Sadly, we made a pariah of the word 'pendatang'

Eversince one UMNO division head in Penang uttered the word during a tightly-contest election campaigning to regain Permatang Pauh Parliamentary seat from PKR after 2008 political tsunami. And one dear  reporter for a Chinese Daily decided to scoop it in the paper headlines; the word 'Pendatang' has become a stigma to anybody who mention it. Thing has become an issue blown up out of proportion to fulfill every political party interest to the extent the chinese reporter who reported about it has been detained under ISA (which imho one of the blunder of the previous Home Minister)  in order to protect her from certain groups retaliation and protest. The fate of the UMNO warlord also have been destined. He was suspended from UMNO for 3 years in September 2008 but suspension was lifted only recently.

One could never imagine such a simple word which means 'immigrant' in English can have  major impact and consequences to Malaysia political scene until today. Whoever with intention or mistakenly misunderstood caught saying it will be crucified relentlessly and simply be labelled a racist. It makes PATI; 'pendatang asing tanpa izin' (illegal immigrant) look tame albeit the latter is a much more serious issue concerning national security and safety.

The issue has been highlighted here long time ago and it seems the term 'pendatang' would never be 'chased' away as it has become a political tools for certain quarters to ignite subversive element towards the ruling government. Suffice to say, the government also never been so clear and deterrent in handling the issue once and for all. It took a few more episode of 'pendatang' name-calling before the PM came with this statement  hoping to ease and avoid more repercussion.

The 'pendatang' issue has become a ticking time bomb to the racial harmony of this country. Hence, some immediate and powerful message  has to be sent.

Merasai nikmat berbuka puasa atau menikmati berbuka puasa?

Dalam kita menempuh 10 hari pertama Ramadhan yang penuh rahmat dan barakah ini; lebih afdhal dikongsi sedikit persoalan dan perbincangan untuk kebaikan bersama. Kita selalu tidak dapat membezakan antara nikmat berbuka puasa dengan menikmati berbuka puasa itu sendiri. Termasuk diri penulis yang kadang kala lalai atau mengambil sikap tidak kisah dalam isu ini. Rata-rata daripada kita apabila menjelang Ramadhan, acara menikmati berbuka puasa merupakan sesuatu yang ditunggu-tunggu. Samada atas jemputan korporat mahupun anjuran teman-teman, menikmati acara berbuka puasa merupakan satu pilihan setelah seharian berpuasa.

Namun dalam kita teruja menghadiri acara sebegini, pernahkah kita berfikir sejenak apakah kita merasai nikmat berbuka puasa dalam keadaan kita menikmati berbuka puasa?

Keliru?!

Contoh situasi mungkin dapat memberi sedikit gambaran perbezaan. Acara menikmati berbuka puasa adalah acara berbuka puasa yang selalunya dianjurkan di hotel-hotel terkemuka mahupun di restoran ternama ataupun kadangkala diadakan di rumah dengan menjemput tetamu dan rakan taulan. Acara berbuka ini selain dihidangkan pelbagai juadah berbuka sebagai sajian berbuka, dendangan lagu mahupun nasyid juga turut berkumandang ketika acara berbuka puasa. Lebih menarik, surau untuk bersolat juga disediakan bersama ustaz yang akan memimpin solat Fardhu dan Terawih. Peluang menikmati berbuka puasa ini memang sangat dinanti dan tanpa kita sedari ianya telah menjadi satu 'trend' setiap kali Ramadhan menjelma.

Berbeza dengan rasa nikmat berbuka puasa; suatu perasaan yang hadir dengan penuh insaf dalam situasi berbuka puasa dalam kadar yang sederhana. Mungkin hanya sekadar buah kurma dan segelas air manis dengan sedikit kuih muih menjadi bekalan berbuka. Namun ianya cukup untuk melepaskan rasa lapar dan dahaga lalu terus disusuli dengan bangkit bersolat Maghrib berjemaah. Perjalanan acara berbuka yang cukup ringkas namun yang dikecapi adalah sebuah perasaan yang indah; mensyukuri rezeki yang Allah berikan.

Tidak dapat tidak setiap daripada kita pasti melalui kedua-dua situasi sepanjang Ramadhan ini. Pasti kedua duanya memberi satu pengalaman pada diri kita. Tanyalah sanubari, pada ketika mana kita merasakan kita lebih dekat pada ilahi, Tuhan rabbil alamin. Pada ketika kita hanyalah hamba yang mendamba dari-Nya jalan taqwa.

The new season has begun!

After so much anticipation and patience plus the world cup hangover already over, now we are back to the real football. EPL season 2010/2011. It's going to be a massive season to many teams especially those teams who'd try to topple the 3 big teams (not big four anymore!) and become the new elites in English Football. We will see how these ambitious teams will end up at the end of the season.

Who'll be demoted this season? Who'll cast the biggest upset? Who'll crack under pressure. There will be too much drama to bare.... i m loving it already. :)

And which team will yours truly be supporting this season? none other than the team that build champion rather than the team that buy champions. Arsenal the gooners it is! yeay

and why they deserved better? becos what they have gone through last season and still finished 3rd best team.
Yeah babeh, they are good. This clip might  recall u a bit about their beautiful game.

taken from youtube and copyright to charmdes

Trust yourself and keep believing.

I've been avoiding this space for quite some time. No good reasoning for that and I still couldn't do away with my guilt for not penning on this space. Nevertheless, let's not get there coz what more important is the posting today.

My encounter with my former preparatory school (prep school) prefect whom I haven't met since he left school in 1992 is a better talking point. Coincidentally, me and Ahpek were at SME expo last Friday and we bumped into him at the same exhibition hall. In fact he's the one who approach us first! After so many years, surprisingly he still can recall us by name. Hence, we decided for a coffee chat before his next meeting elsewhere. Furthermore, It always good to start back one good relationship with the person who indirectly has shape your life in MCKK. ;)

Ruzaimi Mat Rani or best known to us as 'Fect Mimi' stay with us, the first formers in prep school for a year. He was the first fifth former we encountered the first day we arrived in MCKK. I can still remember his commanding voice telling us to get ourselves ready for Maghrib that day after we shed tears saying goodbyes to our families. And those honest look in his eyes had gave us an assurance - 'now you are a young boy embarking a new chapter of your life; so don't worry coz everything would be just fine'. His charisma did well to this young boy that day at least.

Taking Charge and Chance

Someone ask me to write something about my experience in South Africa to a travel journo. Ahaks. I find it amusing for me to write for a journalist as I have my blog space here to share my story to the world. Maybe that will be a different kind of write up and experience altogether but taking that chance; I don't see myself fit.

I always see myself as second best, in other word I can be the best no 2 to no 1. I never project myself taking charge and chance. I prefer to be someone anonymous who would get job done. That's where I see myself best. However it's unfortunate of me; God have given me a physical that everyone could see miles away and that make me visible all the time. I wish I could hide in my invisible robe sometimes...

But some people think that I have the potential to unleash. It's a matter of the right time at the right place. I dunno, I can never predict the future. For now the path I am taking is straightforward. Just get some food on the table would be enough, I don't set high ambition for power nor stature.. 

I just want to have a normal life like others... life that won't  play judge upon me after all.

I am another older again.

Ouch it seems the numbers keep going up. It will be another number tag in me for another year before new number clock in. There will no stopping for the number only if my body decide to stop and I know that would be time out for me.

Age is another number game. I tend not to take it hard. For me as long you enjoy your life and put things straight, age will be a golden ticket for happiness. I am intend to pursue that route and I am doing it with my family all behind me.

Thank you for all the warm wishes today; I found it odd to receive so many happy returns only after I reach 31. Thanks again to FB for a gentle reminder to my circle of friend. Sometimes I wonder if this evolution of  communication will bring the best of all or it will simply regarded as another tools to fulfilll one life.
I wouldnt know the answer. I can answer that when I reach forty. I hope

Till then, it will be another enjoyable event of my life. I had my birthday blast earlier in S Africa, that would be another story to tell in another time.
For now, I am a super bloody 31 years old  bimbo.. darn

I'm leaving Durban with heavy heart

It seems time always envy us. The last 4 days in Durban was like a blink of eyes. Now I am on my way back to Johannesburg. Durban was so fun even I didn't realise that it was time to go. I'm leaving Durban with a heavy heart.

When we arrived Durban 4 days ago I anticipated it will be something like Jberg where we would stay in a place far from the city centre. I was wrong, uncle baillo booked one of the best hotel in town so all of us could feel comfortable. Instead he and his family stayed somewhere else. That's the level of their hospitality which until today I feel honour.

Day one in Durban was all about the match, Spain v Switzerland. We knew it's gonna be an exciting game and everyone got into their Spaniard kit to show support. Our hotel was near to a shopping complex called gateaway and we decided to jump into the shuttle bas from there to the stadium. The ladies were left there for their retail therapy.

Our game started at 1600H and we got lucky to enter 15 minutes before start. It's a bit of chaos atmosphere at the stadium as everybody looking forward for a good game. On paper, it should be a good win for Spain. Nevertheless, Switzerland made the biggest upset so far in the tournament by beating Spain, the european champion 1-0. That's the beauty of world cup when underdogs play to their potential and got favourites beaten. In the end Spain remain true to its underachiever tags on a major football tourney. Sigh.

Forgetting football altogether, the 2nd day was all about shopping. Yes, we bought many things for the loves one in Malaysia. Our trip to S Africa won't complete without bringing back vuvuzelas and I myself got 10, Lutfi got another 10 and I must say that was the cheapest item we could think off for souvenirs. Most of the souvenirs i.e shirts, jerseys, badges are inflated and we could not get a good bargain. We were so into shopping and not realising that the shopping mall was closing. Yes, we made Malaysian proud for that. Haha

We ended the day by having bunny chow a local food; something u couldn't miss whenever u are in Durban. Later that night I was 'kidnapped' by gangs of four for a quick ride to town. The city was not alive after 10pm so in the end I headed to their flat for some good rest

The last day in Durban was all about visiting family friend. I had a good dhal for lunch. After saw another upset; Germany when down to Serbia, we were off to the North Beach to enjoy the coastal line. It was very windy and chill. It was so mesmerised to see the Indian ocean with many ships crossing by. At the tip of the frontview, I made a promise I will come back to enjoy Durban once more. Insya Allah

moqq
19/06/2010
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