Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Demam Pilihan Raya ke-12 Bermula

Hari ini 13 Februari 2008, Rabu... Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telah secara rasminya mengumumkan pembubaran Parlimen Malaysia kali ke-11 setelah mendapat perkenan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agung. Ini bagi membolehkan pilihan raya umum ke-12 diadakan dalam sedikit masa lagi.


Apa yang menariknya pilihan raya kali ini? Sebab ini bakal menjadi permulaan kepada aku sebagai rakyat Malaysia yang layak untuk mengundi. Sebelum ni bila tiba musim pilihan raya, excited melihatkan pelbagai ragam kempen yang dijalankan. Masih ingat lagi, semasa pilihan raya ke-11 dulu, sampai tak tidur malam sebab nak tunggu keputusan diumumkan, terutamanya utntuk negeri Kelantan, negeri tanah tumpah kelahiranku. Aku pulak yang jadi suspen, bukannya jadi calon atau mengundi pun. Tapi mungkin masa tu zaman bergelar mahasiswa, darah muda tengah mengalir deras..huh. Cuma semangat di dalam je, tapi kalau nak berbincang & berdialog pasal politik ni, kurang sikit lah. Kalau ada pun, mungkin perbincangan ringan dengan kawan-kawan.

Di sebalik kemeriahan kempen pilihan raya ni, ada juga yang kurang enak didengar. Berlakunya perkelahian antara penyokong di satu dua tempat mencemarkan kempen pilihan raya. Kempen ini yang sepatutnya dijadikan satu pesta aman & bersih, sesekali bertukar liar. Mudah-mudahan perkara sebegini tidak akan berlaku lagi, tidak kira lah berpunca daripada pihak mana pun, kerajaan mahupun pembangkang. Sewajarnya setiap pihak perlu ada pertimbangan yang normal, bukannya caci-mencaci, kata-mengata, malah yang lebih teruk, kafir-mengkafir antara satu sama lain. Na'uzubillah.

Bagi pihak yang mengatakan demokrasi (pilihan raya) bukanlah cara Islam, kerana Islam memilih pucuk pimpinan melalui sistem syura..ya, itu betul. Namun adakah kita patut berpeluk tubuh tanpa mengambil sekarang tindakan setiap kali musim pilihan raya tiba? Bagi aku, kita tidak perlu mendukung & mengagungkan sistem demokrasi, namun itulah satu-satunya wadah yang ada buat masa ini untuk kita gunakan hak kita dalam pemilihan pemimpin. Sekurang-kurangnya sebagai rakyat Malaysia, kita patut keluar mengundi. Siapa yang diundi, itu bukanlah isu. Tapi biarlah yang diundi itu seorang pemimpin yang takutkan Allah, serta berlaku adail pada rakyat jelata. Alangkah agungnya Islam di zaman pemerintahan Khulafa' Ar-Rasyidin, juga generasi-generasi selepas mereka. Untuk mencari pemimpin seumpama mereka pada zaman ini, adalah hampir mustahil. Namun, kalaupun tidak dapat menjadi seperti mereka, kita masih boleh mencari pemimpin yang cuba untuk mangikut jejak langkah pemimpin-pemimpin agung Islam tersebut, sedaya yang mereka mampu, bukannya langsung meninggalkan. Aku hanyalah bercakap dari kaca mata & pandangan seorang rakyat biasa, bukan niat untuk mengajar kerana aku sedar betapa banyak kelemahan diri yang masih perlu diperbaiki.

Sebagai kata-kata akhir, marilah sama-sama kita berdoa kepada Allah, agar Malaysia akan terus aman damai, dilimpahi rahmat & keberkatan, dengan asbab ketaqwaan pemimpin tersebut, tidak kira lah siapa yang bakal terpilih untuk menerajui pucuk pimpinan selepas pilihan raya nanti. Semoga pilihan raya kali ini tidak akan dicemari dengan adegan cerca-mencerca dan pergaduhan di sana sini, Insya Allah.

Wassalam.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Generasi

Teringat satu lagu nasyid yang sering dialunkan bersama-sama ketika di SM Sains Dungun dulu. Semuanya masih segar diingatan, memori yang tidak mungkin luput..Insya Allah.

GENERASI

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Go the Distance

I’ve been away from my blog for a month. My last post was on 31st Dec 2007, and today is already 31st Jan 2008. For certain people, lot of things happened during that period. But for me, I just went through my normal routine, not so much changes. I’m still coordinating the seminar for Biotechnology students…inviting speaker, preparing and marking quizzes, and every first Friday of the month, attending the departmental board meeting. I wish to end this as soon as possible. Yeah, it’s too comfortable for me doing all these, but at the same time, too boring and lonely. I wanna spend every second left in Malaysia with something very meaningful and thoughtful, but how??

I was a bit busy with my study leave application. I’ve submitted the application to the management, and planning to start my postgraduate study in UK this coming April. But, I just heard that again they put a strict limitation for students who are going to UK.. Huh, I’m tired of applying, plus it costs a lot especially for US and Australian universities, just for the application. I’ve spent so much to apply to US universities for nothing! I don’t wanna to apply to US universities anymore. Hopefully I can get another admission from an Australian university soon.. for back up, I guess. Well, I realize that this is the path each and every single person who decides to be in academic line need to go through.

>> I’ll be there someday, I can go the distance… Fighting!!!

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GO THE DISTANCE

I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong

Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though the road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It may take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete

But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart

Like a shooting star
I can go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far
I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

I will search the world
I will face its harms
Till I find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

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>> Song by Michael Bolton, but if you still remember, it was once sang by Faizal, Alif & Suki in the OIAM Grand Finale Season 1.. not bad!

Monday, December 31, 2007

Tahun Depan di Jerusalem

Cerpen yang saya kira amat menarik, berinformasi, dan sarat dengan pengajaran. Pertama kali saya baca pada zaman awal saya melangkah masuk ke UIAM, Gombak, kalau tak silap samada di satu majalah ataupun surat khabar. Saya tidak kenal siapa penulisnya, tapi ternyata hasil tulisan beliau punya 'aura' tersendiri yang mampu mengetuk pintu-pintu hati sebahagian manusia..

Luangkan sedikit masa untuk membacanya, barangkali anda akan menyukainya, dan mudah-mudahan ada sesuatu yang dapat anda ambil darinya..
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OLEH: AZMAN HUSSIN

EXODUS? Engkau tahu, sedari dulu kami bangsa buangan? Bangsa exodus. Bangsa penghijrah. Seluruh negara dunia dilimpahi migran anak-anak Israel. Meski rakyat dunia membuang kami, tiada siapa boleh nafikan kami warganegara dunia! Kami bertebaran seluruh dunia. Kami wujud di mana-mana. Jerusalem, aku mimpi suatu masa nanti kami semua berkampung semula di sana. Hidup aman sejahtera di situ.

Kita bertemu di sentral kota KL, aku ingati lagi saat-saat dramatik itu, hingga kala kau mengakui jatuh hati padaku, dan aku menghancurkan semua khayalan indahmu itu. Saat-saat krusial itu aku dikirim merakam, melapor, dan menganalisis krisis sosial, ekonomi dan politik di sini. Penghujung 1998, KL kala itu marak dibakar api. KL sedang sakit.
KL dikhabarkan bakal lebur. Krisis Dr. Mahathir-Anwar Ibrahim memuncak. Perusuh, pengkhianat, desprado politik, demagog, anarkis, dan oportunis berkeliaran sepanjang masa di sini. Aku juga manusia oportunis itu. Dan negara jiranmu sudah berantakan. Suharto tersungkur jatuh.

Entah kerana bibirku, yang mungil bisikmu, entah cuma kerana gejolak nafsu buasmu, engkau menyukai diriku. Tukasmu, aku perempuan berjiwa besar dan jelita. Berjiwa besar kerana aku pengembara. Cantik kerana mataku. Kau langsung memelukku, melafaz kata-kata ortodoks ini; I love you! Kala kau menyelongkar tubuhku malam-malam itu, tahulah aku, kau memang sudah hiper kronik dimabuk cinta. Cinta, cinta, cinta, kerananya engkau sasau dan nanar. Begitu cinta mengetuk pintu hatimu, aku jadi rimas dan menyampah. Aku bencikan manusia sentimental. Engkau lupa itulah kelebihanku dan kekuranganmu.

Berlagak seperti pemikir romantik, kau mohon aku tafsirkan falsafah cinta. Aku fikir, cinta itu cuma lamunan manusia sepi, cinta utopia, cinta barang mewah. Aku ini bangsa buangan; diseksa Hitler gila, diusir, dicurigai di mana-mana. Aku tidak ada apa-apa. Kerana itu, aku harus menghadiahkan sesuatu pada bangsaku. Itu cintaku. Pedulilah jika kau mati kerana cintaku palsu, aku hidup demi perjuangan agung anak-anak Israel. Cinta tiada apa-apa erti sangat. Demi Yahweh, tuhan anak-anak Israel, aku telah mengangkat sumpah.
Cinta agung menunggu. Hidup untuk bercinta dan bersedih, kau carilah perempuan lain.

Pertama kali kau menegurku, aku ingat lagi. Aku deskripsikan diriku seorang pengembara. Aku suka melihat dunia.

Traveler?

Ya, pengembara. Aku tak kekal di suatu titik, aku mesti mengalir terus. Dunia ini laluan nenek moyang kami sejak zaman Musa membelah Laut Merah, jelasku.

Kemudian kau bertanya lagi, siapa sebenarnya aku. Kataku, aku kelahiran Jerman.
Di mana?

Sama seperti Karl Marx, di Trier, Sungai Moselle, Prussia.
Kau bersemangat kala mendengar nama arkitek dan pemaju ideologi komunis itu.

Di sana, tanyamu, adakah Nazi masih ada pengaruh?

Tidak, tapi sesekali rusuhan Neo-Nazi terjadi, meski si gila itu sudah lama mampus. Kau tahu, nenekku korban Holocaust celaka? Steven Spielberg, kau tentu tahu siapa dia. Semua kisah tragik ini terakam dalam Schindler's List.

Riak wajahmu kelihatan pura-pura simpati.

Tak mengapa, kerana Holocaust Eropah moden berasa berdosa, dan turut berusaha mengembalikan bumi Canaan. Bukankah kau tahu, kami mesti mengeksploitasi setiap kerugian?

Oh, kau tahu semalam aku mimpi lagi anggur masam Bukit Zion?

Engkau mudah bosan mendengar mimpi-mimpiku. Engkau lalu berpaling, dan mengajak kita bertukar fikiran. Kau sebutkan Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, hingga George Soros. Bertukar pengalaman keras dan lembut kehidupan. Kemudian bertukar merasai kelembutan dan kehangatan tubuh, lalu bertukarlah segalanya.
Esok dan esoknya, kita membahas persoalan politik, sosial, dan ekonomi. Engkau manusia radikal. Engkau akui sangat membenci pemerintah negaramu, yang kau gelar diktator dan pemeras darah rakyat itu. Kau impikan suatu revolusi makbul di sini. Kau mengukuhkan impian menjadi pejuang agung bangsamu. Kalau boleh persis Che Guevara atau Jose Rizal. Kau mahu bangunkan kerajaan utopia di sini. Hujah-hujahmu sarat fikrah Marxis.

Di sini, dakwamu, kekayaan tidak diagih sama rata, tak dibahagi sama rasa. Di sini korupsi, kroni dan koloni, mencengkam. Lalu engkau berkhayal mewarisi perjuangan tokoh-tokoh syuhada silam. Engkau mahu berjihad melawan kekejaman dan penindasan. Kau impikan suatu revolusi agung. Kau mimpi engkaulah wira penggeraknya. Kaulah heronya. Kau rela mati syahid kerananya.

Aku ketawa, engkau akan hancur berderai dengan perjuanganmu itu!

Sewaktu negara diamuk kebangkitan gerakan reformasi, engkau turut sibuk turun ke jalan-jalan, memimpin rakyat jelata, menuntut pimpinan tertinggi negara turun.
Engkau merancang gulingkan kerajaan, bangunkan negara baru. Tidakkah engkau terjumpa buku The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, karya Ayi Kwei Armah? Mesejnya begini; Nasibnya serupa! Selepas Nkrumah tumbang di Ghana, naiklah diktator kejam lain, malah lebih kejam lagi. Tiada apa reformasi di Ghana selepas rampasan kuasa tentera itu. Situasi makin buruk, makin kacau, makin anarki. Apa manusia boleh buat dalam huru-hara? Engkau tak peduli, engkau bangun dan terus janakan energi dan student power mahasiswa dalam proses menggulingkan kerajaan. Negara jadi huru-hara, sedang sekarang engkau enak di sini, tidur denganku. Di mana perjuanganmu?

Kala gerakan reformasi padam apinya, kau merekrut anak-anak muda kalangan mahasiswa, membentuk satu gerakan militan. Kau mimpi rampasan kuasa berdarah golongan anak muda seperti Filipina atau Indonesia.

Kau lihat di sana kini, apa sudah jadi?

Kau tahu? Bangsaku tentu senyum, kerana engkau turut menjayakan utopia kami; hancurkan seluruh Goyim, demi persediaan Raja Zionis memerintah empayar dunia. Kau lupa, anarki memberi keuntungan percuma pada kami.

Kala aku menunjukkan buah dadaku yang gebu, punggungku yang pejal, bibirku yang mungil, engkau menyerah kalah. Engkau persis saudagar-saudagar minyak Arab, mudah lemas dirangkul perempuan lacur, mudah lupa segalanya.

Kala kau melepaskan kutang terakhirku malam itu, kuperingatkan, aku ini Yahudi. Kau tersentak! Air mukamu tampak keruh. Dahimu dipercik peluh hangat. Yahudi? Yahudi, Yahudi, Yahudi, kerana kerakusan nafsu, kau tak peduli nenek moyang akulah subjek kutukan kitab peganganmu. Surah al-Baqarah sarat cerita kami. Yahudi tak boleh dipercayai. Yahudi pengkhianat nabi. Yahudi tak bertanggungjawab. Yahudi lintah darat. Yahudi berhati batu. Yahudi pembohong besar. Yahudi buta hati. Yahudi pengubah suai kitab Bible.

Sewaktu kau di kemuncak aku bersumpah: hancur Goyim!

Engkau angkuh mengakui dirimu pengerusi sebuah kelab kiri berbau sosialis di universitimu, dan aku percaya, dalam komunitimu menyusup manusia deviant, split personality, eskapisme, inferiority complex, skizofrenia. Engkau mendakwa pejuang rakyat terbanyak tetapi engkau bergaya dan berlagak seperti kaum elit - berseluar jenama Levi Strauss, berkasut kulit, memakai perfume import ciptaan kami, yang harganya dibayar titik peluh orang tuamu di kampung. Hello, aku fikir, kalau revolusimu itu terlaksana, engkaulah manusia pertama harus diadili. Aku percaya semua perjuanganmu hanyalah suatu eskapisme dan utopia orang muda.

Pejuang seperti engkaulah yang akan pertama sekali munafik jika diberikan kekayaan dan kemewahan.

Suatu saat kau agungkan ideologi komunis-sosialis-anarkis. Itu produk percuma rekaan kami untuk pemuda dilanda krisis identiti, dan dengan dos suntikan itu, mereka segera mereput.
Mana mungkin slogan Freedom-Equality-Fraternity seperti kau laungkan itu terjadi? Kamilah pencetus ungkapan ideal dan tak masuk akal itu. Argh, dalam protokol ke-9, perkara ini sahih dinukil Dr. Theodor Herzl, di Basle, pada Kongres Zionis pertama. Kau tahu bila? Itu lebih seratus tahun lalu.

Katamu, pengajianmu selesai tahun depan. Menceburi jurusan sains politik, menelaah buku dan pemikiran Harold J. Laski, pensyarah London School of Economics and Political Science, engkau khayal dirimu hebat. Hei, engkau tidak tahu, Harold J. Laski ahli jawatankuasa Fabian, satu cabang Zionis. Dia arkitek Zionis, perangka pemikiran politik dunia. Kemudian kau tekuni kitab The Social Contract, Jean Jacques Rousseau, penganjur idea abad kelapan belas, idea kesamaan manusia menurut lumrah alam. Kau tahu, siapa meniup inspirasi kepada Jean Rousseau, yang ideanya itu meletupkan bom revolusi di Perancis, tahun 1789? Dr. Kallen, seorang Yahudi. Dan Revolusi Perancis suatu anugerah besar. Revolusi itu mengiktiraf kebebasan sivil kaum Yahudi di Eropah Barat. Kau pelajari juga fikrah Dean Roscoe Pound, seorang Yahudi penganjur liberalisme.

Kau ghairah kala ku sebut nama Karl Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin. Kau impikan kebangkitan suatu gerakan perjuangan rakyat teramai seperti anjuran mereka. Hello, kau tahu siapa mereka? Mereka semua ejen Yahudi. Mereka menyiapkan aturcara kebangkitan raja kuku besi berdarah Zionis.

Kami eksport Bob Dylan, Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, Karl Marx, Salem, Levi Strauss, Harison Ford, Sigmund Freud, Samuel Beckett ke seluruh dunia. Kesannya merata. Di Central Market, kita berjalan-jalan, dan aku senyum kala terpandang idol Karl Marx pada baju seorang anak muda gelandangan. Di situ tertulis; religion is opium. Di lehernya tergantung rantai menyangkut medal bertulis: Anti-Christ. Kau tahu apa itu anti-Christ? Itulah Raja Zionis! Di tandas awam aku lihat grafiti; God is no more! Kita sama-sama lihat anak-anak muda bangsamu kritikal dijangkiti virus sosial - dadah, melepak, mencuri, menganggur, bergaduh, dan seks bebas.

Engkau cuba pengaruhi aku menyelami agamamu, dan kau gambarkan sudut kebenaran dan keluhuran Islam. Kita berbahas, jalannya buntu dan sesak. Bagaimana aku mahu mengikutmu? Islam? Oh, aku bencikan mereka, mereka menjarah bumi Canaan tercinta kami.

Aku lalu teringatkan khutbah rabai besar kami; penganut Islam jumud, gila dunia, hidup khayal, mabuk kuasa.

Hei, boleh mampus mereka semua, aku menyumpah.

Kau sebenarnya bodoh. Kami, anak-anak Israel, sejak lama menguasai dunia ini. Kau lihat di mana-mana: semuanya Yahudi. Yahudi penguasa sebenar dunia ini. Kau tidak tahu, kami sedar kami tiada apa-apa. Kerana itu, kami mesti kuat. Misi Karl Marx, Nietzsche, Darwin, Machiaveli semuanya diilham dan disokong kami demi menjahanamkan puak Goyim.

Karl Marx? Katamu, Karl Marx idola agungmu. Hei, Karl Marx Yahudi totok, dibentuk menjadi arkitek revolusi agung di Rusia. Bukankah Karl Marx sahabat baik Jacob? Dan Jacob itu ahli Zionis kami. Dan kau agungkannya seperti nabi, oh betapa tololnya kau.

Aku masih ingati benar ikrarku musim lalu; bahawa kami, cawangan pembangun bebas, Freemason, harus segera menjayakan gagasan Zionis sedunia.

Kau tahu, dalam protokol ke-6 kami tertulis begini; Tidak lama lagi kita akan mewujudkan monopoli-monopoli besar, empayar kekayaan, yang menjadi pergantungan kuasa-kuasa besar bukan Yahudi hingga ke suatu tahap mereka akan runtuh ditenggelami segala hutang-piutang, selepas berlakunya malapetaka politik.

Demi mencetuskan malapetaka politik, kami hasut, taja, dan lobi politikus-politikus junior kemaruk kuasa negara Goyim. Kamal Attartuk contoh mudah! Kami hasut politikus muda mereka. Kami tanam dakyah dan propaganda dalam minda golongan muda dan bakal negarawan Goyim. Kami anjur konflik kelas, kami anjur pertentangan generasi. Kami tiup slogan besar yang sebenarnya kosong. Di kalangan kesatuan pekerja, kami gerakkan ideologi sosialis, khayalkan mereka dengan minuman keras, usulkan mereka mendesak kenaikan gaji, dan kami di sini naikkan harga barang.

Kami juga mencetuskan krisis ekonomi negara Goyim. Dokumen kedua puluh satu kami menyebut: Krisis ekonomi negara Goyim yang dihasilkan kita, tidak lain, adalah melalui teknik penarikan wang dari edaran.
George Soros sudahpun melakukan eksperimennya di Asia.

Duit sumber masalah manusia. Kerana lapar dan tiada pekerjaan, kekacauan akan mengambil tempat. Kau sudah tentu melihat penangannya di negara Asia. Semuanya berantakan, terpecah-belah habis. Indonesia, Filipina, dan Thailand. Malaysia, negaramu, hampir lumpuh angkara krisis ekonomi, melarat kepada politik. Malaysia nyaris ditundukkan IMF. Tidakkah kau membaca tulisan Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Krisis Matawang Asia? Di dalamnya ada semuanya.

Apa kau lakukan untuk bangsa, negara, agamamu?

Kau hanya bercakap besar, hingga kau tak tahu apa kau ucapkan.

Di Sanhedrin, satu ratus tahun sekali pendeta-pendeta agung kami berkumpul atas makam Rabai Besar Simeon-ben-Ihuda.
Kami bincangkan kejayaan dan pelan masa depan bangsa kami.

Kau tahu, bukan? Setiap kali berdoa, kami berikrar bertemu tahun hadapan di Jerusalem. Malam-malamku dibayangi mimpi-mimpi Jerusalem itu.

Bangsa kami hina, disisih, dihalau, dibunuh, dan diseksa. Bumi Canaan kami dijarah. Meski di mana kami berada dan dipencilkan, harapan kami satu: tahun hadapan di Jerusalem.
Ya, bertemu tahun hadapan di Jerusalem!

Kau tentu teraba-raba di mana aku kala ini. Kau tak mungkin menyentuhi tubuhku lagi. Bukankah sudah kukatakan, engkau cuma tempat persinggahan? Engkau seperti kota Singapura, Bangkok, Jakarta, Tokyo, atau kotaraya Asia lain musim-musim lalu! Semuanya transit.

Selamat tinggal, pejuang gila. Selamat tinggal, reformis sasau. Selamat tinggal, idealis bingung. Selamat tinggal, pelamun nanar. Selamat tinggal, nasionalis sakit jiwa. Selamat tinggal, pemikir sewel. Selamat tinggal, radikalis bahlul.

Hei, pesanku, berjuang dan berjihadlah lawan hawa nafsu serakahmu terlebih dahulu.

Bukankah nabimu, kala pulang dari medan perang Badar, berkata: Kita baru saja kembali dari peperangan kecil?
Jihad paling utama jihad melawan hawa nafsu.

Usah pedulikan aku. Aku sudah mati, fikirlah begitu, jika kau mahu.

Aku kini menghala ke Jerusalem

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Grandfather's Letter

I guess I haven't updated my blog since 3 weeks ago.. Yeah, my life now is quite hectic, so may things to finish..marking the report, finalizing the marks, preparing for the next semester courses.. And guess what? I'll take over Biochemistry course from a lecturer next semester, but just for a month. Sound tough, right? ..but hopefully I can do it..hehe. Lucky I found this interesting and inspirational story, at least I should take a break..a deep breath..
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One day, a young man was cleaning out his late grandfather's belongings when he came across a bright red envelope. Written on the front were the words, "To my grandson." Recognizing his grandfather's handwriting, the boy opened the envelope. A letter inside read:

Dear Ronny,

Years ago you came to me for help. You said, "Grandpa, how is it that you've accomplished so much in your life? You're still full of energy, and I'm already tired of struggling. How can I get that same enthusiasm that you've got?"

I didn't know what to say to you then. But knowing my days are numbered, I figure that I owe you an answer. So here is what I believe.

I think a lot of it has to do with how a person looks at things. I call it 'keeping your eyes wide open.'

First, realize that life is filled with surprises, but many are good ones. If you don't keep watching for them, you'll miss half the excitement. Expect to be thrilled once in a while, and you will be.

When you meet up with challenges, welcome them. They'll leave you wiser, stronger, and more capable than you were the day before. When you make a mistake, be grateful for the things it taught you. Resolve to use that lesson to help you reach your goals.

And always follow the rules. Even the little ones. When you follow the rules, life works. If you think you ever really get by with breaking the rules, you're only fooling yourself.
It's also important to decide exactly what you want. Then keep your mind focused on it, and be prepared to receive it.

But be ready to end up in some new places too. As you grow with the years, you'll be given bigger shoes to fill. So be ready for endings as well as challenging beginnings.
Sometimes we have to be brave enough to move from the familiar to the unfamiliar. Life isn't just reaching peaks. Part of it is moving from one peak to the next. If you rest too long in between, you might be tempted to quit. Leave the past in the past. Climb the next mountain and enjoy the view.

Dump things that weigh you down emotionally and spiritually. When an old resentment, belief, or attitude becomes heavy, lighten your load. Shed those hurtful attitudes that slow you down and drain your energy.

Remember that your choices will create your successes and your failures. So consider all the pathways ahead, and decide which ones to follow. Then believe in yourself, get up, and get going.

And be sure to take breaks once in a while. They'll give you a renewed commitment to your dreams and a cheerful, healthy perception of the things that matter the most to you.
Most important of all, never give up on yourself. The person that ends up a winner is the one who resolves to win. Give life everything you've got, and life will give its best back to you.

Love always,
Grandpa

by Steve Brunkhorst at http://www.AchieveEzine.com
© Copyright 2004-2007 by Steve Brunkhorst
All rights reserved worldwide.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Make a Difference..

Dear beloved

This one is similar of the boy throwing starfish into the sea. Truly, you never know what kind of impact you will make in someone's life today by your actions, or even lack of actions.

Watch this 5 min touching video clip and be inspired today <http://www.teachermovie.com/> (p/s: pls turn your speaker on)

Life makes sense when we seek first to understand, then be understood.

Joanne Lee

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The Starfish Story

Adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley, 1907 – 1977

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"

Source:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8236.asp

Berkomunikasi dari minda ke minda

Apabila kita mengingati seseorang, dan jika ingatan kita itu jujur, ikhlas dan bertanggungjawab, dan tiada sebarang gangguan, kita sebenarnya telah pun menghantar gelombang minda kepada orang itu. Kita mungkin akan mendapat tindak balas yg menakjubkan.

Jika ingatan kita terhadapnya adalah yg baik-baik, dalam masa yg sama Insya ALLAH dia akan mengingat yg baik-baik juga tentang kita.

Maka kerana itulah, pada saat-saat tertentu kita akan terkenangkan seseorang yg telah lama tidak kita temui secara tiba-tiba. Barangkali pada saat itu orang berkenaan sedang memikirkan tentang kita dan gelombang mindanya telah mengembara dan akhirnya sampai kepada kita.

Gelombang minda ini akan lebih hebat kesannya terhadap mereka yg mempunyai jalinan emosi ataupun pertalian darah yg rapat seperti suami isteri, ibu dan anak, adik beradik kembar dan rakan seiras.

Apakah kita tidak merasakan betapa imaginasi sebenarnya mampu melakukan jauh lebih hebat daripada apa yg kita fikirkan? Hebatnya kekuasaan ALLAH SWT...!

(Dipetik daripada buku "Membina Imaginasi Cemerlang", p124, oleh Dr. HM Tuah Iskandar al-haj)

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Zakat Berbaki Atau Kita Kurang Bijak Membahagi

Oh, mmg ada artikel yg Tuan Mufti tulis pasal zakat ni. Sy pernah mendengar drp kuliah hadith beliau yg bertajuk Jihad Bukan Keganasan, tp ada disentuh pasal zakat. Thanks to Tun Abdul Muiz for the info. Sama-samalah kita baca & renungkan.

Zakat Berbaki Atau Kita Kurang Bijak Membahagi at http://drmaza.com/arkib_utusan/?p=8

Wassalam.

Episod Bersamamu...Istimewa Hari Raya

27 Ramadhan 1428H…9:32 pagi

Tiba-tiba rasa terpanggil untuk mencoretkan sesuatu di pagi ini, tatkala dalam 2 atau 3 hari lagi seluruh umat Islam bakal merayakan hari raya Aidilfitri, salah satu drp perayaan agong umat Islam, bagi meraikan kejayaan sebulan menunaikan ibadah puasa, juga ibadah-ibadah sunat yg lain.

Hari Raya..biasanya hari utk kita bersuka-ria, bergelak tawa bersama kerabat keluarga, sajabat handai, yg mungkin sudah lama tidak bersua, atau mungkin juga setiap hari bersua muka, namun pertemuan pd hari raya, sedikit kelainan terasa.. Malaysia, sebuah negara yg kaya raya, aman damai wlupun berbilang bangsa, yg mana majoritinya bangsa Melayu, dan boleh dikatakan secara umumnya beragama Islam. Namun tidak semuanya aku rasakan menyambut raya dengan kemeriahan. Masih ramai saudara seislam kita yg hidup melarat, meminta, pakaian tidak bertukar saban tahun, kais pagi makan pagi, kais makan makan petang..malahan ada yg tidak mampu utk menyekolahkan anak-anak kerana ketiadaan wang.

Aku teringatkan tentang zakat fitrah, yg mana wajib di bayar oleh setiap umat Islam, yg sempat hidup dalam bulan Ramadhan, termasuklah seorang bayi yg dilahirkan sebelum terbenamnya matahari hari terakhir Ramadhan. Zakat, yg mana berfungsi utk membantu saudara seislam kita yg dalam kesusahan, meringankan beban mereka, lebih-lebih lagi di Aidilfitri yg mulia ini. Tapi sejauh mana kah bantuan yg telah dihulurkan pd mereka? Dan jika ada bantuan pun, adakah kadar yg diberikan itu mencukupi utk mereka meneruskan kehidupan sebagaimana orang lain?

Aku sekadar ingin mengajak kalian berfikir sejenak... Rakyat Malaysia, yg jumlahnya hampir 26 juta, dan kalau kita andaikan org Melayu, dengan mengambil kira setiap mereka beragama Islam, maka jumlah umat Islam di Malaysia mencecah 13 juta orang. Cuba kita hitung, setiap orang drp 13 juta ini membayar zakat fitrah, dengan kadar RM5 sekepala, maka jumlah yg terkumpul adalah RM65 juta setiap tahun. Itu hanyalah hasil kutipan drp zakat fitrah. Belum lagi kita hitung dengan zaka-zakat lain; Zakat pendapatan, pertanian, perniagaan, hasil galian, barang kemas, dll. Mungkin jumlah yg terkumpul boleh mencecah RM100 juta setiap tahun (dengan menganggap bhw Umat Islam di Malaysia peka terhadap zakat-zakat lain yg wajib mereka bayar).

Dengan kutipan zakat yg ckup banyak setiap tahun, secara logiknya tiada lg umat kita yg hidup melarat, meminta-minta, yg tinggal dalam pondok-pondok buruk di pedalaman.. Namun yg mendukacitakan, ke mana perginya hasil kutipan ini? Efektif kah pengagihan yg dibuat? Kita bukan menuding jari pada pihak tertentu, tp kita perlu fikirkan hal ini berasama-sama. Sampai bila umat Islam akan terus melarat di negara sendiri? Kalau keadaan berterusan begini, mampu kah kita menurunkan tahap kemiskinan di negara kita ke tahap yg minimum?

Kalau ada pun bantuan yg dihulurkan kepada golongan miskin, terutamanya yg tidak berupaya, cthnya melalui pusat kebajikan masyarakat, berapa lah sgt kadarnya.. Cuma RM150 atau RM200 sebulan, sedangkan yg berjaya dikutip setiap tahun mencecah ratusan juta! Tanyalah pd diri kita sendiri, mampukah kita hidup di zaman ini, berbekalkan hanya RM150 yg diperolehi itu? Kalaulah pihak-pihak yg berkenaan dapat fikirkan hal ini, letakkan diri mereka di tempat org-org yg memerlukan, insya Allah segalanya akan berakhir.

Mengharapkan bantuan yg tidak kunjung tiba drp pihak yg sepatutnya membela nasib umat Islam yg melarat, ramai pihak lain yg turun padang utk membantu. TV3 dengan program Bersamamu...artis & celebriti yg sanggup masuk ke kampung-kampung, turun ke sawah, menyelami kesusahan yg umat kita alami..menghulurkan sedikit bantuan hasil drp ihsan org ramai. Kutipan drp Jom Heboh, so called “konsert-konsert amal”, dan sebagainya... Bukan aku ingin memuji & memartabatkan para selebriti, tp apa yg mereka lakukan, itulah yg sepatutnya..carai siapa yg memerlukan & hulurkan bantuan. Tapi ke mana perginya pihak yg sepatutnya membuat kerja-kerja ini, yg telah diamanahkan utk membantu mereka yg susah? Adakah mereka hanya bangga dapat mengutip ratusan juta setiap tahun, dan menyimpannya di bank, dengan sekadar bberapa peratusan kecil yg akhirnya diagihkan pd umat Islam yg memerlukan? Ini bukan ajaran Islam yg sebenar. Mereka sepatutnya turun padang, masuk ke kampung pedalaman, selami kesusahan yg mereka alami, cari siapa yg perlu dibantu, bukan hanya duduk di pejabat, goyang kaki & menunggu orang-orang uzur tersebut datang utk meminta bantuan. Dan kalau ada pun, makcik-makcik & pakcik-pakcik tua yg sudah uzur, terpaksa dtg ke pejabat kebajikan, mengisi borang yg berjela-jela panjangnya, dengan pelbagai syarat & dokumen yg perlu disertakan, dan itu pun belum tentu permohonan tersebut diluluskan. Wahai saudaraku, kenapa sebegitu susah sekadar utk menghulurkan sesuap nasi kpd yg memerlukan? Sedangkan mereka hidup senang lenang dengan gaji yg dibayar oleh kerajaan setiap bulan...

Kalaulah zakat kita perolehi setiap tahun, diagih & digunakan sepenuhnya utk pembangunan Umat Islam, nescaya kita akan lebih maju, lebih berdaya saing dalam bidang ekonomi, dan yg paling penting, meringankan beban mereka..kerana mereka semua adalah saudara seislam kita.

Semoga kemeriahan Hari Raya kali ini tidak sekali-kali mebuatkan kita lupa pada saudara-saudara kita yg memerlukan

Wassalam.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

A Fairy-tale of life…choices…and dreams


While doing the final year project, I had actually started applying for some jobs, even at that time, I still didn’t have a clear picture of what am I going to do, i.e. which direction, what area, for how long, and what would be my long-term aim? Those were some of the questions running in my head. I considered that I was one of the lucky people since I’ve gotten offers from a few companies just after my graduation in last December. In fact, it was hard for me to decide which company should I join..huh. Anyway, after giving thorough consideration on which company should I join, based on some significant and relevant factors, then I made up my mind. I had few choices, and what I had to do was to just choose ONE of them.

I was about to join one of the companies..a local and well-established consulting engineering firm, with good track records not only in Malaysia, but they have also started expanding the business in the Middle East. I’ve verbally given them my word that I’d like to be part of them, and they were very happy to welcome me too. By that time, I started to have a better picture of what jobs I was going to do, and what types of people would be around me should I join the company.

During my undergraduate study, I had the feeling and desire to become an engineer. Why? It was obvious.. I would have an engineering degree, though it is not necessary that I will end up working as an engineer. My education, my thinking, and my lifestyle that I’ve gone through before made me think that I had to gain experience in the real engineering industries. Sound that I was too fanatic with engineering world, right? Yet, I’d be very happy also if one day, I could become an academician, a university’s lecturer. And that’s maybe my final destination, who knows..

Less than a week before I had to report my duty at the company, I received a call from someone who is really familiar to me, my lecturer, who was also my FYP supervisor. A call that actually has significantly urged me to think again about my earlier decision, a call that has caused me to deviate a little bit from my original plan. Ahh…why did he call me this time..? I took a long deep breath, a sigh before answering his call.

Let me shorten the story, so eventually, because of that call, I decided to join him as a research assistant (RA), and at the same time, I registered as a postgraduate student. I started doing the research at the end of January this year, though supposedly I should start working at the company on 2nd February. Can you imagine how did I let them know that I couldn’t join them? It was so hard for me to do it..like a ruin to myself and also to my university. But, thanks to Allah, when I informed them about my decision, they accepted it without any hesitation at all. For me, they were very professionals, and that's the way how professionals should behave. I wished that what have I done, wouldn’t ruin the reputation of IIUM graduates in general. Yeah, it was true..in fact, after sometimes, they called me back, asked me to recommend someone I know to join their company. What a big trust and favor from them… Hmm..then I had someone in my mind, recommended him (not her, ok), and alhamdulillah, with his capability and qualification, he was appointed there. Congratulation! He’s still there till now, and I guess he enjoys his working environment. And me? I was still an RA, doing research in my lab until April 2007. (looks like I didn’t even shorten my story, huhu).

Well, I forgot to tell earlier that I was also suggested by some of the top and prominent people in the university to apply for Assistant Lecturer. Haha… I’ve never dreamt of getting that position. I thought that it was only for those who have super duper crazy excellent results in their undergraduate study, with some outstanding awards received during convocation, like a few of my colleagues, who are now studying in various parts of the world, i.e., Kyoto and Manchester.. hehe, you must have known those guys, right? Though I’ve never dreamt for it, but because of some effort that I’ve put forward to achieve it, and of course with the ultimate help from Him, I was called for an interview, together with the other two friends of mine. Again, to make the story short, we were accepted as academic staff in IIUM, and I officially reported my duty on 3rd May 2007 (Thursday). It was a historical and nostalgic date to me. I still remember, on the same date, but 5 years ago (3rd May 2002), when I was in matriculation centre, I had a very nice and sweet incident…one of the dates that I will always remember (guys are not that bad in remembering dates, huh)

I enjoyed my work as an RA, on a project of bioconversion of plant biomass into high-value added compound, meant for anticancer application. I was the first who has officially joined the project. Then, Shareef came. He actually has been working as RA before that too, but for another project. And what a big surprise!! Something unexpected has happened then, one of my friends who decided not to join the project, in the end, decided to join us too. We had also some other companions, mostly those who were finishing their Masters in the lab. It was a nice working and research environment. But of course, sometimes we had to work outside office hours, even at night. That’s the nature of research oriented work.

Now, I’m one of the staff at the department of Biotechnology Engineering, IIUM. No more research in the lab. As assistant lecturer (in IIUM), we normally won’t be assigned any course to teach (we’re not qualified enough actually), but people will normally ask, what course am I teaching? My HOD has already asked any staff who hasn’t earned Masters and PhD to pursue their study ASAP, and it shouldn’t be in Malaysia. So, I had to forget my original plan to do, at least my Masters in IIUM. Life is capricious, huh..that's make life becomes interesting. No problems, no fun! Yup, I won’t go against the boss's decision. I started looking for some relevant graduate programs offered by overseas universities, mainly in the USA and UK. And I realized that it was also a tough job. I’ve talked to many people with different educational backgrounds to ask for their opinions. What do you expect? Hmm…most of them suggested me to go to the US, even my dean prefers that too. Well, we’ll see in the near future, where shall I be going…haha. I know that I was not supposed to stay here for a long time.

As a young academician (is it?), in term of workload, maybe it’s not that heavy when compared with that of other lecturers. In the first two months, I had nothing to do. I came at 8.30 am (sometimes 9.30 am or 10.00 am..), and went back around 6 pm. For that reason, I would go to the lab since most of my friends were still working there. At least, we could still have lunch together. But later, I was assigned to be the coordinator of Seminar course for the department. It’s just once in a week, every Friday. Now, I’m handling 3 sections of seminar, consists of a total of 95 students. It’s a large number, right? Lucky it’s only on every Friday, otherwise I’ll be dying doing the jobs alone, i.e. inviting speakers, marking the summary forms, preparing and marking quizzes, key in students' mark into system, consultation with students (konon2)…bla-bla. Don’t be surprised, I’ve issued two warning letters to students who have failed to attend my seminar, at least to make them realize, and wake them up that they can’t just play around with me. Maybe later, I’ll issue the barring letter, the most horror letter which will actually fail the students…that’s the worse I’ll do.

Started in the beginning of August, one of my friends left. She got a permanent job in Sungai Buloh. And in beginning of September, one more left…moved to UPSI. Well, I guess that was good for them. Obviously, everyone is looking for better, secure and stable position. And just two days before Ramadhan, another good friend of mine left for her study leave, who was also an assistant lecturer here. Huh..that’s the chronology of the events. The events of leaving and being left.. This is the nature of our temporary life, people come and leave, and it’s not a matter of coming and leaving, but when we’d like to leave, leave properly, and don’t ever leave a scar on others' heart…We are not like prisoners, who can just absconds from prison when they have chances. In the end, all of us we’ll leave this transitory world, to meet our Creator, to face the endless life there. May Allah reward us with His Paradise, amin…

Whatever happened, I’m still standing here today. I’d like to prove and show to others that it was my choice to be here, not because of others. Even though some people have slightly contributed towards my decision, but it was me who decided. I could have actually decided not to be here, and no one could force me, or scold me if I didn’t make the correct choice. After all these challenging path that I’ve gone through, I should thank them all for their endless support, and I believe that they were there because Allah wants them to be there for me, to motivate me, to make myself clear with my goal, and to convince me that I’m truly capable of facing the tribulations. I remember when I was in school, a friend said, “Walk on with your hopes in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone”. I’ll continue to fight, to win the battle myself. My dean said (but I’ve slightly modified it), the journey is like you’re going through a dark and deep tunnel…but at the end of the tunnel, you’ll see a small light, that’s the sign you’re approaching your aims. But if you keep walking and running through a never ending tunnel, no light appears in the end..don’t ever give up because you can still dig up another new tunnel, and who knows, you’ll find a brighter light at the end of that new tunnel. Be creative!! Anyway, it’d be very sweet if I have someone or a group of companions to accompany me along the journey, someone who will always be with me till the end of the line.

In the end, I wish I could stand in the eyes of the world, together with all of you. Only the sky will be the limit for us!! But remember, we still need to look down, to the ground, to the history, even after we have reached the top, because that will always make us remember where did we come from, where did we start, and who were there for us whenever we need their hands and supports to guide us.. and the most vital is, we never forget that because of His ultimate Guidance and Supervision, we could have actually achieved the dreams. Whatever Allah gives us; those are the best for us. It’s not just a fairy-tale, but it’s our choices, our dreams..let’s go for it!!

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---> may all our dreams come true!