Thursday, June 26, 2008

Last day

Hari ini, 26 Jun 2008 merupakan hari terakhir saya di UIAM sebelum mendaftar di USM pada hari Isnin depan. Hanya beberapa keping gambar untuk dikongsi bersama. Semoga Allah berikan daku kesempatan untuk kembali ke bumi ini, menumpahkan bakti dan keringat untuk ummat & bangsa, amin...

Di luar pintu bilik


Kalendar Pameran Kegemilangan Sains dalam Tamadun Islan & bunting ICBioE masih di pintu bilik

Mejaku..


White board untuk mencatatkan extension number & aktiviti penting


Kosong seperti sedia kala


Perjalanan masih jauh, perjuangan belum selesai!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Farewell Gathering

Alhamdulillah, at last I managed to accomplish all the tasks (EIT Visits) assigned to me before my study leave period starts. But still I have to mark the report & submit all the necessary documents to EIT unit later. I went to Kelantan on last Saturday to visit all the five students currently doing their EIT there. I actually grabbed the chance to spend few days at my kampung before moving to Penang soon. I visited three students at Institute for Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Health Campus of USM on Sunday, and the other two students at Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu (MPKB) on Monday. Then, I went back to KL on Tuesday. Lot of things happened while I was in Kelantan (other than the visits), both good and terrible. I might have thought that it was better not to go back when I keep thinking about those terrible moments. Well, let’s not talk about it. At least it was worth enough when I saw my mom’s face, smiling and crying. Mom, Insya Allah, one day, your son will fulfill all your dreams and turn your tears to smile, no more crying and suffering.

On Friday, 20th June 2008, 3:00 pm, we had a small farewell party at the Biomolecular Engineering Research Unit (Bio-MERU) meeting room. The party was actually initiated & organized by Syahida, Shima, Alawiyah, Husna & Ain for me, Deena & Amirul (hehe..I guessed so) since the three of us will be leaving IIUM by end of June. It was a surprise for us. We didn’t expect that they have planned the party for us. It was also the last day I met all of them because when I come back from EIT visit in Kelantan, they would have left to Terengganu for the BIOTEK Project Meeting there. Though simple, the word ‘thank you’ should be the best & most suitable word to express my gratitude for their kindness and advocacy that they have given. May our friendship remain forever, amin..

Some faces that will still stay in IIUM after my leave..the RAs


See you again!

I slightly feel that, eventually, I’m able to leave. It’s time for me to leave, enough of being left. Haha! There were few companions close to me have left before. It started with Faraz who left to Carnegie Mellon Uni, then Aimi to LGM, Kak Maya to UPSI, Illiey to UMIST, Shareef to NUS, Prof. Farouk to UBD, Kak Anis to UPM, and lastly Faizal to ASM. Syahida had joined the group just before Prof. Farouk left, and only Faizal, Kak Anis & Amirul were here at that time, not forgetting my dear wife too. After Dr. Hamzah took over the project as a leader, then Shima, Ain, Alawiyah & Husna came, to be part of the family. Yeah, this is life. Some people come into our lives and quickly go, and some stay for awhile. No one will stay at one place forever. Life is dynamic, rite? Wish everyone happy in their path, may the success be ours!

Thanks!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Hari-hari terakhir di UIAM

Alhamdulillah, hampir segala urusan berkenaan study leave sudah pun selesai. Cuma agreement dengan UIAM je belum. Harapnya officer yang menguruskannya dapat mempercepatkan sedikit. Kalau tak, terpaksalah mereka pos dokumen yang berkenaan ke Taiping nanti. Tu pun satu kerja lagi nak kena pos dokumen tu ke MSD balik..huh.

Urusan dengan KPT semua dah settle. Pergi ke Putrajaya cuma sekali je, untuk ambik offer letter, borang agreement & medical check-up, serta beberapa dokumen lain. Lepas dah lengkapkan semua tu, malas nak ke sana lagi, so courier je, cepat & senang. Lagipun minyak mahal lar sekarang.. Hmm..buat medical check-up di Klinik UIAM je, sekaligus untuk USM sekali, di samping untuk KPT. Setahun yang lepas masa nak report duty sbg assistant lecturer, semua ok.. darah, urine, x-ray & penglihatan, cuma berat badan amatlah ringan pada masa tu. Tapi kali ni, ujian penglihatan saya bolehlah dikira gagal, tu yg doktor cakap lah. Memang agak kurang nampak pun masa nurse suruh saya baca huruf-huruf tu. Sekali nampak mcm 'C', sekali macam 'G', sekali lg macam 'O' pulak..ish3. Jadi doktor mintak saya gi check mata di klinik mata (optometrist). Hoho..dengan kata lain, kena pakai spec ke? Oh, tidak! Kalau tak pakai spec, nanti saya akan mengalami sindrom sakit kepala, kata doktor. Sekarang masih lg berkira-kira samada nak gi check atau tak. Kalau gi, dah tentu memang kena pakai spec. Tapi sampai bila nak lari? Nampaknya nikmat penglihatan yg Allah bagi ni dah semakin ditarik.. ingatkan mataku ini akan terus terang-benderang sampai ke hari tua..hehe. Panjangnya cerita pasal mata. Berat badan pulak ada peningkatan kalau banding dengan sebelum ni. Biasalah, hati bahagia, selera makan pun bertambahlah:-)

Walaupun dalam kekalutan nak meninggalkan UIAM ni, saya telah diminta oleh EIT Coordinator untuk melawat beberapa orang pelajar yg sedang menjalani industrial training. Mereka ini bertebaran di seluruh pelosok negara. Tapi saya dengan senang hatinya telah request untuk pergi ke Kelantan. Ada 5 orang pelajar yang buat praktikal di sana (3 di HUSM, 2 di MPKB). Sebenarnya ni ambik peluang nak balik kampung sekali..hehe. Bila dah dapat official letter drp EIT Unit, rupanya saya kena gi melawat seorang lagi pelajar di Banting (Sime Darby Research Center). Wah, jauh tu Banting. Dahlah sepanjang hidup ni tak pernak jejak kaki ke sana. Apapun, alhamdulillah semalam saya dah pun menyelesaikan tugasan saya di Banting tu dengan ditemani oleh Br. Raziff (Engineer kat Dept. of Biotech). Oklah jugak, dapat pengalaman baru. Sepanjang perjalanan tu, ada melalui beberapa pusat & institusi yg selama ni hanya dengar nama je, tapi tak tahu di mana lokasinya. Antaranya adalah Malaysia Nuclear Agency (dulunya MINT). Oo..kat situ rupanya. Walaupun ambik masa dua jam untuk sampai di lokasi tu, semuanya berjalan lacar tanpa sebarang 'kesesatan' di jalanan (berpandukan map yg student tu dah fax).

Dan esok (Sabtu), sesudah subuh saya akan bertolak ke Kelantan untuk tujuan lawatan tersebut. Walaupun minyak mahal, tapi apa boleh buat, ini memang tugasan, di samping membantu department yg semakin hari semakin kurang staffnya..isk3. Tapi takpe, boleh claim mileage serta elaun-elaun lain nanti. Kadar untuk claim mileage ni patutnya dinaikkan lagi lah bila harga petrol dah naik ni (demand sikit..)

Semalam bila buka laman web Mufti Perlis, ada nampak satu poster pemberitahuan tentang Wacana Perdana sempena 100 hari Pemerintahan Pakatan Rakyat diadakan pd malam esok di Kompleks Balai Islam, Lundang, Kota Bharu. Yang menarik perhatian saya adalah antara senarai ahli panel yg dijemput, iaitu Mufti Perlis sendiri, Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin dan juga Prof. Dr. Abd Aziz Bari dari Kulliyah of Law, UIAM. Ini yg membuatkan saya terpanggil untuk menghadirinya. Insya Allah, kalau ada kekuatan & kesempatan.

Ok, cukup untuk setakat ni. Kita berjumpa lagi di ruangan yg lain, Insya Allah. Doakan keselamatan saya sekeluarga.

Wassalam.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

New President of IIUM

10th June 2008: I've just received an email from the University Management, announcing that Constitutional Head of IIUM, HRH Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al Musta’in Billah ibni Al Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al Mu’adzam Shah, has gracefully appointed Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Mohd. Sidek bin Hj. Hassan, The Chief Secretary to the Malaysian Government as the fifth President of IIUM effective June 2, 2008. The IIUM community would like to welcome Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Mohd. Sidek bin Hj. Hassan as the new President.

The community acknowledged with utmost gratitude the contribution of Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Sanusi bin Junid, the fourth President of IIUM to the development of the university during his tenure as the President of IIUM.

I pray that IIUM would continue to become a great institute of higher learning in Malaysia, as well as in the world, in producing better quality intellectuals, professionals and scholars who are capable of educating the Ummah and serving the Nation, Insya Allah.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Berbicara soal kenaikan harga bahan api di Malaysia

Tanggal 5 Jun 2008 merupakan satu tarikh yang mengejutkan seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Rakyat tentunya terkedu dengan keputusan kerajaan (yg diberi mandat oleh rakyat dalam pilihan raya lepas) menaikkan harga petrol dan diesel, masing-masing kepada RM2.70 dan RM2.58 seliter. Saya pada petang 4 Jun tersebut dalam perjalanan pulang dari Shah Alam ke Gombak selepas menziarahi sanak-saudara bersama isteri, ibu dan adik saya. Tatkala diumumkan keputusan kerajaan tentang kenaikan harga minyak itu, stesen-stesen minyak diserbu ratusan kenderaan. Saya juga mengambil keputusan untuk mengisi minyak apabila sampai di Stesen Petronas Hulu Kelang. Itulah kali terakhir saya berkesempatan mengisi minyak dengan harga RM1.92 seliter.

Rata-rata, rakyat Malaysia mepersoalkan keputusan tersebut. Rakyat bukannya pakar ekonomi, tapi mereka tentu boleh berfikir secara logik akan hal ini. Dengan kenaikan harga minyak mentah dunia, maka kerajaan terpaksa menaikkan harga bahan api tersebut. Namun yang dipersoalkan oleh logik akal rakyat adalah, sekiranya harga minyak mentah dunia meningkat, maka sudah tentu untung oleh Petronas juga berlipat kali ganda. Atau adakah ini tidak masuk akal? Budak sekolah rendah pun sudah tentu dapat memikirkannya. Maka kemana perginya keuntungan Petronas ini? Sejauh manakah projek-projek mega yg dijalankan dapat menyumbang kepada kesenangan hidup rakyat secara keseluruhannya?

Ya, sebagai salah seorang rakyat Malaysia yang tinggal di Malaysia, saya sudah tentu turut terkena bahang tekanan akibat kenaikan harga minyak ini. Kenaikan harga ini secara langsung telah menyebabkan banyak barangan lain di pasaran turut meningkat, yg sememangnya tidak akan dpt dielakkan. Apatah lagi kadar tarif elektrik juga telah dinaikkan. Saya berdoa semoga Allah sentiasa membela nasib rakyat yang teraniaya. Sesungguhnya doa rakyat yang teraniaya pasti akan dimakbulkan oleh Allah SWT.

Saya tidak mahu berbicara panjang soal kenaikan harga minyak ini. Cuma sukacita sekiranya saya dapat berkongsi beberapa pendapat & luahan tokoh-tokoh terkenal di Malaysia tentang hal ini.

Seperti yang saya tunggu-tunggu, dan saya percaya ramai yang lain juga mengharapakan, Mufti Perlis, Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin telah secara lantang menulis tentang topik ini. Saya amat mengagumi akan keberanian & ketelusan beliau dalam melontarkan pandangan, tidak kira kepada siapa, berpegang kepada prinsip kebenaran. Artikel beliau yg terbaru, Agama Bukan Candu untuk Mengkhayalkan Orang Miskin di laman web beliau serta Mingguan Malaysia 8 Jun 2008.

Berikut adalaha beberapa perenggan tulisan beliau:

.....Saya tahu, selepas ini banyak forum-forum perdana, ceramah-ceramah di radio dan televisyen akan memperkatakan tentang kewajipan berjimat cermat. Maka ustaz, ustazah dan penceramah pun –atas pemintaan penaja yang membayar harga ceramah- akan bersungguh-sungguh menyuruh orang-orang bawahan untuk berjimat cermat.

Dalil-dalil pun akan dibaca. Mungkin akan ada ustazah yang mencari cerita-cerita ajaib yang baru untuk dikaitkan dengan bab jimat cermat dan jangan membazir. Mungkin akan ada penceramah yang cuba menangis-menangis –seperti seorang pelakon berjaya yang menerima anugerah- bercerita kepada mak cik-makcik yang kusyuk menonton tentang azab seorang yang membazir ‘nasi lemaknya’.

Datanglah orang-orang kampung mendengar forum perdana dengan basikal atau motosikal sebagai menyahut seruan agar tidak membazir petrol. Adapun penceramah, datuk-datuk pengajur, YB-YB hanya menggunakan kenderaan mewah yang berkapasiti atas daripada 2000cc. Tujuannya untuk mengelakkan pembaziran wang kerajaan yang terpaksa dibayar kepada empunya kenderaan 2000cc ke bawah, lebih tinggi daripada 2000 ke atas.

Maka insaflah mak cik dan pak cik yang barangkali teringatkan tulang ikan yang pernah dibuangnya padahal masih ada sedikit sisa isinya yang melekat. Itulah membazir namanya. Maka, atas keinsafan dan taubat itu, mungkin ada yang akan mula mengurangkan makan nasi lemak daripada sebungkus seorang kepada sebungkus yang dikongsi bersama. Air kopinya yang memang sudah ‘ceroi’ akan ditukar kepada yang warna hitamnya antara kelihatan dan tidak. Maka selamat negara kita ini, disebabkan pakcik dan makcik, pak long dan mak long, pak lang dan mak lang di kampung sudah mengubah gaya hidup mereka.

Jika saya hadir ke forum yang seperti itu, saya ingin bertanya soalan, tapi soalan yang belum ‘dijakimkan’, “apakah agama ini dihantar oleh Allah untuk menghukum manusia bawahan dan menghalalkan yang lain tidur dalam kekenyangan dan kemewahan?”. Sebelum harga minyak naik, telah sekian mereka yang berada di teratak usang itu menjimat makan dan pakai. Saban hari mereka mengira belanja untuk memboleh mereka terus hidup di kala negara dunia belum menghadapi krisis harga minyak.


Baca selanjutnya di laman web Mufti Perlis>>

Selain itu, satu tulisan yang menarik telah ditulis oleh Tun Dr. Mahathir Moahamad, mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia di blog beliau yg bertajuk 'Oil Price'. Penerangan beliau akan hal ini tampak lebih mudah untuk difahami, diselit dengan beberapa contoh pengiraan & situasi tertentu.

Banyak lagi tulisan, kolum & pendapat yg berkaitan dengan perkara ini, yg mana ada sebahagiannya saya linkkan di sisi blog ini untuk bacaan rakan-rakan.

Wassalam.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Thomas Cup - it's China again!

Badminton would always be one of my favorite sports, other than soccer since I was in primary school. I missed the era of Misbun Sidek and his other colleagues, but it's still fresh in my mind where his other brothers, namely Razif, Jailani and Rashid were playing for Malaysia back there. The most indelible moment was obviously during the Thomas Cup 1992 championships. Some of other prominent names were Foo Kok Keong, Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang. They were all the real fighters for Malaysia at that time. Since that, I was trying hardly not to miss the championships. However, Malaysia has never won any Thomas cup tittle after that year too.

Historically, Thomas Cup championships have been conducted every two years since the 1982 tournament (I was not yet born at that time). Before that, it has been conducted every three years since the first tournament held in 1948-1949. As known, Indonesia is the most successful team by winning the tittle for thirteen times, followed by China (7 times) and Malaysia (5 times - 1949, 1952, 1955, 1967, 1992). These are the only three countries which have won the championships even though some other countries, like Denmark, Thailand and the latest, Korea were able to went through to the final. Source: Wikipedia - Thomas Cup

Thomas and Uber Cup

And, the Thomas Cup 2008 championships has just ended yesterday, where the Chinese again retained the tittle, consecutively since 2004. China has beaten Korea 3-1. However, in the semi final, China beat Malaysia 3-2. It was a close match at all, and it seems that Malaysia was better perhaps. I, and I believe the Malaysian as well, was pretty sure if Malaysia able to defeat China in the semi final, then the Thomas Cup would have been stolen from them. I just don't know what to say about our players, especially the first double. And Hafiz Hashim also seems not in his best performance yet. But when I watched Lee Chong Wei's play, it was totally superb, and of course plus the bad performance by Lin Dan too. Congratulation also to the young double, Mohd Zakry Latif and Mohd Fairurizuan Tazari who have convincingly defeated the world number 9 double from China to make the match even, and saved Malaysia from early defeat.

Last night, I watched the match between China & Korea. I just don't care who's gonna win the tittle, but somehow I hoped that Korea would win it. It was really shocked when the first single of Korea, Park Sung-Hwan defeated the world number 1, Lin Dan in the first game 21-10. But as expected, there shouldn't be a problem for Lin Dan to come back and turned down the Korean in the next two games. Then, the Korean was able to make the match even when their first double (world number 3) beat the Chinese double (world number 2). It was an amazing performance and defense shown by the Korean double I must admit. Well, I've never expected the match between the second single of Korean, Lee Hyun-Il against Chinese world number 3, Bao Chunlai would be that close and exciting. It was also the first time I watched a match where a winner won against his opponent by 28-26.

Ok, that's enough, otherwise, I'll be a nonprofessional sports commentator here..hehe. Lastly, I wish the Malaysia team will do better in the next two years Thomas Cup championships, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur. Until 2008, the nation has been waiting for 16 years to seize the most prestigious cup in badminton arena.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

UM, UIAM, UTM: Universiti terbaik

News by Malaysiakini on 16th May 2008, also available at Global Media Channel and The Star: UM leads in ranking

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Universiti terbaik: UM, UIA, UTM

Oleh: Abdul Rahim Sabri

Tiga universiti awam mendapat pengiktirafan sebagai universiti terbaik dalam kelas masing-masing daripada 17 institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) yang dikaji taraf kualitinya.

Universiti Malaya mendahului dalam kategori universiti penyelidikan, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa mendapat tempat teratas (universiti umum) dan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia tempat pertama (universiti khusus).

Berdasarkan markah keseluruhan enam bidang yang dikaji, Universiti Malaya memperolehi 5 mata atau "cemerlang", Universiti Islam Antarabangsa mendapat 4 mata (sangat baik) dan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (3 atau baik).

Keputusan ini, yang pertama kali diumumkan, hasil penilaian Sistem Penarafan Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam (Setara) selama dua tahun yang diselia oleh Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia (MQA).

Ketika mengumumkan keputusan tersebut hari ini di kementeriannya di Putrajaya, menteri pengajian tinggi Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata penarafan ini bertujuan mengukur mutu, kebertanggungjawaban dan prestasi IPT.

Setara bermula dengan data yang dikutip dan dianalisis dalam projek rintis pada 2005 di 16 IPT dan penilaian tarafnya dijalankan setahun kemudian.

Kajian pertama sistem itu pula pada 2007 yang dibuat di 17 IPT awam dan melibatkan data-data tahun sebelumnya.

Satu pasukan tujuh anggota yang diketuai profesor Dr Che Husna Azhari dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia melaksanakan Setara dan urusetianya di MQA.

Sistem Setara ini berasaskan enam bidang utama yang mengandungi 87 pengukur hasil perundingan dengan semua universiti tempatan.

Mohamed Khaled berkata, sistem ini berbeza dengan kaedah yang diguna pakai oleh Times Higher Education Supplement (THES).

"Domain yang mereka pakai antaranya ialah peer review (semakan rakan sejawat) dan persepsi majikan yang kebanyakan berdasarkan kepada persepsi, berbanding sistem kita lebih komprehensif yang menggunakan enam domain yang mengandungi 87 indikator," katanya.

Dalam kategori universiti penyelidikan, tempat kedua jatuh kepada Universiti Putra Malaysia dan ketiga Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (masing-masing 4 mata).

Bagi kategori umum, Universiti Teknologi Mara dan Universiti Malaysia Sabah masing-masing mendapat 4 dan 3 mata.

Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn dan Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris masing-masing berada di tempat kedua dan ketiga bagi kategori universiti khusus (kedua-duanya 2 mata atau memuaskan).

Mata 1 yang paling bawah dikategorikan sebagai lemah, diikuti memuaskan, baik, sangat baik, cemerlang dan terbilang (6 mata).

Mohamed Khaled berkata, keputusan lengkap kajian ini tidak didedahkan kepada media, sebaliknya diserahkan kepada IPT untuk tindakan.

"Saya fikir, sudah memadai masyarakat mengetahui setakat ini," katanya.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Filem seram, apa kesannya?

Tertarik dengan satu artikel dalam Utusan Malaysia bertajuk 'Kesan buruk cerita hantu', membuatkan saya terpanggil untuk menulis sesuatu. Lebih-lebih lagi ia diselit dengan sedikit penerangan drp SS Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, Mufti Kerajaan Negeri Perlis.

Sememangnya cerita hantu dan seram adalah cerita yang tidak mungkin saya tonton. Kalau ada rakan yang mengajak untuk menonton, maka sudah pasti jawapannya, "Sorry, aku kurang berminat dengan cerita macam ni."

Saya bersetuju sekali dengan pendapat yang mengatakan bahawa cerita hantu sebenarnya tidak membangunkan minda masyarakat & sekadar hiburan kosong semata. Selain tidak membantu pembentukan insan, ia juga adakalanya memperbodohkan masyarakat. Fikiran orang Melayu kita masih dijajah oleh ideologi hantu & khurafat (terutamanya filem Malaysia). Kita sepatutnya bergerak maju ke hadapan, tidak perlu lagi dimomok & disajikan dengan unsur hantu khurafat yang boleh merosakkan aqidah kita sebagai umat Islam. Malangya negara kita masih lagi menayangkan filem-filem sebegini, juga pameran-pameran hantu jembalang yang mendapat tentangan hebat daripada para ilmuan Islam.

Jika ada yang berpendapat bahawa cerita hantu hanyalah untuk hiburan semata, tidaklah salah asalkan ia tidak keterlaluan dan bebas daripada unsur khurafat. Mungkin ada antara cerita hantu tersebut yang mengandungi unsur humor & pengajaran yang betul. Namun sudah tiba masanya kita berfikir sedikit, gunakan akal fikiran yang waras dalam menilai hal ini.

Wassalam.

Untuk artikel asal, rujuk tulisan Dr. Mohd Asri, atau berita di Utusan Malaysia.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Medicine is a noble art, not a trade; a calling, not a business. Isn't it?

When I was in third year of UG, we had a seminar (as I have been coordinating seminar for the past 2 semesters too, every Friday afternoon), presented by a speaker from Sime Darby. One of the significant words he said, which I can still remember was "medicine is no more noble...everything is business". Well, what do you think? Let's read this news, perhaps as also a response to the previous news 'Grads prefer to stay on overseas' here.

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Come back and we’ll treat you right, Malaysian medical specialists told

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the ruling was being reviewed as the Government wanted to attract Malaysian doctors home.

Currently, all doctors are required to undergo three years of public service in government hospitals.

“We are making it easier for Malaysians who want to come back and practice. A one-stop centre has been set up to help facilitate their return,” he said.

Liow said there was no way that the Government could match doctors' salaries offered at private healthcare institutions.

.... “Let us keep in mind that the practice of medicine is a noble art, not a trade; a calling, not a business.”


Read more here>>


Friday, May 9, 2008

What makes a man


Lelaki dan wanita saling lengkap-melengkapi antara satu sama lain. Tanpa Hawa di sisi, sedangkan Adam a.s terasa sunyi walaupun berada di syurga. Sememangnya fitrah insan, berkehendakkan pasangan, untuk mencintai & dicintai. Lelaki idaman dari kaca mata wanita pastinya berbeza bagi setiap individu. Semoga para wanita semua dianugerahkan lelaki yang benar-benar memenuhi ciri yang diimpikan. Namun ingatlah, tiada yang sempurna di dunia ini. Hanya Allah yang Esa, Maha Sempurna.

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What makes a man, from The Star Sunday, 17th February 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: If you did not receive any special gift or candlelight dinner for Valentine’s Day, don't fret.

That’s because Malaysian men rate sex and romance lowly when it comes to masculinity. To them, manhood means having a good job, taking care of the family and ensuring enough money.

The men of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, on the other hand, think sex is more important.

According to a masculinity study on Asian men, urban Malaysian men rate sex and romance lowly – only 0.9% chose an active sex life while a mere 0.7% picked success with women as important indicators of their masculinity.

On the upside, Malaysian men are good providers with family as their priority.

Family and money – next to good jobs – are their top concerns and the main defining facets of their manhood – 24% of them rate having a good job as the most important thing in being a “man”.

The Masculinity in Asian Men research was conducted on 10, 934 men aged 20 to 75 years old in five Asian countries: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Sponsored by Bayer HealthCare, the study involved 3,000 Malaysian men and was completed in 2006 but the findings are yet to be published.

In other Asian countries, though, most men picked active sex life (89%), success with women (87.9%) and physical attractiveness (85%) as key indicators of masculinity.

Chartered psychologist with the Health Research Development Unit at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Prof Dr Sarinah Low Abdullah, said this attitude is conditioned by society.

“Masculinity is very much influenced by socio-demographic parameters. For most men, their sense of self, sexual desire and behaviour are related to their sense of power, respect and success,” said Prof Sarinah, one of three Malaysian academics in the Europe-Asian team of researchers.

She added that the masculinity of Asian men was still an unexplored area in sexual heath studies.

“There have been many research looking into the masculinity and sexual health of European and American men but no proper one has been carried out on Asian men yet,” she said.

The research was divided into three parts: men's attitude towards life events, sexual behaviour and their attitude towards erectile dysfunction.

The findings, nevertheless, reinforced the male stereotypes in the individual participating countries, specifically in their concept of masculinity: the Taiwanese and Japanese quoted being a man of honour as the most important quality, the Chinese defined it as having control over one's life while for South Koreans, it was having an active sex life.

A common characteristic among all Asian men, however, was their inability to express themselves, especially when it comes to sexual health, she said,

“A part of the male personality is not to show emotions. They cannot cry or show that they have problems. They won't even talk about their sex problems unless they are in excruciating pain. Often, they need women to push them to open up.”

Said Prof Sarinah, the research revealed that importance of career and financial status seem to decrease with age for men, while physical attractiveness, sexual performance and success with women will increase as they get older.

However, she noted, no research has been carried out on how the older men channel their increased sexuality.

Does Islam promote violence?

Excerpt from the 20 Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims (who have some knowledge of Islam), by Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik.
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DOES ISLAM PROMOTE VIOLENCE?

Question:

Doesn’t Islam promote violence, bloodshed and brutality since the Qur’an says that Muslims should kill the kuffar where ever they find them?

Answer:

A few selected verses from the Qur’an are often misquoted to perpetuate the myth that Islam promotes violence, and exhorts its followers to kill those outside the pale of Islam.

1. Verse from Surah Taubah


The following verse from Surah Taubah is very often quoted by critics of Islam, to show that Islam promotes violence, bloodshed and brutality:

"Kill the mushriqeen (pagans, polytheists, kuffar) where ever you find them."
[Al-Qur’an 9:5]

2. Context of verse is during battlefield

Critics of Islam actually quote this verse out of context. In order to understand the context, we need to read from verse 1 of this surah. It says that there was a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Mushriqs (pagans) of Makkah. This treaty was violated by the Mushriqs of Makkah. A period of four months was given to the Mushriqs of Makkah to make amends. Otherwise war would be declared against them. Verse 5 of Surah Taubah says:

"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is oft-forgiving, Most merciful."
[Al-Qur’an 9:5]

This verse is quoted during a battle.

3. Example of war between America and Vietnam

We know that America was once at war with Vietnam. Suppose the President of America or the General of the American Army told the American soldiers during the war: "Wherever you find the Vietnamese, kill them". Today if I say that the American President said, "Wherever you find Vietnamese, kill them" without giving the context, I will make him sound like a butcher. But if I quote him in context, that he said it during a war, it will sound very logical, as he was trying to boost the morale of the American soldiers during the war.

4. Verse 9:5 quoted to boost morale of Muslims during battle

Similarly in Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 the Qur’an says, "Kill the Mushriqs where ever you find them", during a battle to boost the morale of the Muslim soldiers. What the Qur’an is telling Muslim soldiers is, don’t be afraid during battle; wherever you find the enemies kill them.

5. Shourie jumps from verse 5 to verse 7

Arun Shourie is one of the staunchest (*most firm/steadfast) critics of Islam in India. He quotes the same verse, Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 in his book ‘The World of Fatwahs’, on page 572. After quoting verse 5 he jumps to verse 7 of Surah Taubah. Any sensible person will realise that he has skipped verse 6.

6. Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 6 gives the answer

Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 6 gives the answer to the allegation that Islam promotes violence, brutality and bloodshed. It says:

"If one amongst the pagans asks thee for asylum (*refuge), grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure that is because they are men without knowledge."
[Al-Qur’an 9:6]

The Qur’an not only says that a Mushriq seeking asylum during the battle should be granted refuge, but also that he should be escorted to a secure place. In the present international scenario, even a kind, peace-loving army General, during a battle, may let the enemy soldiers go free, if they want peace. But which army General will ever tell his soldiers, that if the enemy soldiers want peace during a battle, don’t just let them go free, but also escort them to a place of security?

This is exactly what Allah (swt) says in the Glorious Qur’an to promote peace in the world.

By: Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik

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May this brief explanation help to improve the understanding of my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, as well as the Non-Muslims in understanding the real Islam.