Fitna

Salam,

As most of you must have heard. The movie ‘Fitna’ is coming out from the land of the Dutch.

Ironically,

The name of the movie labeled itself, already. It’s a Fitna. I watched part of it on Youtube. No doubt about it, the same methodology of painting bad light on Islam. As Imam Siraj Wahhaj said in his talks last few days ago, they take sentences from out Holy book, Quran and spin it as spun as Roda Impian.

No doubt about it, i am worried that people that are ignorant about our beloved deen, Islam will get convinced. But insya-Allah, with the power of Allah, it will make them more likely to know what actually Islam teaches.

Another thing that i am worried about is the Muslims. Some of us know how to keep our cool. That’s fine. We hate the movie as it is spreading lies about Islam but we wouldn’t want to make more damage to Islam by doing ridiculous things.

I read on the news, two cars were set ablazed and graffitis all over the place calling for the death of the director of the movie. I have no idea who did all these but these are creating more damage and not helping at all. They are just making it seems like what’s on the movie is actually the reality.

In the same news, businesses originating from Holland are getting worried with the development of the situation. We can make a difference by boycotting their products.

They have already warned that they will sue the producer if their businesses are affected by the release of the movie. We can make a difference. Boycott their products so that they will take actions on the producer. Imam Siraj already said. Muslims should hate fighting. We fight when we do not have a choice. It’s not hard. Just stop buying their products until further actions are done on these people. Some prominent products of the Dutch are Shell and Phillips. I don’t know about others.

Stop the spread of Fitna, the movie and the action itself.

Wassalam Alaikum

MSA Vanderbilt

Salam,

Reading the blog comments and and posts here in Vanderbilt, I felt like writing about this issue.
A short one, i guess:

Honestly, I feel that IAW this year is more successful than last year and undoubtedly, there’s still room for improvement.  Especially, i guess in terms of attendance of Non-Muslims. I really hope more non-Muslims can come but I am sorry, i really do not know how.

I blame myself for not giving any commitment to the MSA. I’m in the mailing list. I’m in some of the talks and activities. However, I’ve never been to the meetings. I blame myself.

We now have more than 120 Malaysian students (I believe all are practicing Muslims, thus a member of MSA)  in Vanderbilt. That’s a horde of manpower. Somehow, this manpower failed to be put in use. Not the fault of MSA, though. It’s these people themselves (including me). Maybe not many that really concern about what MSA is doing, their activities and so on. So, why should I help?  Maybe many think that way. Not telling that they are wrong but I don’t know, it’s hard to change the mindset of people. I, myself need to improve a lot on this.

However, there are people that really concern about these. They want MSA to succeed. It’s just that they keep their thoughts in themselves. So, i am hoping that in the future, we can be more responsible and committed to MSA and have MSA be more effective and significant to the community.

This is my hope.

One thing i worry (looking at myself), people are always fired up in a certain situation. When it is extinguished, no changes take place. Back to square one. Insya-Allah, i will try my best in lending a hand or two.

Don’t shoot me:D

Blog

Blogging is a way to express oneself

Disseminate information

This goes well with the concept of freedom of information and speech.

However:

Some need to be taken into account:

When you spread news, avoid slander. Speculations should not be spread.

As cliche as you wish, with freedom, comes great responsibility (and use it with guidelines)

So, be responsible with what you write. (Includes comments and criticism)

Use blog to advise

Readers and writers, open up your mind to others’ views

For unity sake, please. Blog is NOT a medium of expressing hatred.

ps: If u catch me doing such things, please let me know. Manusia Mudah Lupa.

Harga Minyak Malaysia

Asslamualaikum,

As you guys know, the price of petroleum in Malaysia is controlled by the government. At USD 100 per barrel, the cost of the subsidy for petroleum reaches as much as RM 40 billion if i am not mistaken. This method of subsidy is actually, not very effective. People smuggle these control products through the borders for profound profit. (For those that are ridiculously irresponsible).

I am not sure about what others think. These are some thoughts from me in my oppinion:

1. Malaysia produces petroleum. The price of petroleum products in Malaysia, then should not be affected by the international price except for the exported ones. At least, currently.

2. The price of petroleum products in Malaysia should NOT be subsidized. This will of course increase the cost of living of Malaysian absurdly. However, the government has saved more than RM 40 Billion. This can then be used to increase the salary of the government workers. How about private companies? They need to increase their workers’ salaries too. So, cost of operation will increase tremendously. Price quotation for contracts then will need to increase, too. And with the RM40 billion. Probably, that will be enough for the government to handle that. Somebody else who can do the math. I’m not eager enough to do it. Cost of living will increase, no doubt about it.

But remember, the payroll should have some significant increment with it. This IMO is better than price control which later is abused by some people.

3. For people who do not earn anything. This will be hard pressing for them. Those, who can actually work, should do so and earn something. For those who can’t, they are the unfortunate and should be helped by those who are fortunate.

Distributive justice.

Another positive consequences of this is:

Imported products which are not affected by the increasing overhead cost except for just a little caused by  distribution and stuff will seem cheaper.

Okay, now the reality. I thought about this in like some free time and as i am not an economist or anything as such, I would love to know the bad consequences of this. Please, let me know. It seems ridiculous but i did think about it and i need some feedback. Please feel free to comment. Please.

He’s not a bad man, after all

Salam,

As Amar pointed out in his comment in the last post, we look too much into the one incident happened during the Sidang DUN and condemned him as if he’s all bad with that manner. I admit, that breakdown was horrible. However, ever heard of his good side? He seems to be far ahead of Idris Jusoh. I read it from RPK’s Malaysia Today

Mat Said is no pushover. When Eric Chia was heading Perwaja, he embarked on a housing project and started building the houses even before the Kemaman local council could approve the project. Mat Said stepped in and issued a stop-work order. Eric Chia was outraged. He complained to Menteri Besar Wan Mokhtar Wan Ahmad and said that he reported direct to the Prime Minister and has carte blanche to do what he likes.

But Mat Said would not back down, Prime Minister or no Prime Minister. He even went against his own direct boss, Wan Mokhtar. The law is the law and even the CEO of Perwaja, the Menteri Besar of Terengganu, and the Prime Minister of Malaysia are not exempted from obeying the law. This was just a YDP of the Kemaman local council but he took on the giants and refused to back down and finally won when the all-powerful Eric Chia was forced to halt construction until all his papers are in order.

Mat Said is a fighter. And even as a ‘nobody’ he stood his ground against an outraged Eric Chia who was foaming at the mouth while screaming the Prime Minister’s name. No Chinese gangster or Menteri Besar or even the most powerful Prime Minister could shake him. And that is the kind of Menteri Besar His Majesty the Agong would like as head of his state government.

Terengganu has only about four years left. According to Petronas, after 2012 there will be no more oil in Terengganu. Four years at RM1 billion a year is merely RM4 billion. This RM4 billion will disappear in four years if Idris Jusoh is installed as Menteri Besar. And, in 2013, Terengganu will revert to being just a fishing village like what it was in 1973 before they discovered oil.

Yes, it was a great 40 years. But the 40 years which started in 1973 will end before 2013 is out. Terengganu can choose to allow Idris Jusoh to run the state and therefore allow the RM4 billion to finish by 2012 or they can instead ask Mat Said to run the state and ensure that the RM4 billion will last till 2020. His Majesty would rather choose the latter.

Reference: Monsoon (Cup) winds of change by: Raja Petra

http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/4906/1/

He deserves some respect.

Bad mouth is bad but i’d still prefer ones with strong integrity and not a kaki-ampu

Till then,

Assalamualaikum

Terengganu in Crisis

Salam,

(Updates at the bottom)

Things are heating up in Terengganu. The Sultan of Terenggany, HM Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who is apparently the YDP Agong of Malaysia does not consent the appointment of DS Idris Jusoh as the Menteri Besar of Terengganu. He appointed Dato Ahmad Said as the new MB for Terengganu.

However, conflicts are brewing as the 22 UMNO state assemblymen in Terengganu are threatening to boycott the appointment event. I don’t know what’s wrong with Idris Jusoh, really. I read some stuff about him but has no way of verifying the story, thus not posting it here. But, Ahmad Said.. If any of you had seen his video in Sidang Dun Terengganu, you guys should know him. The one that goes uncontrollably abusive with his words. So, I don’t really have much respect on him neither. But, the sultan seems to be more comfy with this guy rather than having the incumbent. He should know best. And on another news, some people from BN said that he can be punished if he accepts the post.

The nightline in Malaysia also stated that a political personnel is being investigated by BPR for some corruption cases in Kijal, Terengganu which happens to have Ahmad Said as the assembly person. Ironic, isn’t it? Didn’t they filtered the list of candidates going to the election? What’s up with this, then?

Here’s some more. If you read the news, you’ll hear demonstration in Penang and Shah Alam recently. Some of them (Maybe most, maybe all), are led by UMNO members. One of the issue that they brought up was about Lim Kit Siang and his statement of boycotting the pelantikan MB of Perak event. The next day, he apologized. Later, he personally met the Regent to apologize again. Bad action, he did but he apologized. These people kept on demonstrating on the issue despite his apology. And now, they should be thinking of demonstrating in Terengganu for the actions of 22 YBs here in Terengganu’s DUN. At least, it’s only Lim Kit Siang in Perak and not DAP negeri.

(sigh). Living in the world full of WOW!

Note: I’m still waiting for the news today. I’m sure they will quickly clean this mess up by apologizing or something. More like I hope. If not, UMNO themselves are in trouble for not keeping up with their words. (Demonstrating was not their culture as they said before the election. The didn’t keep up with this anymore). All and all, one day should be enough for them to solve the problems. Anyway, having a by-election for Terengganu’s DUN is not a bad idea. .

So…UMNO, apologize, please.

update: 9.09 pm 3/22/08 CT: Ahmad Said terima watikah perisytiharan MB Terengganu from the royal council. Nothing heard from UMNO assemblymen.

update: 9.38 pm 3/22/08 CT: Ahmad Said’s UMNO membership stripped off for disobeying Central committee decision. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/23/nation/20730032&sec=nation

Soalan Cepu Emas kepada semua

Salam,

I have (fine..haha) questions for readers, out there.

Do you think Malays still need their special treatment that it has been given to ensure their survival in Malaysia?

Which ones are more important to be helped if you have a choice?

1. Non-malays that are in need of help and have good qualities

2. Malays that are rich and useless

3. Malays that are in need of help and have good qualities

4. Non-malays that are rich and useless

Rank them (Rank them however you want, one rank with two choices or whatever..)!

These are just questions that I want people to give their opinions besides a straight answer. Please respond=D.

Islamic Awareness Week @ Vanderbilt 2008

For the community in Vanderbilt University, let’s join the event and and increase our knowledge on Islam, for Muslims and Non-muslims.

Particularly for muslims, let’s support the outreaching program in letting people understand our beloved religion.

Carbondale

Salam,

I just got back from Carbondale, IL.

It was quite a good experience. Few glitches along the way.

Meeting some new Malaysian friends in the states. Thanks to you guys in SIUC for the warm welcome and of course, nice food. It was a really-really nice trip. We had conversation with the people there in lots of stuff from the meeting for Midwest Games 2008 to the very-very bad corruption problem in India(There was an Indian from India there, too).

Best of luck to central comitee of Midwest Games 2008. Hope that it will be a successful one.

*********

Side-story

How would you feel if you are going through some experience similar to the cliches of a gory thriller movies?

You get yourself lost in some dark, eerie neighborhood with some friends. Tried to make a u-turn after realizing you are going the wrong way, your car stuck in a mud and can’t move. You get yourself out of the car, and heard some dogs barking from a distance. Hopefully, there’s just no psychotic man-eating mutated humans out there.

That actually happened. It was creepy but fortunately, the mud was just in the backyard of a normal man with a back-hoe. He helped us drag the car out of the mud with his back-hoe after we tried so hard pushing the car back and get ourselves muddy all-over in the complete darkness of the night.

A good experience, though not the way you want yourself to be in while trying to find Wendy’s.

Dakwaan Hasutan kerana DEB

Salam,

Just a short one.

Does anyone have any idea how this statement(roughly) is seditious and full of racial sentiment?

We want to abolish DEB(NEP) as it has breed cronyism and ineffectiveness and replace it with a policy that is more just and based on merit.

Notes:

1. NEP is the policy which gives specialty to Malay to reduce the gap between races.

2. Several believe it has been used to enrich just a few and leaving poorer people of all races behind.

3. This news is on UTUSAN today. 3/15 issue.

4. Oh, and they say Anwar berdolak-dalik on the DEB issue and never tell people what Anwar really said. How stupid is that?