The resignation recently of ADUN Bukit Selambau hail from Pakatan Rakyat (he joined PR after winning the election early last year as an independence candidate) has thrown this small town located 20 km from Sungai Petani into prominence, gripping the attention and subject of conversation of all political leaders and masses alike. DUN Bukit Selambau voters will again elect their YB through by-election due to be held in April.
I am very familiar with Bukit Selambau and I know every corner of it. I was once a student of Sekolah Rendah Bukit Selambau from standard two to four before I joined Special Malay Class in Ibrahim Primary School Sungai Petani. When I was in Secondary School I commuted by bus from Bukit Selambau to the school in Sungai Petani up until I finished my secondary school.
During emergency rules (in the fifties), Bukit Selambau was declared a black area by the government due to the presence of communist insurgents in the area and was put under curfew from 7 pm to 7 am. To cut the insurgent food supply, the town was completely fenced and heavily guarded by soldiers. Purchasing of foods such as rice, sugar, flour by kampung folks were also controlled. They could only purchase these controlled food items from 7 am to 7 pm when the curfew would be temporarily lifted. Purchasing could only be done through special permit and the amount of foods bought was also controlled (enough for the family consumption) and subject to checking by the guards at checkpoint. Harassment from time to time by communist insurgents made kampung life at that time tough and difficult.
In the sixties the primary products produced by the people here were tapioca, groundnuts and rubbers. The Malays were mostly rubber tappers and the Chinese grew tapioca and groundnuts.
But now, the Malays here are more enterprising, getting involve in many kinds of business activities. Presently pineapples are much grown here and it seems to become one of the the main product of Bukit Selambau , and I can assure you that pineapples planted here are the best. Bukit Selambau is also well-known for its seasonal fruits such as cempedak, rambutan and durian.
Inhabitants of Bukit Selambau are soon to see leaders of political parties coming prior to the by-election. Beware of politicians who give empty promises. Do not be easily influenced by these goody politicians. My advice to the BN and PR, field local Malay as election candidates. My advice to the voters -VOTE JUDICIOUSLY.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Nostalgia
Driving through the narrow road to the village where I was born is in fact a journey down memory lane. I did a nostalgic journey to Kampung Siam, my birth place a few days ago to pay tribute to the passing of my cousin who spent her whole life there.
Kampung Siam was where I spent my childhood and part of my teenhood years, growing up together with my cousins and neighbouring kids. We passed our free times playing marbles, tops, kotak-kotak (empty cigerette boxes), chongkak, jengket and at times secretly went swimming in nearby mining pools.
Pipe water was non-existent in the kampung then, so we use well water which turned very muddy after heavy rainfall for washing and bathing. Our drinking water, my brother took it from the roadside public pipe located in the Bedong town.
Latrine was the hole type, where after months of using it, the brimful stool almost touched your buttock. The smell was terrible, disgusting!.
The wooden house we lived in, built in the sixties was spacious and airy due to its many windows. Me, my grandmother, brother and two elder sisters lived in that house and were later joined by our cousins. With so many mouths to feed, I wondered how my grandmother and my brother at that time managed to make ends meet. Foods were always enough for everyone to eat.
The kampung once beautiful, looks ugly now. The drains once well maintained are now clogged with rubbish, the water remains stagnant and dirty. No new houses being built, some of the old houses are vacant and left to rot.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WIFE, CELEBRATED ON THE 22nd FEBRUARY
Kampung Siam was where I spent my childhood and part of my teenhood years, growing up together with my cousins and neighbouring kids. We passed our free times playing marbles, tops, kotak-kotak (empty cigerette boxes), chongkak, jengket and at times secretly went swimming in nearby mining pools.
Pipe water was non-existent in the kampung then, so we use well water which turned very muddy after heavy rainfall for washing and bathing. Our drinking water, my brother took it from the roadside public pipe located in the Bedong town.
Latrine was the hole type, where after months of using it, the brimful stool almost touched your buttock. The smell was terrible, disgusting!.
The wooden house we lived in, built in the sixties was spacious and airy due to its many windows. Me, my grandmother, brother and two elder sisters lived in that house and were later joined by our cousins. With so many mouths to feed, I wondered how my grandmother and my brother at that time managed to make ends meet. Foods were always enough for everyone to eat.
The kampung once beautiful, looks ugly now. The drains once well maintained are now clogged with rubbish, the water remains stagnant and dirty. No new houses being built, some of the old houses are vacant and left to rot.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WIFE, CELEBRATED ON THE 22nd FEBRUARY
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Forgetfulness
I never forget to bring the keys to my house whenever I leave home. It happened one day that I left home not only forgetting to close the front gate but also leaving the bunch of keys still hanging on the padlock. Lucky that my wife realized it and she took the keys before some bad guys found them.
I think it is common for the elderly to experience forgetfulness one way or another. I considered it as normal if for examples they forget to switch off the bathroom light, to charge the handphone battery, or even forget the names of their close relatives or friends.
This phenomena of forgetfulness is not only confined to the aged, youngsters can also be inflicted. I know one young, cute, petite female USM's student, she stays at the hostel, and goes home only during the weekends. One of her duty when she's at home is to prepare lunch for her grandmother.
'Dah nak masuk lohor' (zohor) ni nasi tak masak lagi ka!'
'Laa, lupa la tok'
Whether she really lupa or just using the word as an excuse, tak tau la. You know what she has been doing by looking at her unruly hair and sleepy eyes.
Lately I forgot doing quite a number of things but not to the extend of forgetting my name or forget to take my bath (dimentia). The reason I forgot to lock the gate and left my keys there was because I deviated from my routine. I normally drive the car out from the porch and parked the car just outside the gate, come out from the car, lock the gate and drive. On that day the car was parked outside, I just opened the gate big enough for my body to pass through, open the car's booth to put my shoes in and then drove off. Because of this event, my wife make a fuss out of it. She told my children that I am gradually losing my memory.
One thing that I learn is not to procrastinate work lest you will forget. Finish it there and then.
KAK NET KEMBALI KERAHMATULLAH PADA 17 FEB 2009, SEMOGA ALLAH MENEMPATKAN ROH NYA DIKALANGAN ORANG2 YANG BERIMAN DAN MENJADIKAN KUBURNYA SEBAHAGIAN DARI TAMAN2 SYORGA
I think it is common for the elderly to experience forgetfulness one way or another. I considered it as normal if for examples they forget to switch off the bathroom light, to charge the handphone battery, or even forget the names of their close relatives or friends.
This phenomena of forgetfulness is not only confined to the aged, youngsters can also be inflicted. I know one young, cute, petite female USM's student, she stays at the hostel, and goes home only during the weekends. One of her duty when she's at home is to prepare lunch for her grandmother.
'Dah nak masuk lohor' (zohor) ni nasi tak masak lagi ka!'
'Laa, lupa la tok'
Whether she really lupa or just using the word as an excuse, tak tau la. You know what she has been doing by looking at her unruly hair and sleepy eyes.
Lately I forgot doing quite a number of things but not to the extend of forgetting my name or forget to take my bath (dimentia). The reason I forgot to lock the gate and left my keys there was because I deviated from my routine. I normally drive the car out from the porch and parked the car just outside the gate, come out from the car, lock the gate and drive. On that day the car was parked outside, I just opened the gate big enough for my body to pass through, open the car's booth to put my shoes in and then drove off. Because of this event, my wife make a fuss out of it. She told my children that I am gradually losing my memory.
One thing that I learn is not to procrastinate work lest you will forget. Finish it there and then.
KAK NET KEMBALI KERAHMATULLAH PADA 17 FEB 2009, SEMOGA ALLAH MENEMPATKAN ROH NYA DIKALANGAN ORANG2 YANG BERIMAN DAN MENJADIKAN KUBURNYA SEBAHAGIAN DARI TAMAN2 SYORGA
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Imam n makmum
Leading congregational prayers whether as Imam or just following the imam as makmum, carries a heavy burden of responsibilities.
The imam must be familiar not only with rules of sembahyang jemaah, but he should also be able to recite Quran with 'tartil' that is reciting the Quran with proper ' tajwid' and 'makhraj'. As Imam to my wife, I used to get complains from her.
'Apa abang ni sebut huruf pun tak betul, huruf sin jadi sod, huruf tak ada qalqalah baca qalqalah, yang ada qalqalah tak baca' ( thank you sayang for being a responsible makmum) , now I feel comfortable reading Quran after I have attended and completed a five years tajwid course at Masjid Sungai Ara .
I went to Masjid Sg. Ara with my daughter every Sunday six years ago 'bertalaqi' with Ustaz Saidin. She did not finish the course but I know Syima can recite Quran well and with 'tartil', she once represented her school in one of the Inter-School Quran reading competation held at Sekolah Rendah Bayan Lepas Pulau Pinang.
Shalat berjemaah at masjid can sometimes be embarrassing for the makmum. The Imam should inform the jemaah beforehand if he wants to do a sujud tilawah in the first rakaat. We are familiar with Surah as- Sajadah but not with other surahs which have the sujud tilawah.
What happened during one of the shalat subuh( bukan pagi Jumaat) was that the Imam recited the surah which had the sujud tilawah, and after the takbir he went down and did the sujud tilawah. Ignorant of the surah I did the ruku' (I did not know what's happenning because I close my eyes during shalat to attain khosoo') thinking that the imam was doing the same. I incidently opened my eyes and really terkejut badak, I was the only one dok tengah ruku'.
'Apa la tok imam ni bagi la tau dulu kalau nak buat sujud tilawah! Kita bukan alhafiz' I grumbled.
I asked my friends after the shalat, rupa-rupa nya I was not the only one yang tekena.
One of my friends gave this cynical remark:
' Tu la orang suruh belajar tak mau belajar'
Message: Fuad, Fadhli, Fikri - rajin2 sembahyang dan baca Quran. Baca Quran dgn bertajwid fardho ain
The imam must be familiar not only with rules of sembahyang jemaah, but he should also be able to recite Quran with 'tartil' that is reciting the Quran with proper ' tajwid' and 'makhraj'. As Imam to my wife, I used to get complains from her.
'Apa abang ni sebut huruf pun tak betul, huruf sin jadi sod, huruf tak ada qalqalah baca qalqalah, yang ada qalqalah tak baca' ( thank you sayang for being a responsible makmum) , now I feel comfortable reading Quran after I have attended and completed a five years tajwid course at Masjid Sungai Ara .
I went to Masjid Sg. Ara with my daughter every Sunday six years ago 'bertalaqi' with Ustaz Saidin. She did not finish the course but I know Syima can recite Quran well and with 'tartil', she once represented her school in one of the Inter-School Quran reading competation held at Sekolah Rendah Bayan Lepas Pulau Pinang.
Shalat berjemaah at masjid can sometimes be embarrassing for the makmum. The Imam should inform the jemaah beforehand if he wants to do a sujud tilawah in the first rakaat. We are familiar with Surah as- Sajadah but not with other surahs which have the sujud tilawah.
What happened during one of the shalat subuh( bukan pagi Jumaat) was that the Imam recited the surah which had the sujud tilawah, and after the takbir he went down and did the sujud tilawah. Ignorant of the surah I did the ruku' (I did not know what's happenning because I close my eyes during shalat to attain khosoo') thinking that the imam was doing the same. I incidently opened my eyes and really terkejut badak, I was the only one dok tengah ruku'.
'Apa la tok imam ni bagi la tau dulu kalau nak buat sujud tilawah! Kita bukan alhafiz' I grumbled.
I asked my friends after the shalat, rupa-rupa nya I was not the only one yang tekena.
One of my friends gave this cynical remark:
' Tu la orang suruh belajar tak mau belajar'
Message: Fuad, Fadhli, Fikri - rajin2 sembahyang dan baca Quran. Baca Quran dgn bertajwid fardho ain
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Birthday
Death is certainly inevitable. But can we be deadly certain that we will still be alive tomorrow. If Allah permits yes we will.
From time to time Allah tests us with death of our love ones, friends, and relatives. Tears fill our eyes as we see them being lowered into the grave, helplessly our mind wonders who will be next and when will our (my) turn be. Will we be celebrating our birthday year after year? When will it be our last? Alhamdulillah thanks to Allah the merciful for giving me the chance to again celebrate my birthday this year.
At the age of 59 , celebrating birthday is no more a happy occasion, its more of a soul searching moment where you want to be alone and reminisce the spiritual failures that dotted your life. The day when we recall the wrongdoings that we have committed. The day where we again sincerely invoke Allah for forgiveness and hope that He will accept our repent. And the day when our mind is preoccupied with thoughts of life after death. Am I ready for that? Am I prepared to face the 'day' that Allah says as the day full of regrets? Yes the day when all mankind regret for what they have done during their lifetime. The day when the doer of good deeds regret for not doing more during their earthly life. The day when the wrongdoers who died unrepented regret the most.
Protect us ya Allah from the hell fire.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) died at the age of 63. If you live beyond 63, its a blessing from Allah and a bonus given to you by the Almighty.
THANKS FOR THOSE WHO DOA AND WISH ME HAPPINESS ON MY BIRTHDAY.
From time to time Allah tests us with death of our love ones, friends, and relatives. Tears fill our eyes as we see them being lowered into the grave, helplessly our mind wonders who will be next and when will our (my) turn be. Will we be celebrating our birthday year after year? When will it be our last? Alhamdulillah thanks to Allah the merciful for giving me the chance to again celebrate my birthday this year.
At the age of 59 , celebrating birthday is no more a happy occasion, its more of a soul searching moment where you want to be alone and reminisce the spiritual failures that dotted your life. The day when we recall the wrongdoings that we have committed. The day where we again sincerely invoke Allah for forgiveness and hope that He will accept our repent. And the day when our mind is preoccupied with thoughts of life after death. Am I ready for that? Am I prepared to face the 'day' that Allah says as the day full of regrets? Yes the day when all mankind regret for what they have done during their lifetime. The day when the doer of good deeds regret for not doing more during their earthly life. The day when the wrongdoers who died unrepented regret the most.
Protect us ya Allah from the hell fire.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) died at the age of 63. If you live beyond 63, its a blessing from Allah and a bonus given to you by the Almighty.
THANKS FOR THOSE WHO DOA AND WISH ME HAPPINESS ON MY BIRTHDAY.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
dignity
The elderly no matter what status they are to you- a husband, wife, mother, father, grandfather, grandmother- should be treated with utmost care, showered them with love and dignity. They have sacrificed and protected you enough, giving you all the loves that you need as you grow up. Now it's your turn to reciprocate the love and devotion they have given to you all their life.
Be very careful when speaking to them, avoiding words that can irritate them, hurt their feeling or offend them. Do not raise your voice upon them and do not say something that can bring shame to them.
I once visited a very sick man. Bedridden, he was unable to talk but he could hear well and respond with gesture when someone talk to him. As I was looking at the man's frail face, the wife spoke with high voice that can be heard miles away about her husband's condition.
'Pak cik ni malam tadi sakit perut, bengak(berak) tak bengenti, dari pukul 5 petang sampai 6 pagi, tujuh belas kali bengak, jenuh laaa mak cik dok cuci, dok tukaq pempers. Pempers pula bukannya murah. Saya sampai tak tiduq malam dok kena jaga dia'
Conversation like this right in front of the ailing husband might embarrass him and make him feel that he's a burden to his wife . Nevertheless I very much appreciate her patience, love and tireless support for the husband. May Allah bless her.
Statement of Allah: 'Only those who are patient will receive their reward without measure' (39:10)
Be very careful when speaking to them, avoiding words that can irritate them, hurt their feeling or offend them. Do not raise your voice upon them and do not say something that can bring shame to them.
I once visited a very sick man. Bedridden, he was unable to talk but he could hear well and respond with gesture when someone talk to him. As I was looking at the man's frail face, the wife spoke with high voice that can be heard miles away about her husband's condition.
'Pak cik ni malam tadi sakit perut, bengak(berak) tak bengenti, dari pukul 5 petang sampai 6 pagi, tujuh belas kali bengak, jenuh laaa mak cik dok cuci, dok tukaq pempers. Pempers pula bukannya murah. Saya sampai tak tiduq malam dok kena jaga dia'
Conversation like this right in front of the ailing husband might embarrass him and make him feel that he's a burden to his wife . Nevertheless I very much appreciate her patience, love and tireless support for the husband. May Allah bless her.
Statement of Allah: 'Only those who are patient will receive their reward without measure' (39:10)
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