Busy December.

Since the first week of December, I had been very2 busy attending even to minor things on the ground to prepare potential umrah Pilgrims.

On the weekend of 14 and 15 December we were all busy at the Office sacrificing the Saturday and Sunday to ensure the name tags, bag tags, Arrival & Departure cards, manifest, room allocations and profile were all prepared. All minute details must be correct and double checked. Nothing should be left out.

 

On 16 December 2013, I checked in eighty eight (88) passengers at KLIA vide Saudi Airline direct to Medina. Last passengers checked in at 1430 hrs when the flight was expected to depart at 1500 hrs. Two (2) failed to make the trip due to visa and flight problem but the joke was, their luggage was on board heading for Medina. Never mind about that as it could be retrieved by the member of the family. A busload came all the way from Rompin Johore, leaving early morning and we had to prepare packed lunch for them.

On 17 December 2013, on my birthday, at 1100 hrs, I rushed to KLIA to check in and to send off forty five (45) passengers vide Saudi Airline to Jeddah. Thirty two (32) failed to make the trip as there were no seats allocated on Saudi Airline even though visa was issued and all in good order. Early morning was informed about the mishap, sweat flows and orders went out to all the affected passengers not to report to KLIA. A separation exercise was made spot on to avoid confusion who to fly and who were not. We expected the repercussions and help us God. Customers are always right. We had to face the music, in the mean time all efforts made for alternatives.

On 19 December 2013 we went to fetch the stranded passengers temporarily stayed with families at Selayang to be allocated in a Homestay at Nilai.

On 21 December 2013 I received a call from Mekah instructed me to immediately apply for a Saudi visa and lead a group of seventeen (17) Jemaah to perform the umrah. Feeling excited and I have to dig from somewhere for personal expenses. Normally at the end of the year, I run dry financially.

On 23 December 2013, was at KLIA again to check in thirty three (33) jemaah destined for Medina. On the same day 23 December 2013 (Monday), visa application made at the Saudi Embassy. The Christmas holiday may cause a delay. 

The visa finally approved on 27 December 2013 evening. The same evening I went to the Clinic to have the necessary injection for health clearance and the night spent packing my bag for the Holy Land. 

My flight would be SV 2051 ETD 2055 hrs for Medina, Saudi Arabia. I started the year of 2013 with unexpected journey and I end the year with same. Thank you, Almighty Allah.

This will be my last posting for 2013 and I wish all readers Happy New Year and may Allah (God) bless you all. I will blog on this journey soonest I am back, insyaalah on 8 January 2014.

Labaikallah hu mala bait………………

Grand Finale of KRU New Mosque.

It was officially opened by the Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor on 06 December 2013. (Friday).

The Program Cover.

KRU New Mosque.

His Royal Highness ariival accompanied by Khalid Ibrahim (MB) and YM Raja Sahar (Deputy Nazir).

Royal speech.

The reception Tent.

The Mosque Committee Members.

(To record the event and to close my postings on KRU New Mosque, I seek the assistance of a Committee member to take pertinent shots).

As planned, I absconded from the official function as I am in disagreement how the Mosque Nazir and the Imam 2 was appointed to office by the Kampong Headman bypassing the Kampong Jemaah through democratic voting process. The victor with 99 votes was denied office and designated to the 66 obtained who happen to be Klang PAS Commissioner. It is against my principle of JUSTICE. On the Day of Judgment, he has to answer to ALLAH.

The chronicle of this Mosque is rather tragic since Barisan Nasional lost the State General Election in 2008. The plan to have a new Mosque in the kampong started during BN era pre 2008 but construction smacked into PR administration.  The Mosque Construction Development Committee was high jacked by Pakatan Rakyat co partner PAS, ignoring even directives from the State Islamic Authority and turned it as political sovereignty. They politicized the House of Allah and insisted the overall supervision, eventually ended in several shambles. The mehrab was changed, the chandelier was not installed, the audio system was cracking etc. Those things mentioned were already on the drawing board and fund already allocated or seek however unable to be implemented due to the conflict of political ideology. The state, the builder and the onsite supervision then was not in tandem. The most astonishing episode when the PAS controlled Mosque Committee sealed the New Mosque Donation Safe. Can you believe it? Was it Islamic, stopping a Muslim from doing a good cause in the name of “sedekah?” SAD……..but that’s was the name game.

Whatever, I am proud that I was nominated by the JKKK then, in 1999 to sit in the New Mosque Planning Committee. I tendered my resignation late 2003 due to health reason. The Planning Committee encountered several mishaps, hiccups and oppositions from land aquisition, land refilling, highjacking, notice board removed, donation box sealed and several other unislamic confrontation. Only Allah will be the ultimate judge. The House of Allah being turn to political institution, surely it will create disparity.

The New KRU Mosque now stand as it is and enhancement on the mosque management and infrastructure is being slowly being improvised and monitored when arises or as it developed.

   

The previous postings and this last can be of reference and information to future generations of Kampong Raja Uda. HISTORY never lies and one can never change it. All events recorded and written is the TRUTH nothing but the TRUTH.

The Kampong Headman (purple baju Melayu) and his self appointed Mosque Nazir in pink baju Melayu (Klang PAS Commisioner).

In blue:  Dato Khusrin - State Secretary and former Ketua Pegarah JAIS.

In Light red: Haji Murad - Mosque Committee member.

In white: Tuan Haji Samsudin Razak - the kampong Jemaah voted candidate with 99 votes.

The postings of KRU New Mosque is now declared closed.          

The season is now opened.

Saudi Arabia had declared open the 2014 umrah season.

I handled 160 potential Jemaah Passports to be handed to the Agent all the way at Ampang Park in Kuala Lumpur. The first batch of 80 (eighty) would be leaving on 16 December 2013 and the other 80 (eighty), the following day. Having 160 passports in my custody wasn’t easy and it was really worrying. The security aspect was prime importance.

I took the Kesas highway, the outer ring road from Shah Alam to Ampang Road, KL. It was raining and I wasn’t very sure of the direction either. I had not driven into KL City for ages. By the grace of Allah, I reached the destination safely and the only obstacle was a minor traffic jam. I nearly missed the junction exiting from the outer ring Highway to Ampang Road heading towards KLCC.

Had a quick lunch at KFC and handed the Passports to the Agent after lunch hour. I was relief at last that my burden was over.

Mission accomplished and I took a slow drive back to the Office in Shah Alam. In the meantime we are keeping our fingers cross that Saudi Arabia Embassy will approve the visa application to fulfill the dream of the 160 Jemaah.

Yours truly, Allah willing, will make the first journey for 2014 on 15 January 2014 insyaalah.

Durian Kampong.

On 29 November 2013, after the Friday prayer my cousin brother invited me to come along to his maternal ancestral kampong (village) in Sungkai Perak to collect the produce from his dusun durian (durian orchard). I did not realize it is durian season in Sungkai and from Slim River onward I saw heaps of durian by the roadside for sale. Though I grew up practically under a durian tree, I do not really crazy about durian.

We detoured by the old federal highway exit at Tanjong Malim for the famous Tanjong Malim Kopi O and Pau.

We reached Sungkai, Kampong Pekan Lama and headed to the deserted late Uncle Residence. Jan, the local cousin who manage the Dusun had reserved the yesterday and the day drop. He knew we were coming.

We loaded the durian into the boot and I learnt a new trick from my cousin brother. Slices of bread would absorb the durian pungent smell. The trick that I know of was charcoal.

Dato Malik Ahmad brushig off the dirt from the durian.

Bootfull.

Brader Jan.

Enough?

Brader Jan slicing off the fruit.

Tasty.

Looking around the vicinity, I was rather sad to see the once beautiful houses in the kampong is now deserted and run down. The children and grandchildren of these houses are now in big cities and maybe they revisit these houses once a year during Aidilfitri on the way to the ancestral Graveyard. I remember that good old day when my late Uncle was still around, his house was the center of attraction as he was the Ketua Kampong (village Chief). The stand alone public telephone booth for the villagers stationed in front of his residence is now in ruin.

The abandoned heritage.

How I wish some parties, members of the family refurbish these houses, renovate and convert to weekend retreat or home stay. Failing which, in years to come the heritage will collapse to the ground and only remain in memories and photo album.

This kampong, Pekan Lama of Sungkai was once upon a time during its glory day was beside the old north & south federal highway. Travelling north to Ipoh or south to Kuala Lumpur, we would passed by this Kampong Pekan Lama.       

Kursus Umrah.

It was held on Sunday 24 November 2013 commencing at 0930 hrs at Masjid Al Ubudiyah Section 19, Shah Alam Selangor. It was for December 2013 and January 2014 umrah pilgrimage and the attendee was about 100 potential Pilgrims. Programmed commenced at 0930 hrs and ended just before zohor at 1300 hrs.

Masjid Al Ubudiyah Section 19 Shah Alam.

Ustaz Haji Mokhdzar Abdullah. 

The potential Pilgrims.

 Ustaz Haji Mokhzar Abdullah. 

The potential Guests of  Almighty Allah.

 Ustaz Haji Kamal.

 Ustaz Haji Mokhzar with the Group Leaders.

Rear view of lecture.

Tea Break.

Almukminin Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd, wish all the potential Pilgrims well, good health and all ibadah at the Holy Land blesses by the Almighty.

My Kid.

My two (2) kids Muzaffar and Muzlifah when they were small. It was the memories of No 2 Jalan Barrowman, Port Klang. The bungalow was just opposite the Methodist Boys Primary School. We stayed from 1977 to 1984.

Muzaffar when he was less than a year old. Taken late 1974 at Port Dickson.

The handsome Boy.

Fooling around during pre school days.

Muzaffar going to school Jan 1982.

Muzaffar pastime at the Yamaha.

Its Me, when I was a kid. Any similiarity?

Both outskilled each other (Muzaffar & Muzlifah).

The good old memories of yester years.  

Sideshow in Sabah.

In Sabah 2, it was all about Mosques. I recorded some shots other than Mosques during this trip.

Sabah Railway at Bongawan crossing. 

14 kilo to Beaufort.

The Tamparulli Bridge.

Still working even in Kundangsang.

Kundangsang.

Telupid Petrol Station.

At Kota Kinabatangan.

Nice house at Bukit Garam.

Sea Settlement at Sandakan.

Me & my buddy, Haji Hasbullah Latiff rtd RTM Sabah at Yayasan Sabah.

Friday prayer at Masjid Bandaraya, Likas, KK.

Insyaalah.......some other time, we will cover Lahad Datu. Sampoerna and Tawau. Maybe Kampong Taduo.