Thursday, July 27, 2006

Mid-east crisis - green light for destruction

It is crystal clear that the Bush Administration is aiding Israel to totally wipe out Hizbullah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine. What we are witnessing now is a proxy war. American bombs, rockets and missiles are raining on Lebanon.

To the Americans and its allies, Israel is her closest and most trusted ally, Hizbullah and Hamas are terrorist organisations but to the Palestinians and Muslims all over the world, with the exception of most of the Arab countries who are watching and doing nothing to stop their brothers and sisters being slaughtered by Israeli terrorists, Hizbullah and Hamas are freedom fighters. They are fighting to free Palestine. They are defending their homeland.

Malaysia also condemned the daily Israeli bombardment, but as chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is slow, much too slow, to react to the escalating situation. It would have been a different scenario if Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is in charge.

Menawhile, some Malaysians are angry with what is going on in Lebanon and Palestine. However, they do not know how to express their anger against Israel and the United States. They only know how to do it verbally.

Most if not all of them are still patronising American fast-food outlets such as McDonalds, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken, drink Coca Cola and Pepsicola, drink coffee at Starbucks, and enjoying Hollywood movies. By doing so, they are indirectly financing the manufacturing of weapons to kill innocent people in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are Muslim families planning to go to Disneyland in the US for holidays although they realised how Muslims are being treated by the American authorities. May be they are too dependent on America for their luxury livelihood.

Allah's blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad
Allah's blessings and salutations be upon Him.
O my Lord! forgive me my sins
With the blessings of my guide Muhammad
And all-enveloping salams of Allah be upon Muhammad,
the most noble Messenger of Allah.
And continuous salutations that are renewed and revived every moment.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Bank Negara FOREX scandal

Former Bank Negara (BN) governor, the late Jaffar Hussein was "among the main architects of foreign exchange speculation" that caused losses of up to 30 billion ringgit, a former BN official has alleged, contrary to assertions by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Rosli Yaakop, who until April 1994 was the bank's economics department deputy manager, told malaysiakini.com that Jaffar could not be released from sharing the responsibility together with second finance minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop for the losses that occurred between 1992 to 1994.

Rosli was at Bank Negara then and he said he knew the inside story.

In an exclusive interview with malaysiakini.com last week, Anwar claimed that Jaffar "did not know about it (the losses)" and "genuinely thought that it was a small amount".

Anwar, then finance minister, named former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as having been in cahoots with former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and Nor Mohamed to cause the losses.

Jaffar and Nor Mohamed, then assistant governor in charge of investment, reserve management and foreign exchange trading, were made to step down following an internal inquiry.

Rosli told malaysiakini that Jaffar's biggest mistake while leading Bank Negara was "placing too much trust in Nor Mohamed and failing to discern breach of Bank Negara regulations and (currency) market norms."

In the final analysis, Rosli said the actions of Jaffar and Nor Mohamed had led the people's money to "go down the drain" and had burdened the public.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Where are we heading to?

Today, we have higher buildings, wider highways but shorter temperaments and narrower points of view. We spend more, but enjoy less, we have bigger houses, but smaller families. We have more compromises, but less time.

We have more medicines, but less health. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk much, we love only a little, and we hate too much.
We have higher income, but less morals.

Where are we heading to?

Saturday, July 22, 2006

What state leaders say about Dr Mahathir

Following are what state leaders said about former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad before he retired in October 2003, as reported by The Star daily in its special edition (Star Collector's Issue), dated 31 October 2003.

1. DATUK SERI ADNAN YAAKOB, who became Pahang Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) in 1999, described meeting Dr Mahathir as having "a three-in-one experience" as it was like meeting a father, a teacher and adviser.

Adnan also said one thing which he had picked up from Dr Mahathir was on the economic matters.

"I have managed to understand some basic knowledge of economics and current issues through reading a lot of the Prime Minister's speeches."

2. JOHOR Menteri Besar DATUK ABDUL GHANI OTHMAN recalled the day he first attended the Cabinet meeting as Youth and Sports Minister when Dr Mahathir instructed him to tackle the "lepak" culture. (Lepak refers to youth/juveniles lazing aimlessly at shopping complexes)

"It took me nearly six months to come out with the Rakan Muda programme.
"But it took him less than an hour to give his approval and on top of that he wanted it to be implemented on a large scale."

3. MELAKA Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Rustam will always remember three key advice given to him by Dr Mahathir.

"First, he briefed me about the Federal Government's policy. Secondly, he advised me on the proper way to spend money.

"Finally, he said to me "Don't get involved in scandals or unnecessarily with women."

4. PERLIS Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim regards every moment spent with Dr Mahathir as a "most memorable" occasion.

"Even during the 1987 UMNO crisis, he always seemed cheerful, always motivating us.

"Even in his younger days, his mere presence was captivating enough as Dr Mahathir had the ability to win people over."

5. PERAK Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali admires Dr Mahathir for planning his own retirement at the height of his popularity.

"I am impressed and proud of him for making this move."

Recalling the time when he worked as Deputy Home Minister under Dr Mahathir, Tajol Rosli said his boss was a firm, cautious and prudent person.

Let us go to Penang at the end of this month

A monthly showcase of Malaysian arts, crafts and culture will be held at Upper Penang Road, Penang, beginning Sunday, 30 July from 10am to 8pm.

Called Little Penang Street Market, the event will feature contemporary design, traditional trades and eco-initiatives. Among the attractions for visitors will be children's activities, street entertainment, live music and performances.

It is organised by a group of Penang people who care about keeping Penang culturally vibrant. It aims to provide a regular market-place and platform for Penang-based talents in arts and crafts, design and music.

Little Penang is a non-profit project coordinated by Lestari Heritage Network with a grant from The Institute for Cultural Enterprise (ICE), New York.

If you do not have prior engagement, please proceed to Penang with your family to join in celebrating and appreciating the street market on 30 July.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Today, 57 years ago....

I was born on this day, July 19, 57 years ago in Georgetown, Penang. Both my parents were gone to be with their Creator - Allah. I am blessed with a wonderful and dedicated wife Sharifah Aishah Syed Abbas Alhabshee, five children - three boys and two girls and two grandsons. These are my family.

My daughters - Zainab & FAzlun
My late mother's house in Penang
My wife Aishah and grandsons Arman (baby) & Aimar
- My sons - Binyamin, Firdaus and Salikhin
Arman - three months

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Prayer for the Muslim freedom fighters

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

O Allah! Shower peace and blessings on Sayedina Muhammad, his Family, and his Companions.

O Allah! Help the Muslim freedom fighters in Palestine, Lebanon, Chechna, Kashmir, Thailand, the Philippines and in all places. Amin.

O Allah! Shield and protect the Muslim freedom fighters, make them strong and firm,
give safety to them, give victory to them, give glory, honour and might to them.

O Allah! Shower Your Good Pleasure on the Muslim freedom fighters.

O Allah! Bless and honour all the Muslims who are supporting the Muslim freedom fighters in one way or another. Amin.

O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayedina Muhammad.
O Lord! Bestow blessings and peace on him.

Al-Fatiha.

Friday, July 14, 2006

America continues to support Israeli terrorism

The United States again vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution put forward by Qatar on behalf of Arab states that called on Israel to immediately end its two-week military incursion in Gaza, and now in Lebanon.

For the record, about 30 of the 81 American vetoes cast over nearly 61 years of U.N. history have been linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

It is clear that American support for Israel is limitless. The so-called custodian of democracy and freedom is 100 per cent bias in favour of Israel.

Israel is a client state of America, serving American interests or, more particularly, the interests of its power elites. This view is underpinned by the obvious importance of oil, the huge strategic importance of the region and the fact that if Israel did not further the interests of those who control America, then we can be sure America would not support Israel.

The conflation of Jewish interests with American interests is nowhere more than stark than in present American foreign policy. If ever an image was reminiscent of a Jewish world conspiracy, the spectacle of the Jewish neo-cons gathered around President Bush and directing policy in the Middle East.

Laman2006 - Natioanal Landscape & Garden Festival






I visited the ongoing Laman2006 - The Malaysia International Landscape & Garden Festival at the Perdana Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur. The biennial national event from July 6-16 is presented by the National Landscape Department, Ministry of Housing anf Local Government.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Islam is not about turban and beard

Malaysia's Federal Court today, Wed July 12, dismissed the appeal of three students who were expelled from school for refusing to take off their turbans (serban in Malay) nine years ago.

Islam is not about turban and beard, the Federal Court's panel of three judges led by Court of Appeal president Abdul Malek Ahmad said. The panel was unanimous in their decision that not everything that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did or the way he did it, is legally or religiously binding on Muslims, or even preferable and should be followed.

The practice of wearing a turban was of little significance from Islam's point of view, what more in relation to under-age boys, said justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad in his written judgement read in court by a deputy registrar.

Abdul Hamid said the Al-Quran "makes no mention about the wearing of turban. I accept that the Prophet wore a turban. But he also rode a camel, built his house and mosque with clay walls and roof of leaves of date palms and brushed his teeth with the twig of a plant."

"Does that make riding a camel a more pious deed than travelling in an aeroplane? Is it preferable to build houses and mosques using the same materials used by the Prophet and the same architecture adopted by him during his time?" he asked.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

All that is bad is from us

For the last week, I was down with flu and bad cough. Thus my blog is not updated.

During the week, the Palestinians and Iraqis continued to suffer. Why?

The Quran says that all that is bad is from us and all that is good is from Allah. So we must conclude that the present miserable fate which we suffer, our oppression by others and the denigration of our religion is due to us.

I recalled what former Malaysian prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said in September 2003 and I quote:

"We must find out what we have done which is wrong, which is not in accordance with the teachings of Islam, and has brought misfortune upon us. We have to know this and knowing we have to correct ourselves and return to the true Islam so we may once again be blessed by Allah."

He went on to say that we cannot change the fundamentals of Islam or we will be changing the message and the teachings of Islam as brough by the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). We will in fact be changing the religion of Islam.

The Muslims and his community most certainly need religious guidance so there will be no straying from the prescribed path. The role of the Islamic scholars and teachers is essential but so are the role of food, clothing, shelter, health and security providers. Since all are performing their duties and contributing to the Islamic way of life, all must gain merit.

If the fundamentals of Islam are adhered to, there should not be conflicts and wars between Muslims. The fundamentals cannot differ. Muslims are brothers. This is fundamental to Islam.

"But we are hardly brothers to each other. We are ready to accuse each other of being apostates and we are ready to kill each other," Dr Mahathir once said.

Islam means peace. We wish peace upon each other. This is also fundamental to Islam.

The fundamentals of Islam are still relevant. We must go back to the fundamentals, to reading in order to acquire knowledge, to the brotherhood of the Muslims, to the way of life as prescribed by Islam, to the substance of the teachings of Islam in the Quran and the verified Hadith and not to the forms of Islam or the weak unverified hadtih.

There is only one Islam. It is still the perfect religion. The Holy Prophet brought to us only one religion of Islam. The Prophet was not quoted in any hadith as saying that it is Islam Hadhari. We have no need to reinvent Islam when facing new challenges of today.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Do we need a sinusitis institute?

Prime minister Abdullah Badawi is in Australia on holiday with his family (it is understood that his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin not in the exclusive group of holidaymakers). Australia is the favourite holiday playground of Abdullah's late wife, Hendon Mahmood.

It is no surprise that Abdullah went on holiday, again, but it is a surprise to know that he underwent sinus treatment in Perth. Sinus or resdung in Malay, is not a serious life-threathening disease. It can be easily treated in Malaysia, either by modern medicine or traditional medication.

As a comparison, when former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir suffered a severe heart problem, he underwent open heart surgery at the hands of local specialists at the KL Hospital. As a prime minister, he could be flown either to the United Kingdom or the United States for treatment by the best heart specialists in the world. But, no he preferred to be treated at home, by our very own heart specialists.

Tun was suffering from serious heart disease and not sinus and at that time the National Heart Institute was yet to be set up.

Now, what are sinuses?

The air chambers in the bone behind your cheeks, eyebrows and jaws are called sinuses. They make mucus, a fluid that cleans bacteria and other particles out of the air you breathe. Tiny hairs called cilia sweep mucus out of your sinuses so it can drain out through your nose.

Sinusitis is the name for a condition in which the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. Anything that causes swelling in your sinuses or keeps the cilia from moving mucus can cause sinusitis.

When sinusitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, you get a sinus infection. Sinus infections sometimes occurs after you've had a cold. The cold virus attacks the lining of your sinuses, causing them to swell and become narrow. Your body responds to the virus by producing more mucus, but it gets blocked in your swollen sinuses. This built-up mucus makes a good place for bacteria to grow. The bacteria can cause a sinus infection.

Normally, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic.

You don't have to fly to Perth, Australia to get treatment for sinusitis unless it is paid for by the government.