What a Year!

A year full of surprises. Some pleasant, some sad ones.

A year full of changes. My prayers were answered.

A year full of activities. Enjoyed every single bit of it.

A year full of travelling. More is yet to come.

*Semoga tahun depan menawarkan ketenangan, kebahagiaan dan keberkatan.
**Semoga ketabahan menjadi perisai dan penawar dalam mengharung tugas-tugas rasmi dan tugas-tugas wajib.
***Selamat maju jaya kepada diriku dan kepada semua manusia di muka bumi ini.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL ADHA KEPADA SEMUA!

Do You Have The Heart To Hurt This Child?

Sungguh menyakitkan hati dan sedih membaca about the trial of a stepmother who murdered a boy, Syakir, in Ampang Jaya. When I first read kisah ni semalam, Mak Lijah terus telefon Danish to tell him that I love him - an instantaneous act of a mother.

To add to this was the story about the Pakistan man who poured the gasoline on to his stepchild. What kind of human is that?

How could anyone have the heart to hurt a small child? Ni sampai bunuh anak kecil yang tak berdosa dan tak berdaya melawan tu. Perangai apa namanya tu? Binatang pun tak bunuh anak. Sakit sungguh hati ni.

Ramai isteri-isteri yang sedang berusaha untuk mendapatkan anak, dan manusia macam ini tergamak membunuh anak kecil itu. Apa lagi yang dapat dikatakan mengenai manusia berhati syaitan seperti itu?

Manusia Berhati Syaitan

MANUSIA APA NAMANYA NI? PATUT DICURAHKAN PETROL JUGA KAT LELAKI TAK GUNA NI DAN DIBUAT UNGGUN SAJA.


‘Anak menggelupur dijilat api’

KOTA BHARU 13 Nov. – Seorang isteri tidak menyangka lelaki warga Pakistan yang menjadi suaminya tiga bulan lalu sanggup membakar ibu mertua dan anak tirinya dengan petrol di rumah mereka di Kampung Bukit Payung, Pasir Akar, Jerteh, pagi semalam, hanya kerana perselisihan kecil.
Che Rohani Deraman, 28, berkata, dia cuba membantu tetapi terlambat kerana ketika itu mangsa, Siti Hajar Abdullah, 64, bersama cucunya, Nurul Isyirah Mohd. Halmi, 3, dan jiran, Banu Dagang, 67, sudah menggelupur kesakitan setelah api menyambar pakaian mereka.
Berikutan itu, Nurul Isyirah yang melecur hampir seluruh badan dimasukkan ke Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Kubang Kerian dan keadaannya dilaporkan stabil manakala Siti Hajar yang terbakar hampir 30 peratus dirawat di Wad 4 HUSM.
Jiran mereka, Banu yang hanya melecur di bahagian belakang badan dan kaki, diberi rawatan sebagai pesakit luar.
Che Rohani yang ditemui di HUSM hari ini berkata, perkahwinan kali kedua tiga bulan lalu yang dianggap boleh membawa lebih kebahagiaan bagi keluarganya, akhirnya menimbulkan musibah dan dia serik untuk meneruskan perkahwinan tersebut.
Sebelum kejadian, Che Rohani, ibu kepada seorang anak itu menceritakan dia berselisih faham dengan suaminya kerana melengah-lengahkan urusan untuk memperbaharui pasport dan dia (Che Rohani) keberatan untuk menemaninya ke Pejabat Imigresen.
‘‘Ekoran itu, dia merungut lalu bergegas keluar dari rumah sebelum balik semula dengan membawa bersama petrol yang diisi dalam kampit plastik.
‘‘Ketika itu, ibu saya (Siti Hajar) bersama jiran yang ternampak suami saya, menegurnya kerana membawa petrol ke dalam rumah lalu terjadi pertengkaran,” ujarnya.
Dalam pertengkaran kira-kira pukul 9 pagi, anaknya yang ketika itu berada di dapur berlari keluar untuk melihat nenek dan bapa tiri bergaduh, sebelum suspek yang menjalankan perniagaan permaidani dari rumah ke rumah mencurah bahan api lalu menyalakannya.
‘‘Sebaik saja Nurul Isyirah berada bersama neneknya, tiba-tiba api terus menyambar dan membakar ketiga-tiga mereka.

Citarasa

Hari ni masuk hari ke 18 kita berpuasa. Mak Lijah betul-betul mati kutu. Tak tau nak buat lagu mana dah. Anak-anak Mak Lijah ni, bukan setakat ada taste masing-masing yang sangat-sangat berbeza, ditambah pula dengan hangin hari-hari tertentu bab pilihan lauk berbuka puasa. Tak taulah angin monsun ka... angin xanane ke.. apakebendenya... Letih betul nak cari idea ni. Macam-macam dah Mak Lijah masak. Ayam masak merah, sup tulang, ikan taucu, ikan kukus, ketam, udang, you name it lah... Kalau hari baik, memang licin lah apa saja yang Mak Lijah masak. Kalau mari hangin tu...

Semalam sebelum sampai rumah, Mak Lijah singgah sekejap kat a small bazaar Ramadhan untuk beli air kelapa for Kakak. Sambil tu, TERbeli juga dua ketul ayam goreng berempah dengan 3 biji pegedil.

Bila sampai rumah, Mak Lijah pun masak lemak cili padi ikan patin, kerang, sayur buncis dll. yang Mak Lijah kira okaylah dengan citarasa budak-budak tu yang suka masak lemak apapun. At the same time Putiha pula bagitau kata ada 2 biji telur retak masa dia alihkan dari bekas ke dalam fridge. Mak Lijah pun suruhlah dia goreng dadar je telur tu daripada busuk dok dalam fridge dalam keadaan tak sempurna dan contaminated.

Tiba jer masa berbuka, both Abang and Kakak tenung je hidangan atas meja tu. What? Anything wrong?

Abang hanya makan telur dadar (sahaja), Kakak only took the ayam goreng yang Mak Lijah beli tadi, while Danisy happily eating all-he-can sayur buncis dan kerang. Adehh.... Hari ni nak masak apa pulak?

We started from the hotel at 7.00 am on a cool, windy and drizzly morning. We were all excited of the trip out of Auckland sebab baru ada peluang nak melihat the landscape of New Zealand. I was especially excited and keep on reminding the driver to make sure the trip would include the visit to a farm.

We stopped by here to stretch ourselves after about 1.5 hours of drive out of Auckland on our way to Rotorua. Mind you.. kat Cambridge ni... Such a beautiful small town. Minum capuccino dalam sebuah cafe yang cantik, located in a building used to be a small church.

Cantik betul bangunan ni dan landscape di kawasan sekitarnya. Kalau tak silap, ni pejabat majlis perbandaran diorang.

This one... was a dream come true. Sejak tingkatan 1 lagi dah dream nak pergi farm to feed the lamb.

Yang ni kat Mt. Eden. The green grass tu adalah bekas kawah gunung berapi.

Kakak and Danisy makan eskrim kat Dressmart. Eskrim? Issh.. budak-budak ni... Sejuk kemain kat luar pun boleh makan eskrim lagi.

Too many sad news. Cannot cope.
Maybe I should go back to those happy moments we went through while we were in NZ.

Kat sini we saw the biggest geyser (pronounced as gee-sir) named after some Prince and Princess. Apart from this place, there were many, many other geysers all over Rotorua. Some even within the court-yards of the residents. It was a very interesting geographycal visit.

Us, after watching the Maoris buat persembahan. The driver who took us to Rotorua told us that a research by an academician found out that the Maori ancestors actually came from Taiwan.

At a beautiful lake, me and princess.

Today was a sad day. I was supposed to be spending the day in pleasure which include cooking a complete meal for the breaking of fast. But the sad news came at about 11.00 am today and the whole family mourned the loss.

Someone we knew, who came into our lives some nine years ago, passed away at 6.20 am today, the fourth day of Ramadhan. She has been in coma for almost three months after an accident which should not have happened, and today, her sufferings ended. I never thought that she would leave us so soon or in fact leave us at all. But she has lost her fighting will although she was already showing some improvements. She lost the battle to lack of moral support and encouragement to live.

When she's around, we didn't really notice her because she was like part of our family, part of our lives. Now that she's really gone that we felt the missing portion of our routine. She won't be there anymore to help us whenever I wanted to organise a gathering. And this Ramadhan would be different without her helping us baking the cookies for Hari Raya. Putihah missed her dearly. So does my neighbour.

Semoga dosa-dosa beliau diampun dan semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya. Al Fatihah.

Congratulations

con·grat·u·la·tion (kn-grch-lshn, -grj-, kng-):

The act of expressing joy or acknowledgment, as for the achievement or good fortune of another.


It was on a late Tuesday morning when I got this shocking proposition. And this has to happen in Bangkok. Honestly, it was shocking coming from THE someone and for THAT purpose. I repeat, it was the "shockingest" moment of my entire life.


And later I started receiving this wishes from a few people. Really, does it worth being wished CONGRATULATIONS? I don't know. I don't know what I felt or what to feel. Do I deserve being congratulated? I keep on asking myself and back to the people who wished me so.

 

 

Being A Wedding Planner

My younger, only sister and the youngest in the family, Teh, selamat diakad nikahkan on 4 June 2006 nan lalu. At last she met her hero, selepas beberapa calon lain tidak memenuhi kriteria pilihan dia lantas direject. Mak Lijah tak kisah siapa pilihan dia, dah jodoh, walaupun satu kriteria tu, hilang markahnya. Tak apalah. Semoga berbahagia ke anak cucu, ya?

Yang Mak Lijah nak citer ni, perihal menjadi wedding planner for her akad nikah. Planning in KL when the event is in Perlis is one kind of a challenge. Kesian Ayah and Mak had to do all the reservations and arrangements all by themselves. But it's even harder for me, because I had to do all the thinking, organising things, buying all the stuff, choosing the theme, menggubah hantaran and many, many, many other things in KL while the rest just implement them. Wah... power juga Mak Lijah ni...

Anyway, bukannya Mak Lijah komplen. Sebenarnya, Mak Lijah simply luvvvv.... doing all these. I had 'planned' for two weddings before yang berlangsung di rumah Mak Lijah -- 'mengahwinkan' adik ipar dan anak saudara, for two consecutive years. However, Teh's akad nikah was especially special. Ya lah, dah ler adik sendiri, sepusat sepusing, she's my only sister, and I'm her only sister too. She relies entirely on me. And also, because she's the last of the four of us to get married.

So the preparations for her was especially sentimental to me. I want to make sure her akad nikah is well planned, smooth going, that someone is organising and in charge from A to Z, not like mine. So yang jadi mangsa of course lah Ayah, Mak and the rest of the family.

"Ayah, make sure the khemah are ALL WHITE, no stripes. We don't want to represent any political party. And please book NOW coz masa tu sure ramai nak buat kenduri kawen juga. "

"Mak, NO COOKING. ONLY CATERING. I don't want you to worry about having to buy all the bawangs, halia, ayam, cili etc. I don't want you to be thinking about the menu, who to berangkit, and more importantly, so that you and all of us will not be tired of washing the dishes etc after everything is over."

"Abang, nanti please remove all the big furnitures kat depan tu, to the back sebab nak letak pelamin. Please make sure all our sedara mara tak park keta (kereta) within our compound nanti. Let the groom's delegation park within the compound. Ask our sedara mara to park kat rumah Ngah or just walk here. "

"Daddy, I have to break this news to you. You are hereby officially appointed as the spokesperson."

"Teh, nanti belah lelaki nak dok mana?"

I have to think about all those things and I enjoyed doing all of them, every moment... all for my only sister. And these tak habis kat situ coz, the real kenduri will be in November. And the script will be re-written.

Good luck to me!

Frying Friday

Hari ni Mak Lijah "melawat kawasan", kerana hari ini hari Jumaat. "Kawasan Parlimen" YB Mak Lijah ialah di Jalan TAR dan yang sewaktu dengannya. Hari Jumaat ini agak istimewa dan 'panas' kerana dua peristiwa menarik telah berlaku kepada Mak Lijah.

Hari Jumaat kali ini Mak Lijah ambil kesempatan untuk membeli kain lagi untuk Mak Lijah dan mak Mak Lijah. So berjalanlah kami, rombongan Cek Kiah dari Pertama Complex ke arah deretan kedai sutera yang femes tu.

Kami melintasi depa Sogo dan cuba untuk melintas di zebra crossing dekat kedai Da Vinci. Then this stupid taxi driver, number plate nya, HP 6876 simply refused to at least slow down to let us cross, dan nyaris melanggar kawan Mak Lijah ni. Chiss... kurang ajar..! Kawan Mak Lijah ni pun apa lagi, menyumpah-seranahlah dia. Then that stupid taxi driver slowed down his car and got the guts to marah her back! Siap cakap nak langgar dia sampai mati..! Gosh... Orang macam ni boleh hidup lagi kat dunia ni? Yang peliknya, tadi langsung tak nak berenti, tapi bila orang marah, siap boleh slow down to scold my friend ni back.. C*la*a!!!! Tak cukup dengan tu... terus-menerus memaki-hamun dan threatened kawan Mak Lijah ni. But we just walked away sebab felt so disgusted and frusted with this kind of Malaysian. Buat malu rakyat Mesia jer.

Dah selesai shopping kat kedai kain femes ni (Mak Lijah bought a piece for myself and two pieces for Mak), we all pon berjalanlah balik ke arah Medan Mara. On the way tu, singgah kat this ATM machine. Punyalah panjang queue, tapi disebabkan desperate sangat nak $$, queue jugalah, dah ler mesin sebelah tu rosak. Tunggu punya tunggu dekat 15 menet, datang sorang Kakak ni, mencuba ATM sebelah yang rosak tu. Cuba punya cuba, baru dia sedar yang mesin tu rosak. Kebetulan Mamat yang tengah berurusan di mesin yang tengah kami queue tu pun selesai mengambil duitnya. Dengan selambanya Kakak tu beralih ke mesin tu dan dengan selambanya memasukkan kad ATM dia tanpa mempedulikan kami yang beratur sebegitu lama. Pada masa tu, kat belakang Mak Lijah, ada dekat 10 orang dok beratur. Aduh.... kecewanya....Pun begitu Mak Lijah hanya mampu mengeluh sajalah...

Tapi Mamat yang beratur di belakang Mak Lijah sudah bengang... Dengan selambanya dia pon sound..

"Kak..Oh Kak... Cepatlah sikit... Lama kami tunggu ni..."

Kakak tu buat-buat tak dengar jer...

"Kak...Kak..? Kak.. Oh...Kak... Cepatlah... Akak ni dah potong queue ni.."

Buat derk lagi... And that Mamat kept on berleter sebab dah lama menunggu and sebab the Kakak was being so slow etc. Dan akhirnya Kakak tu pun berpaling ke arah Mamat tu.

"Oh, ye ke?"..dan berlalu begitu saja.

What an interesting Friday...

I want to go there

It's in Saleve, near Geneva. Arve River. Beautiful isn't it? Bilalah...agaknya. Berangan tinggi..

 

Happy Birthday to Me

No. This is not my birthday cake. Ini kek hantaran Teh to her husband on 4 June 2006 nan lalu. Sebab tak ada gambar birthday cake, guna sajalah yang ni. Berapa umur Mak Lijah? Perhaps a bit younger than Mak Andeh but we must have lived in the same period of history. About the same age as Ayah; Pnut and a bit older than Cyberdad. I must emphasize on the ABOUT and A BIT sebab jaraknya tidaklah begitu jauh.

So what about this birthday of mine this year? Nothing significant. Last year I "celebrated" my birthday in Vientienne with some of my friends in a beautiful bungalow once stayed by Malaysian Prime Minister. And this year? Nothing special. Just another additional number to my age. Dapat juga hadiah dari Pak Lijah pagi tadi. Cantik sangat. Thanks Pak Lijah (if you're reading this. Fat chance is - he doesn't read Blogs)!

That's all folks... 

Bastion Point, Auckland

Pemandangan dari atas ni memang cantik. Lansdcapenya remarkably beautiful. Again, macam mimpi. 

The Undiscovered Part of Me

Mak Lijah rupanya seorang yang gayat. Itu ler...Ketawakan lagi orang!

Mak Lijah pernah mengetawakan seorang kawan Mak Lijah (bekas blogger yang beralih arah ke suatu aliran lain yang juga baru dia discover) apabila dia memberitahu yang dia gayat bila dia cuba mengambil gambar dari bumbung pejabat dia dulu. Baru kini Mak Lijah betul-betul tahu apa ertinya gayat. And it took a holiday to New Zealand to discover that thing about myself.

Mak Lijah memang awal-awal lagi berminat nak melawat Skytower di Auckland tu. So as part of the Explorer package, we came down from the tour bus to 'test' the Skytower. Masa baru sampai tu, ada sekelompok manusia sedang memandang ke atas, so we assumed that something interesting was about to happen. Sambil mengambil a few shots, we waited for 'the thing' to happen. Rupa-rupanya ada orang buat skyjump, something like bungy jumping, cuma dia tak bounce back and the person will land on a platform at the foot of the tower.

After seeing that action, we went inside the tower and bought tickets to go up there. So efficient. Semuanya diorang bantu. Without anticipating anything, we went into the lift and the people who worked at the tower there pushed the button for us. And so the lift moved and I told the children that the journey up is similar to the one in KL Tower masa belanja Pak Lijah dinner on Father's Day the year before.

Tiba-tiba...whossshhh... bright light....whossshhh... bumbung bangunan...cloud...perahu layar...the sea...and suddenly I felt that we were moving very fast. But my heart was beating even faster...And whosssh... gelap balik... WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT???? WHAT...??? The tower actually had 'holes' for us to see outside while we go up the lift?????

...and then, it started to get brighter again..but this time I kinda prepared myself, so I turned around, screaming in silent and menyumpah-nyumpah dekat sebakul kerana decided to go up the Skytower.

About two minutes later, we all pun sampai di atas... Legaaa....

Mujurlah pemandangan yang cantik di atas tu cepat-cepat memulihkan semangat Mak Lijah. Fuuhhh.... However, Mak Lijah stayed far, far away from the glass windows sebab tak sanggup nak tengok. Sambil berjalan-jalan dengan Kakak, tiba-tiba dia kata, "Mama... cuba tengok lantai yang Mama pijak." Innocently, Mak Lijahpun tengokler ke lantai tempat Mak Lijah pijak tu. APA TU...? Tiny dots...and they are moving WHAT THE... OH MY GOD...!!! Glass floor... and the floor was moving as my knees started to move along. Kenapa lembik lutut nih... I need to sit...! I need to sit...!!!

Alahai.... Gayat rupanya aku nih...

After awhile, we decided that it's time to go back. Dah puas and gayat yang melampau telah meletihkan Mak Lijah. So we waited for the lift and went it came, we got in and Mak Lijah awal-awal lagi pusing ke belakang dan to confirm yang Mak Lijah tak akan dapat memandang ke luar lagi macam tadi, Mak Lijah terus pandang ke lantai saja. Ada beberapa orang Jepun bersama kami dalam lif tersebut dan mereka seakan mengerti situasi Mak Lijah. Bila lif mula bergerak, Mak Lijah mula menghitung saat untuk sampai ke bawah.

Tiba-tiba... that bright light again... Oh no...!!! Glass floor...!!! S**T...!!! ...and whoosshhh.... cables...huge cables...they move up as we go down...really fast...and there's a black dot down there...the hole we were moving down into... and my heart was leaping out...This is not good... NOT GOOD AT ALL... and Mak Lijah dah sampai tahap dewa dah nak control macho... Huwaaaa....!!! The Japs were laughing at me... not to exclude my children and Pak Lijah... Huwaaa......!!!!

That's it...! Enough...!! No more towers...No more towers 'with holes'.
So that was the undiscovered part of me.
Gayat rupanya aku nih...

Auckland's Skytower

This was where I discovered something about myself which was unknowingly hidden over the years. Hmm...
See the little black dot to the left of the building? Itu adalah sejenis manusia yang sedang mengkaji aliran adrenalinnya.
 

Masa baru sampai di kaki Skytower

Apa-apapun, amik bahan bukti dulu, bahawa dah sampai ke Skytower.
 

Jom Adik...!

Masa ni tak tau betul-betul lagi macamana rasanya naik lif ke atas...Cuma excited jer nak compare Skytower dengan KL Tower. 

Dalam Skytower

Nice view from up here. Nampak betapa banyaknya perahu layar dari atas ni. That's why Auckland is named 'City of Sails'. 

Baa..baa.. white sheep

 

Tiga Bradik di Rotoroa

Di sini, budak-budak ni asyik komplen bau busuk. Mana taknya, geyser merata-rata. 

New Zealand...here we are..!!

First stop in Auckland : Mt. Eden 

New Zealand..here we come..

Baru lima belas minit kapalterbang take-off, "Mama, dah nak sampai ke?"
While Danish enjoyed making funny faces sambil sebuk tanya, "...bila nak sampai ni..", Kakak and Abang were all excited to have personalised screen right in front of them with all their favorites waiting for them. 

Kia Ora

At last, Mak Lijah and family menjejakkan kaki jua di bumi Kiwi ini. Setelah lebih dua dekad memendam angan-angan, maka akhirnya, pada 28 Mei 2006, tibalah Mak Lijah sekeluarga di Auckland, New Zealand.

Betul-betul macam mimpi. Banyak kali juga suruh Pak Lijah cubit Mak Lijah, kut-kut tengah mengigau. Rugilah pulak kalau memang betul tengah mimpi. Tapi pengalaman membawa anak-anak Mak Lijah menaiki pesawat untuk perjalanan selama 10 jam lebih mengerikan. Pun begitu, syukur mereka tak meragam, cuma excitednya semacam jer.

Gerimis di airport Auckland baru sahaja reda sebaik kami mendarat kira-kira pukul 10.45 pagi. Kami disapa oleh angin sejuk New Zealand pada suhu 16 darjah selsius. Budak-budak boleh tahan lagi. Relak jer diorang, macam sejuk tu biasa jer sedangkan Mak Lijah dah mula menggigil semasa mengambil gambar mereka.

Kami dibawa melawat ke Mt. Eden, sebuah bekas gunung berapi yang telah lama mati. Seperti yang diduga, pemandangannya memang indah sekali. New Zealand is rich in a variety of awesome landscapes. Seperti yang kita belajar dalam Ilmu Alam dulu, NZ has spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, vast plains, subtropical forest, volcanic plateau, miles of coastline with gorgeous sandy beaches - all left me speechless and breathless...

Nanti sambung lagi...

The Piano

I was lazing around, as usual, on this wonderful Sunday afternoon when I heard this plucking of piano coming from the TV. Not that it was such a beautiful rendition, it was the fact that the pianist was playing it while lying on the floor! Yes. I mean, he was lying under the piano, facing the keys above him, both arms reaching above and actually playing a complete piece! Imagine that? Just for Variety. A very funny show, that was.

What actually triggered me was my fond memories of my music lessons way back during my school days. I wanted so much to learn music, then, and it was my choosing of between the piano and the electronic keyboard (organ). I end up choosing the organ, although I prefer the sound of the piano more.

By the time I started to learn music formally, I'd already knew how to read the notes. So it was just a matter of choosing what songs to play, correctly and systematically. If I chose to learn the piano, I would have to learn the classical songs first. That was the way the syllabus was arranged back then. I didn't like that idea. I don't really enjoy classical songs, whoever the composers are.

On the other hand, learning the organ is to immediately learn modern pop songs. That's more like it. That's what I want!

Therefore, the organ was my fastest means to achieve my ultimate goal to be able to play music I like. So I learned to play the organ. Went through some exams of which I had to play songs of my choice (I especially remember The Masquare and When Will I See You Again) with my own creative arrangement and succesfully finished up to the sixth grade. The rest was history. I could play some of my favourite songs, provided I have the notes in front of me.

But that was some 20 years ago. The JVC organ is still in Ayah and Mak's home back in Perlis. Our children will endulge themselves with the instrument and God knows what songs they play. Whenever I go back during Hari Raya, I would always play Seloka Aidil Fitri (or something like that - forgot the title)...and play the song without the notes in front of me. Maybe I should try out some of Mawi's songs...He...he..he..

How to answer

A friend sent me the following (thanks Loyot) and I would like to share this with you. A bit long though, nevertheless, it's worth reading. Iqraq:

John (J): Dr Danial (DD), I always wonder why prophet Muhammad taught Muslims to become terrorists. He should teach people to be kind and tolerant.

DD: Actually John, your concept about Islam and Muhammad is wrong. Completely wrong. Prophet Muhammad never taught his followers to be terrorists. On the contrary, it was the Muslims who were being terrorised by the non Muslims in the era of prophet Muhammad. For 13 years in Mecca, after being prophet of Islam, Muhammad and the Muslims were harassed and tortured by the Quraisyites. The companions of the prophet, for example, Yasser and Sumayyyah, were killed. The others, for example, Bilal and Ammar, were tortured. And yet the Muslims at that time were asked to be patient and persevere. They were not allowed to fight and raise arms against the non Muslims. Once prophet Muhammad went to Taif to preach about Islam. He got a cold reception from the people there. There cursed him and as if it was not enough, they threw stones and filth towards him. When the Archangel Jibril came to him to get his permission to demolish the people of Taif, prophet Muhammad said, "Leave them alone. Yes, today the people ignored my message. But I pray that their progeny will be a different group of people. I pray that they will accept Islam." Are these acts and words of terrorism John?

John: But there are verses in the Quran that promote terrorism. These verses instigate the Muslims to kill the non Muslims all over the world. If I am not mistaken, the meaning of one of the verses is, "And kill the non Muslims whereever they are."

DD: Oh, you are quoting the verses from the Quran. If that's the case, you should allow me to quote a few verses from your Bible and Talmud. In Numbers 31:17-18, it was stated, "Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves." And in Luke 19:26-27, "I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence." How about one more verse from Matthew 10:34-35, "Do not think that I have come to send peace on earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword. I am sent to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." To me these verses are very dangerous. They can instigate people especially the christians to do acts of terrorism!

And please allow me also to quote from the holy book of the Jews, that is the Talmud. I suppose you know that the Talmud is Judaism's holiest book. Its authority takes precedence over the Old Testament in Judaism. It is stated in Sanhedrin 58b, "If a heathen (i.e. non-Jew) hits a Jew, the gentile must be killed." And In Sanhedrin 57a, "When a Jew murders a gentile ('Cuthean'), there will be no death penalty. What a Jew steals from a gentile he may keep." And John, have you read a book written by A. Hoffman II and Alan R. Critchley titled Judaism's Strange God?

John: Err, no.

DD: Never mind. A. Hoffman II and Alan R. Critchley recently did a thorough research on the contents of the Talmud and what they found surprised them. In their book, Judaism's Strange God, they said, 'On the surface, it seems that genocide is advocated by the Talmud. In the Minor Tractates, Soferim 15, Rule 10, there is a saying by Rabbi Simon ben Yohai, 'Tob shebe goyyim harog,' which means, 'even the best of the gentiles (i.e. non-Jews) should all be killed.' This passage is taken from the original Hebrew of the Babylonian Talmud as quoted by the 1907 Jewish Encyclopaedia. Israelis annually take part in a national pilgrimage to the grave of Simon ben Yohai, to honour this rabbi who advocated the extermination of non-Jews.' John, you will agree with me that these verses look very, very violent indeed....

John: But Dr. Danial, I think these verses, especially from the Bible, are taken out of context. If you read just the text it may look very violent. But if we read the text in relation with its context, it may be different..

DD: Oh, now you are being very sensible, John. You want the Muslims to read the Bible and interprete it within its context. Good, and I fully agree with you. But, can't you do the same thing to the Quran? Can't you interprete verses of the Quran within its context? As it is now you are not doing that. You are interpreting the Quran according to your own whims and fancies and that hurts me and the Muslims. By the way, the so called violent verses of the Quran that you mentioned earlier were revealed to prophet Muhammad specifically during the time of war. And war in Islam is an exception and not the norm. The Muslims went to war to defend their honour and country. Look at what Allah said in chapter The Cow 2:190, which means, "Fight against those who fight against you in the way of Allah, but do not transgress, for Allah does not love transgressors."

It should be emphasized that so many revelations in the Holy Quran came down to provide guidance to Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims based on what they were confronting at that time. Therefore, it is important to understand and know the historic context of the revelations for a proper understanding of these verses. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was the peace maker of his time. He endured torture, hunger and the killing of his loved ones by his enemies, but he remained a merciful person. In his most startling conquest of Mecca, only four people died. And do you know what prophet Muhammad did to the prisoners of war after the conquest of Mecca? He asked the haughty chiefs of the Quraisyites, "What do you expect at my hands?" They answered, "Mercy O generous brother." And the prophet said, "Be it so, you are free." They are free, John. No vengeance being inflicted upon them. No Guantanamo-like prison for them (smile). This is the teaching of Muhammad. And you are telling me that Muhammad taught Muslims to become terrorists?

John: Yeah, I need to learn more about Muhammad....

(Dr. Danial bin Zainal Abidin (M.B.Ch.B. University of Alexandria) is the Managing Director of Danial Zainal Consultancy based in Penang Island, Malaysia. This Consultancy focussed on education and research. He is also a Medical Practitioner based in Penang Island, Malaysia. Besides that he is also an author who, until now, has written altogether ten books. As a motivator, he gives motivation weekly through Mutiara FM (Penang Island Broadcasting Station). He is also a columnist for i-Magazine in Malaysia.)

(Dr. Danial bin Zainal Abidin (M.B.Ch.B. University of Alexandria) is the Managing Director of Danial Zainal Consultancy based in Penang Island, Malaysia. This Consultancy focussed on education and research. He is also a Medical Practitioner based in Penang Island, Malaysia. Besides that he is also an author who, until now, has written altogether ten books. As a motivator, he gives motivation weekly through Mutiara FM (Penang Island Broadcasting Station). He is also a columnist for i-Magazine in Malaysia.)

Some of the Books Written by Dr. Danial:
Islam The Misunderstood Religion.
Bahan Berdakwah Untuk Remaja Moden.
Kit Kombat Islam.
Perubatan Islam dan Bukti Sains Moden.
Bukti-bukti Sains dan Sejarah Kerasulan Muhammad.
Empayar Minda Muslim.
7 Formula Individu Cemerlang.
Tip-Tip Cemerlang Daripada Quran.

A Makeover Investment

Semalam Maklijah made quite an investment in a makeover. It was actually a destress session just to bring back my semangat yang semakin pudar and also to boost my confidence. Tapi makeover ni, bukanlah yang macam kat magazine tu... Just a completely different look on my hair. The last time I did a major hairdo was in January and I guess I regretted that one sebab Maklijah kena blowdry every morning before going to work. I hope this one will do justice on me.

So what is it about this hairdo yang sebok sangat ni?

It's about having to tell, "Ayah, jangan guna credit card until Tuesday sebab kena 'top-up' dulu sebelum boleh guna. Just use Mak's card for the moment."
And he said, "Okaylah, bila Ayah nak pakai Ayah bagitau dululah."

He..he..he.. Teruk, kan? Bagi supplementary credit card kat both Mak and Ayah tapi boleh buat peraturan macam tu, pulak. Apa-apapun Maklijah puas hatilah apa yang Alex did to my hair. Berbaloilah tunggu dan bayar tiga digit.
Figure it out!

Five places I want to go

After six whole days of coming back late from work (meeting, actually), maka hari ni, sampailah ke penghujungnya. Esok nak pi round-up jer. Bosan dah hari-hari breakfast and lunch kat hotel. Rindu teh tarik Akbar. Hari ni, mulalah berangan, if only I could get away for a nice long holiday abroad. Masa meeting tadi depa dok sebut ada satu meeting di Rotorua in April nanti. Jelesnya, sebab Mak Lijah tak terlibat dalam meeting tu.

Maka Mak Lijah pon beranganlah nak pi situ one day. Dah ler frust hari tu tak dapat pi NZ masa nak buat master dulu.

Dulu-dulu Mak Lijah pernah menyenaraikan (privately) wishlist of five places I want to go at least once in my life (mengikut keutamaan):

1. New Zealand
2. Netherlands
3. Taman Negara
4. Paris
5. Switzerland

Out of this list, Mak Lijah telah sampai ke Amsterdam, Taman Negara dan Paris (bukan mengikut turutan). Switzerland = touch n go jer sebab transit kat Geneva masa nak pi Madrid dulu, so tak leh diambil kira.

Out of the two left from the wishlist, my strongest 'yearning' now is to go to New Zealand. Keinginan ini, sekiranya dimakbulkan, Mak Lijah akan rasa macam mimpi, macam masa menerima tawaran untuk buat masters on my birthday dulu. My strong interest in NZ ni sejak dari zaman sekolah lagi, masa belajar geografi (that's also for Netherlands). Mak Lijah terpikat dengan description about the country, about its economy, bentuk mukabumi, people, cuaca, culture dsb. Tambahan pula, homepage on tourism di situ dengan gambar-gambar yang cantik dan kreatif amatlah menarik. Banyak sekali tourist spot dia. Bestnya...!

Bilalah Mak Lijah nak ke sana, ek? Meleleh air liur...

Danisy dah tidur

Esok dah nak masuk hari Jumaat and Mak Lijah asyik balik after seven jer. Hari ni especially, Mak Lijah sampai rumah pukul 7.40 p.m. Lepas cium Danisy, Mak Lijah terus jer mandi dan sembahyang. Bila ajak Danisy dinner, dia kata dah makan. Aik? Pandai pula makan without Mak Lijah around. Sambil Mak Lijah makan dengan Abang and Kakak, terdengar dia membebel about Barney yang sedang ditontonnya.

Later, sambil Mak Lijah dok pilih-pilih channel mana nak tekan, suddenly terperasan yang Danisy dah stopped membebel. Kakak pon membuat laporan that Danisy dah terlelap depan TV. Alamak... Danisy dah tidur. Tak sempat nak bermanja dengan dia. I guess today, 16 March 2006, Mak Lijah only spent less than half an hour of quality time with him. Kalau dikira-kira dari hari Isnin hingga hari ini, Mak Lijah hanya spent about five valuable hours jer dengan dia.

Oh my God... What's happening to me? Cemana nak improve my life nih? Alahai anak-anakku...

Kenapa Sayang?

I've been trapped with this question for quite a while, and guess who asked this question?

Danisy, my soon to be 4-year-old-big-baby.

Kenapa Mama sayang Danisy?

Macamana nak jawab? Nasib baik bila Mak Lijah jawab, "Sebab Danisy anak Mama," soalan dia sampai ke situ jer. Maknanya dia puas hatilah dengan jawapan tu. Buatnya disambung, "Kenapa Danisy anak Mama?" Haa... jenuhlah nak craft out a good answer to end it there. I wonder macamana dia boleh come up with such a question.

Even Mak Tok pun dah pernah ditanya with the same question oleh Danisy after he was being kissed by her. Mak Tok was so amazed and was left speechless.

I should anticipate more creative and difficult questions from him in the future.

Kahwin Paksa

Tak..Mak Lijah tak kena kawen paksa dulu. Kawen dengan rela hati. Kawen dengan one and only Pak We. Tak boleh nak bayangkan kalau kena kawen paksa. Dah ler frust kena putus dengan Pak We, pas tu kena plak kawen dengan orang yang kita tak sayang. Cemana ek?

Bagi Mak Lijah (this is my own personal opinion, not representing anyone but me, I and myself), biarlah perkahwinan itu dibina atas asas kasih sayang. Memang betul ada yang bercinta lepas kawen, tapi pada zaman ini, mesti ada 'masa bertenang' sekurang-kurangnya beberapa bulan untuk membina kasih sayang itu sebelum Tok Kadi berjabat dengan pasangan kita.

Agaknya cemana orang-orang zaman tok-tok dan wan-wan mahupun mak bapak kita dulu dikawenkan, ek? Tak pernah jumpa, tentiba dah sah jadi suami/isteri kita. Tapi, perkahwinan yang macam tulah yang abadi dan hanya dipisahkan bila roh meninggalkan jasad.

Hmm... ilham ni timbul selepas 'bersembang' dengan seorang kawan yang membandingkan pengorbanan dia dengan pengorbanan Mak Lijah.

Ada banyak sebab jadinya kawen paksa ni:

1. mak suruh kawen dengan pilihan hati dia (ini pon ada banyak sebab)
- orang sekampung/senegeri
- sama darjat (macam filim Ibu Mertuaku)
- pilihan hati sehati sejiwa dengan ibu bapa
- dah ditunangkan sejak kecil (oh...tragisnya)
- mengukuhkan hubungan persaudaraan/persahabatan
- mengukuhkan kewangan (??)
- mengukuhkan legasi
2. mak we/pak we tak up to parents' standard (tak capai piawaian), so kena cari yg setaraf
3. sudah 'accident'
4. kena cekup

Ada sesiapa nak tambah lagi?

Mak Lijah kata nak sambung komen PGLTM tapi a lot has been said in the media plus me being so busy lately (bad excuse). So sambungan ini is just the single thought that caught my attention and rasa mesti sangat disebut.

5. Props - terer diorang buat. Hanyalah 2 bungkah dan turun naik platform kat belakang tu, tapi cukup berkesan untuk mengubah lokasi dan mood. Tak lupa juga scene kat pelabuhan Melaka yang cukup simple tapi amat cukup untuk mewakili zaman dan suasana itu.

6. Musical arrangements - terkagum jua. Tak tau nak ulas sebab macam tak percaya ianya sebuah produksi Made in Malaysia.

7. Pocahontas - teringat dia sebab ada sedikit persamaan dengan filim tu. Pocahontas berambut panjang, PGL pon berambut panjang. Dua-dua menyanyi kat gunung. Dua-dua about love.

8. Dancers / supporting roles - suka tengok penari-penari yang lemah gemalai tu. terer sungguh mereka. Suka tengok Nenek Kebayan. Kalau terjumpa kat Jinjang ni, harus Mak Lijah tekan minyak lagi kuat (walaupun minyak dah naik tigaposen).

9. Promo - bagus sebab diorang buat media campaign. Nak pastikan orang curious dan because of that, teringin nak tengok. Baik papers, mahupun tv, promo dibuat bersungguh-sungguh.

10. Istana Budaya - ini jer yang kurang sikit. Namanya bertaraf dunia, tapi... rasanya bertaraf ASEAN jer lah kut. Ruang tempat duduk sempit sangat sampai kaki Pak Lijah 'terperangkap'. Kaki Mak Lijah tak perlah, bukannya panjang mana pon. Kalau ada orang nak keluar, terpaksalah kami semua ni bangun sebab laluan terlalu sempit.

Itu jerlah. Memang Mak Lijah puas hati sungguh menonton teater ini. Sekali lagi:

Terima kasih Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical kerana telah mengubah persepsi dan pendirian Mak Lijah tentang teater Malaysia.

Standing Ovation

MENAKJUBKAN

Mak Lijah beri 4.5 bintang (dari 5 bintang) kepada persembahan mereka. Mak Lijah macam tak percaya teater Malaysia mampu mempersembahkan sedemikian hebat. Gabungan dan koordinasi yang mantap telah menzahirkan suatu ilham yang sebegitu indah dan mereka sememangnya layak mendapat standing ovation.

Terima kasih Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical kerana telah mengubah persepsi dan pendirian Mak Lijah tentang teater Malaysia.

AC Mizal
Kehadiran dia dalam mana-mana drama atau show memang Mak Lijah noted. Suara dia sedap dan dia memang pandai berlakon. Tapi Mak Lijah memang kagum dengan persembahan dia dalam PGLTM selaku Gusti Adipati. Suaranya yang lunak itu dizahirkan dengan sebegitu baik dan dipergunakan sepenuhnya.

Stephen aka Hang Tuah
Aduh...machonya suara dia dan dia sendiri pun kelihatan macho jua. Kalaulah album dia femes kat Mesia, dah pasti Mak Lijah masukkan dalam senarai penyanyi lelaki favrit Mak Lijah selepas Jamal Abdillah, Mawi dan M. Nasir. Sayangnya, orang yang Mak Lijah tunggu-tunggukan persembahannya (dialah pendorong kuat Mak Lijah ke IB) dalam PGLTM ini mengecewakan Mak Lijah. Dia memang amat berbakat, tapi pertuturan (ada sekali tersasul menyebut Majapahit sebagai Mejapehit) dia sebagai Hang Tuah tidak diiringi oleh intonasi perasaan yang yang sewajarnya. Ekspresi wajah juga kurang terserlah untuk menggambarkan perasaan ketika tergoda, sedih, dan kepenatan. Mak Lijah hanya suka semasa dia menyanyi jer, tapi ketika nak bertutur saja, Mak Lijah rasa cukup seriau.

Sultan Mahmud
Segala pendapat negatif Mak Lijah terhadap dia (Adlin Aman Ramli) semasa dan selepas AF telah Mak Lijah lupuskan sama-sekali selepas menonton dia di PGLTM. Pandainya dia menari. Sungguh Mak Lijah terkezut. Tapi Mak Lijah lebih kagum dengan bakat beliau mengarah dan 'menjadikan' PGLTM bersama-sama Zahim Al Bakri. Bukan mudah menyusun, menggubah, menyatukan segalanya especially untuk sebuah teater muzikal seperti ini. Beliau juga membawa watak Sultan Mahmud dengan cemerlang sekali.

Vocal performance
Komen Mak Lijah mengenai ini hanyalah ditujukan kepada AC Mizal, Stephen dan Adlin sahaja kerana kesemuanya mempunyai vokal yang sangat baik. Vokal Tiara dan lain-lain... malas nak ulas...

...bersambung selepas ini.

Tontonlah...

 
 

Berbaloi...

 
 

Before I forget

Semalam Mak Lijah pergi menonton PGL the Musical, something I have been waiting to watch anxiously. Before I forget (sebab tak sempat nak komen sekarang), I need to put down these following points:

1. AC Mizal
2. Stephen aka Hang Tuah
3. Sultan Mahmud
4. Vocal performance
5. Props
6. Musical arrangements
7. Pocahontas
8. Dancers / supporting roles
9. Promo
10. Istana Budaya

Tunggu komentar Mak Lijah sekejap lagi sebab hari ni Mak Lijah sibuk menggubah hantaran untuk kawan yang nak kawen 18 Februari ni.

This is not the way

Kakak dan Danisy tak berapa sihat 3-4 hari sudah. As usual, Kakak yang akan demam and selsema dulu, lepas tu baru berjangkit ke Danisy. However, Kakak recovered quite quickly juga this time, unlike dulu. Tapi batuk Danisy pula berpanjangan .

On Tuesday night, masa bersiap-siap untuk tidur, I noticed that Danisy was panting with a few coughs. Being a super active boy, I kind of didn't pay too much attention to that and told him to stop jumping and sit next to me. Obediently he followed my instructions, and sat on the bed like a good boy. And again I heard him panting, with a wheezing sound. Oh..oh..Time to do something.

Tengok jam, dah pukul 10.10 malam. Bila dicongak-congak, kalau pergi ke Hospital Selayang (Danisy ada rekod di situ), that would take me at least one hour baru boleh mengadap doktor betul-betul (sebelum tu kena jumpa Pembantu Perubatan dulu). By then, Danisy would have slept on my lap and would be too heavy for me to carry him from one room to another. So, Mak Lijah pun mengambil keputusan untuk pergi ke klinik sajalah. Call dulu klinik 24 jam tu to find out if they have a nebulizer. Nasib baik ada. And Danisy, as usual, was all excited about going to see a doctor.

"What took you so long? You can see very well that it is difficult for him to breath. Sorrylah, this is not the way to treat a child."

Dusyummm......

Adus... bagai buah durian terjatuh atas kepala Mak Lijah. Hello...???? If I had known much earlier, I would have gone to Hospital Selayang and not come to see you!

Apa-apapun, Mak Lijah rasa bersalah juga kerana tidak monitor Danisy's cough, knowing he is an active boy who jumps about like a kanggaroo and very seldom complains about pain (imitate Kakak dia, ada lah.). Cuma Mak Lijah rasa tersinggung dan terkezut bila doktor tu cakap macam tu kat Mak Lijah as if Mak Lijah ni tak reti nak jaga anak. Dah ler Pak Lijah tak der. Kena pergi klinik sorang-sorang dengan Danisy saja.

Pengorbanan

Pagi tadi Mak Lijah dengar perbincangan mengenai pengorbanan kat radio Era sempena Hari Raya Korban esok. Banyak versi pengorbanan yang diceritakan oleh pendengar-pendengar.

Mak Lijah rasa, pengorbanan yang paling besar yang Mak Lijah buat ialah mengenai kerjaya Mak Lijah. Kerjaya Mak Lijah sekarang ini, bukanlah pilihan Mak Lijah sepenuhnya. Ia adalah pilihan Mak dan Ayah. Mak Lijah hanya menurut kehendak mereka selaku seorang anak yang taat walaupun pada ketika itu Mak Lijah telahpun mempunyai kerja yang stabil di sebuah organisasi ternama, sesuai dengan jiwa Mak Lijah dan bergaji lumayan. Mungkin ada hikmah atas semua ini dan Mak Lijah yakin rezeki ada di mana-mana. Dengan itu Mak Lijah hanya pasrah dengan ketentuan ini.

Kerapkali jua Ayah Mak Lijah bertanya samada dah terasa kelebihan berkerjaya seperti sekarang. Walaupun jauh di sudut hati Mak Lijah rasa belum lagi tercapai sesuatu yang betul-betul memuaskan hati, Mak Lijah hanya mengaku sahaja demi menjaga hatinya.

Kedua, Mak Lijah rasa pengorbanan yang paling besar ialah akur dengan kehendak Mak dan Ayah supaya Mak Lijah tidak belajar di luar negara tetapi melanjutkan pelajaran di tingkatan enam di Penang Free School dan seterusnya di Universiti Sains Malaysia. Eloklah juga, if not, tak pulak ketemu dengan Pak Lijah. Mak Lijah cuma ralat sebab sehingga ke usia ini, Mak Lijah masih belum berkesempatan untuk menyentuh salji, manakala Abang dan Teh berkesempatan untuk ke luar negara untuk belajar berbanding Mak Lijah.

Kiranya, pengorbanan Mak Lijah banyak dipengaruhi oleh Mak dan Ayah. Tak apalah. Asalkan mereka bahagia. Mak Lijah pon, taklah menderita sangat. Pun begitu, Mak Lijah masih tercari-cari sesuatu dalam hidup Mak Lijah yang boleh mengimbangi pengorbanan itu. Dan ianya masih belum diketemui lagi.

Ada juga beberapa lagi pengorbanan yang Mak Lijah ingin simpan dan kunci rapat-rapat dalam lipatan hidup Mak Lijah. Biarlah ia menjadi tugu dalam ingatan Mak Lijah semata.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL ADHA semua...

Hensem tak?

"Mama, tadi Danisy nampak ghost kat belakang."
"Iye? Kat belakang mana?"
"Kat belakang rumah."
"Dia buat apa kat situ?"
"Tak tahu, dia berdiri je. Mata dia kaler pink"
"Kaler pink? Rambut dia pendek ke panjang?"
"Pendek."
"Bila Danisy nampak ghost tu?"
"Siang tadi masa Danisy nak pergi padang."
"Dia cakap apa kat Danisy?"
"Dia cakap, Danisy... Danisy hensem tak?"
"Habis tu Danisy cakap apa?"
"Hensemlah..."

Dah 2006

Selamat tahun baru semua.

Mak Lijah berazam nak mengamalkan kehidupan yang sihat tahun ini. Kononnya nak makan healthy food jer. Nak exercise regularly. Nak manage stress and emotion properly.

Tengoklah. Nak tercapai ke idak. Matlamatnya supaya Mak Lijah tak perlu tukar wardrobe baru, tak bela banyak jerawat akibat stress, tak marah-marah kat Kakak dan yang penting, cuba untuk stay young (chewah!) dan semoga tak mati cepat, insya- Allah. Sempatlah menghuni bungalo milik sendiri. Sempatlah sentuh salji. Sempatlah tengok anak-anak dewasa. Sempatlah pergi konvokesyen mereka. Sempatlah jadi wedding planner untuk anak-anak sendiri. Sempatlah menimang cucu.

Sempat ke?