In 1994, nearly 23 years ago, I (Khairul Hisham Hassan) graduated from The University of Sheffield in the UK with a Bachelor of Laws degree or LLB. And one of my core subjects was International Law.
Hence, together with my 3 Jakarta friends who come from Indonesian legal background and who graduated 15 years ago from Fakultas Hukum of Universitas Trisakti in Jakarta, I have set-up an international consulting firm in Jakarta which provides 'Consultancy on Doing Business in Jakarta' comprehensive services. Currently, most of our clients are Malaysian companies and factories which set-up their PT PMA branch company or Representative Office in Jakarta. These companies were referred to us by Matrade in Jakarta which is part of the Embassy of Malaysia in Jakarta. Having said that, at the end of the day it is purely and entirely up to those Malaysian investors to select or appoint any consulting firm or legal advisor of their own choice for their "Doing Business in Jakarta" matters.


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Sahabat-sahabat saya sekalian, tolong benarkan saya berkongsi dengan anda semua sedikit rasa gembira dan sedikit rasa bangga saya (Khairul Hisham Hassan) atas kurniaan anugerah darjah bangsawan "Raden Tumenggung" oleh Sultan Pakubuwono XIII dari Keraton (Istana) Surakarta, Jawa Tengah seperti dalam photo di atas. Sebenarnya selepas Indonesia merdeka, Sultan Keraton (Istana) Jogkakarta dan Keraton Surakarta hanya berperanan sebagai "Gabenor" di Jawa Tengah sahaja. Tapi Perlembagaan Indonesia tidak menghalang pihak Istana ini memberi anugerah darjah kebesaran kepada sesiapa yang Baginda Sultan mahu. Penyanyi Rossa juga ada menerima Darjah Kebangsawanan dari Sultan yang sama i.e Sri Sultan Pakubowono XIII pada 26 Jun 2011. (http://www.cumicumi.com/news/read/20596/rossa-senang-bergelar-bangsawan). Syukur kepada Allah atas anugerah ini.


Tapi yang penting ialah saya tidak pernah meminta-minta, tidak pernah melobi dan tidak pernah membayar kepada pihak Istana Surakarta untuk mendapat gelaran bangsawan ini. Sri Sultan Pakubuwono XIII berkenan menganugerahkan, maka saya terima sajalah anugerah bangsawan ini dengan rasa sangat berterimakasih kepada Sri Sultan dan rasa syukur kepada Allah yang takdirkan semua ini. Anda mahu lihat Mohor Diraja Tulisan Jawa Lama? Sila klik dan besarkan photo di atas. Kemudian sila anda lihat disebelah atas kanan foto. Anda mahu tahu siapa itu "Sultan Pakubuwono XIII"? Sila anda lihat: http://id.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasunanan_Surakarta dan juga http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/pakubuwana_XIII serta anda lihat http://www.karatonsurakarta.com/.



Saya beritahu isteri saya, di Malaysia kita ini biasa-biasa saja tapi Alhamdulillah di Pulau Jawa nama kita berdua secara rasmi ada di dalam "Senarai Bangsawan Istana Surakarta". Nenek-moyang saya yang ratusan tahun dulu datang dari Jawa Tengah pasti bangga dan gembira dengan gelaran bangsawan Keraton Jawa ini. Saya sering berkata kepada diri sendiri seandainya orang mengetahui siapa sebenarnya nenek-moyang atau leluhur saya, maka pasti mereka tidak merasa aneh kenapa saya bisa mendapat gelaran bangsawan Tanah Jawa ini. Hmmm... Namun semua ini tidak penting sehabuk pun bagi saya kerana akhirnya nanti saya akan berbaring di dalam liang lahad kubur seorang diri, tanpa gelaran "Raden Tumenggung" atau gelaran apa pun. Yang penting adalan amalan soleh saya. Period. Full stop.




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January 2015 photo of my 2nd DAUGHTER (Not my wife) i.e Intan Nur Qistina Khairul Hisham (Left) with my 4th kid, Mehmed Al Fateh Khairul Hisham (Right). Intan Nur Qistina is 20 years old now. She is now studying at University of Malaya (UM) after completing her SPM at an Islamic boarding school in Kelantan while Mehmed Al Fateh in this photo was 4 months old newborn son. Now Mehmed Al Fateh is a two years old active 'young man'





THIS IS MY LIFE PRINCIPLE
(KHAIRUL HISHAM HASSAN)
(A 47 YEARS OLD REAL MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALIST)
(i.e PROGRESSIVE, HONEST, HARDWORKING AND ROMANTIC MUSLIM)


As a Muslim I believe that the day will DEFINITELY come when my helpless dead body or jenazah finally will be carried away to the grave. As a Muslim I also believe that the day will DEFINITELY come when I will be in my Liang Lahad alone, dealing with Malaikat Munkar & Nakir. And that will be the day when anything else does not matter anymore except my good deeds, my amalan and my amal jariah that I have done when I am still alive. At the end of the day it does not matter anymore whether or not while we are living on this Planet Earth we have a big business empire or a beautiful wife or a big house or a big car or a high position in a big company etc. Does not matter anymore, my friend. Does not matter.




As a Muslim, I solemnly believe that: "The only true measure of my success in life is as to how far I have obeyed Allah's commandments, according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W". Ukuran kejayaan SEBENAR seseorang manusia itu ialah sejauh mana dia dapat taat perintah Allah, berpandukan kepada sunnah Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. Justeru itu,
kalau seseorang itu kaya-raya atau berpangkat besar atau berwajah cantik atau berumah besar atau berkereta mewah atau bergelar 'Datuk', 'Datuk Seri', 'Tan Sri' tapi dia lalai solat, tidak berakhlak Islam dan tidak amalkan apa yang Islam suruh, maka di mata saya orang seperti ini bukanlah orang yang berjaya. Saya langsung tidak hormat orang seperti ini. Orang seperti ini tidak ada nilai di sisi Allah dan juga tidak ada nilai sehabuk pun di mata saya. Apakah saya kagum dengan kekayaan dan kedudukan orang seperti ini? Jauh sekali. Am I scared of this type of rich and 'powerful' people? Never. Insya-Allah I am not scared of any human-being in this world. Not even for a nanosecond. In my eyes, he or she is nothing. Yes, nothing. Period. Tetapi saya sangat hormat, sangat kagum, sangat kasih dan agak gementar apabila berhadapan dengan orang yang sebenar-benarnya 'Orang Yang Berjaya' iaitu orang yang menjaga solatnya, membaca Al Quran setiap hari, berdisplin Solat Tahajud setiap malam, berakhlak Islam dan tidak pongoh, pemurah dan tidak kedekut-pahit serta cuba mengamalkan keseluruhan ajaran Islam dalam kehidupannya.




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On 28 January 2017 my age will be 47 years old. By the way, my eldest daughter is now 22 years old. She is currently studying at International Islamic University (UIA) Malaysia. My second daughter is 20 years old and she is now studying at University of Malaya. And my third child is a 13 years old son. He is now studying to be a hafiz at Pondok Moden Saadah Addaarain. Alhamdulillah after a gap of 10 years, my wife who was 44 years old at that time delivered our fourth child on 24 September 2014 (Photo Above). Well...I do not call myself 'The Descendant of Majapahit Palace Warrior' for nothing, right...? :-) Syukur Alhamdulillah my wife has a smooth and safe delivery. Actually I have told my wife that if our newborn child is a baby girl I will name her 'Intan Nur Iriana'. The meaning of Iriana in Greek is 'peace'. Iriana is also the name of the wife of new Indonesian President Joko Widodo. However, it is our destiny to have another son, not daughter. Hence, I name my newborn son 'Mehmed Al Fateh Bin Khairul Hisham'. Sultan Mehmed Al Fateh is the Muslim Chalip whom at the age of 21 conquered Constantinople which is the modern-day Istanbul. He also brought Islam to Bosnia, Albania and Southern Europe. It is said that Sultan Mehmed Al Fateh has never failed to perform Solat Tahajjud every single night throughout his life from the age of puberty (akil baligh) until the day he died on 3rd of May 1481. It is my wish and also my wife's wish that our son, Mehmed Al Fateh Khairul Hisham will be a brave and pious Muslim like Sultan Mehmed Al Fateh and will never fail to perform Solat Tahajjud each and every night. Amin Ya Allah.



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These are my two beloved daughters: (Left) Intan Nur Farhana Khairul Hisham. She is my 22 years old eldest child. She is the one who is now studying at International Islamic University (UIA) Malaysia. (Right) Intan Nur Qistina Khairul Hisham. She is my 20 years old second daughter. She is now studying at University of Malaya (UM). Yes, both are my lovely princesses! Or shall I say my Javanese and Kelantanese princesses because I am a Javanese warrior and their mother is a Kelantanese lady! I have 4 kids. Apart from two daughters, I also have two sons. Their name are Mahathir Khatami Khairul Hisham who is now 13 years old who is now studying to be a hafiz at Pondok Moden Saadah Addaarain and Mehmed Al Fateh Khairul Hisham who was born 15 months ago on 23 September 2014.




Kepada Teman-Teman Sekalian Di Mana Jua Pun Anda Berada: Saya Ucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri Dan Salam Lebaran Minal Aidin Wal Faizin. Saya (Khairul Hisham Bin Hassan) Adalah Seorang Manusia Yang Banyak Kelemahan. Maka Sempena Hari Raya Aidil Fitri Yang Mulia Ini Saya Memohon Agar Anda Bisa Memaafkan Saya Jika Selama Ini Ada Bicara Saya Yang Menyalakan Api Kemarahan Anda, Jika Ada Perbuatan Saya Yang Menimbulkan Kebencian Anda, Jika Ada Tulisan Saya Yang Menyinggung Perasaan Anda, Jika Ada Akhlak Saya Yang Berbau Keangkuhan Dan Jika Ada Jenaka Saya Yang Berlebihan. Sesungguhnya Suatu Hari Nanti Pasti Akan Tiba Jua Saatnya Saya Akan Bersendirian Di Dalam Liang Lahad. Dan Semoga Pada Hari Apabila Jenazah Saya Diturunkan Ke Liang Lahad Itu, Tiadalah Dosa Sesama Manusia Di Antara Saya Dan Anda. Amen..
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The above photo was taken by my wife near our rented house when both of us lived in Sheffield, north of England 24 years ago. I publish this photo here in my blog just to share my sweet memory with my dear blog readers only. Not to show-off whatsoever. That time I was doing my law degree at The University of Sheffield. It's Winter 1993. Being newly married I just wanted to impress my wife with some steps of my Pencak Silat during the snowfall. Maybe, just maybe, I was the first Malaysian man to perform Pencak Silat (an Indonesian and Malaysian martial art) during heavy snowfall in Sheffield. Well...I do not think Hang Jebat or Hang Tuah dares to perform Pencak Silat during -5 degree Celsius snowfall just by wearing their thin Baju Melayu. Yes, no doubt that Hang Jebat was a brave and hot-tempered man. Yes, he was also the only Malay who was not afraid to tell the cruel Sultan of Malacca more than 500 years ago: "Wahai Sultan Yang Zalim, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry". But I am sure this -5 Celsius degree snowfall will melt whatever spirit left in this great 'Incredible Hulk of Ancient Malacca Kingdom' who loved to run amok here and run amok there.


And...what about Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat? (For your information,
Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat was a Majapahit Palace Warrior who failed to assassinate Hang Tuah. He was also a hot-tempered Majapahit Prince with a significant high blood pressure problem who could not accept any slightest criticism on his style of leadership. His sister by the name of 'Gusti Putri Retno Dumillah' eventually became the legendary 'Puteri Gunung Ledang'. Legend has it that even after 500 years, Gusti Putri Retno Dumillah is still residing at Gunung Ledang in Malaysia although the Malaysian Immigration Department has never granted her any Expatriate Visa, Permanent Residency or even Spouse Visa). I guess Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat would easily win 'Mr Bean Of The Year Award' if he did perform his Pencak Silat here in Sheffield just by wearing his traditional shirtless Majapahit warrior's costume. But one thing for sure..., no matter how sakti this Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat was, the -5 degree Celsius temperature would make him shivering non-stop to the extent that the English people would think this shirtless Majapahit Palace Warrior was high on drugs or narkoba while performing his Javanese Pencak Silat!











Who's that guy in the above photo snapped by my wife during Winter 1993 when we lived in Sheffield? Is he Dicky Zulkarnaen The Indonesian Famous Actor? Wrong. Is he Si Pitung Macan Betawi? Nope. He is just 'Si Khairul Kucing Malaysia'! A blast from the past. Look at the background of the photo. Oh! I love living in England. For me, the Victorian style houses in England make it so picturesque. It's a romantic place to live especially in the northern part of England like Sheffield which is near the lake districts. That Winter 1993 was the most memorable winter because I just married in that year. So that Winter 1993 was the first Winter that I had a halal companion sleeping next to me, as husband and wife during long cold night. My wife said I was her 'Natural Winter Heater' that kept her warm and comfortable throughout very cold -5 degree Celsius Winter night.


Sekadar menggamit secebis kenangan lalu saja nih. Hmmm...selagi dinamakan manusia, kita nggak akan bisa melupakan kenangan lalu.
Pasti nggak akan bisa. Nggak seperti komputer yang kapan-kapan saja bisa di delete memory dalam CPU. Maka, apabila kenangan lalu tiba-tiba datang menjelma dan mampir di Inbox pikiran kita, tanpa kita minta, tanpa kita undang, tanpa kemahuan kita, sama ada kenangan itu kenangan yang manis ataupun kenangan yang amat menyedihkan dan sadis, sebagai seorang Muslim mari kita redha dengan Qada dan Qadar yang Allah telah tentukan untuk kita.
Seperti kata teman saya dari Surabaya yang ganteng, Bapak Firman Hadi Sukma Pratama (Pakar Kuasa Pikiran Bawah Sadar dan Founder Wahana Sejati): "Iya, nikmati ajalah..."


JUST MY SPECIAL NOTE: Mari kita tenang-tenang aja karena sebagaimana Allah bisa menjadikan apa pun untuk hal-hal yang sudah pun berlaku, maka sesungguhnya Allah juga bisa mentakdirkan apa pun untuk hal-hal yang akan datang walaupun kelihatannya mustahil untuk berlaku jika menurut logika akal. Bukankah dalam Surah Al Maidah Ayat 40, Allah berfirman: "Dan Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu".










PHOTO: THESE BAMBOO TREES FORM A MIND-SOOTHING PANORAMIC VIEW AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PONDOK PESANTREN AT DESA KERTARAHAYU. I SPEND EVERY WEEKEND AT THIS PONDOK PESANTREN; LEARNING TAFSIR AL QURAN, CONDUCTING MY FREE ENGLISH CLASS TO 'SANTRI & SANTRIWATI' AND MAKING A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO BE A HAFIZ AL QURAN BEFORE I DIE. AMEN YA ALLAH...


No doubt I love every single minute running my own consultancy business from Monday to Friday at my Jakarta office located not far from the Embassy of Malaysia. BUT for me, the most beautiful thing about living in Jakarta is being able to spend my time every weekend at a Pondok Pesantren Tahfiz Al Quran at Desa Kertarahayu in Kecamatan Setu. This Islamic traditional learning place is located at a panoramic remote village which is a two-hour drive from Jakarta. This is my Paradise. This is my 'Heaven on Earth'. The Pondok Pesantren is located in the middle of a green aromatic ginger and sesame farm, surrounded by paddy fields and green hills. During my weekend stay at this Pondok Pesantren, I diligently learn in-depth about Tajwid and Tafsir Al Quran directly from a charismatic ulama by the name of Pak Kiyai Sarno who is very religious and very well-versed in Ilmu Fiqih, Tafsir Al Quran and Ilmu Hadith. Every single of his explanation is substantiated by the relevant verses in Al Quran and Hadith Sahih.










PHOTO: THREE BEAUTIFUL MUSLIMAH AND HAFIZAH OF PONDOK PESANTREN AT DESA KERTARAHAYU WHO WON THE “MUSABAQAH TAHFIZ AL QURAN SE-JABODETABEK" RECENTLY. THEY ARE ISTIQOMAH IRSYADIAH (LEFT) AND AMATULLAH ASSAATIRAH (YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF PAK KIYAI SARNO)


Pak Kiyai Sarno is a Hafiz who has memorized 30 Juz of Al Quran and could recite the Al Quran verses from memory. His wife (Ibu Rachmah Julaeha) is also a Hafizah. And the 3 sons of Pak Kiyai Sarno are Hafiz Al Quran too. They are Mas Salahuddin, Mas Muhammad Al Fateh and Mas Mujahid. By the way, Mas Salahuddin and Mas Muhammad Al Fateh are now studying at Al Azhar in Egypt while Mas Mujahid is assisting Pak Kiyai Sarno to run his Pondok Pesantren. But Pak Kiyai Sarno plans to send Mas Mujahid to further his study in Sudan in 3 years time. Pak Kiyai Sarno's 10 years old beautiful youngest daughter (Amatullah Assaatirah) so far has managed to memorize 10 Juz of Al Quran.


Actually this is not so much about how many verses, chapters or Juz of Al Quran that a Muslim has managed to memorize. Having said that, it is indeed a proven fact that in order to succesfully memorize all 6,666 verses or 30 Juz of Al Quran, a Hafiz needs to observe his behaviour, akhlak and ibadah strictly based on Islamic rules and regulations. They must also lower their gaze. It is extremely unlikely that a person can eventually be a Hafiz or Hafizah if he or she is not humble. And for a Hafiz or Hafizah, patience is definitely a virtue. They also need to ensure that they do not use their mouth to talk bad about others or insult other human-beings or cause hatred among human-beings. These underlying principles which actually have shaped a Hafiz or Hafizah's behaviour or akhlak to be a very well behaved human-being or 'manusia berakhlak mulia' that makes our Planet Earth a better place to live. Since they have to put in practice in their daily life all the life principles outlined in the Al Quran verses that they have memorized, they ultimately become 'Al Quran Bergerak' or 'The Moving Al Quran'
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PHOTO: THIS IS THE VILLAGE ROAD OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER WALL OF THE PONDOK PESANTREN. FOR ME, THIS IS THE ROAD TO MY 'HEAVEN ON EARTH'. FRIDAY EVENING IS MY BEST MOMENT OF THE WEEK BECAUSE EVERY FRIDAY EVENING I WILL TRAVEL TO DESA KERTARAHAYU TO SPEND MY WEEKEND AT THE PONDOK PESANTREN.
FROM MY OFFICE, IT TAKES ABOUT 2 OR 3 HOURS TO REACH THERE. I CAN'T DESCRIBE TO YOU THE NATURAL SENSE OF HAPPINESS IN MY HEART WHEN I SEE THE ENTRANCE GATE OF THE PONDOK PESANTREN, THE PADDY-FIELDS NEARBY AND ALSO THE VERY MOMENT I SEE HIJAB-CLAD MUSLIMAH STROLLING AROUND THE PONDOK PESANTREN AREA. AND USUALLY 10 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER I HAVE ARRIVED AT THE PONDOK, THE MUSLIMAH OR HAFIZAH WILL SERVE ME DELICIOUS INDONESIAN VILLAGE DISHES. OH DEAR! I LOVE THE 'SUASANA AL QURAN' AT THIS PONDOK. I LOVE THE HEAVENLY BEHAVIOUR OF THE PEOPLE AT THIS PONDOK. I LOVE THE VILLAGE FOOD SERVED TO ME AT THIS PONDOK. WHAT CAN I SAY...I SIMPLY FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS PONDOK PESANTREN!


The truth is I am a 47 years old man. So, I asked Pak Kiyai Sarno whether it is too old for me to start memorizing all 30 Juz of Al Quran, slowly but surely, during my weekend stay at this Pondok Pesantren and Insya-Allah eventually become a Hafiz Al Quran. Pak Kiyai Sarno answered that no, it is not too old because he has seen a 50 years old man successfully memorizing the whole 30 Juz of Al Quran and became a Hafiz at that later stage of his life. This true story really inspires me. Yes, Monday to Friday I am an International Law Consultant who run my own consultancy business at the heart of Jakarta City Centre but that does not stop me to start learning to become a Hafiz Al Quran during my weekend rendezvous at this Pondok Pesantren. I told Pak Kiyai Sarno that no matter how challenging it will be and no matter how long it will take to become a Hafiz Al Quran, I will persevere and I will istiqomah because I want to die not just as a businessman. In fact I want to die as a Hafiz Al Quran. Yes, I do. This is despite the fact that I come from British law education background and not from Islamic studies background. Indeed this is my new personal ambition. Amen Ya Allah... By the way, to read the 12 benefits and prerogatives of being a Hafiz Al Quran please scroll your mouse to the bottom left of my blog. Each prerogative is supported by the relevant Hadith and verses from Al Quran.










PHOTO: THE MUSLIMAH AND HAFIZAH OF PONDOK PESANTREN ARE IN THE MIDST OF PERFORMING MURAJA’AH OF THE VERSES OF AL QURAN. THESE KIND-HEARTED MUSLIMAHS ARE BEAUTIFUL, SOFT-SPOKEN, POLITE, RELIGIOUS, OBEDIENT AND NO DOUBT THEY ARE SMART


Each time I am at this Pondok Pesantren, the Muslimahs ('Hafizah' or future 'Hafizah') who are learning Islam at this Pondok Pesantren would happily serve and cook for me very delicious Indonesian village dishes for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. These kind-hearted Muslimahs are beautiful, very soft-spoken, very polite, religious, obedient and no doubt they are very smart (what can I say, they memorize 30 chapters of Al Quran). These virgins have the discipline of performing Solat Tahajjud and Solat-Solat Malam every night. For me, it is an honour and a privilege to conduct my free English Class to them every Saturday and Sunday during my weekend rendezvous at this Pondok Pesantren, learning Tajwid and Tafsir Al Quran from their Guru (Pak Kiyai Sarno). And I must confess that by looking at their mind-soothing face alone is enough to make the work stress of my consultancy business in the heart of Jakarta City Centre from Monday to Friday simply gone with the wind. Oh dear...no kidding. And I am very sure this such a soft-spoken Pondok Pesantren lady can definitely make even an extremely violent man like Mike Tyson or Incredible Hulk purrs like a kitten. Yes, you hear me right, purrs like a kitten...


JUST MY SPECIAL NOTE: The purpose I disclose that I am now conducting free English class during my weekend stay at Pondok Pesantren is NOT to show-off or menunjuk-nunjuk. On the other hand, my ONLY purpose is I hope by sharing this story I can inspire all my other friends wherever they are, who have certain skills and specialization to infaq (donate) their skills for the benefit of others by giving their free services or free class during their weekend or free time. Pak Kiyai Sarno has taught me that infaq does not necessarily in the form of money or tangible assets only. Well...besides spending our weekend at Wet World, Taman Negara, Zoo Negara, Pantai Seri Tujuh, Genting Highland, shopping mall, restaurant or other entertainment centre, wouldn't it good if we can also do something and infaq our skills for the benefit of other human-beings during our weekend, right? Wrong? Of course 'right' lah, right...










PHOTO: IN FRONT OF THE 'KAMAR TAMU' ALLOCATED BY PAK KIYAI SARNO FOR ME AND MY KELANTANESE WIFE TO PUT UP DURING MY WEEKEND STAY AT THE PONDOK PESANTREN


Pak Kiyai Sarno has also allocated a comfortable Guest Room for me and my Kelantanese wife to put up during our weekend stay. What a romantic night at this Pondok Pesantren with extremely mind-soothing night breeze blowing from the nearby mountain and paddy fields. I always have a 'feel-good' feeling whenever I am at this Pondok Pesantren. It reminds me of the same feeling during the honeymoon time with my wife when we were newly married 20 years ago in 1993. At that time both of us were nothing but just a 23 and 22 years old young innocent couple who married at such a young age to get Keredhaan Allah. And what a feeling to have my bath here using very clean natural mountain ground water from the well. Oh Mammamia! Mammamia!


JUST KIDDING: But please do not have any slightest imagination of a gagah-perkasa man like me having a romantic private bath or bermandi-manda with a beautiful virgin Muslimah or Hafizah during my weekend rendezvous here. Sheesh...Tak elok tu.











PHOTO: THIS PONDOK PESANTREN IS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF A GREEN SESAME FARM, SURROUNDED BY GREEN PADDY-FIELDS AND GREEN MOUNTAIN. INDEED IT’S MY GREEN PARADISE!



Furthermore, I can't find any word in any dictionary ever published on this Planet Earth to describe my happiness performing Solat Tahajjud and Solat-Solat Malam together with these 'santri-santri' each night when I am staying at this Pondok Pesantren. And what a satisfaction to conduct free English lesson class for them
every weekend at this Pondok Pesantren. The unique thing about this Pondok Pesantren is apart from Islamic studies, this Pondok Pesantren also teaches 'modern' subjects such as English Language, Mathematics and Computer Skills because for their school-age 'santri' they also sit for Indonesian Ujian Nasional which is similar to SPM Exams in Malaysia or O-Level Exams in the UK.










PHOTO: PADDY-FIELDS AROUND THE PONDOK PESANTREN MAKE THE VIEW HERE VERY PICTURESQUE ESPECIALLY DURING SUNRISE AND SUNSET. INDEED THIS IS MY ‘HEAVEN ON EARTH’



Perhaps it's worth mentioning that it's my dream and also my wife's dream to spend most of our post-retirement time later
in a Pondok Pesantren like this which is located in a beautiful Indonesian village surrounded by green hills. We also plan to contribute something to the Pondok Pesantren in term of our skills. I plan to continue teaching these 'anak-anak Pondok Pesantren' English Language and my wife can teach them Computer Skills. By spending our time at Pondok Pesantren, my wife and I plan to learn more about Tafsir Al Quran from the Pak Kiyai. It's also our dream to have the discipline to perform Solat-Solat Malam and Solat Tahajud each and every night together, as a husband and wife, at the Pondok Pesantren. And during day time we will enjoy doing some farming over here. No doubt, it is Heaven on Earth in whatever way both of us see it. Indeed it is.










PHOTO: THIS IS THE ACCOMMODATION BUILDING FOR THE MUSLIMAH AND HAFIZAH OF THIS PONDOK PESANTREN. THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR ARE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PRAISE TO ALLAH, ALHAMDULLILAH I HAVE MANAGED TO GET MANY OF MY MALAYSAN FRIENDS TO TRANSFER MONEY TO THE PONDOK PESANTREN AS THEIR ‘INFAQ AMAL JARIYAH’. PAK KIYAI SARNO HAS TAUGHT ME THAT IN SURAH AL BAQARAH (VERSE 261) ALLAH HAS PROMISED THAT FOR EVERY 1 THING YOU INFAQ, ALLAH WILL MULTIPLY IT AND GIVE YOU BACK 700 TIMES. INDEED. ALLAH WILL NEVER BREACH HIS PROMISE. NEVER. NEVER. EVER.










PHOTO: THIS IS THE PONDOK PESANTREN MOSQUE WHICH IS USED AS THE CENTRE OF ACTIVITIES. I CONDUCT MY ENGLISH CLASS DURING MY WEEKEND HERE INSIDE THIS MOSQUE. AND EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT I HAPPILY WATCH ISLAMIC FILM INSIDE THIS MOSQUE BY USING PROJECTOR AND PORTABLE WHITE SCREEN TOGETHER WITH ALL THE HAFIZ AND HAFIZAH. WHO SAYS IN ISLAM WE CANNOT 'MENONTON WAYANG'? OF COURSE WE CAN. BUT WE MUST OBSERVE THE SYARIAH GUIDELINES. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I CAN SEE THEY ENJOY 'NOBAR' AND THEIR WEEKLY MOVIE WATCHING SESSION...











PHOTO: I WISH M.NASIR, THE LEGENDARY MALAYSIAN SONG COMPOSER IS HERE WITH ME, SPENDING TIME UNDER A TREE NEAR THE PADDY-FIELDS AROUND THE PONDOK PESANTREN. THIS SCENIC VIEW MAY STIMULATE M.NASIR’S CREATIVE MIND TO COMPOSE MANY NEW ROMANTIC SONGS! OH I LOVE ROMANTIC SONGS COMPOSED BY M.NASIR SUCH AS 'KEPADAMU KEKASIH' AND 'SUATU MASA'. DO YOU REMEMBER THESE BEAUTIFUL LYRICS?: “BAGAIMANAKAN KU MULA, DAN APAKAH KATA-KATA, YANG INDAH UNTUK DIABADIKAN, TIAP WAJAH BERKISAH, TIAP MADAH BERERTI, MANAKAH ILHAMKU…, CAHAYA DI MATAMU, SENYUM DI BIBIRMU, MENGUKIR SERIBU TANDA PERTANYAAN, MUNGKINKAH KAU JUA DALAM KERINDUAN, DI SAAT BEGINI AKU MERINDUKAN…” (WELL...GEMUK-GEMUK SAYA PUN ADA PERASAAN JUGA..., SIAPA BILANG ORANG GEMUK NGGAK DIBENARKAN ADA PERASAAN 'JIWANG' YA...? NGGAK SALAH KOK..., APATAH LAGI PERASAAN 'JIWANG' ITU HANYA TERHADAP ISTERI SENDIRI. GITU...) BY THE WAY, SINCE M.NASIR ALREADY COMPOSED 'KERONCONG UNTUK ANA' SONG, PERHAPS IT’S A GOOD IDEA IF HERE AT PONDOK PESANTREN HE CAN COMPOSE 'KERONCONG UNTUK ANTA'. I CAN BE THE PENYANYI LATAR











PHOTO: THE PONDOK PESANTREN IS SURROUNDED BY PADDY-FIELDS ON ONE SIDE AND THIS JUNGLE GREENERY ON THE OTHER SIDE. BEING HERE IS LIKE SPENDING TIME IN OUR TAMAN NEGARA BACK IN MALAYSIA. DURING NIGHT TIME ALL SORTS OF MUSICAL VOICE OF INSECTS AND BIRDS CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THIS JUNGLE. BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD THE SOUND OF TIGER OR LION ROARING. THAT’S GOOD NEWS BECAUSE COMPARED TO 20 YEARS AGO; I CAN’T RUN THAT FAST ANYMORE. FURTHERMORE, I MUST CONFESS THAT I AM A MAN WITH 3 MONTHS 'PREGNANT' TUMMY. THANKS TO INDONESIAN DELICIOUS FOOD SUCH AS ES TELER, BEBEK KALEYO, PECAL LELE LELA, AYAM BAKAR MAS MONO, AYAM BAKAR WONG SOLO, CHICKEN STORY, SOTO GEBREK, PISANG BAKAR, AYAM KALASAN, MARTABAK BANGKA, KONRO DAENG TATA, AYAM GORENG MBOK BEREK, GADO-GADO BOPLO, SOTO BETAWI, SOTO MAKASAR, SATE SENAYAN, RAWON SETAN, TAHU PETIS KEDUNGDORO, BEBEK SONGKEM, SEMANGGI DEMPO, NASI KRAWU BU RIDA AND MANY MORE. IT SEEMS THAT UNLESS AND UNTIL I CONSUME 'ALPHA LIPID SLIM DIET 2', I WILL BE FOREVER PREGNANT....

















Mari Kita Tetap Rendah Diri Meskipun
Punya Wajah Cantik,
Karena Wajah Terakhir Kita Adalah Wajah Jenazah Pucat Pasi

Mari Kita Tetap Rendah Diri Meskipun Punya Rumah Besar,
Karena Rumah Terakhir Kita Adalah Liang Lahad


Mari Kita Tetap Rendah Diri Meskipun Punya Busana Mahal,
Karena Busana Terakhir Kita Adalah Kain Kafan


Mari Kita Tetap Rendah Diri Meskipun Punya Kulit Mulus Dan Kinclong,
Karena Kulit Terakhir Kita Adalah Tanah Kuburan


Mari Kita Tetap Rendah Diri Meskipun Punya Mobil Mewah,
Karena Kendaraan Terakhir Kita Adalah Keranda Mayat


Mari Kita Tetap Rendah Diri Meskipun Punya Minyak Wangi Bergengsi,
Karena Wangian Terakhir Kita Adalah Kapur Barus









"Ya Allah...Jika Dengan Terus Hidup, Saya Khairul Hisham Bin Hassan Akan Dapat Terus Beribadat Untuk Menambahkan Pahala Dan Akan Dapat Terus Berbuat Amalan Kebaikan Serta Akan Dapat Terus Memberi Manafaat Kepada Orang Lain, Maka Saya Mohon Tolonglah Panjangkan Umur Saya Ya Allah..."

"Tetapi Ya Allah...Jika Dengan Terus Hidup, Saya Khairul Hisham Bin Hassan Akan Hanya Menambah Berbuat Dosa Dan Akan Hanya Menyakiti Hati Orang Lain Serta Akan Hanya Memberi Mudarat Kepada Orang Lain, Maka Saya Mohon Tolonglah Matikan Saya Secepat Yang Mungkin Jika Mati Itu Lebih Baik Bagi Saya. Dan Matikanlah Saya Dalam Husnul Khotimah..."





Monday, July 20, 2009

About Raining in Sudan, MRSM Muar & Silat Kuntau Tekpi

(Photo: Dark Cloud in Khartoum-Raining)

Opportunity To See Very Rare Raining Day As If You Were Seeing Lailatul Qadar Miracle!


Two days ago, Friday 17th of July was a rather special day in my Arkawit area in Khartoum because for the first time it was raining here. I was told since January this year
2009 this was the first time it was raining in Khartoum. Rain is so rare in Sudan that my friend, a Malaysian diplomat during his phone conversation with me said one of the Malaysians residing here even called his parents in Malaysia to tell them about the rain and how fortunate he was to see this raining day as if he was fortunate enough to see the magic of Lailatul Qadar. Lailatul Qadar is an auspicious night occurs normally in one of the last 10 days of Ramadhan night. We, the Muslim solemnly believe in Allah's promise that performing religious deeds (ibadah) during this night is better than total 1000 months of 'ibadah'. Normally we heard mysterious story about many strange things happen during this night of Lailatul Qadar.

For this week I would like to share with you my story regarding other fellow Malaysians that I met here in Khartoum, namely the United Nations officer, the Malaysian students and Petronas executives and engineers working in Sudan.

Before that, let me write something related to various matters that maybe interesting for you to read too.


(Photo: Aiwa Brand of Electrical Product)

Why the Sudanese Says "Aiwa, Aiwa" And Not "Toshiba, Toshiba". Is It Because They Love Japanese Aiwa Brand of Electrical Products?


Even though some Sudanese can speak English reasonably well, the common communication language in Sudan is still Arabic. Thus, in handling enquiries from the Sudanese regarding my company 3 services: Consultancy on "Doing Business in Malaysia", "Malaysia My Second Home" and "Malaysian Higher Education" I rely on my staff, Badreldin to make the accurate translation from Arabic to English and from English back to Arabic.

One thing for sure, over here the most frequent Arabic word that I heard been used by the Sudanese on daily basis is "Aiwa, Aiwa" which means "Yes, Yes". "Aiwa" is more a colloquial Arabic word used by the Sudanese Arab. If I am not mistaken, the rest of the Arab countries normally use "Na'am" to say "Yes".

So when you walk passing by a group of Sudanese talking in a shopping complex or bus station, it is ""Aiwa, Aiwa" here, "Aiwa,
Aiwa" there, in fact everywhere is "Aiwa, Aiwa".

Too bad for Sony or Toshiba. No matter how aggressive their advertisement effort are, their competitor
Aiwa Corporation also from Japan is still perceived as a very popular brand in Sudan, or is it?

We can hear almost in every conversation the word "Aiwa, Aiwa" surely comes out from the mouth of a Sudanese. Even the mute person will use the sign language to say "Aiwa, Aiwa"!

In a day perhaps at least 40 million times this "Aiwa, Aiwa' word being uttered because Sudan got 40
million population. It is impossible that a Sudanese says '"Aiwa" only once per day. So the total number of times this word "Aiwa" is said everyday by the Sudanese should be more than 40 millions time! I must say as a matter of fact a crawling baby also knows how to say "Aiwa, Aiwa". Its so easy to say "Aiwa"

So far I have never heard any Sudanese says 'Toshiba,
Toshiba" here and "Toshiba, Toshiba" there, to denote they agree with what you are saying. I am willing to run 7 times circling around Khartoum International Airport (do a 'Tawaf'), with only wearing my Crocodile brand underwear if anybody can prove to me that they have heard Sudanese uttering the words "Toshiba, Toshiba, Toshiba" in their daily conversation to show their agreement with what you have been saying, instead of the normal "Aiwa, Aiwa".

The fact is they will forever say "Aiwa, Aiwa" because "Aiwa" simply means "Yes"
in their dialect!


(Photo: Malay Muslim Praying. Do They Understand What They Recite?)

How The Malay Muslim Can Enjoy The Beauty of Praying If They Do Not Understand Arabic?


My other partner (Mr Mohamed Abujjoud) used to tell me that he felt strange to know a Muslim like me do not understand Arabic well. He maybe right. It is time for the Malay Muslim to learn and understand Arabic at least the basic Arabic.

If not, forever the Muslim Malay will not fully understand
what they are saying in their 5 times daily prayer. Without knowing Arabic well, they will read Al Quran like a parrot. If the Malay Muslim do not understand the Arabic language well, so how can they ensure the fundamental thing in Islam like five time a day prayers can be done wholeheartedly and with passion?


(Photo: Learning Mandarin Language)

I Used To Have "E-Biz Language Centre" in Yong Peng

In Malaysia, the Malay, the Chinese and the Indian have been living together for more than 50 years. However it is actually a missed opportunity that these 3 ethnics do not take the chance of learning each other language very seriously.

There is no real effort from the Malay community to learn Mandarin. If any initiative to
learn Mandarin in school been proposed I am sure the so-called Malay nationalists will oppose it in the name of Malay nationalism. What a waste of chance to enhance our multi-language skills, just because of narrow-mindedness of certain political leaders.

I remember last time I used to introduce a Mandarin course in my other company "E-Biz Language Centre" in Yong Peng, a small town not very far from Batu Pahat, Johor. The fact is very clear, besides English and Malay it is no harm for the Malays to learn Mandarin because knowing how to communicate reasonably well in Mandarin language will given them advantage when they do business with the Chinese not only in Malaysia but all over the world

I managed to get a part
time Mandarin language teacher to teach Mandarin to my clients that registered to learn Mandarin at my small language centre . At that time, she actually taught Mandarin at one of the government secondary school during the school hour time.

Unfortunately my effort stopped half way. If not, I believe my
crusade to make a lot of Malays understand Mandarin language has surely by now bear the fruits.

I have done my best to encourage the Malays in my area in Yong Peng that time to learn Mandarin. Even the qualified Mandarin language graduate that I took as my part time Mandarin teacher was not only a very good Mandarin language teacher, but also she was young, highly educated, experienced, attractive, charming and definitely sexy too.

I can bet if Zhang Ziyi, the
mainland China actress came to my language centre that time, she will also be impressed to see my part time Mandarin teacher appearance. I did not simply take any Chinese auntie or worst any 'expired' uncle as my Mandarin language teacher. Yet it still failed to generate interest among the Malays to learn Mandarin. What can I say...you can bring a horse to the river but you cannot force that horse to drink, especially if that horse has chosen to be a damn stubborn horse!


(Photo: MRSM Logo)

My Sweet MRSM Muar Time


For the benefits of my non-Malaysian blog readers, let make explain to them that the word "MRSM" is the Malay acronym for "Mara Junior Science
College" and Mara is a government agency responsible to ensure the development of the Malays, the majority ethnic group in Malaysia. MRSM is a full boarding school that used to have student admission from secondary level Form 1 until Form 5.

Normally in order to get admission into MRSM,
the students must get a good result during their primary school final examinations and also must pass the MRSM special admission examinations. So, by right those who have managed to get admission to MRSM should be students who excelled in their primary school level.

In my earlier blog
posting I mentioned that my 2 other Malaysian partners for my Pro-Versatile Group Worldwide are Huzaini Binti Hussein, a former MRSM Terendak student and Nafisah Binti Wahab, a former MRSM Jasin student. Both are chartered accountants and this partnership is unique because I come from different background from them. I come from legal background, having graduated with a law degree from The University of Sheffield. I myself was a MRSM Muar student. We are all in the same age and come from the same "Batch 83" in our respective MRSM.

(Photo: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, First Malaysian Astronaut)

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar or Syarifah Muszaphariah?


Even though other prominent boarding school like Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) has produced far more prominent public figures, I think former MRSM students nowadays gradually take over the limelight from time to time.

The so-called Malaysian first astronaut Datuk Sheikh Muszaphar
was also my junior two years in MRSM Muar. That time when I was in Form 3, he was just admitted to MRSM Muar in Form 1.

In MRSM Muar that time he was so
'beautiful' (yes, "beautiful" is the appropriate word, not "handsome") to the extend if we put a "tudung" or Muslim woman's veil on him, he will immediately change to "Syarifah Muszaphariah" rather than Sheikh Muszaphar!

I bet nobody in MRSM Muar would expect that one day one time this beautiful Sheikh
Muszaphar will be the first Malaysian astronaut that has managed to pass many physical and endurance tests.

What If There Is "MRSM Khartoum"?

We are very proud with the fact that three of us, the partners, come from MRSM background although from three different MRSM located at three different places.

In fact I am sure if there exists "MRSM Khartoum" I will choose a former MRSM Khartoum student as our partner.

Unfortunately
we do not have any MRSM Khartoum over here. So we do not mind to have Sudanese partners like Mr Abdul Jalil Abujjoud, Mr Mohammad Abujjoud and Mr Mutasim Osman, who are all very experienced businessmen, older than us. Since there is no "MRSM Khartoum" here maybe during their secondary school time they went to "Sekolah Menengah Seri Khartoum"!

(Photo: No Smoking Poster)

Those Caught Smoking During MRSM TIme Should Smoke Two Cigarettes At One Time Now to Celebrate Their Freedom!

During my MRSM Muar time I was appointed as the Head Prefect in 1987. The Head Prefect position in a boarding school like MRSM Muar is like the
Inspector General of Police of the school. Of course as the "Inspector General of Police" of MRSM Muar I was hated by students who committed disciplinary cases. That's why whenever I met the students that I used to report their name for various disciplinary problems, I would ask for their forgiveness for my "sin" reporting them to the Discipline Teacher. They just laughed at my jokes.

It is ironic that some of the students whom last time I caught smoking in the dormitory are now non smokers! I thought the ultimate freedom now that enable them to do whatever they want to do outside MRSM life, they maybe want to smoke cigarettes as many as possible now since they were not allowed to do that during their MRSM time. I even expect them to smoke two cigarettes at one time in order to express their sense of freedom whenever I met them again. No! I was wrong. Even some of them do not smoke at all.

(Photo: The 'Sinful' Jeans)

In MRSM Muar, It Is A Sin To Wear Jeans (Not Owning or Rearing 'Jin')

On the hindsight, I admit now that some of the MRSM discipline rules that as the Head Prefect I used to enforce it, by hook or by crook, were indeed ridiculous though.

Do you know that MRSM students are not allowed to wear jeans as their pants or trousers during their time in MRSM including after the official school hours and in the dormitory. It is considered as a big sin to wear jeans in MRSM.

You did not need to have a nude lady by the name of "Billy Jean" (remember Michael Jackson song?) hiding inside your cupboard, because just by having a pair of jeans nicely hidden in your cupboard would enough to make a Gestapo Head like me gone mad and straight ran as fast as "Forrest Gump" to Cikgu Atan Lazi, the MRSM Muar Discipline Teacher to make a report!


Excuse me...I am not talking about the student rearing or owning a "Jin" (genie or ghost) here, for goodness sake just an innocent piece of blue jeans only!

I would agree if the students receive appropriate punishment for owning or rearing any kind of 'Jin' (genie or ghost) but blue jeans? That's ridiculous, right? Yet...I was the Head of Gestapo a.k.a Head Prefect that enforced that ridiculous rule in MRSM Muar in 1987.


I think now there are many ex-MRSM students become public figures in Malaysia.

For example, MIA former President, Mr Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff used to be a MRSM Kota Bharu student (his MIA Presidency ended on 15th of July recently, that's why I used the word 'former'). I was also told that Datuk Seri Shazzalli Ramly, Celcom CEO was also a MRSM student but I am not sure from which particular MRSM.

If I am not mistaken, so was Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, Deputy International Trade Minister. In addition, another blogger who has also got XXL-size body similar like me, Zakhir Mohamed a.k.a "bigdogdotcom" was my 3 years senior in MRSM Muar.

In fact, Engku Emran (Suria FM CEO) who 'defeated' Hans Isaac to win the heart of our Malaysian actress and ex-Miss Malaysia beauty queen, Erra Fazira, also did his A-Level course in MRSM Kuala Lumpur, Taman Shamelin Perkasa.



(Photo: The Real "Mr Malaysia")

How Do You Feel To Be Called "Mr Malaysia"

Normally you will be called "Miss Malaysia" after you won a national beauty competition like our beauty queen Erra Fazira who has won national beauty competition more than 10 years ago. She was Miss Malaysia/World in 1992 and she was also the 3rd runner up for Miss South East Asia for the 1992/1993 session.

On the other hand, "Mr Malaysia" is for a Malaysian man who has won the body building Malaysian national competition. Talking about "Mr Malaysia" I want to share with you my story related to this "Mr Malaysia" title.


All this while each time I bumped into my landlord who stayed on the top floor of my apartment building he would definitely say to me: "Hello Malaysia! How are you? Is everything alright". He is a very friendly and caring landlord. Sometimes from a distance he would call me: "Hello Malaysia!" "Malaysia! Malaysia!". Unbelievable but it's true that he called me "Malaysia".

You see...He called me "Malaysia". Thank God he did not call me "Malaysia Anak Sylvester" like certain name of an "Orang Asli" (Aborigines) in Malaysia. I think he called me "Malaysia" because it's difficult for him to remember a Malaysian name like mine. No Sudanese has got "Khairul" as his name.


And quite a couple of times when I asked his workers' assistance to have a look at the room air conditioner in my room who sometimes was not functioning, his workers called me "Mr Malaysia". That's even smashing. Yeah! I am "Mr Malaysia" but I do not recall how many times I have won Malaysian body building championship.

Wow! The moment I was called "Mr Malaysia" immediately I tried to hold my breath for a few minutes to ensure my big tummy looks flat a little bit even though for a few minutes only, so that it does not look so huge. I nearly lost my breath doing that 'show-off' act.

For me, it was an honour to be called "Mr Malaysia" even though in reality I can never win any "Mr Malaysia" in whatever category you want me to participate either in heavyweight or featherweight category. But I guess maybe, just maybe, only in "Bantal"weight (not bantamweight) category I may win! (Note: "Bantal" is the Malay word for "pillow")



(Photo: Mr Azmi. The Man From United Nations. See the Similarity of His Face With The Late Actor A.Rahim Below Photo)

The Malaysian From United Nations


Three weeks ago I met another Malaysian that loves to work and live overseas. His name is Mr Azmi (for protocol reason, I unable to state his full name here) who is now working for one of the agency under United Nations (UN). I was introduced to him at Laziz Restaurant by one the Malaysian diplomat from the Embassy of Malaysia in Khartoum. Mr Azmi is now based in Southern Sudan.

Southern Sudan is unique in the sense that it is governed by GOSS (Government of Southern Sudan) which is predominantly Negro Christians as compared to the Northern Sudan which majority of the people are Muslim of Northern African Arab descent. Under the terms of the deal with the central government of Republic of Sudan in 2005, the south has been given a large degree of autonomy and the chance to vote for full independence in 2011. Juba is its capital city.

(Photo: The Official Crest of Government of Southern Sudan)

Southern Sudan President is Salva Kiir, Any Relationship With Khir Toyo?

By the way, Southern Sudan has its own President by the name of President Salva Kiir. Initially when I heard the word "Kiir" immediately I thought of "Khir Toyo" the former Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the state of Selangor in Malaysia. I was surprised because the pronunciation of the President's name is similar to Khir Toyo.

Do you know that Tun Daim Zainudin after he was not re-appointed as the Finance Minister has gone to Ghana and other African countries to set up his own bank? His International Commercial Bank (ICB) even won ‘Bank of the Year in Guinea 2004’, while his bank in Ghana is a member of the ‘Ghana Club 100’, which gives recognition to successful organizations based on growth and profitability.


So I was wondering after loosing power in Selangor in March 2009 General Election, Khir Toyo perhaps followed the footstep of Tun Daim and migrated to Sudan and change his name. If he in fact migrated to Africa, it seems that Khir Toyo has to undergo another facial treatment to look very much like an African. Last time only God knows what he has done to his face that changed tremendously from a pure Javanese face to much more modern face like his face now.


(Photo: Khir Toyo Before and After Tempe Treatment?)

United Nations Vehicles are Everywhere in Sudan


Mr Azmi actually just arrived from Malaysia for a three weeks holiday because his wife and his children are living in Kuala Lumpur. He only goes back to Malaysia occasionally maybe every 3 or 6 months. So from Khartoum he will take a United Nations (UN) flight to Juba. Over here you can see UN planes parked on the tarmac of Khartoum International Airport, UN four-wheel drive vehicles on the streets of Khartoum and UN buildings can be seen in many parts of Khartoum. Thus it is not a strange thing that upon seeing your rather different face, some Khartoum people may think you are working with UN.


(Photo: Actor, The Late Allahyarham A.Rahim With His Silat Kuntau Tekpi Uniform and Selendang Award)

What is Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi?

Mr Azmi is a Perak boy. At first when I saw him, I realized that his face very much resembling our Malay actor the late Allahyarham A.Rahim. A.Rahim used to learn the same brand of seni silat like me when I was doing my A level in Kuala Lumpur (Note: "Seni Silat" is the Malay martial arts or self defence technique).

The silat group that I myself brought to MRSM Cheras during my A-Level time was Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi. This seni silat originally from Kedah and was founded by Panglima Taib, a warrior in Kedah Palace very long time ago (around year 1556). It is believed that Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi was first taught to the Sultan of Kedah.

.
You see...a Majapahit Palace descendant like me tried to broaden my horizon by learning a Malay-based Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi. Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi uses 'Tekpi' (below photo) which is known as the “King of All Weapons”.

In 1989 almost everybody in MRSM Cheras A-Level Centre knew that I was the one who brought this Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi to MRSM Cheras (Masya Allah.Tabaraka Allah). I drafted the constitution for the MRSM Cheras Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi Association, in order for the management of MRSM Cheras to approve my proposal to set-up this association in MRSM Cheras.



(Photo: Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi Logo)

How do I know about Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi?


I actually read one of the brochures about this Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi. Since the name was very strange and in the brochure the writer claim that this silat's body movement will not go beyond the area of a Muslim prayer-mat in order to nail down and 'lock' the attacker, I really tried to trace the address printed inside the brochures.

The address brought me to a house in Kampung Klang Gate. Over there I met Mr Fandi Salleh Ghani (the son of Allahyarham Salleh Ghani, the famous Malay film director). He in turn brought me to see Mr Baharuddin Abdul Aziz who was famously called 'Uncle Bob'. Uncle Bob was at that time one of the leaders of Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi for the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur area.


"Special Branch" Bukit Aman versus "Normal Branch"

Uncle Bob was working in Bukit Aman that time (Headquarters of Malaysian Royal Police). He told me that Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi was actively being practiced by many members of the Malaysian Police Special Branch Unit. When we mention the words 'Special Branch' it definitely carries weight. When you said you were working in 'Special Branch' at least you will be given some attention from the person that you are talking to. The word 'Special' is there, not for nothing. If not, better call that unit just 'Normal Branch'.

Let's say you are standing in the middle of a busy restaurant and you yell: "Hello, attention please...I come from 'Normal Branch' of police and I need to get your cooperation to show me all your Identity Card". I think nobody would really take you seriously especially when you emphasize on the word 'Normal' when you said it. But the moment you scream you are from 'Special Branch' I can guarantee you that you will get the appropriate attention that you deserved!


The best part of this Silat Kuntau Tekpi was that time the graduation or the final spiritual testing night was held at Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir). Gunung Ledang is one of the most peaceful, serene, spiritually clean and romantic mountain in the world. This is Gunung Ledang. I would not care to mention it if the graduation or final test was held at Arena All Stars Genting Highlands or Sunway Lagoon. For goodness sake, it was held at the peak of Gunung Ledang! Fuh! It sounds like we were in Hang Tuah era!

The rest was history. I was the first president and founder of the Association of Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi in MRSM Cheras (Masya Allah.Tabaraka Allah). As the president of the association I managed to get some fund under co-curriculum activity allocation to build a village-style Silat 'Gelanggang' (training place). With that allocation money we build the floor of the 'Gelanggang' with tons of white sand and we bought canvas plastic to be used as the four corners wall of the 'Gelanggang'. So sweet to practice seni silat directly under the shining light of the moon and the twinkling of thousands stars during the bright night sky.


(Photo: Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood Star Wearing a Songkok, a Malay Headgear)

I Used To Wear 'Songkok' All The Time Except While Taking My Bath


Most of the students in MRSM Cheras that time knew me because of this Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi Association. My appearance was similar to Dicky Zulkarnain, the famous Indonesian movie star who played a leading role in "Si Pitung Macan Betawi" (Si Pitung the Tiger of Jakarta) film, because all the time I wore 'songkok' (the traditional Malay headgear like the above photo), except when I was sleeping and when I was taking my bath.

Please...I can't take my bath and at the same time having my 'songkok' on my head and wearing nothing else except my Crocodile brand underwear. It would be weird, wouldn't it? Even the mental hospital veteran will be very reluctant to take his bath by wearing his underwear only and at the same time having a songkok on his head!

(Photo: A Javanese Girl Demonstrating Javanese Silat Martial Art)

I Belong To Majapahit Silat Style!


However, even though the self defence techniques and the locking techniques of this Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi was indeed superb and one of the best among all types of silat, I found out later the hands and body movement or shall I say the 'silat dance' is not tuned to my blood, a Majapahit Palace descendant.

For people who are long enough in the silat world will understand what I am trying to say here. The Malay-based silat body movement is entirely different from the Javanese-based silat hand, body and even neck and head movement. I found out that a Majapahit Palace descendant blood like me do not belong to this Malay-based silat. I have to go back to where I belong which is the Majapahit Javanese silat!

(Photo: A beautiful Cambodian Lady)

The Baby Turned Blue Because The Cambodian Mum Unable To Breastfeed Him Anymore


Back to the story of my meeting with Mr Azmi, the United Nations officer. At Laziz Restaurant he shared with me his experience working in different parts of the world. He used to work in countries such as Combodia and Timor Leste. There were so many good and bad things that he has experienced throughout his duty as a UN officer.

He told me that in Cambodia for instance he used to meet a poor woman on the roadside begging for help while carrying a baby on her arm. He found out that the baby was already turned blue even though he saw the woman try to massage the baby with her hands to make the baby 'warm'. That poor Cambodian women explained to him that she has got nothing else left to feed the baby. Even the milk from her breast has stopped flowing making her not possible to breastfeed her baby. Mr Azmi gave her some money to buy food but it was too late because by that time the baby's soul has already left this life full of misery on Planet Earth to live happily in heaven, leaving his kind mother to grieve alone on the streets of Cambodia.

He said the more he saw many deplorable conditions in different parts of the world, the more he tend to value the luxury of living in Malaysia, a paradise on earth!


(Photo: Belacan, the Malay Prawn Shrimp Paste)

Well...If Almost Everyday You Eat 'Durian' It Will Taste Like 'Belacan'


At the time when he narrrated his various stories regarding his experience working in many parts of the world under the UN banner, he looked very serious and sad but the moment I asked him whether he just came back from Malaysia to see his wife and children after more than 3 months been separated, out of sudden his face turned jovial and sweet like rainbow and sunshine.

Well...I also travelled a lot and I always left my wife at home too, so I can understand this man's bombastic, fantastic and smashing feeling meeting his wife again. All of you are not cute innocent kindergarten kids. So allow me to explain this way. You know...when you have not eaten durian for 3 months and out of sudden you have been given the chance to eat it, only God knows how to describe the sweetnesss, the joy, the juicy, the romanticness of eating the durian!

But if almost everyday you are eating durian, I can assure you even the best durian grade D4, D7 or even grade D9000 also will make you feel tasteless as if you are eating belacan, instead of the delicious durian! How do I know? I know..lah.
(Note:
"Durian" is the Malaysian King of Fruits and "Belacan" is prawn shrimp paste)



(Photo: UN Plane)

Different Mission, Same Character


In term of age, Mr Azmi is only 2 years senior than me (he is 41 and I am 39 years old) but in term of life experience in dealing with people living in crisis areas he is clearly very much my senior that I can learn a lot from him. Again, his humility and his natural friendliness no doubt makes him suit well with this United Nations job. I was told that perhaps after this he will be working in Switzerland, but still under the banner of United Nations.

Mr Azmi also told me that if I consider the situation in Khartoum already bad compared to Malaysia (in term of hot weather, frequent electricity disruption, expensive daily consumer goods) then the situation in Darfur and Juba is even worse.

The similarity between Mr Azmi and I is we love to go to different parts of the world on the quest of our career. He has gone to Cambodia, Timor Leste, Afghanistan, now Sudan and then Switzerland in the course of his employment, while I have been to Jakarta, China, Iran, UK, now Sudan and my next destination maybe Karachi, even though officially I am based in the United Kingdom.

He has gone around the world to work under the United Nations banner but I will go around the world to train my local partner of my branch office to promote 3 different services: "Doing Business in Malaysia", "Malaysia My Second Home Programme' and "Malaysian Higher Education". Different mission but both of us carry the good name of Malaysia, our country that we love dearly.



(Photo: Petronas Complex in Khartoum)

The Stylish and Cash-Rich Petronas Engineers in Sudan


Last Wednesday night, 15th July 2009 the nice and friendly Malaysian diplomat that I described in great length in my July 11 blog-posting, have brought me to attend a Thanks Giving ("Majlis Kesyukuran") ceremony hosted by a Pattani Malay businessman who just married to a Malaysian lady from Subang, Selangor. This established but down-to-earth Malay businessman name is Mr Bukhari. He invited more than 50 Malaysians currently residing in Khartoum to his apartment for this "Majlis Kesyukuran". This group of Malaysians consist of Petronas staffs working in Khartoum, Malaysian students in Sudan and Malaysian Embassy staffs.

This was the first time I met my fellow Malaysians in a large group. There were many different Malaysian food and dishes prepared by Mr Bukhari's newlywed wife. We were really spoilt for choice. It has been quite a long time I have not eaten rice here in Khartoum because I really do not have time to cook myself. Normally I just eat "Shaworma" (bread with meat inside). That night there was no electricity supply in Khartoum. So this "Majlis Kesyukuran" was really romantic in the sense that we use a kind of light resembling candle to light-up the guest area of the house.

During the occasion, I met and talked to many Malaysians. Most of them were very junior in term of age compared to me because majority of them are Malaysians students and Petronas staffs. I was told that there are no less than 300 Malaysians currently working under various Petronas group of companies in Sudan.

Most of them are living in 'Petronas Complex'. These bright and intellectual looking Petronas engineers really make our country proud. When our country just got our independence 52 years ago I think nobody at that time could visualize that one day one time a lot of Malaysian expatriates would work all over the world to share and render their skills and expertise in other developing countries like these bright and smart Petronas Malaysian engineers working in Sudan.


Petronas which was founded in 1974 is the only Malaysian company that listed in "Fortune 100" companies in the world. In fact, Fortune ranks Petronas as the 95th largest company in the world in 2008. In term of profitability, Fortune also ranks Petronas as the 8th most profitable company in the world. What about in Asia? Fortune ranks Petronas as the most profitable company in Asia.

With its revenue total up to USD75.5 billion in 2009, you will feel 'something' when meeting these Petronas engineers. Working with such a gigantic company like Petronas, this group of Malaysian expatriates in Sudan are surely enjoying a lucrative salary and benefits package.

(Photo: Highly Motivated Javanese Warrior in Action)

My Motivational Positive Self-Talk


For a small businessman like me, (but with a huge ambition to set up my branch in every corner of the world for those 3 services: "Doing Business in Malaysia", "Malaysia My Second Home" and "Malaysia Higher Education"), I tried to motivate myself in my heart not to be "psychologically intimidated" by this cash-rich and well-paid Petronas engineers.

I whispered to myself: "Even though I am a small businessman, unlike those Petronas expatriates who have got a high fixed salary, my own company business income can be limitless, depend upon how much sales that my business can generate".

I also kept myself in high spirit by saying to my heart again: "No matter how high the position that this particular Petronas engineer is now having in Petronas, he cannot pass his good job position in Petronas to be inherited by his children, unlike me (and my other partners) who can pass this business entity to be inherited by our children for generations to go"

But of course I kept this kind of "motivational positive self-talk" to myself only. This is for my own self motivation only. It will be deeply offending if I tell them about this undisputed facts.

Furthermore, the Petronas engineers that I met were all a bunch of friendly Malaysians who did not show that, they by virtue of their employment with Petronas, were much better than the other Malaysians living in Khartoum. They are indeed a group of highly educated professionals who are also humble with an admirable degree of good manners.


I Should Promote "Malaysia My Home" Programme To a Malaysian Student Who Had Been Living in Sudan for a Long Time And Forget Malaysia is His Home!

As for the students, there are curently 23 Malaysian students studying in Sudan. Most of them studying in International University of Africa (IUA) in Khartoum. The International University of Africa is more or less having the similar concept with our home grown International Islamic Universisty (UIA or IIU) in Malaysia. Students in International University of Africa come from more than 50 countries all over the world including Malaysia.

After I explained to them that I am here in Khartoum to assist my local Sudanese partner to set up our North African first branch in Sudan and we are promoting 3 services: "Doing Business in Malaysia", "Malaysia My Second Home'' and 'Malaysia Higher Education", one of them jokingly told me that I need to help him to promote to his fellow Malaysian friend the "Malaysia My Home" programme (not "My Second Home", just "My Home" without the word "Second").

I asked him: "Why? By the way he is indeed a Malaysian" So this man told me that his friend (a Malaysian student who had been living in Sudan for quite a long time) obviously forget that Malaysia is his home! And I should promote "Malaysia My Home" to entice his friend to go back to Malaysia!


Shortly after the Thanks Giving ceremony ended, the Malaysian diplomat who brought me to Mr Bukhari's house suggested that a group of 8 male students, himself and I walked to this Malaysian students' house nearby. So we decided to walk. It's quite far actually. It took more than 20 minutes to walk in the middle of the night in Khartoum to reach the students' house. We passed-by many houses and many small shops. As a matter of fact, we also passed-by somebody who slept outside the shop, on his portable bed. This is how safe Khartoum is..


(Photo: University Mosque In International University of Africa, Khartoum)

I Salute Malaysian Students in Khartoum. Why?

Upon reaching the students' house, that Malaysian diplomat and I decided to have a casual talk with the students inside the house. During that discussion I came to know that almost all of the Malaysian students in Sudan are funded by their own parents to study in Khartoum. None of them received any kind of financial assistance from the government of Malaysia

I must say to you when I saw the face of each one of the Malaysian students that night I felt a kind of solace and peace in my heart. Their faces were so innocent and calm. I can't describe to you what I mean by 'innocent and calm face' but we can feel it when we see it, unlike when I see faces such as Nazri Aziz the cabinet minister's face, or Zambry Kadir, the fake Perak MB's face.

One of them told me that normally their parents take care only for their air ticket expenses. As for the daily expenses and the university tuition fees they will source the fund themselves by working part time as a cook or by using their own word, working part time as a 'Bibik' in the house of Petronas expatriate who does not have time to cook Malaysian dishes but have plenty of money to pay this student to cook for them.

Some of the students also work part-time teaching Arabic language to the children of Petronas engineers or executives who are working in Sudan. It was a poignant moment for me upon listening attentively to their story about their hardwork to finance their own study in Khartoum.

To this Malaysian students in Sudan, let me put on record that I salute you. I really do. You are the symbol of a courageous group of Malaysian teenage students who manage to live on your own. You are indeed much better than those group of Malay students in Malaysia who forever expected to be spoon-fed all the time.

As my token of respect towards this group of Malaysian students in Sudan I have decided to put their association official newsletter name in the list of newspapers from all over the world that you can read in my blog. Just go to the topical heading "Read Newspapers From All Over The World" in my blog. You can read their newsletter by double-clicking the newspaper title "Sudan-PMMS Mahasiswa Malaysia"


Below are a list of my writing that were published under the 'Comments' column in "Malaysia Today" or "Malaysian Insider" portals that I have decided not to publish as the main writing in my own blog because it is very political in nature.

I believe some of my blog readers are avid supporters of UMNO and BN party. Thus, as my way to show my personal respect to them I would like to highlight and caution them upfront that a lot my writing reproduced below is very much against many policies subscribed by the existing Malaysia federal government.

I am not a PAS member (yet). Neither am I a PKR or DAP member. But I have my own opinion on every issue happening in Malaysia now. However my opinion may offend the feeling of some of my blog readers who are now supporting the federal government of Malaysia. For that, I apologize to you on the manner my opinion is expressed but I will never apologize to anybody, not even to the Supreme King of Malaysia for having my own personal opinion on the matter or issue that I discussed below. Happy Reading!



(Photo: A Catholic Priest)

MY COMMENT ON AL ISLAM MAGAZINE JOURNALIST SEARCHING FOR MUSLIM TEENAGERS INSIDE A CHURCH
(Posted as a Comment in Malaysia Today Portal 15th July 2009)

As a practicing Muslim, I love my religion very dearly. Hence, when we love something with all our heart, naturally my heart is broken everytime I heard any effort to convert my fellow Muslim to any other religion.

Having said that, however I must say that it is extremely embarrassing for me to read that my other fellow Muslims (whether a journalist or the Islamic religious Department staffs) have to go to the extend searching and exploring every corner inside a Christian church like a Nazi officer searching for the Jews, just to ensure no Muslim 'remaja' (teenager) convert to Christianity.

Is my religion that not 'saleable' or good at all that people have to be forced to remain in Islam?

Instead of searching for any teenager in a Christian church, can't all this so-called Islamic religious departments see the moment they step out from their comfortable air-conditioning office there are a lot of Muslim remaja or teenagers are indeed longing for their help, their attention, their love, their Muslim brotherhood. They do not need to search who are among the Muslim teenagers are dying for their help, their attention, their love or their Muslim brotherhood. They are everywhere!


I still remember when I was doing my law degree in the UK, every morning the very moment my neighbour, a Catholic priest saw my face, the first thing he would say was:

"HOW ARE YOU TODAY MY SON? ARE YOU ALRIGHT? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN HELP YOU TODAY?"

My question is very simple how many Imam, Ulamak or Islamic leaders have expressly manisfested their love and their utmost Muslim brotherhood value by asking more or less the same question like my neighbour's Catholic priest asked me EACH time he saw my face?

Because if they really do, I believe they do not have to put themselves to that low acting like a Nazi officer searching for a Jews in a Jewish synagogue! And the teenager will remain in Islam without any force. I love my religion!


(Photo: Islamic Party of Malaysia PAS Flag)

MY COMMENT ON PAS PARTY SLIM MAJORITY IN MANEK URAI BY ELECTION
(Posted as a Comment in Malaysia Today Portal 15th July 2009)

Alhamdulillah. Praise to the Lord.

I thank God that Islamic Party has won the Manek Urai By-Election.

Whether a person has died because of cancer, or car accident or fighting on the street, or drown at Irama Beach Bachok, he is still considered as a dead man, no matter what is the cause of his death.

So no matter whether you won with a majority of 65 votes or 650 votes or even 6.5 votes, a win is still a win. It does not mean if you won with majority of 65,000 votes you will have a seat or chair made from gold in Parliament or those who won with 65 votes majority you will get a chair or seat made from old forest wood!

I am of the opinion, there is no such thing as government money, all are taxpayers' money. The rakyat or the people is the "Shareholders" because they pay tax that later been used for development etc, while the government of the day is just the 'Manager' only. So how come the "Manager" (government) can threaten the "Shareholder" (the voters or people) that unless they vote for the federal government of the day (BN), they will not get a new bridge. It was fundamentally very wrong for Muhyiddin Yassin to promise that Manek Urai voters will only get the new bridge if BN wins this by-election.

The present governmemt cabinet ministers are mere 'Managers' selected by the Malaysian voters to manage the taxpayers' money. If the voters do not like this "Managers", they will kick out this 'Managers' in the General Election". The ownership of the money still remains in the hand of the taxpayers or the citizens of Malaysia. At no time this taxpayers money belong to the government ministers ("Managers")!


In the same breath, I would like to REPRIMAND all the Pakatan Rakyat leaders that I can tolerate people who are very stupid but I certainly cannot tolerate with certain PR leaders who are very PROUD of their stupidity with many conflicting provocative statements among themselves. My high blood pressure 'went upstairs to 88th floor' each time I read silly comments and squabbles among the PAS, DAP and PKR leaders! Wake up PR leaders if you want to be our alternative government!


(Photo: United Malay National Organization UMNO Flag)

MY COMMENT ON THE EFFECT OF THE RESULT IN MANEK-URAI BY ELECTION
(Posted as a Comment in Malaysia Today Portal 16th July 2009)


Even though I am not a Kelantanese, having married to a Kelantanese for 16 years and quite closed to my wife's Kelantanese's village locals, I tend to know the Kelantanese people general pattern of thinking and the way they do things.

If UMNO think this Manek Urai 'victory' in reducing the majority just to a mere 65 votes is the ultimate reference point that the voters are coming back to them, they have made a mistake that is so basic and will be proven fatal to their fate coming next coming General election.

However, I do not mind that UMNO made this mistake because I do not want Malaysian taxpayers money continuously been used as a ransom by this group of just mere "Managers" (Goverment Ministers) against us and to intimidate us, the ultimate "Shareholders" (taxpayers of the country).


Whenever there is a by-election, this mere "Managers' without slightest of shame try to offer or bribe their own "Shareholders' who are the real owner of this taxpayers money, by saying unless they vote for BN, they will not get money for certain infrastrucure projects in their area.

How dare this "Managers" threaten the "Shareholders", whom by virtue of paying tax are the real owner of the money!


PAS supporters in Kelantan are definitely not the same demographically like PAS supporters in West Coast states like Johor Melaka etc. Over here in Kelantan I also came to know there are some Muslim PAS supporters who even do not pray 5 times a day.

Believe it or not a 'gedebeh' street fighter who in front of me swallowed a lizard alive also among the die-hard PAS supporters in Kelantan. However, I must confess and I cannot deny the fact that the majority of PAS supporters in Kelantan are indeed very religious and very knowledgeable about Islam.

My point here is traditionally in a certain village in Kelantan the numbers of die-hard UMNO supporters and die-hard PAS supporters in a village are normally more or less the same. For me, it is very surprising to know that with so many ulamak in Kelantan and so many religious school, yet there are people who still support UMNO party in Kelantan.

For UMNO supporters in Kelantan they will claim that there is no point to support PAS, whose members are also as bad as them in their daily islamic practice and manners (akhlak). Their degree of stubborness or their dedication to go against PAS will increase the moment they know this particular PAS members who never really practice Islam and as bad as them in term of the manners (akhlak) of Islam trying to riducule UMNO's struggle for Islam.


This is not the same when we see majority of PAS members in the west coast, say Johor for example is very much different in term of their Islamic daily practice commitment, manners (akhlak), and also their clean and honest appearance as compared to typical UMNO members in a village in Johor.

You can immediately tell whether this man supports UMNO or PAS in a village in Johor just by seeing how they carry themselves. It is not difficult to judge the book by looking at its cover in Johor, unlike in the case of Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer.

There are so many factors that made PAS has only managed to get 65 votes majority in Manek Urai by election. It is more towards internal unproductive squabbling within PAS itself. With the big nonsense about unity talk with UMNO, people shockingly find out the unspeakable possiblity that PAS has no clear direction about with whom they want to cooperate to form the next alternative governmeent in Malaysia. In short, it is PAS own doing that contributed to this reduction of majority.

In Johor, I can confidently say the answer will be absolutely in the negative if I throw out this following question: "Show me ANY PAS Divison Head that has been enriching himself by virtue of having his position as the PAS Division Head"

But if you want me to show which UMNO leaders at various levels in Johor who have not benefitted from any single thing from government projects ot tenders no matter how small it is, whether directly or indirectly, I think even Pak Pandir can answer it faster than "Jamal Malik" character in "Slumdog Millionaire" movie!


(Photo: The Dead Body of Teoh Beng Hock)

MY COMMENT ON THE LATE TEOH BENG HOCK MYSTERIOUS DEATH
(Posted as a Comment in Malaysia Today Portal 17th July 2009)


This is too much. Way too much. I do not know whether this MACC interrogators simply do not have got brain or they really desperate to show other people that inside their head is actually empty, really empty without the physical complete structure of a human brain.

How do you know that in each every people's head there is a human being anatomy which all of us call brain? Yes, B-R-A-I-N? For anything that is hidden or cannot be seen, the possibility is it maybe exist and it maybe not.

So I guess these so-called MACC investigators surely so hard-up and desperate to show to the other Malaysian citizens that indeed there is no brain inside their head. For if they have, surely they will not act worse than Nazi interrogators grilling this poor young man from 5pm on Wednesday till 3.45am on Thursday morning.

Whether there is a provision under the law that a witness (not a suspect) to be grilled or interrogated for such a long period is another issue which I do not have the appetite to talk about it now.

BUT my question to MACC interrogators are:

Are you going to do the same by interrogating mercilessly if that young man was Khairy Jamaluddin whom even UMNO Disciplinary Board has found him guilty of money politics?

Why have you not interrogated Ali Rustam with the same degree of intensity that this 'witness' Teoh has to endure, again whom UMNO Disciplinary Board has found him guilty of money politics?

To all MACC interrogators let me remind you that your salary that you feed your children at home all this while are paid by using Malaysian taxpayers' money and this include the late Teoh's tax money! So why on earth your actions show that you have behaved like a political slave to your political masters in UMNO? I am not saying that Teoh definitely has not committed any corrupt practice at all. That is a separate topic or issue. What I am questioning is the MACC interrogation procedures and the very clear double standard treatment practiced by MACC.

My heart goes out with the late Teoh's family and his fiancee. I cannot imagine if this had happened to me. But if it had, I am positively sure my young son and daughters will not rest even for a second until and unless my death is vindicated through whatever legal means necessary.

Nobody really understand why today in my office I cried silently but my tears visibly flowed from my eyes after seeing the above photo which shows the Late Teoh's body sprawled in a pool of blood on the roof of the building with a forensic police checking his body and upon reading the background story of his death.

Yes, indeed I as a Muslim, cannot accept seeing my other fellow Malaysian brother and human-being died like that. It is simply too much for me. To the late Teoh's family and fiancee, you are not alone. I silently cry with you too. Really.


(Photo: Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission MACC Crest)

MY CRITICISM ON MALAYSIA ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION (MACC) INTERROGATION PROCEDURES
(Posted as a Comment in Malaysia Today Portal 18th July 2009)


Reading all the news about the manner the late Teoh has to undergo a long merciless interrogation process really made a reasonably patient man like me feel very angry to the extend that my blood pressure 'went upstairs to the 88th floor' again on this beautiful but sad Saturday morning.

Many mainstream newspapers report today tried to look intelligent and rationale when everybody else who have analysized the sequence of actions committed by MACC since its inception (even prior to that as BPR) will throw up or vommit with MACC very clear selective prosecution and double standard practice.


Okay. Alright. You got the point when you said that nobody really saw who has killed or murdered Teoh Beng Hock (except the murderer and Teo himself) because not even a lawyer was allowed to accompany the late Teoh during the entire interrogation. I know we cannot accuse people of committing a crime just based on common sense only without hard evidence.

Even though there are so many common sense arguments that pointed out it is not possible for Teoh to commit suicide or preferred to remain in the MACC building after the interrogation ended, especially knowing fully well that he has to register his marriage on that day or the day after that which in turn could made a lot people close to him wanted him to be back as soon as possible, we leave that 'common sense-common sense' arguments aside for a while.


However what I am VERY sure and questioning is the undeniable fact that Teoh was interrogated continuously from from 5pm on Wednesday till 3.45am on Thursday morning. He was allowed to take a break only at 6am. The biggest nonsense part is he has to undergo this long torturous interrogation process, even though he has never been regarded as a suspect by MACC, only a witness.

I honestly never know that a government officers like MACC interrogators were so hard working that they were willing to continuously working practically overnight. Surely these interrogators also were willing not to sleep overnight just to grill Teoh continuously without any mercy. Unfortunately, that double-standard-super-duper efficiency and hardworking attitude of MACC interrogators ONLY and ONLY can be seen whenever the person interrogated comes from opposition really makes me want to vommit the second time in 7 minutes.

The next thing that I am VERY sure is the answer to my next question will be in the negative. My next question, which is the same question that I wrote in my earlier comment is: "Are you going to do the same by interrogating mercilessly if that young man was Khairy Jamaluddin whom even UMNO Disciplinary Board has found him guilty of money politics?" Are you? Just answer "Yes" or "No".

This is the question that are lingering in the mind of any other average Malaysians like me.

The whole world knew the verdict of UMNO Disciplinary Board regarding Khairy money politics case in UMNO election recently. I wish to see Khairy to be grilled in the same manner with the late Teoh, in the name of justice and fairness. I have nothing personal against Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ). In fact sometimes I also call myself "KJ" (albeit referring to the different acronym: "Khairul Jawa"). I do not think this political slaves MACC officers dare to treat Khairy Jamaluddin the same manner they have treated the late Teoh. This political slaves simply do not have the balls to do that when facing UMNO political leaders.

In Malaysia everybody should be treated equally, but it seems that that principle or maxim remains a beautiful principle only to be read in the law book or constitution.

What made me angry is this very crystally clear selective prosecution continuously been practiced without any slightest shame. Anything against the opposition such as Ronnie and Teoh case and also Khalid Ibrahim cow and car case, MACC will run as fast as Forest Gump to investigate the matter. But when come to UMNO political leaders case like Khairy, Ali Rustam and PKFZ fiasco they are damn slow, even a baby elephant who just born 7 minutes ago can walk faster than them

I have also got my own VERY SURE answer to this question but let me just ask MACC officers again this very simple question: "Why have you not interrogated Ali Rustam, whom UMNO Disciplinary Board has also found him guilty of money politics in UMNO recent election with the same degree of intensity that this 'witness' Teoh has to endure?

Are you willing to grill Ali Rustam for 12 long hours like this brainless MACC officers did to the late Teoh Beng Hock?" If not, why? Why when come to Teoh who is just a 30 years old man and so novice in politics with practically no connection with anybody in the Federal government all of you MACC officers acted very brave, very 'patriotic' and very fierce. Why?


I actually do not need to ask anybody in order to get all the answers to the above questions. Let's give our 'answer' come next General Election!



MY COMMENT ON INSENSITIVE 'SENYUM KAMBING' UTUSAN MALAYSIA CARTOON
(Posted as a comment in Malaysia Today 18th July 2009)


My comment here related to the sarcastic and insensitive "Senyum Kambing" cartoon published yesterday in Utusan Malaysia with its wording "Jatuh, Lompat atau Ditolak" which clearly insinuating the late Teoh either jumped, fell or was pushed to his death, which practically put him to be blamed and not the MACC at all.

As a Malay and a Muslim I always tell people that I can tolerate even the most stupid people who does not know how to behave according to the circumstances, but I cannot tolerate with people like Utusan Malaysia who is very PROUD of their STUPIDITY.

At this moment of time when each of the family member of the late Teoh is in deep sadness and at the time when no word in dictionary can describe the extreme sorrow suffered by his fiancee who by right went to register theIr marriage yesterday, this heartless Utusan Malaysia brought shame to all the Malays who are well known for their politeness and good manners, by show-casing this "Senyum Kambing" with the most sarcastic words "jatuh, lompat atau ditolak" which all the three words denote that the late Teoh is the one that 100% at fault.

It's very clear that this people in Utusan Malaysia do not subscribe to even the basic decency as a human-being. The least they can do is to keep quiet but they choose to be hated by putting this kind of dialog of 'Senyum kambing' in the front page of Utusan Malaysia.

Again as a Muslim and a Malay, if I have my way, I myself want to go to each house to meet the occupants who have already bought this Utusan Malaysia edition and explain to them that the real Muslim will not have such a disrespect towards other family in grievances.

I also wish I can go to each each newspaper vendor and use all my savings to buy whatever balance of unsold Utusan Malaysia left and then drive to the nearest Indah Water pond to dump all these edition of Utusan Malaysia so that nobody else can buy and read such a heartless comment through this 'Senyum Kambing' which in fact can seed hatred towards the Malay itself. This is the least as a human-being that I wish I could do to show that not all Muslim and Malays are so heartless like this Utusan Malaysia!


(Photo: Draconian Malaysian Internal Security Act)

MY COMMENT ON THE ABOLITION OF MALAYSIAN INTERNAL SECURITY ACT OR ISA
(Posted as a Comment in Malaysia Today Portal 19th July 2009)


Any right thinking and objective man in Malaysia will surely support that our Malaysian ISA should be abolished, or at the very least must undergo a major overhaul so that its implementation will reflect the basic rights of a human being that need to be brought to a court of law if he is suspected of breaking any law of the land.

The existing form of ISA and its implementation is no longer geared towards fulfilling the original intention or objective of this piece of old legislation. Since a very long time ago I already knew that ISA original objective is to curb the subversive movement such as communist terrorist activities in our country who last time was tying to destabilise the peace of our country that time. Even though I have not done a complete and thorough research about this ISA, we do not need to be a rocket-scientist to know that there clearly something very wrong about this ISA.


For me, if you believe the person has indeed committed the crime that he has been accused to commit, then bring him to the open court and charged him with whatever charge provided by the provision of the law of the land. If he is guilty then by all means he deserved all the punishment in whatever form provided under the law including detention or imprisonment. But if he was found not guilty then you need to release him without any slightest delay, by all means necessary.

However until today there are still some people inside Kamunting ISA Detention Camp that have been held for a long time without being charged and without knowing the definite time when he will be allowed to live as a free man again. This is really cruel and injustice. I am not saying all of them are not guilty.

But after so long time locking them in the detention camp, would't the police have got so much time to collect the necessary evidence to prosecute him and get the full conviction in any court of laws . I thought this government interrogation officers are very efficient in interrogation skills and love the interrogation process, so much so they are willing to grill any accused or witness continuously without thinking so much about "office hour-office hour" factor?

My question is until how long that these ISA detainee will be held inside Kamuntying ISA DEtention Camp without being charged? Even a rapist and a thief who are now in Sungai Buluh know the time he will be set free. If they were sentenced to 8 years in jail, they will know after that period they will have the opportunity to be a free man again. What about a murderer who was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged to death? Well...at least he also knew when will be the end of his journey to this life.

So ISA detainee is the worst kind of detainee. They neither know when will they be set free again nor for how long more they have to stay inside there. All at the whimp and fancy of the Home Minister.


Malaysians are not stupid. They have got eyes to see, ears to listen and brain to analyze. Based on many ISA arrest operations that have been made all this while, it was clear that ISA was always used by the government to silence its critics and as a trump-card to stay in power by locking their opponents at the whimp and fancy of the Home Minister.

At least all animals in the zoo know that there is no way that they will be released to live in the jungle again but ISA detainees always have some kind of hope that they may or not have a chance to be released again. This uncertainty and hope that torture a human-being more.

Even animals in the zoo can make love with their spouse because every zoo in the world will ensure that in the animal cell there must be a male and a female companion but this ISA detainee who has never been charged in an open court and who has never be found guilty also has got no idea when they will have the opportunity to be a free man again to taste this basic needs of having an opposite companion. Everything at the mercy of our powerful Minister of Home Affair


I am very sure if gorillas in the zoo can ever talk to me, they will also tell me that this ISA is really inhuman even though all of us are human!

Obviously his party political interest has clouded the judgment of our Minister of Human Affairs to see this and made his way of thinking even worse than my friend the gorillas in the zoo because the gorillas also reported to me that they all laughed like hell each time they heard our Home Minister claimed the arrest under ISA is made in the best interest of our country's security!


Jumpa Lagi, Ma'as salaama, Salam, Permisi, Khoda Hafez, Pamitan, Bye For Now..

15 comments:

  1. Hello Khairul...Good Day to you. i have been waiting for your latest posting since Friday because normally you will write a new topic every Friday....I thought you were not feeling well again like last week. Thats why only today your latest posting finally came out.

    But i must say its WORTH my 3 days waiting! As usual very interesting writing from KHAIRUL THE GREAT!! Take care my man.

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  2. Sepanjang minggu yang mengerikan, "dah tak boleh berhujah dengan mulut, berhujah dengan tangan", kesimpulan minggu yang penuh tragik dan penuh misteri dan tandatanya tanpa jawapan yang pasti. Walau apapun jua, hidup perlu diteruskan, mencari dan mencari perkara perkara yang tidak pasti dalam dunia yang penuh dengan ketidakpastian. Hanya terserah kepada ALlah dan usaha dan ikhtiar yang berterusan.

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  3. Hi Khairuuuul, How are you? We really hope you are okay. When this week you also late posting, kitaorang dah risau, takut you ni sakit ke, apa ke, ya lah selalunya kan jumaat you post you punya postingkan? we hope you are okay....

    I cannot imgaine lah you have a bath by wearing only your crocodile underwear AND your songkok on your head! hahaha funny sangat

    Take care. we like your blog...so many things in your blog... a lot of magazine etc....

    bye...

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  4. Beauty & interesting indeed. Keep on trying to achive on whatever you are doing now. Don't stop & don't ever look back.

    frm ladylike

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  5. Good Day Khairul....Before this Teoh Beng Hock case I didn't really bother that much about our malaysian politics, now rather different you know...I bfound out a lot of your opinion about our politics really make sense and struck the bull's eyes.

    i agree 100% of your opinion about malaysian politics taht you wrote in this blog. as a person with law education background you should enter politics long time ago my friend because your opinion on various issues really really make sense and very appealing.

    as usual you never stop impressing me with your ideas..take care friend!

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  6. Dear "Michael KL", you are right, sir. As 'shareholders' of this country (by virtue of paying various types of tax) we have every right to ensure this elected 'Managers' (politician or government of the day)do not mismanage our hard-earned tax money.

    In UK, I never read or heard the word "government money' because the truth is "government money" never exists. Only 'taxpayers' money". Even GLC like Petronas etc was all originally funded by taxpayers money at the initial stage of their operations. Unless and until all Malaysians understand this concept, the "Tidak Apa" attitude will be there forever. Thank you for your comment.

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  7. Dear Anonymous ("ladylike"), thank you for your words of encouragement. Yes. I will not stop and I will not look back. Never. Never. Never. Ever.

    I never ever live in the past. Too many sad stories. Too many shattered dream. With the support from "The pillar of my strength" (i.e my beloved loyal and beautiful wife) I will never for a second look back to the past.

    May Allah help me to achieve my dream to set up as many branch as possible in every corner of the world to promote my THREE different services: "Doing Business in Malaysia", "Malaysia My Second Home Programme" and "Malaysian Higher Education", by making collaboration with the local people of that country. Insya Allah. God willing.

    Obama says "Yes. We Can!" Khairul says: "Ya. Kita Bisa Melakukan!". Thank you for your comment.

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  8. Dear "Lina", thank you for spending your valuable time to jot down something as your comment.

    And thank you for your concern. No, physically I am o.k, mentally I was so tired due to so many things to think within short period of time. That's why my latest posting was on Sunday, not Friday as before.

    Well...regarding last time I had my bath without wearing my 'songkok' (Malay headgear), even my beloved Tok Guru Nik Aziz does not take his bath by wearing his turban. That's I am very sure. But whether he wears his underwear or not or just wearing a piece of cloth covering whatever that need to be covered during his bath, I really don't know. That one we have to consult Datin Tuan Sabariah, his wife. Thank you for your comment

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  9. Dear En. "HISHAMUDIN", indeed you are right. Last week was a very long week in the history of human rights in Malaysia. Soh Cher Wei (fiancee of the late Teoh) surely has had a wish that she can turn back the clock and last week never came.

    Until today, as a human-being I cannot accept the WAY the late Teoh was treated prior to his death. I have never said that late Teoh is not guilty or guilty. That's an entirely separate issue to be dealt. I am only questioning the entire procedures of the MACC interrogation process. I have got no idea as to why Teoh was found dead. Thank you for your comment

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  10. Dear "Chong USJ", thank you for your concern and words of encouragement.

    People like you that have been my source of motivation to still write something in my blog no matter how busy I am. Thank you for your comment

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  11. *Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
    I admire your writing skills and your awareness of the happenings especially in this side of the world.

    Keep it up.

    http://dinatalib.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear "Dina", thank you for your words of encouragement. I am humbled by your compliment.

    On the other hand, I honestly admire the serenity (ketenangan) of your face. I think last time if there was Tsunami in our MRSM Muar, you would still 'selamba-rock' as if nothing was happening. Hehehe. After nearly 20 years not seeing you, I am not sure your present day face-design. Anyhow, thank you for your comment.

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