tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311951472024-03-13T09:21:09.956+08:00AL-MANARWelcome and Selamat Datang to the Al-Manar Trust Blog. We hope to provide information on our activities, our students past and present.
***** BERKHIDMAT KERANA TUHAN UNTUK KEMANUSIAAN *****Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-34945303588920783722016-05-18T10:12:00.001+08:002016-05-18T10:12:55.741+08:00Update on PakcikDear children of Al Manar - past and present, blogger friends and regular visitors.<br />
<br />
On behalf of the family, with a heavy heart we wish to inform that Hj Hassan/Pakcik, passed away peacefully on Sunday, 15th May 2016 @ 12:26 in the afternoon. Arwah was buried at the Perkuburan Islam Bukit Kiara around 5:30pm after the asar and jenazah prayers at Masjid Saidina Umar Al-Khatab, Bukit Damansara.<br />
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We wish to thank you for all your prayers, kind words and endless support over the past few months. On behalf of the family, we also apologise for not being able to keep everyone better informed.<br />
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We feel, there may be several readers out there whom may want to know a bit more on arwah Pakcik's wellbeing during his blogging hiatus. Thus, do not hesitate to contact us.<br />
<br />
InsyaAllah, we will continue what arwah Pakcik had started with Al Manar and use this blog as a journal, while we chart our path to further Pakcik's cause.<br />
"Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk Kemanusiaan". <br />
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<br />Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-86381407794038839262015-06-17T23:20:00.001+08:002015-06-17T23:20:41.390+08:001 Ramadhan 1436H<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To all readers, especially blogger friends and former/present students of AlManar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We wish to inform that our dear Hj Hassan, or fondly known as Pokcik, is unwell. He has been in Kuala Lumpur since May, in good company amongst family and loved ones, in the special care of medical experts. Our humble request is for your prayers to guide him through this trying times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We would also like to wish Ramadhan Mubarak to all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Makcik and Pokcik's children.</span></div>
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Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-8320632132211916442015-02-28T22:09:00.000+08:002015-02-28T22:09:58.747+08:00A person to admire ( Part 1 ) - Dedication<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><u>Personal
note ( to my visitors):</u></em></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My last
posting was dated 25<sup>th</sup> January which is one whole month ago. It is not for short of subjects to write. The increasing number of fellow bloggers disappearing from the scene prompts me to think whether I should call it a day as well. Some have </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">stopped writing altogether and some have moved to the more fashionable fb, wtup etc, No, this one month, however, prompts Pakcik to stay on. There are still a few readers who
care to call over and leave comments, for whom I am grateful. Above all I had my reasons for starting this blog almost ten years ago. And those reasons are still equally valid today. </span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">__________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZJ6QegniJQ/VPGVlyIaxII/AAAAAAAACZw/im4A_l49jCs/s1600/NAN's%2Broad%2BDSC00311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZJ6QegniJQ/VPGVlyIaxII/AAAAAAAACZw/im4A_l49jCs/s1600/NAN's%2Broad%2BDSC00311.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Approach road to Kampong Cerong Cina </span></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will do a
story about a simple family living in a small village community of about thirty
houses situated on the wooded slope of a range of hills about 50 km from me. The locality is known as Kampong Cerong Cina. Central
to this family is Mak Yah, a lady of mid forty with four children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her father, regarded with high respect as a
learned person in religion, is the oldest person around. He is a healthy 101-
year old person. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old man is not just
a religious teacher and the Imam of their village surau but is actively involved
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in other activities including
slaughtering of cattle (during Hari Raya Haji). To many he is also a medicine
man for physical and spiritual health. Mak Yah’s husband, Nan, is a man of about
fifty, a general construction worker. He is skilled in handling poisonous pest
control chemicals, a skill he acquired during his earlier employment with a
pest control company. Nan himself has learnt a lot from his father-in-law. In
the absence of the old man he takes over a number of religious duties. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Raised in a
religious family Mak Yah acquired the skill and interest in teaching
Quran. After attending a religious college she accepted a job as a primary
school religious teacher. It was on annual contract which she has been renewing
for the last over twenty years. Her love is seeing little children enjoy
learning Quran as she and her children used to as children. On contract basis she spends
only a few hours a week at school, allowing her more hours with the village children
numbering a about forty. In the recent years her eldest boy assisted
her in teaching Quran after completing his study at a religious college. Like
his mother he has signed to be a religious teacher as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To remain
close to the ageing parents of Mak Yah, Nan had a wooden house built next to
the old couple’s home. That was almost twenty years ago when Nan and Kak Yah
had small children. It was not too burdensome to allow one part of their house
dedicated for the Quran class. Over the years as the four children grew bigger
the need to use the space for Quran class for their own need was more pressing. Nan and
Mak Yah <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>began to dream of a separate hut
for the Quran class, allowing the family to expand their living quarters. But the family had very little money to spare for that purpose. What could do was to begin collecting surplus material like cement, bricks, roofing sheets etc which
might be found useful when needed later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">_______________________________<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those are
the simple facts about Nan, his wife and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For nearly twenty years I knew Nan as a
contract worker and had relied on his services, but, I realise today, I had
never given him room to talk about his family life. I only came to know what I wrote above by chance during the course a casual conversation I
had with a very close of his. Suddenly my perception of that small family
changed overnight. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having
broken the barrier Nan and Pakcik began to discuss what could be done to assist his family
to continue contributing to the village children in studying Quran. Seeing the help he could get by way of new materials for a small building, Nan set for himself a tough target to have the
small hut ready by the birthday anniversary of
Prophet Muhammad (SAWSLM) barely two months away. Quietly spent all his free time on the building. Yes he did it all by himself. It was a simple hut with roof, tiled floor and low concrete walls on three sides. On the fourth side he built a toilet and a small
kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T4FLijkLxmI/VPGXV2yi-2I/AAAAAAAACZ8/4tCyv0SpcyU/s1600/NANNEWDSC00155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T4FLijkLxmI/VPGXV2yi-2I/AAAAAAAACZ8/4tCyv0SpcyU/s1600/NANNEWDSC00155.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The new hut for Quran study - named 'Pondok Almanar'</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsQaguTLQA8/VPGsP3UlpcI/AAAAAAAACaM/MZ2tQgmcwJw/s1600/N%2BNEWDSC00156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsQaguTLQA8/VPGsP3UlpcI/AAAAAAAACaM/MZ2tQgmcwJw/s1600/N%2BNEWDSC00156.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Pondok Almanar" nearing completion</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56m-6FeEH0c/VPG0SozLYLI/AAAAAAAACao/0Nk6Et_WvLg/s1600/NMAKYAH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56m-6FeEH0c/VPG0SozLYLI/AAAAAAAACao/0Nk6Et_WvLg/s1600/NMAKYAH.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The proud lady "Mak Yah" and her ;childrren'</div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">__________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a
very proud moment for Mak Yah and Nan on the long-waited morning of the
Maulud (birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAWSL). She organised her pupils to parade
on the road leading to the new hut. On a signal from her the group started
chanting, marching slowly to the new building. How surprised I was to see a welcome
message displayed on the wall – Welcome to “Pondok Almanar” ( Almanar hut), a tribute
to Pakcik’s Almanar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0VCgP9eqCk/VPG1oGP7rQI/AAAAAAAACa0/nKk4IzPcWcg/s1600/NProcessDSC00174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0VCgP9eqCk/VPG1oGP7rQI/AAAAAAAACa0/nKk4IzPcWcg/s1600/NProcessDSC00174.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nan, Mak Yah's husband leading children reciting praises to Prophet (SAW)</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a
short speech by Mak Yah and prayers by Nan everyone started to enjoy the foods,
mainly contributed by the villagers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-quDa0iRcx4w/VPG22ODU2gI/AAAAAAAACbA/8uuTbxVAobo/s1600/NchildrenDSC00165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-quDa0iRcx4w/VPG22ODU2gI/AAAAAAAACbA/8uuTbxVAobo/s1600/NchildrenDSC00165.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mak Yah's young Quran readers</div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a
memorable day indeed for the villagers and the children who now have a proper
place to study Quran. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wYgcFAl6aTQ/VPG33xCJeQI/AAAAAAAACbI/VdccyPGE_Dk/s1600/SURAIALMANAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wYgcFAl6aTQ/VPG33xCJeQI/AAAAAAAACbI/VdccyPGE_Dk/s1600/SURAIALMANAR.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to Pondok Almanar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They owe it all
to the dedication of Mak Yah and family. Behind the scene Pakcik shares the pride of
a gutsy lady who shares out motto:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Berkhidmat<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kerana Tuhan<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Untuk Kemanusiaan<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">_______________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-52380176045730430242015-01-25T09:23:00.000+08:002015-01-26T21:58:05.043+08:00A Wild Thought<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em><u>Something to puzzle</u></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em><u>Note</u></em></strong> –<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong> I have posted
nothing here since 1.1.15 (not 1014 as kindly pointed out by UNKNOWN in the 'comments' below), twenty five days ago. Is blogging old-fashioned and
one should move on? That thought is tempting. But today we have honoured
guests, something for my thought to run wild. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
_____________________________________</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Honeymooners, be aware!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">Here is a home for
the aged, home for the ones with just one dream.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">There is sky up
above, hard ground beneath and air to breath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is the deep
blue sea and the spray and the seagull and its prey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sand, holding
the roots of the palm trees,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">The red dish rising
over the horizon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to give warmth,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The silvery moon
taking over to give light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I see them all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">I admire them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">There lie my
dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Welcoming others
to share.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Endlessly.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The puzzle and wonder.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of the Ultimate Creator</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">_____________________<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em><u>Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan</u></em></strong></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-85299059042768070332015-01-01T03:25:00.000+08:002015-01-01T05:48:20.427+08:00Pakcik Reminisces ( Pt 38 ) - My 1962 New Year Resolution<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">My Resolution 52 years ago</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">In the final hours of 2014 ecided to look
back to those years when making new year resolutions was a must to me. Generally
it was made with a serious thought. Each year my diary would, without fail, start with
resolutions for the year. Now it is all a history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick glance brought me to my diary of 1961 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was then in my final year. In the middle of that year, armed with a degree, I started my working career, in Singapore for a
start. ( I regret I am not right now able o put a picture of that book and the relevant
page.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGopMwXxENo/VKRK_C6xtBI/AAAAAAAACYU/m_t370sba0A/s1600/DIARY55.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGopMwXxENo/VKRK_C6xtBI/AAAAAAAACYU/m_t370sba0A/s1600/DIARY55.bmp" height="272" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUoIhZ6ZXfE/VKRLcdK--DI/AAAAAAAACYc/5BBTpfAkzGs/s1600/DIARY1956Top-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUoIhZ6ZXfE/VKRLcdK--DI/AAAAAAAACYc/5BBTpfAkzGs/s1600/DIARY1956Top-1.jpg" height="320" width="277" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">Let us see how the
first page of my ( Monday, January 1961) diary began. I wonder in what mood I was when
I was writing it down. Was I being as serious as I was on other occasions ? Here is what I wish my readers to see:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">“ a -No vice of any sort.</span></u></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b - </span>By the time the last page of this diary is
written there should be at least ‘three’ if not full house‘4’ ?”<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> The first part (a)</o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"> sounds as if I
had lived a dirty and wild life those years I was a student away from home. Who knows - that is a matter for anyone to judge. No one is perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> Now we look at the second part (b). My first question when I read this, what was that 'three' and 'full house 4' mean? Since I now have three children I immediately thought of children. No, it was not meant to be children. The 'last page' of that diary would mean a period of less period than a whole twelve months, needing me to be married and to force a triplet (or even a quad within a year!. That would not be human.</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">Then the 'full house 4' would only make me think of my right as a Muslim man! In short,Pakcik must be in a humorous mood on the first day of 1961, the year I would be liberated from text books and all, come snow and sunshine. How could that young Pakcik ever seriously think of 'full house '4' . Today,53 years down the line </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> the ‘house’only has one 'guest', and I have been more than contented. Alhamdulillah.</o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p>Those comments enable me today to comment and criticise how foolishly naïve I was those heroic years, at least so I thought.</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">____________________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">Just as well I am finishing
this entry at almost within the last minutes of 2014. So, I have the opportunity to wish every one of my readers a successful and
rewarding 2015. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will have this posted
within the first hours of 2015, but I must also have my new year resolution as well - that is : <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<strong><em><u>Berkhidmat kerana</u></em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><u>Tuhan</u></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><u>Untukkemanusiaan</u></em></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-90235094317434492142014-12-27T21:08:00.001+08:002014-12-27T21:08:23.498+08:00The SECOND wave - Rain and Snow<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><strong><em><u>A quiet X'mas Day</u></em></strong></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XtT4ZqTRsjM/VJ16G1ERaSI/AAAAAAAACXM/9EaWYNNnHz0/s1600/monsoon%2Bsky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XtT4ZqTRsjM/VJ16G1ERaSI/AAAAAAAACXM/9EaWYNNnHz0/s1600/monsoon%2Bsky.JPG" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">A X'mas Day to remember </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">To my Christian
visitors I wish a sadly belated Merry X’mas, with snow and all to add
atmosphere to the joyous occasion. To us in Malaysia it has been sad news especially in the East Coast where I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">One headline reads
“Terengganu virtually cut off..”</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Another says that this is 'the worst in history'</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9HR5u7iCjw/VJ4-o5GBXgI/AAAAAAAACXc/AWBqx_i7no8/s1600/worst%2Bin%2BhistoryDSC00117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9HR5u7iCjw/VJ4-o5GBXgI/AAAAAAAACXc/AWBqx_i7no8/s1600/worst%2Bin%2BhistoryDSC00117.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">With incessant <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rain over the last five days we bgan to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>expect the worst. Excessive water would
naturally break river banks to flood the surrounding low areas which generally
are in bad need of suitably planned monsoon drains. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>It was late afternoon of X'mas Day when, f</o:p></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">rom my house, I could see the sea through the
gaps in the row of tall casuarina trees ( my Terengganu’s X’mas trees’
look-alike), which I had them planted to help breaking the force of sea breeze carrying salt sprays to our home during Monsoon weather. What I was looking at from my house did not look at all good, ominous as a matter of fact.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VrwQ6pWnRY/VJ5BN4uSIWI/AAAAAAAACXo/hjUUciy4_ls/s1600/SEA%2BOMINOUS180113P1000385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VrwQ6pWnRY/VJ5BN4uSIWI/AAAAAAAACXo/hjUUciy4_ls/s1600/SEA%2BOMINOUS180113P1000385.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">On a sudden impulse I reached my camera and walked down to the beach to see any real life drama on the beach, perhaps a rare experience to many but not to us here <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Rwc0qufp9c/VJ13lZzKjlI/AAAAAAAACXA/bFBwjuyM21k/s1600/MONSOON%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Rwc0qufp9c/VJ13lZzKjlI/AAAAAAAACXA/bFBwjuyM21k/s1600/MONSOON%2B4.JPG" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"> <strong><em><u> Not a very inviting look</u></em></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">It was a weird
feeling to see the stormy sea and grey sky stretching all the way to the Western
horizon. On the Eastern side runs a a row of casuarina trees, in a way hiding the predence of our home. ; and
stretching north and south runs the seemingly endless stretch of sandy beach to as far as the eyes can
see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jN9us8jaqWk/VJ5DdO93lmI/AAAAAAAACX0/LrmpAjeIazo/s1600/HOrizon%2BRAINP1010966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jN9us8jaqWk/VJ5DdO93lmI/AAAAAAAACX0/LrmpAjeIazo/s1600/HOrizon%2BRAINP1010966.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> <strong><em><u>The minous cloud threatening from the western horizon</u></em></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">That was X’mas eve
for me, yesterday. The atmosphere could be romantic with a slight breeze, accompanied by the soft
sound of waves spreading their foams on the frothy shore; and there a couple standing
hand-in-hand watching the far horizon, or sitting on the soft sand watching baby vrabs running
around!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u4l0BOgHwSE/VJ5iLrc9YwI/AAAAAAAACYE/EOM3iFKJr8U/s1600/FOAMMONSOON5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u4l0BOgHwSE/VJ5iLrc9YwI/AAAAAAAACYE/EOM3iFKJr8U/s1600/FOAMMONSOON5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> <strong><em><u>A fascinating sight of foamy waves </u></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><u>spreading froth over the expanse of the sabdy beach</u></em></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> That was prt of my quiet X'ms Day, standing mersmerised by the the Almighty's works of wonder and admiration. Then I traced back my footsteps in the sandm, happy that I decided to do the least romantic act of the Day but spiritually satisfying. Alhamdulillah.</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> _____________________________</o:p></span></div>
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Berkhidmat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kerana Tuhan</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Untuk Kemanusiaan</div>
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<br />
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br />
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Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-87250592476864292902014-12-09T18:45:00.002+08:002014-12-09T18:45:21.322+08:00Selamat Tinggal<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">NOQTAH
hitam<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o </span></span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">9.12.2</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">014</span></u></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">At lunch time
today the wife of my very old friend of sixty years passed away at a hospital
in Subang Jaya. This is indeed a dark spot in our life. She, named Hasmah
Sulaiman, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salmah Sulaiman, my good
wife (watch their names) were <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>twins. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Suddenly gone are
the days and evenings we had meals out, and occasions we shared meals at home
accompanied with gay time and laughter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">
Waktu sembahyang dan tanah perkuburan sebelum waktu zohor esok akan menandakan
detik perceraian kami di bumi ini.Yang ada pada kami cuma titisan air mata disertai doa semoga rohnya berada diantara yang dikasihiNYA. Lfatihah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Prayers and AlFatihah
will always be our way of remembering this very dear <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>old lady, a dear sister more than a friend.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
________________________ </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Berkhidmat </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kerana Tuhan</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Untuk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kemanusiaan</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
=========================================</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-10587837268993808562014-11-09T15:44:00.000+08:002014-11-09T15:44:13.884+08:00Hatinya baik (Good heart) - ( Part 5 ) - The novelist<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><strong><em><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My dear Cikgu Ali<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here was one
person I consider myself very fortunate to have come to know for twenty years with
high degree of respect. He was a gentleman , very sincere and one who spoke his mind.
Above all he was a very loving and caring father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Sadly, h</span>e
passed away on 3<sup>rd</sup> November leaving behind his wife and 15
well-raised children. He was <strong>Cikgu Ali Jusoh</strong>, a retired <em>headmaster</em> and an
extraordinary <em>novelist</em>. </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>(AlFatihah for
him)<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sIe-_xtW8E/VF6xuRaMptI/AAAAAAAACVo/JqX9gZdiyck/s1600/ALIJUSOHFP1020109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sIe-_xtW8E/VF6xuRaMptI/AAAAAAAACVo/JqX9gZdiyck/s1600/ALIJUSOHFP1020109.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong><em>Mother and 14 children </em></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>(15th not in the picture)</em></strong></span> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em>Arwah Cikgu Ali</em> wrote more than twenty Malay
novels. Of all the many awards he received for his works, <strong><em>Alor Miang</em></strong> topped the
list, for which he was honoured <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with the
coveted <strong><em>Sako 3</em></strong>, a prestigious national literary award named after <em>Ishak Haji
Muhammad</em>, or better known by his pen name <strong><em>Pak Sako.</em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4up0W_Mg5o0/VF7WXaefC1I/AAAAAAAACV4/iJLfmpuUMkk/s1600/ALIJBALORP1020098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4up0W_Mg5o0/VF7WXaefC1I/AAAAAAAACV4/iJLfmpuUMkk/s1600/ALIJBALORP1020098.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><em><u>Hadiah Sako</u></em></strong></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, personally,
I know how he felt about his latest over-540-page <strong><em>Orang Orang Perang</em></strong>, published
just weeks before his demise. The pleasure of having completed the book was tremendous.</span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9cNdffFSxY/VF7bM1Km9FI/AAAAAAAACWI/w1YTf5-umQk/s1600/ALI%2BOOrP1020117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9cNdffFSxY/VF7bM1Km9FI/AAAAAAAACWI/w1YTf5-umQk/s1600/ALI%2BOOrP1020117.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em><u>Orang Orang Perang (last piublished)</u></em></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a couple of
weeks ago <em>Pakcik</em>, on his request, drove him on a sentimental journey along the
upstream section of <em>Terengganu River</em>, where a number of historical events took
place. Among others we visited <strong><em>Cheng Ho Memorial</em></strong>, an old building constructed in honour of
the legendry <strong><em>Chinese Admiral Cheng Ho</em></strong>, a <em>Muslim</em>. The theme of his last book was
based on the life of this historical figure.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it seems like
yesterday when, while driving in town, his voice came through the phone with
excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few copies of his latest
book had reached him. I was to drop by for my copy before being high-jacked by
others<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">_______________ </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To avoid making this a long
posting I may, one of these days, post a note on why I believe he judged his
last book, Orang Orang Perang, to be his best achievement; and I will write why
Alor Miang is not just an award winning novel for him but one book very personal to me. </span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">________________<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Arwah Ali Jusoh</em> often
expressed his enthusiasm in training young novelists, several of whom owe him
success. To my mind he was a born writer, not needing tertiary education to be
what he was. I cannot help believing that characters in his novels were of real
people and so were the events and environments. He often told me how he made trips
up a hill, into a jungle or down a river to study the environments. He was adamant
that one should not imagine the feeling of being in jungle at night without
experiencing it, camping overnight if necessary. One should feel the serenity,
the rustle of leaves, the buzzing of mosquitoes, the sight of the moon, or the lack
of it, among the leaves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It hurt me deeply,
during the last year of his illness, to see a novelist of his calibre sitting
idle with plenty of time on hand, sadly unable to use his fingers. What he
could compose in his mind could not be translated without the use of his
fingers holding a pen or striking the type-writer keys. Recitation was never an
option for him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How did I get to
know this wonderful person? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Way back in 1994,
a good 20 years ag</em></strong>o, it was my </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>‘hijrah’</em> with
<em>Makcik</em> from <em>KL to KT</em> to start a new phase of life. A couple of months after
settling down <em>Pakcik</em> decided to start my voluntary tuition for the needy
children. My small tuition <em>Almanar</em> building was about to be built but I could not wait
to start. My first thought was to begin with a small number of Standard 5
children. For that purpose I drove to the nearest primary school, about 3 km
away. At the school office I requested to see the headmaster, whoever that
might be. It turned out to be Arwah Ali Jusoh whom I had never mat or heard of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without being
asked for the reason of my visit I was ushered into the HM’s office. With a smile he
gestured me to a chair and he sat himself in one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him briefly the reason for seeing him;
to request for a small group of Std 5 children, stressing my preference for
those from needy families. That person must have studied me and understood what
I wished. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That was the
beginning of my 20-year friendship with that headmaster. When I subsequently
knew of his writing skill I began to have dreams of being a writer as well.
Finally, I completed a two-sheet type-written essay (that was my pre-laptop
era!) and proudly handed it to him one day. Soon after that he dropped by the
house. Pakcik knew He had read my master piece and was about to give me his
comments, nothing short of high praise, I anticipated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then came the bomb-shell. “Haji, tulislah saja dalam
Bahasa Inggeris. ( addressing me – Haji you are better off writing in
English.) he began. Then, while placing on the table my two-sheet work, which was now
full of lines , scribbles and circles in RED ink, he went on (in Malay), “ This is
not the Malay way of writing. It is English. Even your Malay spellings are all wrong,
Zaaba’s era!” The man was no-nonsense. We understood each other well enough. What a blow to my ego that was!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He had plainly told me the truth. Thence, I ceased to dream of becoming a novelist.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2jjf3a5JaI/VF7k89DAhWI/AAAAAAAACWg/mYhNafVwH-o/s1600/%2BaLI%2BjUSOH%2B(2)%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2jjf3a5JaI/VF7k89DAhWI/AAAAAAAACWg/mYhNafVwH-o/s1600/%2BaLI%2BjUSOH%2B(2)%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em><u>With his Alor Miang</u></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-xgcjr3ROk/VF7kGa0sdyI/AAAAAAAACWY/KmOBi2-vMYg/s1600/ali%2Bjusoh%2Bsign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-xgcjr3ROk/VF7kGa0sdyI/AAAAAAAACWY/KmOBi2-vMYg/s1600/ali%2Bjusoh%2Bsign.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><em><u>Trying hard to scribble his initials on</u></em></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><em><u> my copy of Orang Orang Perang</u></em></strong></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That was <strong><em>Ali Jusoh</em></strong>. <strong><em>My prayers go with him</em></strong>.</span></span></span><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
<strong><u>_____________________ </u></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Berkhidmat<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kerana Tuhan<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Untuk<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kemanusiaan<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></i></b></div>
</div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-23626378541791162972014-10-25T23:02:00.000+08:002014-10-25T23:02:06.818+08:00Miracles of Al-Quran ( Pt 3 ) – Maurice Bucaille.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">( </span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1 Muharram 1436</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> )<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quran and Science<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is
befitting to start another year of Hijriah with another posting on the <strong><em>Miracles
of Al-Quran</em></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About 30
years ago I purchased in London a book by <strong><em>Maurice Bucaille</em></strong>, a French medical
doctor and a member of <strong><em>French Society of Egyptology</em></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed by its astounding contents.
Sadly, I can no longer find this prized copy on my bookshelf. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Somehow, a</span> new copy, purchased later, does not satisfy my love
for the first copy which had flicked through on so many occasions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong><em><u> </u></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><u>Maurice Bucaille<o:p></o:p></u></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Bucaille</em></strong> (
born in 1920 and passed away in 1998 ), a medical specialist, practiced
medicine from 1945–82. He had great interest in identifying words from the
bible and <strong><em>Quran</em></strong> and interpreting them against his medical practice. He, then,
found it necessary to learn Arabic in order to understand what <strong><em>Al Quran</em></strong> had to
say. Many aspects in the <strong><em>Quran</em></strong> relate to deep understanding of science and he
could not rely on pure translation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
order to be able to read <strong><em>Quran</em></strong> in its original text, he devoted himself to the
learning of <strong><em>Arabic</em></strong> language at the ripe age of fifty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His deep involvement
in the preservation of Egyptian mummies brought him closer to the Arab world. In
1973, <strong><em>Bucaille</em></strong> was appointed family physician to king <strong><em>Faisal of Saudi Arabia</em></strong>. Another
of his patients at the time included members of the family of then <strong><em>President of
Egypt, was Anwar Sadat.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thereafter,
he made a serious beginning by trying to reconcile proven scientific truths
with religious axioms. Finally he was convinced that of all the sacred books,
<strong><em>Al Quran</em></strong> was the only one which had remained sacrosanct and free from all
additions, alterations and interpolations, and, consequently it still retained
the purity to guide mankind in all ages, places and in every conceivable
crisis. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was
convinced of the exact specific scientific details mentioned in <strong><em>AlQuran </em></strong>and
such details were absent in in other scriptures. He realised that those details,
could never have been understood during <strong><em>Prophet Muhammad’s</em></strong> era. The various
stages in the process of pregnancy have all along been described in great
details in <strong><em>Al Quran</em></strong> but the absence of scientific knowledge did not make it possible for proper
interpretation and understanding. Being a specialist in that field he found <strong><em>Al
Quran</em></strong> very specific in its description on processes involved in pregnancy. What is described with
so much detail could never be understood 1400 years ago. This fact alone is
enough proof of the authenticity of <strong><em>Quran</em></strong> against any other sacred books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the basis of the great wonders he discovered in <strong><em>Al Quran, Maurice
Bucaille</em></strong> adopted Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a result
of these studies, he wrote his famous book "<strong><em>QURAN, BIBLE AND SCIENCE"</em></strong>
in 1976, which caused a furore in high academic circles - particularly in the
<strong><em>Christian</em></strong> world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsBVX852TmI/VEu35E9-Q1I/AAAAAAAACVI/QjZ0lDjGWRA/s1600/BUCAIKLE2P1020056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsBVX852TmI/VEu35E9-Q1I/AAAAAAAACVI/QjZ0lDjGWRA/s1600/BUCAIKLE2P1020056.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<strong><em><u>What is the origin of man </u></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><u>& The bible the Quran and science</u></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a
deeper study of <strong><em>Islam</em></strong> and the <strong><em>Quran</em></strong>, he has authored another book titled,
"<strong><em>THE ORIGIN OF MAN</em></strong>". He was invited to give Extension Lectures in
academic institutions. By virtue of his unprejudiced and realistic
approach to <strong><em>Quranic</em></strong> thought, and by virtue of his unprejudiced and realistic
discussion and his research work, <strong><em>Dr. Bucaille</em></strong> has converted a number of high
ranking scholars to agree with him and to subscribe to his view that the <strong><em>Quran</em></strong>
is a <strong><em>Divine Book</em></strong>, not authored by any human being, and was truly revealed by
the <strong><em>Almighty God</em></strong> to <strong><em>His Last Prophet, Mohammad, Peace Be Upon Him.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">______________________________
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is never
my preference to make an unnecessarily long posting. <strong><em>Insya Allah,</em></strong> I will have
another posting on <strong><em>Professor Maurice Bucaille’s</em></strong> amazing finding on the death of Pharoah and his mummy as specified in <strong><em>Al Quran</em></strong>, but absent in other religious books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Berkhidmat</span></span></u></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kerana Tuhan</span></span></u></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Untuk kemanusiaan<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-67642009158844285892014-10-14T19:27:00.000+08:002014-10-14T19:27:19.323+08:00Mission Impossible<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><u> <span lang="EN-US">Could<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rome be built in one day?</span></u></em></strong></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To-date, the largest
orphanage centre in the state, <em>Perkaya</em>., which have its own school, have<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>started sending pupils to <em>Almanar</em> on a
weekly basis ,a very unsatisfactory frequency. Two groups are ferried in in
their own bus every Saturday morning . I am hoping the new programme for next
year will increase the frequency. I have, thus far, concentrated on teaching
<em>English</em>, leaving other subjects to begin in January.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was greatly
surprised last week when their representative requested <em>Pakcik’s</em> assistance to
spend one Saturday morning with their <em>Form 3</em> children who would begin their <em>PT3</em>
( to replace the <em>PMR</em>) examination , which began yesterday with half a million
candidates. The children were in need of help in mathematics. Preparing children of unknown level of knowledge in half a day for an important examination was
a tall order; <em><strong>a mission impossible</strong></em>. But I knew better than to decline. I would,
at least, have an opportunity to assess the children’s competency in that
subject before they turn up to be tutored as <em>Form 4</em> pupils early next year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><o:p> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUMaumSQ4Jw/U8JovLD9JGI/AAAAAAAACLQ/-sHHmXxPBas/s1600/PerkayaBUSP1010821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUMaumSQ4Jw/U8JovLD9JGI/AAAAAAAACLQ/-sHHmXxPBas/s1600/PerkayaBUSP1010821.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><u>Bus from PERKAYA</u></em></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As planned a
busload of children arrived at <em>Almanar</em> before nine last Saturday. Buses from
Perkaya have always been very punctual despite their one-hour journey to to Almanar. So, by nine last Saturday morning, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>27 children ( 6 girls and 21 boys) were seated
quietly in four rows in my class. I was conscious that all the 27 pairs of eyes
watching me belonged to children without fathers. It was a sobering thought and
I felt grateful to be in that unusual and enviable position. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the initial
few words of welcome, making sure that they would only address me as a simple
<em>Pakcik </em>or <em>Pakcik Hassan</em>, we began with <em>Al Fatihah</em> for their fathers and the
rest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ensuing three
hours was tiring, selecting appropriate parts ans examples. At least I know now the level of their competency; which is low in
my estimation. They would not make an A
grade today, but, Isha Allah, a few would in two years’ time. <strong><em>Rome was not
built in one day</em></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Berkhidmat<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></u></div>
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
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<u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>kerana Tuhan<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></u></div>
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
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<u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>untuk kemanusiaan<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></u></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-9957217447442492402014-10-08T00:35:00.000+08:002014-10-08T00:40:52.611+08:00End of the Tunnel ( Pt. 26 ) - Ooh, Pakcik!?<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></u></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></u></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Had it not been for you<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I parked my
car and walked into the shop holding an old novel to be photo-stated . A young
lady sporting a light blue Malay dress and a matching scarf was looking at
a photostat copy which had just been handed to her by a shop assistant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked to me like a form, perhaps a completed application form.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conscious of my
standing beside her she looked up only to find Pakcik’s face looking straight
at her. Instead of shifting her eyes away a surprise look of recognition broke
in her face. Almost instantaneously she opened her mouth to give a soft cry; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ Ooh, Pakcik Hassan … !?” , then followed with “ Lamanya
tak jumpa ! ( I’ve not seen you for so long !).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her feature began
to look familiar, and that word “Pakcik” told me who she should be, one of ex
Almanar children. I was quick to change my surprise to a gentle rebuke , “ I am
not surprised if you do not recognise me. You have not bothered to contact me
after all this while.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">That was a good
line which prompted her to be defensive, “ Tak kan lupa Pakcik! Kalau tidak
kerana Pakcik ajar saya Bahasa Inggeris mana saya dapat masuk UIA ! “. ( It
isn’t possible to forget Pakcik! Without Pakcik helping to teach me English how
could I join UIA ?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">So this girl,
Aishah, had graduated from UIA and she went on to tell Pakcik that she was having some document
prepared to take with
her to UK. In about one week’s time she will be starting her Master’s degree at
Hull University. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am sure, she could
never appreciate, nor could anyone else, how her impromptu declaration (of my
help in teaching her English) meant to me at that moment. I am not ashamed to admit
this. Aishah rewarded me enough with those few involuntary declaration. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">__________________________<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I am able to
reflect on this girl, Siti Nor Aishah, a young orphan, who, together with a few
others, joined Almanar Form One tuition class in 2003. She completed SPM at the end of
2007. It was a credit to me and to her continued effort to finally earn the elusive ‘A’ grade in English. That, with her good SPM
results in other subjects, earned her a place at UIA. And now she is proceeding to Hull. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><u><em>Siti Nur Aishah</em></u> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reminiscing the
time she was studying at Almanar, she said, “Mother used to scold me whenever I failed
to attend one Pakcik’s class. ” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aishah realised
how much <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her mother, a single parent, had
wished her success in education. That is what has inspired her to come this far and to go further. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">_________________<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the second day
of Hari Raya Qurban Aishah’s mother had a small party. Pakcik and Makcik were
too happy to be there – to bid her farewell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insya Allah, we will, before long, be seeing more of her, a lady with high education.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><u>Berkhidmat<o:p></o:p></u></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><u>Kerana Tuhan<o:p></o:p></u></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><u>Untuk kemanusiaan<o:p></o:p></u></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-51407479399836969272014-09-28T07:48:00.000+08:002014-09-28T07:48:13.043+08:00<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Books over the
Years ( Part 1 ) -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span lang="EN-US">Pearl S Buck<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b> </div>
<u>
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>The Good Earth</em></span></u><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was around
1954, my second year in an English School, when I began to make myself enjoy reading English
books. Until then it was all Malay periodicals and novels. The need to catch up
with English language became important when I realised how poor I was, having
joined the English school a year earlier fresh from <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">a religious school
where I hardly had a proper English lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To begin yet
another new seires (Books over the Years) for this blog I have a choice of old books which have left deep
impressions in my memory. For a start I have to weigh seriously between a school text book,
Charles Dicken's David Copperfield, and Pearl S Buck’s The Good Earth. I have decided on the latter, for its more worn out appearance.
I am lucky for having this copy in my possession over the years since
I purchased it on 13<sup>th</sup> March 1954 - for RM 1.80! That makes it 60 years ago and it is likely to outlast its beloved owner.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<strong><em><u>Pocket Book - 1953 edition</u></em></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkufLzwv8gE/VCbNg7UbjZI/AAAAAAAACUU/jVFMtFz1otw/s1600/my%2Bpicturegoodearth%2B(blog)%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkufLzwv8gE/VCbNg7UbjZI/AAAAAAAACUU/jVFMtFz1otw/s1600/my%2Bpicturegoodearth%2B(blog)%2B001.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><strong><em><u>Noted in long hand: 1.80 </u></em></strong></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><strong><em><u>Hassan Abdul Karim </u></em></strong></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><strong><em><u>S S S K Trengganu</u></em></strong></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><strong><em><u>13th March, 1954</u></em></strong></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was fortunate to
have two qualified English ladies teaching us in Form 4 and 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were in K Terengganu following their husbands holding certain seniors government
posts like heads of JKR, Education Department, etc. Those were the years before
Independence when certain schools benefitted from expatriates’ wives who were
qualified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember it well that one
of them was qualified with MA in English. Perhaps she was the one who
introduced The Good Earth to us. To get the book I had to place order by post
from a book store in K Lumpur. There was no bookshop selling English book in
town.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<img class="rg_i" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="y7JHT7QZVqtvTM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBbKtNqiXP6DFUbHPVDV5OgaxvU9Lvf-g9h_YBRKmlH6lAXegP" style="height: 198px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 148px;" /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> Author of The Good Earth</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>Pearl S. Buck</o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>(Google) </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The author, Pearl
S Buck, born in 1892, followed her American parents<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to China on their missionary work. Sshe earned her master’s degree in English Literature from Cornell University, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> and later</span> married an American in China where they
spent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the best part of their life, as
university lecturers and voluntary workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pearl had special love for the local Chinese peasants, about whom she
wrote in a number of her books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pearl had her hall
of residence in Nanking named in her honour. President Bush paid his respect there
on his visit to Nanking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">For her work,
Pearl S Buck was awarded t</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-MY;">he Nobel Prize in Literature 1938 , cited <i>"for her rich and
truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical
masterpieces"</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-MY;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pearl was honoured
in 1983 with a 5¢ Great Americans series postage stamp issued by the United
States Postal Service.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wang Lang, rising from humble landowner,
glorified in the soil he worked. Had it above his family The back page of the
book in Pakcik’s possession, carries the following tribute to this book ‘The
Good Earth ;<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Wang Lang, rising
from humble Chinese farmer to wealthy landowner, glorified in the soil he
worked. But soon, between Wang Lang and the kindly soil that sustained him,
came flood and drought, pestilence and revolution ….<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Through this one
Chinese peasant and his children, Nobel Prize winner Pearl S Buck traces the
whole cycle of life, its terrors, its passions, its persistent ambition and its
rewards. Her brilliant nover – beloved by millions of readers throughout the
world – is a universal tale of the destiny of men.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p>I am never tired of going through this book. It is all about simple and innocent human and humanity, an environment not dissimilar to that I have been associated with the last twenty years. </o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps school
children of todays, those in Form 4 would breeze through this wonderful book
and enjoy what Pakcik had to struggle through – with my prized copy of Chamber’s
Twentieth Century Dictionary and all</span>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em><u>Berkhidmat kerana
Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan.<o:p></o:p></u></em></strong></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-39403638922571466082014-09-20T21:34:00.000+08:002014-09-20T21:34:49.080+08:00With a Sigh ( Part 22 ) – Kertas Bocor!! Leak in exam papers.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong><em><u>Now it leaks ! What's next?</u></em></strong></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">It saddens me that
I have not in this blog written an entry crediting on our country’s system of
education. I moan and sigh whenever the ‘<strong><em>gods</em></strong>’ of education speak with high
praise for their endless plans and blueprints, to make our universities more of
‘<strong><em>taraf antara bangsa’(world class)</em></strong> than those in other countries. They talk
about importing Indian English teachers, American peace corps etc. etc. to help
in teaching of English. This reminds me of a conversation I had with then the
director of a state education department. When I casually asked him why there had
hardly been one scholarship given to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an
outstanding student in the state to study English <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at a university in England, he went to a great
length to convince Pakcik that England was no longer the best country to study
English language! Fortunately India was not his best choice either. I found no
reason to waste my breath in arguing with that self-proclaimed expert. He must
have been convinced by the ‘<strong><em>gods</em></strong>’ up there, those who found him deserving to be
promoted to run the state education.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have never heard
of a suggestion from our wizards in education that, perhaps, it is of immediate
advantage to the country to invite experienced teachers, those trained in
Kirkby, Brinsford and locally. Many of them would be too happy to come out of
retirement to help our failing system. In the local dailies several readers did
voice suggestions to this effect without being given any notice by those in
authority who were bent on listening to the expensive consultants from
overseas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now we hear
about the <strong><em>leak (bocor)</em></strong> in certain <strong><em>UPSR</em></strong> question papers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfJTrk7dxx0/VB2BRK4kUKI/AAAAAAAACUE/Ui5j_UsvoM0/s1600/UPSRnews%2Bmy%2Bpicture%2B(blog)%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfJTrk7dxx0/VB2BRK4kUKI/AAAAAAAACUE/Ui5j_UsvoM0/s1600/UPSRnews%2Bmy%2Bpicture%2B(blog)%2B001.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my part of the
world I have, over the last ten years, been hearing rumours of leaked
examination papers just about <strong><em>UPSR</em></strong> examination time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many teachers are convinced of that and I am inclined
to believe them, too. Deep in my heart I know there is some truth in the
rumours. Coincidentally, over the years my state is proud of holding a record
of sort in achieving the highest percentage of children obtaining <strong><em>all A-grades
in UPSR</em></strong> examinations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought the
current unfortunate situation (of <strong><em>leaked UPSR papers</em></strong>) would hasten the
replacement of <strong><em>UPSR</em></strong> examination with the new system publicised<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not long ago. On the other hand, the minister
categorically stated that <strong><em>UPSR would stay.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">What does an A grade in UPSR mean?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_DEU_YsRBA/VB1_2FTSNQI/AAAAAAAACT4/As-_j2Z2xkY/s1600/UPSR3P1020018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_DEU_YsRBA/VB1_2FTSNQI/AAAAAAAACT4/As-_j2Z2xkY/s1600/UPSR3P1020018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">The three girls
pictured above are from a small group of Form 1 children attending tuition at
Almanar. Two of them achieved 5A’s and the third 3A’s in their UPSR examination
last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They decided to join Almanar
a week ago. All the three girls excelled with A-grade in Mathematics and two
with A-grade in English. It is not easy for them to come to <em><strong>Almanar</strong></em> , about <strong><em>ten
kilometers</em></strong> away from their homes. But they do with their elders’ support.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nine months into
<em><strong>Form 1</strong></em> these children claimed to have completed their <strong><em>Form 1 Mathematics</em></strong> for the year.
That is encouraging. But I cannot take it for granted. They are at a
disadvantage learning <strong>Mathematics</strong> in <strong><em>Malay</em></strong> as <em>Pakcik</em> would want children at
<strong><em>Almanar</em></strong> to learn technical terms in <strong><em>English</em></strong>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first chapter of
<strong><em>Form 1 Mathematics</em></strong> is all about numbers, the <strong><em>odd, even</em></strong> and <strong><em>prime</em></strong> numbers,
<strong><em>factors</em></strong> and <strong><em>multiples</em></strong>, etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
enlightening to these children to learn to say; Ali is an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>odd</u></i></b> boy; he is at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>odd</u></i></b>
with so and so; the top of a billiard table must be perfectly<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>
even</u></i></b>; Their score at half time were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>even</u></i></b>; He did not <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>even</u></i></b>
open the envelop, etc. When asked what they guessed a ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>prime</u></i></b> number’
would mean they looked totally puzzled. When asked what ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>prime</u></i></b> minister’
meant, their faces sparked with delight – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>perdana</u></i></b> menteri! I do not
wonder why people like our Dr Mahathir feels strongly for English to be used in
science and technical subjects. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like in many
cases, it is most disappointing to see what a <strong><em>calculator</em></strong> has done to these
children. <em>Pakcik</em> cannot help recalling the years I was in <strong><em>standard 2 and standard
3</em></strong> seventy years ago. We had to commit to memory the multiplication tables up to 12. We would get
a cane for not being spontaneous in giving an answer to say, 7x6. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These children are good at using the gadget
but failed to divide 69 by 3 without one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully our
standard of education will remain at ‘<strong><em>taraf antarabangsa</em></strong>,’ and <strong><em>I say it with a sigh.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan</span></u></i></b></div>
</div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-58288821921136221392014-09-06T22:59:00.002+08:002014-09-09T19:58:18.379+08:00Just a Reflection ( Part 13 )-Who am I?<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><u>THE HORIZON</u></em></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OknRnNUB0ME/VAsbB03aPnI/AAAAAAAACTY/hn_LnozW9DE/s1600/HORIZONP1010965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OknRnNUB0ME/VAsbB03aPnI/AAAAAAAACTY/hn_LnozW9DE/s1600/HORIZONP1010965.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">What a creation that is - </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">The SAND , </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">the SEA and the SKY. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">In perfect harmony<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ZnhOjW5jUg/VAsb_H6mB0I/AAAAAAAACTg/fEXm2YNZeDk/s1600/Horizon%2BboatP1010967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ZnhOjW5jUg/VAsb_H6mB0I/AAAAAAAACTg/fEXm2YNZeDk/s1600/Horizon%2BboatP1010967.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">And the boats are
idling, peacefully on the beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">Because their
owners know <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0qu0uYKiUs/VAsdYBVgFlI/AAAAAAAACTo/Hky4aELo9vs/s1600/HOrizon%2BRAINP1010966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0qu0uYKiUs/VAsdYBVgFlI/AAAAAAAACTo/Hky4aELo9vs/s1600/HOrizon%2BRAINP1010966.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">Soon, a STORM
is coming, and their boats are no match to face the wrath of nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>I see this
often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I reflect -</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em> <u>Who am I ?</u></em></strong></span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong><em><u>Berkhidmat kerana
Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan<o:p></o:p></u></em></strong></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-21201591083915437652014-08-25T20:52:00.001+08:002014-08-29T00:01:26.608+08:00Pakcik Reminisces ( Pt 37 ) – My Hijrah<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>August, now and fifty years ago</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">t is <b><i>August</i></b>, possibly the
month which carries memories of notable events in <i>Pakcik’s</i> family life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If one sees <i>Makcik</i> busy about
this time, year after year, fixing <i>Malaysian</i> <b><i>jalur gemilang</i></b> at the back and front of
<i>Nuri</i>, on the tree house and at <i>Almanar</i>, one would admire her patriotic spirit.
I would let people at large think so, why not? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKq8fm9DiMo/U_sYZeUcb5I/AAAAAAAACSQ/3Q1pQiBqoTE/s1600/2oflagP1010955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKq8fm9DiMo/U_sYZeUcb5I/AAAAAAAACSQ/3Q1pQiBqoTE/s1600/2oflagP1010955.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>At Nuri</u></i></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsLkb6GgxNs/U_sZPd4t_CI/AAAAAAAACSY/EBsdCO6KHUE/s1600/Twenty%2BtreeP1010948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsLkb6GgxNs/U_sZPd4t_CI/AAAAAAAACSY/EBsdCO6KHUE/s1600/Twenty%2BtreeP1010948.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>At the tree house as well</u></i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bH87Pc1LLUM/U_saEqabcqI/AAAAAAAACSg/t966SCopz0Q/s1600/TWENTYalmanarP1010952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bH87Pc1LLUM/U_saEqabcqI/AAAAAAAACSg/t966SCopz0Q/s1600/TWENTYalmanarP1010952.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>And at Almanar, no doubt</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On 30<sup>th</sup> <i>August</i> of
each year we ‘celebrate’ ( <i>with songs and dance?</i>) my <i>great lady’</i>s very own birthday.
To her the 31<sup>st</sup> <b><i>August</i></b> celebration is meant for her in the first instance. To <i>Pakcik </i>the
31<sup>st</sup> <b><i>August</i></b> celebration is in honour of <i>Pakcik</i>’s own birthday which
comes at the turn of that month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If that is not enough, <b><i>August</i></b>
brings Pakcik's family back 20 years ago when our
only <i>princess</i> was married on 25th <i>August,</i> followed a day later, on 26<sup>th</sup>,
by our elder <i>prince</i>’s wedding. If twenty years is not far back enough we move FIFTY years ago when it all started, as recorded in my last entry (<a href="http://almanar-nuri.blogspot.com/2014/08/all-in-family-part-13.html"> click here</a>
). Indeed, in the shade of a large durian tree two young persons sat united –
50 years ago this <i>August</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am fortunate to have a <b>WH
Smith Diary of 1994</b> which carries records of certain events in my family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>WH Smith 1994 diary</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Clearly, two pages dated 25<sup>th</sup>
and 26<sup>th</sup> carry some records of the two weddings in our new home, <i>Nuri</i>. where we
had barely settled down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Page 25th August & page 26th August </u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Those two weddings at <i>Nuri</i>
have been blessed with one girl and five boys which give us the right to '<i>datukship</i>' ( grandparents' status). And now two of these grandchildren have completed their secondary
education. Their grandmother has started to dream of seeing more weddings at
Nuri, and the beginning of yet another generation of great-grand ….. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">______________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Flipping through the 1994
diary I found on page for 22<sup>nd</sup> <i>April </i>(equivalent to 11<sup>th</sup>
<i>Dzul Ke’dah 1414</i>) an entry which began with “<b><i>My Hijrah to KT</i></b>” . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>My 'Al Hijrah' on 22nd April 1994</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Reading what I wrote then of a simple event, I congratulate myself today for having chosen to make simple entries on what happened. That I chose to own and enter a dairy at 58 is not a common practice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For whatever degree of relevance to my life I chose to record as follows</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> the event of that day, 22nd April 1994</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“At 8am the two of us left KL
for KT in our Proton which was packed with assorted essentials, crockery, pots
and pans, suit-cases, my books of reference on tafsir and Arabic, laptop, Black-and-Decker
tool box, mats, a piece of carpet. It was for all intents and purposes, my
‘Hijrah’ to KT. I stopped for Jumaat prayers about 50 km from Jerangau ………….
etc.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Our house was by no means
ready – but we were determined to move in – So we had our first night in NURI……. Etc”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am glad today to go back in
time and read my thoughts. It has been twenty years since we moved (hijrah) our
home from the busy KL city to a very quiet locality – semi jungle, fronting the
South China Sea. There are still wild boars and pythons today living in the neighbouring bushes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It is hard to believe that some
years ago we were forced to erect a low brick wall to fence our area (about two
acres of land) after our tapioca and banana plants were mercilessly attacked by
those dangerous brutes. It was only a week ago, one dark evening on our way home, I had to stamp hard on my
foot brake of our Alza to avoid running into two black animals I assumed to be two black cats on the road. Instead they were two young boars running across my path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And soon, after having settled
down at Nuri, we started Almanar, hoping the work I planned for needy children would keep me occupied and happy during my autumn days. To HIM we owe all these twenty years and a very pleasant life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Berkhidmat
kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan</span></u></i></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-50296017035320466152014-08-15T00:08:00.001+08:002014-08-15T00:12:36.506+08:00All in the family (Part 13 )<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>This day 15<sup>th</sup></u></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i> </i></b></span><b><i><u>August 2014</u></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Ya
ALLAH<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>We thank YOU<u><o:p></o:p></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>That we’re still here <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>To see today’s
sunrise<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>To have been given children <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>Grandchildren<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>And
friends<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>That YOU never cease<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>To provide us<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>Everything we need<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>And<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>To have made us care<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>For others<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>As YOU care for us<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>Indeed</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>We need no candles<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>No flowers<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>No cakes<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>No gold medals<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>Because<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>We have YOU<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>Yesterday today and tomorrow<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i><b>Forever</b></i></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And
in our silent prayers</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Nasykuruka wa-nahmaduka</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i>wa-IYYAKA naa'budu</i></span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wa-IYYAKa nasta’iin</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">The beginning<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;"> Just the two </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">Under a large durian tree
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">Plus Three<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">It becomes Two plus Three<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">And now - the two + three ++ twenty
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<span style="font-size: 20pt;">Wallahu aa’lam</span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Berkhidmat
kerana Tuhan untuk kemasyarakatan<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-8266976311602310612014-08-11T10:14:00.000+08:002014-08-12T10:16:33.278+08:00What Pakcik received ( Pt 7 ) - Does it ring a bell ?<div class="MsoNormal">
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Thank you Prapa <span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u>___________________</u></i></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Such a long time ago – seems like yesterday</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahAebRkZGPA/U-gVuNIL6AI/AAAAAAAACNQ/eOEEk0yoPm4/s1600/OldAge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahAebRkZGPA/U-gVuNIL6AI/AAAAAAAACNQ/eOEEk0yoPm4/s1600/OldAge.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Has it been so bad all these years? Just hang on, darling. I will think of a poem to express my true love and gratitude.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u>Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan</u></i></b></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-18703439408026304322014-08-03T22:46:00.001+08:002014-08-03T22:46:41.173+08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">End of the Tunnel ( Pt 25 ) – <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">From burger stall to MRI T.0 Tesla
& beyond<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the many who turned up to wish us <i>Selamat Hari Raya</i> is this young man.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bug2olg7FR4/U942BoCyx5I/AAAAAAAACMg/9w-SAeQeh4s/s1600/JUNAIDINP1010880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bug2olg7FR4/U942BoCyx5I/AAAAAAAACMg/9w-SAeQeh4s/s1600/JUNAIDINP1010880.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost four years ago I wrote
about this boy, <i><b>Din</b></i> and his plight to get into medical-related field of studies
( <a href="http://end%20of%20the%20tunnel%20%28%20pt.xn--%209%20%29%20%20from%20burger%20stall%20to%20mri%20t-mz36a.0%20tesla/">click here</a> ). He joined <i>Almanar</i> class after passing his<i> UPSR</i> examination with
grades <i>2A’s, 2B’s</i> and <i>1C</i>. Three years later he improved his performance passing
his PMR with <i>5A’s and 3B’s</i>. For his <i>SPM
</i>he also obtained <i>5A’s and 3B’s</i>. Strong in <i>English, Maths and Physics</i> he was
accepted to do a three-year diploma course in <i>Radiography</i> at a premier
university medical centre. With grit and determination <i>Din</i> ended the course at
the top of the <i>dean’s list</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Proceeding as planned, he
started working at the university hospital for four years and joined the university
academics on part-time basis to earn a degree by the end of next year. He has
in mind to pursue a post basic course related to nuclear medicine which will
lead to a master’s degree. Of his future he would like to have a career at a
specialised</span> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> medical centre or a university, preferably
back in <i>Terengganu</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, he cannot divorced
himself from his home state where the rest of his family live. They are
economically better. His mother no longer runs the burger stall by the
roadside where<i> Din</i> used to help during his school days. His aged father, who
was introduced to fishermen’s life at the unbelievable age of eight, cannot
stop going to sea. “ If he doesn’t go he will be sick!”, mused <i>Din</i> of his father’s
passion for the salt sprays of <i>China Sea</i> and the sun burning on his back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DrkESO3IQwc/U95ACKWkAAI/AAAAAAAACMw/SAw5tOa9ei0/s1600/hariraya4girlsP1010888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DrkESO3IQwc/U95ACKWkAAI/AAAAAAAACMw/SAw5tOa9ei0/s1600/hariraya4girlsP1010888.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><i><u>Radiologist, teachers and dentist</u></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--QXpnZNJGys/U95FKqtlV-I/AAAAAAAACNA/JeS4E9DZ-tc/s1600/HARIRAYA3AZURAP1010910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--QXpnZNJGys/U95FKqtlV-I/AAAAAAAACNA/JeS4E9DZ-tc/s1600/HARIRAYA3AZURAP1010910.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Radiologist, MSc ( herbal research), Nursing</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Like Din many of his ex-Almanar
friends, have emerged from the end of the tunnel, convinced that there is
future for everyone who is willing to sweat for it. Pakcik wishes him and the
like of him all the best – and would like to think that they would not forget to serve the
many deserving people around, with a sense of gratitude to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<i><u><b>Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk
kemanusiaan</b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-12028067275928177762014-07-22T22:49:00.003+08:002014-08-29T00:00:56.255+08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">Pakcik Remimisces (Pt 36)
– The three we have<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Over thirty years ago we were
blessed with three children That, apart from the very life that we are still
breathing today, is <b><i>His</i></b> most meaningful and invaluable gift to us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><i><span style="font-size: large;">Mother & her 3 children with father's favourite Pallas</span> </i></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was a real test of courage
for the mother when those three babies were destined to come into this world
through caesarian operations, which by today’s standard was primitive in those
days. To put it crudely, a doctor would cut up enough opening in the mother’s
abdomen for the baby to be taken out and the gap stitched close with whatever
thread used at that time. That harrowing and traumatic part was replayed a week later
when the thread that bound the wound had to be removed; what fear and pain
accompanying it. To go through that traumatic experience once was enough but
having to go through that same process the second and third time was psychologically
a torture. Nevertheless, this mother surrendered herself to <i><b>Him </b></i>simply for the
strong desire to have more children. The prominent gynaecologist of that era, <b><i>Dr
McCoy</i></b> recommended a permanent stop against any fancy idea of going beyond
three, let alone to go for ‘cheaper </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by the dozen’ !<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">____________________ </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u>Note on Dr Mc Coy</u></i></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/1cd2luqbciukB-p8PzSJdrFJO9ySxNjIgyk1HPKdmibcWH7itd33lAabH6e3YYWZyc_gMlrIdXG84KARJVuVsgHLFEgid-wLb3Kg9Up9SzejFV1eDE2IxpSxkq2Nbj4TfVGCnvh9Om85Pxr2VQ71anHOBOjfi9I26Jcr30iD" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://medicine.uitm.edu.my/images/stories/gallery/Academic_Activities/EPLS/ronald_mccoy/ronald_mc_coy.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Dato’ Dr. Ronald Stephen McCoy was born on May 5, 1930</span><br />
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A past president of MMA (Malaysian Medical Association)</div>
He was among the first group of students to be admitted to the University of
Malaya in Singapore when it was founded in 1949.Dato' McCoy is currently a member of the Canberra Commission on
the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, a group of seventeen distinguished and
eminent persons from 12 countries appointed by former Australian Prime Minister,
Paul Keating to propose practical measures for the elimination of nuclear
weapons.<br />
From Straits Times on the occasion of 'Victorian of the Year 2004' - Victorian Indtituition, KL<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today with improved
technique, a mother can go through such operation practically unlimited. Our
own daughter braved through four operations with a smile. The dreaded and painful experience of unstitching the wound was no longer necessary with self-dissolving thread. Some mothers, we are
given to understand, opt for operations for personal reasons; such as a desired
birthday for a baby and in some cases, I am given to understand, to avoid any body damage to the mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">n/b: We have our way of
marking birth dates for the three children, encoded in the car number plates - the inseparable three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px;"><b>7917 ?</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReQyhFOqhb4/U8zxR-RyLlI/AAAAAAAACMQ/OnZCVSitX04/s1600/CARHERFIRSTP1010807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReQyhFOqhb4/U8zxR-RyLlI/AAAAAAAACMQ/OnZCVSitX04/s1600/CARHERFIRSTP1010807.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The encoded birthday dates and mother's old favourite</span></u></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today, as an expecting
father, I recall those harrowing moments when I sat saying my prayers for the
safety of my beloved life partner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some years later when the
three children reached their schooling age I was determined to start them learn
the meaning of humility through the process of growing up. We had a comfortable
life but the children had to learn that ours was not the norm. For that reason we
decided on two schools in Brickfields, thirty years ago, a semi slum area where
one would find homes of poor families and accommodations for general labourers
of <i>Malayan Railway</i> and squatters as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One would not see a child being
scheuffer-driven to those two schools. <i>Makcik</i> used to volunteer to prepare milk
( from milk powder donated by a company) and dispense it to poor children at
the school. It was also not unusual for one of our children to tell us on his
return from school that a friend borrowed five or ten cents to make up enough
to buy something. Our advice was never to accept the money back, whatever was
given was to be treated as a gift. In those days it was not uncommon for
children to go to schools with 20 or 30 cents each. We wanted our children to
realise how lucky they were in life. No one talked in those schools about having
enjoyed holidays abroad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Indeed, our three children
survived well at those lowly-rated schools. But their father was a ‘<i>tyrant</i>’ at
home making them work extra lessons. And today, that ‘<i>tyrant</i>’ has spent the
last twenty years ‘<i>terrorising’</i> the poor children at <i>Almanar</i>. And, hopefully,
our children and grandchildren, continue to live with full realisation that
there are others whose life is not as fortunate as theirs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><u><b>Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan</b>.</u></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><u>My children</u><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On Saturday 5<sup>th</sup>
June a large coach which could accommodate 45 passengers stopped in front of
the gate of <i>Almanar</i> which suddenly seemed diminutive and humbled by comparison. No
such a large passenger vehicle ever stood there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUMaumSQ4Jw/U8JovLD9JGI/AAAAAAAACLQ/-sHHmXxPBas/s1600/PerkayaBUSP1010821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUMaumSQ4Jw/U8JovLD9JGI/AAAAAAAACLQ/-sHHmXxPBas/s1600/PerkayaBUSP1010821.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>A 45 seater from Perkaya Orphanage</u><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Form 1 children</u></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A group of twenty children
alighted and streamed through the gate. That was the first group of Form 1 children
from <b><i>PERKAYA</i></b> <i>Orphanage</i> to begin their tuition class here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Comfortably seated after
their long ride ( return trip of about 110 km from <i>Perkaya Orphanage</i> to <i>Almanar</i>)
they sat listening to the first few introductory words of welcome from <i>Pakcik</i>.
Their surprise was noticeable when told that the man standing in front of them
was, from then on, to be simply addressed as “Pakcik” or “<i>Pakcik Hassan</i>”. Such
terms as <i>teacher, sir, master</i> etc were not acceptable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Pakcik’s next point was on
the normal practice at <i>Almanar</i>; for instance, the day here should begin
with recitation of <i>Al-Fatihah</i> for the loved ones who have gone before us, including
those who have donated to <i>Almanar</i>’s needs. On that note I proceeded to say, “
<i>Sekarang (selain mereka yang tidak boleh sembahyang) marilah kitta hadiahkan
AlFatihah kepada <b>arwah</b> yang kita kasihi dan</i>…..”. The word ‘<b><i>arwah</i></b>’ brought a lump to
my throat. Like being hit with a hard brick it dawned on me that those faces
looking straight into my eyes belonged to twenty boys and girls who had,
without exception, <b><i>lost their fathers</i></b>. One of the girls had lost her mother as
well. I had to swallow hard the moment they began reciting the <i>Al-Fatihah</i>. I
had never experienced addressing a group of children who have lost their
fathers. They are now <b><i>Pakcik’s children</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-HdH8a901M/U8JqnpzGDGI/AAAAAAAACLc/L8qaWEv3C7g/s1600/Perkaya+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-HdH8a901M/U8JqnpzGDGI/AAAAAAAACLc/L8qaWEv3C7g/s1600/Perkaya+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>First day at Almanar</u></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Two days later I invited a
friend for a drive down south of K Terengganu along the peaceful coastal road
to Perkaya Orphanage where I had never been. It was a pleasant 55-km drive and
under an hour we were at the administrative office to get the direction to the
Principle’s room. It was quite a long
walk through passages between classrooms. At one point a group of children
appeared from around a corned ahead. They were walking straight towards us.
Then came the unexpected surprise. They group
caught sight of me and recognised me. In an excited loud chorus, they cried
out, “Pakcik Hassan!” and ran towards us, the boys holding out their hands to
kiss mine. That spontaneous warm welcome after just one meting at Almanar two
days earlier truly touched me. Yes, they had accepted to be </span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>my children</i></b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">__________________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The second trip of Perkaya
coach to Almanar brought the same Form 1 children again and a group of ten Form
4 children, the members of the latter group had also lost their fathers.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0emCBgO4w8/U8J6m928nvI/AAAAAAAACL0/1_RBfr3IQAA/s1600/Perkaya+4P1010847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0emCBgO4w8/U8J6m928nvI/AAAAAAAACL0/1_RBfr3IQAA/s1600/Perkaya+4P1010847.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Form 4 children and their temporary teacher, Kak Mira (the dentist-to-be) on the right</u></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was fortunate that I had
an ex-Almanar girl, Azmiera, to help me with the two groups that day. She is
home on leave from her university and is free and ready to help. She has
another month to help at Almanar before going back into her final phase to be a graduate
dentist. It pleased me to notice the potential dentist, also one who has lost
her father, handling a group of orphans and being addressed as <b><i>Kak
Mira by the children.</i></b> Perhaps I should mention at this juncture, that Pakcik and Makcik
have also lost our fathers and mothers – making us truly ‘<i>yatim piatu !</i> Almanar is
turning into an all -orphan institution !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">______________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u>Advertisement special</u></i></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><u>Wanted: </u></i> Voluntary persons ( preferably orphans!) to
teach English, Maths and Sciences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i><u>Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk
kemanusiaan </u></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-70452653844394635572014-07-03T10:44:00.001+08:002014-07-08T13:31:34.665+08:00Happy Days Are Here Again ( Pt 1 )<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 2.3em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u> The skies above are clear again</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>( Ramadhan 1435 </u></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><u>Selamat berpuasa to my Muslim visitors<span style="font-size: large;">)</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="ndesc1">The period of last twelve months has been unusually
quiet at <i>Almanar</i> as the number of children attending classes has plummeted down.
I will not elaborate on the reasons for this sad state of affair, because, doing
so would force me to point my finger at the much-publicised and self-applauded
success of the new ‘<i>education blueprint</i>’. If, a few years ago, children would
stream out of schools around 12.30, they do so now as late as 3.30, exhausted
and hungry. I am talking about </span>children
around my vicinity, where many poor children go to school without proper
breakfast, and with a mere 2 to 3 ringgits in their pockets. I used to start my
afternoon sessions as early as 2 o’clock. I can only do that today on selected
days, but not earlier than 3.30 during school days, and at time on weekends, that is, if the
schools decide not to have extra classes or other activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Alhamdulillah</i>,
this current <i>Ramadhan</i> month has brought to Almanar a very special parcel of
joy, the very thought of which would not even cross my mind. The largest
orphanage welfare organisation of <i>Terengganu</i>, popularly named <b><i>PERKAYA</i></b>, has
approached Pakcik if I care to help some of their children. They are currently
managing four orphanage centres in the state. Would I reject a gift from
heaven, ‘<i>orang mengantuk disorongkan bantal?’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of
the four centres, the largest, accommodating nearly 400 primary school
children, is 55 kilometers from <i>Almanar</i>. That distance alone was reason enough to
deter Pakcik from entertaining the idea of associating with that organisation,
a rich body operating successfully one of the largest palm-oil estates in the
state. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To
my great disbelief, a representative from that body rang up for a meeting with
<i>Pakcik</i>. At eleven in the morning of the first day of this fasting month, three
top ranking officials duly called at <i>Nuri (Pakcik’s</i> home) to clarify what
assistance they would seek from <i>Almanar</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over
the many years, the four centres have been providing homes for the orphans, who
are then transported daily to various schools in the vicinity. Two years ago a
major decision was made to open the body’s first private school at their
largest centre, and that school was officiated just over two years ago; its
first group of children are now in their <i>Form 3</i>. To run this private school fresh
graduates have been recruited. Sadly, within this short period the school is now
being managed by its third principle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To
my surprise the first concern mentioned was whether <i>Almanar</i> would assist in
guiding a number of <i>Form 4</i> children with the hope that the orphanage would, for
the first time, realise a ‘record-breaking’ <i>SPM</i> results. Seeing one pupil
obtaining all ‘<i>A’ grades</i> seems to be the most elusive target! Of course
assistance is equally needed for the children in their new school. Of great
concern to them is the standard of <b><i>English and Mathematics</i></b> – despite the famous
and much acclaimed success of the <i>‘blue-print’</i> and <i>PBS</i> whatever! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">_____________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The main areas of concern
were discusses and <i>Pakcik</i> assured them of cooperation from <i>Almanar</i>. I never
expected that very first meeting to last about three whole hours – without as
much as enjoying a drink. But the three representatives were all very enthusiastic.
I could understand that when I learnt, later, that they had had a meeting with
their <i>Chairman</i> and had been given the full mandate for a change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just a few days after the
meeting I have now been told that I can now expect the first busload of <b><i>PERKAYA</i></b>
orphans as early as this weekend ! It is now<i> Pakcik’s</i> turn to organise and make
available whatever is needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Insya Allah</i>, a new and
successful chapter will begin for <i>Almanar</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-_______________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pakcik</i> will follow this
posting with another that gives some picture of what <b><i>PERKAYA</i></b> is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk
kemanusiaan</span></u></i></b>.</div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-80903456708716882672014-06-18T20:17:00.001+08:002014-06-18T20:17:27.457+08:00All in the family ( Pt 12 ) – A Boy Scout and/or Imam Muda<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <b><i><u>Just a short breather</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
much awaited school holiday came but, all too soon, was gone. At its start we
had two of our ten grandchildren, a girl of thirteen, and her younger brother,
<b><i>Adam</i></b>, ten, the latter being the subject of my Nov 2013 posting, ‘<a href="http://www.almanar-nuri.blogspot.com/2013/11/all-in-family-pt-10-adam-boy-scout.html"><i>Adam the boy scout’</i> ( click </a>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNFSHED9czg/U6FxkaT4E1I/AAAAAAAACKY/TVtLGe7Pr0Q/s1600/BOYScOUTP1010105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNFSHED9czg/U6FxkaT4E1I/AAAAAAAACKY/TVtLGe7Pr0Q/s1600/BOYScOUTP1010105.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><b><i><u>Yes, I am Adam, a boy scout</u></i></b></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1CXMvWYZrE/U6FyYoZlmTI/AAAAAAAACKg/S7u4MSv9DdE/s1600/ADAMAISHAHP1010794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1CXMvWYZrE/U6FyYoZlmTI/AAAAAAAACKg/S7u4MSv9DdE/s1600/ADAMAISHAHP1010794.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><b><i><u>Do I look ten and my sister (Aisyah) thirteen?</u></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
presence of these two kids brought life to the quiet home of the old couple at
<i>Nuri</i>. How these two children have grown from one holiday to another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It
was not very long ago I used to have these two kids walking on my back as I lay
face down on a mat. We call it ‘<i>pijak belakang</i>’ (stepping on the back). For
that they were rewarded <i>ONE ringgit each</i> for their piggy banks. Today they have grown too big/heavy for my back to take. The old '<i>pijak belakang</i>' exercise has changed to ‘<i>tumbuk belakang</i>’ (
pummeling the back) with their fists clenched. Of course the cost to the
grandfather has doubled to <i>TWO ringgits</i> each !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Have
I been teaching my grandchildren to earn money?
No, it is part of multiple learning in line with what our <i>Education
Ministry</i> has been doing (very satisfactorily according to recent media news )
to children in schools. Their parents tackle different aspects of learning and
practices. To illustrate this I will relate what I was pleasantly surprised one
afternoon on the second day of the two children’s recent holiday with us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not
hearing any noise from the two in the room next door I crept to see. Lo and
behold, the they were in the middle of their prayers with <i>Adam</i> playing the
‘I<i>mam muda’, </i>leading his elder sister<i>, Aisyah.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><u>Together we stand to worship You, oh, AlMighty</u></i></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;"><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div>
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<i></i></span>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><i style="font-size: 14pt;"><u><b>To You, we bow ourselves with humility</b></u></i></i></span></div>
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<i><b></b></i><br />
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<i><b><b style="font-size: 14pt;"><u>And only to You, the All High, we sink this low</u></b></b></i></div>
<i><b>
</b><o:p></o:p></i>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
said nothing then, expecting to satisfy myself that it was not a one time off. No, indeed, I found them repeating the same on a few other occasions when they were together. Since then, whenever the
four of us prayed <i>Maghrib</i> together, I appointed the <i>Imam ‘Muda</i>’ to be my ‘<i>bilal’</i>
to do the ‘<i>iqamah</i>’. He performed his new role well in his loud and clear voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Nothing
pleases me more than to see a good habit being put into regular practice. We
want academic excellence but it should be supported by other good values,
Islamic values for Muslims.The little surprise shown by the two young kids assures the
septuagenarian couple of this house that the young members of their clan are
being led on the right track. Alhamdulillah. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<b><i><u>Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan</u></i></b></div>
</div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-30574604966774117912014-06-08T17:31:00.000+08:002014-06-18T19:44:38.124+08:00With a Sigh ( Part 21 ) – Are we all very poor?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<o:p> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Nisa, my girl</u></i></b></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A fortnight ago I received an
<i>sms</i> message written in its normal lingo which took me a bit of time to decipher
and understand. After some editing here goes the message:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“ <b><i>Salaam Pakcik. Ini Nisa.
Nisa hendak minta duit sedikit daripada Pakcik. Nisa kekurangan wang . Susah
hendak beli buku. Nisa harap Pakcik boleh bantu Nisa. Keluarga Nisa pun susah.
Sekarang hendak tanggung abang hendak masuk koleg. Adik sekolah SBP. Lagipun
Nisa tidak dapat biasiswa. Tidak tahu siapa Nisa hendak minta tolong. Kalau
boleh Nisa hendak minta pertolongan Pakcik. Bila Nisa berjaya dan dapat kerja
Nisa akan bayar balik duit Pakcik. Nisa minta ampun maaf kalau ada buat salah
dan silap dengan Pakcik. Maaf lah Nisa kerana buat muka tidak malu minta pinjam
duit Pakcik. Maaf Nisa, Pakcik</i></b>.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">[ <i>Salaam to Pakcik. This is
Nisa. Nisa intend to ask for some money from Pakcik. Nisa am short of money;
difficult to buy books. I hope Pakcik could assist Nisa. My family is poor. Now
they have to support my elder brother who is joining a college. My younger
sister is studying in an SBP ( full residential school). Furthermore I do not have a scholarship. I do
not know whom I can seek help from. If it is possible I would like to get
Pakcik’s help. When Nisa succeed and have a job, Nisa will repay Pakcik’s
money. Nusa seek forgiveness for whatever mistakes and wrongdoings towards
Pakcik. Forgive Nisa, without shame, seek a loan from you. Forgive Nisa,
Pakcik.]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">________________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That was a kind of SOS
message from <b><i>Nisa</i></b>, a girl I began to know in early <b><i>2009</i></b> when she was one of 20
odd children in <i>Std 6</i> of a primary school in a rural area about 20 km from my
house. The school never had a good result in a <b><i>UPSR</i></b> examination, its standard 6
children failing to get satisfactory score in <i>English</i> and/or <i>Mathematics</i>. The
school had just seen the arrival of a new deputy headmaster, a lady, who knew
of <i>Almanar</i> tuition classes. One of her children was once a student there for
three years. On her request <i>Pakcik</i> agreed to help the school. A concerted
effort by class teachers resulted in a record-breaking <b><i>UPSR</i></b> examination results
in which three children scored the elusive <b><i>A grade</i></b> in all subjects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As I expected, the three
girls, coming from a rural school with average-to-poor background, were offered
places in two <i>MARA</i> colleges. Unfortunately, <b><i>Nisa</i></b> was not one of them. She
returned to live with her family about 70m km further away from me and joined a
secondary school<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-An3WoEm7D3M/U5QsVDR8DTI/AAAAAAAACJ0/zkTKwvwUp74/s1600/TELAGA+P+Grp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-An3WoEm7D3M/U5QsVDR8DTI/AAAAAAAACJ0/zkTKwvwUp74/s1600/TELAGA+P+Grp.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<b><i><u>Standard 6 - UPSR 2009</u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As a reflection of the general
living standard of the parents in that area, I was greatly surprised when I
came to learn that parents of the three successful children were about to turn
down the offers. They were assured, no doubt, that their children’s needs would
be funded by scholarship, but, initially, each child had to be adequately
equipped and certain fees had to be paid on registration. Families of these
children were not in the position to foot the initial expenditure. After all, a
school nearer home was as good as a boarding school which they had no knowledge
of. Fortunately, this was sadly related to me in good time, giving <i>Almanar
Trust</i> the opportunity to come to their rescue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> _________________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As for <b><i>Nisa</i></b>, after completing
her <i>PMR</i> examination she joined a vocational college where she is today. She
stays in a hostel where she has to pay for food and lodging. The incentive for
her and family is her likely opportunity to find employment immediately after
completing her vocational course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">From the time <b><i>Nisa</i></b> left her
primary school, she has not stopped being in touch with Pakcik, sending me
occasional <i>SMS</i> to say hello.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nisa has an elder brother who
did well in his <i>SPM (Form 5</i>) examination, as a result of which he has been
offered a scholarship to study at a new <i>MARA</i> college called <i>KKTP ( Koleg
Kemahiran Tinggi Mara – MARA higher vocational college</i> ) in <i>Kemaman</i>. The
four-year course at this college is designed to produce skilled candidates for
the oil and gas industry around <i>Kemaman/Kerteh</i>. Like <b><i>Nisa</i></b> this brother has an
eye on a fast track to study and get employed soonest possible. But life is not
without problems for these people. Before joining the college in a couple of
months’ time , his family have to find, by hook or by crook, a few hundred
ringgits to enable him to buy all the necessities and to pay the registration
fee on enrolment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Nisa </i></b>has a younger sister who
did well at primary school, scoring A+ in all subjects. She was offered a
scholarship to a an <i>SBP</i> (<i>Sekolah Berasrama Penuh - full boarding school</i>) not very far from their home.
For reasons best known to the school, her bank account book(<i>BSN</i> a/c book) is kept by the school. She would only get the
book on certain dates when fees are due to be paid to the school, denying her from
obtaining cash to spend on her personal needs, including her transport to and
from her hostel. So she is not altogether one without being a burden to the
family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As soon as I received <b><i>Nisa</i></b>’s
distress message I called her. It was hard for this young girl to disclose her
need for a couple of hundred ringgits to pay for the school fees and her
expenses to last this year. She could
not see how her parents would get hold of so much cash when they are facing the
immediate need for the brother to be enrolled at <i>KKTM</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“<b><i>Tolong lah saya, Pakcik.
Saya akan cuba bayar balik pda Pakcik satu hari!</i></b>” ( <i>Please help me. I will try
to pay you back one day</i>!). She was not asking me to help her siblings, but just
herself alone. She could not speak for her brother’s bigger problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Do I have to look for more
needy case to extend help? That friendly tie she has kept with Pakcik over the
years is reason enough. Willingly I credited into her bank account what she
needed plus a little more. No sooner had she seen her account than her mother’s
soft voice came over the line, almost in tears. She found it hard to believe
what <i>Nisa</i> had unashamedly done. She poured out her untold worry over the
family’s current predicament. The family’s bread earner is a small village
carpenter, doing odd repair work in the village, at times going with nothing.
The mother, out of need, does rubber tapping. “<b><i>Kadang kadang saya dapat 7
ringgit sehari menorah getah. Apa nak buat?
Terima kasih Pakcik</i></b>” ( <i>Sometimes I get seven ringgits a day tapping
rubber. What can I do? Thank you, Pakcik</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">_____________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Deep in my heart I wonder
where the much publicised <b><i>BR1M </i></b>money been channeled to, and, above all, where
are the highly honoured and respected <b>YB</b>s ? I can just heave a deep sigh,
whilst these people are facing helplessness. <i>Panda dihutan diberi susu kucing
dirumah dicampak tepi pagar.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Berkhidmat
kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-58332188903234820582014-05-23T00:06:00.002+08:002014-05-26T13:17:59.366+08:00Miracles of A-Quran ( Pt 2 ) – Dr Rashad Khalifa. <div class="MsoNormal">
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<o:p> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Code Nineteen</u></i></b></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Almost five months ago I
posted my first thought on a new series to be named <i>The Miracles of Al Quran</i>
(<a href="http://almanar-nuri.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-miracles-of-al-quran-pt-1.html">click</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-225cMY_jQIA/U34WMO6XDnI/AAAAAAAACIo/15RE6x08o3M/s1600/Miracles+Quran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-225cMY_jQIA/U34WMO6XDnI/AAAAAAAACIo/15RE6x08o3M/s1600/Miracles+Quran.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Then one new issue came after
another, giving the impression that I have put aside what I started with. On
the contrary, the subject is one of <i>Pakcik’s</i> favourites. I have to apologise to
my visitors like <i>Aziela</i> who expressed interest in this subject. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Way back to mid 1970’s, an
<b><i>Egyptian</i></b> living in <i>America</i>, made an astounding discovery which amazed the
Islamic and non-Islamic alike. The man, <b><i>Rashad Khalifa</i></b>, born in <i>Egypt</i> in 1935,migrated
to <i>America</i> at the age of 24 after obtaining his first degree. He then earned a
<i>Master</i>’s degree in <b>biochemistry</b> in <i>Arizona</i> and, later, a <i>PhD</i> in <i>California</i>. It
was in 1974 when <b><i>Rashad Khalifa</i></b>, using computer, made a sensational discovery
of <i>number 19,</i> later known as the <b><i>Code Nineteen of the Quran</i></b>. An article on this
subject found its way into the famed <i>Scientific American</i> magazine. One should
appreciate that the earliest laptop computers only came into the market by mid
<i>1980’</i>s, but <b><i>Rashad</i></b> had used a computer ten years earlier to analyse
<b><i>AlQuran</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2l4Z1Bb4aQk/U34XgZz6GPI/AAAAAAAACJA/AYfdZuuTdEI/s1600/Miracles+QuranRASHAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2l4Z1Bb4aQk/U34XgZz6GPI/AAAAAAAACJA/AYfdZuuTdEI/s1600/Miracles+QuranRASHAD.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u> Dr Rashad Khalifa's tafsir</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I6FxaPmVNKU/U34W4tnZy1I/AAAAAAAACIw/YX1FtYwURpA/s1600/Miracles+QuranKHALIFA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I6FxaPmVNKU/U34W4tnZy1I/AAAAAAAACIw/YX1FtYwURpA/s1600/Miracles+QuranKHALIFA.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Code nineteen by Dr Rashad Khalifa</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I came to hear of <b><i>Rashad</i></b>’s
discovery towards the middle of 1980’s. Like many <i>Muslims</i> and <i>non-Muslims</i> world
over, I was very fascinated by <b><i>Rashad’</i></b>s discovery. It did nothing but to
strengthen my belief in the endless miracles of <i>Al Quran</i>. I will not attempt to describe in any detail
of the discovery related to number nineteen, which most of us already know, I
am sure. To me this is a miracle and I would like it to be the first example in
this series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here are just a few of the
many aspects of the so-called <i>code nineteen of AlQuran</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> 1) The
total <i><b>number of Chapters</b></i> of Quran is <b>114 </b>; that is <b><i>19 x 6 </i></b>= 114<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2)
<!--[endif]-->The <b><i>opening statement
of Quran – Bismillah</i></b>… consists of <b><i>19 letters</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1zvRZFRuI/U34X3kmHVII/AAAAAAAACJI/3xqxSdP9338/s1600/Miracles+QuranRASHAD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1zvRZFRuI/U34X3kmHVII/AAAAAAAACJI/3xqxSdP9338/s1600/Miracles+QuranRASHAD2.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <b><i><u>19 letters of Bismillah</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">3)
<!--[endif]-->The <b><i>first Quranic
revelation – Al Alaq</i></b> … consisted of <b><i>19 words</i></b>. The total <b><i>number of words in this
Chapter is 285</i></b>; that is <b><i>19 x 15 = 285 </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k-CJvECEnN8/U34YFqHKiTI/AAAAAAAACJQ/DPKy9khwYHI/s1600/Miracles+QuranRASHAD4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k-CJvECEnN8/U34YFqHKiTI/AAAAAAAACJQ/DPKy9khwYHI/s1600/Miracles+QuranRASHAD4.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <b><i><u>285 ( 19 x 15 = 285 ) of Al Alaq</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">4)
<!--[endif]-->S<i>urah Al Baqarah
</i>begins with three letters <b style="font-style: italic;">Alif, Lam </b>and <b style="font-style: italic;">Mim.</b> The total occurrence of these
three letters in this Surah is <b><i>9,899; that is 19 x 521 = 9899</i></b>. This phenomena <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">occurs
for all other Chapters (Surah) starting with letters , the likes of <b><i>Sad; Alif Lam Ra; Ya Sin</i></b> etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The number nineteen itself ( in Arabic:
<b><i>tis‘ata asyara</i></b> ) is found in <i>Surah AlMuddaththir</i> (74) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vprw55kx-HA/U34aRUz_7lI/AAAAAAAACJc/dbYdte_JbZo/s1600/Miracles+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vprw55kx-HA/U34aRUz_7lI/AAAAAAAACJc/dbYdte_JbZo/s1600/Miracles+19.jpg" height="127" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><i><u></u></i></b><br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></u></i></b></div>
<b><i><u>
Al Muddaththir (74)</u></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Rashad</i></b> became a popular hero,
commanding full-house audiences as he lectured at universities, mosques,
organizations and even royal and presidential palaces. <b><i>Rashad</i></b> was inspired It was most unfortunate
that, at the height of his popularity he began to have ideas that he was a
<b><i>divine messenger</i></b>, not a prophet. This overshadowed the seriousness of his
previous achievement, and undermined all the good that he had done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Rashyad</i></b> became a threat to
<i>Islam</i>. A fatwa issued on Feb 19, 1989, by the <i>Islamic Legal Council of Saudi
Arabia</i> and 38 scholars decreed <i>Rashad Khalifa</i> a <b><i>heretic.</i></b> On January 31, 1990,
he was stabbed to death at <i>Masjid Tucson</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">______________________________ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Code Nineteen of AlQuran</i> has
become a controversial issue. Pakcik will not make a stand on this. Believing
in numbers is against our basic faith in <i>Allah</i>.
To me it is not 19, as a number. But the <i>Quran,</i> apart from showing all
the scientific marvels, shows that <i>AlQuran</i> is structured beyond the ability of
any one but the <i>God </i>himself. The whole <i>Book</i> is bound by an uncanny structure and arrangement which, if a word is being altered, the change would show. It is like a kind of <b><i>seal</i></b> that one
uses on an envelop to show that the document inside has not been tempered with.
Likewise, <i>Al Quran</i> has been carefully sealed in a ‘<i>nineteen</i> ‘ manner to prove
that after about 1400 years we now discover that the contents of the Book has never
been tempered with, not even a letter, true to <i>His</i> assurance that <i>He alone </i>preserves
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So I take <i>code nineteen as a
seal</i> to assure ourselves of the sanctity of that <i>Book</i>, a miracle. It is <i>not 19
as number to believe in.</i> I regret that I am unable to post details of a number
of very uncanny incidences in <i>Mecca and Medinah</i> during my <i>Haj </i>in mid 1980’s,
involving the surah containing ( <i>tis’ata asyara</i> ). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk
kemanusiaan</u></i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31195147.post-73815370259858004292014-05-13T00:14:00.000+08:002014-05-13T00:14:57.611+08:00With a Sigh ( Pt 20 ) – Katak dibawah tempurung<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Now we will mass-produce Ph D's for a song</u></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc9TdGTM4k4/U3DyquUwkpI/AAAAAAAACIY/OQx7U-WuDNI/s1600/PHD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc9TdGTM4k4/U3DyquUwkpI/AAAAAAAACIY/OQx7U-WuDNI/s1600/PHD.jpg" height="81" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i><u> Good news - how to save billions!</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That
came out last Sunday in the <i>Star</i>. A high-powered government spokesman said that
“<b><i>research universities which produced PhD had saved almost RM2 bil so far.</i></b>” So
why should we spend money sending our candidates to universities overseas? When referred to the absence of Malaysian
public universities in the prestigious <i><b>Times
Higher Education 100 Under 50 2014</b>, </i>the answer was, “<b><i>Rankings do not mean
everything</i></b> ……”. Of course all such spokesmen talk about our universities as
nothing less than ‘<i>taraf antara bangsa</i>’ ! But, sad to say, industries in Malaysia find
our graduates badly lacking, resulting in increasing number of jobless graduates. Now our politicians are mass-producing Ph D
holders to sell <i>kacang puteh.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Living
in <i>Terengganu</i> and seeing the marvel of this <i>kotaraya dipersisiran pantai</i>, I wonder why we started and still continue with the great ‘<b><i>Monsoon
Cup</i></b>’ event every year. What does the annual expenditure of that few days’ event
mean to our local fishermen when the weather is often too rough to go to sea to
earn the few ringgits for their families? I also question why we spent billions on
building miniature mosques of the world – but none, I understand, qualifies to
have Friday prayers? How I wish those beautiful islands in the picturesque large estuary
of Terengganu River were to be the home of some medical specialists, with
five-start medical centres and accommodations to become a unique centre for
medical tourism; the way our small neighbour down south ( lacking spokesmen!) has been flourishing
over the years without <i>songs and gongs (or should I say song and dance?</i>). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So we
are now starting to produce locally Malaysian PhD ‘<b><i>tab</i></b> - <i>taraf antara bangsa</i>’
and save money. (But do we really need money? I understand 1Malaysia has plenty to
hand out cash. ) I am not surprised a holder of our locally produced PhD, named
<i>Abu</i>, will have the pride of writing on his business card : <i>Dr Abu bin Adam, <b>PhD-tab</b></i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not
having a PhD myself, I read what those clever spokesmen say, and I sit back
heaving a long sigh, and tell myself I am not qualified to comment and am behind
time. Only ‘<i>katak dibawah tempurung</i>’ does not need to see the outside world and
get thrilled to hear whatever is sung is lauded without question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i><u>Berkhidmat
kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan</u></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al-Manarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.com12