Thursday, September 11, 2003
Darul Kasino vs Darul Munafikin ...of 'Belanjawan' & 'New Police Recruits'Today's Berita Harian reported that one politician has called two east-coast states as Darul Munafikin after his own state is called as Darul Kasino. I don't wanna touch the political issue of this but for someone who is born and bred in Kota Bharu, Kelantan; I guess I have a right to make some comments. Darul Munafikin can be translated literally as 'negeri org2 munafik' or a state of hypocrites. Are all my family, relatives and friends there are Munafiq? In Islam, munafiq is even worse that Kuffar (the non-believers). Why someone has to label the whole state as munafikin although he may wanna be even with his political enemies? Everyone must respect Kelantanese people's who has made their decision to choose the current government at state level (and of course everyone must respect the majority decision who choose BN as the ruling government in last election.)I never said that it is justified for the politicians from opposition parties to call Pahang Darul Kasino at the first place (I guess this is started by Keadilan & PAS low level politicians), even I never agree that Genting Kasino is there; but this guy who is the top gun politician should not react ridiculously. This guy is known in past to make vulgar sign in one by-election. Now he strikes again!
In Islam, calling names is not allowed and it is really saddening to see Muslim politicians in Malaysia use various unacceptable words to call or describe their political enemies. The famous instance is a cartoon by satirical cartoonist Zunar, a strong Keadilan supporter who has his column in Harakah where the prime minister is called `mahazhir' whose sketch resembles the pig. Both sides of malay-based parties should be blamed for this. Other bad names that really make me feel to vomit are anwar al-ju**ri, mahafiraun, tok guru kolot etc.
I guess Malay politicians in Malaysia should better spend more time to think of how to develop the nation (the states for PAS governments in Kelantan & Trengganu), enhance the economy and purchasing power among Muslim, think of ingenious ways to solve the unemployment issues among malay muslim graduates, tackle the social illness among Muslims and the most important thing is to unite Muslims despite the political differences. All parties must refrain that spending most of their time just talking. Like someone said NATO (No Action Talk Only). In some part of the country, most of people are really eager to attend the political ceramah but shy away when invited to the mosques or surau for religious classes. Lots of people has being disillusioned by the politics... we always dream of a country that uphold justice, clean from corruption, cronyism etc but we sometimes forget the educating our youngsters abt hardworking, gaining the knowledge both secular and religion etc. In such a way, Malays sometimes are irrational when coming to politics.
Other issues that I would love to write are:
1) Budget tomorrow! (I hate it that someone change its Malay word to `bajet' from 'belanjawan'). What should we expect from this ‘belanjawan’! Will rakyat really benefit? Or only corporate people or business folks gain a lot like in past. This budget will be interesting one since it will be the last one before coming election. Can be expect lots of goodies? As an ordinary 'rakyat', I love to see lower electric, phone (guess what? I only pay less than RM0.20 per min to call M'sia from UK but have to paid at least more than RM1/min to call Kelantan from Penang), water tariffs and DONT INCREASE THE TOLL. Never always listen to Mr Samy! Pls no more MONOPOLY ... liberate yr economy M'sia. It is hurtful to read TNB revenue is certain billion per year, Telekom increase their annual profit after tax by another extra couple or hundred million and the rakyat in kampongs feel that the living cost is getting higher and higher.
2) Only 3 Chinese (only 1 from Semenanjung) are among the new police recruits. Where are you Mr Ka Ting, Keng Yik, Tee Keat, Kit Siang etc. As the leaders among your community, it really shows that you are not doing your jobs. If I were the Chinese Malaysian, I will be very shameful of this fact. Are you guys just wanna make money and control the economy and expect everyone else to take care of the country to ensure that we have peaceful life? I am sorry if anyone is offended or I may sound too harsh. Of course there are some Chinese who are more patriotic than Malays in Malaysia. I am just so worried about the racial integration among Malaysian. Some people are very reluctant to speak in Bahasa Malaysia. The racially based parties must sit down and work out the formula. Lots of people whose background is only surrounded by their own people (i.e. people who hailed from Chinese or Tamil schools, Malays who never interact with non Malays) tend to be racist in such a way when they grow up. So sad that the wawasan school idea has being refused by both Chinese dominated parties and opposition. I hope I do not sound like a moaner after relieving my stress.
On a lighter note, last nite I had a great conversation over the football match (Owen and Rooney is really superb) with my research partner Henri who is visiting us from Norwich. While sipping J20, I listen to lots of interesting things abt him. (He took 6 yrs to finish his PhD in Human Body Composition -same topic that I am doing now-before graduated in 96, he is season ticket holder of Norwich City, the football team that is currently sponsored by Proton, he read at least 4 novels a week etc. We have some intellectual discussion abt our research too after discussing how the media blew up of proportion when our research becomes international news. He describes the Daily Mail report as maddening but we agree that bbc's one is quite okay. He is here to get away from media attention (He got phone calls from as far as South Africa and US.) My boss Tony told me earlier that he is really glad that he is not named in most of the articles & news. Now, I really understand how media is really good in twisting facts and words. Henri told me that he hates media attention and doesn't wanna be famous. I felt the same when people started sms and calling me when I appeared on TV3 being interviewed by a reporter who was asking my comments abt a two-hour closed door meeting with PM last June ... plus some of my pictures appeared on M'sian paper a day before.
Have a great weekend ahead. Tomorrow, Friday is already weekend for Kelantanese people!
|
Friday, September 05, 2003
Quality Time... & "The Smart Thing is...."Assalamualaikum...
This week is really an interesting week for me starting on Sunday 31st August; we celebrated Malaysian National Day in Liverpool with 'pakcik-pakcik'. The function was attended by almost 80-100 persons where the kids singing the patriotic songs and someone share their experience about 'Merdeka'. Pakcik Mat Noor who suppose to give a talk about his experience before & after 'Merdeka' decided to cut it short and I can see he is really touched with the attendance & participants. He told us that this is the first time he have a formal 'Merdeka' celebration after more than 40 over years in UK.
My little Hakeem was so eager abt drawing the Malaysian flag that he continued to draw another one the next day when were back in Lancaster. We also attended a nice birthday party of a merdeka boy 'Emirul' earlier in the morning on that Sunday. I have a nice 'nasi lemak' and `lontong' before joining the kids and parents jumping on the bouncy castle in the backyard. Thanks to Husni & Sonya who must have spent hours doing the cooking. We also have to thanks Abg Yahya & Kak Ina who is our host in Liverpool and bring us to a car boot sale in the morning (I got a brand new Lacoste t-shirt for an unbelievable price! and as usual lots of books). Lots of items are much cheaper compared to the car boots in Lancaster, Garstang or Clitheroe that we have been earlier.
On Monday, my relative who is also a fellow blogger, The Reader came to visit us in Lancaster. After Asar, we went to Lake District area where we stopped at Windermere and spent our night in Keswick. Early morning on the next day, we drove to Borrowdale & thinking of going to Buttermere but due to inadequate petrol we have to abandon it. After our breakfast, we walked around Keswick town before heading to Perth. Then we stopped at a nice rest area, which is facing a lake for our lunch. We also stop in another rest area where I took a short nap before heading to Chester.
We spend some time in Chester appreciating a nice town, which is surrounded by the wall. This is my second time in Chester and I always feel amused with the black & white buildings. Like Abedib's said, the town has character. Then we continue to North Wales where we stopped in Wrexham but decided to advance to Llangollen passing a very beautiful route.
On Wednesday morning we went to experience the famous Horseshoe pass and stopped the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey, before having a coffee at the Ponderosa Cafe. We went bank to Green Banks, the place we stay in Llangollen to find out that the breakfast time was over. We then walked to the town to have full breakfast before heading to a bookshop where I managed to a book by Ruskin and a book about Confucius and its influence on Chinese.
I sent AbeDib to Chester where he then catched a train to London. Now I really understand what Idris Shah, the author of 'The Way of Sufi' said: " An hour with a wise man is worth more than a thousand years with a fool". Spending time with AbeDib who shared lots of his experience and offered me lots of advice about life is one of the nicest experiences in my life where I really have quality time. Only Allah swt may reward yr kindness, AbeDib.
Yesterday, while I was preparing myself to the office, I got a phone call from one of secretary in my dept saying that Henri, my research partner in Norwich is looking for me. Guess what? Our research has been news in UK papers and media. Other international press like UPI and CBS US is also picking us this after it was appeared in latest New Scientist magazine. Since all of my research partners here in now in Banff Canada attending a conference I am the only one available in Lancaster. Henri was asking me to send some files that he urgently needed.
Two out of three times, when I was over the phone with him, we sound in hurry since he needs to give lots of radio interview. Fyi, our research is about a new body fat scanner that combines optical & electromagnetic that could detect fat location in human body. And my PhD is mainly focusing on the optical part of the body scanner while my supervisor and other RAs are working on the electromagnetic part. We also have other research partners across EU for this project, which is funded by European Commission. If you guys are interested to know more about the body scanner, below is the URL of BBC coverage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3078792.stm
I really like what Henri mentioned about the scanner, which is located just behind me:
"The smart thing is that we've put them in one machine"
I am expecting a busy weeks starting next Tuesday when Tony & groups are back from Canada. We have a scheduled filming on 22nd Sept and Henri told me that CNN also did approach him to do some coverage.
Cheers. Have a great weekend!
|
sang kelate
Sang Kelate is a Kelantanese citizen who
is born and bred in Kota Bharu. He loves
to share his humble thoughts & exchange idea with the readers.
Muslim
|Male
Malaysian Citizen
archives
fellows
credits
