Malaysian University Ranking 2008

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This is the world ranking involving Malaysian Universities issued by THES-QS for the year 2008:

University of Malaya (230) [up][2007: 246]
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (250) [up][2007: 309]
Universiti Sains Malaysia (313) [down][2007: 307]
Universiti Putra Malaysia (320) [up][2007: 364]
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (356) [up][2007: 416]

Ranking of foreign universities that have branch campuses in Malaysia:

Monash University (HQ: Australia) (47) [down][2007: 43]
University of Nottingham (HQ: UK) (86) [down][2007: 70]
Curtin University of Technology (HQ: Australia) (232) [up][2007: 235]
Swinburne University of Technology (HQ: Australia) (401-500) [NA][2007: >500]
Al-Azhar University (HQ: Egypt) (NA) [NA][2007: >500]

Highest Rank South East Asian University: National University of Singapore (30) [up][2007: 33]
Highest Rank Asian University: University of Tokyo (19) [down][2007: 17]

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?