Aidilfitri 1428H

Today is 5 Shawal 1428H. I hope it is never too late to wish every muslim reader a happy and blessed aidil fitri, maaf zahir batin. Although eid falls on the 1st shawal of the islamic lunar calendar, we malaysians celebrate eid for the whole shawal month be it 29 or 30 days.

This year's raya:

• I managed to puasa the whole month so I dont need to do any ganti.
  
• I didn't buy any baju raya, or kasut raya, but i bought meself new tudungs and new set of brooches.
• I lost 5-8 kg. Therefore, I managed to fit into an old pair of Sisley pinstriped pants that I havent wore for the past 2 years or more.
  
• I went to visit my dearest Cikgu Maimunah Yunus in Sg.Merab Luar, who taught me in standard 3 and that I havent seen her for AGES.
• I also went convoying with another 2 ex-kisas classmates to beraya at our cikgu and ex-mentor, Cikgu Rosnaini Adnan in Kg.Kemensah, Ulu Klang, just next to the Zoo Negara.
• I drove with my parents on a convoy with another car driven by my 4th bro-inlaw to Johor Bahru on the Eid's night, saturday night 13 October 2007 that was. I haven't been to Johor for almost 7 years, and I have always regarded that city as my own personal romantic city in Malaysia. So many beautiful memories emblazoned forever in my heart during my 5-months working stints in Pasir Gudang. A supposedly 4 hours plus , can be 5 hours journey was somehow cut into 3 hours (or less as I had a half an hour or more break at one of the R&Rs) as I was constantly driving at 120 to 170 km/h speed. The midnight driving thrill effect was heightened by the thick fog blanketting the highways all the way from Pagoh to Kulai.
• I am most probably gonna be embarking on another relationship "adventure" . Wish me luck, occay. It aint gonna be a secret i tell ya, but this new relationship is still very fresh and i was afraid to jinx it. It all began in my last trip to Cameron Highlands, and I hope it'll continue to bloom and bloom inshallah. I am no longer with the bengal dude, but he's still my good buddy (so as a few of my old flames, and i like to remain friends with them especially that we have shared a very close, intimate and spiritual relationships together and we empower each other. Me bitter? In the beginning memang la kan bengang, sedeyyy and macam2 but i also treat all these as part of my life experiments. They weren't experiment rejects or anything like that but more on my personal progressing part. As we know, a research is always in the continual, dynamic mode and I as a researcher would naturally continually improving on the methodologies and looking for better ways to achieve better products and so on. Ala2 CQI , continual quality improvement laaaa....)
  

I am thinking of going to see PRamlee The Musical, which will commence its show tomorrow, 18 October 2007. More on this, please click here. The ticket ranges from RM50 to RM200. To Kak Ruby, Sean Ghazi gonna be the lead actor, playing the legend P.Ramlee.







My faculty is still almost empty. I came back to work today after raya and the parking lots and the whole area seems like a deserted place.

I better call anyone around,see if I could go beraya at their house this week or so....offer diri gitewwww....

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I finally managed to secure a ticket to watch the theatre. Berhempas-pulas aku dok tunggu, line busy memanjang, the ticket website pun slow semacam due to heavy traffic and then akhirnya , after like 150minutes of perseverance, I got the RM50 ticket on a Sunday matinee show, 28th Oct, Sunday. Apparently, Dr.Bubbles also gonna be there but on the following week and he'll be catching the last show from a better seating position.

This is gonna be my personal "debutante" into the Istana Budaya scene. I missed watching Puteri Gunung Ledang the Musical due to sengkek-ness, and so this time, I tried not to miss another of Tiara Jacquelina's masterpiece (i wonder whether she would make a cameo on the stage or not as she wasn't listed among the cast). Oh well, there'll always gonna be a first time for everything. Although i had to go there on my own, I'll make sure that my mood matches the theatre ambience. I need to think of what to wear for such an occassion now. Something that exudes bold and confidence yet sophisticated and warm. Hmmm....come to think of it, going on a baju raya should be ok too considering that it's an afternoon show and it's still Shawal, kan kan? but would that makes me look like so an outsider...? naaahhhh i'll drop that idea laaa....nanti tak cool....mana tau kot2 ade saper2 nak interview/terjah for any comment on the show, i'll be mistaken for someone going for an open house function plak.

Right. Must. not. get. too. excited.

cameron highlands 07-09 Sept 2007 and on ramadhan food

The first weekend of September, we had our department Colloquium and Family day in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. I was the treasurer for this program. All the committee members led by Prof.Dr. Abdul Amir and Assoc.Prof.Dr. Zahira have been working really hard in realizing this program, which we didnt manage to do last year due to budget constraints. Although it was meant for our department academic and supporting staffs, it would not take place if it wasnt for the commitment of the committee members and the full support of all the department staffs in general.



This Cameron Highlands trip was the second trip ever for me there. The first one was way back in 1990, thats 17 years ago, when i was in form 2. I joined our secondary school excursion but unfortunately, that particular cameron highlands trip wasnt the joyous trip for me. I went because i've never been there before and I know I will have to wait for a long time before i could go there with my family. We were already a big family of 10 and obviously we could not fit into our old small proton saga car that time at one go. Therefore, i decided to ask my parents for some extra pocket money to join this school trip and many other school trips organized by the school.


Anyways, this second trip, I had a really wonderful time. Even though we didnt really get much time to spend touring around this popular tourist temperate-climate destination due to our packed program and short weekend, we managed to enjoy whatever moment we had together be it the colloquium program, family day sports carnival or those short trips around some of the places around town. I tried to remember what I did and where i went 17 years ago, but most of the memories seemed irrelevant to me. All i could recall were this passion fruit discovery, some english roses, staying at some cheap hotel along the shophouses and met with two very friendly Pahang policemen who went on chatting with me nearby the cheap hotel lobby for whatever reason i couldnt really remember much except some funny and not so funny stories on their experience working with the pahang sultan.



This recent trip, we stayed at Century Pines Resort, Tanah Rata. It was not the plushest hotel (rated 4 star) but one of the (uncanny) things i could remember the most was my little encounters with this cute Burmese hotel caretaker/room service fella. He was just about my height ( 5 ft 5 inches) but he sure has this cute, innocent, kuning langsat flawless skin face. IN the first few times he came to my room sending some items i asked for, i couldnt tell whether he was local or not. He has this pahang-terengganu sweet look, couldve been some bit of japanese takuya kimura looks, too (or saper2 la cute japanese actor with lovely big, slanting eyes, and nice thick lock of jetblack hair) . Wa takde la crush or jatoh centa, beb, saje suka2 cuci mata gitewww. Then on the final night (saturday night), I called the room service again to check the shower head in my room and they sent him (again). He took a look and check the faulty (loose) head and told me he had to get a new set of washer to tighten the grip. He came back after like 10 minutes and began working on the shower head. As he was not that tall, i asked him to just step into the bath tub instead of struggling to stretch his feet up. He didnt speak much but i thought (dengan gatalnya sikit) whats wrong with having some short conversation (on the technical aspect of the shower and maintenance of course) with him and somehow he replied in some mixed malay-funny accent. I took it as my cue as I straightforwardly asked him where is he from. And he said in a casual yet monotonous answer: Myanmar. Those short communication i had with him kinda ease up any usual awkwardness especially that I am a single (goodlooking) woman occupying the room on my own and he is a dude. It's like showing him my own prerogative and my own prowess (?) that sort of sending him the message that hey i am ok, u just do your work and be gone.

I dunno some myanmar/burmese dude would look cute like that. Thai guys i know, but burmese, besides those monks struggling against those Junta on the rally for democratic myanmar and campaigning to free Aung San Su Kyi, i havent a clue much on the "cuteness" level there. But now that i found one who is far from the typical burmese dark sawo matang looks, i rest my case on burmese men (on the not so goodlooking indochinese looks part). No offence to any burmese around, but it's good to know that cute guys do exist there, i jer yang tak perasan.

Special nursery area for flowers at MARDI cameron highlands

Saujana mata memandang at Bharat Tea plantation

I am doing my best "belilah Cameronian Tea" promotion attempt

I've got my MOJO (and grooves) back!

I knew that I need to get away from Malaysia (or away from klang valley) and go somewhere fun or exotic to reinstore my mojo and grooves back. Why is it mattered so much to me? Hell yeah it does. It's to do a lot with refreshing one's mind esp in those places I visited , i get a good relaxing moments, enjoying breathtaking views and some bit of a good old chitchat with some goodlooking fellas....no, i am not gatal or anything....but some little flirt and attention from the opposite sex does something to my self-esteem hence my mojo and grooves! It doesnt do much around here but when it comes to holidaying, it kinda give me some spiced up effect? Light-headed, laughing, no work stress....no wonder i feel so much healthier (and lighter due to lotsa walking around) everytime i come back from a delightful trip.

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I must confess that I still owe a few tags to do but since this is a call for ramadhan food (and only during ramadhan), I reckon i'll have a go at it. So, Ija, here are the list of foods that I would drool over definitely eat during Ramadhan. Mind u that i no longer am that big eater or having lotsa food cravings...My taste bud gets more and more exclusive and my tummy gets less and less expanding power and with somewhat low level of kepedasan threshold/endurance.



Name 5 food that you feel like having for iftar la, but not on the same day:


1. McDonald’s beef foldover (sama la kita. Somehow, I have become a beef lover this year, I'd go for beef anytime over chicken and I do not know why)

2. Good old ikan bakar (siakap (seabass), or tenggiri (kingfish) or even the humble ikan kembung (mackarel) cicah sambal asam

3. Beef lasagna

4. Meehoon bandung muar (must be with beef)

5. KuayTeow Kerang (i just had it during our iftar today, my mum cooked it)



Name 5 food you would like to have for breakfast if you could (as in sahur, ok):


1. A 1/4 plate of Nasi putih with sambal sotong and sayur kailan/sawi goreng kicap

2. Hot Baguette sandwich with tuna, mature cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and butter

3. Rich-fibre bread sandwich with cheese and tomato

4. Good old creamy Greek yoghurt with dollop of honey and a cuppa hot choc

5. A 1/4 plate of nasi putih and tomyam campur.



Name 5 food you would most likely buy for berbuka today:

1. Tau foo fa

2. Tepung pelita

3. Air tebu or soya

4. Chicken/beef murtabak

5. Air kelapa muda straight from the coconut, together with its soft white flesh.

I feel blessed

I Am Blessed
(by Eternal)


Ooh, hmm
Here in the silence I say a prayer
Though I've never seen you somehow I know you're there
You're in the faces of the people that I meet
You're as silent as the Earth beneath my feet
So if I should complain that all I have is not enough

Forgive me, I've been given so much



And I am blessed, every time I look into my baby's eyes
I think of all the friends who've touched my life
I realise in a world where some have more and some have less
I have love and I am blessed

So many changes this world can put you through
Sometimes it's hard to find a way if a heart can get confused
But then I hold you and it all falls into place
You've given me what time cannot erase
So when I'm feeling down or feel sorry for myself
I look around and it's easy to tell



That I am blessed, every time I look into my baby's eyes
I think of all the friends who touched my life
I realise in a world where some have more and some have less
I have love and I am blessed




Every time I look into my baby's eyes

I realise I think of all the friends who touched my life

And I am blessed (I am blessed)
Every time I look into my baby's eyes (I look into your eyes)
I think of all the friends who have touched my life
I realise (I realise) you've given me such peace and happiness
In this world where some have more and some have less
I am loved
And I am blessed

g'day from down under!

hehe....short blog from melbourne. Been here for 4 days and it's been marvellous....i'm glad i'm actually having my fast here in the midst of lovely spring time.

Today is the Chemeca2007 conference final day. And later in the midnite (thats thursday early morning) i'll be flying back to KL.

What A PLUSH hotel, and what lovely atmosphere here....definitely will think of coming back to melbourne. Friendly people too. And plenty of chinese....doesnt matter where is their country of origin (includes malaysia) but the chinatown is definitely one of the significant landmark in the heart of the city.

First time down under and it sure is far from disappointing. Yupp, i am like down under the planet earth....funny huh?

Let us observe Ramadhan

Salam Ramadhan kareem to all, may we observe the fasting of Ramadhan steadfastly, full of humility aiming to ask for blessings (barakah), forgivings (maghfirah) and Allah's good pleasure and satisfaction (mardhatillah).

From Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:265

"And the likeness of those who spend their substance, seeking to please Allah and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest, and if it receives not Heavy rain, light moisture sufficeth it. Allah seeth well whatever ye do"


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An interesting article from Islamicity.

"Fasting in Ramadan develops in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, and of equality before God. This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel that they are joining the whole Muslim society (which makes up more than one fifth of world's population) in observing the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motives, and for the same end. No sociologist or historian can say that there has been at any period of history anything comparable to this powerful institution of Islam: Fasting in the month of Ramadan. People have been crying throughout the ages for acceptable 'belonging', for unity, for brotherhood, for equality, but how echoless their voices have been, and how very little success they have met..." says Hammudah Abdalati, in Islam in Focus.


"What is fasting?" "How does the fasting of Muslims in Ramadan differ from the fasting of other faiths?" "Why should one 'torture' one's body in the first place?" "What do you really gain from fasting in the end?"...These are a few questions that a number of non-Muslim friends and colleagues often ask us, usually out of fascination with this spiritually-uplifting practice of Islamic faith, and at times out of pity and sympathy for us, thinking, why should anyone suffer from hunger and thirst like Muslims? I wouldn't be surprised if many of us shared the same negative perception of Fasting.

It is important to note that Fasting in Arabic is called, "Sawm", which literally means 'to be at rest'. Fasting in the month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar) is one of the Five Pillars upon which the "house" of Islam is built. During this month, every able-bodied Muslim, is required to fast, everyday from dawn until dusk .

12 Reasons To Fast!

1. Fasting is an institution for the improvement of moral and spiritual character of human being. The purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint, self-purification, God-consciousness, compassion, the spirit of caring and sharing, the love of humanity and the love of God. Fasting is a universal custom and is advocated by all the religions of the world, with more restrictions in some than in others. The Islamic Fast, as opposed to mere starvation or self-denial, is an act of worship and obedience to God, thanksgiving, forgiveness, spiritual training, and self-examination.

2. Ramadan gives us a break and provides us with a rare opportunity to think about our own selves, our future, and our families. It is a time to give our selves a mental break and to temporarily forget about the hundreds of worries and stresses we are constantly bombarded with. In hectic times, such as ours, and in places like the West, this valuable time to think about our lives, on individual basis, is a luxury and is desperately needed! It is a unique month of self-analysis, and of taking stock of one's moral and spiritual 'assets and liabilities'.

3. Fasting indoctrinates us in patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When we fast we feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to endure it patiently. The meaning of this powerful experience in a social and humanitarian context is that we are much quicker than anybody else in sympathizing with the oppressed and needy around the world, and responding to their needs. "

4. Fasting in Ramadan enables us to master the art of mature adaptability and Time-Management. We can easily understand this point when we realize that fasting makes people change the entire course of their daily life. When they make the change, they naturally adapt themselves to a new system and schedule, and move along to satisfy the rules. This, in the long run, develops in them a wise sense of adaptability and self-created power to overcome the unpredictable hardships of life! A person who values constructive adaptability, time-management, and courage will appreciate the effects of Fasting in this respect as well.

5. It cultivates in us the principle of sincere Love, because when we observe Fasting, we do it out of deep love for God. And a person, who loves God, truly is a person who knows what love is and why everyone on this Earth should be loved and treated justly, for the sake of God.


6. Fasting elevates the human spirit and increases our awareness of God. It strengthens our will-power as we learn to rise above our lower desires. The institution of fasting is both unique and a shared experience in human history. From the very beginning of time, humans have struggled to master their physical and psychological selves: their bodies and their emotions. Hunger is one the most powerful urges that we experience. Many, through over- or under-eating or consumption of unhealthy foods, abuse this urge. Thus, when a person purposefully denies something to their own self that it craves, they are elevating their mind above their body, and their reason and will above their carnal passions. "A fasting person empties his stomach of all the material things: to fill his soul with peace and blessings, to fill his heart with love and sympathy, to fill his spirit with piety and Faith, to fill his mind with wisdom and resolution," says H. Abdalati in Islam in Focus. The person who can rule their desires and make them work, as they like, has attained true moral excellence.


7. With the clarity of mind and absence of distractions, also comes a greater focus. As students, the period of fasting, especially early during the day, serves as a tool to focus our minds on our academics. In the month of Ramadan, many Muslims try to avoid watching TV, listening to music, and some other leisure activities, which spares them more time and energy to be spent on more productive activities such as academics, intense study of Islam, voluntary prayers, social and humanitarian causes, and a quality time with the family, to name a few. It is a reminder of our duty to God, our purpose and higher values in life, as God Himself describes the purpose of fasting as follows, "O you who Believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may develop consciousness of God" (Quran 2:183).



8. Fasting has numerous, scientifically proven, benefits for our physical health and mental well-being. The time, length and nature of the Islamic Fast all contribute to its overall positive effect. One of the medical benefits is a much-needed rest to the digestive system. The reduced food intake during the day allows the body to concentrate on getting rid of harmful dietary toxins accumulated as natural by-products of food digestion throughout the year. The length of the Islamic Fast itself (around 12-14 hours) is in sync with the 'transit time' of food from the mouth to the colon of the large intestine, ensuring that no stimulus reaches the stomach or digestive system while it remains in homeostasis. Therefore, for the vast majority of healthy individuals fasting poses no medical risks but in fact provides many health benefits, such as: an increase in serum Magnesium, essential for cardio-vascular health and prevention of heart complications; improvement in the quality and depth of sleep; improvement in memory and slower skin aging over time; increased production of growth hormone, etc. Also, as a general note, it has been observed that underfed animals live longer than their heavily fed counterparts and suffer fewer illnesses during their lives.



9. The month of Ramadan provides us with a sort of "Boot camp." It is a month of intense moral training. Since we know that Fasting is a special duty prescribed by God, we learn that any sins may spoil our record of fasting with God, so we go through great lengths making sure we are on our best behavior. Many people who experience fasting in this month, feel the impact that this intense training has on their habits, and realize the power of this transformative tool designed to make us better human beings- the ultimate goal of any spiritual exercise. The entire Ramadan atmosphere provides the driving force for this positive change.



10. It makes us realize the reality of life and death. Fasting makes us realize how dependant our lives are on things that we often take for granted, such as food and water. It makes us think about our dependence on God and God's mercy and justice. Moreover, it reminds us of the life after death, which itself has a great impact on our character and our world-view.



11. Ramadan is a blessed month for a special reason: It is actually the month in which God first revealed His final message and guidance for mankind to our beloved Prophet Muhammad. This message has been perfectly preserved both orally and textually in the form of a Book, called the Qur'an (The Reading/Recital). Therefore, Muslims try to do an intense study of the Quran in this month especially, and evaluate their lives according to the standards and guidance contained in it.



12. After the month of Ramadan is over, Muslims celebrate one of the two most important holidays in the Islamic year: EID-UL-FITR, or the Festival of the Fast Breaking. It is a day to thank God for the blessing and training that He provides us with throughout the month of Ramadan. EID-UL-FITR is marked by praying in a huge congregation at an Islamic center or mosque, and by giving a small donation to the poor in the community. The adults give the donation on behalf of their children as well. Dinner parties, family outings, fairs, carnivals, and great joyous celebrations follow the prayer and charity.


In a nutshell, even though the real purpose of the dynamic institution of Fasting is to discipline our soul and moral behavior, and to develop sympathy for the less fortunate, it is a multi-functional and a comprehensive tool of change in various spheres of our lives, including: social and economic, intellectual and humanitarian, spiritual and physical, private and public, personal and common, inner and outer ---all in one!

31/08/2007: 50 years Merdeka!

Malaysia 50 years Independency (Merdeka) official logo:

Malaysiaku Gemilang or My Malaysia Glorious is created and chosen as our 50 years merdeka slogan as depicted from the current national slogan made famous by our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi : Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang (excellence, glory, distinction).


An advert from RTM displaying Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the Father of Independence (bapa kemerdekaan):




This year's merdeka theme song:






I was rather poorly from 29th august and only felt better on the 31st august afternoon. I missed those detik 12 malam (12 midnight moment) when the clock stroke 12 marking the merdeka night. I tried to stay awake, but my ailing body gave up like 30mins before midnight only to wake up again at around 2.00am feeling rather feeble. But i was never short of feeling patriotic and proud of my nation having survived 50 years of independency. Our country may still be young yet we have achieved so many things that made us very proud to call ourselves malaysian.

After 446 years of under colonisation from the portuguese (1511-1641), dutch (1641-1825), british (1825-1957) and japanese (1941-1945), we received our independency from the british on the 31st of August 1957. Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra performed the declaration of independency with 7 shouts of Merdeka on that day at Stadium Merdeka, KL.


OK enough with all the history facts, I am ever so glad to be born a Malaysian.

Unknown status of Manal Ismail

What is it that is so bothering people about my status: single????


I am quite happy the way life is and I am quite grateful of what I have had so far and I am aspiring to achieve more and more in the near future for the betterment of my life.


I am not quite as what people perceive me as. I may look demure sometimes in my full office customs: tudung, baju kurung/ baju kebaya/ blouse and skirt/ blouse and slacks/ 3 inches heels/ 1 inch heels/ and I arrange them with some matching colour coordination whichever suits my taste and mood. But do not prejudge me just by what dress u see me in. I tried as much as possible to not expose a lot of flesh to the public but I also don some certain trendy tops and jeans that show off my curves. Heck I am voluptious and I am proud of my curves. The thing is a lot of men and women out there who are so not-very-sharp in looking at my physique. Just because i wear loose baju kurung, they think: "hey u put on weight". But then when i am in my casual (sometimes hawt) attire, i received some unusualy positive remarks like: "wow u look good", or "u lost a lot weight" or they just thought that i am an undergraduate, taken for an undergraduate, a fresh face at a company and so on.



I do not wreck any married people's marriage and I am certainly do not intend to do so even if a married man is bagging at my feet to accept him (ptuiihhh pi mampossss, pi balik to ur wife la, kalau tak suka dia sgt, divorce her or marry somebody else, and stop buggering me OK, comprende? capisci? katalavez? fahimta? faham? understand? samjay? and padan moka hang kawen that kinda lady)


I am thinking of getting married once i have sorted out some of the more IMPORTANT things first and foremost like trying to clear some overdraft and credit card debts and rebuilding my savings. And a few more other things like losing weight, revitalise myself, enjoying my freedom, and some few more things. I am not your normal 31 years old woman who is wallowing in self-pity for being unmarried and all. I have only started to really, really get to be in the man-woman affair and all things pertaining to it when i was 23. Although my first date was way back when i was 17, I have not totally blossomed into a full woman of integrity and one hawt woman not until 23 and above. I struggled to appreciate the best things about being a woman having grown up as a tomboyish tomboy (not exactly a tomboy but I dont like a lot of girly things and i was kinda rough). And once i knew how wonderful it was to be a woman in my own way, i see a bright future ahead and i see a LOT of new exciting things. After all, God created women equipped with their own very special strengths, intelligence and capabilities that (almost) do not exist in men.



I am a normal woman albeit one of a kind. I used to have some dark fantasies (well, not necessarily dark, but to conservatives and social conformists, they may take it as one) but I am making my own efforts to be a good muslimah in my OWN way. So dont u go blast me with woteva hell of holy scriptures u may wanna think of coz i am pretty much EDUCATED. You wanna go blabla about it, be a smart or equal to me and do it with hikmah and mau'izatul hasanah. Otherwise, shut ur gob and piss off.




You think that I have been missing a lot? Nope, certainly not, in fact, I am most certainly advanced and full of knowledge of anything to do with desire and sex education. I love to share the knowledge rather than listening to some people bragging about it. But i rather keep them to myself except to the man i love and very few openminded close friends who are not gonna be that judgmental and they are actually wanted to discuss on a certain issue relating to it in the name of knowledge.



I am enjoying learning so many things, God knows. And I know a lot of things about married life, kids, the upbringing process and so on. I may have to experience the labour pains, giving birth, and all that but i am a fast learner and a curious one too. I am not ashamed in asking anybody who i think knows better to be able to learn new things, and that include just about anything that i find interesting or am curious at, like learning more on web design, pc, car, chemical engineering stuff, new gadgets, and many2 more. I have been independent since I am 3 years old and getting better ever since.



I was sceptical about marriage in my early 20s and I was only beginning to accept the idea of it in my late 20s. I do not feel old (although sometimes i do get backpains, kneepains and stuff) and i act according to my age (sometimes i feel like i am older and sometimes i am like younger than my peers). I am ever so grateful that I did not get married in my early 20s.



Waiting for the right man???? N-O: NO. Preparing to settle down with the right man for me more likely. I saw couples at my friend's daughter's birthday party today, most came with 1, 2, 3 kids or more. And most couples are average looking people, or their wives looked better or both the husbands and wives deserved each other, none the better looking. Some are bloody smug married couple , like i give a fuck innit? I am not implying that I deserve a very good-looking man or anything like that, but of course, he would match my looks and my wisdom (yo bengal tiger, r u reading this? must rebuff ur physique a bit, love). He may or may not earn a PhD degree but his life experience and his passion towards his career building equal or higher than what i am.



When am I getting married??? There is this already-written-by-God thing and there is also when-do-i-feel-like-i-want-it-to.



Inlaws? I dont give much a toss on this. I am sometimes elusive, repulsive, impulsive, compulsive and an enigma to my family and u r expecting me to be goody2 very caring daughter/sister inlaw? U good to me, I good to u. U mess with me, u be very sorry (simple principle innit?). Call me self absorbed, but who the hell would u please other than urself first of all. And to love urself more too. I am so non-conformist, many typical malay guys would get scared of this. No laaa....not like i am gonna make ur parents's life a living hell. I am like Jennifer Lopez in Monster-Inlaw. Loving but with cautious and conscience. I had enuf with guilt-ridden for nothing. U cant please everyone so why dont u please urself first? As Mark Twain once quoted: "All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure". If u keep worrying wot everyone wants u to be or to do or woteva things they bitch/think about u, u aint going no where but definitely heading down the misery lane.



Am I beautiful? Yes (though overweight). Am I a good person? Yes. Then why am I not married yet? Because I lead/design my life the way I want it and not for you to dictate what u feel about me and this include my mother who has always been worried sick of this second daughter of hers. I always pray to Allah for her longevity and good life and she will be able to see each and every one of us settling down, having babies and all. Ameen. So far, four are already married out of her nine children and 3 of the married ones bore her grandchildren.


OK, lega....just venting out my disappointment.

*Dont care if u disagree or anything. Look after ur own life and family first before yap-yapping somebody else like some holier-than-thou.

Introducing Dr.Brian May of Queen

Many congratulations to Brian May on his PhD degree conferment!





More on this, click here.

It goes to show that not all rockers are not techie or not so much of an intellectual. In other words, there are a few brilliant ones and Brian May is definitely one of them who managed to join the celebrity intelligent echelon. He , together with Farrokh Bulsara (or more widely known to the world as Freddy Mercury) and drummer Roger Taylor formed the rock band Queen while he was still in his undergraduate at Imperial College in 1970 . After nearly 4 decades, he made the college proud again for displaying such a perseverance on completing his PhD studies.

Here's saluting you, Brian for this sweet victory even if you are already 60 years old.

that videoclips by namewee and kenny sia

Negaraku version :





And another one, kawanku:




To Wee Meng Chee: your singing not bad...and when u sing the negaraku, it sounds ok to me, and u look pretty much "malay"-blended to me.

I ni pon kadang2 dunno how to distinguish between which is which, a lot of melayu look like mamak, like chinese, to me they are all east asian communities mixing together and living together and eat the same dishes (nasi lemak, roti canai, etc). They marry each other, chinese become muslims, indian become muslims, there are muslim chinese by birth, muslim indians by birth and so on....


And have u not heard 'God Save the Queen' sex pistol version?

Did she the queen herself put all of them johnny rotten n the gang in prison and force them to apologize before the world? she was mocked and that song became like the 2nd national anthem of the late 70s and did she go "kuku" over that? surely she knew they're taking the piss but she was and still is the HRH Queen of Britannia....

My point here is: take it with a pinch of salt. All that he said aint new but what is new is how he managed to youtube his talent and made negaraku-ku a global vista.


Plus, he's in taiwan, and taiwaneses are bold in their political speeches. Talking about being patriotic the taiwan way.

I'm openminded enuf to listen to those youtube, but are u?


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Amidst all that namewee most talked about videoclips, kenny sia responded with his own version, go watch it:




But Kenny, why more chinese schools???? sure, more and more malay kids go to SJKC and SMJKC but doncha think we should go for sekolah kebangsaan with chinese classes instead??? how much longer do we need all these silly segregations if we continue all these social dividing at primary and secondary school levels? I know it's tough but prolly another 10 years or so, I anticipate a better harmonious merge. Lets do more integrasi schools then as option. As in sekolah agama rendah, which managed to get integrated into government schools and so should the chinese schools (as well as tamil schools) integrated into government schools as well.


I teach all chinese, tamil and malay mongrel kids at my university and i treat all fair and square. Some of my chinese ex-students even during my tutor time are still in touch. Heck, i am bloody globalised innit? the proclaimed citizen of the world, innit babe* (the bengal tiger dude).

kisah baskin-robbins

Yeayyy....i managed to replace those missing ramadhan days recently and how did i celebrate after iftar?? Two large scoops of baskin-robbins ice creams: 1 scoop of Pralines and Cream and another 1 scoop of Chocolate mousse royale.

If i was in london or UK in general, i would definitely buy me some haagen-dazs pralines and cream and ben & jerry's chocolate fudge brownie, 1 pint tub each, and scoop meself some bits of each ice creams while putting on some feelgood movies or chick flicks DVDs. And if I could spare some few extra quids, i would also add in the ice cream bowl those delish strawberry haagen-dazs ice cream to perfect things up. Or I could top those pralines and choc fudge brownie with strawberry coulis.


Thank goodness we still have some good quality ice creams sold here. I was kinda disappointed that Haagen-Dazs did not continue importing most of its european ice creams here and instead leaving it to their indonesian branch to sell some strangely concocted and not so very authentic ones....And we dont have Ben & Jerry's too????? WTF.....I am not a big ice cream eater or anything but I prefer the quality ones if I really wanna gorge on them. OK la exceptional case goes for the RM 1.00 ice creams cones at either Carrefour or Jaya Jusco. And of course, Walls solero.


Mid-september to mid-october gonna be ramadhan month again.

Puasa Ganti

Kenapa la agaknya puasa ganti terasa macam perlahan sahaja berbanding dengan puasa di bulan ramadhan? Nak puasa sunnat pun tidaklah banyak cabarannya macam puasa ganti. Dah la nak kena bangun sahur sorang2....sebab kalau tak bangun sahur nanti terasa penat sepanjang hari.

Itu sahaja, sekian terima kasih.

Jana Gana Mana: National Indian Anthem 50 years independency

When I watch this videoclip, it brings tears to my eyes. The effect will be heightened if you listen to it with eyes closed and let your ears and feelings do their magics. You probably need to understand some of the lyrics but trust me, the way some of the Indian biggest veteran artists carry the tune are heartfelt :





I hope we Malaysian can produce something poignant like this clip for our beloved Negaraku national anthem in conjunction with our very own 50 years independency this coming 31 August 2007.

Caning sentence for drug dealers

We know that it is already gruesome the blackmaria punishment at the gallows for those who committed drug trafficking offences in malaysia (i think this punishment is for trafficking a certain amount of class A illegal drugs). In other words, it is a mandatory death sentence for those who is found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Malaysia.

Just today, I found this in Daily Mail: Corporal punishment: caning . It includes a LiveLeak videoclip (an online videoclip sharing site similar to a youtube concept) that shows a Malay drug dealer getting 20 rotan lashes on his buttock for the drug crime. The six-minute clip entitled Malaysian Caning Judicial Corporal Punishment was intended as a public educational message clip or rather, a strong reminder that flogging will be carried out to anyone who dares to commit such a crime.

Be warned that it is a rather graphic clip.

Jump-start the car: please!

Last monday, 30 July 2007, I came to work in the midst of slightly heavy rainy morning. Struggling to get my handbag and my document case out of the car while still holding an umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh....rihanna that is), i closed my car door without realising that i have left those pair of smaller headlights on. I clicked the alarm button and left in a haste into the faculty block. Not an alarm sound made by my Toyota Vios 1.5G car but the usual locked indicator sound. Like any other occassion, i thought, for a short glance, that the car was left on a safe mode.


It was a long day at work that monday and I left the building at around 6.30pm. As I walked towards my car, clicked the security alarm to unlock it, but no "open" sound came from it at all. I walked right next to the car, clicked again and still to no avail. I decided then to check all the side windows and anything else including the tyres just to see if anything might have contributed to it. But still nothing. My car looked like in a mint condition (physically speaking).


Right....just unlocked the door manually i said, and so i inserted my car key and turned it anti-clockwise. As the car door opened in a complete silent, not even breaking the alarm at all, i suspected at once that my car battery must have konked out. Yeahh....now i remember....i must have left those lights on resulting in the battery gone dead. Even the immobiliser was dead. A battery-dead car.


What should i do...??? At 6.40pm, nearing maghrib time, the dusk was so near and I must think fast. It's already past office hour and i doubt the car workshops nearby were still open. Yuppp, call the auto-assist. It's free innit as it came together with the comprehensive car insurance package. Just as i hung up my mobile after making an arrangement for the insurance company to contact the nearest workshop panel to my location, i saw one of our faculty technicians walking towards his Avanza MPV. Not knowing what his name was, I called to him anyway,

"assalamualaikum, excuse me encik, ade jumpstart cable kit tak?".


He turned to look at me, smiling and told me that he might know somebody who has it.

"Tolong pi carik dia encik",

as I pleaded him to go find the other guy to bring the cables there. Off he went without any hesitation.


While waiting for the technician and possibly the mechanic from the panel workshop, I sat down next to my car hoping that everything will be fine soon. I tried not to call my parents as I believed that i can sort it out meself. Then I saw one of my lecturer colleagues, Dr.SrA, who was about to leave and waved at him to stop his car. He came out and asked me what was wrong, and so i asked him the same question i asked that technician previously. Like maybe so many people, he didnt carry the cables in his honda stream MPV and called his RA (research assistant) who kept the key to the engine lab at mechanical engineering department. Unfortunately, at that wee hour, the RA has left the building leaving me to place my hopes on the first technician and perhaps, the panel workshop mechanic.


Dr.SrA was waiting with me at the car park. He rang a few other people that he thought would possess those jump-start cables. Just a few minutes after that, the technician returned with our office maintenance fella and told me that they managed to get someone with those cables. Apparently those two fellas were in the middle of playing badminton when i first saw him near his Avanza.


A few other faculty staffs stopped at the scene and immediately it looked like some kind of an accident scene as the onlookers began chatting with those three fellas who stood not far from my car. At that moment I was actually rather relieved and pleased that help was on its way.


At last, the one with the cables came driving his car towards the front of my car and asked me to lift the bonnet up. Without further ado, he quickly took those cables out of his car and began connecting those cables skillfully at each negative and postive points on my dead battery to his fully functioning battery. While doing that, he asked me whether my car has passed the 1 year old age or not. I told him that by the end of this week, it will reach its first 12 months and then asked whats the relevance of it. He then suggested that it was about time that i replace the battery with a new one.


Actually, I've known about this battery replacement 7 weeks earlier when i send my car for its 3rd servicing. The toyota executive has already reminded me on that especially after the first dead-battery incident end of May. It was due to the car being left at the porch for over 2 weeks without any engine warm ups. Silly me as i did not unplug the battery first before leaving to the UK in early May.


As I turned on the ignition, my car was alive once again. I had to leave it on for a few minutes to warm the engine up and to ensure that everything was back to normal. Shortly after that, the panel workshop mechanic came over and saw to it that the work has been done. I still had to fill in and sign the auto-assist form as a proof to my car insurance company that the car has been sorted out.


It was really amazing the sense of camaraderie that were displayed by my faculty tehcnicians and colleague even though i did not know those technicians' names. I recognized their faces though. As i thanked them for their kindness, I went asking their names too....ala2 sessi ta'aruf giteww....They all laughed and said that they all knew me all along even during my tutor time back in 2000-2001 before i left for my PhD studies. Dear oh dear...tak sangka fofuler gak aku nih, hehe...


I made my way home with smiles all over me face. Thank God that I managed to get an immediate help and thank God that there are so many good, reliable people around me.
If somebody actually caught me doing that in the car, they wouldve thought that I was like over the moon in love or something the way i smiled. Such was a blissful feelings.



Here's a video clip of what u need to know about how to jump-start a car:


VideoJug: How To Jump Start A Car


Senja pon berlalu nan indah.....

Iraq emerged as the Asian Cup winner 2007

Despite many have died during the sometimes overrated, silly war that was motivated by the Bush regime, Iraq still managed to send some high callibre, high spirited, energetic (and banyak gak yg kekar2 looking ) football players to win the Asian Cup 2007. This 1-0 win against their fellow saudi arabian brothers was celebrated by all the major tribes in Iraq: sunnis, shiites and kurds. Such was a mutual joy that transcended the tribal barriers.

Iraqi captain, Younes Mahmoud scored the victory goal in the 1st half of the match.

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Pasukan Malaysia?????? agak laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa memalooooookannnnnnn.......!!!!!!

Saper yang bersalah....???? Kalau orang Iraq yang almost hari2 terima berita kematian and dengan banyak kekurangan dari segi facilities pon boleh menang, macam mana laaa diorang kat malaysia nih berlatih haaa???? so many factors contributing to the kekalahan yang paling teruk dalam sejarah bola sepak negara....ceh post ni aku nak tulis in malay sebab...ntah laa konon2 patriotik tapi seriously players pon ramai nya yang aku tak kenal pon. Except some very few names like akmal rizal. The rest are unknown to me. Kalau Almarhum Mokhtar Dahari masih hidup, menangis dia tengok betapa teruk nya performance young players nih.....Tu pon blom diskas about the management side and sape kepala2 management dia.....Setakat seorang letak jawatan doesnt really make much of a different pon. Except kurang sikit some kuasa mutlak, i reckon....

At least those under 12 players could save some grace. Dont politicize the game laa...let the best do their best on the turf and let us enliven those glory days of Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Aun, Santokh Singh, R.Arumugam, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Ghani Minhat, and many more veteran, dead or alive hall-of-fame Malaysian players who have fought tooth and nail to become the champion they were selected to be. Bring back the "fever pitch" feelings we had once upon a time when we were dubbed the South East Asian tigers.

Posh and Becks

photosource: DailyMail

The Beckhams leaving the British shore to the more sunnier ground:LA. Eh Zewt, is sunnier ground is equal to the proverbial "the grass is greener on the other side"?

Becks in his new LA Galaxy soccer jersey (photosource:DailyMail)

Umm....what can be said about Posh and Becks that has not been told yet (plenty more i supposed in the very near future gossip columns in The Sun and Daily Mail)? I found this photo on AP most viewed photos linked to yahoo.com. I think Lily would come up with much better things to say/anecdotes about this couple.

They definitely wanna make a ginormous entrance in LA....just recently, Becks was voted the hottest English male based on the E! Entertainment Hollywood pole. And Victoria also made some story of herself there besides that whole Spice Girls reunion and her boobs (wot-e-va).

Married for 8 years, produced 3 boys and hoping for more to come esp in the form of a girl this time, most talked and gossiped after couple in Britannia, Posh probably the most famous WAGs or the eponymous WAGs, ape lagi yea....makji esah, tolong sambung........

Both wrote a biography book about themselves and both love to be showered in limelight appearing in many different styles from head to toe whether alone or together. You either worship them, love them, idolize them, admire them or despise them but they managed to get going all these years.

.

.

.

.

I present you David and Victoria Beckham doing USA.

(TheSun 13/07/07)

Sengaja = Deliberately

I've got like loadsa to tell but after 01 July 2007, I've been keeping things to meself. Ade satu malam tu i cried a bit before i fell asleep, something about bersyukur, contemplating about some few personal things, family issues, missing someone so dear to me and all that shit jazz. And this week is the beginning of the university semester 2007-2008. I will be teaching the third year students on Transport Phenomena 2 for the chem-eng students and mah best buddy yana gonna teach that subject to those biochem-eng students.





Man, i've been like watching Wimbledon Tennis Grand Slam almost everyday since day numero uno. And last sunday, 08 July 2007, I was almost completely and utterly (butterly...hehe) focusing on watching the gentlemen's single final match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal... (Sambil2 tu sempat belek and study a bit on some few chapters in Geankoplis ' Transport Processes book depan tv gitew).... Superb game that i have so bloody wished that I was there among the front audience at the infamous Centre Court. I so hope that one day when i am fucking filthy really rich, I will definitely secure the semis and final for both men and women single Wimbledon matches tickets, enjoying the traditional strawberry and cream, and sitting amongst the posh tennis enthusiasts....fantastico....how i marvel at that thought. And once the game finishes, I'll do my summer sale shopping. Somehow, i am also considering of attending most of the Grand Slams anyway, including Melbourne, Flushing Meadows in NYC and Roland Garros in Paris.





I have like loadsa photos on last sunday's match but i'll save this entry for this weekend inshallah. It was overwhelming that match....5-sets.....Federer cry-baby scenes that made me shed few tears....Breaking Bjorn Borg records that he made in 5 consecutive matches from 1976 to 1980.....what else....Nadal , the undisputed king of clay court, with his beautiful biceps swung the tennis racquet with full of grace and relentless power and managed to force Fed into the 5th set......Thanks to channel 82 that I still manage to continue watching Live Federer win since 2003. I've been watching him winning on BBC 1 from 2003 to 2005 and then 2006-2007 on channel 82 Astro. Please dont think that this is some sorta infatuation or anything coz i dont fancy Federer. I do however, admire his guts and perseverance on keeping up his performance and aspirations all these years. 1990s belongs to Pete Sampras (and Andre Agassi) and the 1st millenia decade seems to be on Fed's side.



Alrightie, still got some lecture notes to do. Ciao people.



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That Chocolate Brownie Secret Recipe cake but topped with two vanilla ice-cream scoops plus a delectable creamy ice-blended caramel mocha courtesy of my best buddy yana on celebrating my yaumil-milad ( 3id el milad) earlier last week.

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Alhamdulillah, i am slowly replenishing my little savings. Bila laaaaa makcik nak kayooooo nih haaa......? yeah....must work on that in due time.

On: "Tagged for Charity"

I was tagged by sis Ruby Ahmad, who was very thoughtful enough to include me in to continue this auspicious and philanthropic act on helping Bro Idham in his "quest" to donate to the Darul Izzah (House of Nobility) Orphanage.

Honestly, I am not very sure how this meme could assist in the donation but I am participating it, nonetheless as a pure act of conscience in the name of helping the less fortunate. As this is Brother Idham's initiative, I hope his " Tagged for Charity" campaign will soon be materialized, inshallah (by God's willing).


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The original meme sender, Bro Idham needed 100 memes by 26th August. Once this tag is done, please leave a comment on his blog to inform him that you have done the tag.

If you are tagged, you need to write an entry related to the meme. At the end of your entry you just need to tag as many bloggers as you like. You will then leave a comment in their blog to let them know they have been tagged. And to include this message, "By doing this meme you are contributing RM127 to the Darul Izzah Orphanage".

Then please copy and paste this rule somewhere in your entry.

The meme is about completing at least seventeen out of the following twenty seven sentences.

*These can be copied and pasted to your entry*



1. A person is only as good as ... his/her sincere acts towards another person that transcends all race, creed and belief.


2. Friendship is always ... a test and a natural testimony to what we are.


3. To love is to... to be able to share and understand each other's feelings


4. Money makes me... feel relieved that I can afford something.


5. I miss ... having extra holidays and extra savings to travel around (many places locally and around the world).


6. My way of saying I care is by ... being protective and putting the person's need above mine.


7. I try to spread love and happiness by... not being moody and spoiling the whole party


8. Pick the flowers when... they are lying unattended


9. To love someone is to... value the relationship by learning to understand him/her so as to appreciate how we are complementing each other and to respect each other's feelings.


10. Beauty is... what God has given whether it is what appreciated by our sights or whatever exudes beneath the variety exteriors/facade.


11. When I was thirteen, what I remember the most was... the first time i was send to a boarding school and how I have survived since.


12. When I was twenty one, I remember... making a vow that I am not gonna marry almost any Malay guys unless he proves me wrong on not being a typical one. And until now, no matter how gorgeous he can be, the idea of tying a knot with one fades quickly than a tiny wisp of smoke.


13. I am most happy when ... I am alone or with very close friends/loved ones on a nice sunny weather eating delectable, mouth-watering ice-creams/ go sightseeing around great/new places, driving along scenic backgrounds, getting clothes and shoes of the right sizes and design, when I have extra money to spend on what i like.....


14. Nothing makes me happier than ... feeling healthy, energetic and in that cheerful mood of wanting to do many things on my own.


15. If I can change one thing, I will change... the flexibility of my job so that i am able to get more holidays. (and if i may, my metabolism rate too)


16. If smiles were.... as infectious as the cold fever .. then I... would smile to anyone all around me that'll make me feel so jovial and at ease.


17. Wouldn't it be nice if we could... be less prejudiced, prejudging and selfish.


18. If you want to ... gain a good physique ...then you have to ... go through pains and perseverance to keep the workout regime consistent and stay on a healthy diet accordingly.


19. Money is not everything but... it saves a lot of hassles.


20. The most touching moment I have experienced is.... knowing that there will always be some people who really cares for me.


21. I smile when... i greet my friends/ work colleagues.


22. When I am happy, I... would celebrate by buying my favourite chocolaty ice-cream and savour every moment as the creamy chocolates melts in my mouth, hehe...


23. If only I don't have to ... control over my food consumption then... I dont need to figure out ways not to get fat (gain weight) easily.


24. The best thing I did yesterday was... to enjoy a good meal with few close friends.


25. If I ever write a book, I will give it this title... " Appreciate ourselves "


26. One thing I must do before I die is... to clear any debts.


27. Doing this meme, I feel like ... honoured that I am entrusted by a wonderful person like Kak Ruby to help Brother Idham to achieve his pure target.


*************************************************************************

I would like to pass the tag on to these people:

Abdun
Pugly
Ubi
Mel Ija

After all, it's for good cause.

More on protests against the knighthood conferment

Hmm....why is it that this news does not appear in any of the local papers including latest updates but already published by Reuters World News just over 1 hour ago???

And of course, since it is part of the PAS members street demo in front of the British Embassy, this incident was also reported in their website, Harakah Daily.




Here's an excerpt of the news:


KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -
Supporters of Malaysia's hardline
Islamic party protested outside the British embassy on
Wednesday against the award of a knighthood to Salman Rushdie,
whose novel the "Satanic Verses" outraged Muslims worldwide.

Chanting "Destroy Salman Rushdie" and "Destroy Britain,"
some 30 members of the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia urged
Britain to withdraw the honor or risk the consequences.

"This has tainted the whole knighthood, the whole hall of
fame of the British system," party treasurer Hatta Ramli told
reporters after the party handed a protest note to embassy
officials.

"The British government must be responsible because it has
created a sudden feeling of anger not just on Salman Rushdie
but on the British government," he said. "They have to bear the
consequences." he said.

About 40 policemen, including a dozen armed with batons,
stood by. A spokesman at the British High Commission was not
immediately available for comment.

Rushdie, whose book prompted late Iranian leader Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini to issue a 1989 fatwa death warrant against
him for blasphemy, was awarded a knighthood last week for
services to literature in Queen Elizabeth's birthday honors
list.

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Anyways, this knighthood award has been gaining a mixed reviews even amongst the British themselves. But somehow, organizing street demo by chanting "hancur Salman" ( destroy Salman) and "Jahanam Britain" (Go to Hell, Britain) shows the typical emotional response from the hardliners just like their Indonesian brothers. But of course, those Indonesian hardliners go way over the board, rather on the extreme end by burning things, destroying valuables or anything along the way just to accentuate their anger demonstration.

Why are they chanting "Jahanam Britain" for? Why the country itself? There are like over 3 millions of their muslim brothers and sisters there and they are also british. Why cant they write: "We stand united against this knighthood conferment" or something like that on some banner? Typical hysterical act.

Oh and by the way, I need to learn on how to post the exact photo-feed of the online news on my blog. Can anyone help me here? Zewt, Idlan, Zaki, anyone?

Karen Armstrong: First appearance in Malaysia

I was actually so very interested to come and listen to Karen Armstrong' talk at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel last Saturday. However, at this state of broke, I have lost the motivation to go out much unless if i had to, like to work and so on. Seriously, I am hoping that my financial state will get rectified soon by next month. It is just horrible living under the notion that u r almost totally lost your financial freedom.

Sure, credit cards are the only backups I have right now. But they are meant for more important expenditures like car petrol. I have to just lay low and wait till my supposedly new change of salary status will materialize. Life kinda suck when u r so skint. But i am grateful anyway that i consider myself lucky that i can still breathe and eat and walk and talk and move and pretty much do the normal things.

Anyways, I admire Dr. Karen Armstrong for her willingness and her courage to speak her mind on the comparative religions in a rational sense albeit being a Christian (or ex-nun). Although some of her books have been banned in Malaysia, of which i think was super-ridiculous that the public weren't given the chance to read about Islam from a neutral and wise non-muslim's point of view, she still made her appearance in Kuala Lumpur to speak about the role of a religion in the 21st century.

Just as Malaysia still fresh from Lina Joy appeal case that has caught the world attention on how Malaysian judiciary system deal with personal interfaith issues when it comes to dropping the word "Islam" on Lina's malaysian identity card (mykad), Armstrong's view on Islam in general should be taken into the perspective with all due respect. I used to admire another prolific non-muslim scholar, Professor Edward Said, a Christian Palestinian who had never ceased to fight about what he deemed right with respect to the whole Palestine-Israel issues. But the wise man has left the world in 2003 due to chronic leukemia. One of his infamous books is "Orientalism".


I have found this article from NST on an interview with Karen Armstrong and her takes on the perception of Islam and Muslims:




Karen Armstrong has studied religions for more than two decades and what she has learnt from her scholarship is not difference, but compassion. ANIZA DAMIS speaks to her about Muslims, and why she is a passionate defender of Islam


Q: You are constantly talking about how Islam is spoken of negatively, and you defend it. Why?

A: For many reasons. In my own life, I’ve known how painful it is to be misrepresented. Second, it offends me intellectually.

It gave me a feeling of dread, because it had been the faceless defamation of the Jews in Europe that had made it possible for Hitler to create the death camps. That was a tremendous shock to European and Western sensibilities. We’d prided ourselves on being an enlightened people. And yet we seem to have learnt nothing from it.


Now, when articles and inaccurate, unfair portrayals, even unconscious defamation of Islam happens, it goes on the airwaves immediately, onto the web, and it convinces Muslims that the West really is Islamophobic and is out to destroy Islam. It revives all these fears, and is a gift to extremists who want to recruit people. We simply cannot afford this kind of inaccurate, distorted view.


Q: You have spent your life studying religion. Do you find it offensive that people think that you don’t have credibility to talk about Islam?

A: When Muslims say that, yes. I wouldn’t have to do this if Muslims were out there. If Muslims feel that strongly about non-Muslims popping up and speaking, then let these critics of mine — let them speak to the American Congress. Let them try and speak to Western people in a way that Western people can understand. Then people like (American professor of International Studies and Islamic Affairs) John Esposito and me wouldn’t be necessary.


Q: So why do you think there aren’t any Muslims willing to talk?

A: I’ve explained to Muslims: "I can’t spend the rest of my life explaining your religion for you. There comes a time when it must be over to you". For the older generation, I think it’s just difficult for many of them. If you put your head above the parapet, it’s dangerous. If you’re a refugee from Iraq, for example, you don’t want to stand up in public unnecessarily, and be counted as saying this, that and the other. And I think the atmosphere in the US, especially after Sept 11, 2001 was so unpleasant and that’s why people would shrink from it. But people should try.


Q: Is it possible to have a multi-religious community or nation living peacefully? Or do you need secularism as a base or at its centre to make it work?

A: Under Islam in the past, there were harmonious communities living together, famously in Muslim Spain, which was unique. There’s nothing like it in the rest of Europe. Similarly, the first period of Jerusalem’s history was light years away from anything we have got today. (The caliph) Omar, when he conquered Jerusalem, brought the Jews back. They hadn’t been allowed to live there under Christian rule. And there was a Christian majority in Jerusalem until the time of the Crusades. It was known as the City of Dhimmis (non-Muslims).


Q: But these days, the Dhimmis believe that you would not be equal unless you are treated as equals.

A: Yes. The Dhimmi system wouldn’t work today. We don’t have the kind of economies that can support an egalitarian ideal. That’s important, too. It’s not just a question of us all becoming more civilised and nicer people — you need the economic basis for it. There must be absolute equality, one person one vote. And that is probably the best way of achieving (a harmonious society). But there’s always going to be tension.


Q: How would you advise a Muslim majority that it has to adjust the concept of a Muslim state?

A: This is one of the big questions occupying the Muslim world now, not just Malaysia. Because of the impetus in the Quran, how do you create a modern Muslim state? There is yet no solution. There are various models, and it’s a difficult thing. But just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean it’s not possible.

Q: More particularly since 9/11, Muslims have felt under siege from the non-Muslim world. Is this justified?

A: Yes. They are right to be afraid. If I were a Muslim in the United States, Europe or the Middle East, if I were Iraqi or Palestinian, I would feel besieged. And the way it is presented in the Western press, Islam is often very unpleasant. The difficulty is Muslims have got to be creative about it. Because when people feel they are being besieged, then up come the barricades.


Q: Muslims are reacting violently to things they disagree with. But while there are those who are politicised and willing to go out and make themselves heard, there are also those who live quietly.

A: Well, I have to say, the press is largely responsible for this. During the Danish cartoon crisis, a poll found that 97 per cent of youth were offended by the cartoons but they were also appalled by the violence of some of the protesters. And that voice was not picked up at all. Because it’s not news.


And that is what repeatedly happens. I saw it in New York after 9/11, when a fatwa was issued giving Muslims permission to fight other Muslims in the war against terror. That was not published in the New York Times, even though imam Faisal Rauf asked for it to be. You don’t get the moderate voice represented fairly in the media.


Q: Where does throwing a tantrum come from? When Muslims were objecting (during the Danish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad), protesters were threatening to kill people.

A: Well, a few criminals do this. These people are not Muslims, they’re criminals, I’m sorry. The vast majority of Muslims are not threatening to kill anybody.


Q: How is it possible to find a Muslim voice that is going to reach out to people in a peaceable way?

A: There are plenty of them around. And if they don’t get the same media coverage as the others, that’s not their fault.


Q: You talk about the "militantly pious". How can "moderate Muslims" push forward compassion and justice? How do you speak above the cacophony of the militants?

A: The militant ones are a minority. Even those who might feel threatened by modernity — some would call them "fundamentalists" — only a tiny proportion would take part in acts of terror. What I would like to see is people finding more imaginative ways to speak to the non-Muslim world, to catch the imagination of the time and the media. This will take creativity.


Q: The problem is not just between Muslims and the West but also between Muslims and Muslims. There are Muslims who are, perhaps, insecure in their identities, and they are trying to push that forward.

A: Don’t think that Muslims are alone in having internecine quarrels. Muslims have the added difficulty of the so-called, misnamed, "war against terror". Culture is always contested. It’s always the case that some people have a different idea of how they want to see their country from the mainstream. You have to expect this and deal with it in a creative adult manner.


It’s no good trying to force people to do anything — that is un-Muslim. When you try to thrust something down someone’s throat, they will become more extreme and more belligerent. And so, on both sides, the problem escalates. The only way is for the so-called "liberals" to try to listen, really listen, to the fear and anxiety that lies underneath some of these hardline positions. These are anxieties that no society can safely ignore or avoid.


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Not that I am entirely relying on the non-muslims (or the so-called non-believers, infidels and so on) to relay the message about Islam but I feel that Muslims should not be taunted by it as long as they are being represented without discrimination and prejudism. Such was the impetus that has been upholded by Armstrong verbally and on her published materials. Speaking of a good da'ei (preacher) of comparative religion issues, unfortunately we have lost another great vocal fighter of Islam, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat who died of a long term illness in 2005. I was not sure whether Armstrong has ever met this eloquent and articulate man, this honourable Deedat herself, but if she had, it would be of an empowering connection.

Due to the highly sensitive nature, it is a common case whereby one reacts defensively whenever interfaith religion is brought up. Consequently, the whole debate will go on endlessly resulting in more harm than good. For example, a Muslim would naturally feel offended when a non-muslim says something out of his arse. However, little did the muslim realise that such reaction is a vice versa to a non-muslim when a Muslim speaks of his religion in a matter of presumptions based on the muslim's lack of knowledge of the other person's belief. Therefore, we do need people like Karen Armstrong who stands on the politically neutral side trying to convey the message without sounding too obtrusive or absentminded. I myself am most certainly feel uncomfortable having to listen to some angry people arguing on religion acting like someone devoid of knowledge. The next thing I would do is to "abandon ship" right away.

There were times when I have clearly made a mistake of making my non-muslim friends believe that like anyone who has embraced an "organized religion", I only picked on whatever qualities i like about Islam and failed to show the real beauty of it in order to justify some of my naughty behaviours. It was as if I dictated on what i want, and hoping that my non-muslims friends would find that Islam is actually quite a simple teaching really. No later after that, I felt like i am some sort of a certain cult preacher who personally interpretes religion according to the current world demands and trends or probably worse. My bad...my bad....Astaghfirullah hal-adzeem ( Forgive me O Allah the Mighty One) I quickly resort to Al-Quran , hadith and revising back about my own religi0n so as to not come up with more silly, misleading messages in the future. I have decided from that onwards to be extra careful next time i am faced with more queries on Islam.

The art of a good debate has been stated in the Quran (16:125):

Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.

Like Amstrong has said earlier and I quote: " When Muslims say that, yes. I wouldn’t have to do this if Muslims were out there. If Muslims feel that strongly about non-Muslims popping up and speaking, then let these critics of mine — let them speak to the American Congress. Let them try and speak to Western people in a way that Western people can understand. Then people like (American professor of International Studies and Islamic Affairs) John Esposito and me wouldn’t be necessary" - a clear reminder to us Muslims to be more prepared and stand strongly and united on what we believe with clear mind, endowed with a sea of knowledge, charms, people skills, positive aura and charismatic presentation that we are the total opposite of the terrorist propaganda that has been typecasted on us whether we are aware or not. From Hollywood to the mass media, the Muslims have been looked upon as the villains of the 21st century. Rather than jumping and screaming hysterically at such accusations, we need to self-reflect, equip ourselves with more knowledges and strengthen our economy to face the world challenges for future sustenance.

If the Jews have managed to learn to survive and have progressed immensely since World War II, why cant us Muslims? Forget about all those silly sectarian differences, petty issues including why Sharifah Amani has boldly shaved her head off to be in the Muallaf movie character, and so on, and focus on what is best for the ummah in the country and worldwide. Thanks to people like Yasmin Ahmad who dares to go beyond the comfort zone despite receiving loads of criticisms just because of her unorthodox messages. There are like 1.0 billions of us and yet, no matter what, things/history will repeat by itself. And i blame the culture, the traditions and the global propaganda for ruining the holy intentions. All we need is for more and more of us to shift out of the old paradigm, and do what we can to contribute for the sake of the ummah. If we want to earn the respect we seek, we must prove them wrong and justify our act with a clear conscience. After all, Islam is the embodiment of peace and hence its root word, salam which means peace.