My Heart

The End of One Journey

2009-01-13T04:49:00.000-08:00

"Life is a journey where its end could just appear at any moment without any warning. Every second of our life and the air we breathe are bonus bestowed to us by Allah. It also reminds us to repent on our wrong-doings before we return to Him. I sincerely hope to share thought, opinions, hobbies with friends, colleagues and other bloggers and wish the sharing would be beneficial to everyone, Ameen."

Assalamulaikum,

It is with great sadness do I inform that this blog will not be having any new post. Early morning last Sunday, 11th January 2009, the owner of this blog, our beloved father, had passed away due to a heart attack.
We might continue to write here in place of ayah, but time will decide. For now, I ask everyone to present him with al-Fatihah & pray that Allah put his soul amongst those He love & promised heaven.
Ameen.

Journey to Hajj - Makkah

2009-01-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

Pedestrian precinct between Makkah City
Commercial Buildings (L) and Masjidil Haram (R)

Mecca (Makkah)

From: World Encyclopedia

City in w Saudi Arabia and the holiest city of Islam. The birthplace of the prophet Muhammad, only Muslims are allowed in the city. Mecca was originally home to an Arab population of merchants. When Muhammad began his ministry here, the Meccans rejected him. The flight or Hejira of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 marked the beginning of the Muslim era. In 630, Muhammad's followers captured Mecca, and made it the centre of the first Islamic empire. Egypt controlled the city in the 13th century. The Ottoman Turks held it from 1517 to 1916, when Hussein Ibn Ali secured Arabian independence.
In 1924, Mecca fell to the forces of Ibn Saud, who later founded the Saudi Arabian kingdom. Much of Mecca's commerce depends on Muslim pilgrims undertaking the Hajj. After World War II, the city's wealth increased through oil revenues. Pop. (2002) 1,541,800.

Pilgrimage 1429 (Part 1)

2009-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

Alhamdulillah, I had returned home after spending about 27 days in Makkah, 1 day in Arafah, 4 days in Mina and 8 days in Madinah. I flew to Jeddah via KT74 on the 25-November, 2008 and returned home on the 4th. January, 2009 from Madinah to KLIA. The Saudi Boeng 747 plane landed exactly at 3.50 a.m. local time while most Malaysians were still fast asleep. So, after so long my blog has not been posted with any news, I have to start writing on something... maybe about my hajj which could be a useful to those who are going there this year. As there are so many things to write on, I let the photographs to be in the blog first and the description will come later.

Basically, Hajj rituals to be performed are almost the same by every pilgrim. So, every pilgrim from Malaysia will undergo almost the same route taken by the pilgrims who had performed the Hajj before. The only major difference is that every pilgrim will encounter different obstacles along the way which may be unique or different to him/her only. The way he/she tackled and resolved those obstacles will be be evaluated by Allah SWT and only the Almighty will determine whether his Pilgrim Ritual is accepted as Haji Mabrur or not. And everybody knows that the reward for Haji Mabrur is nothing less than Paradise (Syurga). This is what the main focus of every pilgrim performing hajj every year.

So, the route or programs to be taken by every pilgrim has been established in my last post. For my case, the route taken was as follows :
1. Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah
2. Took a bus from Jeddah to Makkah
3. Stayed in Makkah until Wukuf Day in Arafah (would be decided by the Saudi Ruler)
4. Moved to Arafah by bus (with all the pilgrims - last year, it was about 3.5million pilgrims)
5. Wukuf at Arafah (Zuhr util Maghrib)
6. Moved to Mudzalifah by bus (stay in the open field until mid-night)
7. Collected stones after mid-night (to be used at Jamrah)
8. Moved to Mina by bus and allocated to a camp/tent
9. Stayed in Mina for 4 days for Stone-throwing at Jamrah
10. After the stone throwing for 1st day at Jamrah Aqabah, performed Tahallul (hair-shaving)
10. Once the rtituals are completed, moved to Makkah
11. Performed Tawaf Ifadah (Hajj)
12. Performed Sai'e (walking between Mount Safa and Marwah)
13. Hajj completed.
14. Performed Umrah (depends on type of Hajj Rituals chosen)...

A lot of construction going on around/near vicinity of Masjidil Haram.
Expected to be completed in 5-years time

PILGRIMAGE TO MAKKAH

2008-11-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

It has been quite sometime that I have not updated anything new in this blog. It is because I was a bit busy carrying out some assignment which had been uploaded in my AFKamera (AFLenses) and AFTeknikal.
Alhamdulillah, I was honoured to be chosen to be one of the three millions worshippers who shall be performing Hajj in Makkah this year. So, there should not be any more new posting to my blogs from today until mid of January as I shall be away performing my Hajj from the 25th. November, 2008 until 5th. January, 2009.

To all my collegues, friends, competitors, family members, relatives and others who had acquinted with me before, I would like to ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoing that I might had committed intentionally or not.
I hope we would be given a chance to meet again sometime after Hajj, Insya-Allah. Should this is my journey of no return, I wish everybody all the best in this world and in the hereafter, Ameen.

AFKassim (26 Zulkaedah, 1429)

FAREWELL TO MY 'CROSS COUNTRY'

2008-11-02T03:26:00.000-08:00

It is not that I love cars so much..
Cars are just means for transportation...
One of the means to transport you from a place to another...
In search of a living to support your staff and families..
However, as a human
After being transported all over the country for the past six years..
The same car has just become a close companion to you ..
That is my 4th. Volvo Car..
A V70 Cross Country XC70 model which I bought in 2002 ..

This car has ferried me all across the country ..
It has brought me to Padang Besar to carry out some services work..
It has driven me through pitch of darkness across Mu'azam District to Kuantan..
It has brought me and my family to UUM in Sintok ..
It has brought me and my staff to Gong Badak for various job assignments..
It has brought me so many times to Kerteh in Terengganu..
It has brought me to see my siblings..
It has brought me for numerous meetings with clients and associates..
It had entered various project sites to verify the contractors' works..
It had ferried me to Port Klang, Butterworth, Tg. Langsat, Rompin for various assignment..
It has ferried me and my children to Bandar Penawar for 5 years..
Sending and picking my four children from SMS Bandar Penawar ..
Plying weekly between Skudai and Kuala Lumpur for the past six years ..
and numerous other places in the country without any problem..

It has clocked 232,244 km since it was first met me..
An average of 106 km per day !!!
Despite two minor accidents, the car really serviced me without a major problem..

Although you are just a machine ..
Being together with you for the past six years had made the separation diffiucult for me..
I hope I had given you your right ...
I had only sent you for service at Federal Auto and Tokeo Motor...
Hoping you would get the best treatment ..
To make good whatever required so that you would always be in the best of health..
Giving service without a word of resentment ..

Now..
I have to depart with you with fine memories over the past six years..
I had handed over you to someone I know..
I hope you will continue serving humanity...
Hope you will always be loyal to your new owner..
May you live many more years to serve humans ..

Thank you very much my dear volvo ..

Ulangtahun 125 Sekolahku, Rakan Belajar 32 Tahun Lalu Kutemui ...

2008-10-13T05:16:00.000-07:00

Tanggal 11-Oktober, 2008 yang lalu, Sekolah Menengah King Edward VII, Taiping menyambut ulangtahun penubuhannya yang ke-125 tahun. SMKE ini merupakan sekolah tertua di Malaysia. Bertempat di Dewan Perbandaran Taiping, satu jamuan makan malam telah diadakan dengan dihadiri oleh DYMM Sultan Perak, DYMM Raja Muda Perak, YM Raja Dihilir Perak, YB Menteri Bedar Perak serta pegawai-pegawai kanan jabatan pendidikan, guru-guru serta bekas guru serta bekas murid dan pelajar semasa sekolah ini.

Bagiku, bukanlah usia 125 tahun yang dibanggakan tetapi peluang menemui semula rakan sekolahku yang bersamaku selama 6 tahun (1971-1976) merupakan rahmat Allah yang amat aku syukuri. Pertemuan dengan rakan seasrama dan setingkatan denganku yang tidak pernah ku temui sejak November, 1976 (En. Shahrir bin Hj. Azmir) merupakan satu rahmat yang paling indah buat ku. Persahabatan yang terputus kerana tugas dan tanggungjawab kini dapat dijalin semula.

Two long-lost friends who had not met since 1976 (Form 5) and
met during the 125 yrs SMKE VII Celebration on 11-Oct-2008

Aku juga berpeluang menemui pelajar-pelajar di sekitar tahun 1969 hingga 1978 yang mana setengahnya telah tidak ku kenali.
Walaupun hujan telah turun di sebelah petangnya, perjalanan jamuan makan malam telah berjalan dengan lancar.
Sebuah lukisan yang dihasilkan oleh Cik gu Razak (seorang guru yang amat disenangi oleh 100% pelajar yang kini berusia 65 tahun) telah dihadiahkan ke Bahawh Duli Tuanku Sultan Perak yang telah mengingatkan nostalgia semasa zaman persekolahan dahulu.

En. Roli Hassan, Perak Deputy Education Director (Old Edwardian)

Majlis telah tamat pada jam 11.15 malam di mana selepas itu aku sempat berkenalan dengan Pengetuan SMKEVII Taiping, En. Yahya Liman yang juga merupakan saudar 2 pupu aku. Betapa kecilnya dunia ini rupanya.
Adalah ku harapkan ukhuwwah yang terjalin kembali dapat mengeratkan semula persahabatan yang telah terputus sekian lama ke arah menhwujudkan ukhuwwah islamiah yang lebih jitu... Ameen.. Ya Rabb 'alameen..

Bagi mereka yang ingin mengetahui maklumat terperinci tentang sekolah, boleh layari laman web ini - http://www.edwardians.com.my

LIFE BEGIN AFTER FIFTY ??

2008-10-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hurricane strikes Florida

Some people said, "Life begins at forty" and some said, "Life begins at fifty" ....
Is there any significance to the figure 40 or 50 ??
Or is the figure is just a mere justification to one's bad intention and actions ??
Or it is just a reminder to those who has not realised that the age is catching up on him ...
And there is still a lot of responsibilities that he or she has not performed yet ...
These are : Responsibilities towards mankind and the Creator ....
Let us just ponder with a clear and open mind ...
Whether we are in the 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s years old age bracket, age does not matter any more ... Whatever we used to do when we were young may not be valid anymore when our age catches up with us. So, a smart person is he who can gauge himself and act accordingly to his or her present capability as we are not getting any younger ...

Lightning struck a 75-year old man

TNB staff being electrocuted by electricity while working

We must always think now whether we could still perform the same jobs we
used to do when we were young especially the high risk jobs..

Have we not seen people (friends and relatives) who passed away at the early age ...
Some of them are are much younger than us ...
Of course some are older than us ...
But does it matter much ?? The answer is crystal clear : IT DOES NOT ...
What actually matters to us ??
It is whether we have discharged our responsibilities rightfully
according to the commands of our Creator ... this is what matters ..

Despite us consuming what had been given to us as rizk...
Enjoying the life and comfort of this world...
We should not forget to prepare to meet Him any time without warning ...

A youth struck by lightning while playing football

It is just like being on an Oil Rig to perform some assigned task or work ...
Life activities will go on as usual; everybody is doing their assigned business ..
But...
When an emergency siren is activated on the rig;
Everybody will hurry to their assembly point and ready to evacuate the platform ..
Leaving everything and every tool and equipment that they are handling behind...
So...
We should treat living in this world as what we do when being on an oil rig ..
At least on the oil rig, there is an emergency siren ...
In this world, the sirens had long been sounded through many signs and h
appenings occurring daily around us and all over the world ...
It is whether we have taken the heed to prepare for the emergency evacuation or not ...

If we have not make any preparation yet, let us start doing it now ...
Have we fulfilled all the requirement stipulated in Rukun Iman ...
Have we fulfilled all the requirement stipulated in Rukun Islam ...
Have we enjoined good and forbids evil ...
Have we discharged all responsibilities towards those under our care ..
Our families...
Our relatives ..
Our staff ...
Our friends ...
Our business clients, associates, competitors ..
Our fellow countryman ...
etc..

If we have done our best, Alhamdulillah ...
If we have not...
It is still not to late to pay the dues ..
As,
we will be questioned on how we discharge every single thing that the
Creator (Allah) had given us...
The age... the money... the time ... the wealth (wives & children) ... etc. etc..
So we have to prepare for the Final Examination in the next world...
As, no one is either too young or to old to die ..
And no one could bring forward or backward the time of his death ..
And the date and time is only known to Allah, the All Mighty..
So, let us prepare for the time where we will be moved to the next world ..

Ya Allah... Grant us the good tidings in this world and in the
hereafter and ward us from the wrath (infliction) of the hell-fire...
Ameen Ya Rabb 'A-lameen.

AFK/JB..

KETUPAT PALAS

2008-10-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Just one day before the recent Hari Raya Celebration, I had visited my sister and brother-in-law (BIL) at Kpg. Panchor, Pantai Remis, Perak. It is a norm for me to visit them before hari raya if I do not intend to come home for hari raya due to a very short holiday.
My BIL normally prepares ketupat pulut during every hari raya. It is one of the special food made of glutinous rice which is normally sought after by people in the northern part of the country (Kedah, Penang & Perak) especially during hari raya.

The glutinous rice is initially boiled with coconut santan until about 90% cooked. The rice is then filled into the daun palas and folded into a triangle shape. The 90% cooked ketupat pulut is then cooked or steamed to fully-cook the pulut inside the daun palas.

Once cooked, the ketupat is then (normally) served with rendang ayam, rendang daging, rendang kerang or serunding.

fuaad/perak..

SAFF Consultants

2008-09-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

That's the name of my company which was formed in 1995. Alhamdulillah, until now, the company has grown from 3 staff to about 15 now with two main services offered to the clients vis. Consultancy and Inspection & Testing Services.
The word SAFF actually came from Surah As-SAFF one of the 114 surahs in the Holy Quran Al-Kareem. SAFF means Rows or Barisan in Malay Language. It is also signifies a straight row when muslims perform their congegational prayer..
What has been expected by using the word SAFF is that all staff will be united together towards achieving one goal and having the same mission in giving the best and quality services to the customers.

Let us hope what that has been expired by the founder come true... Ameen..

AFKassim/TSPulai..

Syawal, 1429

2008-09-26T03:48:00.000-07:00

BSPutra & TSPulai

Heartless Drain Cover Thieves

2008-09-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

I am sure many people in this country especially in the new housing areas and townships have experienced or noticed what I had noticed. The incident was not so rampant a few years ago but now it has become one of the major problems faced by Local Authorities and people occupying the premises.
The issue is : Missing GI or Cast Iron Manhole or Drain Covers ...

More and more manhole and drain covers went missing as the price of steel/iron had risen for the past few months. Those ruthless and heartless thieves do not even bother about the safety of people who occupy the buildings in the area by removing the safety cover provided for by the contractors/developers. Without the cover, any vehicle or human being could just fall into the drain or manholes which depth may vary from 600mm to a few meters..

These thieves are not worth to live in this country ..
These thieves are not worth to be called humans ..
They live on the sufferings of others ..
They are just plain lazy and just want easy money ...

So,
We hope that when these heartless thieves are caught, they should be punished by sending them to the iron smiths and replace all the missing steel/iron covers which were missing from the areaa..
More surveillance must be carried out and secured method must be emplyed to make stealing of these covers almost impossible ..
Finally...
Just be careful when you walk along the rows of offices or trying to park your car along the roadside drains... there may be a manhole waiting to swallow you or your vehicle's tyre if you are not careful ...
Take Care and Be Extra Careful ...

Iftar at TTDI Jaya

2008-09-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was invited to my sister's house at TTDI Jaya for an iftar. My elder sister, Kak Izar is visiting her son, Fahmi who was struck by dengue fever and is recovering. Since she is coming in the afternoon, she was invited by the younger sister (Nawal) to have an iftar (breaking of fast) at the later house.
Since I did not have any other iftar plan, when I was invited without hesitation I just drove there after work.
Alhamdulillah, the iftar was a nice one. The special dish was Tanjung Malim Mee Rebus and the VIP is the first grandson of Kak Izar ...

TTDI Jaya..

Its already Mid-Ramadan ...

2008-09-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Ramadan seems to pass by so fast... 50% of Ramadan has gone and nothing can be done to retract the fast that we had observed.. We just pray that Allah will accept our fast as a sincere offering from us as His servant.

Tonight the sky is crystal clear... the moon seemed to be smiling ... It is already the 16th. night of Ramadan, 1429 ... So, let us be more thorough when performing our fast and ibadah.. The Lailatul-Qadar is reported to be in the last portion of the month..

Let us hope that the rest of our fasting will be accepted by Allah ..
Ameen Ya Rabb 'alameen..

Selamat Berangkat & Berjuang, Munzir

2008-09-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Pagi tadi jam 10.00 pagi, Munzir (anak ke-4) telah berangkat bersama rakan-rakannya ke Univrsity of Leeds untuk meneruskan pengajian di bidang perubatan. Pemergian di bulan Ramadan bagi kali pertama ke negara orang ini merupakan cabaran awal yang perlu ditempoh sebelum meneruskan pengajian di sana.

Seawal jam 6.00 pagi pihak JPA telah mengarahkan pelajar yang akan ke sana berkumpul di KLIA. Saya dan Munzir tiba agak lewat sikit kerana mengerjakan solat Subuh bersama sebelum ke KLIA. Waktu subuh hanya masuk pada jam 5.48 pagi. Setelah selesai solat pada jam 6.15 pagi, Munzir telah mendapat panggilan daripada pegawai JPA menanyakan kenapa belum tiba. Insya-Allah, saya meyakinkan Munzir bahawa perkara itu tidak apa kerana dari Bandar Seri Putra hanya mengambil masa 30 minit (keadaan biasa) atau 15 minit (keadaan tersdesak).

Munzir sedang mengenakan Suit (Blazer) dan solat Subuh

Memandangkan keadaan Munzir yang agak kurang selesa, saya terpaksa memilih masa kedua iaitu 15 minit. Alhamdulillah, setelah bertolak pada jam 6.30 pagi, kami tiba di KLIA tepat jam 6.45 pagi yang jaraknya dari rumah saya di BSPutra sejauh 35 Km.

KLIA - Lapangan terbang terbesar di Malaysia

From Left - Munzir, Hidayah & Firah (kakak & adik) dan Tawfiq (abang)

Bergambar bersama uncle, Embah & keluarga sebelum berlepas

Saat sebelum memasuki Get Perlepasan untuk menaiki pesawat ke London

Setiba di KLIA, Munzir telah menguruskan urusan pemeriksaan masuk serta taklimat akhir JPA. Pada jam 8.30 pagi, semua penuntut yang akan ke UK diminta masuk untuk pemeriksaan Imigresen dan ke terminal C untuk penerbangan.

Tiada apa yang dapat dikirimkan lagi selain daripada doa dan pesanan agar Munzir serta rakan-rakan akan berusaha bersungguh-sungguh serta jangan lupa amalan serta tanggungjawab kepada Pemberi Rezeki, Allah SWT.

Sementara itu, pegawai JPA memaklumkan bahawa kerajaaan membiayai antara RM 1.2 - 1.5 juta bagi pengajian perubatan di UK bagi setip pelajar. Jumlah kos yang tinggi ini perlu diberi perhatian yang serius agar bantuan yang diberikan akan dimanfaatkan sepenuhnya dan kembali mencurahkan bakti kepada negara kelak...

Ke kaunter Imigresen KLIA sebelum berlepas ..
Semoga Berjaya Anakku.. Jaga diri semasa di perantauan..
Jangan lupa berdoa untuk kami di sini ..

KLIA Sepang

Iftar Ramadan & Doa Selamat Untuk Munzir

2008-09-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

Top : Isma's Families (parents, brother, brother in law,
sister, sister-in-law, nephews and nieces)
Bottom-Left : Munzir with parents & grand-parents
Bottom-Right : Isma accompanying sister-in-laws to the dining hall

Fuaad's Sisters (their husbands, sons & daughters)
Top : From RHS - Fazlina, Kak Izar, Sakinah, Madihah & Amal
(Nawal's daughters), Nawal and Kak Aqilah (white tudung)
Middle : From RHS - Nasir (Nawal's husband), Amin (Kak Izar's husband),
Azlan & Fahmi (Kak Izar's sons), Abg Wan Chik (Kak Aqilah's husband),
Muhaimin & Azam (Nawal's sons)
Bottom : From RHS - Kak Aqilah, Fazlina (Kak Aqilah's daughter),
Kak Izar, Sakinah & Madihah (Nawal's daughters)

Alhamdulillah, dalam kesibukan Ramadan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) telah memaklumkan bahawa penerbangan Munzir (anak ke-4) ke UK untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di bidang perubatan adalah pada 13hb. September, 2008. MUnzir akan ke University of Leeds, UK selama 5 tahun,

Memandangkan masa yang agak suntuk untuk mengadakan majlis khenduri & doa selamat, kami memutuskan untuk mengadakan majlis Iftar dan Doa Selamat dengan menjemput saudara-mara yang berada di sekitar KL sahaja... itu pun tidak semua dijemput kerana kesuntukan masa. Alhamdulillah, majlis iftar diadakan di Puri Pujangga UKM pada 12-September-2008 yang dihadiri oleh lebih-kurang 70 orang sanak-saudara. Ia diakhiri dengan bacaan doa selamat oleh Sdr. Mohaimin, anak saudara saya yang menuntut di Sekolah Al-Hira', Batu Belah, Klang.

Big Square Photos Description :
Top (from Left) - Kak Ainon (Abang Hilmi's wife), Heriani & Halina (daughters);
Middle (from Left) - Inn, Idayu (Abang Iskandar's daughters) & Hidayah (my daughter);
Bottom - Munzir with his grand-father (Isma's father)

Majlis telah bersurai sebelum Isya' kerana ramai yang akan bertarawih. Semoga pemergian Munzir ke UK akan sentiasa dilindungi dan di dalam Peliharaan-Nya sentiasa...Ameen..

Bangi..13 Ramadan 1429

MY WEEKLY KL-JB ROUTE

2008-09-07T03:32:00.000-07:00

At Rest and Repair Area, Pagoh

Since 1989, I have been plying between Skudai, Johor and Kuala Lumpur. This is due to the job requirement that needs me to travel. Way back in 1990's, I sometimes took Johor Bahru - Kerteh - Kuala Lumpur route even during the fasting month. As I was still young then (40++ yrs old), driving a car along that route did not pose any problem for me.

For the past three years, I have been commuting between JB-KL almost every week. As I have an office in Bandar Seri Putra, Bangi and another office in Taman Teratai, Johor it has been a norm for me to do so. However, as the age is catching up, I could feel the effect of ageing and driving.

To kill the boredom, I normally tag along my camera to snap some photos along the way. This is one of the highway photos in my collections ..

Skudai..

USIA SETENGAH ABAD, AMAL BERAPA KILO ??

2008-09-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Aku dilahirkan pada tanggal 7-September-1958, genap 50 tahun yang lalu. Kiranya hari ini, usiaku telah menjangkau setengah abad !!!

Aku melangkah ke detik ini dengan perasaan yang bercampur-baur di antara suka dan duka kehidupan yang telah aku lalui selama ini. Walau bagaimanapun, aku tetap bersyukur kepada Ilahi yang masih meminjamkan usia ini kepada ku untuk aku menunaikan amanah yang tidak ku tahu berapa lama lagikah 'kontrak' yang telah aku ikat di alam barzakh dulu dengan Allah SWT akan tamat ..

Aku telah melihat ramai rakan-rakan yang belum mencecah usia ini telah kembali ke Rahmatullah... Peristiwa pagi 2 Ramadan yang baru 4 hari berlalu masih segar di ingatanku... betapa aku telah menatap jasad saudaraku PM Tarmidi Tamsir terbaring kaku setelah dikapan di rumahnya yang hanya 150 meter dari rumahku ..
Ia telah pergi menemui Allah ketika usia baru mencecah 54 tahun ...
Aku telah melihat ratusan sanak-saudara, sahabat handai, kenalan, murid-muridnya yang menyembahyangkan janazah dan mengiringinya ke tanah perkuburan ...

Perginya seorang sahabat yang ku kenali..
Yang tidak kenal penat lelah mencurahkan ilmu kepada pelajarnya...
Seorang ayah yang telah mendidik anak-anaknya sebaik mungkin ..
Seorang sukarelawan masjid yang tidak kurang mencurah masa dan tenaganya..
Seorang yang selalu mengajak hidupkan malam terutama di bulan Ramadan ..
Seorang yang selalu peka kepada masalah jiran di rumah-rumah sekelilingnya ..
Seorang yang amat ringan tulang anggotanya ..

Pemergiannya pada usia yang telah menjangkau setengah abad..
Dengan amal yang (pada mataku) mungkin ribuan jutaan kilo ...
Hanya Allah yang Maha Mengetahui nilai sebenarnya ..

Ku masih ingat sebuah Hadith sahih yang menyebut :
'Apabila matinya anak adam, putuslah segala amalnya kecuali tiga perkara ..
Sadaqatul jariah ..
Ilmu yang dimanfaatkan oleh orang (yang ditinggalkan) ..
Doa dari anak yang soleh ...'

Bagi diriku yang telah menjangkau 50 tahun...
Berapa kilokah amal yang telah aku sediakan untuk dibawa pergi ??

Tiada siapa yang berani menjawab soalan tersebut untuk dirinya..
Apatah lagi jawapan untuk orang lain..
Justeru itu...
Masih banyak persediaan yang perlu kita dilakukan ..
Masih banyak ruang kosong di dalam hidup ini yang perlu kita isikan ..
Semoga semasa pergi..
Biarlah amal kita lebih besar dari Bukit Uhud ..
Insya-Allah ...

Ya Allah..
Berikan aku kekuatan dan kesihatan untuk penyediaan ini ..
Untuk menghabiskan saki-baki usia yang ada untuk beribadat kepada-Mu ..
Terimalah segala amal yang telah aku lakukan ..
Gandakanlah pahala amal yang telah aku
Berkatilah usia dan hidupku ini ..
Kembalikanlah aku kepada-Mu dalam keadaan beriman & bertaqwa ..

Ameen Ya Rabb 'alameen ...

STOP SMOKING - GOOD START IN RAMADAN

2008-08-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

To Muslim friends and colleagues who smoke..

It's a good time to STOP SMOKING this time around after so many failed or abortive attempts .. Let us look at these facts :

Smoking has been targeted as a major public health problem in the United States and the world since 1979 when the US Public health service named it as the number one cause of preventable disease and early deaths in Americans.

In 1982, the Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, made the statement that smoking was "the most important public health issue of our time." Fortunately the public believed the information and data, and smoking has continually decreased during the last two decades, and thousands of people have successfully quit smoking. Still, there are millions of people who have continued to smoke, many who are long time hard-core smokers, and thousands of teenagers who begin to smoke each day.

For many years the cigarette manufacturers fought the data that cigarettes are harmful to your health while evidence increased that cigarettes were responsible for a high percentage of deaths from heart disease, lung cancer and emphysema.

Now the manufacturers have been successfully sued by the various states to help compensate for the high cost of health care by the states for the treatment of diseases attributed to smoking. Taxes on cigarettes are being used for a wide variety of health care costs. Some of these taxes are also used in prevention campaigns aimed at encouraging young people not to start smoking.

Let us answer these questions ...

Are you embarrassed and annoyed because your family and friends or your physician are always urging you to stop smoking?
Are you worried about your health such as getting lung cancer or heart disease if you don't stop?
Have you become discouraged because you have tried in the past and could not stop, or restarted after a short time?
Do you think that you are so addicted that there is no hope for you?
Are you determined to stop smoking now?

If you answered yes to ANY of the above questions and really would like to stop smoking, there are many things that you can do to stop. Many people have successfully quit on their own, while others have benefited from attending group programs that help with information and encouraging tips. Surprisingly, almost 90% of ex-smokers stopped on their own. Some of these had tried stopping many times. Each time you try to quit, the chances are better that you will stop smoking.

Facts about SMOKING :

Recent surveys show that 25 percent of all American adults smoke.
More than 430,000 deaths in the United States each year are attributable to tobacco use, making tobacco the No. 1 cause of death and disease in this country. (United States)
Smoking prevalence among adolescents has risen dramatically since 1990, with more than 3,000 additional children and adolescents becoming regular users of tobacco each day.
Nationwide, medical care costs attributable to smoking (or smoking-related disease) have been estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be more than $50 billion annually. In addition, they estimate the value of lost earnings and loss of productivity to be at least another $47 billion a year.
It would cost an estimated $6.3 billion annually to provide 75 percent of smokers 18 years and older with the intervention—counseling, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, or a combination—of their choice. This would result in 1.7 million new quitters at an average cost of $3,779 per quitter—a move that would be cost-effective in relation to other medical interventions such as mammography or blood pressure screening.
Epidemiologic data suggest that more than 70 percent of the 50 million smokers in the United States today have made at least one prior quit attempt, and approximately 46 percent try to quit each year. Most smokers make several quit attempts before they successfully kick the habit.
Only 21 percent of practicing physicians say that they have received adequate training to help their patients stop smoking, according to a recent survey of U.S. medical school deans published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The majority of medical schools do not require clinical training in smoking cessation techniques. It is hoped that this guideline will serve as a call to action.

Practical Applications on Quitting Smoking

Here are some things for you to try on your own if you want to stop smoking.

General:

Get plenty of rest. Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to overcome and you need all the energy you can get.
Addictions may be related to brain chemistry imbalances. Good nutrition is very essential, especially during the time you are trying to form new patterns of behavior.
Some habit patterns such as smoking often have triggers that go along with them. For example, sitting in a favorite chair or getting a cup of coffee, then automatically reaching for a cigarette. Try to look for these trigger emotions or habits that go along with your smoking so that you can avoid them.
Avoid being around others who smoke while you are trying to break the habit.

Specific:

Decide on a stopping date. Tell others when it will be so they can encourage you.
Throw all your cigarettes and any related items such as your lighter or matches away. Do not put them where you can get them again "if you need them".
Do not drink or use any beverages or medicines that contain caffeine or alcohol. During the time you are trying to break your cigarette habit, using any other addicting substances will cause you to be less successful. In addition, this is a good time to strongly consider giving these habits up also, as they are strong stimulants to smoking.
Drink plenty of water and juices during the first week you are quitting. Try to drink at least 6 glasses of water per day. Getting the nicotine out of your system is helped with increased amounts of drinks that do not contain caffeine or alcohol.
At any time during the day that you are at work and crave a cigarette, take a drink of water and go for a 10-20 minute walk. If you are at home, take a cool shower. It is difficult to smoke while in the shower.
Eat simple foods such as salads, fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat breads. Avoid overly spicy and rich foods because they may contribute to the craving for a cigarette. Avoid foods made with white flour, white rice and refined foods. Without the complete vitamins, especially B vitamins, the body often develops cravings.
Do not skip breakfast and then go for a "coffee break". This is a sure time to need a cigarette. Instead, eat a hearty breakfast of cereals, fruit and whole-wheat toast. Avoid high fat foods such as bacon and eggs and pastries.
Go to bed early. An adequate rest may naturally help to reduce the need for a cigarette to keep you calm.
Thoroughly air out your house; sleep with the windows open.
Don't wish that you could have "just one more smoke". Remember that you have just given up a disgusting habit that could kill you, and gained a freedom that will be with you for life, and improve your health dramatically.
If someone knows that you smoked in the past and offers you a cigarette, tell them that you are an ex-smoker. This reinforces your decision to be a non-smoker.
Ask God to help you. Many people fail at quitting smoking, but God honours those who trust in Him and he will supply all your needs, and help you overcome this habit if you ask Him.

One of the efforts made by Madinah City Council is to set up a bill board reminding fellow Muslims to stop smoking when we are in Madinah.

This is what it looks like :

So, Good Luck for your effort and may Allah give you strength to STOP SMOKING FOREVER ...

Ramadan_Effort

AHLAN WA SAHLAN YA RAMADAN

2008-08-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

MERITS OF RAMADAN

When we speak of the merits of something (fadl or fadail), we are actually saying the deeds in it are highly recommended and the reward and benefits highly emphasized and guaranteed. I would like to cite several Ahadith that address this issue of fadail, merits of fasting during Ramadan, and filling the entire month with more 'ebadah than any other month.

Abu Hurairah (RA) relates the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said when one Ramadan came:

"A blessed month has arrived. Observing it in fasting is mandated on you (the believers). During this month, the gates of Paradise will be opened and the gates of Hellfire will be closed. The evil ones (Shayaatin) will be handcuffed. In it there is one night, during which worship is better than worship in a thousand months. Whoever is denied its blessings has been denied the biggest blessing." (Ahmed, Nasaae, and Bayhaqi)

This hadith is similar to the previous one, except that it emphasizes the importance of being mindful and aware of the rules that govern the 'ebadah of fasting. For one of the key words in every 'ebadah is "muwafaqah Ash-Shari'ie," observing in accordance to the commands of the Lawgiver.

TERSUNGKUR DI AMBANG RAMADAN

2008-08-30T03:12:00.000-07:00

Jatuh, luka, bangun semula, uabati, sembuh dan jatuh semula adalah lumrah kehidupan yang harus dilalui oleh setiap insan. Ada yang bernasib baik hanya jatuh sekali sekala dan sembuh semula dengan cepat dan tidak jatuh-jatuh lagi. Alhamdulillah, rezekinya dan qadar hidupnya memang telah ditetapkan demikian.

Pagi tadi dalam bergegas untuk menghantar kunci ke rumahku, akau terseungkur di depan pejabat di sisi keretaku. Sudah agak lama aku tidak jatuh secara fizikal (walaupun secara bathinnya aku telah banyak kali jatuh dan bangun semula) kerana begitu berhati-hati apabila doktor memberitahu aku tidak boleh jatuh kerana ia boleh menyebabkan tulang belakang aku yang telah dibedah sakit kembali.

Luka fizikal yang dapat dilihat dengan mata kita ..

Aku terjatuh dan hampir tersembam di muka jalan kerana tergelincir di atas tanah yang licin di hadapan pejabatku. Nasib baik tidak ada stafku yang melihat, kalau tidak aku mungkin merasa malu, maklumlah badan yang agak tua jatuh seperti sebiji nangka.
Semasa tidak dapat mengawal langkahku, aku sempat menahan badanku daripada terhempas terus dengan cuba menongkah badanku dengan lengan kananku dan kaki kiriku. Natijahnya, lengan kananku mengalami kesan luka dengan batu-batu kecil serta lutut kiriku juga terasa sakitnya.
Setelah membasuh dan menyapu tempat yang luka dengan Losyen Antiseptik (Povidone- Iodine), aku teringatkan kata-kata 'setiap musibah yang menimpa diri kita merupakan musibah sebagai penebus dosa (kafarah)' ...
Aku pasti ini merupakan kafarah ke atas diriku di ambang Ramadan Al-Mubarak ini. Aku sebenarnya bukanlah seorang manusia yang mulia seperti yang ditanggapi oleh rakan sekelilingku serta keluargaku. Aku rasakan hidupku dipenuhi dengan janji dan tanggungjawab yang tidak tertunai olehku walaupun masa yang diberikan 24 jam sehari atau 365 hari setahun.
Aku tidak pandai membahagikan masa...
Aku tidak pandai memberikan keutamaan dalam hidup ...
Aku tidak tunaikan sebaiknya tanggungjawab sebagai seorang ayah ..
Aku tidak tunaikan dengan sebaiknya tanggunjawab sebagai seorang suami ..
Aku tidak tunaikan tanggungjawab sebaiknya sebagai seorang majikan ..
Aku tidak solat tepat pada waktunya ..
Aku tidak melaksanakan apa yang aku katakan ..
Aku tidak zuhud kepada dunia dan apa yang dimiliki oleh orang lain..
Aku jarang bersyukur dengan nikmat yang Allah berikan ..
Aku tidak berterima-kasih dengan apa yang telah Allah kurniakan ..
Aku tidak peka dengan kesusahan orang lain ..
Aku hanya menilai sesorang daripada apa yang aku lihat ada padanya ...

Betapa banyaknya dosa dan kelemahanku !!!
Bolehkah aku menebusnya di kala usia sudah menjangkau setengah abad ini ..
Di mana maut yang boleh datang pada bila-bila masa ..
Seperti yang terjadi kepada mereka-mereka yang telah pergi si sekeliling kita ..

Di ambang Ramadan Al-Mubarak ini ..
Allah turunkan musibah yang amat ringan padaku ..
Itu pun aku dah tidak sabar menahannya ..
Apatah lagi seksa di hari pembalasan ..

Ya Allah ...
Di ambang Ramadan yang bakal tiba ..
Berilah kekuatan kepada hamba-Mu ini untuk menghabiskan saki-baki hidup ini ..
Dengan beramal kepada-Mu ...
Dengan berjuang menegakkan agama-Mu
Dengan berbakti kepada ummah ini ..
Dengan mengikut jejak rasul kekasih-Mu ..
Se hingga ke hembusan nafasku yang terakhir ...

Perkenankan doa hamba-Mu ini Ya Allah ..
Ameen Ya Rabb ...
Ya Rabb al-'alameen ..

1-September-2008 (1-Ramadhan-1429)

AFK
Skudai

26TH YEAR AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

2008-08-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

LEGEND :
1 - Safety Inspection on 132-kV Circuit Breaker (Etilina Malaysia)
2 - Safety Inspection at 22-kV Cast Resin Tx. (Idemitsu Pasir Gudang)
3 - Verifying 22-kV Volatge using Electronic Voltage Detector (ISM, PG)
4 - Live Phasing Test on 11-kV supply at TUDM Butterworth
5 - Discussion with Siemens Engineer Germany during F.A.T on Ring Main Unit
6 - Inspecting Cast Resin Tx (with the late Zulkifli Abdullah) in Belgium
7 - Discussion with Siemens Test Engineer in Germany
8 - Switching on 22-kV RMU at UTM Skudai
9 - Servicing 22-kV Siemens 8DJ10 Ring Main Unit
10 - Discussion on HV Lab Design at STRI (Swedish Transmission Research Institute), Sweden
11 - At SAFF Consultants Office, Vandar Seri Putra, Bangi, Selangor (2008)
12 - Just returned home from JKR Office on Saturday (Batik Shirt) in 1982/83

Today, 27-August-2008 is the 26th. year of my career as an Electrical Engineer. I started work at JKR Headquaters in Jalan Mahameru, KL on the 27-August, 1982 as a time-scale Electrical Engineer at Kumpulan D. Later, I was seconded to UTM Jalan Semarak, KL as a Maintenance Engineer and moved on to Skudai Campus in 1989 as a Senior Time Scale Electrical Engineer. In 1994 I was promoted to the Chief Engineer at Director of Works Office and in November, 1995 I resigned from UTM to form SAFF Consultants, an M&E Consulting Engineers firm.
I continued working as an Electrical Engineer whereby I managed to obtain by Professional Membership status (Ir) in 1987, my Competent Engineer Status in 1992 and my Service Engineer status in 1994.

During my tenure in UTM, I had been to Indonesia, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, UK and France attending Factory Acceptance Test (F.A.T) on equipment procured for the campus development projects. Those trips had enlightened me on certain products and increased my knowledge on the equipment manufacturing and handling.

I had also been given opportunity to engage in several projects and servicing & testing works all over the country. Among the projects involved were LISRAM (Langkawi International ShootingRange of Malaysia) used during the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, commissioning of 33/11-kV supply system for TUDM Butterworth, testing and commissining of 33/11/6.6 and LV systems at MLNG 3 plant in Bintulu, Sarawak.

I also had opportunities to design High Voltage (22/11-kV) infrastructure system for few university campuses in the coiuntry such as UTM, USIM and UTHM.
The last 26 years have been wonderful years of my career and I really thanked Allah for Granting me such a memorable time and experiences and I hope I could use the knowledge and experiences gained to guide the young and budding engineers in achieving something more beneficial in their engineering career...Ameen..

BSPutra

28TH ANNIVERSARY

2008-08-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Today is my 28th. Wedding Anniversary to my wife, Ismawati. We were married in Melaka on the 16th. August, 1980 after completing our 1st. year course in Electrical Engineering at Sheffield University, England.
We didn't have any special celebration to mark the occasion except that I just bought a strawberry cake to be shared within family members who are at home.

The anniversary reminded me that I had a married life of 28 years and wonder whether I had played my role as a husband, father, leader of the family, fried to the kids, companion to my wife as what should had been played according to the sunnah.
From my recollection, I think I did not play my various roles well enough to the satisfaction of every family member. Something that I am sure is that I had tried by best to play the different roles at different times.
I ask for the forgiveness from Allah and to my wife for any shortcoming and hardship which I had brought to the family during those 28 years.
With the remaining years that I have, I hope I could still improve and redeem myself on the shortcomings that I have.
May Allah Grant me strength and Guide me to the improve my roles.
To all my family members, just note that I am still what I was before except that I am getting older and more sensitive towards life issues. I will give my level best to make everybody happy and hope that Allah will me us beneficial to others until we were called back by Allah... Ameen..

JB.

Munzir IB Convocation 2008

2008-08-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Today is one of the memorable day again for Munzir. He received his Diploma in International Baccalaureate (Dip. IB) and Excellent Student Awards (top 30) from Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan & Koperasi (mewakili YB Datuk Noh Omar). All 368 Kolej Mara Banting (KMB) students passed the exam and KMB has topped the world's list in DIB performance. 5 of its students scored 100% (45/45) marks in the exam.

The convocation was held at Putrajaya International Convension Centre (PICC) from 8.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m today and about 1,000 people attended the occasion.
Although it was a tiring session, it was a memorable day for Munzir for having made another milestone in his study. He received Academic Excellent Award 2006 from the minister two years ago after obtaining 11 A1's in his SPM.

Munzir will continue his study at Leeds University, England starting this September 2008 until June 2103, and we pray to Allah to Grant him all the success in this world and in the hereafter...Ameen..

Lol from all in the family ..

Selamat Pengantin Baru, Intan & Amir

2008-08-09T04:14:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I attended Datuk Ibrahim's second daughter wedding held at Dewan Majlis Perbandaran Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. The bride, Hajjah Intan Sufina bte Datu' Haji Ibrahim was married to En. Amir Hazree bin Hamidon from Kedah.

When I arrived, the Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan was also there and shortly after he left after having his meal (with full police escort). I also met some old friends who were together at Hajj Pilgrimage in 2006 (Cik gu Adam, Prof. Dr. Alias, En. Salleh, PM Abdullah ).

After having our feast meal, we left the hall after greeting the bride and the groom all the best in their new life..
'Baarakallahulak.. Baarakallahu alaik .. Wajam'aa Bainakuma Bil-khair ...'

BBnilai..

Kemalangan pada 08-08-08

2008-08-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Sudah menjadi suratan dan agar mudah untuk diingat, kereta aku telah dilanggar oleh sebuah bas sekolah pada tarikh keramat ini, tarikh 8hb. Ogos, 2008 atau 08-08-08; hari Jumaat.
Pada pagi tersebut, aku telah keluar bersama anakku Munzir seawal jam 6.45 pagi untuk ke Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang untuk membuat permohonan Visa Munzir yang akan melanjutkan pelajaran di University of Leeds, England.
Aku menjangkakan kedudukan Menara MCA itu di sebelah kanan Jalan Ampang arah ke Bandaraya KL, rupa-rupanya ianya di sebelah kiri. Aku terpaksa membuat pusingan-U kerana walaupun aku datang dari arah Sg. Besi, aku telah melalui Jalan Yap Kwan Seng dan membelok ke kiri masuk ke Jalan Ampang. Jika aku tahu Menara MCA bersebelahan Hotel NIKKO, tak perlu lagi ke Jln Yap Kwan Seng... aku hanya perlu belok kiri selepas Menara Tabung Hadi di persimpangan Jlan Ampang/Jalan Tun Razak. Walau bagaimanapun, Alhamdulillah, Munzir mendapat giliran ke-12 dalam barisan untuk masuk ke pejabat VISA.

Nak dijadikan cerita, rupa-rupanya gambar untuk permohonan VISA perlu berlatar-berlakangkan dengan warna PUTIH dan bukannya BIRU yang biasa kita buat bagi gambar paspot. Jadi, terpaksalah pula kami berkejar ke kedai gambar di Ampang Park...gambar segera 4-keping dalam masa 5 minit pada kos RM15.00 (boleh tahan !!! Kalau di JB, 4-keping 5 minit, hanya RM10.00). Nak buat macam mana, terpaksa akur sebab kita perlukan segera... :-((

Setelah urusan VISA selesai, aku dan Munzir bergegas balik ke Bandar Seri Putra untuk menghantar Munzir ke Astana Dugang Resort, Sg. Merab bagi mengikuti Program Pra- Penerbangan Pelajar Perubatan anjuran Malaysia Muslim Medical Association.

Semasa di sinilah, bas yang menghantar peserta program telah melanggar kereta aku apabila ia cuba membuat pusingan balik. Bumper belakang kereta bercalar teruk dan lampu belakang utama telah pecah ... Anggaran kos pembaikan adalah di sekitar RM2,000.00

Setelah berbincang dengan pemandu bas tersebut, aku akur kemalangan tersebut adalah ketentuan Allah dan kami berbincang dan memutuskan untuk menyumbangkan kos pembaikan setakat termampu. Pemandu tersebut mengaku ia yang bersalah dan mengatakan bahawa ia hanya ada RM30.00 di dalam poketnya untuk membeli susu anaknya apabila kerjanya selesai kelak...

Akhirnya akau memberikan fomula yang boleh dipersetujui bersama iaitu :
1. Sekiranya kos pembaikan > RM1,000, pemandu bas tadi akan membayar RM500.00 secara ansuran;
2. Sekiranya kos pembaikan < RM1,000.00, pemandu bas hanya perlu membayar (kos pembaikan sebenar)/2 .

Sesungguhnya, Allah telah menetapkan Qada dan Qadar bagi setiap insan dan perjalanan segala-galanya di dunia ini. Kita hanya dapat berdoa dan menerimanya dengan lapang dada.. Setiap yang berlaku ada hikmahnya ...
Allahu a'lam...

Get Well Soon, Syed Hadi ...

2008-08-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Syed Hadi (with tanjak) on his wedding day [10-2-2008] and in full
PPE during the commissioning of USIM 11-kV PMU on 11-11-2007

Last Sunday I received a phone call from my Testing and Service Engineer, Syed Abd. Hadi Syed Mustaffa. The surprise call from him brought along the surprise & sad news - he has broken his left leg .... Astaghfiru Allah ..

Syed Hadi was just married on the 10th. February, 2008 and has been working with SAFF Testing & Supervising Services since he came back from UK last year. He graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in Electrical/Electronic Engineering in 2007.

So, with him bed-ridden and will be out-of-work for the next 1-3 months, SAFF will be short of an engineer. We really hope that the broken bones could still be fused together as close as possible to the original and may this father-to-be be patience and persevere going through this hard and challenging time of his family life. May Allah Grant His Rahmah to the family... Ameen.

Skudai.

Car Tyres Could Cost Our Lives

2008-08-03T00:58:00.000-07:00

Sin Soon Lee Car Tyre Shop and Worn-out Tyres

Well, the topic doesn't seem intersting at all!! What is it all about? Why this item has to be put on a blog ??
My reason is very simple.. I am sure the experience or info that I am gong to scribble may be an eye-opener to some of us. Those of you, who are veteren drivers or road users may take the thing as a reminder...ok ??

Sin Soon Lee Car Tyre & Battery Shop

Everybody knows pretty well that other than the brake system, tyres are very important items for a car. Good tyres enable car stability when the car execute corners or the car could be stopped at the desired distance when brakes are applied. These phenomena is important to save lives of drivers.
Worn-out tyres will normally cause car-skidding and other road accidents as the car could not be stopped on time or at the desired distance. Worn-out tyres could also the car to be swerved out of control when executing corners and the car would be out ofcontrol.
So, tyres could save our lives and as such they must be replaced when necessary..

This morning, I have gone to a tyre shop to replace two of my car tyres. The mechanics had informed me a month ago that I have to replace the tyres as I had complained that the car had over-steered every time I took a corner. I had requested the two new tyres to be installed at the front and the existing front ones be shifted to the back.
When the tyres were removed by the Tyre & Battery Shop owner (husband and wife), to my surprise, the rear wheels had seriously worn out. The steel belt had even been exposed !!! (the tyres could just explode on hitting hard materials).. It seemed that two of the tyres were totally worn-out while the other two had already 75% worn-out. In the end, I had decided to change all the four tyres as I always commute every week between JB and KL.

Husband & Wife Tyre Shop Owner busy replacing the tyres

It must also be notes that most tyres can only be used within five (5) years after they are manufactured. There is a 4-digit number printed on each tyre that indicates the week and year of manufacture. We have to make sure that the tyre is just being manufactured and they are not manufactured two or three years ago.. Beware !! sometimes tyres are sold at 50% of normal price but it is just stock-clearing. The photographs below (circled) show the week (1st 2-digit) and the year (3rd. & 4th digit). So make sure that you are not cheated ...

The manufacturing date of a tyre (wkyr)

So, in the end, I have to purchase 4 tyres instead of two but I think I have no choice. This is because Safety is Uncompromised ...

Persian Cat named Kabu

2008-07-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

The many faces of Kabu, a 1-yr old Persian Cat

My eldest daughter, Hidayah has a Persian Cat pet named Kabu.
Kabu is about a year old now and has been around the house should Hidayah comes back to JB during week end.
This cat is different from other cats due to the fact that it never mixed with any other cat. As such, it always plays alone and very alert when it sees any new item not familiar to its environment.

The many positions, a 1-yr old Persian Cat

The cat has always been the point of attention when it ia around although it did like the attention given. Sometimes, it just sit quietly under a chair or in a room if it is not hungry. It is quite a well-behaved cat although when she was about 3-4 months old, it would bite all electrical cables especially telephone charger leads. Few nos of telephone charger leads in this house had become victim to Kabu's shrp teeth. So, beware when you want to charge your hand phones, hid it somewhere so that Kabu does not notice it ... Take Care..

TSP

Zafirah's Eighth Birthday

2008-07-26T06:26:00.001-07:00

Today is the 8th. birthday of my youngest daughter, Nurlaila Zafirah. She is now in Standard Two at Sekolah Rendah Islam Al-Hidayah, Kpg. Sinaran, Selong, Johor Bahru.

Being the youngest in the family and the only one still schooling, she has to mend everything on her own, without the guide or company of a sister or brother. Such path is normally taken by the eldest in the family. However, since she is 12 years younger than her brother, she has to go through the experience similar to the eldest in the family. So far she is coping well.

It is our family tradition that everybody's birthday is never celebrated by throwing a party. We normally buy a cake and the birthday boy or girl just cut the cake with a Basmillah, no Happy Birthday jingle was sung.
For this 8th. birthday occasion, mama baked a Black Forest cake with black cherry decoration and I bought few slices of White Chocolate Mecademia Cake and Tiramisu Cake. The later cakes were bought to complement the former cake icing which did not harden when cooled.

The whole family prays to Allah for Zafirah's well-being and hopefully she will grow up to become a responsible person to serve the world for the hereafter, Ameen Ya Rabb 'alameen..

The Month of Rejab 1429

2008-07-19T01:24:00.000-07:00

The moon images snapped at Pagoh R&R, North-South
Highway on 16 Rejab, 1429 (18-July-2008)

Yesterday was 15th. Rejab, 1429 ; it is confirmed by the shape or appearance of the full moon which normally coincides with the middle of the Islamic Calendar month.
The month which is also known as the 'Month of Allah' has more 50% gone without us realising it and next month will be Sya'ban, the month of Ar-Rasul S.A.W.
It is going to be very soon that the beloved month of Ramadan will come where the rahmah and bounties from Allah S.W.T will be rushing down to mankind. The fasting month is the month where all muslims are eagerly waiting for ...

Let us browse through an extract from www.al-qayyim.net (in Bahasa Malaysia) as a reminder to all of us about the month where we are presently in.

AMALAN DI BULAN REJAB: ANTARA YANG PALSU DAN TULEN

Oleh:

Abd al-Razzaq bin Abd Muthalib

Allah swt telah mengutuskan para rasul dan menurunkan kitab-kitab-Nya serta menyediakan batas-batas arahan dan larangan atau boleh juga disebut sebagai syari'at kepada manusia. Ini semua bertujuan tidak lain dan tidak bukan supaya manusia itu mengabdikan diri serta mentauhidkan Allah SWT di dalam semua keadaan dan tingkah lakunya. Malah, inilah tujuan utama penciptaan makhluk seperti mana yang ditegaskan oleh Allah swt di dalam firmannya yang bermaksud:

"Dan tidak Aku ciptakan jin dam manusia itu kecuali untuk mengabdikan diri kepada-Ku". (Surah al-Zaariyat: ayat 56).

Suatu perkara yang penting dan perlu untuk diberikan perhatian bahawa segala bentuk ibadah ini tidak akan diterima oleh Allah swt melainkan jika ianya dilakukan dengan penuh keikhlasan kepada Allah swt serta menepati dengan cara yang dilakukan dan diperintahkan oleh Rasulullah saw. Maka sebarang bentuk ibadah yang tidak memenuhi dua syarat ini, ianya tidak akan diterima oleh Allah swt apatah lagi untuk diberikan ganjaran. Allah SWT berfirman yang bermaksud:

"Maka barangsiapa yang percaya dan mengharapkan pertemuan dengan Tuhannya, hendaklah ia melakukan amalan soleh dan janganlah mempersekutukan sesiapa pun di dalam ibadah kepada Tuhannya". ( Surah al-Kahfi: ayat 110).

Al-Imam Ibn Kathir (w 774 H) di dalam menafsirkan ayat ini menyatakan bahawa: ((Barangsiapa yang mengharapkan ganjaran serta balasan yang baik hendaklah ia melakukan amalan yang bertepatan dengan syariat Allah, dan hanya kerana Allah (ikhlas) serta tidak ada sekutu bagi-Nya, dan inilah dua rukun untuk diterima segala amalan, iaitu mesti dilakukan dengan ikhlas kepada Allah dan menepati dengan syariat yang dibawa oleh Rasulullah saw)).

(Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Azim (Dimashq: Maktabah Dar al-Fiha’, cetakan ke-2, 1998), jilid 3, m/s 147).

Hal ini dikuatkan lagi dengan pendapat para ulamak, antaranya al-Fudhail bin ‘Iyadh r.h dalam kata-katanya: Sesungguhnya amalan yang dilakukan dengan penuh keikhlasan tetapi tidak betul maka ianya tidak akan diterima, dan jika dilakukan dengan betul tetapi tidak ikhlas, ianya juga tidak diterima, sehinggalah ianya dilakukan dengan penuh keikhlasan dan betul. Dan ikhlas itu ialah apabila dilakukan hanya kerana Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla, dan betul itu pula ialah apabila dilakukan menepati sunnah Rasulullah saw.

(Ibn Rejab al-Hanbali, Jami’ al-‘Ulum wa al-Hikam, (Beirut: al-Maktabah al-‘Asriyah, cetakan ke-3, 2000), m/s 15).

Bulan Rejab dan amalan yang dilakukan di dalamnya.

Bulan Rejab adalah antara salah satu bulan yang termasuk di dalam bulan-bulan yang suci. Dinamakan dengan Rejab bersempena dengan penghormatan terhadapnya di zaman jahiliyyah dengan tidak melakukan sebarang peperangan di dalam bulan ini. (Al-Razi, Mukhtar al-Sihah (Bierut: Muassah al-Risalah, 2001), m/s 215)

Telah menjadi amalan kebanyakan umat Islam untuk menghidupkan bulan ini dengan pelbagai amalan. Persoalannya, adakah amalan-amalan tersebut dilakukan dengan ikhlas dan menepati sunnah Rasulullah saw untuk melayakkan amalan tersebut diterima? Menyentuh tentang persoalan ikhlas, kemungkinan semua orang memilikinya, tetapi adakah amalan tersebut bertepatan dengan syariat dan sunnah Rasulullah saw. Justeru, menjadi kewajipan ke atas umat Islam untuk menyemak dan memastikan segala amalan yang dilakukannya itu bertepatan dengan syariat dan sama dengan cara yang dilakukan oleh Rasulullah saw.

Antara amalan-amalan yang dilakukan oleh umat Islam dalam bulan Rejab ini yang tidak menepati sunnah Rasulullah saw ialah:

1) Menghidupkan malam ke-27, dan dinamakan dengan malam al-Isra’ wa al-Mi’raj.

Sememangnya tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa peristiwa al-Isra’ wa al-Mi’raj merupakan salah satu daripada peristiwa besar dan penting di dalam sejarah Islam. Ianya bukti kepada kebesaran Allah swt dan kebenaran Nabi Muhamad saw serta risalah yang dibawa oleh Baginda. Tersebar luas di kalangan umat Islam bahawa peristiwa agung ini berlaku di malam dua puluh tujuh di bulan Rejab. Maka sebahagian besar umat Islam menyambut dan menghidupkan malam ini dengan amalan-amalan yang khusus dengan mengharapkan fadhilat-fadhilat tertentu. Tetapi pendapat ini adalah tidak tepat sepertimana yang disebut oleh Syiekh Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz bin Baz: Dan malam ini yang dikatakan berlaku padanya peristiwa al-Isra’ wa al-Mi’raj, tidak ada satu hadith sahih pun yang menyebut tentang tarikh peristiwa ini secara khusus, dan semua pendapat yang menyebut tentang tarikh berlakunya peristiwa ini secara khusus adalah tidak thabit daripada Rasulullah saw di sisi ulamak hadith, dan kepada Allah jualah diserahkan segala hikmah disebalik kerahsiaan ini kepada manusia, dan walau sekiranya terdapat hadith sahih yang menjelaskan tentang perkara ini, tetap juga tidak dibenarkan umat Islam untuk menghidupkan malam ini dengan amalan-amalan yang khusus, serta tidak harus untuk menghidupkannya dengan sebarang perayaan kerana Rasulullah saw dan para sahabat r.a tidak pernah merayakannya dan tidak melakukan sebarang amalan yang khusus. Sekiranya menghidupkan atau merayakan malam ke-27 ini amalan yang disyariatkan, semestinya Nabi saw akan menunjukan panduannya sama ada dengan kata-kata atau perbuatannya, dan sekiranya amalan ini pernah dilakukan oleh Baginda saw, semestinya akan diketahui dan masyhur serta akan disampaikan oleh para sahabat ra kepada kita.

(Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz bin Baz, al-Tahzir min al-Bida’, cetakan ke-3, Uni. Islam Madinah, m/s 7).

2) Solat Raghaib

Solat ini dilakukan berdasarkan kepada satu hadith maudhu’ yang diriwayatkan oleh Anas bin Malik ra, katanya: Telah bersabda Rasulullah saw: Rejab bulan Allah, Sya’ban bulan-ku, dan Ramadhan bulan umatku… dan tidak ada seorang pun yang berpuasa pada hari Khamis yang pertama dalam bulan Rejab kemudian melakukan solat diantara waktu Maghrib dan ‘Atamah (waktu sepertiga awal malam), iaitu dilakukan pada malam Jumaat sebanyak dua belas rakaat, dibaca pada setiap rakaat surah al-Fatihah sekali dan surah al-Qadr tiga kali, dan surah al-Ikhlas sebanyak dua belas kali, dan diselangi setiap dua rakaat dengan salam, dan apabila telah selesai, ia berselawat ke atasku sebanyak 70 kali, kemudian membaca: (Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin Nabiy al-Ummiy wa ‘ala alihi), kemudian sujud dan membaca: (Subbhuhun Quddusun Rabbu al-Malaikatu wa al-Ruh) sebanyak 70 kali, kemudian ia angkat kepalanya dan kemudian membaca: (Rabbi ighfir warham watajawaj ‘amma ta’lamu innaka anta al-‘azizu al-a’dzam) sebanyak 70 kali, kemudian ia sujud kali kedua dan membaca seperti bacaan di sujud pertama, kemudian ia mohon kepada Allah segala hajatnya, nescaya akan ditunaikan. Bersabda Rasulullah saw lagi: Dan demi diriku yang di tangan-Nya, tidak ada seorang hamba pun, lelaki mahupun perempuan yang mengerjakan solat ini melainkan akan diampunkan Allah sekelian dosanya, walau pun seperti buih di lautan dan sebanyak dedaun di pohonan, dan ia akan dapat memberi syafaat pada hari Qiamat untuk 700 orang di kalangan kaum keluarganya…))

(Diriwayatkan oleh Ibn al-Jauzi, di dalam kitabnya al-Maudhu ‘at, jilid 2, m/s 124-125).

Seterusnya Ibn al-Jauzi menyebut: ((Hadith ini adalah maudhu’ dan dusta ke atas Rasulullah saw, di dalam nya terdapat seorang rawi yang bernama Ibn Jahdham yang terkenal dengan dusta, dan aku mendengar guruku; Abd al-Wahab berkata: Para rawinya majhul (tidak dikenali) dan telah disemak tentang peribadi mereka ini di dalam semua kitab tetapi tidak ku temui tentang mereka).

Al-Imam al-Syaukaniy rh juga menyebut di dalam kitabnya: al-Fawaid al-Majmu ‘ah fi al-Ahadith al-Maudhu‘ah: ((Hadith ini adalah maudhu’ dan perawinya adalah majhul (tidak dikenali), dan solat Raghaib yang masyhur ini telah sepakat para ulamak bahawa ia adalah maudhu’)).

Setelah kita mengetahui tentang kedudukan hadith yang menyebut tentang solat Raghaib ini, marilah kita melihat apakah pandangan para ulamak tentang hukum mengerjakan solat tersebut.

Imam al-Nawawi (w 676H) berkata: Sesungguhnya ia adalah bid ‘ah yang ditegah di antara bid ‘ah-bid ‘ah yang sesat, dan padanya terdapat pelbagai percanggahan yang jelas, Allah memerangi mereka yang mencipta dan mereka-reka solat ini, dan para imam telah menulis pelbagai penulisan yang bernilai dan bermutu yang menyebut tentang keburukannya, kesesatan orang yang mengerjakan sembahyang ini, dan yang melakukan bid ‘ah ini, serta dalil tentang kejelekan, kebatilan serta kesesatan orang yang mengamalkannya adalah terlalu banyak dan tidak terhitung.

(Al-Nawawi, al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim, (Bierut: Dar al-Ma’rifah, cetakan ke-7, 2000), jilid 8, m/s 262.

Al-Imam Ibn Taimiyah (w 728 H) juga menyanggah pendapat tentang kewujudan solat ini dengan berkata: Solat ini (Raghaib) ini tidak dilakukan oleh Rasulullah saw dan tidak pula oleh seorang pun dikalangan para sahabat Baginda, tabi‘in dan para imam kaum Muslimin, dan Nabi saw tidak menggalakkannya serta tidak terdapat seorang pun dikalangan ulamak salaf dan imam-imam yang menggalakannya dan mereka tidak pernah menyebut akan adanya keutamaan-keutamaan yang khusus bagi malam ini. Hadith-hadith yang menyebut mengenainya adalah dusta dan maudhu’ dengan sepakat ahli ilmu, maka oleh kerana itu ahli-ahli tahqiq mengatakan bahawa solat tersebut adalah makruh, bukan sunat)).

(Ibn Taimiyah, Majmu’ al-Fatawa, 1/149)

Menurut al-Hafiz Ibn Rejab pula: Solat ini adalah bid‘ah di sisi jumhur (kebanyakan) ulamak, dan di antara mereka yang menyebut tentang perkara ini adalah di kalangan ulamak yang terkemudian seperti Abu Ismail al-Haruwi, Abu Bakar ibn al-Sam‘aniy, Abu al-Fadhl ibn Nasir, Abu al-Farj ibn al-Jawzi dan yang lain lagi, dan perkara ini tidak disebut oleh ulamak yang awal disebabkan ianya hanya muncul selepas daripada zaman mereka, dan yang terawal timbulnya perkara ini ialah selepas 400 tahun, maka sebab itulah golongan ulamak yang awal dan terdahulu tidak mengetahuinya dan tidak membincangkannya

(Ibn Rejab, Lataif al-Ma ‘arif, m/s 228)

Terdapat ramai lagi dikalangan ulamak yang membincangkan tentang hukum solat Raghaib ini. Kesimpulan yang dapat dibuat daripada pendapat-pendapat mereka semuanya menafikan kewujudan solat ini dan menganggap ia sebagai salah satu bid ‘ah (ibadat yang direka-reka) yang amat ditegah dan tidak boleh mengamalkannya kerana ianya tidak thabit daripada Rasulullah saw mahupun para sahabat ra serta al-tabi’in..

3) Berpuasa penuh di bulan Rejab atau sebahagiannya dengan menganggap ianya mempunyai fadhilat yang khas.

Sesetengah daripada umat Islam akan berpuasa di bulan ini sepenuhnya atau sebahagainya dan mereka menganggap puasa ini mempunyai kelebihan dan fadhilat yang khusus. Tetapi malangnya, ganjaran atau kelebihan yang khas bagi mereka yang melakukan amalan ini tidak bersumberkan daripada al-Quran atau hadith-hadith yang sahih. Bahkan ianya diambil daripada hadith-hadith yang maudhu’ (palsu) dan yang lebih malang lagi hadith-hadith ini disebarkan oleh golongan-golongan agama atau ustaz-ustaz kepada masyarakat Islam samada di dalam kuliah-kuliah mereka atau melalui penulisan. Antara hadith-hadith maudhu’ yang tersebar luas mengenai fadhilat puasa di bulan Rejab ini ialah:

1. Ibnu al-Jawzi menyebutkan dari riwayat Muhamad bin Abdul-Baqi dari Abu Bakr Muhamad bin al-Hassan al-Naqqasy, dari Abu Said r.a bahawa Rasulullah saw bersabda:

"Rejab adalah bulan Allah, Sya’ban bulanku dan Ramadhan bulan umatku, maka barangsiapa yang berpuasa bulan Rejab dengan penuh keimanan dan mengharapkan pahala dari Allah, maka ia wajib mendapat keredhaan Allah Yang Maha Agung dan ditempatkannya di Syurga al-Firdaus yang tertinggi. Sesiapa yang berpuasa dua hari dari bulan Rejab maka baginya pahala dua kali ganda, timbangan tiap-tiap ganda bagaikan bukit-bukit di dunia. Barangsiapa yang berpuasa tiga hari dari bulan Rejab maka Allah menjadikan antaranya dan Neraka sebuah parit yang panjangnya setahun perjalanan. Barangsiapa yang berpuasa empat hari dari bulan Rejab maka ia akan diselamatkan dari bala, gila, kusta, sopak, fitnah al-Masih al-Dajjal dan dari azab kubur…."

Ibnu al-Jawzi telah menghukum hadith ini dengan maudhu’.

2. Ibnu Shahin meriwayatkan dari Ali r.a dari Harun bin ‘Antarah bahawa Rasulullah saw bersabda:

"Sesungguhya bulan Rejab adalah bulan yang agung, maka barangsiapa yang berpuasa sehari dari bulan Rejab nescaya Allah menuliskan baginya puasa seribu tahun. Siapa yang berpuasa dua hari dari bulan Rejab maka Allah menuliskan baginya puasa dua ribu tahun. Siapa yang berpuasa tiga hari dari bulan Rejab maka Allah menulis baginya puasa tiga ribu tahun…"

Menurut Ibnu ‘Iraq: Hadith ini adalah maudhu’ tanpa syak lagi. Harun bin ‘Antarah pula disi Ibnu Hibban adalah seorang pereka hadith.

3. Diriwayatkan daripada Ali bin Abu Talib r.a bahawa Rasulullah saw bersabda:

"Aku dibangkitkan sebagai Nabi pada 27 Rejab, maka barangsiapa yang berpuasa pada hari itu dan ia berdoa sewaktu berbuka puasa, maka puasa itu menjadi kifarat baginya selama sepuluh tahun".

Hadith ini telah disebut oleh al-Hafidz Ibnu Hajar dari kitab Fawaid susunan Abu al-Hassan bin Shakhr dengan sanad yang batil.

Demikianlah antara contoh sebahagian kecil daripada hadith-hadith palsu yang tersebar dikalangan masyarakat Islam mengenai fadhilat puasa di bulan Rejab ini. Masih terdapat banyak lagi hadith-hadith palsu lain mengenai fadhilat puasa di bulan ini yang sesetengah daripada fadhilat tersebut tidak dapat diterima oleh akal yang sejahtera, apatah lagi ianya bercangggah dengan kaedah dan prinsip asas agama.

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar di dalam menyentuh perkara ini berkata: Tidak terdapat hadith-hadith yang boleh dijadikan hujah yang menyebut tentang fadhilat khusus bulan Rejab, atau fadhilat berpuasa (sepenuhnya) di bulan ini, atau berpuasa sebahagiannya, atau menghidupkan malamnya yang khusus.

(Ibn Hajar, Tabyin al-‘Ajab fi ma warada fi Fadhl Rajab, m/s 23).

Sayyidina Omar al-Khattab melarang orang berpuasa dibulan ini dan beliau pernah memukul tangan orang yang tidak mahu makan disebabkan berpuasa di bulan Rejab.

(al-Suyuti, al-Amr bi al-Ittiba’ wa al-nahyu an al-Ibtida’, (Bierut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, cet.1, 1988), m/s 63).

Al-Imam Al-Syawkaniy pula menyebut di dalam kitabnya al-Fawaid: ((Dalam satu risalahnya Ali bin Ibrahim al-‘Athar berkata: Apa yang diriwayatkan mengenai keutamaan puasa Rejab semuanya maudhu’ dan dhaif tidak mempunyai sumber. Katanya lagi: Abdullah al-Anshari tidak berpuasa Rejab dan beliau melarangnya dan berkata: Tidak ada satu hadith pun yang sahih dari Nabi saw mengenainya)).

(Al-Syawkaniy, al-Fawaid al-Majmu’ah, m/s 440).

Selain daripada amalan yang disebutkan ini, terdapat lagi amalan khusus lain yang disebarkan seperti amalan membaca apa yang disebut sebagai ‘Istighfar Rejab’. Disebutkan di antara fadhilatnya ialah sesiapa yang menulis atau menggantung atau membawa atau membaca istighfar Rejab maka ia akan mendapat pahala sebanyak 80, 000 pahala para Nabi.

Terdapat juga sesetengah umat Islam yang menunaikan umrah pada bulan ini dengan menganggap ianya mempunyai fadhilat yang khusus jika dilakukan pada bulan Rejab.

Demikianlah sebahagian amalan yang biasa dilakukan oleh umat Islam di dalam bulan Rejab ini yang tidak bersumberkan dari Rasulullah saw. Persoalan yang mesti diulang fikirkan lagi adakah amalan-amalan tersebut akan diterima oleh Allah dan mendapat ganjarannya?. Atau ianya tidak mendapat apa-apa kecuali penat dan letih sahaja. Semoga Allah swt mengampunkan kesalahan yang dilakukan di atas kejahilan kita. Marilah kita bersama-sama untuk membenteraskan kegiatan penyebaran hadith-hadith palsu di kalangan umat Islam. Pastikan ibadah yang kita lakukan benar-benar menepati sunnah Rasulullah saw dan diiringi dengan keikhlasan kepada Allah swt.

Bon Voyage, Hadi

2008-07-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Late Friday evening (18th. July, 2008) at about 7.15 p.m, we were on the way from Bandar Seri Putra to LCCT, KLIA. After passing the roundabout near KLIA mosque, I could not resist stopping by the highway to admire and record the beauty of the evening sunset.

Last night, Abdullah Al-Hadi (Hadi) flew back to Gold Coast by an Air Asia flight at 2120 hrs. Alhamdulillah, he arrived at Australia at 7.25 a.m. to continue his study at the Queensland University in Biotechnolgy.

Hadi was back in Malaysia from the 4th. July, 2008 to take his driving test. Alhamdulillah, he passed the test last Wednesday and now he has got his P-licence (Provisional).
Second congratulation is also due to Hadi for securing Deans List in a row in your last University Exams.. May all the success be yours always.. Ameen...

Lots of Love and doa from ayah, mama, kakak, abang, Munzir and Firah..
Take Care ....

TSPulai, Johor.

Selesa Hills Home Outing Remembered

2008-07-19T00:45:00.000-07:00

Our family outing at Selesa Hills Home, Bukit Tinggi from 11th. to 13th. July, 2008 is probably the last outing to be remembered where all original family members were present. Future gathering or reunion is most likely it will be organised with extended family members will be present (in-laws).
We pray to Allah for His forgiveness and hopefully we would be granted future gathering and could spend our time together again in the future as Abdullah Al-Hadi has flown to Australia to continue his Biotechnology Engineering course and Munzir will be flying to Leeds, UK to further his stidy in Medicine.

The challenge would be to get the two siblings from north and south continents together. May Allah Grant us the time to be together again soon, Ameen...

Skudai 20-July-2008

Two-six And Twenty-six A Kilo for Musang King

2008-07-14T03:55:00.000-07:00

After a tiring day exploring Colmar Tropicale, Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden and Rabbit Farm at Berjaya Hills Resort, I decided to treat my family with durian that night.
So, after Isyak I went to look for a durian hawker at a small town of Bukit Tinggi, about 1.5km from our apartment.
After spotting one of the stall which was still opened then, I approached the durian seller.
Upon seeing me, he said : " Ini durian baik, Musang King.. harga murah sahaja.. dua enam satu kilo !!! " (This durian is good, Musang King..the price is cheap, two six only (RM2.60/kilo).
On hearing that, at the back of my mind I was thinking that the durian must be cheap since I saw a heap of durian skin at the back of the stall. The durian season is just round the corner, I thought.
So I just selected one by one of the Musang King durian and the seller pierced through the torny fruit one by one, peeping into its flesh inside. After selected about 9 pieces of durian, the seller weighed all of them and it came out about 14.5 kg. I thought the cost would be just about 14.5 kg x 2.60 = RM 37.70...quite reasonable. Alas.. to my shock, the seller told me that the cost was RM377.00 !!!! I quickly said that, I heard him saying TWO SIX which I had literally translated it to RM2.60 per kilo but what he meant was TWENTY-SIX i.e. RM 26.00 a kilo !!!
I told the hawker politely that I didn't have much money and can he reduced the quantity to half.. After recalculating again a few times, "Never mind, I give you RM19.00/kilo.. if you were to buy it else where, it is to cost you RM30.00/kilo" he said while weighing the durians again. He said that the cost now is RM275.00 or just RM270.00 ....

Delicious and Exotic Musang King Durian

Well, I have never bought or heard such a durian before in my life although my parents used to own a durian orchard when I was small.
After a discussion with my sons, I decided to pay for the amount which was discounted by RM107.00 . I brought the durians home to the apartment..
After reaching the apartment, I asked my family members to guess how much was the cost of the durian.. the nearest answer was RM60.00 . They were shocked when I told them the durians were Musang King and I had paid RM270.00 for about nine pieces of them..
Without hesitation, I opened the king of fruits, one by one and Alhamdulillah, the price did all the sayings.. The fruits were so tasty and delicious and after everybody was full, we peeled open the rest to keep it for tomorrow morning breakfast. We had our kuah durian (durian gravy) cooked with milk and eat it with bread for breakfast the next morning... What a delicious Musang King durians..
So, the moral of the story is never assume what you have heard without asking what the actual meaning was... I was lucky as it was just a durian; what would happen if the item transacted is a house or something that we could not afford ???

Berjaya Hill Resort, Bukit Tinggi

2008-07-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

At around 9.30 a.m., we drove to Berjaya Hill Resort, Bukit Tinggi which is about 5 km from Selesa Hill Home apartment. Aparently, BHR Bkt Tinggi is one of the tourist attractions in the area. There are four avenues that could be visited by just paying one-time entrance fee of RM16.00 (adult) and RM8.00 for a child.

Beautiful sites of Colma Tropicale

They are :
1. Colma Tropicale (resemblance of a French Town);
2. Japanese Tea Garden & Botanical Garden;
3. Rabbit Farm & Horse Trail
4. Berjaya Golf & Country Club

The Colma Tropicale

An abstract from an avid tourist (Jan Leow dated 29-Aug-2006) who wrote :

Berjaya Hills (Bukit Tinggi Resort) nestled within a 6,400ha of lush greenery in Pahang, has a wide variety of interesting offers. It is located about 45 minutes away for the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, and with Genting Highlands around the corner, Berjaya Hills (Bukit Tinggi Resort) wants to vie the crowds of Kuala Lumpur to have another choice for a nearby highlands resort.

But at 2,700 feet above sea level, it is still does not have the cool climate weather as the other highlands like Cameron Highland, Fraser's Hills, Genting Highlands, and Bukit Larut. Even without the cool weather, Berjaya Hills offerings can still rival that of nearby Genting Highlands. Because of its relative close proximity to Kuala Lumpure city, you could actually plan a simple day trip with your family or friends without having to stay overnight, much the same like a day trip to Genting Highlands.

Surrounded by 16,000 acres of tropical rainforest of Pahang, you can find within this resort the famous French theme resort known as Colmar Tropicale. The other popular theme retreat is also a must visit if you are planning a visit there is the Japanese Village and Gardens. I would say that these two themes - the Colmar Tropicale and Japanese Village & Gardens are the most popular amongst the visitors. The other two places would be more on personal special interest, and I did not even bother to try finding out where the Rabbit Park and Horse Trails is located within this resort.

We just visited the first two and a Rabbit Farm, which had taken more than 5 hours. The children had really enjoyed the visit and I really enjoy the natural beauty of the landscape and plants and flowers which have been planted here.

The Colmar Tropicale

The Japanese Tea Garden

The Botanical Garden

After spending about two and a half hours at the Colmar Tropicale and Japanese Tea Garden & Botanical Garden, we went to the Rabbit Farm. There are quite a handful of playful and tamed rabbits.

Rabbit Farm

We left the Berjaya Hills at about 3.45 p.m, feeling really exhausted and hungry.

Retreat to Selesa Hills Home

2008-07-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

It has been quite sometime that we have not been to family holidays the whole family. This is because one or two of the family members that could not make it due to certain reasons. So a plan has been been made to make sure that the whole family could go to a retreat just before Munzir left for UK to pursue his studies.
An opportunity came when Hadi, the 3rd. of the siblings returned home for a two week holiday from Australia. So we had book a two-room apartment at Selesa Hill Home, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang for two nights.
So, after office today (Friday 11-Jul-2008) the whole family departed to Bukit Tinggi in two cars. This is because there are 2 parents, 4 adult children, a maid and an 8-year old daughter.

KL Cityscape during the drive-through to Bkt Tinggi

When we daparted from Bandar Seri Putra, Bangi it was already around 6 p.m... the time when the traffic jam is unavoidable. We decided to take the North South Highway, through SMART Tunnel at Sg, Basi and took an elevated highway to Ampang. From Ampang, we joined the Midle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) straight to Gombak and towards East Coast Highway just near Univ. Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM).
Alhamdulillah, the traffic jam was bearable and we reached Janda Baik Rest Area (at the foot of Genting Highland at around 7 p.m.). We had our 'dinner' at nice and clean Mac Donald restaurant at the R & R.

Dinner at the Mc Donald

The dinner was completed at about 8 p.m. where we continued our journey towards Bukit Tinggi.

Fun Time after meal at the Mc Donald

Alhamdulillah, just after 15 minutes descending the highway from the R & R , we exited the highway as we reached the valley. After turning left from the highway exit, we reached Selesa Hills Home, where we checked in at one of the apartments. After unloading our belongings, we took our long-awaited time to rest for the night.

Registration at Selesa Hills Home Apartment

Alhamdulillah, I found out that the Maxis Broadband modem signal was quite OK here (3G signal) where as usual, I started accessing my blog..
Well, need to have my shower and off to sleep for a real 'resting retreat' ..
Hope I could rest before another hectic week awaiting for me next week...

Some of the flowers a the main parking area

To Firah, Munzir, Hadi & Mama, the pool at Selesa Hills Home has been a place to relax and enjoyed swimming (although the pool was swarmed with other guests). Hope a brief stay at the apartment has been a memorable one...

The family's Swimming Team

Time-keeper : AFK

Happy Working, Kakak

2008-07-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

My eldest daughter, Hidayah has been working with SAFF Consultants for more than 2 years now. She is in the Accounts Section, looking after the daily financial transactions of the company.

She seems to adapt reasonably well to the working environment. She sometimes drives home to Johor Bahru (280 Km away) to visit her younger sister, Zafirah. Some of my friends have been asking me : 'Bila nak dapat menantu ?' .. well, I leave it to the owner to determine, of course with the parents blessing ..

So, kakak, may your future be as bright as the mid-day sun in years to come ... Ameen..

Lol : Ayah & Mama & family

Welcome Home, Hadi ..

2008-07-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday at 3.21 p.m. an Air Asia A300 plane touched down at LCCT, KLIA bringing my second son, Abdullah Al-Hadi home from Brisbane, Autralia.

Alhamdulillah, Hadi is back home for a two-week holidays and to take the Driving Test which he did not manage to take before his last holiday. His return was also planned so that he could meet his brother, Munzir who is supposed to fly to Leeds, England later next month to further his studies in Medicine for 5 years. Hadi is in Queensland University, Australia doing Biotechnology and Munzir will be in Leeds University, England. Both will be separated by an 18-hour flight distance..

Alhamdulillah, Hadi is doing well for the last 2 semesters at Queensland University, securing Dean's List in both semester exams... Congratulations Hadi, keep it up.

Please study hard without forgetting your duties to Allah and those around you. Pursue your mission and deliver your amanah to your utmost and hopefully one day, you will become a true Muslim Biotechnologist to serve mankind...Ameen..

Lol from Ayah.

Continue Your Mission, abang ..

2008-07-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, my eldest son Tawfiq, also known as abang in my family, just completed his 2-month long semester holidays and is going to his Second Year at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). He will be missed most by my youngest daughter, Zafirah as his brother was most of the time at home accompanying her at home for the past 2 months.

During his long holiday, Tawfiq was a chauffeur to her mom, Computer Technician to SAFF Consultants, Testing Technician to SAFF Testing and doing many other odd jobs.

So, the resting time is over and the struggle in the second year just begins.

Just some wishes from ayah & the family to you :
1. Just forget what happened at UTP;
2. Keep up with your performance in the last semester (CGPA = 3.8) or make it better;
3. Concentrate on your study first as you have big responsibilities ahead;
4. Do not be complacent of what we have now, which will not last forver;
5. Make Doa for me and your mom always;
6. Perform your duties towards Allah without fail ...

You have a mission to accomplish and may all your effort be rewarded by Allah SWT .... Ameen.

LoL from Ayah...

Congratulations, Munzir .. for Passing IBD with Flying Colours

2008-07-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

Alhamdulillah...

Tahniah Di Atas Kejayaan Cemerlang ..

Congratulations on Passing your recent International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Exam at Kolej Mara Banting (KMB) with flying colours. You managed to secure 42 out of 45 possible marks... a score of 93.3% ...Masya-Allah... Alhamdulillah.

May your study at the University of Leeds (from 2008 - 2013) to become a successful and Specialist Medical Doctor will be a successful one. We are all going to miss you soon...
I hope I could still be there to see you graduate as a Doctor, Ameen... Ya Rabb 'Alameen.

Lots of Love from Ayah & Mama..
7-Julai-2008

Sunrise and Sunset - The Great Creation

2008-07-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows since birth that the creation of this world and the changing of days and nights have produced some of the most wonderful scenes to be revered to. We never seem to feel satisfied after observing one sunrise or one sunset as every sunrise and sunset is unique and different from each other.

Supplication (doa) after Fajr (in the morning) :

'Sesungguhnya kami terjaga di pagi hari dengan (kesedaran bahawa) Kerajaan (bumi dan segala isinya) ini adalah milik Allah. Dan segala puji bagi Allah, tiada sekutu bagi-Nya, tiada Tuhan selain Dia dan kepada-Nya kami akan dibangkitkan..
Kami terjaga di pagi hari dalam fitrah Islam dan kalimat ikhlas dan dalam agama Nabi kami, Muhammad S.A.W dan dalam ajaran bapa kami Ibrahim yang lurus sedang dia bukan seorang yang musyrik ..'

Beautiful Sunrise

I am one of those who will never take any chance to let this wonderful moment to pass by without observing or capturing its moment (if I have a camera nearby). I have been late for my breakfast appointment if on the way I met with a sunrise. I have even stopped along the East-Cost Highway recently to snap a sunset scene where the Highway Rescue team approached me and then left without asking a question after seeing me holding a camera.

Supplication (doa) after 'Asr Prayer (in the evening, before sunset) :

'Sesungguhnya kami terjaga di petang hari dengan (kesedaran bahawa) Kerajaan (bumi dan segala isinya) ini adalah milik Allah. Dan segala puji bagi Allah, tiada sekutu bagi-Nya, tiada Tuhan selain Dia dan kepada-Nya kami akan ditidurkan..
Kami terjaga di petang hari dalam fitrah Islam dan kalimat ikhlas dan dalam agama Nabi kami, Muhammad S.A.W dan dalam ajaran bapa kami Ibrahim yang lurus sedang dia bukan seorang yang musyrik ..'

Evening Sunset

So, let us cherish this important moment of our daily life and thank our Creator for providing us with such scenes to be admired and to feel closer to Him, Ameen..

National Flower of Malaysia

2008-07-06T00:26:00.000-07:00

The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Bunga Raya) is the national flower of Malysia.

Hibiscus, or rosemallow, is a large genus of about 200–220 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae (the mallow family, along with members like cocoa, cotton, okra, baobab and durian) native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, and woody shrubs and small trees.
The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, ranging from white to pink, red, purple or yellow, and from 4-15 cm broad. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity.
Many species are grown for their showy flowers or used as landscape shrubs. Hibiscus is also a primary ingredient in many herbal teas.

One species of Hibiscus, known as Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), is extensively used in paper roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is used as a vegetable and to make herbal teas jams (especially in the Caribbean). making. Another, and

In Mexico, the drink is known as Jamaican water or agua de Jamaica and is quite popular for its color, tanginess and mild flavor; once sugar is added, it tastes somewhat like cranberry juice. Dieters or persons with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar for its beneficial properties and as a natural diuretic. It is made by boiling the dehydrated flowers in water; once it is boiled, it is allowed to cool and drunk with ice.

In Egypt and Sudan, roselle petals are used to make a tea named after the plant, karkade.

Hibiscus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes hibiscella, Hypercompe hambletoni, the Nutmeg moth, and the Turnip Moth.

The Hibiscus is used as an offering to Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship. The Gumamela or Hibiscus rosa sinensis linn flower has antifungal, emmenagogue, emollient and refrigerant effect.[240]

The bark of the hibiscus contains strong fibers. They can be obtained by letting the stripped bark sit in the sea in order to let the organic material rot away. In Polynesia these fibers (fau, pūrau) are used for making grass skirts. They have also been known to be used to make wigs.

Hibiscus, especially white hibiscus, is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. Roots make various concoctions believed to cure various ailments.

The natives of southern India uses the Red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for hair care purposes. The red flower and leaves, extracts of which can be applied on hair to tackle hair-fall and dandruff on the scalp. It is used to make hair protective oils. A simple application involves soaking the leaves and flowers in water and using a wet grinder to make a thick paste, and used as a natural shampoo.

Dried hibiscus is edible, and is often a delicacy in Mexico.

The hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Hawaiian women. A single flower is tucked behind the ear. Which ear is used indicates the wearer's availability for marriage.

In temperate zones, probably the most commonly grown ornamental species is Hibiscus syriacus, the common garden Hibiscus, also known in some areas as the "Rose of Althea" or "Rose of Sharon" . In tropical and subtropical areas, the Chinese hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis), with its many showy hybrids, is the most popular hibiscus.

About 200-220 species are known.

(Text extracted from Wikipedia and all photographs were taken by the Blogger)

Bouquet of Roses

2008-07-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

Rose is a flower that has a pleasant smell, and is usually red, pink, white, or yellow, or the bush that this grows on (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, page 1570).
In Malay, a rose flower is called Bunga Mawar.

Bouquet of Roses are normally used to grace formal ceremonies especially wedding occasion. This is due to its pleasant smell and outstanding colours. As roses are quite expensive, the flowers are normally accompanied by Carnation, which has the same colour as roses and has a sweet smell.
Recently, I had the opportunities attending two wedding occasions of my staff and sister-in-law. Both occasions were graced with red and yellow roses respectively. The smell and aroma produced by the roses was so pleasant.
Some of the common phrase that uses Rose as a comparative subject are :

1. not a bed of roses - if a job or situation which is not always pleasant;
2. put the roses back in his cheeks - make someone looks healthy again;
3. be coming up roses - be happening or developing in the best possible way;
4. not come out of something smelling of roses - a situation that makes you seems dishonest;

Although rose flowers are normally used to grace occasions or represent solace and sincere hearts, it is also used in Malay songs to mark the sadness or disappointment on someone. This sadness or hurts is due to the present of spiky thorn on its stalk. The most commonly words used to mark this sadness or hurting by someone is 'Mawar Berduri' which is literally translated into 'Thorny Roses' .

Podium KOMTAR, Johor Bahru

2008-07-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

The KOMTAR upgrading works was awarded to the contractor in December, 2007 and expected to be completed in 2009. The work has been delayed since the year 2000 due to various unforseen circumstances and reasons. My company (SAFF Consultants) has been appointed as the Mechanical & Electrical Consultants in the upgrading works.

Some of the new M&E features that are being introduced to the new three-storey Podium Block are :
1. New Chiller c/w VRV control;
2. A new Bubble Lift is added;
3. 2 nos. Goods Lifts;
4. Escalators and Travelators;
5. Pre-paid Electrical Metering System;
6. IT Facilities (Wi-Fi);
7. New Fire Fighting System;
8. New Retail and F&B Lots
9. New electrical distribution systems (sub-station has been re-located to the roof-top to give way to expensive retail lots);
10. Upgraded Sewerage Treatment Plant;
11. Total building face-lift (internal & external).

The building demolition has been carried out since the last 6 months to make way for the new wing with additional floors. This area which previously housed the Bowling Alley and Cinemas have been replaced with new floors as the original floor levels are very high. The new area will house a brand-new modern Food Court and a Supermarket.
Last week, a new directive was given whereby a new 3-storey car parks will be constructed on the 3-storey podium block which will make the new podium to be a six-storey high. The floor height will also be changed to 5000mm at the Ground Floor and 4500mm to the rest of the floors. With this new requirement, a totally new M & E design on the podium block will have to be carried out as soon as possible as all the M&E Contractors are already on-board.

(latest info gathered from a meeting held at JBI Sdn. Bhd. KL on Friday 4th.July,2008)

My Grown-up Little Princess

2008-06-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Born in July 2000, Norlaila Zafirah is very special to our family. Being the youngest amongst the siblings, she is twelve (12) years younger than her elder brother, Munzir.
Munzir is presently waiting for the confirmation of his examination result to pursue his studies in Medicine at the University of Leeds, England in September this year. He will be the second son to pursue his studies overseas following the footstep of his elder brother, Abdullah Al-Hadi who is studying Bio-Technology Engineering at the Brisbane University, Queensland, Australia. Hadi'd elder brother (Tawfiq) is going to the second year at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) doing Electrical Engineering while the eldest among the siblings is working in the FinanceSection of SAFF Consultants in Bangi, Selangor.
When Zafirah was born, the cry of a baby has returned to the house after twelve years silence. Her coming to this world was not planned, it is a gift from Allah.

Zafirah was sent to Tadika Ehsan at the University Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai when she was five. After two years at the kindergarten, she was registered at Sekolah Rendah Islam Al-Hidayah, Kpg. Maju Jaya, Johor. She plies to school by bus which takes about 40 minutes each way. Normally, she will be back from school at about 2.45 p.m., feeling tired and exhausted.
Zafirah seems to enjoy her school days very much. She has improved academically for the past two years having secured 2nd. position in class after being in the two digits number when she first started schooling.

So, everyday, Zafirah's enthusiasm motivates all of us in the family to prepare and take life as it come to prepare her for the days and years ahead. With the present daily happenings and uncertainties facing our lives now, we will strive to make sure Zafirah endeavour to pursue knowledge and prepare her for the future is uninterrupted. In the end, we can only plan but Allah will determine the actual fate that lies ahead.
May Allah make our little princess, Zafirah and her brothers and sister His obedient servants that will serve humanity in the future. And may they continue making doa for their parents after both of them have passed away, Ameen.

Hopeful Parents, Taman Sri Pulai, Johor.

Selamat Pengantin Baru, Puspa & Hazim

2008-06-29T05:54:00.001-07:00

Tanggal 29-Jun-2008 bersamaan 25-Jamadul-akhir-1429, adik iparku Puspa Velly telah melangsungkan perkahwinannya dengan Sdr. Hazim, berasal dari Kelantan dan kini menetap di Kuang, Selangor. Aku serta isteri dan semua anak-anakku yang berada di Malaysia (seorang di Australia) telah hadir meraikan hari bahagia adik iparku tersebut.

Upacara 'akad nikah telah disempurnakan oleh bapa mertuaku sendiri, Tn. Hj. Abdul Ghani Kashmir, seorang pesara Nazir Sekolah-sekolah Persekutuan di rumahnya berhadapan Masjid Kpg. Asam Jawa, Kuala Selangor. Upacara aqad nikah telah selesai dijalankan pada jam 11.00 pagi.
Majlis ini telah dijalankan dengan meriahnya memandangkan Puspa meruapakan anak terakhir yang melangsungkan perkahwinannya di rumah yang belum pernah mengadakan sebarang khenduri kahwin sebelum ini.
Anggaran tetamu yang datang adalah lebih-kurang 1,600 orang dewasa (dari jumlah buah-tangan yang telah diberikan).. jika dikira dengan kanak-kanak, adalah dianggarkan seramai lebih 2,000 orang tetamu yang hadir. Alhamdulillah, majlis akad nikah dan jamuan makan telah berjalan dengan sempurna se hinggalah hujan turun dengan lebatnya di sertai angin kencang pada jam 4.00 petang. Selepas hujan masih ada tetamu yang datang meraikan pengantin serta memenuhi hajat tuan rumah sendiri.
Akhir kalam, Semoga Allah Memberkati kedua mempelai hingga ke akhir hayart mereka .. Ameen Ya Rabb 'alameen.

Old Pontian Road, Skudai

2008-06-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Once an old sleepy town of Taman Sri Skudai has bustled into a university town in 1984. The growth has also caused a chain reaction to the neighbouring Taman Universiti (Taman U), Taman Sri Pulai, Taman Teratai,Taman Sri Pulai Perdana, Taman Teratai and as far as Pekan Nanas and Ulu Choh.
Located at a junction between a trunk road Senai-Johor Bahru-Pontian, Sekudai has experienced a considerable growth since 1984 when Universiti Teknologi Malaysia has moved its main campus from Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur to Skudai, Johor. Skudai has become a synonym with UTM.
Early January 2008, the construction of a fly-over was completed an opened to vehicles to the relief of thousands of road users plying between Pontian, Pekan Nanas, Kangkar Pulai and Sekudai to Johor Bahru and vice-versa. The long-awaited fly-over has eliminated wasted waiting time to thousands of vehicles daily especially in the morning and evening. Vehicles' queue from Senai-JB Road into Pontian Road (Skudai) could be as long as two or three kilometer if no queue-cutting was practiced every evening. Today, there i practically no hassle at all if you were traveling from Pontian to JB or from Senai to JB and vice-versa. The only unfortunate issue (if it is to be labeled as unfortunate) is traffickers have to make two u-turns if they are coming from Senai to Taman Sri Skudai (TSS) as the original traffic light into TSS has been demolished to cater for the fly-over. Sometimes, a sacrifice has to be made by a small group of people in-lieu of benefits to be gained by thousands of others. Hopefully, the small sacrifice made by the people of Taman Sri Skudai for the sake of others will be rewarded in other forms, Insya-Allah.

KLIA 10th. Anniversary

2008-06-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

It has been quite sometime that I did not post anything in this blog...Just a bit bz ...

Last Sunday, I rushed to KLIA at around 10.30 p.m. to send my nephew, former SAFF Head of Admin & Finance Officer, Wan Fairuz Wan Chik. He was taking a flight to Amsterdam, Holland to present his proposal for a PhD in Human Resource & Management. Let us pray that his 1-week visit and presentation w\in Holland will bear some fruit for his future career development.
While at KLIA I accidently noticed few banners and posters bearing wordings KLIA ANNIVERSARY .... then I realised that it has been 10 years since KLIA was opened by the former Prime Minister. It seems that time has flown by too fast.. it is a sign of the Day of Reckoning is approaching us too.. may be faster than an aeroplane flying and touching down at KLIA..
Where was I 10 years ago i.e. sometime in 1998? Yes..yes... I remember now...
It was in 1998 when I was still struggling setting up SAFF Consultants and SAFF Testing and Supervising Services ... just 3 years after I resigned from my Chief Engineer post in UTM...
It was a big decision in my life... The reasons why I left... there are several ... :-))
One of the reasons : I was offered a place as a lecturer in Elect. Eng. faculty in UTM itself...
After receiving the offer, I consulted my (Acting) Pengarah Kerja at that time, Ir. Anton Alfred Sebastian, a senior JKR Civil Engineer seconded to UTM. He requested me to ask from the Registrar for a postponement for 2-3 months so that I could finish off some of my current jobs.
I was surprised to receive a reply from UTM Regitrar office stating that if I did not report for duty, the offer would be withdrawn and I have to re-apply again when I am ready ...
I was just wondering about the reply...was it made on purpose or was there any other reasons.. I could not accept the decision as I did not report for duty immediately not because of my own personal benefit BUT because the assignment I was still carrying on UTM projects... I was the UTM Chief Engineer then, responsible to matters pertaining to all project and maintenance issues in UTM..
Well, few months after that... I resigned at the age of 37 years old...
In 1998, I was 40 years old ... and now I am almost 50 years...
An old man who still strive to give whatever experience and knowledge to anyone who needs them...
Knowledge is from Allah and I am just a medium of transmission...
Those who need them are most welcome to see me or email to me...
Those who feel that I am very 'stingy' in departing my knowledge and experience, I am sorry for making you to feel that way...
I could not claim that the experience and knowledge is mine ..
I am just a medium of transmitter..
I could only give what I have (of course we could not give something that we don't own or have) ...
Salam..

Life-Promise and Life Sentence..

2008-06-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

I always remind my youngest daughter not to watch tv too close the tv set as she may spoil her eyes too soon. In my family, everyone is wearing spectacle except me and her so I hope she will not be found guilty and 'sentence to life 'wearing spectacle' while she is only coming to 8 years old..
In fact there are many life-sentences that have been imposed on people around us nowadays.
Some may have to go through dialysis every alternate day and some have to have insulin injection to his or her body. The lighter sentence may be just be 'wearing spectacles', but they are all what I normally referred to as 'life-sentences'.

Three years ago, I was also sentenced by a medical doctor to a life-sentence having to take a high-blood pressure tablet daily called Atenolol. Although the dose is only 50mg, I have been taking it since the last three years and will have to continue taking it until I die. So, whether we like it or not, when we received a life-sentence judgement from our doctor, we have to abide by it and follow it without fail if we want to stay alive carrying out our daily activities as normal as it could possible be.
Here I would like to re-collect an incident regarding our existence in this world. In fact, all of us have solemnly declared (and may be have forgotten) and accepted that Allah is our Creator and we will worship Him and follow all His commands. It is a life-promise which we had made being a Muslim at our own will, without anybody forcing us to do so.
So, this 'life-promise' must be fulfilled by all of us regardless we still remember the occasion or not. Allah has reminded us about the promise we had made in Surah Al-A'raff (Juz 9) :
'Dan (ingatlah wahai Muhammad) ketika Tuhanmu mengeluarkan zuriat anak-anak Adam (turun-temurun) dari (tulang) belakang mereka, dan Ia jadikan mereka saksi terhadap diri mereka sendiri, (sambil Ia bertanya dengan firman-Nya) : "Bukankah Aku Tuhan kamu ?" Mereka semua menjawab : "Benar (Engkaulah Tuhan kami), kami menjadi saksi". Yang demikian supaya kamu tidak berkata pada hari kiamat kelak : "Sesungguhnya kami adalah lalai (tidak diberi peringatan) tentang (hakikat tauhid) ini". '......(ayat 172)

May Allah give us strength to carry out that Life-Promise and Life-Sentence until our last breathe...Ameen Ya Rabb 'alameen. To Him shall we return and to Him shall we be questioned on our accountability in this world..

Working as long as my heart continues beating...

2008-06-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

I had been posed with comments and remarks from those who care and closed to me.. 'You had been working so hard.. Saturday, Sunday, day and night.. you should stop sometimes and take a rest ' .. My answer is Yes... I would like to... but at the moment I think my energy is still needed to finish the unfinished jobs or to attend to those in need of my service..
As I am already coming to 50 years old, I know that I could not work or perform as what I used to do when I was 37 years when I started SAFF. I could feel the energy and appetite that had been drained over those years but as long as my heart still beating, I will try to do my level best to contribute in whatever way I could to satisfy people's need and to download all the experience I have to those who need them.

I don't have much money to become a philanthropist, I do not have a factory that could employ thousands of people, I am not a politician that could attend to peoples' need, I am not a doctor that could treat people when they fell sick and neither I am a lawyer that could defend the innocent but I am just a poor electrical engineer...
Look at the bottom left picture above... I was kneeling just to collect samples of transformer oil which was later be injected with 60,000 Volts of DC Voltage !!!!
I am not that cruel to inject such a voltage to a helpless transformer oil... it is a 'necessary evil' in order to ensure the oil is strong enough so as not to cause transformer failure that could create power disruption or accidents to personnel...
That is life... sometimes we have to hit hard on somebody to make sure that they work or get whatever they are supposed to get or achieve... We have to do it because we care and we have accountability in whatever we do...
So, Insya-Allah, as long as my heart keep beating, I will continue working without fear and favour and lending my hands and hearts out to those who need them...
May Allah Grant me forgiveness and ajr....

Terima kasih Emak dan Abah...

2008-06-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Every year nowdays, people celebrate Mothers and Fathers' Days in May and June. This celebration has never entered my vocab when I was small until the last few years... unfortunately..by then, both my parents had already returned to Allah...
It has been more than 20 years my father has passed away followed by my mother few years later. I really missed both of them as they passed away when I was just started my career as an Electrical Engineer. Alhamdulillah, I managed to design and called a contractor to supply and install electrical installation in my father's house (our house then) in 1983 when electricity was just introduced to my kampong by LLN. From that time on, I really missed the moment when I took over the job of starting the light every day in my house using gasoline lamp at sunset. The 'wonder lamp' has already disappeared from all our houses by now and I am still wondering how the fibric bulb can turn into a small fragile 'bulb' which could light the whole house. My dad had never explained that to me..
Nevertheless, there was countless moments spend together with my father which I had treassured until now. My father, who was a taxi driver, had worked very hard to feed his 16 children (from 2 wives).
May Allah Bless both of them and assemble them togteher with the syuhada', tabbi'in and solihin on the sacrifices thay had made to bring up the children. Although we never celebrated an official father's day when my father was still around, I think the celebration is always there everytime he came back home after a long and tiring journey, driving a taxi in serach of money to feed all of us.
We really miss you emak dan abah ....
Semoga segala pengorbanan yang telah dicurahkan membesarkan kami akan mendapat ganjaran berganda daripada Allah SWT ...
Sesungguhnya, anakmu ini akan sentiasa mendoakan untuk keduamu dan akan mengikut jejak mu pada bila-bila-bila masa sahaja...
Semoga Allah merestui doa dari anakmu yang penuh dengan dosa ini...

"Ya Allah...ampunilah aku dan kedua-dua ibu bapaku dan berikanlah Rahmat-Mu kepada kedua-duanya dan kasihanilah mereka sebagaimana mereka mengasihiku semasa aku kecil dahulu ..... Ameen, Ya Rabbal 'a lameen ... "

Taiping - My Alma Matter

2008-06-10T03:56:00.001-07:00

I spend six years during my secondary school days at this Everlasting Peace town from 1971 t0 1976. My King Edward VII Secondary School is one of the oldest school in Malaysia (slightly younger than Penang Free School).
Nestling at the foot of Maxwell Hills, a resort built by the British during their brief rule of Malaya until 1957, lies this pensioners' home town where they choose to spend the rst of their remaining days. The hill resort is still a tourist attraction until today as its cool weather has made it suitable for the westeners.
Taiping is also well-known for its Lake Garden, formed by mining activities. Our history informs us that there were the two clans of Ghee Hin and Hai San who always fighting against each other to gain control of the mining rights before the British came. The first railway line of the country was build in 1884 linking Taiping to Port Weld, which acts as the port to export tin overseas.
Taiping is also known to be the town with heaviest rainfall in Malaysia (24 inches per year)..

What fascinates me is the panoramic views of Taiping Lake Garden.. Whenever I re-visited the town, normally I will just drive around the Lake garden just to appreciate the wonder of the earth bestowed to us by the Almighty Allah, The Creater.

So, this peceful Taiping town is worth a visit should any of you happen to pass through Changkat Jering on the North-South Highway to the north of the country.

Keindahan Pantai Sutera Resort

2008-06-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

Kami berempat memulakan perjalanan dari pejabat di Bandar Seri Putra, Bangi jam 11.00 pagi menuju Kuala Terengganu. Perjalanan melalui Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), Lebuhraya Karak, Lebuhraya Pantai Timur dan seterusnya melalui Kijal, Kemaman, Paka, Dungun, Chendering, Kuala Terengganu, Gong Badak dan seterusnya mengambil jalan ke Permaisuri, melintasi depan INSTEPP.
Kami terpaksa bermalam di Sutra Beach Resort yang telah kami tempah lebih awal walaupun ia terletak kira-kira 23 Km dari tempat kerja kerana ketiadaan tempat tinggal. Ini adalah kerana Terengganu adalah tuan rumah SUKMA 2008 yang akan berakhir pada Selasa 10-06-2008. Kami tiba jam 7.00 malam, selepas 8 jam perjalanan..
Kerana keletihan yang amat sangat memandu, aku tidak keluar makan malam tersebut kerana kehilangan selera.
Keesokan harinya aku bangun awal. Selepas solat subuh, aku terus ke pantai. Ini adalah rutin aku sekiranya bermalam di resort di mana-mana pantai Terengganu.
Alhamdulillah, di sekitar jam 7.00 - 7.15 pagi, sang suria telah menjenguk aku dari celah-celah awan dan kabus tebal di ufuk timur.. Subhanallah, indahnya kejadian Allah ini... Maha Suci Engkau Ya Allah...
Jika dilihat dari keindahan pantai ketika sang suria menjenguk dari celah-celah awan di pagi hari, memang cucuk nama Sutera Beach diberikan kepada tempat peranginan ini kerana pantainya putih/kuning keemasan seperti sutera/emas selepas dipancar matahari. Kepenatan yang dirasai pada malam hari hilang seketika apabila melihat keindahan pantai ini...
Setelah hampir 30 minit menikmati keindahan pantai yang disinari suria pagi, kami pun beredar untuk bersarapan pagi.

Jam 8.45 pagi kami bertolak ke Nankai Worseted (Terengganu) Sdn, Bhd, sebuah kilang membuat benang di daerah Gong Badak. Kami ke sini untuk menunaikan perjanjian dan pemilik kilang untuk melaksanakan kerja-kerja penyenggaran sistem 11-kV dan LV kilang tersebut...

Sepagi di Pantai Residence Resort, Paka, Terengganu

2008-06-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Tanggal 26-Mei-2008 lalu aku berkesempatan berada di Residence Resort, Paka mengendalikan satu kursus kepada kakitangan Petronas Ammonia. Kursus Electrical Hazard ini adalah selama dua hari.
Sebelum matahari naik, seperti biasa aku akan cuba meluangkan masa bersendirian di pantai, menghirup udara nyaman serta melihat pukulan ombak yang menerpa pantai.
Pagi itu aku menyusur pantai ke sebelah kiri Residence Resort (RR), tempat aku bermalam. Di sebelah RR ini terdapat sebuah penempatan kecil yang tertegak beberapa buah rumah nelayan yang agak usang.
Sedang aku melihat persiapan seorang nelayan yang sedang menyiapkan botnya ke laut, tiba-tiba ku lihat suria menjengukkan mukanya dari arah timur.
Tanpa berlengah aku terus menukarkan fokus ku ke arah sang suria itu...Subhanallah..betapa indahnya cahaya yang sedang memancar, yang akan menyinari seluruh alam...
Seiring dengan nelayan yang menghidupkan enjin botnya ke laut, sang suria juga turut menampakkan dirinya, sedikit demi sedikit, menaburkan cahayanya mencecah lautan menuju ke pantai... Subhanallah ... Maha Suci Engkau Ya Allah, Yang Menjadikan Seluruh Alm dan Isinya...
Aku merasakan begitulah peristiwa yang berlaku setiap hari sejak berpuluh tahun yang lalu... si nelayan akan membelah laut mencari rezeki manakala cahaya sang suria akan mencecah permukaan laut menuju pantai, menerangkan seluruh alam..
Itulah peraturan alam yang telah ditetapkan oleh-Nya...
Semoga rezeki yang dicari oleh si nelayan untuk menyara keluarganya akan sentiasa diberkati Allah...
Semoga cahaya sang suria yang mencecah pantai akan menghidupkan semua tanaman...
memberikan sinar cahaya untuk membolehkan manusia melihat kejadian Allah...
mensyukuri segala nikmat yang diterima...
sehingga manusia kembali kepada-Nya..
Itulah pengajaran yang meniti di fikiranku dipagi itu...

Beberapa minit selepas mentari pagi menjangkau beberapa drjah di ufuk timur itu,
Aku bergegas ke bilik untuk bersiap ke kuliahku ...
Semoga pertemuan ini akan berulang di suatu masa kelak..
Ameen Ya Rabb 'alameen.

Minyak Oh Minyak ..

2008-06-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

Dari petang semalam (4-Mei-2008) hingga tengah-malam, ratusan ribu kereta telah berbaris di semua stesen minyak di seluruh negara untuk mendapatkan petrol, disel dan gas pada harga lama. Mulai jam 12.01 tengah malam hari ini (5hb. Jun, 2008), harga petrol, disel dan gas telah dinaikkan oleh kerajaan.
Petrol yang dinaikkan dari RM1.92 sebanyak 40% ke RM2.70/liter akan memberi kesan kepada semua pengguna kenderaan kecil atau besar. Begitu juga pengguna kenderaan enjin disel di mana harga disel telah dinaikkan sebanyak RM 1.00/liter. Apa dah jadi kepada negara kita ?? Kita merupakan negara pengeluar minyak berkualiti tinggi dan keuntungan yang diperolehi sepatutnya boleh diagihkan kepada rakyat untuk menurunkan harga minyak biasa.
Kenaikan harga yang sangat tinggi ini perlu memberi kejutankepada rakyat jelata dan memikirkan kembali undi yang telah diberikan dalam pilihanraya baru-baru ini ...

Tiara Kesihatan

2008-06-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Ku terkenang usia yang hampir mencecah separuh abad, di mana biasanya orang kata "rumah kata pergi, kubur kata mari..."
Aku juga akur dengan kesihatan yang semakin menjamah usiaku. Kalau beberapa tahun lepas, aku boleh memandu kenderaan dari JB ke Terengganu dan terus ke KL di dalam bulan Ramadan semasa melaksanakan tugasan, kini kebolehan itu sudah beransur kurang.
Hujung Oktober, 2006 lalu, aku telah dimasukkan ke hospital akibat denggi. Mungkin Allah memberikan aku peluang untuk bertaubat, walaupun dah masuk ke ICU ketika jumlah platelets (sel darah merah) dah tinggal 18, Alhamdulillah, aku kembali sihat. Walau bagaimanapun, aku rasakan kesihatan selepas kejutan denggi itu tidak sama dengan sebelumnya.
Semalam, aku dikejutkan lagi dengan satu musibah yang walaupun sedikit, ia memberi kesan kepada aku. Pagi semalam, sekitar jam 8.10 pagi, tiba-tiba leherku tidak boleh menoleh ke kiri atau kanan atau mendongak ke atas atau ke bawah. Walaupun orang biasa kata 'silap bantal' kejadian itu berlaku selepas aku telah bangun, solat, sarapan pagi dan sedang menguruskan kerja pejabat aku. Alhamdulillah, di hujung hari kedua, leherku bertambah lembut dan sudah boleh menoleh ke kiri dan ke kanan tetapi masih terasa sakitnya.
Sememangnya manusia sentiasa lupa akan sebuah hadis yang msyhur, yang sentiasa mengingatkan kita tentang sakit. Peringatan yang juga dinasyidkan oleh kumpulan Raihan...

Ingatlah Lima Sebelum Lima; sihat sebelum sakit; muda sebelum tua; kaya sebelum miskin, lapang sebelum sempit dan hidup sebelum mati..

Satu kata pujangga yang masih aku ingat :
Kesihatan adalah sebuah tiara (mahkota) yang berada di atas kepala setiap orang yang sihat tetapi hanya dapat dilihat oleh orang yang sakit ...

Justeru itu, ku ingin mengingatkan diri ini yang sentiasa lupa, ambillah kesempatan yang masih ada, baki usia yang masih tinggal untuk menunaikan tanggungjawab kepada Allah dan orang-orang yang mempunyai haq ke atas diri kita.
Masa yang terluang hendaklah digunakan sepenuhnya mencari bekalan dunia untuk ke akhirat. Janganlah kita disibukkan oleh EPL, EURO2008, filem-filem ASTRO yang tak berkesudahan dan lain-lain program yang tidak memberikan pulangan yang lumayan kepada zahir dan bathin kita serta kehidupan akhirat kelak.
Gunakan baki masa yang masih ada untuk bertilawah (membaca al-quran), menghafal surah-surah Al-Quran dan memahami maknanya, menghafal doa-doa harian yang makthur atau membantu orang-orang yang memerlukan..
Semoga kita tidak menyesal kerana Lupakan Lima Sebelum Lima ...

Sekian, sedikit peringatan daripada insanyang selalu lupa. Semoga ada manfaatnya.

Renungan Maghrib ...

2008-06-04T03:59:00.000-07:00

Petang tadi selepas waktu pejabat, aku telah diajak menziarahi satu blog (angenzzz.blogspot.com) semasa aku sedang membaca mel. Sebenarnya, aku tidak mengenali siapa bloggernya tetapi sekadar ingin menjenguk ruang depannya. Aku tertarik dengan satu kisah yang dipaparkan dan diakhiri dengan paragraf berikut :

Dalam hidup ini, banyak kali kita merasa dikecewakan, depressi, dan sakit hati. Sesungguhnya tak perlu menghabiskan waktu memikirkan hal-hal tersebut. Hidup ini penuh dengan keindahan, kesukacitaan dan pengharapan. Mengapa harus menghabiskan waktu memikirkan perkara yang buruk, mengecewakan dan menyakitkan jika kita boleh menemukan banyak hal-hal yang indah yang baik dan yang boleh kita terima di sekeliling kita? Kita akan menjadi orang yang berbahagia jika kita mampu melihat dan bersyukur untuk hal-hal yang baik dan mencuba melupakan yang buruk.

Aku sebenarnya terkenang akan kerjayaku sejak 26 tahun ini sebagai seorang jurutera. Sebenarnya, aku mensyukuri peluang dan rezeki yang Allah SWT berikan sejak tahun 1982 apabila aku mula-mula ditawarkan kerja di JKR Caw. Eektrik KL.
Walau bagaimanapun, sejak akhir-akhir ini aku agak kecewa dengan sikap yang ditunjukkan oleh sesetengah klien yang menjadi pelanggan perkhidmatan perundingan aku.

Bagi klien yang aku rasa lebih pandai daripada jurutera sendiri, aku tidak akan memperdulikan mereka ini... akan aku biarkan mereka dengan dunia khayalan mereka kerana apa yang cuba aku buat pada mata mereka semuanya salah dan tidak memenuhi cita-rasa mereka. Mereka hanya pandai mencari kesalahan kita sedangkan puncanya adalah daripada mereka sendiri. Kalau nak kata mereka tak faham, mereka adalah graduan belaka...

Berpegang dengan apa yang ku baca dalam blog tadi tu, aku akan melupakan mereka yang hanya membawa kedukaan dan kesedihan dalam hati ini... Akan ku tumpukan masa dan tenaga aku kepada mereka-mereka yang masih memerlukan tenaga, khidmat dan pandangan aku..

Ya Allah....lapangkan dada hambamu ini dalam menerima ketentuan-Mu ... Berikanlah aku kesabaran yang tinggi dalam menghadapi insan-insan yang tidak tahu apa itu pengorbanan dan keperitan hidup... Yang tidak tahu apa itu keberkatan daripada-Mu...
Yang tidak tahu erti Ar-Rizk Min-Allah Yang merasakan tempat mereka mencari rezeki merupakan tempat untuk mereka memerah keringat orang lain .. Tempat untuk mencari kesalahan orang lain ... Tempat di mana segala kebaikan diterima tanpa terima kasih ... Sedikit kesalahan yang dilakukan oleh manusia yang lemah ini dijaja di sana sini... Terimalah segala amal-amal ku walaupun sebesar zarah sekalipun... Kerana aku berhajat kepada pahala-pahala dari-Mu... Ampuni aku sekiranya kesalahan ku lakukan sebesar zarah sekali pun.. Ampuni daku sekiranya di dalam hatiku terdapat sikap takbur kerana ilmu dan pengalaman yang telah kau berikan oleh-Mu .. Berkatilah saki-baki umurku untuk berbakti kepada ummah ini ... Ummah yang masih tercari-cari permata ilmu yang hilang ... Ummah yang masih dibuai mimpi indah di sianghari .. Ummah yang masih dibuai dengan pangkat 'Ketuanan Melayu' ... Kembalikanlah aku kepada-Mu dalam keadaan beriman dan beramal ... Ameen... Ya Rabb 'alameen ...

BSPutra
Maghrib 04-06-2008

Iqra' ...

2008-06-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

Ayat IQRA' merupakan satu yang paling sinonim dengan semua Muslim di dunia. Ia merupakan ayat pertama yang diminta Rasulullah S.A.W membacanya oleh malaikat Jibril sewaktu Rasulullah SAW menerima wahyu ketika diangkat menjadi Rasul di Gua Hira'.

Ayat yang membawa erti BACALAH ... merupakan rujukan utama umat Islam terutama apabila membicarakan tentang menuntut ilmu dan falsafah ilmu itu sendiri.

Berdasarkan rujukan unggul inilah, adalah dirasakan pihak pengurusan Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) telah membina sebuah arca yang dibuat dari Stainless Steel di bulatan utama pintu masuk Utama USIM, berhadapan bangunan pentadbirannya. Arca yang dilengkapi dengan perkataan IQRA' itu akan menjadi tumpuan pertama setiap pengunjung, pekerja, pelajar, ibu bapa dan siapa sahaja yang memasuki kampus ini.

Adalah diharapkan USIM akan memertabatkan ilmu ini ke tempat yang sepatutnya di mana proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran, bukan sahaja kepada para pelajarnya, malahan kepada semua kakitangan serta insan-insan lain yang terlibat dengan pembangunan serta pentadbiran IPTA ini.
Segala urusan harian dari bermulanya pembinaan kampus hinggalah ke proses penggunaan danpentadbirannya hendaklah berlandaskan kepada konsep IQRA' ini di mana segala urusan hendaklah berasaskan kepada ILMU yang Allah berikan dan digunakan ke jalan yang betul.

Maksud :
Bacalah (wahai Muhammad) dengan nama Tuhanmu yang menciptakan (sekelian makhluk), Ia menciptakan manusia dari sebuku darah beku....

(Surah Al-'Laq, ayat 1-2)

Surah ke-96 ini diturunkan di Makkah mengandungi 19 ayat. Ia dinamakan al-'Alaq yang membawa maksud 'sebuku darah beku'.

Di antara pengajaran dari ayat-ayat surah ini ialah :

Allah Tuhan Semesta Alam, Yang Maha Esa dan Maha Kuasa, yang wajib diingati dan dipatuhi dalam semua keadaan;
Manusia yang telah diciptakan oleh Allah Ta'ala dalam sebaik-baik keadaan dan diberikan berbagai keistimewaan berbanding dengan makhluk-makhluk yang lain;
Nikmat ilmu pengetahuan telah diajarkan oleh Allah Ta'ala kepada manusia melalui pena dan tulisan;
Allah Ta'ala menggambarkan sifat-sifat dan tabi'at sesetengah manusia : Apabila ia senang lenang dan banyak hartanya, ia berlaku sombong bongkak, lupakan Allah yang mengurniakan nikmat kepadanya, tidak menghiraukan suruhan Allah dan larangan-Nya, sehingga akhlak dan budi pekertinya tidak lagi berperi-kemanusiaan..

(petikan dari Tafsir Pimpinan Ar-Rahman, m.s.1703)

Semoga tertegaknya arca IQRA' ini akan sentiasa memberikan peringatan kepada kita tentang ilmu serta kejadian diri kita yang akan kembali kepada-Nya kelak.

Sharifah Aliyyah' Wedding

2008-06-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

On 31-May-2008, my family and I drove to Gurun, Kedah to attend an old friend's 1st. daughter's wedding. We drove from JB to Taiping on 30-5-2008 and put up a night at my sister's house in Taiping. The journey was a tiring one as it is a school holiday. At Tapah R&R, we took almost an hour to have dinner and performed our prayers. We reached Taiping at about 11.00 p.m.
On Saturday, we departed Taiping to Gurun and attended the wedding. I met Prof Dr. Jasmi Yunus & wife, Prof Dr Mustafa Kamal (FKKKSA), En. Ismaal, Dr. Aziz Hassan (ex-UTM TNC) and of course the bride's father, Tn Syed Famy..
We left the wedding at about 2.30 pm and reached JB at about 2.00 a.m. 1st-June, 2008 after clocking about 1,200 Km journey...
May Allah accept our journey to attend the Waleemah and especially to ziarah our long time neighbour and friend.
May Allah Bless both the Bride and Bridegroom and their parents... and may their wedding knot will last forever...Ameen..

USIM - Landscape Lighting

2008-06-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

One of the remaining projects SAFF has at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) is Landscape Lighting. The project was awarded last year and supposed to be tested and commissioned by now. On the 21-May-2008 recently, a preliminary view of the installation was carried out. Present during the preview were Mr. Richard (Archtectural Lighting), Pn. Fadzilayaty (SAFF Sen. EE). Syed Abd. Hadi (SAFF EE), Zaki (contractor), ANZ Landscape Architect and me (SAFF Photographer). Remaining issues to be settled are : 1. Lighting for the Iqra' Arca - apparently that there is not enough light shining to the top of the arca. It is suggested that the perimeter light fittings are to be mounted further away from the central pool on 1 meter high bollards. The architect (ANZ) will come out with the details. 2. Apparently, there is not enough lights on the water cascades in-front of the Admin Block. Actually, about 20-30% of the original light fitting were OMITTED from the original contract (cost-cutting exercise). USIM Landskape Architect has asked SAFF to re-propose the additional light fittings at the water cascade. Enclosed some of the photographs taken during the Project Prelim. Review.