Happy Chinese New Year for all. May the year of the water snake bring happiness, good health, productivity, prosperity, continuous growth, stability and harmony and better understanding between every quarters of Malaysia.
There is also a special message from Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato’ Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir.
Bloggo-Journo Rusdi Mustapha of the blog Seri Menanti has been invested with Darjah Panglima Mahkota Wilayah which carry the title ‘Datuk’. His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong XIV Tuanku Sultan Abdul Halim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah conferred the award this morning at the Balairong Seri of the brand new Istana Negara this morning.
This is first time an honours investure ceremony was carried out at the new Istana Negara. The official residence of His Majesty moved from the old palace in November last year.
Present is Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak and Minister of Federal Territory and Urbanisation Raja Dato’ Seri Nong Chik Raja Zainal. This honours investure ceremony is in commemoration of the declaration of nation’s capital Kuala Lumpur as Federal Territory 41 years ago.
Datuk Rusdi served as a journo with The Star, NST, The Sunday Mail, Time Asia and The Sun. He had regular columns in The Business Times and later, The Malay Mail. last year, he published a collection of his selected BT articles in his inaugural book, ‘The Malaysian Graffiti’. He is currently senior manager of corporate liaison with Boustead Holdings.
Masjid Nabawi in Medina. The green dome rest over Muhammad S.A.W.’s tomb
Muhammad Bin Abdullah was born to the Hashimite clan of the Quraisy tribe in Mecca, Arabian subcontinent this day, in 570AD. He was an exemplary child who grew into an honest business manager and eventually an entrepreneur.
He grew in the times where Meccans were idol worshipping barbarians and made money from the pilgrims that have come to the city. Idols erected around the Ka’aba which was build by prophet Ibrahim A.S.
In search of his own answers to the greatness of God Al Mighty the Maker of universe, Muhammad started to isolate himself in Hira’ cave on a mount An Nur, 2 miles outside Mecca. At the age of forty, during on of the nights Muhammad was in self isolation Archangel Gabriel appeared and forced him to recite the first Quranic verses of Surah 96 Iqra’.
Muhammad S.A.W. became the last prophet that night. Bit by bit, words of Allah S.W.T. in 6,666 verses in 114 surah (books) to mankind were presented through Muhammad S.A.W. in the medium of Al Quran. Muhammad S.A.W. also taught religion of Allah S.W.T. for 23 years via his own words, articulations, examples and actions, also known as hadith and sunnah.
Many of the commands of Allah S.W.T. mentioned in the Al Quran were articulated by examples by Muhammad S.A.W. This include prayers.
Muhammad S.A.W. was brought to Al Aqsa mosque and to the heavens to meet Allah S.W.T. in an incident known as Isra’s Mikraj on the night 27 Rejab on the twelve year of his prophethood. He flown on the Buraq accompanied by Archangel Gabriel, brought across all seven level of heavens and back, to witness the greatness of Allah S.W.T. and a whiff of the future.
Even though Muhammad S.A.W. was an illiterate, he was a great communicator, teacher, administrator, military leader, examplry family man and community leader and was just to all. He also practiced remarkable diplomacy and a renowned as an unsurpassed strategist.
In 20 years of Islamic teachings, Muhammad brought the Arabs out from the dark ages to be superb traders, military force and advocates of Islam. Muhammad S.A.W. passed away in Medina at the age of 63 and his teachings, legacy and the spread of Islam was continued a series of caliphs beginning with his most trusted confidante Abu Bakar As-Siddiq.
The holy Al Quran and Muhammad’s hadiths and sunnahs brought upon the once barbaric Arabs to be a world superpower in international diplomacy, military might, trade, mathematics, science and technology, administration and arts within the next 250 years.
Salawat to Muhammad S.A.W. Rasulullah.
“Think!” (pix from Apanama)
Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to speak in Permatang Pauh, Penang tomorrow morning.
The event is organised by Malay NGO PERKASA would be held in UiTM campus. The theme of talk is ‘Transformasi Ekonomi dan Pendidikan Melayu’.
It is expected that this would draw a lot of attention. This is the first time Tun Dr Mahathir comes to Permatang Pauh since Opposition Leader former-abuse-of-power-convict Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from the Federal Government as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister on 2 September 1998 and UMNO as Deputy President and member a day later.
Anwar was sentenced six years jail in April 1999 for abusing his Deputy Prime Ministerial power by instructing the Police Special Branch to force a retraction from letters written by his wife’s driver Azizan Abu Bakar and Ummi Hafilda Mohd. Ali. He exhaustively tries all avenues to be pardoned but no avail. He was released in August 2004 after serving four years of time in prison for his graft sentence and his sodomy sentence was overturned by Federal Court for technicalities.
Anwar was unable to contest the March 2008 12GE because his mandatory five years abstention from elections limit expired only in 17 April 2008. His wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who is Parti KeAdilan Rakyat President won the seat twice, 2004 and 2008 general elections but vacated in favor for Anwar in August 2008. He assumed the Opposition Leader of the Dewan Rakyat post from Lim Kit Siang of DAP after winning the Permatang Paub by-election.
Anwar lied to the Malaysian public by claiming that “31 BN MPs would jump-ship and Pakatan Rakyat would form the Federal Government by or on 16 September 2008″. The fact is that the Opposition lost six MPs when they left their respective party from 2010 onwards.
This event is seen as a run-up to the much anticipated 13GE just around the corner.
*Updated midnight
Glad tidings and season greetings. Merry Christmas, all.
If one is on the road during the duration of this extended long weekend/holiday/end-of-year season, please be extra careful. The frequent really wet weather and the pressure to catch-upon-time-lost after extraordinary lengthy and psychotic bumper-to-bumper jams have been hazardous to motorists, especially in the massive number of vehicles on the major interstate roads and highways.
It is a celebration of victory of good over evil. Righteous over wrong. Lighted over dark.
Happy Deepavali
Its time to celebrate. For the past 29 days, Muslims in Malaysia submitted to God’s will to restraint from all of the limitations of fasting in the month of Ramadhan. As a reward, God decreed that first day of Syawal is a day to rejoice on the ‘winning’ against man’s worse enemy; their own lust.
Its time when Muslims feast and host gatherings, where families and closest friends come together. They beg for each other’s forgiveness and wish them well. For the younger Muslims, they are often rewarded with a small token for the celebration, usually in the form of cash.
In our recent experience with the prosetlyzed Muslims and some of them were actually baptized, we can’t help to admit that there are large number of Malays who are now Christians. It could be something common in Indonesia where 2 million Malays are being baptized as Christians annually. However, not in Malaysia. At least not yet this severe. In fact, the Churches are ensuring that Malay who have embraced Christianity remain to cover themselves and practice their religious rituals as if they are still Muslim.
In our observation, many of them members of the society who are downtrodden. They are in dire need of something and the society failed them, for one reason or another. For that, the churches stepped in and provided for the void that society failed to do for these people. And the churches provision is very handsome and generous. More importantly, with their resources they could go the distant.
We at BigDogDotCom would like Malaysian Muslims to reflect on themselves and their contribution to their surrounding. If as fardhu kifayah every single Malaysian Muslim do their bit no matter how small, the situation would have been different for these downtrodden brothers and sisters. The Malaysian Muslims must have the awareness and drive to pay tithe and give alms.
Of course, those who are entrusted to manage all these must diligently do their job. Failure will simply result the collection of tithe, alms and charities not properly channeled to those who are the right target groups.
The motto for the Federation of Malaysia is ‘Bersekutu bertambah mutu‘ (Unity os strength). The Malaysian Muslims must be united as a society, regardless of the political aspiration or parochial practices. Being fragmented as per present day, members within the society are sustainable to challenges that they are unable to endure. History have proven that when the Malays were united, they are a force to be reckoned with. For a society with very little economic or political power post World War II, the strength that arisen from the Malay unity failed Whitehall’s plan for the formal colonialisation via Malayan Union in 1946.
It is something the Malays, as mainstay of majority Muslims in Malaysia should really reflect, ponder and come to terms with.
In the time being, we all should also remember the members of essential services who are unable to be with loved ones, family, friends or enjoying the long weekend or school holidays. Particular the Police, Armed Forces, Firefighters, health services provider, utilities provider and border controls.
Our choice for Hari Raya Aidil Fitri entertainment is by a Singaporean crooner Halil Chik.
Tun Razak was never tired to go to the rural areas and see for himself, including new FELDa schemes
This article written by an anonymous appeared on New Straits Times on 20 January 1976, six days after the shocking passing of Malaysian’s much loved Second Prime Minister Tun Hj Abdul Razak Hussein in London, whilst on treatment for leukemia.
The Selfless Man
Tun Razak was a faithful Muslim and knowledge of the more rapid approach of his own death was received with the equanimity and fortitude of the truly faithful. He did not turn away from his fellow men nor seek to spend the remaining years to ensuring a place in afterlife for himself alone.
Selfishness did not overcome him. Instead he redoubled his dedication to service towards others, to his people, his country and most certainly to his religion. This dedication took a heavy toll on his health. But his doctors were never able to deter him from his self-imposed tasks.
He performed the Hajj in 1970 again and threw himself into his work with renewed energy and unshaken faith. In all that he did, there was now a note of urgency as the days and months rapidly telescoped in the face of the inevitable. Sometime tiredness showed through. How often he must thought of approaching death have assailed him. Those to whom the inevitability of death looms large and real know well the fear and helplessness.
It would have been natural to falter, to seek pity and sympathy, to retire and rest the tired mind and body. It would have been easy and justified, for there were laurels to rest on. But never once did he falter. To the solicitous comments of his friends, close aides and even immediate members of his family that he looked unwell, his response was to deny and to dismiss. He was fir, he said, and then invariably the subject was switched to work that had to be done.
Towards the end he was particularly concerned over the economy of the nation. He considered it his personal duty to show a good example. But even as he set about doing this, his health deteriorated further.
Advised to seek medical care in Europe, his first thought was over the expense. Repeatedly, he explained that he couldn’t pay and hoped that the Minister of Finance would not mind paying. To justify this unexpected expense, he submitted a full medical report to the Minister of Finance.
Finally convalescing in London, he chafed over his absence from the country. He wanted to return because he had to preside over the meeting of Menteri Besars in Langkawi, Kedah and other pressing issues.
And when death was rapidly approaching, he preyed for three more months. There was the Third Malaysia Plan to launch and a few loose ends to tie up.
This was the man whom we have lost and mourned. He was not perfect. Like very mortal, he had his faults. But there is no man, no leader of his people who was more selfless.
He gave every moment of his life to service to others and heeded not to his own needs. He did this fully aware that his days were numbered.
May Allah have mercy on his soul and place him amongst the Defenders of the Faith, for his selfless service to his people, his country and to Islam is not only in accordance with teachings of Islam but is also a measure of his abiding faith in his religion.
For us who still live, the life and death of Tun Haji Abdul Razak Bin Datuk Hussein, Prime Minister of Malaysia, is worthy of most profound study and contemplation. There is a lesson there that denies that the purpose of life is the pursuit of self-interest and attention to one’s own selfish needs, spiritual or otherwise.
Life, the exclusive gift of Allah, must be dedicated to high purpose as it is eternal, and death rested as if it will come tomorrow.
From Allah he cometh, to Allah he returneth.
- A COLLEAGUE -
It has since been identified that this ‘Colleague’ is then Minister of Education Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, who later became the fourth Prime Minister.
Today, is Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak’s 59th birthday. We would like to wish him ‘Happy Birthday’ and may Allah S.W.T. watch over him, bless him with the perseverance, wisdom and live up to all the hopes that Malaysians, especially those who lived through his father’s short-lived but examplry premiership. May his quest in stepping into his father’s footsteps and legacy in making Malaysia a better place for everyone be as dedicated as he father was, a truly a ‘Selfless Man’.
