The Reader

Just saw text message on my mobile phone from my friend in Makkah.He informed me that wukuf shall be this Thursday.Eidul Adha shall then be on Friday 27th Nov,2009.

Crowded property agents!

 

Morning coffee at The Wakaf

 
 

via adib.typepad.com

While I was having my morning walk,I got a call from my schoolmate.I invited him to come to Tasik Cempaka because my friend(also a schoolmate) had promised to deliver hot Dr Coffee from his house nearby for our morning breakfast and chit-chat.That was great! Thanks to my SDARA friends.

 
 

New exciting route at Putrajaya

Just completed about 16km of MTB cycling along Botanical Garden,Wetland and a few hilly parts close to government departments..Thanks to my riding buddies for your company.And special thanks to Muhaimy for leading the tribe to a new and exciting trail.

     
 

Off to solat..

When the muezzin calls for prayer,what do you do?Continue with your work,meeting or play? Yesterday,I had early lunch at 12pm and finished around 1.10pm at a PKNS shopping complex in Bangi,Selangor.On my way out to return home,I saw this note sitting nicely starring at me.The DJ at the centre court took time off to solat zohor at the surau.Not only the DJ, but also a few shops were closed temporarily to allow shopowners/salespersons to solat berjemaah.This group of people had shown a good example to me and others to give solat a priority in their daily lives.Alhamdulilah syukrilah..

Have you ever experienced missing your solats during a meeting ,seminar or travelling in car? The best is do as soon as you could,otherwise there is a possibility that we cannot do our solat in time.As an example,before we return home from work,it is better to do solat 'asar first before we get  into our cars and got stuck in a traffic jam.

Pak Unggal and Wak Medali are on the way to my house.I am getting ready mee bandung for my dear friend who has just returned home from London after being there for 34 years.

Sketching KLCC

 A few days ago I saw a lady sitting on the pavement next to the entrance of Isetan at KLCC Suria.Besides her,I saw a guard standing by.By the way, there is always a guard around this part of KLCC garden.

Sketching is good for my mind and my hand.I do sketch as I feel like it even though I am not good at all.It is quite therapeutic,at least for me.Many of us can draw...why not give it a try.

If you have not seen what others had done,please check this website for urban sketchers.

Below is my sketch of a cafe garden at The Curve.

 

Heavy rains at The Curve today..

Nowadays,almost everyday it rains..
 

Had a great lunch of nasi padang at Tok Li restaurant.Thank to the sponsor and everyone for your company.

Thanks Typepad! I am now testing the microblogging and to check whether I can get it posted to my Twitter and Facebook.

What is your passion?

Do you know what is your passion? if you donot know,please read this article.

In my case,I only discover only after eight years or working as a civil engineer at JKR.When I was the chief structural engineer for hospital projects I found out that I did not much interest in the engineering part but more in the management of the projects.From JKR,I opted to join Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor as a project manager.Later I joined a construction company and later joined my relative property development company.

As the years went by,my engineering interest faded away and I ended becoming the CEO of  a listed company on KLSE-mainly corporate management. From my personal experience,I noticed that my 'passion' changed over the 20 years from engineering to management.In the last 10 years, my 'passion' moved from management to seeking higher knowledge in Islam studies.However, to foot my bills(earning my living),I have to work and use my core competencies in project/general management which I have acquired over the last three decades.

To younger men and women out there, please take some time to comtemplate as early as possible to identify your passion(work or play) so that you have more time to become experts and enjoy your lives.By the way,I discovered mountain biking more than 10 years ago but only became active last year.As they say,it is better late than never..similarly about photography.

Guests of Allah

 A few days ago I went to visit a dear friend of mine who is going to Makkah today to wish him and his wife a safe journey and Haj Mabrur.Two of my close friends have already left for Makkah last week.I wish all of them and all pilgrims to get Haj Mabrur, insyaAllah.Once we have been to Umrah or Haj,we always long to be there,especially when we went to meet our friends who are going to Makkah and sending them off.They are the guests of Allah at Makkah!

For those who can't be there,we also can be guests of Allah at His houses scattered all over the world and a few are located quite near to our offices or houses.It is the masjid!(Masjid itu Rumah Allah).According to my guru,we can choose to be the guests of Allah now, but not in the Hereafter.InsyaAllah, if we frequently go to solat daily at our masjids,we may be the guests of Allah forever in the Hereafter.Better still, let's make the masjids our second homes.

Scary news!

Let me share this scary news with my fellow readers.I was made aware of the diabetes when my late father got caught with this disease when he was in late 40's.I saw how he suffered in the next 30 years of his life when he passed away at the age of 73.He died after a prostate surgery and according to the doctor,his high blood sugar was the culprit during post surgical complication.His eye-sight was so bad that he barely could see  during the last 3 years of his life.

Two of my uncles on my mother's side also suffered diabetes.This taught me a good lesson to be careful about my sugar intake.So far I am okay but a few of my friends are suffering from this disease.To all readers of this blog,especially my friends who love 'teh tarik'( I am one of them),please take note and be careful before it is too late.

Below is the news I cut/paste from the Star.

Sunday November 15, 2009

Rising sugar intake causing more deaths

EXCESSIVE sweetness may lead to a bitter end – diabetes, a disease that is causing more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. And two out three people with diabetes eventually die from heart disease or stroke.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that some 285 million people worldwide will live with diabetes next year. They include 1.84 million Malaysians, aged from 20 to 79, or 6.8% of the population. IDF also predicts that close to 24,000 Malaysians will die of the disease next year.

Malaysians are also getting diabetes at an earlier age while a third with diabetes are not aware they have the disease.

Malaysia ranks 17th highest out of 216 countries, with a comparative prevalence rate of 11.6%. The country with the highest rate is Nauru, with a third (30.9%) of its 8,800 population affected the disease.

In conjunction with World Diabetes Day yesterday, Malaysians should note that their favourite cup of teh tarik (350ml) contains about six teaspoonfuls of sugar. The recommended daily intake of sugar is 50gm or 10 teaspoonfuls.

Lamp decor at Taman Warisan Pertanian

Surah Al-Fatihah and Solat

Two nights ago I attended the kuliyyah at our masjid delivered by Ustaz Dr Ismail Yusof.I was happy that I was able to attend the tafsir class that began with Al-Fatihah.Most of us understand the verbatim meaning of each word in the Surah which we read at least 17 times a day in our daily solat.It is better if we could also learn the tafsir of the surah so that we improve the quality of our solat in particular and in living a muslim life in general.The teacher explained the overall meanings of each ayat and he also qouted a few hadiths relevant to the ayats and also other ayats from the Qur'an to explain further the meaning of Al-Fatihah.One aspect that I wish to share with you is the Al-Fatihah in relation to our prayers(solat) as expounded by Ibn Katheer:-

Al-Fatihah and the Prayer

Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,

«مَنْ صَلَى صَلَاةً لَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيهَا أُمَّ الْقُرْآنِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ ثَلَاثًا غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ»

(Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not read Umm Al-Qur'an, then his prayer is incomplete.) He said it thrice.

Abu Hurayrah was asked, "[When] we stand behind the Imam'' He said, "Read it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: قَسَمْتُ الصّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ فَإِذَا قَالَ:

[الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ]، قَالَ اللهُ: حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي وَإِذَا قَالَ:

[الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ]، قَالَ اللهُ: أَثْنى عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي، فَإذَا قَالَ:

[مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ]، قَالَ اللهُ: مَجَّدَنِي عَبْدِي وَقَالَ مَرَّةً: فَوَّضَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي فَإِذَا قَالَ:

[إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ]، قَالَ: هذَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ، فَإِذَا قَالَ:

[اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ - صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ ]، قَالَ اللهُ: هذَا لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ»

(Allah, the Exalted, said, `I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.' If he says,

[الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ]

(All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.)

Allah says, `My servant has praised Me.' When the servant says,

[الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ]

(The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)

Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me.' When he says,

[مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ]

(The Owner of the Day of Recompense.) Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me,' or `My servant has related all matters to Me.' When he says,

[إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ]

(You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.) Allah says, `This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought.' When he says,

[اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ - صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ ]

(Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray), Allah says, `This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.').''

These are the words of An-Nasa'i, while both Muslim and An-Nasa'i collected the following wording, "A half of it is for Me and a half for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.''

By the way, my friend Razali@Gukita has written a posting on Al-Fatihah.Please read for further explaination.

Roof top view

Looking for an old Telekom phone

First,let me clarify that I am not a collector of old or antique phones.The reason I wanted an old Telekom Malaysia phone is because when I terminated my house phone line yesterday,I was told by the officer that I had to return the old phone given by Jabatan Telekom to me 25 years ago.I can't remember how the phone looked like.When I told my 21 years son whether he has seen a phone with a Telekom logo,he jokingly said to me that he was not born yet at the time!

Over the last 25 years,I think I have changed my phone three times.Only God knows where I kept or threw away the old Jabatan Telekom.When I told the officer who processed my application to terminate the service that I can't locate my phone,she told me a fine of RM66 will be deducted from my deposit.Considering the old phone has no book value at all by now and I have been a customer for the past 25 years,why not Telekom waive the fine for old time sake?Anyway, no body wants that type of phone anymore and it will cost Telekom storage cost for no benefits at all.

By the way,if you happen to have an old Telokom phone to give away or to sell for less than RM20,please let me know so that I could save RM66.

PS: Now, my problem is solved when MHI has offered to give me his old Telekom phone.Thank you my friend.

My Online Hub:Facebook

Lately, I check my Facebook first before I check my blog to read any responses from my friends and readers of my blog.When my blogs,Twitter and Flickr are connected to my Facebook site,I noticed that most of the communication between my friends and readers are conducted at my Facebook more and less at my blogs.I also notice that my friends who formerly are not writing are using Facebook as their 'blogs'.This is good!

No matter how good is online communication,nothing can beat the real thing of meeting and talking to people in person.My observations of my alumni group(SDARA) and my cycling group are good examples.That is why we(SDARA) meet at least once a month and as a cycling group,we ride once or twice a month(sometimes more) together.

Now, most Malaysian have their own mobile phones.As older parents,I am happy that I can communicate with my children as often as I can.They can be any where, but we are in touch.Similarly,my mother also carries her mobile phone.She can be any where and yet I could call her.The sad thing is that we sometimes forget to call our mothers as often as we should.

Diary 2010

Today,I went around Isetan KLCC looking for a white monologue diary for my friend in London.Last year, I did a barter trade with him-one diary from me in exchange for a pack of Yorkshire tea + short bread.This year,I already received his 'payment' and it is my turn to send him his monologue diary.

Sadly, the publisher is not producing the white one any more.So I bought myself a green one.[green is a new black!]Now,I am waiting for my friend to tell me which colour he prefers.

By the way, have you got yourself a new diary for 2010?

Last year posting on my 2009 diary.

Everyone knows where Siberia is..

Sunday November 8, 2009

Siberian winds set to bring more bad weather

The ice cap is melting in Siberia, and that could spell more bad weather for Kelantan and Terengganu in a few days. An anticipated violent movement of Siberian winds across the South China Sea any time between mid-November and early December will trigger off another wave of thunderstorms leading to massive floods in the east-coast states, weather experts said.[From The Star]

As the saying goes,everyone knows where Siberia is, but no one wants to go there.Reaso:The reason-extreme weather conditions!

In a globalised world today,whatever happens(as mentioned),our folks in Kelantan and Terengganu will have to bear the consequences of bad weather.Some years back,when the enivironmentalists were talking about Global Warming,how many of us cared to even think about it.The common thinking among us,it is the First World issues.Similarly, when my friend told me about HIV in USA in 1980,my eyes did not even blink!Now, a few of my kampung folks in Kelantan had died due to HIV related diseases.

Sometimes,I wonder...how come bad things spread very fast, but good things need a lot of efforts to spread even to my next door neighbour!

Creative marketing by DiGi

Kehendak dan Iradat Allah

Surah At-Takwir,ayat 29:

"Dan kamu tidak dapat menentukan kemahuan kamu(mengenai sesuatu pun) ,kecuali dengan cara yang diatur oleh Allah,Tuhan yang memelihara dan mentadbirkan seluruh alam."

Semasa menyusun kembali buku-buku rujukan saya kelmarin,saya terjumpa satu naskah terjemahan Fizallil Qur'an(versi jawi,terbitan tahun 1985) yang dihadiahkan oleh penterjemahnya sendiri (Allahyarham Dato' Ustaz Yusof Zaky Yaakub) kepada saya diakhir dekad 80'an.Naskah ini mengandungi semua ayat Qur'an dalan Juz 'Amma.

Berikut saya salin balik/ringkaskan tafsir ayat tersebut sapertimana tercatit dalam kitab tersebut diatas untuk bacaan dan renungan bersama di pagi Jumaat ini:-

Tujuannya supaya mereka jangan faham kehendak dan kemahuan mereka adalah terpisah dari kehendak  dan iradat Allah yang maha agong yang menjadi pokok pangkal kepada segala perkara.Pengertian kebebasan memilih dan kemudahan mencari jalan hidayah adalah berpokokpangkal dari kehendak dan iradat Allah yang meliputi segala sesuatu yang telah dan akan berlaku.

.......Hakikat agung bahawa segala sesuatu didalam alam wujud ini adalah berpokok pangkal dari kehendak dan iradat Aallah.Dan apa yang di izinkan Allah kepada manusia saperti kebolehan memilih salah satu dari dua jalan yang telah di terangkan kepada mereka merupakan kehendak dan iradatNya sama saperti taqdir dan tadbirNya yang lain...

Hakikat agung ini perlu dijelaskan kepada pemikiran orang2 mukmin supaya dapat memahami hakikat yang sebenar dan supaya mereka mencari perlindungan pada kehendak dan iradat Allah untuk memohon pertulongan dan taufik serta berpegang denganNya dalam segala tindak tanduk mereka dijalan hidup mereka.

May I invite you to read these two blogs about Madinah and Makkah to see the latest there..

Love is in the air...

As my wife and me were doing our morning walk in the public garden next to our house,I saw this expression of love on the concrete steps.The alphabets are from the fallen dried flowers..My best wishes to the couple!

Good planning and building designs..

Yesterday was my first visit to Mydin Bazaar at Prescint 14,Putrajaya.While waiting for my wife doing her shopping at Mydin Bazaar,I walked the streets and explored the area.The only regret was I did not take my camera and forgot my sketch book.However,I managed to snap this photo using built in camera in my old Nokia 6600(locally known as sabun).

As I walked I smiled from ear to ear....

The streets are not the same old boring straight roads and the buildings were constructed using the existing undulating terrain.In front, I saw ample car park and at the back, I saw beautiful landscaped garden.The roads are wide and there ample space for senior citizens to walk without being hit by the motorist!

That reminds me to take my bike and roam this Diplomatic prescint area!

As I walked,I felt that I am not in a typical Malaysian town.The planning and building design reminded me of my visits to a few  countries in Europe-nice and people friendly! Now, I am thinking of riding my MTB bike this weekend.Anyone wish to join me there?By the way, there are few nice restaurants...

Smoky mountains

This photo was taken along the PLUS highway E2 on my way back from JB yesterday morning.As a child I was fascinated by this 'white smoke' hovering over the hills after a heavy rainfall.I was wondering how the white clouds had gone down? By the way, it was a nice view..

I lost another friend..

Yesterday,I cancelled all my appointments to visit my dear friend who was suffering from cancer(stage 4).I had learnt my lessons previously not to delay visiting a sick friend or relative.I left my house at 9am and managed to reach his house in Skudai,Johor at 12.45pm.On the way,my heart was asking whether I still have the time to meet him, but that is not for me to decide.The most important thing is I was already on the way.

At 12.15pm,I called his son and he told me nothing changed.When I arrived,I immediately went to his bedside  to touch him and gave my salam.His wife briefed me his condition and I accepted that I am going to lose another friend.As a muslim,I started to read Surah Yaasin and before I completed the first page,he passed away peacefully at 1.10pm.Al-Fatihah to Allahyarham Syed Idrus Alshahab.( I called him Habib)

After I finished reading the Surah Yaasin,my thoughts flew back when I first time met him.It was on the plane from KL to Tokyo way back in mid-80's when we were on business trip to Japan.Later,we became friends and travelled a few places together-on business and pleasure.To my dear friend Habib,thank you for you companionship for the last 25 years and the helps you have given to me and to my family members.May Allah swt forgive all your sins and reward you with His Jannah.

Habib, good bye for now.InsyaAllah we shall meet again in the Hereafter.

To my Lord,Allah,Al Rahman Al Rahim,may I humbly record my great gratitude for giving me the chance to be with my friend during his last 25 minutes...

Note: The photo of my friend and me taken two years ago.

Ingat sebelum terlambat..

Kelmarin saya mendapat panggilan talipon dari anak sahabat saya dari JB.Beliau memaklumkan yang ayahnya sakit tenat dan doktor tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa lagi (tahap 4)kerana buah pinggang ayahnya diserang kanser!Saya terduduk....mengucap Syukor Alhamdulilah saya masih sihat dan terus berdu'a untuk sahabat saya.Peristiwa ini memberi ingatan kepada saya agar tidak mensia-siakan masa sihat sebelum tibanya masa sakit untuk menyegerakan ibadah kepada Allah swt.

Berikut adalah ayat2 yang petik dari bacaan saya beberapa hari yang lalu amat sesuai untuk renungan bersama.

Dari  Surah Al-Qiyama

Sedarlah wahai orang-orang yang lalai. (Sebenarnya kamu tidak ingatkan kesudahan kamu) bahkan kamu sentiasa mencintai (Kesenangan dan kemewahan dunia) yang cepat habisnya. (20) Dan kamu tidak menghiraukan (bekalan untuk) hari akhirat (yang kekal abadi kehidupannya). (21) Pada hari akhirat itu, muka (orang-orang yang beriman) berseri-seri; (22) Melihat kepada Tuhannya. (23) Dan pada hari itu, muka (orang-orang kafir) muram hodoh, (24) Sambil percaya dengan yakin bahawa mereka akan ditimpa malapetaka (azab seksa) yang membinasakan. (25) Sedarlah (janganlah mengutamakan dunia dan melupakan akhirat. Ingatlah akan hal orang yang hendak mati) apabila rohnya sampai ke pangkal kerongkong, (26) Dan (orang-orang yang hadir di sisinya heboh) berkata: Siapakah yang dapat menawar jampi (dan mengubatnya)? (27) Dan dia sendiri yakin, bahawa sesungguhnya saat itu saat perpisahan; (28) Serta kedahsyatan mati pun bertindih-tindih. (29) (Maka) kepada Tuhanmulah pada waktu itu engkau dibawa (untuk menerima balasan).

A closer look..

Some time ago I took the photo of this place from a distance.I saw a few nice yellow flowers.A few weeks ago,I went to this place again to take a closer look.To my lovely suprise,I exclaimed,"Oh My God! These yellow flowers are just beautiful.Alhamdulilah, my hobby of taking photos of flowers not only gave me great pleasure in taking photos but it also makes appreciate more the beauty of Allah's creations.All praises belongs to Him,Allahu Rabbul 'Alamin.

In our usual busy daily life,many just pass by these beautiful flowers or any other flowers.We are always in a hurry to go some where.As they say,we don't have time to smell the flowers.In a book entitled The Pilgrimage written by Paulo Coelho,he suggested that we should walk half of our normal speed.I did that and I saw many things I had missed before.

The choice is yours...

Due attention..

Yes, it is indeed!It really heart breaking to see public facilities and infrastructures not well taken care.I hope to see all the major stakeholders in the industry will improve their competence to play their respective roles as owners,regulators and supervisors,consultants,contractors,suppliers and users.Below is a cut/paste news from Bernama.

 October 27, 2009 21:11 PM

Government Aims To Upgrade Asset Management And Facility Industry To Sustainable Level - Shaziman

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Government aims to upgrade Asset Management and Facility Industry to sustainable level to provide risk-thrust high-value returns covering the entire lifespan of the infrastructures built.

Of the RM694 billion allocated for development expenditure from the First Malaysia Plan to the Ninth Malaysia Plan, sixty per cent or RM416 billion were allotted to physical infrastructure development.

Part of the infrastructures were Government assets, said Works Ministry Secretary-General Datuk George Thomas when reading out the text of speech of the Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor when closing the inaugural 2009 National Asset and Facility Management Conference here Tuesday.

Shaziman said: " All of us are aware that currently management and maintenance of public assets and facilities are not being given due attention.

Photography:The art of framing..

How do you frame the your photo shot?The amount of possibilities are too many.As someone who had just discovered DSLR and still rough around the edges(know very little about this subject matter),I honestly not sure which one will come out the best for the photo I have in mind.So,being an amateur,I shot a few and later have tough time to select the best for the photo.Sometimes,I do ask my fellow Flickr friends for their opinions.This way,by asking people whom I believe knows better than me,I can learn faster.Thank you guys and gals for your feedback.

Yesterday,I took this shot below using my Nokia E71 built in camera when I saw a 'frame' formed by the window from this masjid.This is my experiment in using in-situ 'frame' to shot a photo.May I ask your views on methods and tips to improve framing a shot.Thank you.