My Aidiladha 2012.

On the morning of Aidiladha, the solat sunat Aidiladha was at Masjid Sultan Sulaiman, Klang. The Mosque atmosphere and the environment gave me a peace of mind to face Allah. The Mosque architecture is a combination of Moorish and English, officially opened on 11 September 1932. Situated in the vicinity of Selangor Royal Palace, Istana Alam Shah, Klang Kolej Islam and contain the Royal Mausoleums.

Masjid Sultan Sulaiman, Klang.

The Main Prayer Hall.

The Dome.

Contrary to KRU Mosque, there was no necessity for a long speech by the Mosque Nazir. It was just a simple tutorial by the Imam on duty about solat Aidiladha. I hate the long speech bla bla, moreover at the KRU Mosque; the Nazir is PAS political appointee. Mosque is not the place to play the game of politic.

Being Aidiladha fell on Friday, most Mosques in Selangor perform the sacrifice ritual the following day - Saturday. KRU Mosque did it on Saturday too and I was a non participant. I did it at somewhere else. Twenty one (21) cows fell, more than the previous year when PAS radicals dominantly controlled the Mosque. At the courtesy of a buddy several shots were taken during the sacrifice ritual at KRU Mosque.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ibadah Korban at KRU Mosque.

                                        

I had planned for a small thanksgiving feast & doa, long before Aidiladha as I did not do any during Aidilfitri. The Guests were selected few as my house is too compact to accommodate all. After the solat Isyakh of the second day of Aidiladha, the selected Guests stream in immediately after “kenduri briyani” at the Mosque. Imam 1 - Haji Khairuddin conducted the takbir Aidiladha and the doa selamat. The Timbalan Nazir – YM Raja Sahar and several KRU Mosque Committee members including the Treasurer also attended. The menu was simple, “mee kuah”, specially requested by some who had tasted it before. The invitees also tasted “zam zam” water which was brought back from Mecca during Ramadan umrah. Total attendees were twenty three (23) close friends and neighbors. Several invitees apologetically send a short message unable to attend. To the attendees - thank you, sahabat.  

 

Ready to receive my Guests.

                                                    

Tuan Haji Imam 1, Haji Khairuddin reciting the doa.

YMRaja Sahar in white shirt and behind him, Haji Kemat, Haji Izhar and Sarjan Shukor.

Haji Samsuddin, Haji Resad and Haji Zakaria MZ.

Sarjan Shukor, Haji Capt Fauzi and Haji Wak Salim.

YM Raja Sahar, Haji Yahya and Malek.

Haji Samsuddin addressing the mee, with Sarjan Shukor looking.

My buddy, the ex Postmaster - Haji Abdullah.

The Chief Imam of KRU Mosque - Haji Khairuddin.

In Selangor Hari Raya Aidiladha goes like any ordinary day. Back in my kampong somewhere in Perak, when I was a little kid, Hari Raya Aidiladha was celebrated second to Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The bamboo canon, fire crackers, lemang, dodol, and visiting each other added to the celebration. Now, the day went by just like any ordinary day. It is a pity the young Muslim children of today fail to understand the importance and significant of Aidiladha. They only know, Aidiladha is a Public holiday when Muslims at the Mosques slaughtered cows or goat.

My best Aidiladha was in 1999 when I performed the Haj. For three (3) days the Desert of Mina was filled with the call of takbir and it make me closer to Allah. 

The congregation of MINA - for HAJ.

    

Five Decades Later.............

Nostalgic journey down memory lane, attending to Raja Suffian’s reception in honor of his son wedding at Merdeka Hall in Tapah on 20 October 2012 (Saturday). Hit the North South PLUS Highway and detoured at Bukit Beruntung to pick up Amran Din.

Raja Suffian - the Host.

 Raja Suffian extended a special invitation to all GES Tapah Hostelites, the era of 1960 – 1965 to attend the auspicious day. Manan Buyung of Tanjung Malim voluntarily coordinated. Very much regretted, some could not make it. This type of reunion should not be missed as we had been distance for ages and never know when we can ever reunite. Hairs are getting silvery and dropping; some teeth went missing at the Dentist chair and at any moment we may be summon to face the Almighty. 
     

In spite of fifty years of not meeting each other, I was glad Raja Suffian could easily recognize me upon arrival at the Hall entrance. He looks very much different the last time I met him and for sure I would have bypass him if I met him on the street. Not as handsome as before, he laughed when I commented. Raja Suffian two (2) other younger brothers who were also ex Hostelites, Raja Faisal and Raja Fauzi were also presence. Their white beard made me more difficult to pick them out. Surprisingly I was easily recognizable; maybe I stayed young as ever, (ha ha) except for the zinc roofing.
  

Honestly I wasn’t really keen on the wedding and the banquet. I excitedly wanted meeting my old Hostel buddies; that were my top priority. Manan Buyung had pre communicated who would probably attend. Aziz Osman, my senior the biggest Hostel prankster and I still remember all the pranks and the bully. It was all forgotten, instead I hugged the Old Man. Kasim Hamid came all the way from Johore Baru by train and Alias Rashid (Cik Gu) descended the Banjaran Titiwangsa, Cameron Highland. Alias Rashid has lost lots of weight. Arbain Saidi, the most unpredictable guy who threw my blanket on the roof was also presence. Finally after five decades, the notorious Hostel three Musketeers met, Aziz Osman, Kasim Hamid and Dato Panglima. Kasim Hamid still maintained the same P. Ramlee hairstyle. 

Me in green batik, Aziz Osman in white and lutfi Tajuddin with the songkok.

Note the silver hair.

Alias Rashid with the cendol and Jefrul Tariqh.

Lutfi Tajuddin and Amran Din enjoying Tapah cendol.

Kasim Hamid and Halim Said.

Aziz Osman, Dr Yusuf Hashim and Kasim Hamid.

Kasim Hamid and Lutfi Tajuddin.

 Some of them brought their other half but some prefer single as the old stories and laughter would make the wives bored. Others that were presence were Khadzin Hassan, Manan Buyung, Dr Yusuf Hashim, Hatim Tai, Desa Hamid, Nyak Abdullah, Halim Said, Jefrul Tariqh, Lutfi Tajuddin, and Ishak (BC). The title is highly classified as it was conferred by late Baniyamin. 

We gathered under the tent reminiscing the good old days. Raja Suffian was laughing loudly but discreetly when I recollected his memories of the Batu 8 Hot Springs. That was a daring adventure which Raja Suffian, Idris and me undertook but it was clean fun. No casualty whatsoever. Kasim Hamid recollected the miracle when the tricycle packed with the Hostel cookeries slipped down into a ravine but only two plates were broken. The mishap occurred on our way back from a picnic at River Corner. I could not recall who was managing the handle? We laughed about the incident when Dato Panglima scored an own goal during an inter school soccer tournament. We were talking about Ibrahim Mamak, where he went missing? Each of us had their own story to tell. Cameras and IPad came handy to record the moments. At the gathering we acted like we were still the same young “budak hostel” during those days. Nicknames still remembered after 50 long years.

To commemorate the get together we had a group photograph session with the newlywed and Raja Suffian & Puan Mariam. Manan Buyung is preparing a Directory and would forward to the individual concern in due course.

The group photograph with the Newlywed.

Halim Said with Aziz Osman.

Me with Arbain Saidi (Red Batik).

Sandwich between Alias Rashid on the right and Khadzin Hasan on the left.

Dont know what was the conversation between Dr Yusuf and Dato Panglima.

Dr Yusuf Hashim and Raja Suffian.

Kasim Hamid and Amran Din.

It was very much regretted, though near yet so far, we could not get back to the Hostel as it is now turn to a Girls Hostel. I would love to see whether the huge old “binjai” tree at the neighboring compound is still standing.  

As we were recollecting the nostalgic moment, we paid tribute to those Hostelites that had gone back to the Almighty: Fadzli Tajuddin, Baniyamin, Syed Tajul Ariffin, Wak Salim, Aminuddin Basir, Hamzah De Souza, Tamrin, Mohd Abdullah, Sulaiman Sahab, Zahari Yahya, Jamaluddin Tajuddin and Ngah Wahab. Do I miss any? I suggest one fine day, Manan Buyung can arrange for a “tahlil” ceremony for the fallen comrades. The venue: At the Hostel Dining or Prep Hall.

I was a boarder at the Hostel from 1960 – 1962, never regretted the life that I went through with the guys. “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Amran Din stayed longer from 1959 to 1964. Manan Buyung and I left the Hostel at about the same time, early 1963. I continued Upper Secondary education at TI Penang and Manan Buyung started his secondary education at MCKK.

  

To Manan Buyung – you did a splendid job at your own cost and time rounding up the Comrade. Thank you. I hope to attend more gathering of this nature.

KRU New Mosque as at 08 October 2012

I have not been blogging and updating about KRU New Mosque in my kampong as I am rather frustrated about the appointment of the Mosque Nazir and several Mosque Officials. The last posting regarding the New Mosque was on 07 July 2012. Candidate who was voted in by the “anak kariah” (local residents) through fair and legitimate election was not selected by the Ketua Kampong who happens to be from PAS and DAP nominated. It is the same people and Political Parties that cried out loud for fair and clean election by SPRM (Malaysian Election Commission). They demonstrated and created havoc in Kuala Lumpur to the extent of damaging public properties. At kampong level, it’s ok for them not to be fair. In the first place why need an election process? Choose whom he likes and so be it. Wasting my bloody time!!

I was invited by the Timbalan Nazir (residents nominated) to see the ongoing project within the Mosque compound on the construction of a permanent cow pen and slaughter enclosure during the forthcoming Qurban ritual during Aidiladha. I understand one Mosque Official (not selected by anak kariah) disputed this project as it was decided at ad hoc basis by the Mosque Committee. Regret………….…..he did not foresee the urgent necessity, unless he have something in mind for personal gain. The project is a permanent fixture and I understand PAID (Pejabat Agama Islam Daerah) intend to make it as a role project for all urban area Mosques in Klang District. I welcome and applaud this sort of positive and intelligent innovation. 

 The proposed pen and slaughter enclosure.

Since I was on site, I took a few shots of the Mosque. Work is still in progress, installing the framework at the Anjung Utama. Few metal drain covers had been stolen, carried away by drug addicts. In the Main Prayer Hall, only one (1) prototype stand fan was installed. The other three (3) still under construction, maybe ready only next year. As for the chandelier, the internal dome still remains bare. Estimate cost in the region of 30 – 40K and it would take about two (2) years to accumulate the amount from the Friday collections. It would have been made ready if the New Mosque Committee was not hijack by a bunch of PAS radicals. 

 The Mosque as at 08 October 2012 + the landscaping.

The Mosque, as I see it, there is only a slight improvement on the management aspect compared to the previous administration. Reasons being, majority of the Committee Members were elected by the “anak kariah”. The nightly and weekend subuh ceramah ugama still remain the same, the style of deliveries and its content. There are new faces being added to the previous. Appointed Ustaz unable to be present, nominated a replacement. There is an additional subject call “Motivasi”. The stupid old and young kampong residents need to be motivated? Among the Ustaz it has become a commercial entity. Each Ustaz has his own oratory styles, some similar to PAS political campaign however some are just moderate. Even the moderates are capitalizing on “Hudud”. The ulterior motive is to ridicule the Federal Government or UMNO in particular. The Holy Prophet was satisfied with a fist of grain and some dates but nothing come free from the present Ustazs. On the other hand they tell the congregation to strictly follow the Holy Prophet’s sunnah. Never ever question them as they are so call as “Ulamak” and descendent of the Holy Prophet. To me is simple………Mosque is not the place to make money. The money, more than that can come at the Thereafter.

Whatever the consequences, the residents are itching to hear Najib denouncing Parliament for fresh General Election.