teacher told us that they conducted interview to assess the student's confidence level, as well as overall behavior and leadership skills manisfested at school. Wow, this is worst than at the workplace! Frankly, I have never put such high hope until she got all hard up to be the Best Student. Only sometimes I teased her when she acted lazy or acted rebelliously, I would say - "Best Student perangai macam ni ka?" "You want Tashvita to take over your place?" Of course, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

Husna was a little bit frustrated that she could not join the Grand Performance by the graduates. All was because we had no transport during the days when she had to practice dancing and performing at school. It was done in the afternoon allright. No school bus available. Atok was on and off. Sometimes when he is healthy, he can send. But most of the times, Atuk did not feel very well - gout lah. So, agak kesian jugak lah kat Husna. But, no sweat. I recall all her other cousins. Grand performance and all that, captured on video, made into CD, and then what? CD will be lost and only memory remains. Perhaps I should videotape when she truly graduate later on, at MIT ka, Harvard ka, Royal Surgeon of Ireland ka, baru lah best - insya Allah. Panjang umur, ada rezeki, dapeklah makcik pi melancong. Heh heh.

Later on 12th Nov. 2010, we attended a talk organized by Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Skudai specially for new parents to welcome to the new wonderful world of REAL SCHOOL people.....hey, this school is among the best school in Johor lah. I could see the dedication and commitment the teachers put in welcoming the new parents and in giving talk on the DO's and DON'T's at school. Bagus betul. It was apparent. Husna is the tallest and biggest student. Even the teacher thought that she would be in standard 2 or 3 kinda size. I could see that she just can't wait to start at the new school.

So far, I have to pledge syukur alhamdullillah a lot to Allah, for bestowing upon me this child of mine - Husna Eka. She is full of dedication. A great leader (she claims herself as the teacher's assistant at school). Listen to parents most of the time. Quite easy to deal with. What I'm trying to say is, considering how limited time I have spent with her so far, she is independent and take full responsibility of things, can be trusted. Syukur alhamduillah.

Retired teacher Kamala pointed to Huda and asked me, "So how's this one? Bright as Husna?".

I answered her,"She is different". I know Huda is good in her own ways. Never compare your children. All are created with unique strengths and objectives.

Release Tensen lah

2010-10-22T14:05:00.001+08:00

Aku nak tulis dalam blog ni pon dah rasa takut. Dulu sikit punye free nak tulis...idea mencurah-curah....semua main tibai jer tulis...sekarang aku rasa mcm ada byk sgt barrier...1st barrier of courselah, semakin tiada masa nak tulis....idea masih mencurah-curah, masa jer makin kurang....then 2nd barrier, government...manalah tahu kot2 aku tulis mende2 sensitif, kang kena ISA pulak, siapa pulak nak jamin aku...dulu ada gak member yg kenal2 org politik and org kuat gomen, kot2 lah kena tangkap, member boleh tolong bagi testimoni mintak lepas...ini member pon dah ada kat UK, ikut bini nun....seram lah gua....then 3rdly, aku dah jadik pulak Approving Authority. Apa maknanya tu?

If I own a business, I can order people and issue out order at my whims and fancies. Now, this is not my company. I am a servant. But I am the Approving Authority. Kot2 ada yg tak puas hati kat aku, habis lah blog aku kena serang...ini bahaya! Prevention is better than cure! Perasan? Ada ke org nak baca lagi blog aku yg dah lama sunyi sepi ni? Kalau rumah terbiar, dah naik semak samun beb. Nasib baik pulak si blogspot tak gelapkan this blog. Kan ada sesetengah mende yg kalau lama tak activate, abis dia gelapkan. Macam duit simpanan aku kat BSN. Dah 5 tahun lebih aku tak update, sekali dia kata- duit ni kami dah hantar ke Wang Amanah Tak Dituntut. Lepas tu bila ko nak tuntut, kena isi segala mcm tok nenek form, supaya ko hilang selera nak tuntut. That's the idea lah. Tak nak ko tuntut.

Have you listened to some songs and that songs made you remember certain stories...or memori silam? I am that type of person you know. When I listen to Wet Wet Wet's World is All Around, I remember I was sitting besides someone special on a Metrobus, en route to KL from Shah Alam. I know that someone is still single as of to date. Apsal lah ko tak kawin lagi? Nasib Metrobus ada aircond dari dulu sampai la nih. Kalau naik Sri Jaya, abis berpeluh2, kena diri pulak most of the time. This morning Suria FM played Spring's Pesanan Buat Kekasih. Oh, this one. I remember my roomates sang this song at one of our friend's house. Memekak jer nyanyi karaoke, zaman2 bujang la dulu.

Do you know that writing this is a therapy to me? My mind is so full of issues....mcm2 kak....kalau nak detail out, 10 pages? Serabut giler babe. Dulu aku relax jer dok kat office. Aku ni a bit of strategic thinker, so I need time and space to think out things and lay down the plan properly. NOW....I am expected to deal with daily operational issues....people issues...whoa....ini yg tak tahan....daily tactical issues...I am still adopting...Approving Authority pulak tu beb...kekadang bila aku nak sign, aku dok pikir, if this is my company, will I sign it? Setiap sign kang kena soal kat akhirat beb...takut makcik...dalam pada takut2 tu, kena tenyeh jugak....overwhelming pon kekadang ada rasa jugak.

Dah lah tu, aku tak boleh nak huha huha mcm dulu lagik. Kang ada org rasa pelik tgk aku pulak. So, have to be yourself, but have to be a figure of authority at the same time. Camne tu? Do you have to act OLD and COLD to people? Will warmth be misinterpreted as EASY? Do I have to look OLD? NO, isn't it? That's what I've been telling myself. So by writing this, it is a indeed a therapy.

The other day I was caught again in a situation where I have to be creative in answering questions posed by Husna.

Me: Did you go to our house during the electricity blackout?

Husna : No, atok said the road tax "mati". What is road tax?

Me: Well, road tax is car owners have to pay some money to the government.

Husna: What is government?

Me : (pulok doh..., camne aku nak jawab)...well, government is the authority.

Husna : What is authority?

Me :( sambil pikir camne cara mudah nak bagi budak ni paham)...well,, authority is like at school, your teacher is the authority. Understand?

OK.....

Nowadays, more often I heard the veteran staff are saying something like "Well, I've tried. Many times. I don't care anymore". Dulu ramai, tapi tak declare. Now they publicly declare. Giler dahsat. Diorang mcm dah give up lah. Kesian pulak kat tmpt keje aku nih...kalau semakin ramai org yg dah give up, siapa lah yg tinggal nak tolong uruskan. You still need that emotional bond while working you know. Money is not the key driver. It's a package, but most importantly, you must like what you do, and because of that, you can easily strike an emotional bond with the stuff around you. Once that's gone, work has no meaning any longer.

Aku nak carik staff baru sikit punye susah lah. Kata every year ramai giler bebudak ni grad lepas tu takde kerja, yg aku ni carik staff tp susahnya nak jumpa yg berkenan....First, akademik kena bagus, kena CGPA 2.8 and above. Then tgk English SPM berapa? Mesti A or B saja. Then mesti aktif, pegang jawatan kat kolej. Kalau setakat member of clubs, tak mainlah. Ko kenalah ada jawatan tinggi sikit, VP ke, Setiausaha event ke, barulah OK. Then kena lepas interview pulak. Aku rasa statistik lebih kurang camnih - resume dapat 10, aku pilih 4, dtg interview 2, yg lepas 1. Hopefully akan terima tawaran lah. Biasanya yg bagus2 ni pulak, byk company nak amik lah pulak. Pulok doh.....so, the vicious cycle will continue. I pay particular attention to the English capability level. Kalau tak, kang aku sendiri pening asyik nak betolkan ejaan and grammar masa tulis report.

Wei... dah penat tulis....

English Design My Scare

2010-10-07T22:09:00.002+08:00

Can you spot the winter shoes as a display?

Holy Moly....once broken considered sold

Mr. X asked me to join him visiting one of his friends' house in Senai. The kids were already very sleepy, infact Husna had fallen asleep while we were in the car. We reached the house around 9.15pm. Husna was dragging her feet to enter the house, until she stepped her foot at the door and her eyes suddenly were wide open.....holy moly...this is a nice house...nice smell also...the air purifier plus the smell of the potpourri really could make you feel as if you are now travelling 1000000000 miles away to Wales, or to Manchester, or to Indiana....way back in remote area in Tennessee....something to that effect lah. Time travelling to one of those houses in England or deep USA...plus with the good air-cond system, made you feel like it's fall or near winter.

It is a semi-d double story house. Well, they only have 1 teenage kid, and the lady of the house herself is an interior designer, designing house for people for whatever concept. She chose this concept because of her passion for English designs and decorations. I don't have the pictures of the curtains, but I guess you can imagine. When she served us light supper, it was well, suffice to say, in a manner as if you are eating in an English house somewhere, except that the guests and the house owners are Malays. It was wonderful, yet scary.

Imagine my worry for all the tiny weeny little things she put on the floor, on the table, on the cabinet, on the staircase. Those are all charming decorations. Even I couldn't help myself to touch and feel some of the attractive things. Imagine my children. Takut betul makcik dek..then I asked her, how often do you do the cleaning. She said whenever she feels like it. This kind of design and concept is a full time job of cleaning and maintaining, if you ask me. It's nice if you have a maid who can help, but as you know, maid's cleanliness standard, sure cannot match her expectation of cleaning. That's why she doesn't employ a maid.

With that kind of gloomy lighting, plus the nice smell, plus the good air-cond, just need a little bit of lullaby to make me doze off. Luckily there was one piano so the kids could play and I could stay awake.

So fo me, this is a nice house. But to keep it clean and maintain the standard, is one hard work. Nice experience though. Very rare that I could experience such time travel these days.

Kisah-kisah Raya 2010

2010-09-18T09:08:00.001+08:00

Apalah agaknya dalam kepala otak aku ni....hari ni aku dgn rajinnya telah datang kerja. Bila aku tengok calendar, aisey, today is the third Saturday, meaning I am not supposed to come to work. So sebab dah drive selama kira2 50 minit (sebab today is Saturday so hiway PG tu lengang sikit), terpaksalah buat2 kerja. Tengok2 email kat office ada problem lah pulak. Pulakk dah....

Actually I am suffering from a post-raya stomach ache syndrome. It's not kind of diarrhoea, but it is close to it. It makes your stomach feels uneasy, but when you go to the washroom, you would feel unsatisfied. So yesterday the doctor gave me a one day leave, so I could rest to ease my tummy. Thank God for that. Besides relaxing the tummy, I could use some time to do other beauty things such as facial and pedicure. Huh......

Kisah Beraya ke rumah2

Raya di Terengganu adalah amat memenatkan. Bayangkan, kalau dalam family aku, satu hari paling tinggi jumlah rumah we all melawat 3 rumah saja. So we get to spend about 1 hour in each house, in high quality manner. Repeat that 3 times, we all would have been exhausted already. Imagine if raya in Ganu, 4 houses minimum, average is 6 houses per day, from morning till night. Considering the behavior of my children who would always just sit there and do nothing (NOT!), imagine the kind of energy I have to invest to match their energy. Dapat raya rumah cantik byk perhiasan, aku lagilah takut, kena selalu awas. Dapat raya rumah buruk n boring, sibuk ajak jalan kat luar. Penatnya Allah saja yg tahu. Nampak mcm komen2 negatif? Bukan, sekadar luahan perasaan......ini ada gaya2 Abby Abadi mintak balik duit Mas Kahwin from Norman lah...tujuan saya bukan untuk mengaibkan mana2 pihak, tapi sekadar menyatakan yg hak. Saya nak tuntut semua hutang2 tu....mcm tulah lebih kurangnya...

Lepas tu bila kena pegi beraya jalan jauh, huh....memang amat jarang dilakukan dlm keluarga aku. Kalau rasa nak raya jauh tu, we all akan visit satu makcik aku kat Segamat. So dlm 2.5 jam sampai, lepak, akan lunch, then terus balik. Lain ceritanya di Ganu. Kalau ke Segamat from JB, at least 3/4 travelling time is on hiway PLUS. Kalau di Ganu, bersesak-sesaklah kome dalam traffic jam...kalau dalam jam, anak2 ko tak buat hal takpe gak...kang kalo2 ada yg nak terkenc*** ke, ter be*** ke, tak ke aniaya? Perjalanan jauh di Ganu yg aku maksudkan ialah dari kampung di Marang ke Besut. Jauh tu bang, adalah 2.5 jam jugak, kalau tak jam. Kalau jam, berjam2lah bun*** panas dalam kete. Dah ke Besut tu, kalau nasib tak baik, terus pulak kena naik ke Tanah Merah....itu lagi 2 jam kalau tak jam. We all pernah stuck dlm jam kat Tanah Merah tu dekat 2 jam, jarak kira2 2 km je nak sampai. Hampeh betul....itu semua gara2 ada 1 traffic light hampeh yg buat semua kenderaan jam.

Actually aku rimas balik ke Pantai Timur bila musim raya, raya Cina, cuti sekolah dan any public holiday. I wish I can go back only during weekdays, or weekend yg takde public holiday. Baru lah aman damai.Kau tengok plate kete yg buat jam tu semua plate W, B or J. Plate T or D tu jarang sekali. Terengganu n Kelantan ni mcm Philipino and India le, export tenaga kerja ke negeri2 lain. Semuanya sebab kat negeri dia tak cukup foreign and domestic direct investment to boost the local economy. Bila lah agaknya keadaan kat 2 negeri nak berubah ye...nampak mcm merendahkan 2 negeri? Oh tidak, ini sekadar satu luahan dari hasil pemerhatian teliti hamba.....Pendek kata kesabaran kena lah amat tinggi menggunung bila time spend masa di Ganu. Tak happy pong kena buat2 happy. Letakkan wajah ceria dan sentiasa pujuk hati supaya terima this is it. This is what you have to go through, so might as well try to enjoy the experience.

So frankly, aku cukup bercinta bila kena balik raya ke Ganu, Istilah bercinta tu org Johor je yg paham. Bercinta sini maksudnya teramatlah berat hati. Tapi kerana tiada pilihan, kenalah pujuk rasa hati supaya pergi dan berdoa supaya cecepatlah masa berlalu kat situ...tup tap penat...tup tap raya....tup tap main mercun....tup tap jalan jam....tup tap naik angin tapi control macho....tup tap tup tap....dah sampai ke office today...lepas tu sebab aku sakit perut, dapatlah MC semalam...then today patut hari tak kerja, aku dgn rela hati telah datang kerja....email ofis pulak buat hal. Laki pulak tak bagi ingatan langsung....heran aku...agaknya dia pon nak kena kan aku gak....

Kisah Bersalam

Kat family aku kalau bersalam memang akan disulami gelak ketawa dan semua org ceria. Nampak mcm tak serious pon ada. Sekejap je bang. Sebab kami memang so far alhamduillah, takde persengketaan atau perbalahan dalam keluarga. Kami terima diri masing2 seadanya, dan semua orang bertanggungjawab atas diri sendiri dan tak menyusahkan org lain. Sebab tu kita takde perasaan dendam atau kecewa dalam hati. So suasana bermafaan tu jadik satu keadaan yg ceria. Oh, situasi si Ganu memang berbeza sama sekali. Amat berbeza. Semua orang akan menangis2 dan setiap salam akan memakan masa yg lama. Kekadang aku wonder jugak, adakah selepas bersalam dan meminta maaf dan menangis, keadaaan akan berubah? Yg ini aku kena reserve my comments. Keikhlasan terbit dari nurani. Nak tahu ikhlas ke tak, just tengok kalau ada perubahan. Kalau sama je year in year out, sendiri mahu perhati and jugde la.

Kisah Nada Suara

Nada suara orang2 sekeliling di JB adalah amat tenang dan nyaman. Gelak ketawa adalah amat terkawal. Mungkin ini ada pengaruh ajaran di sekolah agama, semua org kena jaga tatatertib terutama di khalayak ramai. Di sana, WOW. Terkejut beruk jugak lah. Aku wonder jugak camne pemimpin PAS yg dok kat atas tu, especially Tuan Guru, adalah amat lembut gaya pertuturannya, jauh berbeza dgn jelata di bawah. Jauh berbeza. Nak komen lelebih kang, terlebih mengutuk pulakkkkkk....

Ada byk lagilah perbezaannya. Ini adalah pendapat saya dari hasil pengalaman dan pemerhatian teliti saya. Anda nak menentang, itu anda punye pasal....hahaha....bukan semua org di JB ni bagus, begitu juga bukan semua org di Pantai Timur tak bagus, ini sekadar luahang perasaang, tak ada kena mengena dgn yg hidop atau pong yg mati.

Ideas Please

2010-09-01T17:04:00.001+08:00

I think I should write a book, and the title shall be any one of the followings:

Blackberry - Your Foe in Marriage!
It's Either BB or Me - You Choose!
How Blackberry Killed My Marriage Intimacy!
To H*** with Blackberry!!!
How Blackberry Ruined My Relationship!
Icon of Communication - definitely not a Blackberry!
I Hate Blackberry!!!!
D*** You Blackberry!!!!!

I remember my friend used to write in her blog that she found it very sad when she saw a couple at the restaurant, facing each other but neither of them was talking to each other. Both of them were busy playing with their phones. Let me tell you, when either of them has a Blackberry, especially the man, you do not even have the desire to go for outing feast as a couple!!!!

Man, is it really the fault of the communication medium or is it that the intimacy is really dying off? Imagine having to fight for attention at the dinner table, before going to sleep, in the car while driving, while watching TV together as a family, and what else....does it look like I'm complaining? Not to worry, my complaint will never reach the intended audience.

Whatever it is, the d*** Blackberry will still prevail and persist in our life, forever. Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attention and Deviation

2010-09-01T15:54:00.001+08:00

Upon seeing some mistakes made by the daughter in her homework, a very awkward conversation between mother and daughter pursuit.

Mother : Who invented the Sun?

Daughter : Allah.

Mother : Then, why you wrote "Manusia"?

Daughter : I don't know.

Mother : Who invented the bicycle?

Daughter : Men.

Mother : Then, why you wrote "Allah"?

Daughter : (Long silence). Maybe confused. Suddenly, Mama - what you want to be when you grow up?

Mother : What do you mean what I want to be?

Daughter : You want to be a lawyer? Doctor? Teacher?

Mother (utterly confused with that 1 golden question and trying to find the best answer) : I have way passed that age, you know. I want to relax at home, go vacation and you to take care of me.

Daughter : Hmmmm......so, you want to become a manager?

Mother : That sounds OK.

Daughter : What does a manager do?

Mother (wondering how to best explain in the most diplomatically correct language understandable to a 6-year old) : Well, managers manage people.

Daughter : (Long silence). Perhaps wondering what does the word "manage" means......

Is this what you call Deviation of Attention of the subject on pursuit in an attempt for escape? Or is it a case of reflecting the synergy of two subjects and try to reach a common ground? Pening lah.

Bayar Bang...

2010-08-19T08:46:00.001+08:00

"Barangsiapa yang mengambil pinjaman dengan niat melunaskan, Allah akan memudahkan pembayarannya dan dengan niat melesapkan, maka Allah akan membinasakan orang itu".

Kome nak tahu petikan ayat Al-Quran itu tertulis kat dokumen mana? Tetiap bulan aku dapat dokumen ni. Dokumen ni pulak, siap kata:

UNTUK MENGELAKKAN ANDA DAN PENJAMIN-PENJAMIN ANDA DARIPADA DISENARAIHITAMKAN DAN DIKENAKAN TINDAKAN MAHKAMAH, SILA PASTIKAN JUMLAH YANG PERLU DIBAYAR DALAM 21 HARI DARI TARIKH BIL.

Giler ganas punyer ayat kan? Memang sound ada macam desperate sikit. Agak2 bank mana lah yg agak desperate ni kan? Takkan lah bank kot, dah tentu every year all banks akan declare diorang UNTUNG bersih juta2 punye, kecuali bank yg bermasaelah la. Tapi insya Allah ler kalau pinjam bank memang akan bayar promptly. Tapi surat ni standard aku dapat setiap bulan. Ayat tu pon ayat pre-printed, maknanya ada ramai orang yg ambik sambil lewa dan tak bayar le nih. Kes hampeh.

Hah, bila aku pegi jumpa AzizCfP, dia pun kata, kalau hutang yg ni, hang bayar kemudian pon takpe, sebab dia takde interest. Kita mesti dahulukan hutang2 yg ada faedah tinggi dulu. Yg tak dikenakan faedah ni, hangpa buat last sekali. Jeng jeng jeng.........pinjaman untuk belajo lah. Bila dah kerja, buat2 lupa pulak nak bayar balik yer.

Actually aku dipinjamkan kira2 RM140,000, tapi sebab aku dapat meet criteria OK, aku kena bayar balik 25% jer. Maknanya RM40,000 lah. Banyak jugak tu. Kalau nak pegi melancong, boleh pegi Europe 4 kali. Kalau nak beli rumah, boleh buat downpayment, so bulanan installment rendah sikit. Kalau nak buat downpayment kete, agak2 dapat Mitsubishi Grandis baru tu, boleh lah dapat installment tak sampai RM1k sebulan. Payah nih. Aku pernah tulis surat rayuan untuk tukar pinjaman ni jadik biasiswa, tapi dia reply cepat jer. TAK BOLEH. Nama saja Pinjaman Boleh Ubah, tapi tak ubah. Ubah tu maksudnya turun jadik 25% lah, bukan FREE terus. Aisey....

Ada org kata, beruntung lah sebab kena bayar balik 25% jer. Alhamdulillah. Duit yg aku bayar ni, kerajaan akan guna untuk mensponsor pelajar lain. Iye ke? Ada rasa sangsi, tapi we only have power over what we can control. For the rest, every one has his or her own Malaikat Raqib and Atid, so sendiri mau ingat....

JPA ni start pre-printed ayat Quran tu aku rasa tahun lepas. Statement ni pulak, dia siap tulis hanya akan diberi pada pembayar yg konsistent. Yg tak bayar tu camne ek? Takkan terlepas kot? Aku dulu ada jugak pernah terpikir, mana lah tahu kan, kot2 Abdullah Badawi ke, Najib ke, nak bagi pengampunan beramai-ramai, kes lepas la nih....dulu ada jugak letak harapan menggunung mcm ni. Manalah tahu, dah nak dekat pilihan raya, tetiba JPA keluarkan warta:

"ATAS SEBAB KERAJAAAN MALAYSIA PRIHATIN DENGAN NASIB RAKYAT, MAKA DENGAN INI SEMUA PINJAMAN PELAJARAN JPA YANG TIDAK BERBAYAR AKAN DIKIRA SEBAGAI TERHAPUS."

Huh, agak2 akan berlaku ke? Dah Idris Jala share kerajaan akan bankrap kalau teruskan subsidi, inikan pulak ko nak mintak halal ye. Jawapannya HAMPEH.

Hutang tetap hutang bang. Tak bayar sekarang, kena bayar jugak later. So sementara masih bekerja nih, ko bayarlah ye. Itu je lah nasihat aku. Tak yah ada harapan palsu nan rapuh di tebing sungai untuk mintak kerajaan halalkan. Takkan dapat punyer lah.

Fauziah Latiff Tears in Gaza

2010-08-17T08:15:00.001+08:00

OK first, I read about the 90's sweetheart singing sensation going off to Palestine to do something meaningful in last week's newspaper. I just tried to do my speed reading skills, just by reading the subject title and skimmed through the text. I did not know for sure was that she wished to go someday (meaning, just her simple wish) or that was she really seriously going. Come on you guys, Fauziah Latiff, used to be married to a very rich man, used to stay in London, etc. What had got into her?

Then in the last few days Buletin Utama TV3, there she was in the prime time television broadcasted from Gaza. She was wearing a scarf with her clean face no make up and what not and I could spot her joy and overall satisfaction by being there, right at Ground Zero. I reckon they must have had finished distributing the goodies to the needies. She was surrounded by other Malaysian volunteers, from all races. She was saying something like we should all be grateful, that she spotted children with their eyes full of hope, despite their homes, schools and other facilities being destroyed. The children persevered. And suddenly she could not hold back the tears. Awww....that one moment really touched me. This is real suffering. Despite their life's being ruined by the condemned you-know-who nation and race, the citizens especially the children, still have hope, that someday their country and the soil that they stepped on everyday must be protected at all cost. I'm not moving, they may say all the time. You can do whatever you want, expanding your claimed soil out of my country, but I'm staying. It's a jihad. Yes, they should. If they were to stop and surrender, we all know that the doomsday is going to follow next. It is all cited clearly in the Quran.

I'm sure Gee must feel that her life and view towards things in this world would have changed after this. Whatever happens to you, no matter how hard and difficult and heartwrenching she must have gone through before, is nothing compared to what the Palestinians have to endure, up to the end of this world. Kudos to Gee who took up this challenge. I wonder what prompted her for this life-changing journey. Alhamduillah she got the chance, and hopefully came back with an aura to attract more celebrities to go there.

I should list Palestine as 1 of my 7 wonders of the world.

Ramadhan Blues

2010-08-14T08:09:00.001+08:00

With the fasting of Ramadhan, suddenly I have so many ideas to write about. I will try to find time to write down my thoughts.

First, about my friend who felt "sentap" when the girl circa 18-years old called her "makcik" while she's looking for the right "kuih" to buy at the Bazaar Ramadhan. Well, she's only 35, used to be my classmate. At this age, women generally are at the peak of their life, but the feelings still majority lie in feeling between the age of 25-30. So for that girl to call my friend "makcik", I could truly understand my friend's frustration and disgust. Besides, she's still single. Then she started to wonder, "Do I look that old?". It's hard to swallow that yes, you are half way through life, but at this age, I still want to be young. I read a fashion tip in a magazine that says, when you are at the age of 30 or 40, you can dress to make you look young, but never ever dress like the 20-year-ol's. This will only shows that you desperately want to look young, but the look on your face already shows that hey, you're way pass that age. So, kenalah sedar diri sikit. Dress elegantly, to suit your maturity and wisdom.

In the first morning of sahur, the moment of waking up at 4.30am to prepare food for husband and daughter, suddenly I felt like it was a slight burden. There you are stuck at 4.30am to prepare food for the whole 1 month - regardless whether you yourself are going to fast on that day. Then while taking out the food from the fridge, and turning on the flame, I realized that my mom has been doing this all her life. What did I do normally? I just woke up and tadaaaaa.....rice on the plate, drinks at side, ready to be swallowed. Usually around 5.00 to 5.15am. Finished the food, wash my plate and that was it. I could even catch some more sleep right after sahur while sitting on the couch. Well, that period of easy life has long gone. Now, I am responsible to wake up and do all that stuff that I used to dread. In the morning at 430am life is apparently very quiet. I gives you chance to ponder deeply, why the heck am I up at this hour to do cooking. Then some kind of melodramatic feelings would absorp into you such that you would feel the serenity of the wee hours. Enjoy the calmness, quietness, away from daily bustle at the kitchen. Then it came. Suddenly you would feel that this is what "isteri or ibu solehah" need to do. That kind of feelings that comfort you to say that - this is it - this is what you have to do as a muslimah, to prepare food as sahur for the family, so that your Ramadhan will be more barakah, and insya Allah it will bring you happiness, while cooking and while seeing they're eating and while cleaning up after that. Perhaps this little effort of sacrifice may be a burden at one moment, but at another moment, you will feel relief and actually enjoy doing it. This is like a strata of acceptance level I would say. Denial - Understand - Accept - Commit. Talk about trying to relate concepts learnt in classroom training to daily life.

The TESCO clubcard has driven me crazy. They always send me these little coupons that make you desire to visit their store even though sometimes there is no need to go, just because the coupons are so enticing! The diapers, the milk powder, the eggs, the cultured drinks, all those are high consumption items in the house, and they have successfully applied the concept of psychology to drag your heart and mind to pay a visit to their store. And they have limited lifespan. It makes you feel stupid if you don't go. The discount is just so great. This coupons thingy reminds me of life in the States. Everyhting is coupon-driven. Talk about enticing customers from their home to rush to the store. I have to control myself, horribly, since I would pass their store daily on my way to and from the office.

It's time to leave. I'm doing an interview for my group projec for MDP. *SIGH*...

A Different Ramadhan

2010-08-11T06:38:00.003+08:00

This year Ramadhan brings some kind of a different feeling. If my late sister-in-law were to know that last year's Ramadhan would have been her last Ramadhan, certainly she would do things differently. Then when I reflect on myself, if this is to be my last Ramadhan, what are the different actions I need to take, what if? No one has the answer. That's why Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. said that a smart person is the one who always remember that death is very near, anytime. Very near indeed.

That is why also there are verses in the Quran which says that humankind would ask to go back to the world to do good deeds, after their death, to which Allah says - Nay, it'll never happen. Sometimes I have to keep myself reminded that on daily basis, what if this is my last day? What would I be leaving behind? One thing for sure, settle all the debts as fast as possible. That reminds me I still owe JPA some RM18k more to go, that's like half way through only. Then you have to forgive and forget. Keep your heart clean, do not keep any intention to pose revenge on anybody, that'll only make your heart bitter and absorb your internal strengths slowly. Lastly, be good to people closest to you. Your spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, family members, neighbours, colleagues, staff, bosses, and strangers. If you cannot touch everyone's life, at least make a difference to someone. He/she may mean nothing to you, but you maybe the world to that someone.

Yesterday I went onboard VLCC Idemitsu Maru. I vowed to enter the tank where there was an incident, but the moment I stepped one foot, I felt some kind of aura....hoho...this is not good....seram sejuk tetiba makcik....it was a 30 feet tall tank, for storage of crude on voyage. The smell was just killing me. When I saw all those people working inside the tank, my goodness, thanks to Allah we are born in Malaysia, having this great wealth and opportunity to work while improving our health and lifestyle. The tank was deep, dark, smelly, and you have to do works inside there - I just cannot imagine. That's why only foreign workers want to go there. They have to do it since they have no choice. Either struggle to make up a living in this condition, or go back home and suffer. Poor those workers. It just made me feel that English language should invent a better word for "gratitude". Alhamdulillah version in English, anyone?

Today marks Husna's first attempt to fast, she's 6 this year, it is high time already. I woke her up at 5.ooam just now, at first she was saying "Ngantuklah...", then I tried to pacify her. "Look, tomorrow you cannot eat and drink during the day, so you better eat something now". Even from last night, she kept on complaining that "kalau tak makan, nanti boleh mati". Then I told her Ayah and Mama tak mati pon....I also told her that she cannot get angry at people, and to speak less words. She still wonders how it would feel like not being able to eat and drink. Well, she did ask whether she can drink only, sorry girl....try nak uji pulakkk...yg puasa boleh minum jer tu kalau tak silap agama hindu saja. Kalau tak silap la.

Hence, for this year Ramadhan, may Allah grant His blessings to all of us. AMIN.

The Mindboggling Solution to Pelajar Hamil & Kahwin Bawah Umur

2010-08-09T13:33:00.001+08:00

Menteri Besar Melaka Datuk Ali Rustam nak wujudkan sekolah khas untuk pelajar-pelajar perempuan yang hamil dan jugak benarkan budak sekolah kahwin supaya dapat anak yg halal, instead of yg haram. Berpinau jugak ye fikiran kita nak absorb mende nih. I don't know about you, but for me this is a disaster.

Sekolah utk pelajar hamil - kok malu tak kalau ko masuk sekolah tu? Sekolah ni dalam hutan ke, kat tgh bandar ke, kat dalam Zoo Melaka ke, Datuk nak letak mana lokasinya? Parents pulak, nak hantar sekolah tu? Ke ramai yg dah tak mengaku anak bila such case were to happen? Pening kepala aku memikirkan details of this suggestion. It is so mindboggling to think about its short term and long term implications. Alasan Datuk, supaya anak2 halal ni boleh dijadikan anak angkat yg lebih bagus, sebab dia halal. Sedangkan yg haram pon org berebut, apa lagik anak halal kan. Then the mothers can kahwin after that and continue their schooling. Kok boleh belajar lagik ke ko?

Kahwin bawah umur - Datuk kata kalau tahu bab kahwin sebab nak halalkan s**, sure org tu tahu pasal tanggungjawab. Aisey Datuk, apsal lah cakap pasal the "T" word tuh???? In the first place, kalau dah terjebak kat situ, membuahkan benih, dah sah2 ler bebudak tu tak pernah terpikir about tanggungjawab. Sedangkan berapa ramai kes org dewasa yg dah kahwin tapi lupa atau tak tahu langsung apa tanggungjawab mereka sebagai seorang suami atau isteri, inikan pulak budak hingusan....boleh nampak hingus masih meleleh takde org nak tulun kesat Datuk.

Idea aku senang je. Datuk ada cakap pasal mengembalikan mereka ke ajaran agama, why not negeri Melaka amalkan sistem UNDANG2 & SYARIAH ISLAM mcm kat Arab Saudi? Sebat 100 kali. Buat kat Jom Heboh ke, sure lepas ni takde lagik kes. Abis cerita Datuk. End of story. Taklah berpinau kepala aku fikirkan idea solution Datuk, and buang duit rakyat nak tanggung bebudak ni.....poning den....

MDP-31 in Memory

2010-08-07T00:24:00.002+08:00

Management Development Program - batch 31, PERMATA, Bangi, Selangor, 15 - 30 July 2010.

Original intention - to build knowledge and capabilities of leaders in Petronas group of companies and enhance network among the participants.

Key take aways - lots of drama in class, at the dinner table, in the karaoke room, at the tennis court, in the gym, at the lobby while hanging outs and of course, one nite out to enjoy sate Samuri. That's the best for me.

Macam-macam cerita kelakar lah....ada orang bet among them aku ni dah kahwin ke belum, ada orang siap siasat sama ada aku dah kahwin, sebab dia nak bukak cawangan ketiga from Malaysia sebab 1st one is Sudanese, 2nd one is Yemeni and third dia nak carik Malaysian. Memang lawak betul lah. This is the kind of craziness you would get when you put a bunch of 30 and 40 somethings in class for 2 weeks and expect them to study. Minds can go crazy if they are not deviated at this age.

I got to know more about the Petronas businesses in the group. I got to meet a bunch of good people and I think I can strike quite good chemistry with a few people. Good chemistry can be dangerous, but as long as you can contain it, no problemo. Kita pegi makan n karaoke kat bilik khas PERMATA tu ramai2 dah kira oklah tuh...Just imagine, we were separated from our families for days....of course some kind of close relationship building is inevitable. It's purely on professional basis afterall.

The moment I got back, one of the bosses asked me, "Tell me there's something new you learned from that course". Well, it's more like a refresher I said. But I like the chance to build network with other staff from Petronas. That's a rare chance for me since being stuck at this new department, with all those daily issues, a very very fat chance that I often get to go to such "away-from-office" kind of enjoyment.

I got to play tennis and ride bicycle..yayyyy...it has been ages.....PERMATA for me is a perfect place for attending course. The facilities are superb - the network, the gym, the sports complex, the karaoke room (oh...aku dapat nyanyi lagu Gerimis Mengundang...best nyer...) the computer facility and the food - so much variety....sometimes had masakan kampung, masakan india - naan and tandoori, sometimes had spaghetti, had also yong tau foo type like Johny's style, had the Chinese type dinner, mcm2 lah...and the final night, they served barbecue. That was simply great. Agaknya sebab kalau kat company aku sekarang, jgn harap nak dapat such lavishness....if according to Petronas staff, they all dah muak beb. Tapi memandangkan aku adalah gadis kampung dari Pasir Gudang, jarang dapat makanan mewah, aku rasa food tu semua sangat special. Well, bila dah biasa, rasa biasa lah. Bila tak biasa, kita rasa lah macam LUAR BIASA....kesian aku dan kawan2 aku kat Pasir Gudang tu....

Tapi yg tak bestnyer, ada group project work. Ni tak siap lagi, nak kena hantar in 6 weeks time. Lepas tu ada presentation la pulak in January....cabarang sungguh....

Bila Tujuan Tidak Jelas..

2010-08-07T00:13:00.002+08:00

Satu hari di KLIA, seketika aku turun dari escalator selepas pemeriksaan keselamatan, aku berdiri di belakang seorang wanita, in her 20's. Pakai tudung ala scarf, yg agak pendek. Then rambut dia kat belakang terkeluar sikit.

Aku (dgn niat baik amal makruf nahi mungkar): Kak, rambut terkeluar dari tudung.

Cik Adik (sambil menjeling dengus kepada ku): Rambut saya memang panjang.

Aku (dgn rasa amat pelik) : Nak pakai tudung ke tak nak?

Cik Adik - cuba membetul-betulkan tudung pendeknya itu sambil menguis-nguis rambut yg terkeluar.

Apa punye pelik daaaa....kalau nak pakai, buat lah pakai betul2. Kalau rasa belum bersedia, hah apa lagik...bukak je la....buat confuse org bukan Islam jer kome ni laaaa....ini mesti kes terikut jugak si Idola ala ala Diva yg nak kena serang tuh....CTKD...mcm2 hal la diorang ni bila dah kaya dan ternama....

So moral of the story, wear it nicely when you are really ready. Tengok mcm kawan aku si Yatie tu, steady je free hair. Nanti satu hari aku doakan dia dapat hidayah dari Allah, insya Allah hajat dia akan termakbul. Mende ni tak boleh paksa beb.....

12 Years and Still....

2010-07-15T19:38:00.002+08:00

Today is the day that marks my 12th year of serving my company. Last 2 years, I receive quite a few memorabilia and well wishes from friends for the Jubilee of 10 years. I can't really recall for the 11th year, I think it was only a few emails of good wishes as well.

But this year, it is quite special I guess. I am stuck here in Bangi for 2 weeks, attending a course which is supposed to enhance my management skills. It is also nice, since workload in the office has been really crazy. Escape as you may call it, it is heaven for me as of today. Sometimes we need that variety in life. Routine kills.

Just now at the Ice Breaking, my partner told the class that my favorite food is Keropok Lekor. Straight away the trainer said, "You must not be a Ganu person, coz Ganu people take that food as staples!". Betullah tu. That's why I am married to a Ganu man.

This morning at the new Senai Airport, I tried the kuey tiaw goreng with telur mata at their cafe right before that departure gate, coz I was really starving. It looked good from the glass. I was eating half way, then only I realized that it was "plainly tasteless". So I went to the counter girl, asking for salt or some sauce. She said,"Takdelah Kak". That's it. RM7 quality of an airport food. They say never complaint about airport's food. True enough.

Have you heard a story about a golf course which have caddies that wear no bra? Gosh...the men would be very excited...imagine after 2-3 rounds of hitting the ball, when the caddies start to sweat....huhu....but it was a joke. The caddies are indeed men, that's why no bra. That's a new joke I heard at the dinner table tonight.

This Sunday insya Allah I will be meeting with Yatie Pitt and Nikki Taylor. I last met them in year 2002, I think. Wow, how time really has passed. Suddenly we are these Gen-X people trapped in the craziness of fulfilling needs of this modern life, busy with kids and career, but one thing for sure, I want to ask Yatie how's life now by still being single. Or she has somebody but she's not telling. Biological clock is ticking, better hurry.

You know this book of Dale Carnegie, I am like obsess with the lessons which I need to apply. Actually I have to record down how I apply those lessons to my daily working. It has turned into obssession. Even though it's good, I hate it. Well, I need to provide update to HR again in December. So better start to record it down.

ESQ Training Must Go On

2010-07-10T08:21:00.001+08:00

Aku agak terkesima di saat aku menerima email forward dari seorang rakan (yg belum lagi attend ESQ) yg mengatakan ESQ adalah HARAM. Kenyataan dari Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan yg telah diwartakan, amat memeranjatkan.

Terus aku mem"forward" email tersebut pada alumni ESQ yg aku kira sangat bersyukur kerana mereka telah terpilih untuk menghadiri kursus tersebut dan mendapat manfaat yg tiada tolok bandingnya. Mereka semua seperti tidak percaya. Kami semua merasakan tidak ada langsung akidah kami yg terjejas setakat ini. Malah ia berjaya mendekatkan kami dgn Sang Maha Pencipta. Seperti yg aku biasa tulis dalam entry2 tahun 2008, aku byk mengingati pelajaran dan peringatan dalam syllabus ESQ untuk aku mencari kekuatan di saat aku diuji dgn hebat oleh Sang Maha Mengasihani.

Alkisah rupanya Mufti Wilayah belum pernah pun menghadiri kursus ESQ. ESQ mempunyai 5 orang panel syariah yg amat berpengalaman dalam hal ehwal agama dan ramai cendiakawan dan ahli agama telah menyertai program ESQ dan semuanya menghargai dan meluluskan program tersebut. Termasuklah pihak JAKIM juga.

Perkara ini memang pelik. Aku ada terdengar ada ramai non-muslim yg telah mendapat hidayah dan petunjuk dari Yang Maha Pemberi Jalan dgn menghadiri kursus ESQ. Jadi persoalannya, kenapa perkara yang baik ini telah diharamkan?

Bukan senang untuk mendapat Hidayah dari Allah. Salah satu cara yg memudahkan ialah melalui ESQ training ini. Pelajarannya amat aku ingat, di saat aku menghadirinya pada bulan Mei 2007 di Persada Johor, akulah salah seorang ALUMNI JB Angakatan 1, sampailah sekarang, no course can reach right through your heart and connect you with the Ultimate Force, other than this one special course.

Entahlah. Agaknya ini satu ujian buat pihak pengurusan ESQ dan Dr. Ary khususnya. Perjuangan biasanya akan ada halangan. Seperti kisah para rasul2 dan nabi2 kita, semuanya mengharungi rintangan yg amat mencabar. But triumph will prevail at the end. Barulah namanya perjuangan.

Salam Perjuangan 165!!!!!

Conclusion of Part 1 of DC's Book - 6 Ways to Make People Like You

2010-06-11T12:12:00.001+08:00

I have to compress the learning since time has been very much limited these days. Nevertheless, I did finish reading the whole of Chapter 1 twice, and underlining the important notes. It's a matter of applying those lessons. In summary, the 6 ways to make people like you are:

Become genuinely interested in other people.
Smile.
Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Talk in terms of the other person's interest.
Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.

Come to think about it, all are indeed common sense. But knowingly as we are creatures being slaved by our own ego, the above can be quite challenging.

I chaired a department meeting this morning and asked who had read Stephen Covey's 7 Habits, none had ever heard. Reading huh, only 2% of Malaysians do it. What do you expect....how can we become "Negara Berpendapatan Tinggi" when our people are not interested to read and explore. Najib should spend more time in remote areas of Terengganu, Kelantan and Masai, then only he knows what should be the priority.

Come back to the DC's book, here are some of the important notes:

Be a good listener:

When we listen to people, it implies that the person is important. That's exactly what human beings are craving - the sense of being important.
Many people fail to make a favorable impression because they don't listen attentively.
People who talk only of themselves think only of themselves.
To be interesting, be interested.

Talk in terms of the other person's interest:

Focus on what can catch the other person's enthusiasm.
Talk about an enlargement of his life.

Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
Human beings crave for appreciation as much as they crave for food.

I have to learn to say more "Thank You", and show that "You mean a lot to me". Everybody around us is as important as our family member, even if they are just the cleaners in the office, the security guard at the gate, the cashier at the counter, the officer at the bank, the attendant at the petrol kiosk, and all those people....I just have to learn to be more friendly.

Can Men Really Do Cross Stitch?

2010-06-09T23:38:00.002+08:00

That was a bummer. Last 2 days Mr.X and I went to the Read Malaysia Fair at the Mines and suddenly he grabbed that book - Top 100 Cross Stitch Motifs. Yeah, like when on earth are you goin' to find the time to do it? Like when it's school holidays and all our children are in KL while we are stuck at work? So now Mr.X only has 4 days to learn and do 1. That's the challenge.

First, it's the book. Then had to find the shop. Luckily we found one at Tun Aminah just now. Then it's the review of numerous You Tubes on How to Start Cross Stitch. In English, Vietnamese and Chinese. It's the demo that counts. Man...it's time to just do it!

I never knew that he would settle for this kind of interest. It's in the gene, perhaps. Definitely not for me. Simply not me.

All I Want To Do is Have Some Fun

2010-05-21T13:25:00.001+08:00

All I want to do, is have some fun.....remember that Sheryl Crow's song? Ohhhh I am really looking forward to have some fun.

Husna is in her mid term exam this week. The moment she showed me the timetable for the exam, I told her to study hard and be careful when answering the questions. She came close to my ear and whispered, "Don't worry mama. The exam is so easy". That had really made me laugh out loud. Perhaps she was over already for fun times in the kindy. She really is looking forward for the new school. The real one. That maybe when she can experience the real fun.

Huda is the exact opposite of Husna. She just couldn't care less what's going on at school, especially the homework. She just wants to have fun. One day last week, nenek told me Husna discarded Huda's book in the garbage bin in her effort to force Huda to do her homework. Of course Huda cried, since Husna was also beating her at the same time. Husna is forcing Huda to be like her. Very diligent, do homework, be serious, etc, which she is the exact opposite. Homework is a real killer for Huda. You know what she loves the most - gadgets. She loves to play around with the gadgets - handphone, laptop, anything that moves mechanically. So school is just a place to have fun for her. I need to find a good school for Huda to get her to love going to school.

Eusoff is obsessed with fans. Electrical fans, toy fans, you name it. The flowers are fans. My brooch in the shape of a flower is also a fan. I like the way he pronounces the word - Phhhaaannn - That would really makes him excited. I just sent him for jab last week. He was 2.3 years when I sent him for the 1.5 year jab. So he has to undergo another 2 jabs around these few months. Ouchhh...my pocket also koyak. No fun at all.

Mr.X is going to TR soon. That means I have to drive to Pasir Gudang everyday from Skudai. Oh man....this is really something that I dread. Maybe hiring a driver is not a bad idea after all. Bila la aku nak dapat driver sponsored pulakkk....

Work has been crazy. Tons of emails, meetings, people want to see you on the spot, people want to make an appointment, workers on strike, people don't want to do jobs they promised to do, staff quits, hiring new staff, heaty office which needs new aircond, merger of 2 divisions, people re-shuffle, people don't get paid, making a presentation, etc. The best part of the job - an office with a pretty good view. I could see the Straits of Johor, the road which links Sembawang to Changi, how many ships ply the straits daily, ships coming/leaving the shipyard, government patrol boats, sometimes helicopters monitoring the straits, and also people who are not working when they are supposed to work.

That is why I need to have some fun. Some of my family members will visit my nephew in Hartford, UK this school holiday. He is sent there for 3-months training. My sister wants to take this opportunity to discover UK and Paris. Save on accommodation. Try to fit 7 people in 1 flat. It will fit, because it's in UK. Oh how I wish I can join you all. My annual leave only left 10.5 days, after that 5 days minus visiting India in February. If I were to join this trip, I will have to use another 8 solid days. That means 2.5 days for raya and what not after that. That is a major put off. This is the disadvantage when you're working for other people.

OKlah, enough of today's thoughts. I will have a major presentation tomorrow to the no. 2 man of the company. I need lots of energy. Time to go for afternoon siesta.

Dato' Bung Kena Jail

2010-05-20T08:34:00.001+08:00

As a representative of the rakyat, Dato' Bung has taken the oath to uplift and abide by the law of Malaysia. However, Dato' had committed an offence when he failed to prove that his additional matrimony was JUST and NECESSARY and he did it by violating the law. As a result, the judge had sentenced him to the maximum fine of both RM1k and jail term of 1 year. But of course, his lawyer would apply for appeal.

When you are a "wakil rakyat", you are supposed to be the icons and idols for the citizens at large. Looking at another facade, being a normal person, when you are in love, all that would not matter. That's why the old saying that "Cinta itu buta" still holds true all the time, every time. Romeo and Juliet, Laila and Majnun, Dato' Alphabet and Dato' Icon of Pop Singer at all times in Malaysia, all are the same. When you are in love, you simply cannot think. Somehow the adrenaline, progesterone, and above all, the pheromones would overwhelm all your other senses.

Actually I have got so much to write, but the sensitivity of my writings may affect my current position. Arghhh...bosannya....so nak selamat, kita komen pasal Dato' Bung.

I'll Be Back

2010-05-02T23:26:00.002+08:00

I miss the old career days...full of serenity and predictability. I used to get between 5-10 emails a day. That was awesome. More time for deep thinking and planning. Gone are the days.

My days now are full of drama. There are just so many people and so many events which have caused the days to be sooooo unpredictable. I have to clean up my inbox almost 5-6 times a day. That is like 20-30 emails in a day. This life is far more complex than the life of Marty Kane, the imaginary figure I had to be while being assessed a few months ago. That excludes knocking on the door asking for approval and people seeking for a short eye-to-eye talk with me. Phewww....meetings and more meetings...ahah... I guess this is a welcome to the world of real business.

It's a short term quick thinking while balancing the needs for long term strategy to be realized. Where on earth to find the time to do that planning and strategizing? During weekends. Forget it. Weekends are time for Tesco, Danga Bay, Taman Bunga, Facebooking, etc etc. Tak termasuk lagik kisah bibik gosok tuala mandi...uhuh...tetiba jer bibik ni dah nampak tua. Maybe masa masuk dulu dia pakai inai, so people believed when she said she was in her 40's. Aku rasa umur dia ni dah 50++ lah.

Dah tak boleh cakap lelebih pulak. Ada orang kata aku dah start cari gaduh. Kata lah apa nak...yg penting niat saya ikhlas. heh heh...aku paling tak suka bila temubual artis bercinta kata "kami sedang mengenal hati budi masing2" sedangkan satu dunia dah nampak mereka holding hands at the red carpet tu...aku sokong kata si Joyah, kahwin jer la...amende nya lagik nak kenal hati budi....tak paham aku la...bagi alasan biarlah logik sikit.

Ini kes dah mula merapu sebab otak berserabut. Kesian kawan aku. Ex-hubby kata investment yg ex bagi dulu tu kira dah cukup utk mutaah dan edah. Mana boleh kira gitu bang oiii...duit masa kawin, kira sedekah atau hadiah la kat isteri. Bila dah pisah, kena lah bayar asing. Ini ada pulak mintak balik. Itu kira buruk siku tu. Camne orang tua2 boleh kata buruk siku eh? Kenapa tak buruk kepala ke, buruk tengkok ke, apsal buruk siku? Kesian betul kawan aku yg sorang ni. Lepas tu pulak aku yg jadik ejen untuk that investment. Kira aku pun enter frame gak kat kes dia nih...inilah namanya dugaan. Sungguh hebat dugaan kawan aku nih.

Ala...aku nak tulis byk lagi nih...tapi si Huda ni merengek nak main game...padahal esok sekolah....berebut laptop dgn anak...

Fun No More

2010-04-08T23:30:00.002+08:00

Hari ni aku dah start keje kat tempat baru. Aku dah tak boleh nak merapu. Kalau aku merapu, aku dah tak boleh dok kat situ. Susah betul lah...silap2 aku kena tutup blog ni, takut pulak ada org tak puas hati buat kacau kat blog aku ni...isk....dilemma betullah...

Aku kena jadik seorang yg serious..."my expectations are very high on you"...huhu..."bila lagi nak masuk, cepatlah, kita org ada byk mende nak highlight ni"...wahwahwah...begitu tinggi harapan orang kat aku...aku pun tahu....tapi aku kena balance hidup aku jugak kan...aku kalau boleh tak nak lah dapat penyakit due to kerja...tak berbaloi beb....kita maintain relax ehhhh....tapi kerja tetap kerja la kan....

Tadi aku dah buang kerusi warung kat dlm ofis...ape ke hal, kerusi warong dok kat ofis...terus aku suruh remove...company juta2 tapi kat ofis pakai kerusi warong...memula aku kata ini kerusi mcm kat restoren, then boss aku kata mcm kat Restoren R*****, yg pemes dgn ikan siakap goreng rangup tu....cish...buat malu betul....

Byk betul mende aku nak tukar...ofis kena cantek, baru org respek sikit kan...ini kalau dah dlm ofis ada kerusi warong, apa J****....meja pun buruk semacam...aihhhhh....tinggi menggunung mende yg aku nak kena buat nih...mencabar sungguh....

Aku kena byk doa lah utk buat mende ni berjaya. Insya Allah aku akan cuba praktik apa yg aku dah alami dulu, yg baik2 lah kan.....

Is Change Really Necessary?

2010-03-29T16:35:00.001+08:00

I am always pro to changes. I am a strong believer that change or "hijrah" will bring more good than bad. When I look at my past pictures, especially of those with my colleagues in office, the theory has been proven again and again.

There is Mr. I happily working in a renown company in KL, able to own a big home in Shah Alam. Doing what he loves to do.

Then I have Mr. K happily globe throtting to finish his work assignments worldwide.

Mr. A now able to own expensive cars and also enjoy pretty good life in KL.

Mr. M is now very jovial while counting his chips and had the guts to advocate me to move to KL.

Mr. K is now a permanent staff next door also enjoying himself with a more comfortable life.

Everytime I heard their latest news, I would always smile to myself, God bless them and their family. Their decision to move out and change might be among their biggest achievement in life.

The only constant thing in life is change. No wonder even the prophet PBUH is advocating for hijrah or change.

But, what refrain me from the change?

Of course, there's that dilemma called - comfort zone. Everything is just nice, no need for more headache for adjustment, new life to adapt to, new people to associate with, etc etc. But until when this can last?

I have thought many times to quit the company, in fact. For one, my upline in UT has always given a hint and assurance that goes something like this - "I'm sure you can go far if you do this full time". Well, sometimes I did think about it. But then again, thoughts without actions are useless. Everytime I meet that successful UT consultant in town or in UT office, she too would utter the same thing. It's an irony that these people have confidence in me when I myself is doubting it.

Then I try to rationalize it. I stay because I think I can do better. I can help better and they need me. Boleh tak gitu? What a bunch of crap. This crap nonetheless has kept me going and enjoying quite the same life for the past few years. To add some variety, I took up UT and in latest fashion, the great Tupperware business. Let see how far I can go. I have learnt a lot while diversifying my life. At work, I am waiting for the last moment, if there is going to be any change soon. I pray that it will. Let me play my part to help soar to a higher level, with those within my control. If it's meant to be, it will. If it's not, maybe Allah has a greater plan for me.

DC Chapter 2 - Part 3 - Darling Who?

2010-03-27T12:38:00.001+08:00

When I was in primary school, people would try their best to pronounce my name correctly, and often ended up as - Nordailin.

When I was in secondary school, people had started to associate the pronunciation of my name to - Darling. And then they would giggle.

When I started work, again people had dared to straight away called me Darling.

Until now, whenever I mentioned my full name, "Oh, Darling...can easily be remembered!".

And all these associations have mostly been uttered by men.

Ladies on the other hand, would try their best to pronounce my name correctly, and often ended up I told them to call me - Lin. Easy.

According to Mr. Carnegie, a name is the most sweetest and the most important sound in any language to a person.

When you meet someone new, try to remember that name and call it easily, and you have paid a subtle and a very effective compliment. Seriously, I would solute people if they can try to at least pronounce my name correctly. Very few I have found throughout my existence though (very sad case...).

If you forget or misspelt a name, you're in trouble mister! You have put yourself at a sharp disadvantage. To this, I can still recall we used to have a Director whose name ended with Phin. Unfortunately, one of the clerks had written a letter for him to sign but with spelling Pin. He was damn pissed man....he marched into our office and shouted - who wrote this letter? Don't you know that a name is very important? How can you take this lightly? I guessed no one admitted. He just shouted at everyone so that everyone could remember his anger.

There are tips on how to remember a person's name better.

Repeat the name several times.
Try to associate it with the person's features, expressions and general appearance.

I tried this last few weeks when I met my new sister-in-law with her daughters. She has 2 daughters, 1 is Shazlin and 1 is Emma. Shazlin easy to recall as I associated it with Shalin the famous Malaysian Bowler. Emma, well, she does look a little like Raja Ema, once a famous singer. 1 son - Amal. Name is Jamaludin but was shortened to Amal. It really does work.

This thing needs practice.

When I got a letter from a bank for a settlement, I met En Mazlan, and tried to mention his names several times during our conversation. The next time I visited the bank, I called his name again. When I perpetually refer to En Mazlan, rather than Encik, which I used to do before, he was smiling all over and helped me to settle my bank matters very fast. I think it gave him the power of feeling importance. I had complimented him indirectly, he was happy, and he helped me willingly. Win-win.

It is indeed the sweetest sound to a person.

Beriman, Berilmu dan Beramal

2010-03-18T09:39:00.001+08:00

I have always wanted to do some sorts of voluntary work, like to save animals from extinction, educating younger generations, or giving lectures to fellow women in troubles, etc. There are so many organizations and clubs that I can join to do this, but as the usual excuse claimed - no time. Time has somehow become such a valuable and scarce asset, that the 24 hours given a day always seems to be insufficient to accomplish many things in mind.

Lately, by remembering and practicing from Dale Carnegie's book, somehow it has helped to re-ignite my passion to do some kind of voluntary work. Actually I've just finished half of the book, but by practicing the principles, I can see the impact to my inner beings already (this is only me can tell laaaa). The usual mantra - from Chinese proverb - I see and I forget, I listen and I forget, I read and I forget, but when I do it, then only I learn and remember. Or something to that effect.

Yesterday, someone forward to me a complete graduation speech by the famous author of Harry Potter, JK Rowling to Harvard graduates in 2008. I read it in full and really enjoy it when I start to reflect on myself. I particularly like this phrase she said:

We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.

For full text, you can visit - http://harvardmagazine.com/commencement/the-fringe-benefits-failure-the-importance-imagination

I didn't know what has got into me, but somehow the passion seemed unbearable. I needed to help someone, do something which I had not been able to accomplish all this while. Then I remember, when I saw my thrash basket was still full of paper scraps and some other junks. I remembered someone told me that Kak Ani the cleaning lady at my office was involved in some kind of accident. But when I heard the news 2 days ago, oh well, "Kesian". That was just it. But yestarday, this vibe and inner being somehow had just been awaken. Waaa, this was like "Awaken the Giant Within" concept practice lah pulakkk....hahaha...tetiba rasa I needed to help her. Pay her a visit...help her do things...knowing that she is a single mother of two, and some people in the office had done money collection for her during last Raya celebration to help ease her burden. I got to do something! I quickly asked for her address and phone number. I had to talk to 4 people to get the details, but I got all the information with ease. I guess if you want to do good, Allah will help you to make it easy.

Then I remember, that evening I got appointment with 2 of my mentees. Instead of the usual "How are you?", "How's work?", "How are you doing at work?" kind of boring talk, why not I get these guys to come along with me? Kita buat program ala-ala BersamaMu la kan...so when they asked me where to meet and what to bring, I told them, today we are going for some Lawatan Sambil Belajar. Zul was very curious, started asking how long, where to go. I kept them in suspense mood. Until in the car, I told them - "There are some things in life in which we cannot learn from books. Today is one of those lessons". I shared with them background of this lady and they were thrilled and excited. I could see their smile from one ear to another ear. Maybe Kak Lin has a reputation to be that serious lady in some corporate department. Or through our interactions before, they must have formed a conclusion that this mentor-mentee program is such a lame program by HR trying to revive the dwindling spirit of the young. Hence, the chance to ride in my Speedy Green and the chance of being chauferred by me must have never come across their mind. I was glad that we had to chance to do something different and they liked it.

On the way, we stopped at McDonald's, grabbed 2 Happy Meal and 1 Value Meal for her and kids. She was surprised alright. Never expected to receive visitors. Her children were equally excited, especially the 5-year old Amirul, happily sitting on Yusri's lap. He likes male visitors, as he has always been looking for a father figure, according to Kak Ani. His father just left home when he was 11 months old. What life must have been without a father? I have warned the mentee boys, it's up to you how you want to help, I never push. You want to give cash, or just advise, it's up to you. So when I saw them giving out some cash, I was very happy inside. At least that visit must have been remembered by all of us, no matter how brief.

Then it boils down to me, that everything is fated by Allah. I got 2 smart, handsome but most importantly, I could see that they are generous people. They have kind hearts. I am so glad that they enjoy the visit, and told me that we should do this more often. Yeah right....I still need that mentor-mentee report.

DC Chapter 2, Part 2 - Smile

2010-03-04T11:51:00.001+08:00

Mr. Carnegie said the best way to make a good first impression is to SMILE.

The expression one wears on one's face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one's back.
Since action speaks louder than words, a smile says - "I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you".
People who smile tend to sell, manage, teach more effectively , and to raise much happier children.
Your smile can transcend. The effect is so powerful even when it is unseen. If you're on the phone, your smile will come through in your voice.
Action seems to follow feeling. If you're feeling good and happy, you tend to produce a much better result
Control your thoughts, since you are what you think.
Your smile is a massenger of your goodwill.

Cuba dengar lagu kahwin Saloma ni one more time:

Selamat Pengantin Baru

Selamat berbahgia

Selamat ke anak cucu

Selamat sejahtera

Hidup mestilah rukun

Sabar paling perlu

Cinta setiap hari

Senyum mesti selalu

Oh..oh...oh...

Selamat Pengantin Baru

Selamat berbahgia

Selamat ke anak cucu

Selamat sejahtera

Oh God, even Saloma also propagated us to smile, and I'm sure she and Mr. Carnegie meant the genuine, warming smile, not the kind of insincere, sarcastic type of smile.

When we are happy, we find it very easy to smile. But when we are not, you will find it as a very challenging task. I admire those who can hide their sadness/frustrations behind a smile.

Talking about controlling your thoughts, I am also reading this book by Robin Sharma - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, highlighting the same thing. The Shiva clan can ccontrol their heart beat just by being able to control their thoughts. That is how powerful our mind is.

OK folks, let's hope there is always gonna be a rainbow after every heavy rain, thunderstorm, tsunami, typhoon, or our heat wave we're currently facing. Hence, try to always smile, also as a tip to look younger.

DC Chapter 3 - Arouse the Eager Want

2010-02-11T10:58:00.000+08:00

"He who can do this has the whole world with him. He who cannot walks a lonely way".

We are interested in what we want. So the only way on earth to influence other people is to talk about what they want and show them how to get it.

If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own - Henry Ford.

It is - arouse in the other person an eager want.

This principle calls for some sort of sacrifice as well. Imagine, if you have a good idea and you want people to implement this idea, you have to be able to sell it as if the idea belongs to the people, not you. So you suggest A, then the other people will add, edit, twist and turn to make it A++, arouse the eagerness to implement the idea, then only people will buy and commit to implement the idea well. This is a big secret to the corporate world. Most people with good ideas would select which audience to present the ideas to, and certainly the implementors will not be one of the audience. They are just to accept and do it. No wonder 98% business improvement and change management programs fail.

The biggest challenge is to arouse that eager want. The carrots have to be big, to benefit the mass as well as the individual. Man, it's not easy. This is why I highly respect leaders who can turn around companies, e.g. our very own Dato's Idris Jala, known as the turn around expert. Imagine you have to flip the whole organization. To flip one person is already a challenge, now imagine having to do it with thousands of staff.

Let's summarize the 3 chapters I have read, Fundamental Techniques in Handling People:

Principle 1 - Don't criticize, condemn or complain.

Principle 2 - Give honest and sincere appreciation.

Principle 3 - Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Of Attraction and Retention

2010-02-08T10:41:00.000+08:00

This is what I got today by reading this book - The BUDGET - How the Government is Spending Our Money by Teh Chi-Chang.

The Top 10 Employers in Malaysia for 2009:

The Ritz-Carlton, KL
American Express (M) Sdb Bhd
Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
Federal Express Services (M) Sdn Bhd
Agilent Technologies
SP Setia Berhad
Hilton KL
Intel Technology Sdn Bhd
Golden Arches Restaurants Sdn Bhd
Telekom Malaysia Bhd

Of the top 10 above, only 2 companies are home-grown - SP Setia and Telekom. Malaysian companies are in general have far more to do to improve in the areas of attracting and retaining their talents.

Today, in Business Times, it again has confirmed the fact that we are really very far from achieving that "developed" country status. You can tell from Hewitt's study of companies, still very far. To negotiate, communicate, influence and persuade others are not easy mate!

Happy, inspired workers will boost bottom line

For each employee it hires who show leadership potential, the company sends a personal letter to the parents, thanking them for having groomed such talent for the company.

This is the practice of China Mobile Communications Group Shanghai Co Ltd, which ranked second on the list of Asia Pacific Top Companies for Leaders 2009.

Global human resource consultancy Hewitt Associates found that top companies in leadership practice viewed high potential talent as a strategic asset; treated leadership as a business strategy; and saw talent development as a mission-critical business process.

At these companies, leaders were actively involved in coaching and mentoring, and were measured by outcomes.

In recent years, Malaysia's profit-driven private sector has also begun to give more attention to its employees.

Rather than seeing the workers as labour or input, more companies are now acknowledging the role of their workforce in delivering results. The functions of the human resource (HR) department have gone beyond just recruitment and training, and HR has become part of a company's business strategy.

Companies are now rated based on their financial performance and how well their HR programmes drive the bottom line.

A company's brand or reputation is also seen from how well it attracts and retains talent.

In an organisation, leadership and workforce are intertwined. Without one or the other, the company cannot achieve its goals, let alone conduct business activities effectively.

Most companies have excellent plans, programmes, targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) on paper, but only those with good leaders are most likely to successfully execute the plans and, thus, achieve the targets.

In its excitement with the newly drawn KPIs or brand strategy, the senior management might neglect to ensure that leaders at every level of the company, including union leaders, communicate the strategy and objectives to each and every employee.

It is unfortunate if the zealousness of the management to meet the targets results in middle managers imposing near-impossible deadlines and targets on the employees.

If this happens, the KPIs or brand objectives will not only be out of reach by failing to attract wholehearted support from the staff, but resentment could develop in the employees, who may feel alienated from the management and its aims. Companies have been known to lose their best employees for such reasons.

Competent leaders should be able to negotiate, communicate, influence and persuade others, and, at the same time, be diplomatic in dealing with diverse human resources with different values, opinions, attitudes, beliefs, work habits, goals, ambitions and dreams.

Today, some Malaysian companies are rated highly for their HR programmes, while many still have a long way to go in establishing themselves as the employers of choice.

According to Hewitt Associates' survey, the best employers in Malaysia do not necessarily pay high salaries to their workers.

While the pay is in line with market rate, employees in these companies are inspired by their leaders and feel respected within the organisations. This makes them stay on, in tune with company objectives, and voluntarily go the extra mile to support their employers in achieving business success.

DC Chapter 2 - Nourishment for Self Esteem

2010-02-03T09:40:00.001+08:00

The big secret of dealing with people - Give honest and sincere appreciation.

The deepest urge in human nature is "the desire to be important" or "the desire to be great".
Just like food or sleep, human beings crave for appreciation, but this craving is seldom gratified.
People sometimes became invalids in order to win sympathy and attention, and get a feeling of importance. About half of the people who go insane apparently have nothing organically wrong with their brain cells. They go insane because they find in insanity a feeling of importance that they were unable to achieve in the world of reality.
In the words of Charles Schwab, among the richest man in the American history - "I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement. I am hearty in my approbation and lavish in my praise".
In the words of Alfred Lunt, one fo the great actors in his time - "There is nothing I need so much as nourishment for my self esteem". How often do we nourish the self esteem of our children, family members, spouse, friends and employees?
Honest appreciation got results where criticism and ridicule failed.

It has been a good exercise to reflect on this topic. I very seldom give appreciation to people around me, because they rarely do the same to me. We have to admit, how often do we actually say out loud to people something that go like this:

To your mom - thank you mom for all the love you have showered upon me, and the continuous love and support you have given me throughout all these years. Never.
To your dad - thank you dad for working very hard to ensure that we have enough food on our table everyday and send us to school so that we become useful citizens to our religion, race and nation. Never.
To your children - thank you so much for giving me such happiness, and having you guys makes me feel complete as a person. Maybe not yet.
To your spouse - thank you for choosing me to be your partner in life for now, for accepting all my weaknesses and hence, compliment my journey towards becoming a much better individual. Ehmmmmmmm.....
To your staff - thank you for helping me completing a few tasks, without you I would have been impaired in several matters which I know you can do better than me. Not yet. This one skill I need to learn from Mr. Schwab.

Well, actually yesterday I sent 2 sms after I read this chapter. First to Mr.X - thank you for massaging my back for 2 nites in a row since the pain on my left shoulders have become unbearable. I really appreciate it. As usual, I did not expect any reply.

Second, to Mr. AHM - thank you for giving me the opporutnity to be a member of a few initiatives. I truly appreciate your passion for people development. Guess what, Mr. AHM replied and asked me - "TQ. Ada apa2 ke?". As always, when we rarely practice what have been preached, people will ask - "Are there some prawns hiding behind the rocks?"

To Allah Almighty - may I become a better person by being able to give honest and sincere appreciation more often to people around me. AMIN.

Laukku Tak Cukup Masin

2010-02-01T14:58:00.001+08:00

Setelah sekian lama tak menjengah dapur atas sebab-sebab yg tak dapat dielakkan, aku telah bertekad untuk masak semalam dan Mr. X siap beli sayur dan bagi arahan nak masak cara apa. So tengahari aku masak lauk Ikan Asam Pedas, style Kelantan taruk gula merah, then malam aku masaklah sayur kacang panjang masak kicap, following exactly the specifications given. Kang tak pasal2 aku kena NCR, payah pulak. Aku perasan yg lauk tengahari tu, kurang masin. Masa aku masak, rasa macam dah OK. Tapi lepas hidangkan, aku pun rasa macam kurang masin, tapi quite OKlah. Maybe tekak orang Johor bab masin ni agak rendah kot berbanding org Pantai Timur. Maknanya bukan gula je, garam pun sama kot....

Sebelah malam pulak, aku rasa masa masak tu dah letak 2 sudu garam. Tak nak lah cepat dapat darah tinggi kan...akhirnya Mr.X bersuara jugak, maybe sebab dah tak tahan tahap NCR dah tinggi, so kena keluarkan FI jugak kat aku.

"Tak taruk garam ke?"

"Dah, 2 sudu tadi. Tadi rasa macam dah OK".

Aisey, dia makan banyak jugak, tapi aku dapat rasakan, memang kes kena improve ni. Kalau ada Client Feedback Survey, sah2 aku kena query, lepas tu kena buat reply letter camne nak improve....

* NCR - Non-Conformance Report, FI - Field Instruction

Ini Mr.X pun kena belajar prinsip Dale Carnegie - the 3C's ni....dialog tu sebijiklah apa yg Mr. Carnegie cuba ajar dalam buku tu. Sebijik.

DC Chapter 1 - The Insatiable 3C's

2010-02-01T14:49:00.001+08:00

I was advised to read several books as part of my development plan in handling people. It's not just to read, I have to note down the learnings by each chapter and try to apply to my two identified individuals whom I planned to apply the lessons. Tough eh...the first challenge is to try to find the time to read. The best thing about reading a newspaper is that you just read at one glance and that was it. You don't have to infer, trying to imagine, etc. Reading a book on the other hand, requires full concentration. If not, it won't stick on your head. Hence, after reading chapter 1, I have to record my completion date and try to reflect how to apply on these 2 persona. Quite tricky actually. I was advised to read at least 15 minutes a day.

There are 4 books which I have to cover in 6 months, they are:

Dale Carnegie - How to Win Friends and Influence People
Florence Littaeur - Personality Plus
Allan Pease - People Skills for Life
"Something Holiday" - Coaching vs. Mentoring (I seem to not be able to find a book by that author, so I replace it with a book in the Harvard Business Essentials series - Coaching and Mentoring.

To kick start the challenge, I grabbed the very famous evergreen by Mr. Dale Carnegie. I read it once, courtesy of a borrowed copy from Mr. Akmal, some years back. None of the lessons actually stick in my brain. Now I had to get it, read it and note down on how to apply all the lessons. Come to think of it, not bad....not bad at all. At least I can remember the lessons, and insya Allah will try to apply that in my daily life.

This is what Chapter 1 says - "If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive". Do not criticize, condemn or complain.

Lessons:

It is foolish to scold people, since God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence.
Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous since it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance and arouses resentment.
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.
Instead of condemning people, let's try to understand them, why they do what they do.

4 major lessons, there you go. Now try to imagine the 2 persona's faces, and try to not condemn or criticize. Bear with them. Patience is truly a gem here.

I Am A Johorean!

2010-01-29T10:29:00.001+08:00

Siti Rahayu forwarded to me this email. It's high time that we recall the history of Johor.

As a reminder to me, the late Sultan Iskandar had passed away 1 week after my sister-in-law Hamidah Abdul Rahman's demise. What a co-incident, since Kak Midah has named his eldest son - Mahmud Iskandar, since he was born during the time when Almarhum was undergoing the honorary process to be proclaimed as the Agong, way back in 1994.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Warga Johor berkabung selama 7 hari kerana kemangkatan Sultan.

Semoga roh Almarhum Sultan Iskandar
Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail
dicucuri rahmat. Al-Fatihah.

Please note for the 7 days period of mourning in Johor:

Muslim men must wear Songkok with 2 inch white band.

Muslim women must wear white Tudung.

Muslim in uniform/Other races/religion must wear 3 inch black band
on left arm.

Sejarah Penubuhan Johor

Asal usul perkataan Johor diambil dari perkataan Arab "Jauhar" yang bermaksud "Permata Berharga". Pengaruh Arab jelas kelihatan di mana para pedagang dari Arab telah datang ke sini bagi menjalankan perniagaan rempah yang sememangnya terkenal pada suatu ketika dahulu. Johor juga dikenali sebagai Hujung Tanah atau "Gangganu" oleh orang-orang Siam yang bermaksud "Batu Permata".

Pembukaan negeri Johor bermula pada awal kurun ke-16 apabila Melaka telah ditawan oleh Portugis. Sultan Mahmud Syah yang merupakan pewaris terakhir takhta kerajaan Melaka telah melarikan diri dan membuka kerajaan Johor. Pada waktu itu, Johor telah meluaskan empayarnya sehingga ke Riau.

Sejarah Johor moden bermula di bawah pemerintahan Sultan Abu Bakar. Baginda telah ditabalkan menjadi sultan pada tahun 1866 seterusnya memegang gelaran "Seri Maharaja Johor". Sultan Abu Bakar telah memperkenalkan Perlembagaan Johor seterusnya membawa perubahan dalam pentadbiran negeri Johor yang lebih efisyen. Perpindahan pusat pentadbiran kerajaan Johor di Teluk Belanga ke Tanjung Puteri pada tahun 1841 memberi kesan yang positif kepada Johor terutamanya dari segi pembangunan. Pembinaan bangunan kerajaan, balai polis, masjid, mahkamah dan istana besar jelas membuktikan Sultan Abu Bakar berhak menerima gelaran sebagai "Bapa Pembangunan Johor".

Kini, Johor yang disempadani oleh Melaka, Pahang dan Singapura merupakan salah sebuah negeri yang pesat membangun dan maju di Malaysia .

Asal Usul Nama Tempat

Wujudnya nama sesuatu tempat bergantung kepada beberapa sebab. Ada yang berpunca daripada kepercayaan atau cerita-cerita lisan (Kampung Batu Badak). Ada yang berasal daripada alam semulajadi seperti keadaan sekitar (Kukup), haiwan (Rengit) atau tumbuh-tumbuhan (Gunung Pulai) dan ada mengambil sempena nama tokoh-tokoh tempatan (Tenang). Sesetengah nama tempat pula lahir daripada peristiwa yang berlaku di tempat itu (Gelang Patah). Suatu hal yang menarik ialah perubahan yang berlaku kepada sebutan nama sesuatu tempat itu. Ada kalanya ia merupakan singkatan kata, pengubahan bunyi atau kepilatan sebutan.

Batu Pahat

Nama Batu Pahat dikatakan dari peristiwa memahat batu untuk mendapat bekalan air tawar di pantai Minyak Beku yang terletak di Kuala Sungai Batu, Batu Pahat. Kerja ini dilakukan oleh angkatan tentera Siam (Orang-orang Muslim Pattani Siam ) di bawah pimpinan Awi Dicu dalam abad ke-15 sewaktu hendak menyerang Melaka. Kesan pahatan tersebut masih terdapat hingga sekarang. Kesan ini dikenali sebagai Perigi Siam atau Perigi Batu Pahat. Pusat bandar bagi daerah Batu Pahat ialah Bandar Penggaram. Nama Penggaram itu dikatakan berasal daripada 'pangkal jeram', kerana terdapat jeram di sebuah sungai kecil yang mengalir dari bukit belakang bandar tersebut.

Muar

Muar lahir daripada perkataan 'muara' iaitu kuala sungai. Ini disebabkan oleh penempatan awal di kawasan tersebut terletak di muara Sungai Muar. Sungai Muar terkenal sejak zaman silam kerana sungainya yang lebar membolehkan para pelayar berlindung di musim gelora. Pelarian Raja Iskandar Syah (Parameswara) dari Singapura setelah dialahkan Majapahit pada awal abad ke-15 menggunakan sungai ini. Demikian pula apabila Melaka jatuh ke tangan Portugis pada tahun 1511, raja dan para pembesar Melaka melarikan diri melalui Sungai Muar.

Versi lain mengenai kewujudan nama tersebut ialah daripada perkataan 'muak' (jemu dan 'mu-aru' (Bahasa Tamil) bermaksud tiga sungai..

Bandar Maharani yang menjadi pusat bandar utama daerah Muar mendapat nama sempena nama Permaisuri Maharaja Abu Bakar pada 12 Ogos 1887. Oleh kerana pada masa itu Sultan Abu Bakar masih memakai gelaran Maharaja, permaisuri baginda memakai gelaran Maharani. Bandar itu dinamakan atas nama permaisuri yang megiringi Baginda dalam upacara perasmian bandar itu, Maharani Fatimah.

Mersing

Mersing mendapat nama daripada peristiwa penahanan buang daerah seorang pesuruh Sultan Pahang berbangsa Sikh, kerana melakukan kesalahan yang berat. Penahanan ini berlaku sewaktu Mersing belum ramai penduduk. Pekerja tersebut bernama Amer Singh, dan namanya menjadi terkenal di kawasan tersebut hingga menyebabkan tempat itu dikenali dengan nama Mersing.

Cerita lain yang membawa munculnya nama Mersing ialah dari peristiwa seorang dara bernama Mersing mencintai teruna perantau dari Pahang bernama Awang. Oleh kerana Mersing diminati oleh anak penghulu, bapa Mersing memilih anak Penghulu bakal menantunya.

Untuk memisahkan di antara Mersing dengan Awang, timbullah fitnah. Tetapi Awang berjaya membuktikan kesuciannya dengan menghapuskan fitnah tersebut. Akhirnya bapa Mersing bersetuju menerima Awang menjadi suami anaknya. Namun Awang tetap keras hati lalu meninggalkan keluarga Mersing dan penduduk di situ dalam keadaan menyesal. Dari nama dari itu lahirnya nama Mersing dan didendangkan kisahnya dalam lagu Seri Mersing.

Segamat

Nama Segamat berasal dari ungkapan kata 'segera amat' atau 'segar amat'. Kata-kata itu lahir dari mulut Bendahara Tepok dalam pelariannya ke hulu Sungai Muar setelah Melaka ditawan Portugis. Bendahara Tepok yang mengalami penyakit lumpuh terpaksa diusung ke perahu. Ketika sampai ke Lubuk Batu, menurut beliau, segera amat sampainya angkatan pengiring-pengiringnya ke tempat yang selamat, jauh dari ancaman Portugis. Oleh kerana pada hari itu cuaca agak panas, Bendaraha Tepok pun mandilah di situ. Kata Bendahara Tepok setelah mandi, "Segar amat rasa badan ini" kata-kata Bendahara Tepok ini menjadi sebutan ramai pengikutnya hingga kemudiannya menamakan petempatan yang mereka duduki dengan nama Segamat.

Pontian

Perkataan Pontian dikatakan berasal dari kata 'Perhentian'. Perhentian yang dimaksudkan itu ialah Sungai Pontian Besar, tempat berteduh dari gelora Selat Melaka bagi kebanyakan para pelayar yang hendak ke Singapura atau ke Melaka. Ada yang menyebutnya sebagai tempat perhentian para lanun untuk menunggu mangsa yang melintasi kawasan tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, kuala Sungai Pontian Besar adalah tempat perhentian nelayan memunggah tangkapannya, sementara Pontian Kecil menjadi Bandar utama bagi daerah Pontian.

Kota Tinggi

Kota Tinggi mengambil nama daripada kota yang dibina di atas kawasan tinggi di tebing Sungai Johor. Pembinaan kota tersebut untuk menangkis serangan Portugis yang berusaha hendak melenyapkan kuasa Kesultanan Melayu yang telah dialahkannya di Melaka pada tahun 1511.

Oleh Kerana Sungai Johor adalah kawasan yang selamat untuk berteduh dari gelora Laut Cina Selatan , ia telah menjadi tumpuan para pedagang sejak zaman silam lagi. Zaman Ptolemy kawasan tersebut dikenali dengan nama Palanda. Banyak tinggalan lama seperti manik dan permata dari zaman Han (SM200 - TM20) dan zaman Empayar Rom pernah ditemui di Kota Tinggi.

Tangkak

Nama Tangkak timbul daripada 'tang merangkak'. 'tang' berasal dari perkataan tentang yakni tempat. Peristiwa itu berlaku ketika peneroka kawasan Tangkak, Long Mahmud tujuh bersaudara terpaksa merangkak naik ke tebing Sungai Tangkak menuju ke Bukit Tambak di kawasan Seri Makmur. Tebing-tebing sungai di kawasan Tangkak adalah lembut dan jerlus kerana paya ditumbuhi pokok-pokok resam, sendayan, pakis dan rembia.

Kluang

Bandar Kluang mengambil nama Keluang Kampung. Keluang sejenis kelawar besar pemakan buah. Ia memakan bunga durian dan buah-buahan seperti rambutan, rambai dan lain-lain. Penduduk kampung tersebut berjaya membunuh tupai yang datang ke dusun mereka, tetapi gagal menakutkan keluang yang begitu banyak setiap petang datang ke situ. Keluang yang banyak itu dikatakan datang dari sebuah bukit di belakang kampung mereka (bukit yang dimaksudkan mungkin Gunung Lambak). Akhirnya seorang pawang terpaksa mengadakan suatu upacara di bukit tersebut untuk memujuk keluang-keluang itu agar tidak datang ke dusun penduduk kampung tersebut.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Johor Bahru - somehow was not included, I wonder.

Salute to You CEO Azran!

2010-01-19T16:35:00.000+08:00

In the news today:

AirAsia X is undertaking a major refurbishment exercise to upgrade all economy and business class seats on board its long-haul aircraft.

Chief Executive Officer Azran Osman-Rani said the first aircraft will be refurbished by February 1, 2010.

The entire exercise, to be done in stages, would be completed by June and provide a more valueble experience for our customers, he said.

Besides the economy seats being refurbished to a more comfortable level, business class travellers will also enjoy a pleasurable journey.

" AirAsia X will have lie flat beds for business class passengers, first of its kind for long-haul aircraft to replace XL seats. There will be 12 lie flat beds in A330 and 18 lie flat beds in A340.

" After taking into consideration complaints (on leg room), we believe the new seats will be more comfortable and relaxing to our customers," he added.

Azran told this to reporters after launching ExxonMobil's "Discover Travel @ Asia" promotion in conjuction with Esso and Mobil's latest Smiles Driver Rewards promotion here today.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alhamdullillah....thank goodness....I had written the entry for the Aussie trip last May 09 but just couldn't find the right time to publish it. Imagine being onboard for 8 hours with such a small leg room. If a petite lady like me suffered, just imagine those hunks big chunks whom I sure would swear and convict themselves no more Air Asia in my life! It's worst than the express buses....just imagine...

It's heartening to note that Air Asia heeded the customer's complaint. This really symbolizes a company which puts customers at its forefront towards achieving more success. Syabas!

You Will Be Missed

2010-01-18T09:28:00.001+08:00

Finally, after 2.5 months of battling between life and death, my sister-in-law passed away last Friday 15 January 2010 at the age of 50.

Here it is to you, Kak Midah - Al-Fatihah.

Kak Midah had such a strong aspiration for her life and business she's building. She wanted to take the business very far. All the ground work was almost ready. But Allah must have loved her more. Life as an entrepreneur was never easy.

I would always remember her as someone with a very strong will power, dedication, committed, persevere and had high ambition in life. Semoga Allah cucuri rahmat ke atas roh mu. AMIN.

The Theory Game

2010-01-14T17:56:00.001+08:00

Heartless act of a son and daughter-in-law

A 57-year-old man, who had just undergone heart surgery, thought he could recuperate at home but was in for a shock when his son told him not to return home.

Harian Metro reported that Abdul Rahman Talib was abandoned by the roadside in Kangar with just a bag of clothes by his 30-year-old son after his daughter-in-law refused to let him back into the house.

"I asked my son to drive me to town although I did not know where I could go. Instead, he left me in front of a school".

"I cried as I stepped out from his car. I did not expect him to treat me like this after I've brought him up lovingly all these years," he said, adding that he felt lost wandering around before finally settling down for the night at a bus stop.

Abdul Rahman said the following day, his son had come to look for him but the old man's joy was short-lived when he realised that the son was only dropping off his bicycle.

He said he met an acquaintance near the school two days later and was invited to spend the night at his house.

It is understood that the Social Welfare Department had since sent Abdul Rahman to the Batu Bertangkap Welfare Home in Beseri.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This sad story brings about several theories:

Maybe the father was not so good to his father or parents when he was young.
Maybe the father was not good enough to his wife when she was still alive (if not she would have taken care of him, instead of the son, wouldn't she?).
Maybe the son follows the footstep of his father by having a wife who overules his decision.
Maybe the father thought he has given sufficient loving upbringing life to his son, but the son may think otherwise.
Maybe the father has not been good to the daughter-in-law before the operations.
Maybe this is pure karma - what goes around comes around.

Moral of the story:

Girl power. When not in control, detrimental consequences to the society.

"Sesungguhnya wanita itu dijadikan dari tulang rusuk lelaki supaya menjadi teman dan pendamping, sentiasa memerlukan belaian, tunjuk ajar dan panduan, kerana lelaki itu adalah pemimpin untuk wanita".

School Daze

2010-01-06T10:01:00.004+08:00

Setelah puas berfikir dan berfikir, akhirnya kami mengambil keputusan untuk menghantar Husna ke Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Skudai tahun depan. Bila aku tengok ranking sekolah ni, boleh la tahan. Sekolah bagus tapi budak malas, sama lah jugak kan...so, hopefully she will get a boost by having to attend a good school. Nak hantar ke Convent tu jauh sangat...kesian la...aku dulu sekolah kampung jer..sekolah kebangsaan Kg Pasir...dulu sekolah tu koman je, tak cantek mcm sekarang...

Ini ranking tahun 2007, my sis said last year this Sri Skudai school was third. The lower the GPS the better she said, whatever that means. Poster ni pun tak tunjuk apa makna all those acronyms.

Aku suka betul sign board ni lah...rupa2nya dari sekolah rendah kita dah diajar this concept...bila dah dewasa, macam terlupa la pulak...

Bila petang aku nak register kan sekolah agama, cikgu kata tunggu bulan Julai, sebab ada test. Camne kalau budak tu tak lulus, takkan dia nak deny entry kot? Lagi lah kesian, budak yg sesat akan terus tersesat...nanti aku find out...

Tribute to My Sis-in-Law

2009-12-29T16:08:00.001+08:00

http://www.taafonline.org/ba_about.html

This morning, the doctor informed my third brother that there is little hope for recovery for my sis-in-law. She's suffering from Multiple Aneurysm, and some of the sacs have ruptured. For more info, I attach here a very good medical journal for patients with this disease. Very rare, and we are still wondring the real logical reason behind its landing in my sis-in-law's head.

Kak Midah is a strong lady. She left her job due to this particular medical reason. She was supposed to relax at home, enjoying free money socso had provided, but she refused to sit still. What she did was venturing into the business of bakery and kebab poultry meat. As expected, being an entrepreneur must have taken a toll on her health. Need to think about the business strategy, marketing plan, operational efficiency, rising raw materials, labor turnover, etc etc. There are a whole lot of challenges if you wish to become an entrepreneur, and that's why only 1 out of 10 new start-ups makes it successfully in business. Perhaps due to hypertension since too much thinking and too much lack of sleeping.

Kak Midah has been lying there receving treatment for the past 2 months in HSA. It started about 3 weeks after hari raya aidil fitri and until now, there have been 5 series of operations done - major and minor. The major one was done after she had fallen unconscious that nite, and that's when the doctor discovered that some of the sacs have ruptured. It's too late if they have ruptured. The chance of survival is low, and if survive, must be with certain predictable malfunctions.

Ya Allah, inilah ujian Mu untuk kami. Jadikanlah family abangku redha dgn ketentuanMu.

Sesungguhnya setiap yg hidup pasti akan mati. Hanya rahmat dariMu yg kami harapkan.

Climbing that Ladder Fast

2009-12-29T09:24:00.001+08:00

How To Rise Fast At Work: A True Story

Avril David, 12.21.09, 06:00 PM EST

The wise moves that outpaced a wily and ambitious colleague.

This is a true story about two acquaintances of mine. One knew instinctively exactly how to get ahead in the workplace. The other thought he knew--and was dead wrong. Most of us would probably behave pretty much the way the latter did. I believe their experiences hold lessons for all of us.

The first of them, the successful one, I'll call Mark. Mark got a degree in finance from New York University's Stern School of Business in the spring of 2006 and landed a job as an analyst at a small investment firm in New York. Given the cutthroat atmosphere of his business school classes, Mark was fairly certain that his first foray into the working world of finance would be a high intensity, high-competition experience.

Though his organization was small, he realized that to rise within the ranks he would have to find some way to differentiate himself among his peers. He figured there were two traditional ways he could try to do so. He could strive to perform his tasks faster and better than his peers and hope to be recognized for doing a better job, or he could schmooze his way to the top by identifying the most important people in the organization and trying to win their favor.

However, he wasn't a self-promoter by nature, and he also wasn't sure he could outpace other people at the kind of work in Excel spreadsheets he'd be doing. He decided that before deciding which course to take, he'd need to learn all he could about the company he was working for.

From day one, Mark asked people questions about what they were working on, who they were working with and how they got their work done. It didn't matter if a person was junior or senior, administrative assistant or lead investor. He simply wanted to know what he could about what they did and the organization he was working for.

Once he had a clear sense of all of the moving parts within the company, he began to see ways its operations could be improved. Making those improvements lay outside his job description, but he believed it made sense to fix what he could easily fix, drawing on the understanding he was gathering of how the people in the organization operated.

At first the improvements Mark made were far from glamorous. In fact his peers derided him for wasting his time on actions they said would never increase his bonus. He began ordering lunch for the investment group's weekly meeting and making sure office supplies were ordered on time and in the right quantities. It was obvious he didn't mind pitching in where help was needed, and his supervisors began to notice his work ethic. They saw him making sure that people got the tools that they needed to do their jobs efficiently. And they saw everyone benefiting.

Without being a natural networker and without competing, Mark had begun networking organically. People appreciated what he did because it wasn't based on self-promotion and because it genuinely helped them.

Eventually, as Mark learned more about the needs of the organization, he realized that some of the changes that needed to be made would be easier if new tools and skills were used to complete certain tasks. Not one to let down the team, he began teaching himself new Excel functions and other software programs in the evenings. Soon he was an expert at Excel, the go-to person in his investment group and responsible for getting his peers up to speed on new techniques. In effect he was managing.

As one of very few people at the company who fully understood both internal administrative needs and external investor requirements, he began to be included in strategic meetings regarding compliance, new software and the streamlining of processes to make the organization as a whole more effective. And so a non-self-promoting, non-competing newbie found himself managing and training his peers. He was exceeding performance expectations for his role with the newly acquired skills and expertise and was being recognized as a strategic thinker and leader within the organization. He was promoted to senior analyst by the end of his first year and received a bonus 50% bigger than any of his peers got.

Mark achieved all this by seeking to know and assist the organization as a whole rather than by directly competing to promote himself at the expense of others. He helped everyone do their jobs better and thereby became a natural facilitator, expert and, finally, leader.

Meanwhile, Mark's co-worker Ted--whose name I have also changed--took a different, more traditional path. He worked like a maniac to try to show that he was better than Mark and all the other analysts.

When he started, he wasn't sure how talented the other analysts were, but he figured that if he stayed in the office later and spent less time on unimportant things like eating lunch, he would probably be able to do a better job than at least most of them. He kept an eye on what they worked on (except for that dunce Mark, who wasted time ordering lunches) and made sure to take note of how he could make a case for taking over some of their work.

He networked aggressively. He dropped in to see members of senior management in their offices to express his eagerness to take on more work. He made sure to mention tasks he had already completed and to let them know of relevant courses he had taken in college that likely qualified him for added responsibility.

Ted didn't know--or care--what anyone outside the investment team did. The senior managers were the people to impress, and his fellow analysts were the people to keep ahead of. He sometimes had a hard time getting the administrative team's help in closing trades, but he didn't let that stop him. In fact, he'd often mention his disappointment with administrative staffers at his interruptions--er, meetings--with senior managers.

By the time bonus season rolled around, Ted felt sure he'd be the first analyst promoted. After all, he was the fastest at what he did and had the closest relationships with senior managers. To his shock and disappointment, he was passed over for that first promotion. He received a bonus, but he got no more than most of the other analysts. What had happened? Had they somehow managed to be just as fast as him?

What Ted had failed to realize was that everyone hired as an analyst was talented and bright. They all got their jobs done, and they all did them very well. Sure, working harder and faster got him noticed, but only for doing more of the same.

Although Ted was learning to do his job more speedily, he wasn't learning to do anything else. At no point was he facilitating, managing or leading--activities that could recommend him for advancement. More important, he had been asking his managers for more responsibility rather than taking on responsibilities organically and showing that he could handle them.

In the classroom his approach would have worked well. Instead of interrupting management, he would have been regularly visiting professors during office hours. His focus on his assigned tasks above all else would have made him a star student with the best grades in the class. Mission accomplished.

At work, on the other hand, Ted was still a top performer at what he did, but he was a hamster on a wheel trying to stay ahead of all the other bright and capable employees. Even worse, he was always worried about new competition. He was caught in an unending cycle of stress.

Let's examine what Mark did right that set him apart from Ted--and from everyone else starting out at the company.

1. Understanding how things work. His first move when he began his job was to learn as much as he could about the organization he was working for. He was driven more by curiosity and a desire to comprehend what he had gotten himself into than by ambition to outperform his peers. As a result, he quickly got to know people and their roles, without conveying any sense that he was just trying to promote himself.

2. Knowing what everyone does and how they do it. By asking questions about others rather than selling himself, Mark came to know more about the organization than some members of senior management. As a result, he became a go-to person for figuring out the best ways to get things done.

Note: When you're not comfortable speaking with a higher-up you don't really know, a simple e-mail can do the trick. Introduce yourself and let the person know that you're new and trying to get a full grasp of the organization, and you'd just like a quick sentence or two about what each person does. This is likely to work best at small to medium-size organizations. At larger organizations, the company Intranet can often help you get a handle on things, though how they work on paper and how they work in practice can sometimes be very different. At the smallest organizations, simple observation is often enough for learning who does what and how.

3. Learning where gaps exist and conveying to others how to fill them. No one else in Mark's peer group took the time to learn much about the company beyond their own responsibilities. They were too busy competing (and in some cases schmoozing). Mark, having a sense of how everyone got their jobs done, he was able to make recommendations at meetings based on observations that he alone had been able to come up with. He wasn't psychic; he was just paying attention.

4. Identifying solutions to organizational problems and making quick fixes. Being privy to how things actually worked, Mark was able to identify problems and propose solutions. Most people had no idea that the problems even were problems. They were too busy within their own roles to notice. Mark's ability to propose solutions gave him an edge as a strategic thinker as he made quick, easy changes that were obvious to him as an observer but often not so obvious to those lost in their specific duties.

5. Being unafraid of unglamorous work, and pitching in where help is needed. Mark's path to success began with humbly ordering lunches. But that gave him a chance to spend a few minutes each week getting a sense of everyone's schedules and making conversation. Sure, remarks by his co-workers made him fear at first that he'd get pigeon-holed as the lunch guy, but his purposeful weekly access to senior management gave him a moment to mention any thoughts he had on the latest financial news. And anyway, ordering lunches was just one of many items on Mark's problem-solving agenda. It took only a few minutes, so it didn't keep him from his other work; it was easy to eventually delegate to someone else (making him look like more of a manager); and it established him as down-to-earth and thoughtful as well as bright, making him well-liked at all levels.

6. Identifying linkages, for himself and others. One benefit of knowing the inner workings of an organization is that you can see how the parts interact. Once you see that, you're equipped to facilitate interactions across functions and groups--and you've got an important tool of a strategizer and leader, who has to absorb the whole picture in a situation before he can make effective and appropriate decisions. Furthermore, understanding the linkages that affect your job function makes you more productive and effective without actually working any harder.

The somewhat accidental approach Mark took to his job is hardly the only way to achieve career advancement, but it does give the lie to the assumption that the best or only way ahead is the one most of us have pursued ever since the first grade.

Avril David is an energy and environment analyst for Project Performance Corporation, a global management consulting firm, and a freelance writer on topics related to careers, energy, climate policy and green business.

Hidup Mestilah Rukun

2009-12-28T09:10:00.001+08:00

Musim kenduri kahwin telah tiba. Banyak sungguh aku dan mak aku dapat jemputan, sampaikan Husna pun dah naik bosan - "Asyik makan kat rumah orang kahwin jer...". Tapi itulah kan, antara hak seorang muslim ke atas seorang muslim yg lain, ialah memenuhi jemputan. Maknanya kalau takde aral melintang, wajib kita tunaikan.

Ada satu jemputan di Taman Rinting hari Sabtu tu, ketika kita org sedang makan, pasukan kompang pun tiba. Bebudak lelaki belasan tahun ni main kompang sikit punye semangat. Macam nak pecah kompang tu dia ketuk. Cuaca hujan pulak, so diorang main kompang tu dalam khemah, dekat je dgn tempat duduk kita org ni. So segala face expression bebudak ni begitu jelas di pandangan mata. Banyak jugak lagu diorang main, antaranya lagi Injit2 Semut dan lagu Saloma yg amat evergreen tu. Aku usik Husna, "Husna, cuba lepas ni suruh diorang main lagu "Potong"?" Husna senyum jer, malulah pulak nak buat lagu permintaan.

Semalam pulak, sebab cuaca hujan, perkara yg sama berlaku. Orang main kompang dalam khemah. Kesian betul lah. Aku syukur sangat masa majlis kahwin aku 7 tahun dulu, aku siap doa dan tanam lada with bawang on top, cucuk kat lidi tau, itu petua org lama tak nak bagi hujan. Alhamdullillah walaupun tarikhnya 27 Disember, hari tak hujan. Tapi semalam, masya Allah, lebat giler, lama pulak tu. Kesian sesapa yg buat majlis kahwin lepas tu hujan pulak. Mcm lagu Alanis Morissette tu - "It's like raiiiiiiinnnnn on your wedding day....". Ironic betul.

Lagi ironic kalau kita dengar lirik lagu Saloma yg evergreen tu.

Selamat Pengantin Baru

Selamat berbahgia

Selamat ke anak cucu

Selamat sejahtera

Hidup mestilah rukun

Sabar paling perlu

Cinta setiap hari

Senyum mesti selalu

Oh..oh...oh...

Selamat Pengantin Baru

Selamat berbahgia

Selamat ke anak cucu

Selamat sejahtera

Paling best part yg chorus tu. Aku rasa that pretty much sums up what we need to do to stay married. Senyum jer kalau dengar lagu ni orang mainkan kat majlis kahwin ye, sambil reflecting on your own marriage journey. As for me, semalam genaplah 7 tahun aku dah kahwin. Kalau dalam product life cycle, it has reached the peak already, means the product needs some re-branding or re-packaging to attract more sales, to avoid the sales from going down. Well, kata orang marriage needs constant re-juvenation, tak mcm product life cycle. Tapi aku rasa mcm sama je. No matter what, we need constant re-juv, but these re-juv packages need a hell lot of money, I bet you. Meanwhile, kalau ada tergigit lidah tu, Sabar paling perlu......Cinta setiap hari.....Senyum mesti selalu...oh..oh..oh...

As Sober as Two Judges?

2009-12-23T15:36:00.000+08:00

Cop to nude cyclists in New Zealand: Wear helmets

from The Star, 23rd Dec. 2009

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP): Police picked up two naked men on a late night bike ride in a New Zealand town but let them off with a warning: put on helmets.

"They were wanting to experience total freedom," said Senior Constable Cathy Duder, who stopped the pair about 10pm on a recent night in the beach resort town of Whangamata.

She told them: "You may experience total confinement. You should head home and get helmets."

The duo turned tail and headed directly back to their house, Duder told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

She said she did not see them again during her shift, and it was not known if they donned helmets and resumed their ride.

Public nudity can attract a charge of offensive behavior in New Zealand, but Duder said she cut the two men a break.

"It was dark and there was no one else around. They were jovial young men who had not intended to cause offense," she said.

She described the two as "happy young men in their mid-20s ... they appeared to be as sober as two judges."

The Dec. 7 encounter, which has only just come to light, probably signaled the start of what Duder described as summer hijinks in Whangamata, a popular surfing and holiday getaway where partying is common during Christmas and New Year season.

Pangkor Re-visited

2009-12-21T09:41:00.001+08:00

This escape happened roughly a year ago. I just wanted to share my feelings that as if it just happened moments ago. I could still hear the ferry's engine running, the sound of the birds along the coast, could still smell the fresh air, the ikan bilis, udang kering and all sorts of ikan kering, sotong bakar (yummy!), could still feel the warmth and gentle sea breeze and above all, I think I need another vacation. Haha...if only the resources are not that limited. Dream on.

When the tsunami happened in 2004, I was at a hotel room in Melaka, with Husna barely a year old, just the day after we took her to the A Famosa Safari. Everytime nearing end of December since then, tv stations would keep on playing that footage on tsunami, and everytime they're on, I would always remember me sitting in that hotel room and listening to the unclear channels alternately between CNN and Channel News Asia, trying to decipher what actually had happened. And from that moments on, I would remember that a few major events are supposed to happen in December:

1. Anniversary and remembrance of the tsunami victims.

2. I am supposed to go on vacation, some place, somewhere (because this year is NO vacation, I feel a little bit awkward actually). Like something missing.

3. That wedding anniversary is ON.

4. Husna's birthday is coming - 2nd January. So, have to start planning since she'd always remind us that her birthday is indeed forthcoming. Don't ever try to appear as if you've forgotten it.

Oh, this reminds me that I've not registered Husna for school yet - Standard 1. We're in a dilemma, to send her to a private Islamic school or just simply a normal school close to home.

I think I still need that vacation.

Kekasih Awal dan Akhir

2009-12-17T14:37:00.001+08:00

Wah, after I've got to know that we can have blog entry via email, my mind has been spinning on and on and on. There are just so many things I like to put on record. Akmal already commented that my blog entries are too many. Dude, I just had to let it out OK.

Last 2 weeks, I was invited for a Long Service Award dinner, held at Puteri Pacific Hotel. This was to commemorate the anniversary and present award to those who have served the company for a very long time - 20 years, 25 years and 30 years. This year is special since we have 1 staff who had been working for my company for a whopping 35 years. He started off as an Office Boy in 1973, worked his way through the company and now is serving as a Purchaser in Procurement Department. 35 years - he said he stayed because the company is his family. Love your company as much as you love your family. I wonder if such mindset ever come across any of the Gen-Y today.

I thought I was invited since my boss was one of the award recipients. He had served for 25 years and will retire soon according to schedule laaa. At the dinner table, I was seated together with invited guests like me - Puan K and Mr. S from T&C Department - besides the award recipients and their spouse . These 2 people sort of became my accomplice throughout the nite - scanning, commenting, gossipping, etc.

The deejay was that funny skinny guy who appeared on some of RTM 1 programs, looked like Mamak a bit. I heard we paid him around RM5k for that 1.5 hours stint. I had no idea who else or what other interesting details were to happen on that night. The moment he announced that the artist for the night was very special, I thought that it would be "just another artist", like previously they had Noraniza Idris, Mas Idayu and the likes (suam suam kuku type laaaa). Since the award is meant for old timers, we can't possibly have any of the AF or Mentor artists, can we? The moment came when he announced "Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan, penyanyi ini sesiapa yang mendengar suaranya, yang tidur pasti terjaga, yang terjaga pasti terbangun....saya persembahkan.....JAMAL ABDILLAH". I seriously thought that he was joking. I was expecting that some joker somewhere would impersonate Jamal, just as all those jokers who like to copycat Michael Jackson.

I have known Jamal since I was young. Come on, he was the Bintang RTM winner in 1978? 79? I knew his songs since my childhood days, teenage days, college days and until now, even though he has his fair share of ups and downs, he is one of those evergreen artists. That's to my standard laaa. I equate him to the likes of Syarifah Aini, nobody else can beat that kind of voice. His golden voice and evergreen songs, no singer in Malaysia can beat that. Mawi? Not even tip of the iceberg.

Suddenly, there he was. Jamal Abdillah, singing the hip song - Yaaa Rabbbbbi - man...Puan K was so excited. Mrs Lee at the other side of the table also did not blink her eyes a bit. Cameramen and people with handphones all were busy flashing their camera at him. Even the chef left behind the pots and pans and woks and came out from the kitchen to listen first hand and have eye-to-eye experience appreciating his voice, dance when it's the fast beat songs and dream when it's the melancholic tunes.

That night Jamal sang a few songs - Azura, Penghujung Rindu, Aku Penghibur, and his very final song - Kekasih Awal dan Akhir. He would sing non-stop, not even once interaction with the audience. Actually the impatient audience was expecting some kind of verbal interaction with him, but he just continued on. Exactly like listening to the radio, until one time, Puan K and I bet that he was just miming. We were wrong when he sang Azura, we found out that he couldn't reach that highest note. Then it was obvious. It was Jamal's actual voice. Wow...what a truly golden voice, truly an anugerah for him.

Since he was singing all the time, we realized that there's no way we could take picture with him. Sometimes he would scheme through table by table, that's when the audience took the chance to quickly snap pictures with him. Very difficult. Realizing that time was running short, we didn't expect him to come to our table, which was among the last table at the back. He gave a chance to a few people to sing some of the songs, while people rushing to take pix at the same time. Imagine the little bit of chaos there. Until he reached a table next to ours, Puan K was so damn excited and told me "Jom lah, jomlah, kita amik gambo dgn dia", while taking and rubbing my hands. Man, to calm her down, I volnteered to accompany her to raise from our table and practically chased Jamal Abdillah. First he was at the table at the end, then he wanted to move to the other end. Our table was in the middle, he could not see me coming from behind. I needed to chase him, he passed by because he could not see us. Knowing that the window was short and the moment was right, I just grabbed his elbow and stopped him from moving. I just had to do it. It appeared as if I forced him to stop and take pix with us. Macam ganas la pulak makcik ni. Finally, Jamal Abdillah was in my arms. Hahaha....

To seal the night of remembrance, I got myself a CD of Jamal, Raja Pop, murah - RM19.90 jer, got 16 songs.

Last week, I got a call from CCD people - "Wah,wah,wah - cayalah, salute sama akak sebab grab Jamal...hebat gitu..." Apparently they reviewed the video for that night, and had all the moments captured. I would really like to see it.

This is Jamal, King of Pop for Malaysia. This is like Michael Jackson for the Americans. I know, his personality maybe not up to standard, but his talent is truly amazing. It's once in a lifetime chance to have a moment with him, no matter how short. I think it's worth it, RM30k for 5 songs.

I'm not sure if HR would invite me again for next year award.

Green Car Admirer

2009-12-17T10:22:00.001+08:00

Semalam, dalam aku terkocoh-kocoh nak cepat pegi meeting sebab dah lambat, ada seorang worker ni panggil aku macam ada perkara urgent yang amat. Umur pakcik ni dalam lingkungan 50-an, nampak masih segak dan smart orangnya. Aku nak cepat meluru ke arah kereta, dia pulak nak stop aku nak tanya something yg mmg nampak mcm urgent giler lah. Rupa-rupanya:

Admirer: Kereta awak tu berapa ribu?

Aku yg terkezut: RMXX,000. Minat ke? Dah boleh lah...dah nak pencenkan....

Admirer: Ini kereta latest trend ni. Tinggal orang rumah dgn saya je, nak lah cari kereta baru sikit..

Aku yg dah cool sikit: OKlah tu....(sambil buat2 senyum dan nak blah cepat sebab I'd better be in the meeting room earlier than my boss).

Aku rasa pakcik ni dah lama giler dok peratikan kereta aku. Nampak gaya mcm dia dah lama sangat tunggu peluang nak tanya aku soalan cepu emas ni. Gelodak jiwanya yang meronta untuk menanya soalan ni begitu terserlah di wajahnya.

Beli je lah pakcik...although on the other hand, aku rasa better lah dia invest duit EPF dia tu. Kang nanti tergolong pulak dalam kumpulan mereka yg telah berjaya menghabiskan duit simpanan EPF dalam masa 3 tahun selepas bersara. Lepas tu camne nak survive...tapi kang membebel byk2 kat pakcik, mcm kesian lah pulak...

Crikey Escape Down Under - Part 3 - Great Ocean Road Day Tour - first take

2009-12-16T16:41:00.001+08:00

This entry is long overdue. The whole Melbourne experience was way back in May, but the excitement and fresh air are still lingering as if it just happened yesterday. Before I had gone there, I asked a few friends who studied in Australia on which places of interest should I visit in the land down under. Apparently, there are a whole of lot of places need to be visited. Compliment to that, the internet also provides innumerable reviews, pictures and experience of other travelers, which really put me in a predicament. Time was short and the money is way too limited. In fact, the visit to the Melbourne Visitor Center confirmed and further enhance my predicament. There are simply too many exciting places to be visited in Australia, particularly in Victoria, the state where Melbourne is the capital city.

We had two days for rambu ramba and there were 3 options - Great Ocean Road (a scenic tour), Philip Island (a wild life experience) or lazying around Melbourne town. Out of 3 people, finally Mr. X and me chose the first 2 activities. We had to forgo the scheming around town kind of experience. This was because we had a brief tour around town using the town hop on hop off bus. What a loss, but we still needed to choose. Perhaps next time.

During the journey, here were the activities:

Bell's Beach - visit to the surfer's paradise, among the very famous spot in Australia for surfers, where Patrick Swayze and Keanu rode the waves in one of the movies (forgot the title laaa). The toilet was very nicely painted, featuring the native's art. Toilet pun cantik ramai org amik gambo....we should really try that in Malaysia. What do you think?

Reserves on natural rock formation along the road - stopped by at a lighthouse, picnic beach, breakfast, lunch all overseeing such a breathtaking view of the ocean.

Rainforest walk - Otway rainforest, tall trees, with shrubs, should be a tropical kind of forest, but so nice. Very unlike our jungle.

Koala Center - besides seeing them in nature, also got parrots and ducks in the wild. They'd come to you when you offer that special food. Very tame.

Twelve Apostles - natural landslide and limestone phenomena along the coast, ciptaan Yang Maha Hebat.

London Bridge, Lord Arch Gorge and the Wreck - among the unique names given to some of the stops along the way, correspond to their shapes, histories and phenomena.

I truly had a great time along this journey. We shared a mini bus with 2 Americans, 2 Dutch, 1 Korean lady, 2 Japanese and 6 other Malaysian visitors. The tour guide was awesome

What do you want most in life?

To Forgive and Forget

Sentimental Value of the Work Place

Pity PTPTN - or should we?

JPA Style - The Upgraded Version

Is Organ Donation considered as Sedekah Jariah?

Arowana Stay or Go?

Al-Qasas

My Favourite Sushi

Senang Buat Pahala Berbanding Dosa

Idolakah Dia?

Getting Half Way There

Pak Arab di Jabal Uhud

Perjalanan di Tanah Gersang

Perjuangan Berdoa di Raudhah

Antara Pencakar Langit Lambang Akhir Zaman

Khutbah Jumaat di Masjidil Haram

Doa di Jabal Rahmah

Safa dan Marwah nan Nyaman

View of Masjid Nabawi n Baqik Cemetery from hotel

Sang Onta Yg Istimewa

IMG-20110504-00199.jpg

Hadapi Masalah Dengan Bijak

Hadapi Masalah Dengan Bijak!

Kuasa Cinta

Kuasa Cinta

Lagu ziana lah

Drama Swasta Dalam Ujian

Pesanan Buat Suami

Rahmat Untuk Suami Isteri Yang Bangun Malam

50 Langkah Bistari Suami Mithali

3 Kebahagiaan Insan - Menurut Hadith

Tawakkal Sebagai Satu Ibadah

Senyumlah Di Kala Hati Ingin Menangis

Amanah Allah itulah anak2 Ku

Wahai Suamiku

Bagus doa ni - untuk solat istikharah

It All Depends on Your View

Kasih Tercipta

My Being for the Day

Tips dari Soleh.Net

Bring me to the Fantasy Land

keadaan saya hari ini

Sifat Mahmudah Suami dan Isteri

Tribute to Rosmiza Osman

Thank You Allah

Positive Charge

Alahai - what's up what's up...

Money & Religion Cannot Be Separated

Tuesday February 1, 2011

Managing our finances aptly

IKIM VIEWSBy MOHAMAD AZHAR HASHIM, Centre for Economic and Social Studies

This is what Malaysian Kids Think

My Tefal My Dear

Pilihlah Yang Terbaik

Wisdom of New Year

Girl Power Giler

Wednesday December 8, 2010

Zeti first woman to get Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah award

Hermoine the Girl

Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti?

Lifestyle Allowance?

Tuesday November 30, 2010

No staff or allowance for PM's wife

Fat Chance for JPA

Wednesday November 24, 2010

PTPTN writes off RM59m loans to top students

Faktor Lain Itulah Faktor Utama

Where's the Priority? Goodness Gracious!!!

Never too old for good sex life

Congrats Husna & Welcome to the Real School

Release Tensen lah

English Design My Scare

Kisah-kisah Raya 2010

Ideas Please

Attention and Deviation

Bayar Bang...

Fauziah Latiff Tears in Gaza

Ramadhan Blues

A Different Ramadhan

IKIM VIEWS
By MOHAMAD AZHAR HASHIM, Centre for Economic and Social Studies