Yan & Kuching

It has been a long time since my last visit to Kuching, a beautiful, clean city with friendly people. The last time I visited Kuching was during the 6th PESAYA Games way back in 2003. I remember well the price of a particular souvenir cost me about RM5 then just only to understand that the price is one time higher now. I guest that’s why we can see lot lesser tourist especially from Semenanjung at the Main Bazaar. But on cleanliness, Kuching is the best.

That night, we had our dinner at the kiosk near the Sarawak river at the Kuching Waterfront. If only Rajah Brooke could see how beautiful Kuching were turn to be now, he would have all the military strength to ensure a continuous legacy of the Brooke.

On the other side of the river, we could see another Kuching’s signature building; it’s State Legislative Assembly Building which I believe is newly built (see pic above). What a beautiful building, at first I thought it was another masjid…

THE WHITE RAJAH

The history of Sarawak begins since 1830s. A peaceful place to live in until big demonstration against the Brunei Empire broke down in 1936 -1939. That was when James Brooke, an English adventurer came to the picture and volunteered to quell the revolt. He made it and has been appointed into Governorship. Soon after he managed to chased out the Brunei Sultanate entirely from Sarawak with the help of British Navy and one way or another forced the Sultanate to enter into agreement to take over Sarawak entirely. That was how ‘The White Rajah’ whom they called him became the first Rajah of Sarawak in 1841.

The legacy continues to Charles Brooke and Charles Vyner Brooke (the third Rajah) before it ended with the occupation of the Japanese in WWII. The Rajah fled to Sarawak but left Kuching especially with lots of colonial administrative building and also the famous Ford Margherita.

Sarawak gained its independence thru Malaysia in 16th Sept. 1963.

YAN

Of all the good things about Kuching, there’s one thing that spark my day. It can be in any place but it was in Kuching I bumped into Yan, nephew of mine who were relocating to Kuching with her husband, a doctor attached to Kuching’s general hospital. Yan and I grew up together, but she encountered more hard time with her life I guess, living with a drug addicted parent ……. Arwah mak sympathize lot with her trouble and once did ask me to take her hand in marriage, right after she finished her SPM (she was an ex-Setara). Kalau mak masih ada, I’d say to her..look mak, Yan now is happily married to a good man with 4 lovely kids. And mak would smile…

Earlier, morning Monday I received a call asking me to come back early to the office for an ‘important’ discussion on some VIPs’ visit :( At first I thought I could skip everything and go straight to Malacca for the family year end vacation…..mmmm!!

P/s – I interviewed a Sarawakian candidate by the name of Nurul Nabila which I believe a reflection of Ipoh Mom when she was at that age :o

1 Muharram 1431

Aku menerima satu teks mesej daripada seorang sahabat berlainan agama mengucapkan selamat menyambut Maal Hijrah kepadaku dan keluarga. Maka ku balas ucapannya dengan mengharapkan agar Maal Hijrah tahun ini membawa kita berhijrah kepada kebaikan dan kesejahteraan. Inilah kali pertama aku menerima ucapan Maal Hijrah daripada seseorang yang bukan beragama Islam. Bukan sesuatu yang pelik tapi agak awkward sebab selalunya kemeriahan menyambut tahun baru hanya terasa sewaktu 1 Jan (mungkin aku juga patut berhijrah…)

Maal Hijrah sepatutnya membawa satu semangat baru kepadaku. Tapi bagaimana ya nak mendapatkan semangat tu? Teringat ada sebuah buku kisah hidup Nabi SAW di simpanan lalu selepas jemaah zohor kubacakan di hadapan anak-anak tentang penghijrahan junjungan besar dari Mekah ke Madinah. Semua orang tahu cerita itu, apa perlunya diceritakan di sini. Tapi boleh juga kalau sedikit dikupas untuk renungan bersama.

STRATEGI

Setelah berdakwah di Mekah selama lebih 13 tahun, Rasulullah SAW berpendapat tibalah masanya untuk mengembangkan sayap dakwahnya ke Yasrib (ditukarkan namanya kepada Madinah selepas itu). Mungkin ianya satu strategi baru mengambilkira pengaruh beliau yang agak kuat di Madinah berbanding Mekah (termeterainya Bai’at Aqobah I & II), dan juga mengambilkira ancaman kaum Quraisy Mekah yang semakin mencabar kecekalan Nabi dan sahabat-sahabat. Tambahan pula bapa saudara kesayangan Abu Tolib wafat ketika berusia 87 tahun yang lebih merupakan pembantu & perisai kepada Nabi SAW selama sebelum kewafatannya.

PENGORBANAN & PERJUANGAN

Tersebarnya berita penghijrahan Nabi juga dianggap sebagai satu ancaman kepada kaum Quraisy kerana takutkan pengaruh Islam dan penguasaan ekonomi yang akan dibawa Nabi SAW di Madinah. Maka pengorbanan Ali bin Abi Thalib, seorang anak muda yang sanggup menggantikan tempat Rasulullah walaupun tahu akibat dari kesanggupannya itu dianggap tiada bandingannya.

Rasulullah & Saidina Abu Bakar tahu penderitaan yang akan ditanggung meredah padang pasir, panas terik matahari, menuruni jurang dan menyusuri pantai Laut Merah dalam perjalanan ke Madinah. Diceritakan betapa hebatnya Abu Bakar menahan kesakitan tatkala diketit kala beberapa kali tanpa mahu menggerakkan tubuh badan beliau semata-mata tidak mahu Nabi terjaga dari tidur di ribaannya.

PERPADUAN

Kota Madinah merupakan sebuah kota perdagangan yang strategik dengan kebanyakan perniagaannya dikuasai oleh kaum Yahudi. Dalam membentuk masyarakat Islam yang bebas dari ancaman dan tekanan, Rasulullah menguruskan beberapa perkara antaranya mengadakan perjanjian bantu-membantu antara Ansor & Muhajirin serta menyusun dasar-dasar politik, ekonomi dan sosial dengan Daulah (pemerintahan) Islamiah. Namun perkara asas yang terlebih dahulu dilaksanakan Nabi adalah mendirikan masjid yang menjadi lambang penyatuan kaum dan sebagai venue untuk pembinaan benteng pertahanan bersifat moral & spiritual (semangat berjihad ke jalan Allah SWT). Pentauhidan adalah base sebelum turunnya wahyu yang mengandungi perintah berzakat, berpuasa dan hukum-hukum yang berlainan dengan perlanggaran/larangan juga jinayat dan lain-lain. Ayat-ayat yang diturunkan di Madinah sebahagian besarnya berkait rapat dengan pembinaan Hukum islam yang menetapkan dasar-dasar politik, ekonomi, sosial & kemasyarakatan.

Rasulullah juga membina persatuan kaum Ansor & Muhajirin dengan ikatan persaudaraan yang jitu. Persatuan inilah yang telah mengurangkan kekuatan kaum Yahudi baik dari segi pemerintahan & ekonomi. Perjanjian perdamaian bersama kaum Yahudi hanya dilakukan selepas terbentuknya persatuan yang kuat diantara Ansor & Muhajirin.

TAHUN BARU

Pernahkah kita terfikir tanpa strategi, pengorbanan, perjuangan dan perpaduan dari peristiwa Hijrah, mungkin Islam tidak sampai kepada kita, kita tersesat dan hanya tersedar setelah dibangkitkan semula di alam seterusnya?

Mungkinkah orang Melayu beragama Islam di Malaysia boleh merapatkan persatuan dengan ikatan persaudaraan yang jitu satu hari nanti, mengambil iktibar dari peristiwa Hijrah Rasulullah? Ataupun bila tiba waktu itu baru kita tahu yang negara telahpun tergadai?

Syoknya menyambut New Year* di Dataran Merdeka...

Ya Allah, aku telah berazam di awal tahun baru ini, kabulkanlah azamku itu disepanjang tahun...Salam Maal Hijrah!

*baca juga "Kemeriahan Menyambut Tahun Baru" @ http://www.bicaramuslim.com/bicara7/viewtopic.php?p=234969&sid=09359b6aa61406dba08316b669785223

GST

We are almost towards the end of the year. It’s the income tax filing again. But that’s nothing much as compared to the government recent announcement of GST or Good and Service Tax to replace the existing Service Tax. Though we understand that the government is in the dilemma in balancing the economic recession as well as, perhaps PETRONAS’ low Q2 profit, majority believes the announcement were made at the wrong timing.

The recent economic slowdown and Malaysian political scenarios do have an impact on government decision to introduce a new mechanism to address its deficit. And the sooner definitely the better. It is estimated in the first phase, government will be able to pocket a tangible RM 1 bill a year, not to mention billions more in the form of intangible value. This will allow a continuous and sustainable income for the nation. Can we imagine how these tangible and intangible values will be able to boost the economy? Not to mention the earlier announced stimulus package of RM67 bill, of course if it is ‘implemented’ accordingly.

The introduction of GST will suit better if the tax imposed on businesses, currently at 28% be reduced to lower percentage. This will allow free flow of FDI to Malaysia as the lower tax would make us bit competitive. Anyway, the GST principle is nothing than to have a fair taxation to all.

We should also understand that Oil & Gas (currently contributing more than 40% to GDP) might no longer be our savior come 2017 and beyond. Therefore an early introduction of GST might be good in the context of the government and its further development. But as rakyat I do understand when PR (who formed ‘anti GST’ Task Force recently) was against the implementation of GST. At the end of the day, the burden will be on us, the Malaysian people. Mungkin ada betulnya kata DAP if we consider to openly auction the 30,000 – 60,000 APs issued annually to private connected companies to import foreign vehicles which can in itself raise up to RM1.8 billion per annum.

So, the next time you wanted to buy house, allow another 4% GST on top of already high priced property. So cepat-cepatlah beli property sebelum implementation of GST expected in 2012 nanti.

Anyway, for the benefit of income tax filer and also for your update, below please find Budget 2010 Income Tax Changes that is relevant to individuals:

1) Maximum Tax Rate for chargeable income exceeding RM100, 000 be reduced from 27% to 26% (Effective Date: YA 2010)

2) Personal Relief be increase from RM8, 000 to RM9, 000 (Effective Date: YA 2010)

3) Relief on Contribution to EPF & Life Insurance is increase from RM5, 000 to RM6, 000. The Additional RM1, 000 relief is given solely in respect of annuity scheme premiums paid to insurance companies contracted with effect from 1 January 2010. It is also applicable to additional premiums paid on existing annuity schemes where payment commenced from 1 January 2010. (Effective Date: On or After January 2010)

4) Individual who pays for their own broadband subscription fees be given tax relief on broadband subscription fees up to RM500 per year. For those who wish to claim the RM500 Broadband Relief, please make sure the Broad band’s billing is under the Taxpayer's name and the payment made is either by Cash or If it is by using Credit Card, it must be charged to the Taxpayer own credit card. Otherwise it would not be allowed for deduction.

With the knowledge of above Income Tax Changes, you may start doing your Tax planning for Year 2010 as you fully utilize the Tax Relief given.

For those who are not really clear on Personal Relief entitlement for each individual, below find the list of Personal Relief which is applicable for YA 2009:

1) RM8, 000 Personal Relief

2) RM5, 000 Medical expenses for Parents. Parents medical bills or receipt to keep (even accepted Pharmacy Receipt)

3) RM5, 000 Medical expenses for taxpayer, spouse and children on serious diseases.
* RM500 Complete Medical Examination Expenses (RM500 Limit sharing the RM5, 000 Limit for serious diseases Medical Expenses)

4) Disable Person (further deduction)
* Own RM5, 000
* Spouse RM2, 500

5) RM5, 000 supporting equipment for Disable Person, spouse, children or parent. RM3, 000 Wife/Husband Relief if she has no source of income or elects for combined assessment.

6) Child Relief (claimed by either husband or wife)
* RM1, 000 per child (below 18 years of age)
* RM5, 000 per disable child (unmarried)
* RM4, 000 per child (above 18 years of age who is studying full time)
@ Overseas University, colleges or similar establishments
@ Local University, colleges or similar establishments

7) RM6,000 EPF & Life insurance premium

8) RM3, 000 Education or Medical premium

9) RM1, 000 Annuity premiums on annuity purchased through EPF Annuity Scheme.

10) RM5,000 Fees for acquiring technical, vocational, industrial, scientific, technological, law, accounting, Islamic financing, skills or qualifications at tertiary level or any course of study at post graduate level

11) RM1, 000 Purchase of books, journal, magazines and other similar publications (excluding newspaper or banned publications) for the use of taxpayer, spouse or children. To keep receipt for the purchase of any book or magazines except newspapers

12) RM3, 000 Purchase of Computer (Given once in three years)

13) RM3, 000 Net amount deposited into Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional (SSPN) for child. Instead of saving in normal Kids Saving A/C, you may save in SSPN A/C in order to utilize the RM3, 000 Relief. You may start to save now but before 31 Dec 2009 in order to qualify for the Relief.

14) RM300 Purchase of sports equipment (Not include attire and shoes). To keep receipt for the purchase of sport equipment.

15) RM10, 000 Interest paid on housing loans for 3 Consecutive Years (S&P signing between 10 Mac 2009 to 31 Dec 2009)

Hope the above is helpful to all.

Kahwin

Kahwin! Syok oo..
Tanggungjawab? Ko rasalah nanti..

Jangan takut. Itu cuma retorik perkahwinan. Yang pentingnya perkahwinan merupakan satu lagi platform & pathway untuk kebahagiaan duniawi & ukhrawi, sekiranya dijalani dengan jalan yang betul.

Bagi yang belum memilih, Rasulullah telah menggariskan beberapa panduan memilih bakal isteri. Sentiasalah mengutamakan agamanya selain hartanya, kecantikan & keturunannya. Tapi cuba juga singkap maksud ’harta’ & ’cantik’ dengan lebih tepat...

Bercakap tentang agama sebagai garis panduan yang utama, pernah Imam Nawawi mengucapkan kepada isterinya: “Aku menyintaimu kerana agama yang ada padamu, jika kau hilangkan agama dalam dirimu, hilanglah cintaku padamu”.

Bagi memilih suami yang baik, cara yang paling afdal adalah dengan mengetahui latar belakang kehidupannya. Di zaman Rasulullah saw, untuk mengetahui keadaan calon suami, orang tua atau wali akan bergaul langsung untuk mengenali lelaki tersebut. Umpamanya Rasulullah saw tidak memilih Ali untuk puterinya Fatimah, kecuali baginda mengetahui akhlak dan agamanya. Buat semua muslimat, kenalilah latar belakang bakal suami anda dahulu, pandang dengan iman, tidak pada nafsu harta dan kekayaan.

Barang diingat, satu tugas kehidupan yang amat-amat mencabar akan bermula sebaik sahaja rumah tangga mula didirikan. Persediaan yang lengkap dari segi rohaniah iaitu jiwa, ilmu & ’skill’ are essential sebelum melangkah ke gerbang perkahwinan. Dan cabaran itu akan menjadi semakin sukar & hebat setelah menerima kedatangan anggota keluarga yang baru. Kalau dah empat tu paham-paham jelah...

Apa yang penting (kerjasama?) pada permulaan perkahwinan utamakan dua perkara ni. Carilah titik persamaan dan buanglah ego masing-masing. Macammana cara nak buat jangan tanya, pandai-pandailah sendiri. Kalau nak tahu lebih lanjut tentang alam perkahwinan ni dicadangkan pergilah berguru dengan Dr Fadzilailitamplum.

Apa-apa pun tahniah kepada sedara mara rakan dan taulan yang akan ke gerbang perkahwinan especially dalam bulan-bulan cuti sekolah ni. Tahniah juga kepada sahabat ku Khalid yang telah ’selamat’ pada 12hb lalu & kepada Puteh & Nana pada 25hb nanti. Kepada Khalid...

”Led, oden nak koba kat ekau ni.... Ekau walaupun kawin dongan orang Nogori jangan sekali-kali masuk ’suku’. Rugi jo buek konduri bosa-bosa tujuh ari tujuh malam tapi dapeknyo masuk ’suku’ jo..Ko kono sosah Led, jangan kasik can....tu nasihek borguna tu...hehehe”

Kepada yang masih belum berpeluang ke alam perkahwinan, maka Tuhan lebih mengetahui. Kepada Zamani  & sesiapa yang teringin & berhajat untuk yang kesekian kalinya....mmm?

Teater

Ada dua perkara dalam minggu ni yang bugging me a lot! Pertamanya bila adik aku nak menonton teater. Mungkin teater Natrah yang hangat diperkatakan sekarang, tapi persoalannya sejak bila pulak adik aku ni (ex instructor di Outward Bound School) minat pada teater? Yang keduanya bila DJ radio mempromosikan teater Natrah. Katanya “saksikanlah kehebatan cinta Natrah & Mansor Adabi di teater Natrah yang akan diadakan….”. Timbul persoalan kedua, patutkah kita melihat perjuangan dan pengorbanan Natrah dari sudut percintaan? atau ugama? Adakah generasi sekarang sudah dibutakan dengan perspektif sebenar perjuangan itu?

MY NAME IS NADRAH NOT BERTHA

Nadrah (Natrah) Maarof atau nama asalnya Bertha Hertogh, seorang warga Belanda yang dilahirkan pada 1937. Pada usia beliau sekitar 5 tahun Natrah telah diberikan oleh ibunya kepada keluarga Melayu bernama Che Aminah Mohamad (walaupun version Adrienne, ibu biology Natrah mengatakan beliau memberikan Natrah kepada Che Aminah untuk dijaga 4-5 hari sahaja sebelum Natrah dilarikan ke Terengganu) disebabkan keadaan peperangan pada waktu itu. Semenjak itu Natrah telah dididik dengan ajaran agama Islam & budaya Melayu. Namun setelah bapa Natrah, Sarjan Petrus Hertogh dibebaskan dari tahanan Jepun beliau menuntut kembali Natrah daripada keluarga Che Aminah.

Akibat kekalutan itu, Che Aminah telah menjodohkan Natrah, yang ketika itu berumur lingkungan 13 tahun dengan seorang guru bernama Mansor Adabi di Singapura. Berita perkahwinan itu telah menjadi tajuk utama berita kerana undang-undang Belanda tidak membenarkan perkahwinan bawah umur. Akhirnya perkahwinan itu terbatal dan Natrah telah dikembalikan kepada Hertogh dan dibawa pulang ke Belanda.

Beberapa sebab kekalahan peguam di pihak Che Aminah di antaranya disebabkan pernikahan bawah umur, pernikahan dilakukan di Singapura yang mengamalkan undang-undang British sepenuhnya dan bukan di Tanah Melayu, Natrah belum hamil pada ketika itu, gagalnya Che Aminah mengemukakan surat penyerahan Natrah kepada keluarganya dan liputan yang sangat meluas oleh media-media Singapura & belanda.

Ketika di Belanda Natrah yang masih remaja dimurtadkan sekali gus mencetus kemarahan warga Singapura dan Tanah Melayu. Akibatnya, sebanyak 18 nyawa diragut dan 200 lagi tercedera berikutan Rusuhan Natrah yang berlaku pada 12 Disember 1950.

Natrah diberitakan pernah menahan diri dari lapar dan dahaga kerana dipaksa untuk menukarkan agamanya kembali kepada agama asal selain dipukul, dibiarkan di biara Roman Catholic convent dan dibrainwash berhari-hari sewaktu di Belanda.

PENGORBANAN

Dua perjuangan besar daripada peristiwa yang menyayat hati ini. Pertamanya kisah perjuangan dan pengorbanan rakyat Tanah Melayu di Singapura pada ketika itu. Tidak sia-sia kematian 18 orang penunjuk perasaan itu kerana ianya menjadi ‘benchmark’ kepada kekuatan umat Islam dalam menentang penginayaan & penghinaan agamanya.

Keduanya perjuangan dan pengorbanan Natrah sendiri dalam mempertahankan ugamanya walaupun diasak dan ditekan untuk menukar akidahnya kepada agama asal ibubapanya. Walaupun beliau tewas disebabkan mungkin faktor usia dan persekitaran (jauh dari Che Aminah & Mansor Adabi), tapi perjuangan dan pengorbanan Natrah tidak boleh dipandang sepi.

Namun disebalik sejarah yang penuh hitam putih itu generasi sekarang melihat perjuangan dan pengorbanan itu tidak lebih dari kisah cinta yang menyayat hati di antara Natrah & Mansor Adabi. Agaknya itulah sebabnya kisah-kisah Lina Joy, Aishah Bokhari kurang mendapat sambutan. Kalau pun ada hanya segelintir yang berani tampil ke hadapan. Ramai yang pandai bercerita di kedai-kedai kopi sahaja apatah lagi mengorbankan diri seperti kejadian rusuhan yang berlaku pada 12 Disember 1950 yang lalu. Sanggupkah kita merusuh sehingga menyebabkan Malaysia diletakkan di bawah perintah berkurung selama 2 hari 2 malam? Perlu diingat artikel 11 Perlembagaan Persekutuan mungkin tidak dapat bertahan lama membela nasib anak-anak Islam...

Mungkin ada yang kata itu semua kerajaan dan agensi-agensinya yang berkaitan yang sepatutnya bertanggungjawab. Aku kata tuhan akan tanya setiap individu apa yang telah dilakukannya di dunia ini setelah diberikan segala kekuatan dan akal fikiran untuk menilai yang mana benar & yang mana salah.

Nadrah Maarof meninggal dunia pada 09 Julai 2009.

Dubai

Dubai has transformed itself to an important trade center and business port for both Western & Eastern businessman. It has attracted individual investors & multinational companies to set up businesses in the city and at the same time provide the biggest banking and financial market to them. Dubai is now a mega city with a rapid development since the past decade. Besides business, the government has also putting up lots of effort to attract tourists.

Dubai economy depends heavily on property development beside its Oil & Gas industry. Just to name a few landmark & signature building such as the beautiful world & palm shape island (Jumeirah), 7-star Burj of Al Arab, world's 'going to be' tallest building Burj Dubai, in-house ski resort etc. Since 2007 I’ve been 3 times in Dubai (including 2 long flight transits) and for each time the structure of this city appeared differently.

However recently, Dubai’s investment wing & property conglomerate, Dubai World, has entered into a financial crisis. The crisis started when the company requested to delay its debt payment, expected at US$59 bill of liabilities (with total debt US$80 bill) to another 6 more months. The delay will subsequently affect the international creditors which could see them suffer significant losses if the Dubai World were to default on all or part of the $59 billion debt. This news has led to a decrease in oil price and also world bourses across the world.

CRISIS

Dubai’s mega property development is too rapid, but that is not the sole problem. The main problem was the industrial development especially on its Oil & Gas is not balance (O&G contributes only 6% of GDP) to Dubai’s mega property development. At the end of the day, Dubai Central bank relies on international creditors to finance its property development (contradictory with Abu Dhabi. The city is very unlikely to be affected by Dubai's crisis as their funding is derived from exporting of oil & gas).

The 110 storey Burj Dubai

When the mega development is too rapid in a short period of time, property investor starts to feel the income generated is not balanced with the investment made and it might took them very long time before gaining the true value. These negative speculations eventually pull down the property value in Dubai for the last one year or so. The property market down to almost 50%. With high housing rental rate and job market falter in the last few months, lots of expats and foreign workers left Dubai in a blink of an eye. (Dubai’s majority 2 millions foreign workers come from India & Pakistan while local Emirates cater only 800,000).

Property & real estate investment can also be viewed as a share market investment. Any bad speculations may bring down its value. This is what has been knocking down Dubai lately. Other views on the crisis are due to the bad management & ill planning of Dubai Central Bank, property developer’s opportunism, cronyism & egoistic of the Al Maktoum and many others.

SPECULATOR & WORLD TURMOIL

The question now whether the Dubai financial crisis will lead to another round of world economic downturn? Talking about market speculation, we have had been in the same situation back in 1997 which saw KLCI down to record low of less than 400 points at that time. Obviously international bank like the Citygroup Inc, property firms from the US, Japan, Korea and Australia will have a direct impact of this crisis although some experts believe this will not lead to another world economic turmoil.

“In the long run, the crisis will have an impact to market confidence, financial activities and capital investment which may take a decade to be restored” comment made by MF Global Analyst, Manus Cranny.

What about Malaysia? Are we gonna feel the effect of the crisis too?

Hebatnya Pengorbanan Lembu

Pernahkah kita terfikir betapa hebatnya pengorbanan lembu sanggup merelakan diri disembelih hanya untuk memastikan manusia boleh berhari-raya AidilAdha? Pernahkah kita terfikir dengan berkorbannya lembu manusia dapat bekerjasama, berganding bahu dan tolong menolong?

Mengorbankan lembu tadi menuntut kita bekerjasama dan tolong menolong daripada mula mengikat, menjatuhkan, memegang hinggalah melapah & sebagainya. Cuba bayangkan kalau kerja mengorbankan lembu ni tadi hanya dilakukan oleh seorang individu. Silap haribulan lembu tu yang mengorbankan manusia. Di masjid tempat aku bermastautin ni 5 ekor lembu tumbang. Habis saja sembahyang Sunat Aidiladha semua petugas memulakan proses. Dalam pukul 11 pagi settle semuanya. Hebat sikap gotong-royong orang-orang kawasan ni.

Cumanya timbul persoalan kenapa disetengah tempat tu (dekat Congo sana la tapi!) bila habis je melapah, time nak bahagi-bahagikan daging ada yang agihkan pada kaum sebelah sini je. Yang sana tu tak boleh sebab bendera lain. Kenapa la bila bab-bab aktiviti ni semua boleh bekerjasama tapi bila time nak mengaplikasikan konsep korban ni, penghayatan pocik...boleh pulak pilih-pilih?

Macammana la bangsa dan agama nak maju kalau pasal politik langsung tak boleh nak kerjasama? Orang bukan Islam (sebahagian juga yang Islam) memandang dari luar seolah-olah Islam ni ada banyak versi bergantung kepada penilaian politik masing-masing. Kalau lembu tadi sanggup ‘mengorbankan’ dirinya untuk manusia bekerjasama, saling membantu, kenapa susah sangat manusia ni nak mengorbankan ego masing-masing dan duduk berbincang demi kepentingan bangsa dan ugama?

Anyway, kesian pulak aku dengan YB Khalid. Mula-mula cerita pasal kepala lembu. Pastu nak sedekah lembu korban pun silap-silap kena masuk keluar court. Betul-betul ‘lembu’ la diaorang tu...

Allah berfirman yang bermaksud: "Sesungguhnya kami mengurniakan kepadamu (wahai Muhamad) kebaikan yang banyak. Dengan itu, sembahyanglah kerana Tuhan-mu semata-mata dan sembelihlah korbanmu." (Surah Al-Kausar, ayat 1-2)

P/s tulisan di atas dibuat lepas kena marah dengan bos. Of all the good achievements that you have done on the day before, he chooses to act against the tiny little thing that you did wrong (the next day).