I do not like my friends look stupid

*I do not like my close friends look stupid. If you are my friends and you are studying science, please read this so that you would not be blinded by facts given by politicians and of course, look stupid. Yes, it' about politics. And remember, people have different views and I respect that. I expect the same thing from you.

When it comes to Education issues, there is a group that says it should be left to the Professionals. However, when it comes to a Science (specifically a rare-earth materials issue), they are the experts in it. The Internartional Atomic and Energy Council is a no-professional to them. It is an 'old' issue but sometimes it's good to learn how stupid (or power-obsessed) a group of people are. 

This is a thing that I sometimes thinking why people still cannot see. Leave the Education to the professionals, they said. When the United Nations' International Atomic and Energy Agency (which of course made reports on Iran's nuclear programmes) published their findings, they disputed them. Wow. Leaving it to the professional, huh?

That is why I am inclined to the other side. And no, I am not the agent of the company. I was not paid to do this. Why did I say so? Because for most times, they always say that the people who are not in their sides are paid to fight against them. 

I am in no way in support one side or the other. But the scientist inside me is telling me that what is true based on experiments, theories and not just mere inferences is really true. It is not like evolutionists trying to convinve that we are from apes. They provided empirical evidences. And most importanly, the findings are verified by the international governing body. This is what each Malaysian should be taught in schools: to see things from at least two different views and analyse the situations. It is okay not to make decisions but most importantly to know which things are wrong or right. Again, the question of being right or wrong is subjective. What appears black to you may appear white to me. 

It is an issue that has been a hot one in Kuantan which is 45-minutes drive from my hometown. I did not care before because when I saw politicians began talking about science and atomic energy, I knew they don't really understand what they are saying. The politician was somehow good in her speech, but again the scientist inside me did not accept the rhetorical of hers. If Dr. Mahathir said so, I would believe in him. With backgrounds in Science and Medicine, I would believe in him much more than her. I think if you are a rational person, you would do the same thing. 

In this case, it is to choose between  a politician's facts and a science body's facts. Well, if you believe that science does not provide a more definite answer compared to a political fight, then go on to choose the side of the politician. Do not say you are boarding a plane though. Why did I say so? Well, according to facts provided by science, the radioactive emissions in flights exist while to the people of Kuantan, the radiation is zero. Well, go on listening to the politician. No, I do not think you are stupid. You're just like to pay few hundreds to get radiations on aeroplanes! That is not stupid.

I particularly like this letter published in New  Straits Times-LYNAS: I could keep thorium safely at home. The letter came from a doctor who resides in Kuantan. Even if he is not as famous as Dr. Mahathir, his credentials in Science is much better than the female politician. No? How else should I convince you? 

In his letter, the doctor said these:

• Thorium-232 is the only radioactive element associated with rare earth mining and it  is  regarded as the future green nuclear fuel.
•  It is present in rocks everywhere and even in its purest form, it radiates only alpha particles. (I don't know what to say if you are still studying geology and still studying rocks and yet at the same time opposing the project.)
• Alpha particles, which consist of two protons and two neutrons, are nothing more than helium atoms without their electrons.
• These alpha particles cannot travel  more than a few centimetres  and cannot penetrate the human skin.
   As such, you can hold a lump of pure thorium-232 in your rubber-gloved hands without any danger
  
• To be  frank, I would not mind keeping a few hundred kilogrammes of pure thorium-232 in my house if someone were kind enough to give me such a valuable substance.
• What we  need to worry about is the chemical toxic waste that such plants produce.
  
  
  But,  unfortunately, all industrial plants produce toxic waste and the only way to avoid producing these waste will be for us to remain  a poor agricultural country.
  
  
  My friends, do not just accept facts without checking properly about them. It is more important to check about them if they come from politicians.- The Chukai Insider
  
  
  
  
  

  Read more: LYNAS: I could keep thorium safely at home - Letters to the Editor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/lynas-i-could-keep-thorium-safely-at-home-1.16994#ixzz1gTfrLuIH

Lynas MalaysiaThe Facts

BOOK: Islam in Malaysia- Perceptions and Facts

This is the English edition of Dr. Asri’s Mengemudi Bahtera Perubahan Minda, a compilation of his articles which originally appeared in Mingguan Malaysia. 

This is the most important book to be read for each Malaysian. I cannot stress this further but the Islamic influence on the daily lives of Malaysians seems like eating chicken rice without the chicken. However, many of the concepts and what we perceive to be Islamic are not right at all. I have became a fan of Dr. Asri's ideas which are basically a new presentations of the ideas of Al-Quran and Hadiths. Mind you, it is not the ideas but the way they are presented and narrated to fit today's situations.

"Dr. Asri believes Islam in Malaysia is in dire straits and needed to be rescued yesterday. Not necessarily rescued by political leaders or religious figures though as the good doctor argues that in many cases it is those authorities who are the most responsible for pulling Islam down to where it is now in Malaysia. No, everyone who considers him or herself a Muslim (regardless of social status) must take responsibility and practise Islam as it was practised by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In order to do that, Malaysian Muslims must totally shed the (mostly racial) prejudice, the superstitions many have associated with Islam and the attitude that the ustaz knows best and he must not be questioned."-The Malaysian Reader

The Chukai Insider highly recommends this book to ALL MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS ALIKE.-The Chukai Insider

Again on Hudud

This is a simple article just to make my stand on Hudud issue clearer. 

1. It is a matter of choice of Muslims in today's conditions. Not in the context of today's 'world' as Al-Quran is relevant throughout the time. Today's conditions means the situations do not allow us to implement it due to many reasons- unfair institutions, elitism, separation of powers between the leader and the people, unequal distribution of wealth etc. And this matter is already agreed by neutral and unbiased Islamic scholar like Dr. Asri since we are not yet able to provide an adil situation in which all basic conditions of human be met (easy marriage is an example). To put it simple, work on to eliminate those things to implement Hudud. Yes, this goes to you too the Greens. 

On this basis, Hudud law cannot be implemented now. (The Chukai Insider's stand)

2. If you believe that Al-Quran is the Allah's sayings to the Muslims, and you yourself are in efforts to become a Muslims (the lowest level of iman) then you should be in effort to make hudud laws as a way of societies' lives. But never to the point where you implement the whole hudud law but the societies are not yet ready for it. Then, what is the purpose of hudud law if the believers don't even believe in the reasons behind the laws. It would be extremely stupid and very wrong on your side.

3. Hence, priorities should be given to educate the law to the people- not bashing each other on the basis of which one is right. For a wise Muslim, it is the ultimate goal to go with Allah's sayings (decree) and hence we must understand the reasons behind the law. We do not just publicise the law to the public and just say that we should do this and this. It is stupid to implement something in which even the people (rakyat) still do not get to understand and practice. 

4. No example could be better than this- 'some' Saudi Arabians on plane already took off their covers (tudungs/jilbab) once they are outside the country. Does this show that once they are outside the law, they can go against it? This shows lack of deep understanding (fahmuddaki') on their believes. The same thing could happen in Malaysia. Or if it is allowed in the Constitution to implement it in some states, many will fled out of them. And it is not their fault that they feel scared since they don't understand the law. Politicians on both sides argued who is better but everyone wants to be accepted in Allah's views. Perhaps. Hence work together to make sure the conditions where Hudud law can be implemented be realised. 

5. To the championista of Hudud law, it is the responsibility of the Muslims then to support the efforts of going for Hudud law. But the most important thing is education to the people. It is extremely stupid to implement without people understanding it. Even Rasulullah SAW took 13 years to educate and to the level that is far better than today's. I doubt even in Kelantan the leaders can provide the same conditions that Hudud may be implemented in the near future. 

6. This is the truth- in Kelantan or Terengganu. There is always a stark difference between those who are the religous and not. But the vocal ones are the religious person (in this context, practising Muslims) but please do educate others first before you chanting Hudud to the public.

7. I never saw an imam approaching the mat rempits (it may happened but I do not think so since I never saw one approaching the latter) and at least try to converse with them and then make them interested with the religion. When you implement Hudud, what will happen to this cluster of people? They were not educated the proper way and not even acknowledged the reasons behind the law and then get punished.- When you later on say that this group will get scared after the law is implemented, then will they do nothing and be kinder? No, you must remember that there is a possibility that they will get worse and flee away. So, you leave the states full with so-called good people and let others do their bad things somewhere else? Think!

8. Who do you think they will blame?

9. When da'wah is the branch of politics (I saw this with the Greens) then it is hard to make people understand about it. Ilmu as mentioned in the first Surah of Al-Alaq should be given the highest priority to make people understand Hudud law-even to the so called a Muslim columnist championing the human rights. How about the rights to practise my religion- in this case Islam and Hudud? Can you answer that Z Anwar?


 Educating those in power should be prioritised. However, it is so sad to see that even those wearing kopiah on top of their heads saying bad words and 'trying' to educate the less-educated the wrong way and they call themselves the 'knowing' and 'holding Allah's trust as khalifah on this earth'.

There is no point you post pictures of people under punishment of Hudud law if you want that to happen. You must go deeper to yourselves and reflect on how do you understand the law in the first place. I have lots of friends posting photos of Hudud law implementation but fail to make others to understand the law but keep their friend distancing themselves from understanding the law. Maybe your niat is good but the way you transmit the message could not be more wrong. The key word is: educate. Educate yourself first then others.

10. Hudud is a must. Education to understand it is much much more needed.-The Chukai Insider

Hudud Issue: How about you?

Have you heard the brouhaha about Hudud issue in Malaysia? Yes, for only Allah SWT knows how many times have this issue being raised to the public discussion and fall to deaf ears months after that. Like a crab in holes of the sand at the beach, it will come out to the surface of the public's mind by any means but ultimately by one of the so-called Islamist party of Malaysia- The Greens. 

If you consider yourself a Muslim, you should not take this as something brought up by a political party. Believe me, even me who are really anti of the political dinosaurs of the Greens think that we should never take this as a political games or ploy. We the Muslims either on  the Reds and the Greens must take this seriously. So are the young of this time!

Again, be grateful to Allah SWT that in His barakah and opportunities that we are able to come across with this issue when we are still in early twenties or younger. Don't you think it is a sign of a better world for Malaysians?

If they do not raise the issue in public, would you ever give a damn about Hudud? Nay.

I would not go to the details of Hudud as I am not an expert but I AM A MALAYSIAN and have the right of expressing opinion under the Constitution. 

First and foremost  I think Mr.N said one of the dumbest thing when he said 'No hudud in Malaysia' as he already put a dot on the issue. While a Malaysian Project Manager (PM) must become the mediator in most cases, and then rolled out his stand, he did the opposite thing. How dumber could it be?

When you said that, it gives the impression even you don't understand the concept of Hudud itself and you yourself say you are a Muslim and the leader of a Muslim country and yet what Allah SWT says are denied by you. Yes, we are not able to do it since the current situation will make it worst (more of that here) but in mu humble opinion, we should strive to bring the society towards there. Being a Malaysian Project Manager does not mean you have the word to go against your God. In that sense, you against the trust of the people and you took an oath before. Nay?

It is ubiquitous nowadays to see the so-called I-am-a-Muslim-too and yet they translate the religious issues on literal basis without Quranic verses and interpretations. Yes, to Non-Muslims reading this, you do not have to worry about not understanding Hudud (and) most of the time you get misled by the wrong authority since it will not bring harm to you (we do not stone you to death if you don't want the laws).You always get misled by the wrong people. Even Muslims themselves don't understand it. Even if they understand, they already set their mind that Hudud is 'uncivilised' and therefore cannot be implemented. For example- THIS ARTICLE. What do you mean  by 'No hudud please, we're Malaysians'. No offence, but I still think if you do not even care to wear enough fabrics to cover your aurat, I don't think you have the capacity to even deny about it. Furthermore, you misled others. Isn't that asking Muslims to have bad impressions on their own religion? Even worse, you play around with the issue and make it a laughing matter. One obvious stupid thing you did- referring rape as adultery while in fact it is not. You should read this.

As a humble slave of Allah SWT, I encourage you to think about this issue. It is not political, trust me. It is your life and it goes back to you and your life. I still think that Hudud cannot be implemented YET in Malaysia (and even in one of its states) but the efforts to bring the people towards the level of Hudud-ness (my own term) must be done. 

What I mean by this is mentioned in by Dr Asri in his website:

Nabi s.a.w sebelum menegaskan tentang hudud, baginda mewujudkan suasana keadilan yang menyeluruh dalam masyarakat yang diperintah oleh baginda. Pemerintah dan rakyat sama setaraf di hadapan undang-undang. Tiada diskriminasi keturunan dan latar belakang. Suanana kebajikan; bantu membantu, tolong menolong antara masyarakat yang kukuh. Jaminan hak rakyat yang diberikan. Suasana halal yang mudah; mudah berkahwin, talak, fasakh, khuluk dan selainnya. Tiada alasan untuk lelaki ataupun wanita berzina. Sementara suasana haram yang diketatkan; sukar mendapat dan menebusi perkara haram. 

And yet we still do not have that. This is what I referred to as going for Hudud-ness.

Hudud-ness refers to the conditions in which all of the environments, laws and leaders provide the base for Hudud to be implemented. 

Simple question: As good a law could be, if the implementers are as bad as today's, what will happen? 

Again, the name of Islam will be used to against it and thereby putting bad impressions on the religion.

To the columnist who wrote 'No hudud please', please understand the law carefully first and don't make yourself look 'SO DUMB' to the millions of readers of the newspaper.-The Chukai Insider

Emergency Appeal

Emergency Appeal: East African Famine

AMATULLAH | AUGUST 13, 2011 12:26 AM

While watching the news with my mom the other day, a segment came on about the famine in East Africa. As we listened to the anchor share the stories of families coming to the refugee camps for aid, he highlighted one specific story of a father who walked for 30 days and 30 nights to save his three young sons. At one point in his journey, the children were too weak to walk so their father would carry them one by one – dropping one off at one point then going back for the other across the barren desert.

Then they shared another story of a mother. She was sitting quietly by the bedside of her child who just passed away. Her two other children passed away a few days before this baby. She sat there for hours, quietly, because she could not afford to bury her own child.

In the past 3 months, it is reported that nearly 30,000 children have died.

30,000.

Let us forget what she had done before and move on to support her. Yeay!

This is what I mean by 'do you really know what you're fighting for?'.


“Dan janganlah kamu cenderung kepada orang-orang yang membuat zalim nanti kamu akan disambar oleh api neraka sedangkan kamu tiada sebarang penolong pun selain dari Allah. kemudian (dengan sebab kecenderungan kamu itu) kamu tidak akan mendapat pertolongan” (Surah Hud: 113)


TUNTUTAN AMBIGA MELALUI IFC 
1. Seseorang anak yang dilahirkan oleh ibu bapa Islam tidak seharusnya secara terus menjadi orang Islam. 
2. Orang bukan Islam yang telah memeluk Islam hendaklah diberikan kebebasan untuk kembali ke agama asal mereka (murtad) dan tidak boleh... dikenakan tindakan undang-undang. 
3. Sebarang kes pertukaran agama orang Islam kepada bukan Islam tidak sepatutnya dikendalikan oleh Mahkamah Syariah tetapi dikendalikan oleh Mahkamah Sivil. 
4. Tidak perlu dicatatkan di dalam kad pengenalan seseorang Muslim bahawa ia beragama Islam. 
5. Orang bukan Islam tidak perlu dikehendaki menganut Islam sekiranya ingin berkahwin dengan Orang Islam,Orang Islam hendaklah dibenarkan keluar daripada Islam (murtad) sekiranya ingin berkahwin dengan orang bukan Islam tanpa boleh dikenakan tindakan undang-undang. 
6. Seseorang atau pasangan suami isteri yang menukar agamanya dengan memeluk Islam tidak patut diberikan hak penjagaan anak. 
7. Orang yang bukan Islam yang mempunyai hubungan kekeluargaan dengan seorang yang memeluk Islam hendaklah diberikan hak menuntut harta pusakanya selepas kematiannya. 
8. Kerajaan hendaklah menyediakan dana yang mencukupi untuk membina dan menyelenggara rumah-rumah ibadat orang bukan Islam sebagaimana kerajaan menyediakan dana yang serupa untuk masjid. 
9. Orang bukan Islam hendaklah dibenarkan dan tidak boleh dihalang daripada menggunakan perkataan-perkataan suci Islam dalam percakapan dan sebagainya. 
10. Bibel dalam Bahasa Malaysia dan Bahasa Indonesia sepatutnya dibenarkan untuk diedarkan kepada umum secara terbuka. 
11. Pelajaran agama bukan Islam untuk penganut agama itu hendaklah diajar di semua sekolah. 
12. Program-program berunsur Islam dalam bahasa ibunda sesuatu kaum hendaklah ditiadakan. Program dakwah agama lain selain Islam pula hendaklah dibenarkan untuk disiarkan dalam bahasa ibunda masing-masing. 
13. Orang Islam yang membayar zakat tidak sepatutnya dikecualikan daripada membayar cukai pendapatan dan wang Hasil zakat sepatutnya digunakan juga untuk keperluan orang-orang bukan Islam. 
14. Sepatutnya Islam tidak disebut sebagai pilihan pertama masyarakat Malaysia seperti dalam soal pakaian menutup aurat kepada pelajar sekolah.

Sex Nation

Source [HERE]

Have you heard about the newly-formed Obedient Wife Club (OWC) and the sex lessons it will offer? I will not write about how good or bad the club is. Unnecessary or not, I am not the one who can decide that. People have opinions and they are subjected to opine based on their experiences. Our upbringings are different. For me, if I have a wife, I don't want her to join this club. I will earn my wife's obedience so that it will be a mutual relationship and based on understanding and not resentment. From there, she will be obedient to me. I don't want her to listen to me just because I am her husband. It's that simple for me. Plus, I don't want her to learn sex lessons from a club. Maybe the news have been twisting about this issue but if there is a club, I don't want my wife to join for these lessons. She must abide me after all. You don't need to join a club to be one.

What is puzzling to me is how conservative we think about ourselves and yet there are sex stories everyday in Malaysia. Of course, there is no 'how to's in Malaysia, but don't you realise everything has to be related to sex nowadays. Do you remember the sodomist  being featured in a sex video with a woman? How shallow are we Malaysians to be fooled with cheap sex stories. Why everything has to be related with sex?

Again, do you remember Chua Soi Lek's infamous video? Well, it did not destroy his political career. Sex, again. 

Try to read Harian Metro for a week and look for a day when it does not feature a sex-related stories. Good luck looking for one! Not just that, look at the advertisements in the Classified section. There is servis urut everywhere in Malaysia.

Have you ever been to KL? Yes, the capital city of Malaysia which has a lot of flyovers. Have you ever read any small ads put under the walls of the flyovers? There are 'ubat kuat', 'call me for..' and of course 'mahu ...'. How conservative are we? And have you ever been inside the car with your little siblings reading them too? Oh, how do they learn the lessons the wrong way. Not to mention, the awkwardness when looking at your parents reading them too. KL is filled with cheap ads. I don't think PJ is like that, right Acad?

In responding to the Obedient Wife Club, I want to add another thing. Do you see us men as the ones who will go to prostitutions when our wives do not serve us (sexually)? How bad are we till we have to go for prostitutions? I admit that many are doing so, but is the reason because the wives don't treat them very well? Yes, the wife has the obligation to fulfil the husband's as what this hadith tells us.

If a man calls his wife to bed and she refuses till he slept while angry, then the Angels will curse her till the morning. [Muslim]

But we,  men are understanding and not easily angry too. We want mutual relationship which is not based on sexual relationship only. I'm sorry but I cannot run away from feeling being degraded from your statement that we will go for prostitutions if our wives do not treat us well. I know not all of us are like that, but still there is some masculinism in me saying we are not that cheap. Alhamdulillah, there are still lots of good men out there. We don't just look for sex in women. My opinion is also based on the second part of the hadith- 'till he slept while angry'. An understanding husband would think wisely if the wife is able to do so. If she refuses, don't you think the husband would compromise? The hukum does state that the husband's desire must be fulfilled by the wife. There is no ifs or buts here. The wife would also understand the husband's condition who is in need of a intimate relationship. However, I do not agree on the reasons given by the group that this 'act of serving husband' would reduce the social ills.

I know that the club's intentions are good, but personally I don't think the ways you do it are the right ones.-The Chukai Insider

Here and There: Cut and Paste: Learning and Sharing

 "All of us are culpable and too many Malaysians complain. How many of us complain but don't do anything? If you do and you fail, then you can complain. This is the weakness of the middle class to take, to thrive and then to find seclusion in their little suburbia, usually based on race and religion. It is too easy to blame the government, we are part of the government, we are the people.”- Chandran Nair.

Our paths are different but our goal is the same. Don't hate others. Period. If you still cannot resist from hating others (a person, organisations, government, opposition), don't cross the line and keep in your heart that you are a Muslim. Yes, you may say who am I to say you have crossed the line as the line is relative to different people, but hating others itself is already something you should not have done. Beyond that, it is unnecessary to talk about. It's okay if you resist something, but to a point where you have to curse, it is clearly a wrong thing. 

In fighting for your cause, don't create the feeling of other-ness. In fighting for your cause, I believe it is much more or less the same like doing da'wah. If you keep pressing others to do this and that and saying harsh words to others with manners that is totally un-Islamic, then people will not believe what you say and most importantly, it is ineffective. In fact, it is like a very bad medicine. Let's say there are people who believe in things that you say, they will follow your way and at some point, more extreme than you were. This, at the end of the day will create a huge gap between those who accepted your ideas and those who not. The distance grows bigger and bigger. Unfortunately, this is what happening among Muslims in Malaysia now. 

This is harsh, but this statement should not be taken lightly: There are muslims who don't pray at all, but when other non-muslims threaten the status of Islam, they are among the first to get angry. When I say this is hypocrisy, others will say all kind of things to say I am wrong.

I feel so sad looking at Facebook page looking at videos and articles slamming each other. Call it whatever you want, but Malay Muslims are the champions. Everyone is fighting to show they are the Islam champion, but never try to sincerely communicate the right way. If you think the other side is wrong, rectify the mistakes and work together. Both sides are wrong. Both sides have their own strengths and weaknesses, so complement each other. Why not? Does it because only you know the ultimate truth? And you can't share it with others? I'm saying this to both sides. 

The creation of the divisive feeling is so severe. If even one of the sides think they are upholding Islamic values, no divisions of people (or ummah as some quarter like to call it or rakyat as the other quarter like to describe it) would have occurred right now. For me, the truth is this- ego is at both sides.

Their intentions may be right, but their actions are not. 

Note: This post is a result of cumulative disappointment of watching friends posting hatred on Facebook. 

Infaq :)

Sahih Muslim, Book 42, Number 7058:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The world is a prison-house for a believer and Paradise for a non-believer.

I just heard an amazing talk by Dr. Fauziah Hj Mohd Hasan, a well known activist and gynaecologist in Malaysia. She has done a lot of humanitarian work with Mercy Malaysia and Aqsa Syarif and her talk was just downright inspiring. My favourite quote from her was,

"You all are always amazed and ask me how I can do so many things in my life but actually, it's only because I am older than you."

Well,OK,that's not exactly how she said it but you get the picture. Anyways, there is so much we can do if we are just willing to get our asses out of the comfort zone and just give a little. For starters, check this website out: http://www.aqsasyarif.org.my/penajaan/

With only RM35 contribution per month, you can sponsor one Palestinian child's education for a year. That's nothing compared to what we spend eating out at Pizza Hut, KFC and even the mamak stalls. So like I said, give a little. 

Diriwayatkan dari Abu Hurairah ra. : "Seorang lelaki menemui Nabi Muhammad Saw dan bertanya, “ya Rasulullah Saw, sedekah apakah yang paling utama?” Nabi Muhammad Saw menjawab, “sedekah yang kau berikan ketika kau dalam keadaan sehat, kikir dan takut terhadap kemiskinan dan menginginkan kekayaan. Janganlah menunggu sampai dekatnya saat kematian dengan mengatakan, ‘untuk si fulan sekian, dan untuk si fulan sekian, dan harta tersebut telah menjadi milik ahli warisnya’”. 

One more thing, THIS BOOK, From Beirut to Jerusalem by Ang Swee Chai,is really good! I only managed to read 3/4 of it cause I borrowed it from my friend and had only 3 days to read it. I don't usually read journals/autobiographies/biographies and all cause I usually find them boring. But the way the author wrote this book was exceptional. It's a great book, I promise. It will certainly open your eyes to many things. Although it's about events that happened between 1982-1987, I still consider them relevant to life today.