Iftar at Nurhas

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This is one of the best iftars (breaking of fast) I've ever had with my local friends. Having it at Nurhas Restaurant, Kulim Town, would save a lot of time searching for food at Pasar Ramadan (Ramadan Bazaar). Million thanks to Zubri for proposing the idea since the beginning of Ramadan and also to Khairuldin for making it click.

Truly we were so happy with the food. It was delicious and we really enjoyed it, alhamdulellah. Not forgeting we had our Maghrib followed by Isha' and Tarawih prayers at Kilang Lama Mosque.

From left to right: Azmir, Shams, Zubri, Khairuldin and Yushamdan

Moon Sighting in Malaysia

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For those who doesn't know anything about moon sighting, maybe its time for you to get some knowledge about it. Do homework please. According to the perspective of most Arab students in Malaysia, our country doesn't do moon sighting but fixed the date (pre-decided). This could probably due to the fact that some local calendars portrayed the date of Eid as fixed, just like other big days. I do heard some Arab students got wrong information from locals too. I don't know what to say about these locals but I do believe they are not qualified to talk about the moon sighting or any other religious issues. For those Arab students, I don't totally blame you for your misunderstanding. There are a lot of things you still need to learn about our country.

Does Malaysia really do moon sighting? Based on my knowledge, yes. First of all, let's take a look at the calendar below. Most established calendars in Malaysia will have "SUBJECT TO CHANGE" quoted at the bottom side, indicating the date is not fix. Go check your calendar.

Below are some pictures of moon sighting activities in Malaysia:

Moon sighting at Putrajaya

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Moon sighting at Bukit Malawati, Selangor

Pulau Angsa. Moon sighting was lead by Selangor's Deputy Mufti, Abdul Majid

Bukit Malawati. Moon sighting was lead by Selangor's Mufti, Dato' Tamyes Abdul Wahid

Port Dickson. Moon sighting was lead by Negri's Mufti, Dato' Murtadza Ahmad

Brunei. Last but not least, moon sighting was also conducted in Brunei

Malaysian University Ranking - Are we good enough?

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This is the world ranking involving Malaysian Universities issued by THES-QS for the year 2007:

University of Malaya (246)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (307)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (309)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (364)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (416)

Ranking of foreign universities that have branch campuses in Malaysia:

Monash University (HQ: Australia) (43)
University of Nottingham (HQ: UK) (70)
Curtin University of Technology (HQ: Australia) (235)
Swinburne University of Technology (HQ: Australia) (>500)
Al-Azhar University (HQ: Egypt) (>500)

Highest Rank South East Asian University: National University of Singapore (33)
Highest Rank Asian University: University of Tokyo (17)

When they think I'm a Vietnamese, Filipino or Thai...

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Everywhere I go in Vietnam, no one guessed me right. They might rather think I'm a Vietnamese too. Whenever I started speaking English, then only they realized that I'm not. These sentences are very common when I'm in Vietnam:
"Oh I thought you are Vietnamese"
"Are you from Thailand?"
"Are you Filipino?"

Dr Alfonso from Upsalla University, Sweden and some European participants also think that I'm a Vietnamese. Well, this is the look of Asian...

I'm a Malaysian. The slogan "MALAYSIA TRULY ASIA" to some extent I feel it's so right...

Photos From Vietnam

.Coastal view of Nha Trang

With my SIRIM's college, Zakuan

Hai Yen Hotel, the hotel I stay at Nha Trang

I and my Vietnamese friend Vuong from Hanoi University of Technology

At Tri Nguyen Aquarium at an island near Nha Trang

Fisherman's village

I'm for the second time a millionaire...

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Tomorrow I'll fly to Vietnam. I'm going to attend a seven days workshop on Advanced Materials Science and Nanotechnology, which is to be held at Nha Trang. What is in my mind now is how to get halal food there, since Vietnam is definitely NOT a food heaven for a Muslim. Besides, now is the month of Ramadan, which means we're fasting. Alhamdulellah, I'm not alone. I'll be accompanied by my colleage, Zakuan. Later we'll see how well we handle the situation.

Yesterday I changed my Ringgit to Vietnam Dong at Tesco, Taiping. I round the number to 1 million Dong. It costs me RM230. Although I'm not happy with the exchange rate but being a Dong millionaire is enough to offset the feeling. Yes, I'm a millionaire now!

Actually, this is not my first time being a millionaire, I used to be one in 2001 when I went to Medan, Indonesia with my mom and auntie for a week vacation.

I wonder why a lot of people are so eager of becoming millionaires, in fact these two countries have the most millionaires in the world, in fact billionaires. Dong or Rupiah millionaire... What say you?

Penagih dedah di kalangan wanita Melayu...

Ke mana-mana aku pergi sekarang ini, pasti aku dapat tengok 'daging murah'. Daging murah yang aku maksudkan bukan daging lembu yang dijual dekat pasar itu tapi daging manusia yang terdedah sana-sini. Senang-senang saja aku dapat dosa free. Fesyen baju makin lama makin sendat, makin singkat. Lagi.. nampak pusat, menonjol buah dada, nampak seluar dalam, alur punggung. Mak ooi, fesyen apa ni?!

Aku tak faham pasal apa depa bangga sangat untuk mendedahkan bahagian-bahagian yang tak sepatutnya didedahkan. Masa dulu-dulu, ramai dok mengumpat bangsa Cina pakai seksi, dedah sana dedah sini. Sekarang ni, bangsa Melayu tak kalah. Kalau tengok bahagian pinggang, aku dah tak dapat pastikan sama ada yang menampakkan alur punggung itu Cina atau Melayu. Tup tup tengok Melayu, sebab pakai tudung. Aik? Pakai tudung pun tayang punggung dan seluar dalam jugak? Tak faham aku.
Tudung itu suatu pakaian bagi wanita Islam bagi menutupi aurat kepala, leher dan rambut mereka. Kenapa atas tutup tapi bahagian lain buka? Paling ketara sekarang ini aku tengok orang pakai tudung tapi bahagian lengan/tangannya terdedah, suatu bahagian aurat yang perlu ditutup apabila mengadap Allah (yakni solat). Hari itu, di sebuah masjid dekat Kampung Kedah, Perak, aku nampak dua gadis akhir belasan tahun keluar dari tempat mengambil wudhu'. Sudahlah pakai baju lengan pendek singkat, disinsingkan pula seluar jeans ke paras lutut. Lepas tu dengan selamba berjalan depan jemaah lelaki. Astaghfirullah. Takkan jahil tara itu?

Persoalannya adalah mereka ini betul-betul tak tahu atau saja-saja buat tak faham? Patutlah bangsa lain tak hormat dekat agama Islam dan bangsa aku sekarang. Aku rasa bangsa aku dah tak berapa kisah bab aurat sekarang. Janji pakai tudung. Sebab apa? Sebab mak pakai, kakak pakai, nenek pakai, jiran semua pakai. Kalau tak pakai, nanti mereka cakap apa pula nanti. Habis tu kenapa pakai tudung tapi dedah bahagian lengan/tangan? Alaa.. biasalah, mak, kakak dan jiran pun pakai macam ni. Lagipun ayah tak kata apa pun. Oh I see. Macam mana pulak dengan orang yang pakai tudung tapi tayang seluar dalam dan alur punggung?

Nampaknya bangsa aku makin tak kisah...

Penagihan Dadah - Lambang Penguasaan Lelaki Melayu

Dadah
Fakta Penagihan Dadah 2007 di Malaysia:

• 97.60% lelaki

• 72.62% Melayu

• 70.00% terdiri daripada golongan belia dan majoriti adalah berumur antara 19-24 tahun

• 79.17% berpendidikan hingga sekolah menengah (sekurang-kurangnya tamat tingkatan 3)

• 92.03% mempunyai pekerjaan (majoritinya buruh am)

• 62.56% merupakan penagih heroin/morfin, manakala penagih ATS (10.28%)

• 55.65% mengakui mula terjebak dengan dadah disebabkan oleh pengaruh kawan

Sumber: Agensi Dadah Kebangsaan

Dari segi peratusan penduduk, Bumiputra di Malaysia adalah sekitar 66% dan Melayu itu sendiri adalah sekitar 55%. Jadi peratusan Melayu itu tidaklah sebesar mana (walaupun majoriti) jika dibandingkan dengan jumlah penduduk. Tetapi, bila masuk bab penagihan dadah, peratusan Melayu adalah terbesar iaitu sekitar 73%. Tambahan hampir 20%. Maka kesimpulannya, bidang penagihan dadah adalah di bawah penguasaan Melayu. Tahniah aku diucapkan! (Bukan senang nak menguasai sesuatu bidang itu).

Sebenarnya aku sedih dan kesian dekat bangsa aku ini. Benda-benda yang buruk senang sangat diserap. Bohsia, bohjan, mat rempit, mat metal, punk... semuanya penguasaan orang Melayu. Yang aku pasti gejala-gejala ini disebabkan oleh pengabaian agama oleh masyarakat aku sendiri. Nama saja Islam tapi rata-rata tiada pengetahuan tentang ajaran agama anutan mereka itu. Lagi satu aku tengok, masyarakat bangsa aku ini semakin tidak berani menegur yang salah.

Happy Ramadan

RamadanAssalam'alaikum

Hari ini 1 Ramadan 1429 bersamaan 1 September 2008 adalah permulaan Ramadan di Malaysia dan beberapa negara lain di dunia. Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Ramadan.

Today is the first Ramadan in Malaysia and some other countries across the globe. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you Happy Ramadan.

RAMADAN KAREEM
RAMADAN MUBARAK