Boh Mau?

Sakit pulak pinggang aku hari ni. Sebenarnya dah 3 hari dah sakit. Dari sehari ke sehari nak pergi urut tak pernahnya nak sempat. Ada saja benda yang nak dibuat termasuklah lepas kerja. Semalam, aku dihiburkan oleh seorang makcik (definisi makcik: seorang wanita bertudung, berkain batik jawa, berumur tidak melebihi 35 tahun tetapi rupa seperti 50 tahun) yang sedang melintas jalan tanpa nak pandang kiri kanan dulu tengok jalan clear ke tidak. Lepas tu dia nampak kereta aku, terus dia melajukan langkahnya, tetapi pada masa yang sama, langkah dia bertambah pendek. Jadilah rupa dia macam Flintstone yang baru mula nak berlari – kaki kayuh laju tapi tak ke mana-mana pun.

Dan petang ni aku kentut dalam kereta jenis panas dan amat berbau, lantas aku tak berani nak kentut lagi takut dia terus ter-cret. Nasib baik ada toilet RM2 kat KLCC…berak sambil bersantai.

Cerita hari ini adalah mengenai bomoh-berbomoh. Aku tak faham macam mana orang yang kononnya kuat sembahyang, atau berpendidikan tinggi, berjawatan, masih boleh kuat berbomoh. Kalau macam ex-wives aku, memang patut la, kan? Diorang ngok skets.

Sebagai contoh: seorang isteri yang suka melawan suami, jatuhkan air muka suami, merendahkan orang lain sebab awak berpangkat…satu hari, selepas bertahun bersabar, suaminya kahwin lain. Terus si isteri nak berbomoh, nak buat suaminya bercerai dengan isteri keduanya. Dah lah berbomoh untuk membuatkan suaminya bercerai tu dosa besar, siap nak kasi diorang bercerai – itu satu lagi dosa besar. Suami kahwin lain tanpa kebenaran ke, kahwin lari ke luar negeri ke, mau tak mau itu semua sah dari segi syara’. Mintak permission ni procedural sahaja. Bukannya presecribed by the Quran pun. Dah tu, tak jumpa bomoh yang power, dia jumpa orang alim yang pandai dalam hal perubatan paranormal ni. Sekali tu, orang alim ni cakap kat dia,

“Berdosa nak ceraikan orang yang saling kasih-mengasihani. Suami awak tu dah lama tak ada perasaan terhadap awak sebab awak kuat melawan, memalukan suami di hadapan orang lain. Awak baliklah rumah dan cermin diri awak sendiri. Tengok di mana silap awak.”

Orang alim ni pompuan gak. Jadi, coming from a woman,tak la sejanggal kalau ayat di atas disebutkan oleh orang lelaki. Tup-tup, melentinglah si isteri ni kata dia tak ada salah apa-apa pun.

Susah kalau dah tua dan tak sedarkan diri ni.

Satu lagi golongan yang amat suka berbomoh ni ialah orang berpolitik. Bila nak bertanding jawatan aje, semua pakat cari bomoh, cari pelaris, cari penunduk dan sebagainya. Yang nak gelak tu, most of them go to the same bomoh but at different times. Macam mana bomoh tu nak lawan power dia sendiri? Kan, bongok namanya tu?

Satu lagi, yang bawak anak jumpa bomoh bila dekat nak SPM..nak kasi terang hati supaya score SPM dengan cemerlang. Lepas jumpa bomoh, minum air bekas ludah sembur bomoh, anak tu minum segelas dan terus pergi merempit. You think the magical powers work ke? Kalau you think it works, suruh la tuition centers semua tutup. Cikgu-cikgu pun boleh start apply untuk kerja yang sekarang ni dipenuhkan oleh mat-mat Bangla, Indon dan Myanmar.

Lepas tu, geng yang nak kawin dengan orang yang tak nak kat dia. Siap bawak gambar kat bomoh, suruh bomoh ubatkan kasi dia jatuh cinta dengan orang yang bawak gambar ni tadi. Kalau kau sanggup keluar duit nak berbomoh, buat apa nak kejar anak Pak Abu, Pak Tam dan sebagainya? Bomohkan aje anak Agong ke, anak Sultan ke…berbaloi la skets. Ni la melayu bodoh.

Pokok pangkalnya, orang melayu ni memang dicipta sebagai bangsa yang bodoh, cepat tertipu, dan nak solution semua jenis cepat. Tuhan tu cuma sebagai figurehead aje…untuk claim dia punya religious-identity; tapi to get things done, dia sanggup kawan dengan setan.

I rest my case.

Why Arrest Dr Md Asri?

Recently, enforcement officers from JAIS (some 35 of them) raided a bungalow in Hulu Kelang and arrested Dr Md Asri Zainal Abidin, the former Mufti of Perlis, for teaching religion without a commission from the department.

Dr Asri (or MAZA as he is more popularly known as), has long been a thorn in the sides of the other muftis for his more liberal views compared to the rest. He is so liberal that he has been labeled as a ‘Wahabbi’. The difference between Wahabbi and Sunnis are simple. Wahabbis reject what they term as bid’ah (where the malay word bedaah originated) – and bid’ah include the reading of Surah Yaasiin especially on Thursday nights, or even have a Surah Yaasiin booklet, or having the Imam to recite the do’a on behalf of the congregation, zikir after prayers etc etc.

I, for one, do not believe in sects (mazhab) as they are just schools of thoughts. One imam’s thoughts may differ to another imam’s thoughts, but if you subscribe to those thoughts, you should remember that they are not Gods that everything they say are cast in stone. Imam Shafie (whose sect Malaysians follow) say that a person’s ablution is null and void should his/her skin comes into contact with that of a person whom he/she can marry. Other imams say it will only be null and void should you feel sexually aroused when in contact.

Malaysians will then argue that among the sunnis, Shafie’s is the best. If so, why do one have to adopt the ways of other sects when going to Mecca to perform the Haj or Umrah? Why adopt an inferior way if Shafie’s is superior?

So whose Islam is right?

Now, moving towards the Sunni and Shiah (Shiite) rivalry, the Shiites claim that the Sunnis are the ones whom have digressed from the teachings of Islam. When I asked how so (to a Shiite friend), he asked me back:

“Why did the sunnis (Muawiyah) wage war against Saidina Ali, who was Muhammad’s trusted companion, and killed Muhammad’s grandchildren just because Ali deposed Muawiyah from the governorship of Syria?”

Can anyone answer this? I seriously do not know why Muawiyah, son of Abu Sufyan, the man who waged war countless of times against Muhammad, waged war against Ali, and then declared Ali’s followers as infidels?

So whose Islam is right?

That is why, I do not follow a specific mazhab. My guide is the al-Quran and aHadith an-Nabi, and whether I perform my daily prayers or not, is not anyone’s business. It is between God and I…unless you think you’re God and can pass judgment against, or label others.

Going back to Dr MAZA and Wahabbism: if they are wrong, why do we look up to Saudi Arabia as the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques? Gang-up and wage war against them, and regain control of the two mosques!

So, I ask you again, whose Islam is right in the eyes of God?

Now for JAIS, if MAZA was wrong to give a lecture without the department’s commission, tell me what was Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, the Selangor state assemblyman for Sri Andalas was doing giving lecture in a mosque? Did he have the department’s commission? Did he have the department’s permission? If not, why was he not arrested or has yet to be arrested?

Xavier Jayakumar in a mosque

Xavier Jayakumar once criticised the Sekolah Kebangsaan because he deemed it too Islamic

Sahibus Sahamah Xavier Jayakumar

This is Selangor today - prostituting the mosque

Images are from My KMU Dot Net

All Stressed Out

NEBOSH IGC notes

Remember how I lost sleep for some 2 weeks about 3 months ago?

The results are out. I have yet to receive mine, but a coursemate’s already failed 2 papers and passed 1.

Aarrgh! I am so stressed out!

Delivering The Baby

Hull No. NC538 under construction

This was how she looked like when I got involved in the project. She was known as Hull NC538. The company had acquired her as its first baby of the planned fleet, and as the Operations guy, I had to oversee its growth.

She was launched on my birthday, and by some freak arrangement (my boss and all the other directors in the whole group had to be away that particular day), I was asked to launch her.

Me and Hull No. NC538 on my birthday

I had to do all the stuff normally reserved for the owner of a company; delivered a speech, congratulating the yard’s management and workers, and subsequently launch the vessel.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the company
Launching the ship
Off she slips onto the Baram river

If you notice the white half-K on its side, I designed that so she could easily be recognised once at sea. When I went back to the office, the Group CEO asked me to look into a naming convention for the company’s fleet, asking me to throw in all prefixes and suffixes that I could think of. Initially, I named the vessels according to the thoroughbred of horses. I couldn’t resist that as I was born in the year of the Horse. The Group CEO thought some of the names were too mouthful for simple malays (read: did not learn English seriously in school); then I thought of naming the vessels after islands of the state of Terengganu, in respect of the present Agong.

So, she’s been named the MV “KPV Kapas“. The next vessel which again I will have to oversee its completion and testing, will be called the “KPV Gemia“; and the soon-to-be-constructed 110-meter length vessel will be called the “KPV Redang.”

The “KPV Kapas” was towed out of the Baram river on Thursday 8th October 2009, at 8pm. And I have been on board her ever since, watching her being tried and tested to her limits.

On her bridge
As seen from her starboard
Trying out her FiFi
Doing hard-to-starboard during sea trials

Tomorrow, Saturday, 17th October 2009, she will make her way to Bintulu for her final tests before making for Songkhla waters for her first job. I will finally make my way home 3 days later. I just want to thank my wife for her patience and understanding, and for managing our home while I was away.

I love you, Bunny.

Demonic Capsicum Stuffed With Mandi Kerbau Wulululu Rice

We had a Laksa Johor do the other day…Wifey made that, so I added my usual Corned Beef Fried Rice, and made this new recipe of mine based on the Middle Eastern/Greek Stuffed Capsicum. I call it the Demonic Capsicum Stuffed With Mandi Kerbau Wulululu Rice. So here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

Corned Beef
Middle Easterners and Greeks use lamb. Since I am hypertensive, I use Corned Beef (so I do not have to add salt to what already gives me hypertension)

Dill, Mint and Mixed Herbs
Dill, Mint and Mixed Herbs

Other ingredients
Shredded Omelette, Diced Garlic and Chili. Middle Easterners prefer lots of onions. I did not add onions because I totally forgot about them.

Thai Fragrant Rice
I know they use Basmati rice, but I only had Thai Fragrant Rice at home

Capsicums
Capsicum (I know Americans call them Bell Peppers, but the language was made in England). Slice the top off neatly, remove the seeds, and adjust the bottom so they’re stable.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Add this only if you must
Add this if you are cooking this for your lawyer, ex-spouse, or mother-in-law

How To Make

Preheat oven at 250 degrees. I know the rest use 300 degrees, but our little portable oven goes up to 250 only. If your oven is not electrically-fired, then you may use this:

Fire Starter
Cock Brand Fire Starter

At the same time, saute the garlic and chili for about 20 seconds before adding the corned beef. Mix well until corned beef is brown. Then add rice, and stir to mix well.

Frying the corned beef
Frying the ingredients

Once that is done, stuff the empty capsicums with the fried rice and top each with the shredded omelette.

Stuff the capsicums
Stuff the capsicums with the fried rice

After that, close the top, and pour olive oil onto each of the capsicums so that they don’t shrivel or get too burnt inside the oven.

Pour olive oil
Pour Olive Oil onto each of the capsicums

Then stuff the lot into the oven for 20 minutes.

Stuff them into the oven
Stuff them into the oven for 20 minutes

Serve when done
Serve when done

19W

Sat Image from the Malaysian Meteorological Dept
Satellite Image from the Malaysian Meteorological Department – this image will refresh itself from time to time

Sat Image from PAGASA
Satellite Image from PAGASA, Philippines

The last time I was concerned about any typhoon was back in November 2007 when I was in Sipadan. Although the typhoon was more than 1000km to the northeast in the Philippines, high waves were churned up as far south as where we were at. This time around, Typhoon 19W (Parma a.k.a Pepeng) is a cause for concern as it is accelerating and may still become a Cat-5 typhoon.

A few days ago, the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Ketsana a.k.a Ondoy (17W) hit Luzon, while strong winds battered the islands of Perhentian, Redang and Lang Tengah on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, killing a 16-year old girl in Bachok, in the state of Kelantan. Parma is a lot stronger than Ketsana and already you can see from the satellite image from the Malaysian Meteorological Department that it is sending some gusting winds towards Kelantan, and Terengganu.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued several advisories that I will post below:

TYPHOON ADVISORY
Issued at 6:30 am 03/10/2009

Typhoon 19W, “Parma” is located at Latitude 16.9 North and Longitude 123.4 East, 371 km Northeast of Manila, Philippines at 5.00 am, 3 October 2009. This typhoon is expected to track Northwestwards at 18 kmph.

This Typhoon is located approximately 1355 km North-Northeast of Sandakan and 1321 km North-Northeast of Kudat, Sabah

FIRST CATEGORY WARNING
WARNING ON STRONG WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS

SECTION A : STRONG WIND AND ROUGH SEAS WARNING (FIRST CATEGORY)

Strong Southwesterly winds of 40 – 50 kmph and rough seas with waves up to 3.5 metres over waters off Phuket, Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Samui, Kelantan, Terengganu, Condore, Reef North, Layang-layang, FT Labuan and Sabah are expected to continue until Saturday, 3 October 2009.

This condition of strong winds and rough seas is dangerous to small crafts, recreational sea activities and sea sports.

SECTION B: WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WARNING

Thunderstorm activities over waters off Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, East Johore, west Sabah (Kudat and West Coast divisions), FT Labuan and Sarawak (Betong and Mukah divisions) is expected to persist until morning, Saturday, 3 October 2009.

This condition can cause strong wind up to 40 km/h and rough seas up to 2.5 metres and dangerous to small boats.

Updated on 03 Oct 2009, 3.30 am

Meanwhile, the Philippines Meteorological Agency, PAGASA has issued the following:

Typhoon “PEPENG” has accelerated as it continues to move towards Cagayan.
Location of Center: (as of 4:00 a.m.) 260 km Southeast of Aparri, Cagayan.
Coordinates: 16.6°N, 123.6°E
Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near center and gusts of up to 210 kph
Movement: Northwest at 17 kph
Forecast Positions/Outlook: Saturday evening: expected to make landfall over Northern Cagayan
Sunday morning:150 kms Southwest of Basco, Batanes
Monday morning:290 kms West Northwest of Basco, Batanes

Signal No.3
(100-185 kph winds) :Cagayan, Babuyan Island, Calayan Island, Northern Isabela.

Signal No. 2
(60-100 kph winds) :Batanes Group, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Rest of Isabela, Northern Aurora, Polilio Island, Catanduanes

Signal No. 1
(30-60 kph winds) :Ilocos Sur, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Rest of Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay

Public Storm signals elsewhere are now lowered

Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under signals #3, #2 and #1 are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Those living along the coast in areas under signal #2 and #3 are advised to be alert against big waves generated by the typhoon.

Hari Raya Memories

We had several helpers when we were living at the government quarters from January 1976 through July 1994. And two days before Hari Raya, they would be busy at the rear portion of the house. Kak Ziah would be the Chef de la Cuisine, while Abang Mazlan (her husband), Pakcik Shukor, Pakcik Saad, arwah Pakcik Mat Nor, “Inspector” Kana, and arwah Pakcik Ramli, would be helping her, as well as help do the arrangements for the 3-day open house my father would be hosting annually. Save for arwah Pakcik Ramli, who was a police corporal from the Federal Reserve Unit (replacing Pakcik Samad, who was also from the FRU) when he started as the driver, and Kana, who was a general labourer seconded to our quarters, the rest were all Auxiliary Policemen and Policewoman. In between that, in the late 1970s, we would have arwah Pakcik Salleh, who was my father’s second driver, and his wife, arwah Makcik Jam, joining the group.

The basics like Rendang and other dishes would be cooked in-house, while stuff like lemang, nasi himpit, drinks etc would be provided by the Officers’ Mess.

While all that’s happening, my mother would be spearheading cookie-making operations at the Officers’ Mess with the senior officers’ wife, that would be distributed among policemen all over the country who would be on duty during the festive season.

On the eve of Hari Raya, the preparations would be at a feverish pace, dying down usually past midnight; and almost all of them would be sleeping at the workers’ quarters behind our quarters. I would be there to listen to their jokes that they would be cracking ’til the break of dawn.

Year in, year out – the routine would be the same. Gone are those days now.

Pakcik Ramli was later transferred to Bukit Aman’s store when he suffered a heart attack and was no longer fit to drive. He passed away in his hometown in Jerantut after his retirement. Makcik Jam passed away at her in Seri Lalang home near Kluang, when she fell in the bathroom. Pakcik Salleh passed away several years later. Pakcik Mat Nor passed away several years ago. Before he passed away, he asked for my brother, Joe, but his family had no idea how to contact him.

Next year, Wifey and I will host our first berkampung when we’ll have all our children together with us, preparing and celebrating Hari Raya together.

I hope, they will have sweet memories of their Hari Raya with us.

Kumpulan Nasyid al-Himar

Saja aje aku buat lyrics ni…boss aku baru aje lambakkan kerja colleague aku yang kini bercuti di luar negara kat aku. Patutnya mamat ni handover kat aku dia punya portion report untuk company exco meeting lusa ni, tapi dia kata nanti dia siapkan kat oversea dan hantar kat aku. Sampai hari ni tak ada. Jadi boss aku dah panic.

Maka, sebelum aku nak kena buat segala market research dan reporting format dari scratch untuk mamat ni punya portion, biar aku lepaskan tension dengan lirik lagu nasyid kumpulan al-Himar yang bertajuk:

Berjimak Di Pagi Raya

Bahagia rasa di hari ini
Takbir bergema di waktu pagi
Kan ku naik di atas perut bini
Tak perlu batal puasa lagi

Syawal menjelma takbir berkumandang
Taulan bersalaman eratkan silaturrahim
Tapi sebelum ku jamah ketupat lemang
Biar aku semai benih di rahim

Chorus:
Ku mandi wajib di tepian perigi
Selepas berjimak di pagi raya
Ku mandi wajib di tepian perigi
Selepas berjimak di pagi raya

Setelah projek terlaksana
Bini senyum penuh bahagia
Pagi Syawal lebih bermakna
Selepas berjimak di pagi raya

Ooooo…selepas berjimak
Di pagi
Raya

Okay, back to the grinder…