I attended the Penang Old Tech Luncheon at Subang Lakeview Club and about twenty three of us attended. The most interesting exciting moment when S.L Quah brought along the 1963 TI Annual Magazine and I saw my article contribution. I was amazed with my article then, about “gotong royong” (community work). The gotong royong concepts is still practice today and in 1963 vide my article I wrote that the concept should be continuously adapted by all races in Malaysia. I am glad it is. However, I was smiling as I read the article due to the spelling then.
The head count for the get2gather on 29/12/2009 at Lakeview Club are as follows:
1. NOORDIN SAAD
2. PAUL CHONG
3. SUN TOONG MENG
4. CHEAM THAN HAI
5. DAVID CHEANG CHET YEW
6. OSMAN AWANG
7. A.B. CHIN
8. K. MUNIAPPAN
9. LEONG PENG YOON
10. NGAW WING FATT
11. MUSTAPA HAMID
12. RAJA MOHAMED
13. THARUMALINGAM
14. BOB LIM ENG HENG
15. FOO FANG BOON
16. GAN HOOI CHENG
17. SUM KOK LEONG
18. SUEN PING CHONG
19. CHAN SIAK HOY & WIFE
20. CHAN THOO CHAI
21. CHAI PAN SEE
22. JAYATHISA
23. QUAH SUAN LEE
No 11 arrived at the Club at 1300 hrs due to massive traffic snarl at Klang Bridge.
Regrettably, some had to back out at the last minute due to other commitments.
The interesting part we are all above 60 and we still maintain the comradeship, the Malays, Chinese and the Indians. We did exactly the same when we were sharing the same Hostel, the same bathroom and Dining Hall. We were the early 60 batch and during that time all were competing on the same platform. After TI we ventured into various fields. Not all ultimately became an Engineer. Raja Mohamed became a Helicopter Pilot, A.B. Chin became a Ground Air Force Officer, Ngaw Wing Fatt became an Accountant, Osman Awang into Agriculture, Noordin Saad into Civil Aviation, Paul Chong into Real Estate and yours truly into Petroleum Refining then hop over to Plantation Distribution & Logistics. Though retired, some continue with their own business or part time lecturing. Leong Peng Yoon an Automobile Engineer my buddy pre TI day from Tapah was also present but he was not in good condition. The Don Juan of Peng Yoon had mellow down.
We adjourned to the Lounge to catch up with old times and Ngaw Wing Fatt the Holy Priest I used to address during TI days was telling stories about his sixteen (16) years stint as a bachelor Accountant in Shanghai China. He called for a bottle of wine but I had to resort to only ginger beer. He said, “Ada beer, ok”. Finally Raja Mohamed paid the tab. He was the opposite of the Wing Fatt that I used to know for we had not met each other since 1965, nearly forty five (45) years!! At the first instance I could easily recognize Wing Fatt of his double chins. He related how he had to study accounting on his own. After HSC he got a place at MU to do Engineering but due to poverty and no scholarship and sponsorship he had to work and study simultaneously. From technical to accounting was a tough slog. Nine years ago he did angioplasty at four arteries and still standing tall. Jokingly he told us that currently he is a Pauper and if condition persist he is willing to part with his half a million worth of antiques and art masterpieces.
We hope to have the gathering more often to foster the everlasting friendship and also to check whether we are still around in this world. We never know, someone maybe missing at the next gathering.
(This is the last masterpiece of 2009. Wishing everybody who read & follow my blog: A very Happy New Year for 2010 and hope the year would be better than 2009).
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
I noticed something interesting.
The focus is on Van Jenazah again. Wak Salim attracted my attention that the word “Masjid” from “Masjid Kampong Raja Uda” written on both sides of the Van jenazah had been removed. The only word remaining on both sides is “Kampong Raja Uda” only. The removal of the word “Masjid” is most appropriate as the Van Jenazah does not belong to the Mosque. The Saham Wakaf Committee was just wanted to portray the good image of the Kampong Mosque, that’s why they wrote the Lettering as if it belongs to the Mosque.
The newly elected Mosque Committee apparently do not know the history and background of the Van jenazah and upon elected they insist that the Van Jenazah to be put under their portfolio. They were blinded with what was written on the Van Jenazah side body. Realising their mistake, the Mosque Committee passed over to the JKKK which is also inappropriate. Two wrongs cannot make a right. During one of the Kampong Resident Meeting I suggested that the word “Masjid” to be removed from the Van Jenazah body to portray the actual position that the Van Jenazah has nothing to do with the Mosque. I am delighted that it had been implemented and thank you Mr Chairman of the Saham Wakaf Kampong. The first step had been taken.
The Kampong residents actually do not bother who take care of the Van Jenazah. The problem was the way it was taken and the arrogance of the people involved in the takeover that stir the sentiments of the residents. The Driver in the first instance must be someone respected, humble and environmental friendly within the society. The Van Jenazah should never be made as a source of income. The charges for utilising the Van Jenazah have a Guideline and special preference to be given to Members and to the poor. It cannot be charged as to the whim and fancy of the Driver. Do they follow the Guideline? The family of a deceased divorcee was charged RM 200 when the maximum should be only RM 80 if not even free due to the family local standing.
The expired road tax and where the Registration Card was kept was another issue that shows there was no proper management. They could not renew the road tax because the Registration Card was misplaced. It reflects on the poor and lacking of management experience of the Ketua Kampong who also fail to comprehend the rightful Caretaker of the Van Jenazah. Why? He is the local PAS Chief and DAP appointed Ketua Kampong. These people never had the opportunity to be in power and once in power they tend to grab everything, irrational and way beyond explanations.
Presently the usual Kampong harmony is eroding. Insyaalah all efforts are being made to put back the wagons on the right track. The Kampong cannot afford to have a couple of specimens in the Kampong just for the sake of vengeance to disrupt the community advancement.
The newly elected Mosque Committee apparently do not know the history and background of the Van jenazah and upon elected they insist that the Van Jenazah to be put under their portfolio. They were blinded with what was written on the Van Jenazah side body. Realising their mistake, the Mosque Committee passed over to the JKKK which is also inappropriate. Two wrongs cannot make a right. During one of the Kampong Resident Meeting I suggested that the word “Masjid” to be removed from the Van Jenazah body to portray the actual position that the Van Jenazah has nothing to do with the Mosque. I am delighted that it had been implemented and thank you Mr Chairman of the Saham Wakaf Kampong. The first step had been taken.
The Kampong residents actually do not bother who take care of the Van Jenazah. The problem was the way it was taken and the arrogance of the people involved in the takeover that stir the sentiments of the residents. The Driver in the first instance must be someone respected, humble and environmental friendly within the society. The Van Jenazah should never be made as a source of income. The charges for utilising the Van Jenazah have a Guideline and special preference to be given to Members and to the poor. It cannot be charged as to the whim and fancy of the Driver. Do they follow the Guideline? The family of a deceased divorcee was charged RM 200 when the maximum should be only RM 80 if not even free due to the family local standing.
The expired road tax and where the Registration Card was kept was another issue that shows there was no proper management. They could not renew the road tax because the Registration Card was misplaced. It reflects on the poor and lacking of management experience of the Ketua Kampong who also fail to comprehend the rightful Caretaker of the Van Jenazah. Why? He is the local PAS Chief and DAP appointed Ketua Kampong. These people never had the opportunity to be in power and once in power they tend to grab everything, irrational and way beyond explanations.
Presently the usual Kampong harmony is eroding. Insyaalah all efforts are being made to put back the wagons on the right track. The Kampong cannot afford to have a couple of specimens in the Kampong just for the sake of vengeance to disrupt the community advancement.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The Monday after Christmas.
The morning started with Sabirin invitation for breakfast. On the way we stopped at Pak Chad’s residence as his mother passed away the previous night. Pak Chad residence is a few houses further down along the same road. We met Ali Termizi and the threesome went to Ah Ngau sea frontage Warong near Marine Department for “packed nasi lemak” and Hailam kopi O. We had a free treat as Ali Termizi’s friend took care of the bill. While we enjoyed the breakfast we discussed about the latest development in the Kampong and the Mosque.
At noon I went to the Mosque for zohor and solat jenazah of Pak Chad’s late mother. I noticed that the Van Jenazah was not driven by OTK. Pak Chad specially requested someone else other than OTK to drive the Van Jenazah for his mother’s final journey. Why? Don’t ask me, ask the Kampong residents. This sort of disharmony is happening in the Kampong. When? After PR took control of the State and PAS took control of the Kampong. The Amanah Saham Wakaf Kampong Van Jenazah was robbed by PAS controlled Mosque Committee. For somebody to drive the Van Jenazah he must be sociably adaptable and environmental friendly to all the Kampong residents.
After lunch, upon request Shasha was sent to the house. At 1500 hrs we went to the Immigration Department as my daughter wanted to collect her renewed International Passport. We then went to Jaya Jusco as Shasha had been requesting from the Aunty, a mini umbrella. While I attended to Shasha at the children’s playground my wife and daughter went round looking for the mini umbrella. They could not find one but satisfied with an umbrella with a portrait of a teddy bear. Raja Sahar called me up and relayed to me some interesting news regarding the latest development of the Kampong Mosque. I am still unhappy about the extreme delay but I have to be patience. The outcome is expected to be positive but I have to wait for next month, or next year?
Shasha felt asleep in the car on the way home and we stopped at Giant Supermarket to buy her favorite bread. She had to be carried upstairs to bed. I too felt exhausted tailing and chasing around a 3+ year old kid.
At noon I went to the Mosque for zohor and solat jenazah of Pak Chad’s late mother. I noticed that the Van Jenazah was not driven by OTK. Pak Chad specially requested someone else other than OTK to drive the Van Jenazah for his mother’s final journey. Why? Don’t ask me, ask the Kampong residents. This sort of disharmony is happening in the Kampong. When? After PR took control of the State and PAS took control of the Kampong. The Amanah Saham Wakaf Kampong Van Jenazah was robbed by PAS controlled Mosque Committee. For somebody to drive the Van Jenazah he must be sociably adaptable and environmental friendly to all the Kampong residents.
After lunch, upon request Shasha was sent to the house. At 1500 hrs we went to the Immigration Department as my daughter wanted to collect her renewed International Passport. We then went to Jaya Jusco as Shasha had been requesting from the Aunty, a mini umbrella. While I attended to Shasha at the children’s playground my wife and daughter went round looking for the mini umbrella. They could not find one but satisfied with an umbrella with a portrait of a teddy bear. Raja Sahar called me up and relayed to me some interesting news regarding the latest development of the Kampong Mosque. I am still unhappy about the extreme delay but I have to be patience. The outcome is expected to be positive but I have to wait for next month, or next year?
Shasha felt asleep in the car on the way home and we stopped at Giant Supermarket to buy her favorite bread. She had to be carried upstairs to bed. I too felt exhausted tailing and chasing around a 3+ year old kid.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Obama's Af - Pak War is illegal.
Pakistan, the next target? The question of legality never exist with the American Presidency. They can violate all rules in the world but for other countries with the exception of Israel, never can do. The American Presidency motive is to kill as many Muslims as possible. All Muslims are terrorists, so they think.
by Marjorie Cohn.
Quote:
President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize nine days after he announced he would send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. His escalation of that war is not what the Nobel committee envisioned when it sought to encourage him to make peace, not war.
In 1945, in the wake of two wars that claimed millions of lives, the nations of the world created the United Nations system to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." The UN Charter is based on the principles of international peace and security as well as the protection of human rights. But the United States, one of the founding members of the UN, has often flouted the commands of the charter, which is part of US law under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
Although the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was as illegal as the invasion of Iraq, many Americans saw it as a justifiable response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. The cover of Time magazine called it "The Right War." Obama campaigned on ending the Iraq war but escalating the war in Afghanistan. But a majority of Americans now oppose that war as well.
The UN Charter provides that all member states must settle their international disputes by peaceful means, and no nation can use military force except in self-defense or when authorized by the Security Council. After the 9/11 attacks, the council passed two resolutions, neither of which authorized the use of military force in Afghanistan.
"Operation Enduring Freedom" was not legitimate self-defense under the charter because the 9/11 attacks were crimes against humanity, not "armed attacks" by another country. Afghanistan did not attack the United States. In fact, 15 of the 19 hijackers hailed from Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, there was not an imminent threat of an armed attack on the United States after 9/11, or President Bush would not have waited three weeks before initiating his October 2001 bombing campaign. The necessity for self-defense must be "instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation." This classic principle of self-defense in international law has been affirmed by the Nuremberg Tribunal and the UN General Assembly.
Bush's justification for attacking Afghanistan was that it was harboring Osama bin Laden and training terrorists, even though bin Laden did not claim responsibility for the 9/11 attacks until 2004. After Bush demanded that the Taliban turn over bin Laden to the United States, the Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan said his government wanted proof that bin Laden was involved in the 9/11 attacks before deciding whether to extradite him, according to the Washington Post. That proof was not forthcoming, the Taliban did not deliver bin Laden, and Bush began bombing Afghanistan.
Bush's rationale for attacking Afghanistan was spurious. Iranians could have made the same argument to attack the United States after they overthrew the vicious Shah Reza Pahlavi in 1979 and the U.S. gave him safe haven. If the new Iranian government had demanded that the U.S. turn over the Shah and we refused, would it have been lawful for Iran to invade the United States? Of course not.
When he announced his troop "surge" in Afghanistan, Obama invoked the 9/11 attacks. By continuing and escalating Bush's war in Afghanistan, Obama, too, is violating the UN Charter. In his speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama declared that he has the "right" to wage wars "unilaterally." The unilateral use of military force, however, is illegal unless undertaken in self-defense.
Those who conspired to hijack airplanes and kill thousands of people on 9/11 are guilty of crimes against humanity. They must be identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law. But retaliation by invading Afghanistan was not the answer. It has lead to growing U.S. and Afghan casualties, and has incurred even more hatred against the United States.
Conspicuously absent from the national discourse is a political analysis of why the tragedy of 9/11 occurred. We need to have that debate and construct a comprehensive strategy to overhaul U.S. foreign policy to inoculate us from the wrath of those who despise American imperialism. The "global war on terror" has been uncritically accepted by most in this country. But terrorism is a tactic, not an enemy. One cannot declare war on a tactic. The way to combat terrorism is by identifying and targeting its root causes, including poverty, lack of education, and foreign occupation.
In his declaration that he would send 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, Obama made scant reference to Pakistan. But his CIA has used more unmanned Predator drones against Pakistan than Bush. There are estimates that these robots have killed several hundred civilians. Most Pakistanis oppose them. A Gallup poll conducted in Pakistan last summer found 67% opposed and only 9% in favor. Notably, a majority of Pakistanis ranked the United States as a greater threat to Pakistan than the Taliban or Pakistan's arch-rival India.
Many countries use drones for surveillance, but only the United States and Israel have used them for strikes. Scott Shane wrote in the New York Times, "For the first time in history, a civilian intelligence agency is using robots to carry out a military mission, selecting people for targeted killings in a country where the United States is not officially at war."
The use of these drones in Pakistan violates both the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit willful killing. Targeted or political assassinations-sometimes called extrajudicial executions-are carried out by order of, or with the acquiescence of, a government, outside any judicial framework. As a 1998 report from the UN Special Rapporteur noted, "Extra judicial executions can never be justified under any circumstances, not even in time of war." Willful killing is a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions, punishable as a war crime under the U.S. War Crimes Act. Extrajudicial executions also violate a longstanding U.S. policy. In the 1970s, after the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence disclosed that the CIA had been involved in several murders or attempted murders of foreign leaders, President Gerald Ford issued an executive order banning assassinations. Although there have been exceptions to this policy, every succeeding president until George W. Bush reaffirmed that order.
Obama is trying to make up for his withdrawal from Iraq by escalating the war on Afghanistan. He is acting like Lyndon Johnson, who rejected Defense Secretary Robert McNamara's admonition about Vietnam because LBJ was "more afraid of the right than the left," McNamara said in a 2007 interview with Bob Woodward published in the Washington Post.
Approximately 30% of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan have occurred during Obama's presidency. The cost of the war, including the 30,000 new troops he just ordered, will be about $100 billion a year. That money could better be used for building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and creating jobs and funding health care in the United States.
Many congressional Democrats are uncomfortable with Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. We must encourage them to hold firm and refuse to fund this war. And the left needs to organize and demonstrate to Obama that we are a force with which he must contend.
Unquote:
Que sera sera. What will be, will be.
by Marjorie Cohn.
Quote:
President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize nine days after he announced he would send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. His escalation of that war is not what the Nobel committee envisioned when it sought to encourage him to make peace, not war.
In 1945, in the wake of two wars that claimed millions of lives, the nations of the world created the United Nations system to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." The UN Charter is based on the principles of international peace and security as well as the protection of human rights. But the United States, one of the founding members of the UN, has often flouted the commands of the charter, which is part of US law under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
Although the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was as illegal as the invasion of Iraq, many Americans saw it as a justifiable response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. The cover of Time magazine called it "The Right War." Obama campaigned on ending the Iraq war but escalating the war in Afghanistan. But a majority of Americans now oppose that war as well.
The UN Charter provides that all member states must settle their international disputes by peaceful means, and no nation can use military force except in self-defense or when authorized by the Security Council. After the 9/11 attacks, the council passed two resolutions, neither of which authorized the use of military force in Afghanistan.
"Operation Enduring Freedom" was not legitimate self-defense under the charter because the 9/11 attacks were crimes against humanity, not "armed attacks" by another country. Afghanistan did not attack the United States. In fact, 15 of the 19 hijackers hailed from Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, there was not an imminent threat of an armed attack on the United States after 9/11, or President Bush would not have waited three weeks before initiating his October 2001 bombing campaign. The necessity for self-defense must be "instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation." This classic principle of self-defense in international law has been affirmed by the Nuremberg Tribunal and the UN General Assembly.
Bush's justification for attacking Afghanistan was that it was harboring Osama bin Laden and training terrorists, even though bin Laden did not claim responsibility for the 9/11 attacks until 2004. After Bush demanded that the Taliban turn over bin Laden to the United States, the Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan said his government wanted proof that bin Laden was involved in the 9/11 attacks before deciding whether to extradite him, according to the Washington Post. That proof was not forthcoming, the Taliban did not deliver bin Laden, and Bush began bombing Afghanistan.
Bush's rationale for attacking Afghanistan was spurious. Iranians could have made the same argument to attack the United States after they overthrew the vicious Shah Reza Pahlavi in 1979 and the U.S. gave him safe haven. If the new Iranian government had demanded that the U.S. turn over the Shah and we refused, would it have been lawful for Iran to invade the United States? Of course not.
When he announced his troop "surge" in Afghanistan, Obama invoked the 9/11 attacks. By continuing and escalating Bush's war in Afghanistan, Obama, too, is violating the UN Charter. In his speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama declared that he has the "right" to wage wars "unilaterally." The unilateral use of military force, however, is illegal unless undertaken in self-defense.
Those who conspired to hijack airplanes and kill thousands of people on 9/11 are guilty of crimes against humanity. They must be identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law. But retaliation by invading Afghanistan was not the answer. It has lead to growing U.S. and Afghan casualties, and has incurred even more hatred against the United States.
Conspicuously absent from the national discourse is a political analysis of why the tragedy of 9/11 occurred. We need to have that debate and construct a comprehensive strategy to overhaul U.S. foreign policy to inoculate us from the wrath of those who despise American imperialism. The "global war on terror" has been uncritically accepted by most in this country. But terrorism is a tactic, not an enemy. One cannot declare war on a tactic. The way to combat terrorism is by identifying and targeting its root causes, including poverty, lack of education, and foreign occupation.
In his declaration that he would send 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, Obama made scant reference to Pakistan. But his CIA has used more unmanned Predator drones against Pakistan than Bush. There are estimates that these robots have killed several hundred civilians. Most Pakistanis oppose them. A Gallup poll conducted in Pakistan last summer found 67% opposed and only 9% in favor. Notably, a majority of Pakistanis ranked the United States as a greater threat to Pakistan than the Taliban or Pakistan's arch-rival India.
Many countries use drones for surveillance, but only the United States and Israel have used them for strikes. Scott Shane wrote in the New York Times, "For the first time in history, a civilian intelligence agency is using robots to carry out a military mission, selecting people for targeted killings in a country where the United States is not officially at war."
The use of these drones in Pakistan violates both the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit willful killing. Targeted or political assassinations-sometimes called extrajudicial executions-are carried out by order of, or with the acquiescence of, a government, outside any judicial framework. As a 1998 report from the UN Special Rapporteur noted, "Extra judicial executions can never be justified under any circumstances, not even in time of war." Willful killing is a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions, punishable as a war crime under the U.S. War Crimes Act. Extrajudicial executions also violate a longstanding U.S. policy. In the 1970s, after the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence disclosed that the CIA had been involved in several murders or attempted murders of foreign leaders, President Gerald Ford issued an executive order banning assassinations. Although there have been exceptions to this policy, every succeeding president until George W. Bush reaffirmed that order.
Obama is trying to make up for his withdrawal from Iraq by escalating the war on Afghanistan. He is acting like Lyndon Johnson, who rejected Defense Secretary Robert McNamara's admonition about Vietnam because LBJ was "more afraid of the right than the left," McNamara said in a 2007 interview with Bob Woodward published in the Washington Post.
Approximately 30% of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan have occurred during Obama's presidency. The cost of the war, including the 30,000 new troops he just ordered, will be about $100 billion a year. That money could better be used for building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and creating jobs and funding health care in the United States.
Many congressional Democrats are uncomfortable with Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. We must encourage them to hold firm and refuse to fund this war. And the left needs to organize and demonstrate to Obama that we are a force with which he must contend.
Unquote:
Que sera sera. What will be, will be.
Tsunami.
Five years ago the power of water shocked the whole world. From the earthquake at the ring of fire off Sumatran west coastal line the power of water at the speed of 800 km per hour banged several shores at several countries. The worst was Acheh followed with Phuket. I was shocked to see Patong beach was swept away. I once roamed the beach and had stayed at Patong Holiday Inn. That was sometimes in 1993 when I accompanied Reggie Slavin, Vice President Operations of Guthrie Latex Incorporation USA. My several visit after that I stayed at Metropole Hotel located in the city center.
I don’t know about Aceh for I never been there. For Phuket - the Patong beach that I know is one crazy place and Heaven to some. The night was livelier than the day and the whole beach decorated by lights and girlie bars. The blaring of music deafens the ears to attract the fun lovers. Imitation goods were on sale openly. Just name the brand and they were available on the rack. It was like I was in Hawaii where they were more Whites than Asians. Women, wine and songs was synonymous to Patong Beach and I am not surprise GOD swept it away to show thee power.
The power of tsunami has a warning, an earthquake or volcano eruption. It is a question whether we have the time to run to higher ground. I am living by the coast of Straits of Melaka and if there is a tsunami, most likely it would reach my home. Help me GOD. During my working days, during October it was routine for me to address the seasonal high tide (pasang kling) and all ground equipment and machineries had to be removed and stored on dry ground. There was no way for anybody to stop the high tide from coming in. However the Marine Department Tide Table was very useful for my guidance. We can stop fire by drowsing it with water but we cannot stop the tide. The tide is a mini tsunami.
Five years ago when the tsunami struck I did not lose anybody that I know. However, to all the innocents’ victim let’s say our silent prayer that Almighty Allah would take care of them.
Alfathihah…………
I don’t know about Aceh for I never been there. For Phuket - the Patong beach that I know is one crazy place and Heaven to some. The night was livelier than the day and the whole beach decorated by lights and girlie bars. The blaring of music deafens the ears to attract the fun lovers. Imitation goods were on sale openly. Just name the brand and they were available on the rack. It was like I was in Hawaii where they were more Whites than Asians. Women, wine and songs was synonymous to Patong Beach and I am not surprise GOD swept it away to show thee power.
The power of tsunami has a warning, an earthquake or volcano eruption. It is a question whether we have the time to run to higher ground. I am living by the coast of Straits of Melaka and if there is a tsunami, most likely it would reach my home. Help me GOD. During my working days, during October it was routine for me to address the seasonal high tide (pasang kling) and all ground equipment and machineries had to be removed and stored on dry ground. There was no way for anybody to stop the high tide from coming in. However the Marine Department Tide Table was very useful for my guidance. We can stop fire by drowsing it with water but we cannot stop the tide. The tide is a mini tsunami.
Five years ago when the tsunami struck I did not lose anybody that I know. However, to all the innocents’ victim let’s say our silent prayer that Almighty Allah would take care of them.
Alfathihah…………
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Home Alone.
To all Malaysians Christians, Merry Christmas.
I was home alone on Christmas Day. My wife and daughter decided to go somewhere for a break and I have something to do at the Mosque after the Friday prayer.
After the Friday prayer I complied to the appointment with Mr. X and we set out the planning and strategies that was laid on the drawing board. It began to drizzle and I went home for a simple lunch of bread and butter. Since I was all alone I called up my friend Malik whether he was available for a drink somewhere. He suggested meeting Ujang an Indonesian Skipper from Pulau Rupat Indonesia. Ujang was at Kuala Linggi Jetty waiting to offload his cargo of resin. Malik took the wheel and we took the coastal road passing through Port Dickson and Pasir Panjang. We met Ujang who was stranded due to the long holidays, unable to offload to continue his barter trade voyages. Ujang is also an acquaintance who was my Tourist Guide when I was in Dumai Indonesia a couple of years ago. We took Ujang out for teh tarik and roti canai at the River Café by the Border Bridge of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. Ujang had a lot of stories to tell, about the crocodiles he encountered at Sungai Linggi estuary.
We send back Ujang to the Jetty after the qasar of Maghreb and Isyakh prayer at the Kompleks Jeti Surau. We hit back by the same coastal road. Before Telok Kemang, I called up my friend Haji Sabuddin who was available at his residence and we rendezvoused at Telok Kemang Malay school frontage. Haji Sabuddin guided us to a Restaurant somewhere at 5th. Mile where we had our dinner and a chit chat sessions. Haji Sabuddin is a long time buddy since 1966 during my Esso days and just back from a 10 months assignment at Bintulu. Coincidentally, Malik had a lot in common to talk about with Haji Sabuddin who was brought up in Kampong Raja Uda. As usual when Haji Sabuddin and I get together, common memories that we used to do together during our bachelor days replayed. Those were the days when we rocked PD town and we did all the crazy things.
We parted with Haji Sabuddin at 2300 hrs and headed for home. Reaching home after midnight and it was strange that I came home to an empty house. The TV was my only companion and so happened the movie of Home Alone was on the air and I was just smiling to myself as the story went. It was about the youngest son who was accidentally left behind, all alone at home by his parents spending the Christmas holidays in Paris. I was left alone by designed not by accident.
I had the bed to myself and the call of the subuh azan awakened me. After subuh, I continued my dream of a white Christmas.
I was home alone on Christmas Day. My wife and daughter decided to go somewhere for a break and I have something to do at the Mosque after the Friday prayer.
After the Friday prayer I complied to the appointment with Mr. X and we set out the planning and strategies that was laid on the drawing board. It began to drizzle and I went home for a simple lunch of bread and butter. Since I was all alone I called up my friend Malik whether he was available for a drink somewhere. He suggested meeting Ujang an Indonesian Skipper from Pulau Rupat Indonesia. Ujang was at Kuala Linggi Jetty waiting to offload his cargo of resin. Malik took the wheel and we took the coastal road passing through Port Dickson and Pasir Panjang. We met Ujang who was stranded due to the long holidays, unable to offload to continue his barter trade voyages. Ujang is also an acquaintance who was my Tourist Guide when I was in Dumai Indonesia a couple of years ago. We took Ujang out for teh tarik and roti canai at the River Café by the Border Bridge of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. Ujang had a lot of stories to tell, about the crocodiles he encountered at Sungai Linggi estuary.
We send back Ujang to the Jetty after the qasar of Maghreb and Isyakh prayer at the Kompleks Jeti Surau. We hit back by the same coastal road. Before Telok Kemang, I called up my friend Haji Sabuddin who was available at his residence and we rendezvoused at Telok Kemang Malay school frontage. Haji Sabuddin guided us to a Restaurant somewhere at 5th. Mile where we had our dinner and a chit chat sessions. Haji Sabuddin is a long time buddy since 1966 during my Esso days and just back from a 10 months assignment at Bintulu. Coincidentally, Malik had a lot in common to talk about with Haji Sabuddin who was brought up in Kampong Raja Uda. As usual when Haji Sabuddin and I get together, common memories that we used to do together during our bachelor days replayed. Those were the days when we rocked PD town and we did all the crazy things.
We parted with Haji Sabuddin at 2300 hrs and headed for home. Reaching home after midnight and it was strange that I came home to an empty house. The TV was my only companion and so happened the movie of Home Alone was on the air and I was just smiling to myself as the story went. It was about the youngest son who was accidentally left behind, all alone at home by his parents spending the Christmas holidays in Paris. I was left alone by designed not by accident.
I had the bed to myself and the call of the subuh azan awakened me. After subuh, I continued my dream of a white Christmas.
Friday, December 25, 2009
PAS in Selangor.
PAS was never strong in Selangor. They won the 8 states seats just because the people just vote anyone that was not BN. I did the same thing with the intention of a strong Opposition, so as everybody, and BN collapsed. Intention resulted to beyond expectation. At the DAP winning constituency, PAS control the Malay Kampong and DAP elected the Ketua Kampong who is from PAS. A friend once told me, voting is not like buying langsat, you get to taste it first, and if it’s sour we don’t buy it. In case of voting, you cross it and you bear responsibilities for the next at least four years or until the one you voted kick the bucket.
Things went rosy at the beginning in the Kampong, particularly mine but when PAS flex their wings and muscle, Ali Senget, Ahmad Takok and Minah Lawa is not happy. In the kampong, DAP normally don’t get the votes and PAS was none at all because they were not contesting. The Ketua Kampong does not hold his position as Ketua Kampong for all instead he operate from PAS Markas and more incline to serve only PAS Members. He seldom seen at the Mosque only at PAS organized program at the Mosque.
The main factor that BN collapsed at the urban and semi urban constituencies in Selangor was the “Istana Zakaria” factor. Pak Lah gave him too much room and Mahathir did not put a check on him. That’s the price BN had to pay and Zek, his own life. Now that Zek had gone, at the next General Election it could be a different story unless off course BN never learnt from that lesson or there is tremendous change of attitude and behavior of PAS people.
At the next General Election what would happen to the 8 PAS seats? Malaysian Insider has a write out predicted the possible outcome.
QUOTE:
By Neville Spykerman
SHAH ALAM, Dec 23 — PAS may end up the biggest losers in Selangor come the next general elections.
The Islamic party, which won eight out of the 56 state seats in Election 2008, in mostly urban or semi-urban constituencies, stands to lose the support of non-Muslims who make up between 20 and 40 per of voters in these constituencies, according to its own ground reports.
PAS contested a further 12 seats in predominantly rural Malay majority constituencies but lost all of them to Umno.
A PAS state lawmaker, who did not want to be named, told The Malaysian Insider that the support the party received from non-Muslims is dissipating.
“I don’t even know if I can retain my own seat in the next general elections.
“I’m on the ground, we meet the non-Malays and know they are not happy,” he said, adding that their main grouse is against the state Pas leadership, which has invited one controversy after another.
Earlier this year, PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali proposed a beer ban for Muslim-majority areas and moved to empower mosques officials to arrest Muslims caught drinking.
Although PAS attempted to explain that the proposals, which were eventually not implemented, would only affect Muslims, it triggered uneasiness among non-Muslims and created the perception that the party was pushing a hard-line Islamic agenda.
Non-muslims make up 47 per cent of Selangor ‘s population.
Worse still, Hasan has repeatedly clashed with his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.
He made an open challenge in the media calling for his State Executive colleague, Ronnie Liu, to resign for allegedly ordering the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) to return beer seized illegally from a 7-Eleven outlet.
More recently he caused another stir by undermining the authority of the special select committee for competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) which was investigating abuse of state funds by former Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers just before the general elections last year.
Hasan accused Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who heads the state government watchdog, of bullying civil servants during a public inquiry into the misuse of funds.
“I think we are going to be in trouble if there is no change in direction or in the state leadership,” said the Pas lawmaker.
Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Center for Independent Research who spoke to The Malaysian Insider did not, however, completely share the lawmaker’s pessimism.
“Overall PAS is gaining more support from non-Muslims, more so now after last week’s PR Convention when they reiterated their stand with the coalition.”
Before the March 8 general elections, non-Malay sentiment was to vote for any party which was not in the ruling BN coalition including PAS despite the reservations they might have had about the Islamic party.
In subsequent by-elections, Chinese and Indians, especially in Perak, willingly voted for PAS.
However, in Selangor, he could not discount the negative publicity generated by Pas Selangor including forcing their values on non-Muslims.
“Their urban seats could be in jeopardy.”
Whether Selangor PAS continues to clash with their PR partners and alienate non-Muslims could depend on the party’s disciplinary committee.
Hasan, along with his one-time deputy, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who has openly criticised the former’s policies have been hauled up before the committee for “jeopardizing the party’s image.”
Both men have responded to show-cause letters and the disciplinary committee is expected to decide on the next course of action today.
The committee could decide there is no case to answer, which would lead to status quo in the state leadership, or opt to suspend or remove Hasan as state commissioner, but this is unlikely because of his close links to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who appointed him in the first place.
The most likely outcome could be a face-saving slap on the wrist for either Hasan or for both men.
However, a party insider said this may be enough to get the state leadership to toe the line.
UNQUOTE.
PAS once criticized BN for working hand in hand with the infidels or kafir like MCA and MIC. Now PAS sleep on the same pillow with DAP. How about that? They share the same pillow but they don’t dream alike. One inspire for Malaysia to be a Muslim State and the other, no way Jose, cross my dead body.
Look at how these PAS Members behave in my Kampong in Selangor. During the recitation of Yasin and tahlil on Thursday evening after Maghreb on 24 December 2009 none of the Mosque Committee Members were present at the Mosque. They had gone to another Mosque for “Forum Perdana” whose Speakers were PAS Politicians. For the sake of hearing more to political talk they abandoned the Mosque. The Chief Imam was all alone upfront.
You can predict whom I would vote at the next General Election, insyaalah if I am still around to see it.
Things went rosy at the beginning in the Kampong, particularly mine but when PAS flex their wings and muscle, Ali Senget, Ahmad Takok and Minah Lawa is not happy. In the kampong, DAP normally don’t get the votes and PAS was none at all because they were not contesting. The Ketua Kampong does not hold his position as Ketua Kampong for all instead he operate from PAS Markas and more incline to serve only PAS Members. He seldom seen at the Mosque only at PAS organized program at the Mosque.
The main factor that BN collapsed at the urban and semi urban constituencies in Selangor was the “Istana Zakaria” factor. Pak Lah gave him too much room and Mahathir did not put a check on him. That’s the price BN had to pay and Zek, his own life. Now that Zek had gone, at the next General Election it could be a different story unless off course BN never learnt from that lesson or there is tremendous change of attitude and behavior of PAS people.
At the next General Election what would happen to the 8 PAS seats? Malaysian Insider has a write out predicted the possible outcome.
QUOTE:
By Neville Spykerman
SHAH ALAM, Dec 23 — PAS may end up the biggest losers in Selangor come the next general elections.
The Islamic party, which won eight out of the 56 state seats in Election 2008, in mostly urban or semi-urban constituencies, stands to lose the support of non-Muslims who make up between 20 and 40 per of voters in these constituencies, according to its own ground reports.
PAS contested a further 12 seats in predominantly rural Malay majority constituencies but lost all of them to Umno.
A PAS state lawmaker, who did not want to be named, told The Malaysian Insider that the support the party received from non-Muslims is dissipating.
“I don’t even know if I can retain my own seat in the next general elections.
“I’m on the ground, we meet the non-Malays and know they are not happy,” he said, adding that their main grouse is against the state Pas leadership, which has invited one controversy after another.
Earlier this year, PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali proposed a beer ban for Muslim-majority areas and moved to empower mosques officials to arrest Muslims caught drinking.
Although PAS attempted to explain that the proposals, which were eventually not implemented, would only affect Muslims, it triggered uneasiness among non-Muslims and created the perception that the party was pushing a hard-line Islamic agenda.
Non-muslims make up 47 per cent of Selangor ‘s population.
Worse still, Hasan has repeatedly clashed with his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.
He made an open challenge in the media calling for his State Executive colleague, Ronnie Liu, to resign for allegedly ordering the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) to return beer seized illegally from a 7-Eleven outlet.
More recently he caused another stir by undermining the authority of the special select committee for competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) which was investigating abuse of state funds by former Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers just before the general elections last year.
Hasan accused Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who heads the state government watchdog, of bullying civil servants during a public inquiry into the misuse of funds.
“I think we are going to be in trouble if there is no change in direction or in the state leadership,” said the Pas lawmaker.
Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Center for Independent Research who spoke to The Malaysian Insider did not, however, completely share the lawmaker’s pessimism.
“Overall PAS is gaining more support from non-Muslims, more so now after last week’s PR Convention when they reiterated their stand with the coalition.”
Before the March 8 general elections, non-Malay sentiment was to vote for any party which was not in the ruling BN coalition including PAS despite the reservations they might have had about the Islamic party.
In subsequent by-elections, Chinese and Indians, especially in Perak, willingly voted for PAS.
However, in Selangor, he could not discount the negative publicity generated by Pas Selangor including forcing their values on non-Muslims.
“Their urban seats could be in jeopardy.”
Whether Selangor PAS continues to clash with their PR partners and alienate non-Muslims could depend on the party’s disciplinary committee.
Hasan, along with his one-time deputy, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who has openly criticised the former’s policies have been hauled up before the committee for “jeopardizing the party’s image.”
Both men have responded to show-cause letters and the disciplinary committee is expected to decide on the next course of action today.
The committee could decide there is no case to answer, which would lead to status quo in the state leadership, or opt to suspend or remove Hasan as state commissioner, but this is unlikely because of his close links to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who appointed him in the first place.
The most likely outcome could be a face-saving slap on the wrist for either Hasan or for both men.
However, a party insider said this may be enough to get the state leadership to toe the line.
UNQUOTE.
PAS once criticized BN for working hand in hand with the infidels or kafir like MCA and MIC. Now PAS sleep on the same pillow with DAP. How about that? They share the same pillow but they don’t dream alike. One inspire for Malaysia to be a Muslim State and the other, no way Jose, cross my dead body.
Look at how these PAS Members behave in my Kampong in Selangor. During the recitation of Yasin and tahlil on Thursday evening after Maghreb on 24 December 2009 none of the Mosque Committee Members were present at the Mosque. They had gone to another Mosque for “Forum Perdana” whose Speakers were PAS Politicians. For the sake of hearing more to political talk they abandoned the Mosque. The Chief Imam was all alone upfront.
You can predict whom I would vote at the next General Election, insyaalah if I am still around to see it.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Motivation for Jihad.
by Charles V. Peña, December 18, 2009
Last week, five Americans – Ahmed Abdullah Minni, Umar Farooq, Aman Hassan Yemer, Waqar Hussain Khan, and Ramy Zamzam (all from the Northern Virginia area just outside of Washington, DC) – were arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks. The five were allegedly in touch with a Taliban recruiter for several months and went to Pakistan just after Thanksgiving to try and join up with al-Qaeda. According to Mustafa Abu Maryam, youth coordinator of the mosque they attended in Alexandria, VA, "I have always known these kids as fun-loving, career-focused children that had a bright future for themselves. As far as I know they were wholesome kids. Very goofy. You know, talked about girls. Very wholesome."
Farooq was an accounting student at George Mason University. Zamzam (thought to be the leader of the group) was a dental student at Howard Univeristy. By all accounts they all seemed pretty normal – or at least they didn’t exhibit any outward signs of being would-be terrorists. So there is understandably much hand-wringing over how and why these five young men could – if proven to be true – have been converted to the cause of al-Qaeda and radical Islam.
During the Bush administration we were constantly told that they, i.e., the terrorists, attacked us on 9/11 because they hate us for who we are. In other words, because they hate freedom and democracy, our way of life, our culture, our values. There doesn’t seem to be much evidence that Minni, Farooq, Yemer, Khan, and Zamzam hated America. If they really hated America, why would they go to Pakistan to wage jihad rather than trying to blow something up here?
In a speech at Cairo University in Egypt in June, President Obama talked about seven sources of tension between Islam and America:
Violent extremism in all of its forms,
The situation between Israelis, Palestinians, and the Arab world,
Rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons (i.e., Iran),
Democracy (ironic given that the speech was in Egypt which is a democracy in name only),
Religious freedom,
Women’s rights, and
Economic development and opportunity.
Again, there isn’t much evidence that any or all of the above were motivating factors for the five young men now being held in Pakistan.
The answer – which is a microcosm for larger U.S. foreign policy – is staring us straight in the face. And, like we do with foreign policy, we want to ignore it.
Reportedly, the group made what is described as a farewell video (but not necessarily a martyrdom suicide terrorism video) with reference the ongoing conflicts in the world (presumably Iraq and Afghanistan) and that young Muslims had to do something to defend Muslims. According to Pakistani authorities, the young men men "were of the opinion that a jihad must be waged against the infidels for the atrocities committed by them against Muslims around the world."
In other words, Minni, Farooq, Yemer, Khan, and Zamzam appear to have been motivated by what we do. In simple terms, because our policies result in actions that kill Muslims. Harvard professor Steven Walt did a back-of-the-envelope (and conservative, i.e., low end) calculation and came up with the number 288,000 for how many Muslims the United States has killed in the last 30 years (in contrast, Walt calculates that Muslims have killed about 10,000 Americans over the same time period – 2,800 of which were the result of the 9/11 attacks). He provides plenty of caveats:
The United States is not solely responsible for some of those fatalities, most notably in the case of "excess deaths" attributable to the U.N. sanctions against Iraq.
The United States is not solely to blame for the sectarian violence that engulfed Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
The fact that people died as a result of certain U.S. actions does not by itself mean that those policy decisions were wrong.
Even with the caveats, the numbers can’t be ignored. So why is it so hard for us to understand that Muslims – perhaps including the five young men from Northern Virginia – would be motivated to become terrorists?
Because it’s hard to acknowledge to ourselves that terrorism is a consequence of U.S. policy choices and actions. No one wants to be accused of hating America, claiming that America is at fault, or saying that America deserves to be attacked – all of which are not true. But confusing fault and blame with cause and effect only results in continuing to come up with the wrong answers.
For example, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman claims that the problem is what he calls "the Narrative" of anti-American jihad. According to Friedman:
The Narrative is the cocktail of half-truths, propaganda, and outright lies about America that have taken hold in the Arab-Muslim world since 9/11. Propagated by jihadist Web sites, mosque preachers, Arab intellectuals, satellite news stations and books – and tacitly endorsed by some Arab regimes – this narrative posits that America has declared war on Islam, as part of a grand "American-Crusader-Zionist conspiracy" to keep Muslims down.
In other words, in Friedman’s view the problem is Muslims. So the solution would have to lie with changing Muslims and the Muslim world (no surprise coming from someone who was a cheerleader for invading Iraq).
But what Friedman conveniently ignores are two undeniable facts (not half-truths, propaganda, and outright lies) about the Narrative:
The United States is an occupier in Muslim countries (this was true even before the decision to invade Iraq and one of the primary grievances cited by Osama bin Laden in his calls to Muslims to make America a target for terrorism).
The United States supports authoritarian and oppressive regimes in Muslim countries (another grievance cited by bin Laden).
Throw in the undeniable fact that U.S. military action has resulted (and continues to result) in killing Muslims (even if sometimes justified) and you have a pretty potent cocktail for recruiting terrorists.
There is one thing Friedman gets right: "Many Arab Muslims know that what ails their societies is more than the West, and that The Narrative is just an escape from looking honestly at themselves." But if Friedman truly understood The Narrative, he would understand that the only way for Muslims to look honestly at themselves (and not give their ruling governments an easy way to, in his words, "deflect onto America all of their people’s grievances") is to remove the United States from the equation. In other words, we need to stop trying to be part of the solution and understand that we are part of the problem.
Last week, five Americans – Ahmed Abdullah Minni, Umar Farooq, Aman Hassan Yemer, Waqar Hussain Khan, and Ramy Zamzam (all from the Northern Virginia area just outside of Washington, DC) – were arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks. The five were allegedly in touch with a Taliban recruiter for several months and went to Pakistan just after Thanksgiving to try and join up with al-Qaeda. According to Mustafa Abu Maryam, youth coordinator of the mosque they attended in Alexandria, VA, "I have always known these kids as fun-loving, career-focused children that had a bright future for themselves. As far as I know they were wholesome kids. Very goofy. You know, talked about girls. Very wholesome."
Farooq was an accounting student at George Mason University. Zamzam (thought to be the leader of the group) was a dental student at Howard Univeristy. By all accounts they all seemed pretty normal – or at least they didn’t exhibit any outward signs of being would-be terrorists. So there is understandably much hand-wringing over how and why these five young men could – if proven to be true – have been converted to the cause of al-Qaeda and radical Islam.
During the Bush administration we were constantly told that they, i.e., the terrorists, attacked us on 9/11 because they hate us for who we are. In other words, because they hate freedom and democracy, our way of life, our culture, our values. There doesn’t seem to be much evidence that Minni, Farooq, Yemer, Khan, and Zamzam hated America. If they really hated America, why would they go to Pakistan to wage jihad rather than trying to blow something up here?
In a speech at Cairo University in Egypt in June, President Obama talked about seven sources of tension between Islam and America:
Violent extremism in all of its forms,
The situation between Israelis, Palestinians, and the Arab world,
Rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons (i.e., Iran),
Democracy (ironic given that the speech was in Egypt which is a democracy in name only),
Religious freedom,
Women’s rights, and
Economic development and opportunity.
Again, there isn’t much evidence that any or all of the above were motivating factors for the five young men now being held in Pakistan.
The answer – which is a microcosm for larger U.S. foreign policy – is staring us straight in the face. And, like we do with foreign policy, we want to ignore it.
Reportedly, the group made what is described as a farewell video (but not necessarily a martyrdom suicide terrorism video) with reference the ongoing conflicts in the world (presumably Iraq and Afghanistan) and that young Muslims had to do something to defend Muslims. According to Pakistani authorities, the young men men "were of the opinion that a jihad must be waged against the infidels for the atrocities committed by them against Muslims around the world."
In other words, Minni, Farooq, Yemer, Khan, and Zamzam appear to have been motivated by what we do. In simple terms, because our policies result in actions that kill Muslims. Harvard professor Steven Walt did a back-of-the-envelope (and conservative, i.e., low end) calculation and came up with the number 288,000 for how many Muslims the United States has killed in the last 30 years (in contrast, Walt calculates that Muslims have killed about 10,000 Americans over the same time period – 2,800 of which were the result of the 9/11 attacks). He provides plenty of caveats:
The United States is not solely responsible for some of those fatalities, most notably in the case of "excess deaths" attributable to the U.N. sanctions against Iraq.
The United States is not solely to blame for the sectarian violence that engulfed Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
The fact that people died as a result of certain U.S. actions does not by itself mean that those policy decisions were wrong.
Even with the caveats, the numbers can’t be ignored. So why is it so hard for us to understand that Muslims – perhaps including the five young men from Northern Virginia – would be motivated to become terrorists?
Because it’s hard to acknowledge to ourselves that terrorism is a consequence of U.S. policy choices and actions. No one wants to be accused of hating America, claiming that America is at fault, or saying that America deserves to be attacked – all of which are not true. But confusing fault and blame with cause and effect only results in continuing to come up with the wrong answers.
For example, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman claims that the problem is what he calls "the Narrative" of anti-American jihad. According to Friedman:
The Narrative is the cocktail of half-truths, propaganda, and outright lies about America that have taken hold in the Arab-Muslim world since 9/11. Propagated by jihadist Web sites, mosque preachers, Arab intellectuals, satellite news stations and books – and tacitly endorsed by some Arab regimes – this narrative posits that America has declared war on Islam, as part of a grand "American-Crusader-Zionist conspiracy" to keep Muslims down.
In other words, in Friedman’s view the problem is Muslims. So the solution would have to lie with changing Muslims and the Muslim world (no surprise coming from someone who was a cheerleader for invading Iraq).
But what Friedman conveniently ignores are two undeniable facts (not half-truths, propaganda, and outright lies) about the Narrative:
The United States is an occupier in Muslim countries (this was true even before the decision to invade Iraq and one of the primary grievances cited by Osama bin Laden in his calls to Muslims to make America a target for terrorism).
The United States supports authoritarian and oppressive regimes in Muslim countries (another grievance cited by bin Laden).
Throw in the undeniable fact that U.S. military action has resulted (and continues to result) in killing Muslims (even if sometimes justified) and you have a pretty potent cocktail for recruiting terrorists.
There is one thing Friedman gets right: "Many Arab Muslims know that what ails their societies is more than the West, and that The Narrative is just an escape from looking honestly at themselves." But if Friedman truly understood The Narrative, he would understand that the only way for Muslims to look honestly at themselves (and not give their ruling governments an easy way to, in his words, "deflect onto America all of their people’s grievances") is to remove the United States from the equation. In other words, we need to stop trying to be part of the solution and understand that we are part of the problem.
Locked Again?
When I walked in into the Mosque on 23 December 2009 before Maghreb, I saw the New Mosque Donation Safes were locked again. The padlock was removed on 4 December 2009 and now I understand the Nazir instructed the Siak to keep on locking the Safes again. So….. no one can donate towards the building of the New Mosque. A Muslim is preventing several Muslims from doing a good cause towards building the new House of Allah in the Kampong. Is he a Muslim? I leave it to your own judgment. He prays five times a day and in his prayer he seeks “siratulmustakim”, the right straight route to truth. I wonder when Allah would bestow to him the “hidayah”, the right straight route to the truth.
The fact that JAIS have requested the Nazir to show cause pertaining to the change of signatories at Bank Islam Klang is already a good indication that the New Mosque Administration is still valid with the Protem Committee. What excuse that the Nazir has, preventing Muslims from donating towards the New Mosque? The Safes is in the Mosque and they are the Committee Members? The Mosque is the House of Allah and every Muslims has the right on the Mosque for as long the deeds are not contravening to Islamic teachings. The Safes are there in the Mosque for kind souls to donate for the building of a New Mosque not for donating to buy 4 Digit Magnum. The Mosque does not belong to the Committee Members and the fact that they are the Committee Members was based on the Qariah that elected them. They must realize that. Please get that into their heads.
I think they are testing the patience of the Kampong people a little bit too far and I hate to see things that may get out of control. On the other aspect they foresee their downfall and before they collapse they would try to instigate and irritate as much as possible. As for the Kampong residents, I hope they would not be that numbskulls. The Kampong people are rational minded human beings. I patronize this Mosque and resident of this Kampong since August 1977 and I fully know the mentality of the Kampong residents. Sorry to say, when PR came to power in Selangor and PAS Members became the “Jaguh Kampong”, the usual harmony interrupted. Why everything went well with the Mosque and the Kampong when Selangor was under BN?
Will see………..
The fact that JAIS have requested the Nazir to show cause pertaining to the change of signatories at Bank Islam Klang is already a good indication that the New Mosque Administration is still valid with the Protem Committee. What excuse that the Nazir has, preventing Muslims from donating towards the New Mosque? The Safes is in the Mosque and they are the Committee Members? The Mosque is the House of Allah and every Muslims has the right on the Mosque for as long the deeds are not contravening to Islamic teachings. The Safes are there in the Mosque for kind souls to donate for the building of a New Mosque not for donating to buy 4 Digit Magnum. The Mosque does not belong to the Committee Members and the fact that they are the Committee Members was based on the Qariah that elected them. They must realize that. Please get that into their heads.
I think they are testing the patience of the Kampong people a little bit too far and I hate to see things that may get out of control. On the other aspect they foresee their downfall and before they collapse they would try to instigate and irritate as much as possible. As for the Kampong residents, I hope they would not be that numbskulls. The Kampong people are rational minded human beings. I patronize this Mosque and resident of this Kampong since August 1977 and I fully know the mentality of the Kampong residents. Sorry to say, when PR came to power in Selangor and PAS Members became the “Jaguh Kampong”, the usual harmony interrupted. Why everything went well with the Mosque and the Kampong when Selangor was under BN?
Will see………..
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
How come?
How come Barrack Hussein Obama, the President of United States of America was awarded the Noble Peace Prize when he is in the midst of two wars? On top of that his country is assisting Israel to suppress the Palestinians. Definitely he is not the Man of Peace. It’s just like awarding the Best Player of a football game to the Player who scored an own goal.
How come two F-5E Jet engines went missing from the RMAF Store and landed in one of the country in Latin America? It was found missing sometimes end of 2007 and only now came to public knowledge. It was told that it was the work of the lower ranking, Sergeant and below. My God, even our lower ranking Air Force personnel have international connections. What do you expect from the Colonel and the Brigadier General? It seems it is only the tip of the iceberg, more things had gone missing. I am not surprise, one day the Submarine also went missing and surfaced at Maldives. In developed countries, the Minister would resign. Someone should be responsible with this debacle and I am sure at the end of the day, “tiada kes” and after a while, all forgotten. If I remove a refrigerator for repair from my house and it did not come back, surely my wife would yell and question me.
How come UMNO Member of Parliament likes to marry an Artiste? The latest is Bung of Kinabatangan to Minah Gebu. Initially he declared he was not that handsome but finally he owned up. The Minah Gebu scared to open her mouth not to hurt the first wife. Actually she already hurt her. I wonder what so special about that man from Kinabatangan? Ha ha…….probably your answer is good as mine. Toot toot.
How come the Immigration and the Police did not work hand in hand at all entry points especially KLIA when PI Bala declared that he often return to Malaysia? PI Bala should be arrested and squeeze the truth nothing but the truth about his first statuary declaration. Did someone instructed just let him pass through and let him exit just like that?
How come a beautiful Mongolian Model cum Interpreter entered the country got exploded but no entry record? At Jeddah Airport the entrée made to wait for hours in line but the Saudis upkeep efficient record.
How come in Trengganu, everything seem to be collapsing? Either the Project Engineer does not know how to do simple structural calculation or the materials are of sub standards. Most likely sub standards materials because the project was sub contract, then sub sub contract finally sub sub sub contract. The end result is sub sub soi and see to the ground. No problems, there are plenty of “wang ehsan” to juggle around.
How come? How come? You think for yourself. The answer is within you.
How come two F-5E Jet engines went missing from the RMAF Store and landed in one of the country in Latin America? It was found missing sometimes end of 2007 and only now came to public knowledge. It was told that it was the work of the lower ranking, Sergeant and below. My God, even our lower ranking Air Force personnel have international connections. What do you expect from the Colonel and the Brigadier General? It seems it is only the tip of the iceberg, more things had gone missing. I am not surprise, one day the Submarine also went missing and surfaced at Maldives. In developed countries, the Minister would resign. Someone should be responsible with this debacle and I am sure at the end of the day, “tiada kes” and after a while, all forgotten. If I remove a refrigerator for repair from my house and it did not come back, surely my wife would yell and question me.
How come UMNO Member of Parliament likes to marry an Artiste? The latest is Bung of Kinabatangan to Minah Gebu. Initially he declared he was not that handsome but finally he owned up. The Minah Gebu scared to open her mouth not to hurt the first wife. Actually she already hurt her. I wonder what so special about that man from Kinabatangan? Ha ha…….probably your answer is good as mine. Toot toot.
How come the Immigration and the Police did not work hand in hand at all entry points especially KLIA when PI Bala declared that he often return to Malaysia? PI Bala should be arrested and squeeze the truth nothing but the truth about his first statuary declaration. Did someone instructed just let him pass through and let him exit just like that?
How come a beautiful Mongolian Model cum Interpreter entered the country got exploded but no entry record? At Jeddah Airport the entrée made to wait for hours in line but the Saudis upkeep efficient record.
How come in Trengganu, everything seem to be collapsing? Either the Project Engineer does not know how to do simple structural calculation or the materials are of sub standards. Most likely sub standards materials because the project was sub contract, then sub sub contract finally sub sub sub contract. The end result is sub sub soi and see to the ground. No problems, there are plenty of “wang ehsan” to juggle around.
How come? How come? You think for yourself. The answer is within you.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Hijrah Date.
During the Maal Hijrah auspicious celebration, I realize many Muslims including me really do not adapt and neglect the Hijrah Calendar. I was interested what date of the Hijrah Calendar that I and the rest of the family were born and I am glad to find out the following:-
Mustapa Abdul Hamid – 12 Muharam 1365 (Monday).
Hanizah Abdul Rahman – 07 Rejab 1366 (Wednesday).
Muzaffar Mustapa – 08 Rabyawal 1394 (Monday).
Muzlifah Mustapa – 16 Rejab 1395 (Saturday).
Many Muslims tend to forget the dates and months of the Hijrah Calendar. Malaysian Muslims, the Malays especially, only know Ramadan and Syawal. Ramadan is fasting and Syawal is Hari Raya. Those days they remember Safar as well, where the Malays would take a ritual bath on the last Wednesday of Safar to throw away all the bad luck. Now the ritual had been declared as “bidaah” (not available in Islamic theology).
I remember when I was a small kid I used to see chartered busses heading to Tanjong Kling in Melaka to celebrate the “Mandi Safar” Carnival. In fact in 1968 I myself went to Tanjong Keling to join the fiesta. I think it was declared “bidaah” at the beginning of 1970. May 13 happened on the eve of Pesta Safar – 26 Safar 1389. (Tuesday) and that evening ignorant of the fact that KL was burning I was at Telok Kemang Beach.
From the Hijrah Calendar I found out I am two years older compared to the Georgian Calendar. By Georgian I am 64 and by Hijrah I am 66. Whatever, the numbers of years is not important and what is important is how I spent the years.
Mustapa Abdul Hamid – 12 Muharam 1365 (Monday).
Hanizah Abdul Rahman – 07 Rejab 1366 (Wednesday).
Muzaffar Mustapa – 08 Rabyawal 1394 (Monday).
Muzlifah Mustapa – 16 Rejab 1395 (Saturday).
Many Muslims tend to forget the dates and months of the Hijrah Calendar. Malaysian Muslims, the Malays especially, only know Ramadan and Syawal. Ramadan is fasting and Syawal is Hari Raya. Those days they remember Safar as well, where the Malays would take a ritual bath on the last Wednesday of Safar to throw away all the bad luck. Now the ritual had been declared as “bidaah” (not available in Islamic theology).
I remember when I was a small kid I used to see chartered busses heading to Tanjong Kling in Melaka to celebrate the “Mandi Safar” Carnival. In fact in 1968 I myself went to Tanjong Keling to join the fiesta. I think it was declared “bidaah” at the beginning of 1970. May 13 happened on the eve of Pesta Safar – 26 Safar 1389. (Tuesday) and that evening ignorant of the fact that KL was burning I was at Telok Kemang Beach.
From the Hijrah Calendar I found out I am two years older compared to the Georgian Calendar. By Georgian I am 64 and by Hijrah I am 66. Whatever, the numbers of years is not important and what is important is how I spent the years.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The weekend.
On Friday after Isyakh and after the Maal Hijrah ceramah at the Mosque I went to the Pasar Malam and bought fresh set of petai. That local fruit is my favorite and with sambal belacan my appetite would be extraordinary good. You would be surprise, when I walked in into a Supermarket in Vancouver Canada I saw petai for sale. God knows where it came from?
On Saturday morning my pc was infected by virus while I was on the facebook email and recommended to shut it out immediately. The problem could only be solved on Monday evening and in the meantime I resort to my old faithful which is very much slower. Luckily the old pc is still connected to the main modem and I do have internet access. Now I am getting scared to go on to my emails.
During lunch on Saturday I was served with the menu of sambal petai with anchovies and fried salted gelama fish. Greedily I went for second helping on the rice and a little bit overdosed on the fried salted fish. During zohor prayer, my head spanned and I had to perform my prayer cautiously otherwise I could collapsed. I abandoned the afternoon TV program and hit the sack to take a good rest. The salted fried fish must have accelerated my blood pressure. Furthermore, off late I have been mentally disturbed due to an event that was beyond my own doing. I consoled myself to sleep praying that I would wake up.
I was awakened by the door bell when my friend, Raja Rosdin and wife all the way from Ampang Jaya came for a house visit. They were from a wedding at Shah Alam and it was nice of them to call upon the retired old man. For tea we served them cempedak goring and the cempedak was just delivered from the kampong dusun by my wife’s niece. Raja and I compared notes about the latest happenings. I was sorry to hear that Raja Rosdin mother passed away two days before Aidiladha and Haji Razak Majid just had a major angioplasty involving three main arteries. Tuan Syed Aziz has lost his memories suffering from Alzheimer. Several new stories and current situation I obtained from Raja and his wife. There were some good and some not good news. Raja and wife left just before Maghreb.
Saturday night after Isyakh started with excitement when Portsmouth beat Liverpool by 2 – 0. After that, was the greatest despair when Manchester United was beaten 3 – 0 by Fulham. What the hell Sir Alex was doing? The EPL is getting crazier every week.
Sunday morning started early when the four of us left for Sungai Besar near Sabak Bernam to attend Yuswan daughter’s wedding. Sabirin was on the wheel with Wak Salim sat on the left and Yusof and I occupy the back seat. We stopped at Sekinchan for a drink and waiting for the rest of the convoy to catch up with us. As we left Sekinchan, the rain started to pour and it was damn heavy. Arrived at Yuswan’s house but we could not alight due to the heavy downpour. We drove ahead and landed at Muara Marine Park Resort where we stopped and took time off to answer the call of nature. The weather was very cooling. I was very surprise to find this place in the middle of nowhere and it is a damn good place for recreational hideout and hibernating to peace up the mind. It is at the frontage of Melaka Straits and adjacent to a fishing boat jetty. I disturbed Wak Salim that he can spend his honeymoon at this Marine Park Resort.
When the rain subsided we headed for Yuswan’s house for the buffet wedding kenduri. Due to the bad weather the guests got stuck under the canopy and it was crowded. We of course met several familiar faces as Yuswan is a member of the Mosque Marhaban group and attach at Port Klang Balai Bomba. Yuswan purposely organized the wedding at the kampong to accommodate all his folks and kinsmen and it was no surprise even though the weather was bad but the reception was fairly grand.
On the way home we stopped at Sekinchan and by the road side we bought the local maize. That was our contribution to kampong industries and to support the poor bumiputera business enterprise.
On Saturday morning my pc was infected by virus while I was on the facebook email and recommended to shut it out immediately. The problem could only be solved on Monday evening and in the meantime I resort to my old faithful which is very much slower. Luckily the old pc is still connected to the main modem and I do have internet access. Now I am getting scared to go on to my emails.
During lunch on Saturday I was served with the menu of sambal petai with anchovies and fried salted gelama fish. Greedily I went for second helping on the rice and a little bit overdosed on the fried salted fish. During zohor prayer, my head spanned and I had to perform my prayer cautiously otherwise I could collapsed. I abandoned the afternoon TV program and hit the sack to take a good rest. The salted fried fish must have accelerated my blood pressure. Furthermore, off late I have been mentally disturbed due to an event that was beyond my own doing. I consoled myself to sleep praying that I would wake up.
I was awakened by the door bell when my friend, Raja Rosdin and wife all the way from Ampang Jaya came for a house visit. They were from a wedding at Shah Alam and it was nice of them to call upon the retired old man. For tea we served them cempedak goring and the cempedak was just delivered from the kampong dusun by my wife’s niece. Raja and I compared notes about the latest happenings. I was sorry to hear that Raja Rosdin mother passed away two days before Aidiladha and Haji Razak Majid just had a major angioplasty involving three main arteries. Tuan Syed Aziz has lost his memories suffering from Alzheimer. Several new stories and current situation I obtained from Raja and his wife. There were some good and some not good news. Raja and wife left just before Maghreb.
Saturday night after Isyakh started with excitement when Portsmouth beat Liverpool by 2 – 0. After that, was the greatest despair when Manchester United was beaten 3 – 0 by Fulham. What the hell Sir Alex was doing? The EPL is getting crazier every week.
Sunday morning started early when the four of us left for Sungai Besar near Sabak Bernam to attend Yuswan daughter’s wedding. Sabirin was on the wheel with Wak Salim sat on the left and Yusof and I occupy the back seat. We stopped at Sekinchan for a drink and waiting for the rest of the convoy to catch up with us. As we left Sekinchan, the rain started to pour and it was damn heavy. Arrived at Yuswan’s house but we could not alight due to the heavy downpour. We drove ahead and landed at Muara Marine Park Resort where we stopped and took time off to answer the call of nature. The weather was very cooling. I was very surprise to find this place in the middle of nowhere and it is a damn good place for recreational hideout and hibernating to peace up the mind. It is at the frontage of Melaka Straits and adjacent to a fishing boat jetty. I disturbed Wak Salim that he can spend his honeymoon at this Marine Park Resort.
When the rain subsided we headed for Yuswan’s house for the buffet wedding kenduri. Due to the bad weather the guests got stuck under the canopy and it was crowded. We of course met several familiar faces as Yuswan is a member of the Mosque Marhaban group and attach at Port Klang Balai Bomba. Yuswan purposely organized the wedding at the kampong to accommodate all his folks and kinsmen and it was no surprise even though the weather was bad but the reception was fairly grand.
On the way home we stopped at Sekinchan and by the road side we bought the local maize. That was our contribution to kampong industries and to support the poor bumiputera business enterprise.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sixty Four (64).
On my sixty three (63) birthday, I wrote this.
No candles to blow,
I hope and pray my life glow
Be nice to all,
Hope, there will be sixty four.
Insyaalah.
Alhamdulilah (thank Allah) I came to sixty four. I am now on one year subsidy for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) left us at sixty three (63).
17 December 2009, my birthday anniversary was very significant; it fell on the eve of Maal Hijrah. On this day, 1430 years ago by the Muslim calendar, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was one day away by camels from Quba Medina on his miraculous escape from Mekah. I would imagine the hardships and the endurance the Holy Prophet (pbuh) encountered on making this journey.
Six decades and four years ago in the middle of the British Malaya Administration era, a boy was born in a small kampong by the rail line between Sungkai and Bidor. Today he stays very close to the rail line or komuter line between Klang and Port Klang. From a steam locomotive that he used to admire during his kid days to now a modern Electric Operated Shuttle Train.
In the evening at 1800 hrs there was a live telecast from Vientiane Laos where Malaysia faced Vietnam in the Soccer final. I watched the first half and it was scoreless. I immediately adjourned to the Mosque in time for the year end doa. After Maghreb and the New Year doa, I left the Mosque to watch the end part of the game. I must eat my word for Malaysia triumphed with 1 – 0. Malaysia got the gold. I did not give Malaysia a chance to win and indeed it was a pleasant birthday present.
After Isyakh, Sabirin, Wan Zainal, Murad and Pak Long Mustaffa got together at the Warong for drinks and simple snack. Pak Long who just arrived from Perlis took the tab, in return for the classified object that I got for him. At 64 my standard is only Warong unlike those days when I was high and mighty, nothing short of a five star Hotel celebrations. Those were the days.
Things have surely changed as I become older. Only Allah knows whether I am able to reach the 65 or otherwise.
No candles to blow,
I hope and pray my life glow
Be nice to all,
Hope, there will be sixty four.
Insyaalah.
Alhamdulilah (thank Allah) I came to sixty four. I am now on one year subsidy for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) left us at sixty three (63).
17 December 2009, my birthday anniversary was very significant; it fell on the eve of Maal Hijrah. On this day, 1430 years ago by the Muslim calendar, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was one day away by camels from Quba Medina on his miraculous escape from Mekah. I would imagine the hardships and the endurance the Holy Prophet (pbuh) encountered on making this journey.
Six decades and four years ago in the middle of the British Malaya Administration era, a boy was born in a small kampong by the rail line between Sungkai and Bidor. Today he stays very close to the rail line or komuter line between Klang and Port Klang. From a steam locomotive that he used to admire during his kid days to now a modern Electric Operated Shuttle Train.
In the evening at 1800 hrs there was a live telecast from Vientiane Laos where Malaysia faced Vietnam in the Soccer final. I watched the first half and it was scoreless. I immediately adjourned to the Mosque in time for the year end doa. After Maghreb and the New Year doa, I left the Mosque to watch the end part of the game. I must eat my word for Malaysia triumphed with 1 – 0. Malaysia got the gold. I did not give Malaysia a chance to win and indeed it was a pleasant birthday present.
After Isyakh, Sabirin, Wan Zainal, Murad and Pak Long Mustaffa got together at the Warong for drinks and simple snack. Pak Long who just arrived from Perlis took the tab, in return for the classified object that I got for him. At 64 my standard is only Warong unlike those days when I was high and mighty, nothing short of a five star Hotel celebrations. Those were the days.
Things have surely changed as I become older. Only Allah knows whether I am able to reach the 65 or otherwise.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Golf for Retirees.
For the past several days I received one sms and three phone calls inviting me to play golf this Sunday, 20 December 2009 organized by Sime Darby for Retirees of Guthrie, Golden Hope and Sime Darby. The Venue is Saujana Impian Golf Course Kajang, once belong to Golden Hope and now Sime Darby.
Yours truly had lain off golf since 09 October 2003. That very afternoon I had an appointment to play golf with three other friends at the Port Klang Golf Resort and at 0800 hours I was struck by a mild stroke. My left eye was badly affected (now corrected by laser operation) and I saw double. I could not address which balls as I saw two. The other two balls were however not seen, well hidden. I transferred all my golf kit into the Store Room and it remained there since.
I started golf in 1990 when I was transferred to Wisma Guthrie and the first Course I ever stepped in was at Frasers Hill. Ben and I never hold a golf club before in our lives. My first tee off was a couple of feet away but when Ben tee off it landed on the 9th green. Those who had played at Frasers Hill Course would know that the 1st hole tee off is quite near to the 9th green. So, Ben completed the whole Course with only just one stroke. CK Cheah and ST Woon were our Pro. We completed the nine holes course with plenty of laughter. It was not that easy that I expected. Since I was so used to playing hockey and cricket, I never could master the correct golf swing, ever.
Later I used to frequent Morib Golf Club and Kampong Kuantan Golf Club an affiliation Club to my Membership at Dublin Golf Club and Harvard Golf Club. Don’t be fooled, it is not in Ireland and US. It is Guthrie Golf Clubs in Kedah. I was never a serious golfer and just played for the fun of it and the lowest handicap ever achieved was 22. I just wanted to sweat it out. The worst experience I ever played was at Kuala Pilah Golf Course when I developed high temperature after the game. It was not once but twice. I understand the Course is haunted but I bulldozed my way through like a Hero without respecting the permanent residential demons. At one instant I was standing by the green when my friend chipped in the ball and it went straight heading for my tummy. Either he miscued or invisible forces sent the ball straight to its intended target. No more third visit for me at Kuala Pilah. My golf set had been on the plane to Phuket and Pattaya. Not forgetting Alor Star when the plane load of Guthrie Executives attended the Harvard Club EGM to close off the former Club. Once I was with the Chief Internal Auditor on the way back from Penang after a Court case, we decided to detour to Cameron Highland just to play the highland course. I had a major problem as at every hole it had to cross the same river and the Orang Asli Caddy did not of any assistance for they only thing they master is to carry the golf set.
For the 20th December, I would let the Retirees enjoy themselves and I beg to decline. However I was invited for the Luncheon but sorry no thank you. As much as I would like to meet my ex colleagues but I have something else more important to do, two weddings to attend.
Yours truly had lain off golf since 09 October 2003. That very afternoon I had an appointment to play golf with three other friends at the Port Klang Golf Resort and at 0800 hours I was struck by a mild stroke. My left eye was badly affected (now corrected by laser operation) and I saw double. I could not address which balls as I saw two. The other two balls were however not seen, well hidden. I transferred all my golf kit into the Store Room and it remained there since.
I started golf in 1990 when I was transferred to Wisma Guthrie and the first Course I ever stepped in was at Frasers Hill. Ben and I never hold a golf club before in our lives. My first tee off was a couple of feet away but when Ben tee off it landed on the 9th green. Those who had played at Frasers Hill Course would know that the 1st hole tee off is quite near to the 9th green. So, Ben completed the whole Course with only just one stroke. CK Cheah and ST Woon were our Pro. We completed the nine holes course with plenty of laughter. It was not that easy that I expected. Since I was so used to playing hockey and cricket, I never could master the correct golf swing, ever.
Later I used to frequent Morib Golf Club and Kampong Kuantan Golf Club an affiliation Club to my Membership at Dublin Golf Club and Harvard Golf Club. Don’t be fooled, it is not in Ireland and US. It is Guthrie Golf Clubs in Kedah. I was never a serious golfer and just played for the fun of it and the lowest handicap ever achieved was 22. I just wanted to sweat it out. The worst experience I ever played was at Kuala Pilah Golf Course when I developed high temperature after the game. It was not once but twice. I understand the Course is haunted but I bulldozed my way through like a Hero without respecting the permanent residential demons. At one instant I was standing by the green when my friend chipped in the ball and it went straight heading for my tummy. Either he miscued or invisible forces sent the ball straight to its intended target. No more third visit for me at Kuala Pilah. My golf set had been on the plane to Phuket and Pattaya. Not forgetting Alor Star when the plane load of Guthrie Executives attended the Harvard Club EGM to close off the former Club. Once I was with the Chief Internal Auditor on the way back from Penang after a Court case, we decided to detour to Cameron Highland just to play the highland course. I had a major problem as at every hole it had to cross the same river and the Orang Asli Caddy did not of any assistance for they only thing they master is to carry the golf set.
For the 20th December, I would let the Retirees enjoy themselves and I beg to decline. However I was invited for the Luncheon but sorry no thank you. As much as I would like to meet my ex colleagues but I have something else more important to do, two weddings to attend.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Laos/Kelantan/Malaysia.
I must admit the Laotian football fans were more civilized than the Kelantan football fans.
Honestly I wasn’t interested with the Malaysian football team playing at the Laos 25th Sea Games. It would be the same story all over again and I hate to be disappointed with their performance. Malaysia beat Thailand 2-1? That’s great and they were facing Laos in the semi. Fine, I gave them a chance and I watched that game.
I spared the Maghreb jemaah at the Mosque and I did it alone at home in time for the 2000 hrs live telecast from Vientiane. Malaysia played well and the first goal by Badrol was superb from a scissor kick. The Malaysians held on to the one goal lead until half time. During the second half with eighteen more minutes to full time, the Laotians strike and the score was level. I thought it was finished for Malaysia as the Malaysians players were all pumped out. To my amazement Badrol did it again and from an unbalanced position he managed to swipe the ball into the goal. Malaysian lead again and they shut out the Laotians of any desire to come back by another beautiful goal starting from a run up by the bye line. Malaysia won 3-1. Not bad, after all.
The morale that we can learn here, especially to the Kelantan football fans, the Laotians were very well behaved. They showed true spirit of sportsmanship. There were no chairs been burnt, no smoke bomb, no fire crackers, no missiles being thrown and the Laotian fans exhibited the true spirit of sportsmanship. In a game there bound to be a winner and looser and they took it sportingly. The Security Forces did very little to control the crowd as there was no hooligans. On that aspect I salute the Laotians football fans. Imagine if Laos beat Malaysia at Malaysian soil?
Our Malaysian fans have not learnt to be discipline. Look at EPL games, no fans are seated at the stairways. Here in Malaysia during the case of emergency, we do not know where the stairways are. Who is to be blame? The Stadium Management? I think us, for we ourselves are not immune to discipline and Malaysians just love breaking the law.
I may watch the Final between Malaysia and Vietnam but I must admit I don’t give Malaysia any chance. Only miracle would made Malaysia bag the gold.
Malaysians would be talking about football standard for the next twenty years and the status would be the same unless the people at the helm are willing to part with their glamorous positions and self interest political missions. One upon a time, we used to outplay the Koreans and the Japanese. Where they are now compared to us?
Honestly I wasn’t interested with the Malaysian football team playing at the Laos 25th Sea Games. It would be the same story all over again and I hate to be disappointed with their performance. Malaysia beat Thailand 2-1? That’s great and they were facing Laos in the semi. Fine, I gave them a chance and I watched that game.
I spared the Maghreb jemaah at the Mosque and I did it alone at home in time for the 2000 hrs live telecast from Vientiane. Malaysia played well and the first goal by Badrol was superb from a scissor kick. The Malaysians held on to the one goal lead until half time. During the second half with eighteen more minutes to full time, the Laotians strike and the score was level. I thought it was finished for Malaysia as the Malaysians players were all pumped out. To my amazement Badrol did it again and from an unbalanced position he managed to swipe the ball into the goal. Malaysian lead again and they shut out the Laotians of any desire to come back by another beautiful goal starting from a run up by the bye line. Malaysia won 3-1. Not bad, after all.
The morale that we can learn here, especially to the Kelantan football fans, the Laotians were very well behaved. They showed true spirit of sportsmanship. There were no chairs been burnt, no smoke bomb, no fire crackers, no missiles being thrown and the Laotian fans exhibited the true spirit of sportsmanship. In a game there bound to be a winner and looser and they took it sportingly. The Security Forces did very little to control the crowd as there was no hooligans. On that aspect I salute the Laotians football fans. Imagine if Laos beat Malaysia at Malaysian soil?
Our Malaysian fans have not learnt to be discipline. Look at EPL games, no fans are seated at the stairways. Here in Malaysia during the case of emergency, we do not know where the stairways are. Who is to be blame? The Stadium Management? I think us, for we ourselves are not immune to discipline and Malaysians just love breaking the law.
I may watch the Final between Malaysia and Vietnam but I must admit I don’t give Malaysia any chance. Only miracle would made Malaysia bag the gold.
Malaysians would be talking about football standard for the next twenty years and the status would be the same unless the people at the helm are willing to part with their glamorous positions and self interest political missions. One upon a time, we used to outplay the Koreans and the Japanese. Where they are now compared to us?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Cousin's children wedding.
Over the weekend two cousins had their children married. One was from my father’s side and the other from my mother. On my father’s side is a bridegroom and on my mother’s side a bride.
On Friday evening I accompanied my cousin Khairuddin or Lat whom we nicknamed him, giving away his daughter in marriage at Masjid Taman Dato Harun at Old Klang Road. Very simple akad nikah ceremony and the solemnization were approved on the second saying. It was drizzling and after that we adjourned for a buffet feast at Lat Flat Complex. I went very light as it was six (6) in the evening having to take rice. One thing I like about this wedding was the cooperation among the Flat dwellers. They came in full force to give a helping hand and the food was cooked and prepared by the community. The “gotong royong” concept, still exist in this vicinity. The old folks were busy chattering and cooking while the children were playing and running around. It remind me of the wedding in the Kampong when I was a small kid. It was unfortunate I couldn’t attend the main function on Saturday as I have something urgent to attend to.
On Sunday I was summoned by my cousin Dato Malek to be in his house at Damansara before noon. We left for Taman Permata somewhere in Setapak for his son’s wedding. The reception was at the Bride’s house and I was invited to accompany the delegation. The akad nikah was held at KLCC Mosque early morning and I was not invited due to the distance and timing. The reception was quiet grand and it was catered. The Bridegroom delegation was specially seated at reserved tables. It was very formal with spoon and forks and served by uniformed Waiter. I felt quiet odd at a Malay wedding having to eat with spoon and forks and it was not in Banquet Hall at five stars Hotel. Anyway the menu was similar to the one at Banquet Hall wedding reception. For Dato Malek reception it would be held in January 2010, next year. It sounds quite a distance but its only next month. Just a couple of days away.
Friday and Sunday – wedding receptions of two different styles comparatively both are Malay weddings after all. Both have similar atmosphere where people and relatives got together joining hands, meeting each other and share the joyous occasion. Perhaps it is the only one occasion of a certain individual wedding that we come to attend to. I thank my two cousins from two different sides that still recognize my presence to share with them the joyous day of their children.
My principle is simple, if am invited I would take the pain to attend, if not, thank you very much I don’t lose my money and time. My money is more worthy towards my monthly pills and tablets.
On Friday evening I accompanied my cousin Khairuddin or Lat whom we nicknamed him, giving away his daughter in marriage at Masjid Taman Dato Harun at Old Klang Road. Very simple akad nikah ceremony and the solemnization were approved on the second saying. It was drizzling and after that we adjourned for a buffet feast at Lat Flat Complex. I went very light as it was six (6) in the evening having to take rice. One thing I like about this wedding was the cooperation among the Flat dwellers. They came in full force to give a helping hand and the food was cooked and prepared by the community. The “gotong royong” concept, still exist in this vicinity. The old folks were busy chattering and cooking while the children were playing and running around. It remind me of the wedding in the Kampong when I was a small kid. It was unfortunate I couldn’t attend the main function on Saturday as I have something urgent to attend to.
On Sunday I was summoned by my cousin Dato Malek to be in his house at Damansara before noon. We left for Taman Permata somewhere in Setapak for his son’s wedding. The reception was at the Bride’s house and I was invited to accompany the delegation. The akad nikah was held at KLCC Mosque early morning and I was not invited due to the distance and timing. The reception was quiet grand and it was catered. The Bridegroom delegation was specially seated at reserved tables. It was very formal with spoon and forks and served by uniformed Waiter. I felt quiet odd at a Malay wedding having to eat with spoon and forks and it was not in Banquet Hall at five stars Hotel. Anyway the menu was similar to the one at Banquet Hall wedding reception. For Dato Malek reception it would be held in January 2010, next year. It sounds quite a distance but its only next month. Just a couple of days away.
Friday and Sunday – wedding receptions of two different styles comparatively both are Malay weddings after all. Both have similar atmosphere where people and relatives got together joining hands, meeting each other and share the joyous occasion. Perhaps it is the only one occasion of a certain individual wedding that we come to attend to. I thank my two cousins from two different sides that still recognize my presence to share with them the joyous day of their children.
My principle is simple, if am invited I would take the pain to attend, if not, thank you very much I don’t lose my money and time. My money is more worthy towards my monthly pills and tablets.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
It's Time to Leave Afghanistan.
Very true indeed. Read carefully and my prediction that US may go and invade Pakistan may soon be true. Both the Taliban and Al Qaeda whom were assisted by US during the Soviet insurgency were totally ignored when the Soviet pulled out from Afghanistan.
Quote:
by Rep. Ron Paul, December 12, 2009
Statement before the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee on December 10, 2009.
Mr. Speaker thank you for holding these important hearings on US policy in Afghanistan. I would like to welcome the witnesses, Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry and General Stanley A. McChrystal, and thank them for appearing before this Committee.
I have serious concerns, however, about the president’s decision to add some 30,000 troops and an as yet undisclosed number of civilian personnel to escalate our Afghan operation. This "surge" will bring US troop levels to approximately those of the Soviets when they occupied Afghanistan with disastrous result back in the 1980s. I fear the US military occupation of Afghanistan may end up similarly unsuccessful.
In late 1986 Soviet armed forces commander, Marshal Sergei Akhromeev, told then-Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, "Military actions in Afghanistan will soon be seven years old. There is no single piece of land in this country which has not been occupied by a Soviet soldier. Nonetheless, the majority of the territory remains in the hands of rebels." Soon Gorbachev began the Soviet withdrawal from its Afghan misadventure. Thousands were dead on both sides, yet the occupation failed to produce a stable national Afghan government.
Eight years into our own war in Afghanistan the Soviet commander’s words ring eerily familiar. Part of the problem stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation. It is our presence as occupiers that feeds the insurgency. As would be the case if we were invaded and occupied, diverse groups have put aside their disagreements to unify against foreign occupation. Adding more US troops will only assist those who recruit fighters to attack our soldiers and who use the US occupation to convince villages to side with the Taliban.
Proponents of the president’s Afghanistan escalation cite the successful "surge" in Iraq as evidence that this second surge will have similar results. I fear they might be correct about the similar result, but I dispute the success propaganda about Iraq. In fact, the violence in Iraq only temporarily subsided with the completion of the ethnic cleansing of Shi’ites from Sunni neighborhoods and vice versa – and all neighborhoods of Christians. Those Sunni fighters who remained were easily turned against the foreign al-Qaeda presence when offered US money and weapons. We are increasingly seeing this "success" breaking down: sectarian violence is flaring up and this time the various groups are better armed with US-provided weapons. Similarly, the insurgents paid by the US to stop their attacks are increasingly restive now that the Iraqi government is no longer paying bribes on a regular basis. So I am skeptical about reports on the success of the Iraqi surge.
Likewise, we are told that we have to "win" in Afghanistan so that al-Qaeda cannot use Afghan territory to plan further attacks against the US. We need to remember that the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, was, according to the 9/11 Commission Report, largely planned in the United States (and Germany) by terrorists who were in our country legally. According to the logic of those who endorse military action against Afghanistan because al-Qaeda was physically present, one could argue in favor of US airstrikes against several US states and Germany! It makes no sense. The Taliban allowed al-Qaeda to remain in Afghanistan because both had been engaged, with US assistance, in the insurgency against the Soviet occupation.
Nevertheless, the president’s National Security Advisor, Gen. James Jones, USMC (Ret.), said in a recent interview that less than 100 al-Qaeda remain in Afghanistan and that the chance they would reconstitute a significant presence there was slim. Are we to believe that 30,000 more troops are needed to defeat 100 al-Qaeda fighters? I fear that there will be increasing pressure for the US to invade Pakistan, to where many Taliban and al-Qaeda have escaped. Already CIA drone attacks on Pakistan have destabilized that country and have killed scores of innocents, producing strong anti-American feelings and calls for revenge. I do not see how that contributes to our national security.
The president’s top advisor for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said recently, "I would say this about defining success in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the simplest sense, the Supreme Court test for another issue, we’ll know it when we see it." That does not inspire much confidence.
Supporters of this surge argue that we must train an Afghan national army to take over and strengthen the rule and authority of Kabul. But experts have noted that the ranks of the Afghan national army are increasingly being filled by the Tajik minority at the expense of the Pashtun plurality. US diplomat Matthew Hoh, who resigned as Senior Civilian Representative for the U.S. Government in Zabul Province, noted in his resignation letter that he "fail[s] to see the value or the worth in continued U.S. casualties or expenditures of resources in support of the Afghan government in what is, truly, a 35-year old civil war." Mr. Hoh went on to write that "[L]ike the Soviets, we continue to secure and bolster a failing state, while encouraging an ideology and system of government unknown and unwanted by [the Afghan] people."
I have always opposed nation-building as unconstitutional and ineffective. Afghanistan is no different. Without a real strategy in Afghanistan, without a vision of what victory will look like, we are left with the empty rhetoric of the last administration that "when the Afghan people stand up, the US will stand down." I am afraid the only solution to the Afghanistan quagmire is a rapid and complete US withdrawal from that country and the region. We cannot afford to maintain this empire and our occupation of these foreign lands is not making us any safer. It is time to leave Afghanistan.
Unquote.
Obama is going to regret sending the 30000 extra troops to Afghanistan. Come to think of it, Obama and Bush are no different. Their only aim is to get rid of as many Muslims as possible from Mother Earth.
Quote:
by Rep. Ron Paul, December 12, 2009
Statement before the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee on December 10, 2009.
Mr. Speaker thank you for holding these important hearings on US policy in Afghanistan. I would like to welcome the witnesses, Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry and General Stanley A. McChrystal, and thank them for appearing before this Committee.
I have serious concerns, however, about the president’s decision to add some 30,000 troops and an as yet undisclosed number of civilian personnel to escalate our Afghan operation. This "surge" will bring US troop levels to approximately those of the Soviets when they occupied Afghanistan with disastrous result back in the 1980s. I fear the US military occupation of Afghanistan may end up similarly unsuccessful.
In late 1986 Soviet armed forces commander, Marshal Sergei Akhromeev, told then-Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, "Military actions in Afghanistan will soon be seven years old. There is no single piece of land in this country which has not been occupied by a Soviet soldier. Nonetheless, the majority of the territory remains in the hands of rebels." Soon Gorbachev began the Soviet withdrawal from its Afghan misadventure. Thousands were dead on both sides, yet the occupation failed to produce a stable national Afghan government.
Eight years into our own war in Afghanistan the Soviet commander’s words ring eerily familiar. Part of the problem stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation. It is our presence as occupiers that feeds the insurgency. As would be the case if we were invaded and occupied, diverse groups have put aside their disagreements to unify against foreign occupation. Adding more US troops will only assist those who recruit fighters to attack our soldiers and who use the US occupation to convince villages to side with the Taliban.
Proponents of the president’s Afghanistan escalation cite the successful "surge" in Iraq as evidence that this second surge will have similar results. I fear they might be correct about the similar result, but I dispute the success propaganda about Iraq. In fact, the violence in Iraq only temporarily subsided with the completion of the ethnic cleansing of Shi’ites from Sunni neighborhoods and vice versa – and all neighborhoods of Christians. Those Sunni fighters who remained were easily turned against the foreign al-Qaeda presence when offered US money and weapons. We are increasingly seeing this "success" breaking down: sectarian violence is flaring up and this time the various groups are better armed with US-provided weapons. Similarly, the insurgents paid by the US to stop their attacks are increasingly restive now that the Iraqi government is no longer paying bribes on a regular basis. So I am skeptical about reports on the success of the Iraqi surge.
Likewise, we are told that we have to "win" in Afghanistan so that al-Qaeda cannot use Afghan territory to plan further attacks against the US. We need to remember that the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, was, according to the 9/11 Commission Report, largely planned in the United States (and Germany) by terrorists who were in our country legally. According to the logic of those who endorse military action against Afghanistan because al-Qaeda was physically present, one could argue in favor of US airstrikes against several US states and Germany! It makes no sense. The Taliban allowed al-Qaeda to remain in Afghanistan because both had been engaged, with US assistance, in the insurgency against the Soviet occupation.
Nevertheless, the president’s National Security Advisor, Gen. James Jones, USMC (Ret.), said in a recent interview that less than 100 al-Qaeda remain in Afghanistan and that the chance they would reconstitute a significant presence there was slim. Are we to believe that 30,000 more troops are needed to defeat 100 al-Qaeda fighters? I fear that there will be increasing pressure for the US to invade Pakistan, to where many Taliban and al-Qaeda have escaped. Already CIA drone attacks on Pakistan have destabilized that country and have killed scores of innocents, producing strong anti-American feelings and calls for revenge. I do not see how that contributes to our national security.
The president’s top advisor for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said recently, "I would say this about defining success in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the simplest sense, the Supreme Court test for another issue, we’ll know it when we see it." That does not inspire much confidence.
Supporters of this surge argue that we must train an Afghan national army to take over and strengthen the rule and authority of Kabul. But experts have noted that the ranks of the Afghan national army are increasingly being filled by the Tajik minority at the expense of the Pashtun plurality. US diplomat Matthew Hoh, who resigned as Senior Civilian Representative for the U.S. Government in Zabul Province, noted in his resignation letter that he "fail[s] to see the value or the worth in continued U.S. casualties or expenditures of resources in support of the Afghan government in what is, truly, a 35-year old civil war." Mr. Hoh went on to write that "[L]ike the Soviets, we continue to secure and bolster a failing state, while encouraging an ideology and system of government unknown and unwanted by [the Afghan] people."
I have always opposed nation-building as unconstitutional and ineffective. Afghanistan is no different. Without a real strategy in Afghanistan, without a vision of what victory will look like, we are left with the empty rhetoric of the last administration that "when the Afghan people stand up, the US will stand down." I am afraid the only solution to the Afghanistan quagmire is a rapid and complete US withdrawal from that country and the region. We cannot afford to maintain this empire and our occupation of these foreign lands is not making us any safer. It is time to leave Afghanistan.
Unquote.
Obama is going to regret sending the 30000 extra troops to Afghanistan. Come to think of it, Obama and Bush are no different. Their only aim is to get rid of as many Muslims as possible from Mother Earth.
Friday, December 11, 2009
First time.
It was Thursday evening and “malam Jumaat” to the Muslims. At the Mosque in between Maghreb and Isyakh, the Imam would conduct the recitation of the surah Yasin, tahlil and the usual doa. Last night, Imam Khairuddin was all alone up front. Normally the Members of the Mosque Committee would sit by him and perhaps assisting him to complete the last portion of the doa. It was not to be, all went missing and I only saw the Acting Treasurer crept in through the back door when the Yasin was read. For the very first time since I patronize the Mosque from 1977 on Malam Jumaat, the Imam was all alone. What happened?
Heard from the Grapevine that JAIS has requested the Nazir to answer within fourteen (14) days the charges that would implicate his position. He has to answer reasons of the pre solat Aidilfitri speech, the Penceramah Ugama without JAIS “tauliah” and the changing of the signatories at Bank Islam. Phew! I am beginning to sweat myself. If that’s true then the Nazir must have reasonable reasons in his pocket to show cause. It was unfortunate that the Nazir did not go through the speech prior delivering and it was drafted by someone else. He was made a scapegoat by someone who wanted to get at someone. Without the “tauliah” - JAIS had already issued guidelines and failing to comply is no excuse. Even a former Mufti was arrested for not having a “tauliah”. Any Driver no matter how competent he is, he must have a driving license. That’s the Rule of Law in Selangor. On the changing of the signatories - within his Committee there is an ex Bank Employee and a currently practice Lawyer. Surely these two can advise him the right and wrong within the law. Misconception is no excuse and reason to breaking the Law.
As we watch the drama develop, about twenty five (25) of us, the frequent Mosque Jemaah formed the Marhaban Group, participant and non participant. Yours truly is a non participant. We meet after Isyakh every Monday and Wednesday. The Group is totally independent from the Mosque administration and politic. It is RM 10 subscription per month to expense for the drinks and snacks when we get together. Once a month we would congregate in a Member’s house to instill siraturahim. We want to bring back the cheerfulness, togetherness and harmony in the Mosque since lost after the Mosque Committee was taken over by PAS. We must have peace of mind when we step in into the Mosque. It should be a place where political ideologies leave behind at the gate and the sole intention facing Allah. The ideology can be picked up when leaving the Mosque gate.
I believe in JUSTICE. If the Nazir had broken the law, let justice takes its course. I had no part contributing to his hiccups and I did not participate during the Mosque Committee election process. Long before, I anticipated, blunder is within the corner.
Heard from the Grapevine that JAIS has requested the Nazir to answer within fourteen (14) days the charges that would implicate his position. He has to answer reasons of the pre solat Aidilfitri speech, the Penceramah Ugama without JAIS “tauliah” and the changing of the signatories at Bank Islam. Phew! I am beginning to sweat myself. If that’s true then the Nazir must have reasonable reasons in his pocket to show cause. It was unfortunate that the Nazir did not go through the speech prior delivering and it was drafted by someone else. He was made a scapegoat by someone who wanted to get at someone. Without the “tauliah” - JAIS had already issued guidelines and failing to comply is no excuse. Even a former Mufti was arrested for not having a “tauliah”. Any Driver no matter how competent he is, he must have a driving license. That’s the Rule of Law in Selangor. On the changing of the signatories - within his Committee there is an ex Bank Employee and a currently practice Lawyer. Surely these two can advise him the right and wrong within the law. Misconception is no excuse and reason to breaking the Law.
As we watch the drama develop, about twenty five (25) of us, the frequent Mosque Jemaah formed the Marhaban Group, participant and non participant. Yours truly is a non participant. We meet after Isyakh every Monday and Wednesday. The Group is totally independent from the Mosque administration and politic. It is RM 10 subscription per month to expense for the drinks and snacks when we get together. Once a month we would congregate in a Member’s house to instill siraturahim. We want to bring back the cheerfulness, togetherness and harmony in the Mosque since lost after the Mosque Committee was taken over by PAS. We must have peace of mind when we step in into the Mosque. It should be a place where political ideologies leave behind at the gate and the sole intention facing Allah. The ideology can be picked up when leaving the Mosque gate.
I believe in JUSTICE. If the Nazir had broken the law, let justice takes its course. I had no part contributing to his hiccups and I did not participate during the Mosque Committee election process. Long before, I anticipated, blunder is within the corner.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Two casualties.
The afternoon agenda was to visit the Shah Alam Medical Center to visit two gentlemen who were admitted at the same Medical Center. One was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other at the normal ward.
My wife Al Koraan Teacher son in law is in the intensive care due to electrical shock. An Electrical Engineer by profession he made a slight mistake at the worksite and the aftermath was admission to the intensive care. He is still comatose and on life support. That happened ten (10) days ago and there is not much improvement since then. An operation at his throat would be done coming Saturday to facilitate the breathing tube. His heart and his kidneys are still in good condition, functioning as per normal. The only setback is at his brain. I was allowed to be at his bedside and I could only watch and said the silent prayer for his wellbeing. To Mohd Suhardi bin Latih, I pray for your fast recovery and my doa, Allah would take care of you.
A swollen leg due to diabetes landed Azlan Rahman, my brother in law in the Medical Center. Nothing serious just that the Doctor wants him to be quarantine so the movement of his leg is limited. His diet has been control and of course, no smoking for him in the Ward. This happy go lucky guy just doesn’t take care of his diet and wallop everything that comes by in spite of his high sugar content blood. My wife advised him to refrain from carbonated drink. It was just a casual visit and a word of caution to him; if he is not careful he may land just like me, a stroke. I was lucky though, I had a mild one.
I drove back and got stuck in a traffic jam. I remain cool preventing my blood pressure to rise for I just came back from a Medical Center and I prefer my bed at home.
My wife Al Koraan Teacher son in law is in the intensive care due to electrical shock. An Electrical Engineer by profession he made a slight mistake at the worksite and the aftermath was admission to the intensive care. He is still comatose and on life support. That happened ten (10) days ago and there is not much improvement since then. An operation at his throat would be done coming Saturday to facilitate the breathing tube. His heart and his kidneys are still in good condition, functioning as per normal. The only setback is at his brain. I was allowed to be at his bedside and I could only watch and said the silent prayer for his wellbeing. To Mohd Suhardi bin Latih, I pray for your fast recovery and my doa, Allah would take care of you.
A swollen leg due to diabetes landed Azlan Rahman, my brother in law in the Medical Center. Nothing serious just that the Doctor wants him to be quarantine so the movement of his leg is limited. His diet has been control and of course, no smoking for him in the Ward. This happy go lucky guy just doesn’t take care of his diet and wallop everything that comes by in spite of his high sugar content blood. My wife advised him to refrain from carbonated drink. It was just a casual visit and a word of caution to him; if he is not careful he may land just like me, a stroke. I was lucky though, I had a mild one.
I drove back and got stuck in a traffic jam. I remain cool preventing my blood pressure to rise for I just came back from a Medical Center and I prefer my bed at home.
The Bachelor Boy Imam.
As the solat Isyakh on 08 December 2009 about to start, there was a commotion in the Mosque prayer hall. Imam 4 was waving to a twenty one (21) year old boy to come forward to be the Imam. This bachelor boy dressed in white jubah and white songkok arrogantly came forward to the Imam praying mat. The Jemaah was stunned why the Imam requested this boy to be the Imam. I decided to abscond from the Mosque and went home as I did not agree that this Chico to be my Imam. Who is he? A bachelor boy is the least choice to be an Imam in any solat fardhu berjemaah. In this case Imam 4 was around, a veteran Imam. Incidentally Imam 2 was not around and Imam 1 and 3 is in Mekah performing the Haj.
Later that night, I met Imam 4 at a function and I confronted him what was happening and I disagreed to just what he had done. To my surprise, Imam 4 was pestered by the Nazir to push this boy up to be the Imam. Prior to that, Imam 2 and Imam 4 had requested from the Nazir the boy credibility to be an Imam. The Nazir arrogantly confirmed that he has three capable chaps which has a “tauliah” and at anytime ever ready can replace Imam 2 and 4. When requested for official documentary approval from Jabatan Agama, the Nazir zips zap the issue and failed to produce one. To avoid friction and to satisfy the Nazir, Imam 4 summoned this young chap declared as per see by the Nazir to have a “tauliah” to be the solat Isyakh Imam. What the Nazir did not realized he had exploded the Jemaah displeasure. I think he just don’t care less.
This boy was not even born when Imam 4 was already the Kampong Mosque Imam and he did not have the slightest respect for Imam 4. At least he could politely declined the invitation as a show of respect to a seventy + (70+) year old man. This is happening in my Mosque when the Nazir are instilling bad example to the young towards the Mosque Imam. Coaching disrespectful to the young against the Mosque Imam is against Malay culture. The Mosque institution has been manipulated by political ideology differences. The lack of mutual cooperation between the Nazir and the Imam resulting to disharmony and disarray among the Jemaah.
Regarding the “tauliah” of the Nazir three (3) henchmen – I doubt the three (3) really has. As several Jemaah are unhappy about the incident, the matter was referred to Pejabat Agama Islam Daerah Klang for confirmation. This is no joke matter for the Jemaah does not want to be fool by the Nazir anymore. The Nazir could at least announce or notified the Jemaah regarding the award of the “tauliah” vide the public address system or the Notice Board.
I hope the three (3) guys got the “tauliah” from any of the Islamic Authority in Selangor and not from the Nazir himself. If it is from the Nazir, may Allah bless him? Regarding this matter, don’t play play. The Jemaah are getting sick by day.
Later that night, I met Imam 4 at a function and I confronted him what was happening and I disagreed to just what he had done. To my surprise, Imam 4 was pestered by the Nazir to push this boy up to be the Imam. Prior to that, Imam 2 and Imam 4 had requested from the Nazir the boy credibility to be an Imam. The Nazir arrogantly confirmed that he has three capable chaps which has a “tauliah” and at anytime ever ready can replace Imam 2 and 4. When requested for official documentary approval from Jabatan Agama, the Nazir zips zap the issue and failed to produce one. To avoid friction and to satisfy the Nazir, Imam 4 summoned this young chap declared as per see by the Nazir to have a “tauliah” to be the solat Isyakh Imam. What the Nazir did not realized he had exploded the Jemaah displeasure. I think he just don’t care less.
This boy was not even born when Imam 4 was already the Kampong Mosque Imam and he did not have the slightest respect for Imam 4. At least he could politely declined the invitation as a show of respect to a seventy + (70+) year old man. This is happening in my Mosque when the Nazir are instilling bad example to the young towards the Mosque Imam. Coaching disrespectful to the young against the Mosque Imam is against Malay culture. The Mosque institution has been manipulated by political ideology differences. The lack of mutual cooperation between the Nazir and the Imam resulting to disharmony and disarray among the Jemaah.
Regarding the “tauliah” of the Nazir three (3) henchmen – I doubt the three (3) really has. As several Jemaah are unhappy about the incident, the matter was referred to Pejabat Agama Islam Daerah Klang for confirmation. This is no joke matter for the Jemaah does not want to be fool by the Nazir anymore. The Nazir could at least announce or notified the Jemaah regarding the award of the “tauliah” vide the public address system or the Notice Board.
I hope the three (3) guys got the “tauliah” from any of the Islamic Authority in Selangor and not from the Nazir himself. If it is from the Nazir, may Allah bless him? Regarding this matter, don’t play play. The Jemaah are getting sick by day.
Monday, December 7, 2009
The unlocking.
Goodness me! Both the New Mosque Donation Safes were not unlocked by the Nazir or any one of his Committee members.
The padlocks were removed by someone, one of the Jemaah who regularly patronize the Mosque. Who? That’s a one million answer. I don’t know who. However I salute his courage and guts for doing the right thing.
I beg to differ that the Kampong resident is very ethical and patience confronting the locking of the Donation Safes issue. Someone must be plain fed up and disgusted with the Nazir attitude. I think Allah would agree with the Padlock Breaker. I would stand by him, bearing witness and justified his actions in front of Allah on Judgment Day.
I love to watch and witness what develop within day or two. What is the Nazir counteraction? Then, what happen? For sure I know, the kampong residents cannot be taken for granted, all the time. Patience has its limit. If you think you are smart, someone is smarter. The heart and brain must work in tandem to conclude any decision that we take.
The epilogue and drama of life were all destined by Allah.
The padlocks were removed by someone, one of the Jemaah who regularly patronize the Mosque. Who? That’s a one million answer. I don’t know who. However I salute his courage and guts for doing the right thing.
I beg to differ that the Kampong resident is very ethical and patience confronting the locking of the Donation Safes issue. Someone must be plain fed up and disgusted with the Nazir attitude. I think Allah would agree with the Padlock Breaker. I would stand by him, bearing witness and justified his actions in front of Allah on Judgment Day.
I love to watch and witness what develop within day or two. What is the Nazir counteraction? Then, what happen? For sure I know, the kampong residents cannot be taken for granted, all the time. Patience has its limit. If you think you are smart, someone is smarter. The heart and brain must work in tandem to conclude any decision that we take.
The epilogue and drama of life were all destined by Allah.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Adamantly, still haram.
The kuliah subuh on Saturday 05 December 2009 was by Sheik Abdullah Lufti and during the question & answer session; a question was asked the status of someone preventing a Muslim performing amal jariah. Sheik Abdullah requested for an example and it was quoted like the case of locking off the New Mosque Donation Safes. The Nazir happened to be present, intervened and would like to answer the question. He definitely did not answer the question, he is not qualified though but he gave reason why it was locked. He adamantly emphasized that that the New Mosque Committee is illegal.
Who was the Nazir trying to fool? It was clearly stated by Ustaz Farid of JAIS during the Annual General Meeting on 30 September 2009 that the New Mosque Committee is as per status quo and can proceed with their activities until a final resolution made by MAIS or JAIS at a later date. The whole Jemaah heard when Ustaz uttered the statement and in fact Ustaz Farid was requested to repeat the statement twice for the attention of those present. The bloody Nazir heard it. Is he deaf? If he is, I think he needs to consult the E&T Specialist urgently.
Back to the question, Sheik Abdullah did not want to get involve with the Mosque current political tussle, however he answered the so question: In general no one can prevent any Muslim from performing amal jariah. The answer was short and simple, however loud and clear. If the Nazir does not understand that part of the answer, he definitely needs a further Specialist, the Neurologist.
Assuming the New Mosque Committee is illegal but the Donation Safe is definitely legal. It is an innocent safe ever ready waiting for Good Samaritan to insert notes and coins for the cause and cost of building a New Mosque (House of Allah). Why the Nazir want to lock it? No sensible mind would do that. This is the percussion of swearing in the Mosque in the name of Allah. He had done that too.
Time will prevail and I doa that Allah would finally show him the siratulmustakim (the right path).
Who was the Nazir trying to fool? It was clearly stated by Ustaz Farid of JAIS during the Annual General Meeting on 30 September 2009 that the New Mosque Committee is as per status quo and can proceed with their activities until a final resolution made by MAIS or JAIS at a later date. The whole Jemaah heard when Ustaz uttered the statement and in fact Ustaz Farid was requested to repeat the statement twice for the attention of those present. The bloody Nazir heard it. Is he deaf? If he is, I think he needs to consult the E&T Specialist urgently.
Back to the question, Sheik Abdullah did not want to get involve with the Mosque current political tussle, however he answered the so question: In general no one can prevent any Muslim from performing amal jariah. The answer was short and simple, however loud and clear. If the Nazir does not understand that part of the answer, he definitely needs a further Specialist, the Neurologist.
Assuming the New Mosque Committee is illegal but the Donation Safe is definitely legal. It is an innocent safe ever ready waiting for Good Samaritan to insert notes and coins for the cause and cost of building a New Mosque (House of Allah). Why the Nazir want to lock it? No sensible mind would do that. This is the percussion of swearing in the Mosque in the name of Allah. He had done that too.
Time will prevail and I doa that Allah would finally show him the siratulmustakim (the right path).
Saturday, December 5, 2009
FIFA World Cup 2010.
June 2010, God willing and the weather permit (raining is not good for Astro) yours truly would be pinning to the idiot box. I watched live all the way from South Africa, the grouping draw last night.
Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France
Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece
Group C
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia
Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana
Group E
Holland
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon
Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia
Group G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal
Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile
RED is my favourite.
The grouping as per above and the opening match would be between host nation South Africa against Mexico.
Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France
Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece
Group C
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia
Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana
Group E
Holland
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon
Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia
Group G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal
Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile
RED is my favourite.
The grouping as per above and the opening match would be between host nation South Africa against Mexico.
Both unlocked.
3 December 2009 Thursday after isyakh, I noticed that the New Mosque Donation Safe in the Mosque was still padlocked. I wonder why it was locked when the one outside was already unlocked. Did someone break the bloody padlock to steam out their anger?
4 December 2009, during Friday prayer, I was informed that the padlock of the New Mosque Donation Safe inside the Mosque was removed. Now everybody can contribute towards the building of the New Mosque. The padlock was removed sometimes between subuh and the Friday prayer on 4 December 2009.
It is now confirmed that the Nazir or someone within his Committee did the unlocking. Nobody would dare to break the padlock inside the Mosque.
The entire unlocking episode happened after the Board Meeting of Majlis Agama Islam Selangor on 1 December 2009. The Nazir could have been directed to unlock the padlocks at the two New Mosque Donation Safes.
I appreciate the Kampong residents who were so patient and ethical confronting the issue of locking the Donation safes. They just let the drama played by the Nazir and patiently waiting for the outcome. The longer he locked, the more curse by Allah bestowed upon him. Simple logic would tell that it is a sin preventing a Muslim to do a good cause. You don’t need an Ustaz to preach that. Was the Nazir using his head or his heart when he did that stupid thing? One cannot use the Mosque institution as the place to throw vengeance against someone.
I sympathize with the Nazir if he had been misled by someone. In this respect that person heart is definitely dirtier than the septic tank. The kampong resident is trying to single out the root of the problem and remove the poisonous snake for good from the kampong. One snake is bad enough; if more snakes emerge then trouble is brewing.
4 December 2009, during Friday prayer, I was informed that the padlock of the New Mosque Donation Safe inside the Mosque was removed. Now everybody can contribute towards the building of the New Mosque. The padlock was removed sometimes between subuh and the Friday prayer on 4 December 2009.
It is now confirmed that the Nazir or someone within his Committee did the unlocking. Nobody would dare to break the padlock inside the Mosque.
The entire unlocking episode happened after the Board Meeting of Majlis Agama Islam Selangor on 1 December 2009. The Nazir could have been directed to unlock the padlocks at the two New Mosque Donation Safes.
I appreciate the Kampong residents who were so patient and ethical confronting the issue of locking the Donation safes. They just let the drama played by the Nazir and patiently waiting for the outcome. The longer he locked, the more curse by Allah bestowed upon him. Simple logic would tell that it is a sin preventing a Muslim to do a good cause. You don’t need an Ustaz to preach that. Was the Nazir using his head or his heart when he did that stupid thing? One cannot use the Mosque institution as the place to throw vengeance against someone.
I sympathize with the Nazir if he had been misled by someone. In this respect that person heart is definitely dirtier than the septic tank. The kampong resident is trying to single out the root of the problem and remove the poisonous snake for good from the kampong. One snake is bad enough; if more snakes emerge then trouble is brewing.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Back to senses.
December 2, 2009 as I walked into the Mosque for Maghreb prayer, to my astonishment the padlock to the safe of the New Mosque was missing. Now everybody who has the noble heart to donate towards the building of the New Mosque can do so. Someone had come back to their senses. It was padlocked by the Nazir sometimes mid Ramadan 2009.
Gleefully I inserted RM 5 into the box followed by Haji Bakar and the rest. The jemaah were whispering and passing to each other that the safe padlock had been removed. For about 65 days (2.5 months) the Nazir had blocked Muslim from “bersedekah” towards building the House of Allah in the House of Allah. I pray that Allah have good reservation for him. I don’t quiet agree to Nik Aziz style of doa seeking for a destruction of one wrongdoing. Who are we? We are not GOD.
I and the rest of the kampong folks are watching closely as the day progresses the episodes as it develops of the current and the New Mosque. The agenda currently in session is the handover of the Van Jenazah back to the Amanah Saham Kampong Committee. When the Mosque Committee then the JKKK took over the Van Jenazah administration they even overlooked that the road tax had expired. They misplaced the Registration Card and finally they found it somewhere at the back seat of the Van. The Van is poorly maintain, the schedule washing after every funeral was not adhered to, so as the periodical servicing. The Driver would just drive off the Van to any destination without the Ketua Kampong knowledge and the Van key is personal safekeeping. The Van belongs to the Amanah Saham Kampong, why don’t they get it into their heads?? The initial Members and some Members of the Amanah Saham had return to “Rahmatullah” and bunch of senseless so call human beings mishandles or mismanage the “amal jariah” that these souls had left behind. I leave it to Allah to take care. I don’t know what to say and I don’t know either how to plant senses into their brains.
Few more surprises to come and we are all watching. Insyaalah, with all the strength I have I pray that all would end well and they come back to their senses.
Gleefully I inserted RM 5 into the box followed by Haji Bakar and the rest. The jemaah were whispering and passing to each other that the safe padlock had been removed. For about 65 days (2.5 months) the Nazir had blocked Muslim from “bersedekah” towards building the House of Allah in the House of Allah. I pray that Allah have good reservation for him. I don’t quiet agree to Nik Aziz style of doa seeking for a destruction of one wrongdoing. Who are we? We are not GOD.
I and the rest of the kampong folks are watching closely as the day progresses the episodes as it develops of the current and the New Mosque. The agenda currently in session is the handover of the Van Jenazah back to the Amanah Saham Kampong Committee. When the Mosque Committee then the JKKK took over the Van Jenazah administration they even overlooked that the road tax had expired. They misplaced the Registration Card and finally they found it somewhere at the back seat of the Van. The Van is poorly maintain, the schedule washing after every funeral was not adhered to, so as the periodical servicing. The Driver would just drive off the Van to any destination without the Ketua Kampong knowledge and the Van key is personal safekeeping. The Van belongs to the Amanah Saham Kampong, why don’t they get it into their heads?? The initial Members and some Members of the Amanah Saham had return to “Rahmatullah” and bunch of senseless so call human beings mishandles or mismanage the “amal jariah” that these souls had left behind. I leave it to Allah to take care. I don’t know what to say and I don’t know either how to plant senses into their brains.
Few more surprises to come and we are all watching. Insyaalah, with all the strength I have I pray that all would end well and they come back to their senses.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Pakistan, next??
I just wrote that an invasion of Pakistan could be possible if the Al Qaeda in Afghanistan cannot be wiped out from this world. To substantiate my astrodomes theory, Obama had issued a letter to the President of Pakistan and the article from antiwar.com about it can be read below.
Quote:
US President Barack Obama has sharpened his message to Pakistan over harbouring terror groups such as al-Qa'ida and Lashkar-e-Toiba, warning that it can no longer use them as a "policy tool" and remain a US ally.
Details of the two-page letter -- which was delivered to Pakistan's embattled President Asif Ali Zardari late last month -- were leaked to the US media yesterday, hours ahead of Mr Obama's expected announcement of a 34,000-strong troop surge for next-door Afghanistan.
Mr Obama is believed to have offered Pakistan an expanded strategic partnership, including enhanced trade and development aid and help to improve its relations with India.
But he warned the nuclear-armed nation to end the "ambiguity" in its relations with five extremist groups -- al-Qa'ida, Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network, Tehrik-e-Taliban (Pakistan) and LET -- and work more co-operatively with the US to stamp them out.
The Haqqani network, operating out of North Waziristan, is believed to be responsible for attacks against Afghan and NATO targets in eastern Afghanistan and Kabul. The Pakistani-based LET is accused of staging last November's deadly Mumbai attacks.
The letter was delivered by Mr Obama's national security adviser, General James Jones, during a recent trip to Islamabad, where he told officials that the US military effort to defeat the Afghan insurgency would fail unless Pakistan increased its strikes against those five groups.
A recent review of US policy in the region also acknowledged Pakistan's crucial role, with one senior administration official telling The Washington Post yesterday: "We can't succeed without Pakistan." Another official told the paper: "No matter how many troops you send, if the safe haven in Pakistan isn't cracked, the whole mission is compromised."
Britain is also taking a harder line against the Pakistan establishment's tacit support of groups such as the Afghan Taliban, whose command structure is believed to be openly operates from the Pakistani city of Quetta.
At the weekend, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "People are going to ask why, eight years after 2001, Osama bin Laden has never been near to being caught."
Unquote.
JUSTICE, FREEDOM and HATE WAR.
(Those who are against the US illegal invasion and antiwar in particular, go to www.antiwar.com).
Quote:
US President Barack Obama has sharpened his message to Pakistan over harbouring terror groups such as al-Qa'ida and Lashkar-e-Toiba, warning that it can no longer use them as a "policy tool" and remain a US ally.
Details of the two-page letter -- which was delivered to Pakistan's embattled President Asif Ali Zardari late last month -- were leaked to the US media yesterday, hours ahead of Mr Obama's expected announcement of a 34,000-strong troop surge for next-door Afghanistan.
Mr Obama is believed to have offered Pakistan an expanded strategic partnership, including enhanced trade and development aid and help to improve its relations with India.
But he warned the nuclear-armed nation to end the "ambiguity" in its relations with five extremist groups -- al-Qa'ida, Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network, Tehrik-e-Taliban (Pakistan) and LET -- and work more co-operatively with the US to stamp them out.
The Haqqani network, operating out of North Waziristan, is believed to be responsible for attacks against Afghan and NATO targets in eastern Afghanistan and Kabul. The Pakistani-based LET is accused of staging last November's deadly Mumbai attacks.
The letter was delivered by Mr Obama's national security adviser, General James Jones, during a recent trip to Islamabad, where he told officials that the US military effort to defeat the Afghan insurgency would fail unless Pakistan increased its strikes against those five groups.
A recent review of US policy in the region also acknowledged Pakistan's crucial role, with one senior administration official telling The Washington Post yesterday: "We can't succeed without Pakistan." Another official told the paper: "No matter how many troops you send, if the safe haven in Pakistan isn't cracked, the whole mission is compromised."
Britain is also taking a harder line against the Pakistan establishment's tacit support of groups such as the Afghan Taliban, whose command structure is believed to be openly operates from the Pakistani city of Quetta.
At the weekend, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "People are going to ask why, eight years after 2001, Osama bin Laden has never been near to being caught."
Unquote.
JUSTICE, FREEDOM and HATE WAR.
(Those who are against the US illegal invasion and antiwar in particular, go to www.antiwar.com).
More.........?
Another 30,000 Military Forces would be deployed to Afghanistan. That’s what Obama said. The 68,000 personnel who are already there would get a back up of another 30,000, a total of 98,000 very close to 100,000 personnel. It had been six years since US invaded Afghanistan, yet that world most superpower nation cannot win the war.
The Taliban and the Afghan defeated Russia, when Russia invaded Afghanistan. Russia was the second world superpower and that time around who assisted the Mujahideen and the Afghans?? Quietly the CIA and the US was supplying the arm to fight off the Russians. After the Russians withdrawn, US also quietly left Afghanistan. The country was in ruin and the people misplaced. There was no plan to restructure Afghanistan and the country was ruled by Warlords. The Afghans were planting poppy like wheat. The US dont care less about Afghanistan. Resorting to arm is one way for the Afghans to keep on living. That’s where Al Qaeda emerged.
What US should do now is to dispatch 30,000 engineering and technical unarm personnel to Afghanistan. Rebuild the country and rehabilitate the infrastructure. Build good roads, power plant and water facilities. Revive the school buildings and take off the children from the streets back to school.
If US is sending another 30,000 arm personnel, the Afghans would be getting more scared and they despise the idea that their sovereignty over run by the United States of America, the white infidels. They have nothing more to lose except retaliation by means of terrorism. I don’t blame them, put our position in theirs. You wanna fold the arm and say welcome Yankees?? So there is no end to this war and Muslim bloods keep on flowing. Who gain? The Zionist Jews are laughing. The Taliban and the Al Qaeda are restrained in Afghanistan fighting the Americans and the Talibans and Al Qaeda have no time to come to Israel to disturb them.
When would US withdrawal from Afghanistan? I don’t think so in the near future. The next plan is, to occupy Pakistan. The US had started at the northern frontier under the pretext of eliminating the escape Al Qaeda. Sooner the US would declare to the world that Pakistan is incapable to ward off the Al Qaeda and seeking passport to them to finish the job. The US would eventually occupy Pakistan and take control of Pakistan nuclear arm arsenal. Don’t forget the only Muslim country that currently equipped with nuclear is Pakistan. They have Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan under their grip and Iran being stuck in the middle is chicken feed. For the small Arab nations like the United Arab Emirates the US just press the economic and financial button, the countries would bend to their knees. That’s the game plan the US and its Allies would do to eliminate the Muslims existence and power from mother Earth. The black gold thus belongs to them.
Following articles from antiwar.com may be relevant.
Quote:
In a rambling 35 minute speech which repeatedly cited America’s moral authority and 9/11, President Barack Obama announced another 30,000 troops would be sent to Afghanistan in January and that unlike the last 21,000 troops he sent, this time they would conclusively win the war because they would “secure key population centers.”
The president declared that the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 had “brought hope” to the Afghan people and insisted that since he took office in January America has been making “progress” in the conflict.
Rather than focusing on the rising violence and ever growing Taliban influence, both of which spiraled to record levels after his last “surge,” the president cited Pakistan’s offensive in South Waziristan and Swat Valley as proof that the pressure was being put on al-Qaeda, not mentioning that the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the target of those Pakistani offensives, has no ties to al-Qaeda and only tenuous links to the Afghan Taliban.
Though the bulk of the speech was crowing about America’s power and insisting that it in no way seeks world domination, he also took a moment to address questions about his strategy. Rejecting the comparison to Vietnam, President Obama noted that the Afghan War took place after 9/11, whereas Vietnam took place many years before. He also declared that while escalating the war would cost “$30 billion a year,” not escalating the war would cost more in the long run.
Curiously, though President Obama insisted that the United States was not and will not occupy Afghanistan, he accused al-Qaeda of having done so in the past. It is unclear to what the president is referring, as al-Qaeda never ousted an Afghan government and its presence in Afghanistan appears to have never involved a serious effort to install itself as a ruling power.
The president also expressed his hopes that his policies would eventually improve the American economy, noting that it was only America’s prosperity that would enable him to continue fighting such massive overseas conflicts.
The speech closed with threats to intervene in Somalia and Yemen to combat “shadowy networks” and with a call for the American public to embrace the post-9/11 unity that led to the initial popularity of the endless war on terror.
Unquote.
I pray to the Almighty the killings and occupation to be stop and resort to round table. I seek Allah justice for every drop of Muslim BLOOD spilled.
JUSTICE, FREEDOM and HATE WAR.
The Taliban and the Afghan defeated Russia, when Russia invaded Afghanistan. Russia was the second world superpower and that time around who assisted the Mujahideen and the Afghans?? Quietly the CIA and the US was supplying the arm to fight off the Russians. After the Russians withdrawn, US also quietly left Afghanistan. The country was in ruin and the people misplaced. There was no plan to restructure Afghanistan and the country was ruled by Warlords. The Afghans were planting poppy like wheat. The US dont care less about Afghanistan. Resorting to arm is one way for the Afghans to keep on living. That’s where Al Qaeda emerged.
What US should do now is to dispatch 30,000 engineering and technical unarm personnel to Afghanistan. Rebuild the country and rehabilitate the infrastructure. Build good roads, power plant and water facilities. Revive the school buildings and take off the children from the streets back to school.
If US is sending another 30,000 arm personnel, the Afghans would be getting more scared and they despise the idea that their sovereignty over run by the United States of America, the white infidels. They have nothing more to lose except retaliation by means of terrorism. I don’t blame them, put our position in theirs. You wanna fold the arm and say welcome Yankees?? So there is no end to this war and Muslim bloods keep on flowing. Who gain? The Zionist Jews are laughing. The Taliban and the Al Qaeda are restrained in Afghanistan fighting the Americans and the Talibans and Al Qaeda have no time to come to Israel to disturb them.
When would US withdrawal from Afghanistan? I don’t think so in the near future. The next plan is, to occupy Pakistan. The US had started at the northern frontier under the pretext of eliminating the escape Al Qaeda. Sooner the US would declare to the world that Pakistan is incapable to ward off the Al Qaeda and seeking passport to them to finish the job. The US would eventually occupy Pakistan and take control of Pakistan nuclear arm arsenal. Don’t forget the only Muslim country that currently equipped with nuclear is Pakistan. They have Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan under their grip and Iran being stuck in the middle is chicken feed. For the small Arab nations like the United Arab Emirates the US just press the economic and financial button, the countries would bend to their knees. That’s the game plan the US and its Allies would do to eliminate the Muslims existence and power from mother Earth. The black gold thus belongs to them.
Following articles from antiwar.com may be relevant.
Quote:
In a rambling 35 minute speech which repeatedly cited America’s moral authority and 9/11, President Barack Obama announced another 30,000 troops would be sent to Afghanistan in January and that unlike the last 21,000 troops he sent, this time they would conclusively win the war because they would “secure key population centers.”
The president declared that the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 had “brought hope” to the Afghan people and insisted that since he took office in January America has been making “progress” in the conflict.
Rather than focusing on the rising violence and ever growing Taliban influence, both of which spiraled to record levels after his last “surge,” the president cited Pakistan’s offensive in South Waziristan and Swat Valley as proof that the pressure was being put on al-Qaeda, not mentioning that the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the target of those Pakistani offensives, has no ties to al-Qaeda and only tenuous links to the Afghan Taliban.
Though the bulk of the speech was crowing about America’s power and insisting that it in no way seeks world domination, he also took a moment to address questions about his strategy. Rejecting the comparison to Vietnam, President Obama noted that the Afghan War took place after 9/11, whereas Vietnam took place many years before. He also declared that while escalating the war would cost “$30 billion a year,” not escalating the war would cost more in the long run.
Curiously, though President Obama insisted that the United States was not and will not occupy Afghanistan, he accused al-Qaeda of having done so in the past. It is unclear to what the president is referring, as al-Qaeda never ousted an Afghan government and its presence in Afghanistan appears to have never involved a serious effort to install itself as a ruling power.
The president also expressed his hopes that his policies would eventually improve the American economy, noting that it was only America’s prosperity that would enable him to continue fighting such massive overseas conflicts.
The speech closed with threats to intervene in Somalia and Yemen to combat “shadowy networks” and with a call for the American public to embrace the post-9/11 unity that led to the initial popularity of the endless war on terror.
Unquote.
I pray to the Almighty the killings and occupation to be stop and resort to round table. I seek Allah justice for every drop of Muslim BLOOD spilled.
JUSTICE, FREEDOM and HATE WAR.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Busy December.
It is December 1, 2009 today. Another thirty days we are saying goodbye to 2009. Ya Allah, the days went so fast.
The cards keep on pouring in, either by post or hand delivered. The weekends would be very tight and fully occupied. There is one as far as Mersing Johore. At the Mosque, the Summons is also delivered and personal invitation. There are two or three on the same day and I wonder who gets the priority. Sometimes it’s nice not to be invited, I gain no loss.
Coming 17 December 2009, I would be 64. That’s really aging. I am not young anymore and I must prepare what to bring back when Izrail come calling. I came to this world naked at all sense and when I go back, I bring back two things, “dosa” and “pahala”. I am just a visitor to this world and I must know the way to go back. Status, wealth, wife, children and all world luxuries would be left behind. The good deeds and the evils that I commit while residing temporarily in this world would determine my life thereafter. The Ketua Hakim up there is the Mahkamah Agong and I exhaust any avenue to appeal. The sentence is either hell or paradise.
Attending meeting over meeting to amend things right back on the right track. I blog the events chronicle so that the future generations can learn from history. History doesn’t lie, only the people tend to forget.
December is the family budget hearing for the coming year. We would try to seek supplement or cost reduction to avoid deficit. The 2010 family plan would tentatively an oversea trip to New Zealand or to admire the Taj Mahal under the moon light. I have climbed the Great Wall, prayed in the Blue Mosque, walked under the Eiffel Tower and touched the Pyramid but I have not step on the Indian subcontinent. My ultimate goal is to see the wonder of love of a husband towards his wife. Come Ramadan, the normal pilgrimage would not be excluded from the yearly itinerary.
At the clip of an eye, 2009 is going to be history. Looking back, some have gone back, only good memories linger. As a day complete, it’s a day nearer to the ultimate home. Never regret of the past and be glorified that insyallah, we can witness the next sunrise. Alhamdullilah we need not pay to the Almighty, to make the heart keep on beating but we must always remember why the Almighty allow the heart keep on beating. He must have a reason. The answer is within you and me. The heart beat is to make your brain as well as mine working.
I love those who love me and those who understands me. Those who does not, I reserve my comment. The important thing, I know who I am.
Good bye 2009.
The cards keep on pouring in, either by post or hand delivered. The weekends would be very tight and fully occupied. There is one as far as Mersing Johore. At the Mosque, the Summons is also delivered and personal invitation. There are two or three on the same day and I wonder who gets the priority. Sometimes it’s nice not to be invited, I gain no loss.
Coming 17 December 2009, I would be 64. That’s really aging. I am not young anymore and I must prepare what to bring back when Izrail come calling. I came to this world naked at all sense and when I go back, I bring back two things, “dosa” and “pahala”. I am just a visitor to this world and I must know the way to go back. Status, wealth, wife, children and all world luxuries would be left behind. The good deeds and the evils that I commit while residing temporarily in this world would determine my life thereafter. The Ketua Hakim up there is the Mahkamah Agong and I exhaust any avenue to appeal. The sentence is either hell or paradise.
Attending meeting over meeting to amend things right back on the right track. I blog the events chronicle so that the future generations can learn from history. History doesn’t lie, only the people tend to forget.
December is the family budget hearing for the coming year. We would try to seek supplement or cost reduction to avoid deficit. The 2010 family plan would tentatively an oversea trip to New Zealand or to admire the Taj Mahal under the moon light. I have climbed the Great Wall, prayed in the Blue Mosque, walked under the Eiffel Tower and touched the Pyramid but I have not step on the Indian subcontinent. My ultimate goal is to see the wonder of love of a husband towards his wife. Come Ramadan, the normal pilgrimage would not be excluded from the yearly itinerary.
At the clip of an eye, 2009 is going to be history. Looking back, some have gone back, only good memories linger. As a day complete, it’s a day nearer to the ultimate home. Never regret of the past and be glorified that insyallah, we can witness the next sunrise. Alhamdullilah we need not pay to the Almighty, to make the heart keep on beating but we must always remember why the Almighty allow the heart keep on beating. He must have a reason. The answer is within you and me. The heart beat is to make your brain as well as mine working.
I love those who love me and those who understands me. Those who does not, I reserve my comment. The important thing, I know who I am.
Good bye 2009.
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