Tumpik Lemantak Bintangor

As Salam.

I have been going back to Bintangor, a small town near Sarikei for aeons, exactly since I was one year old. And, of all those years, I have never heard people mentioning how famous the Tumpik Lemantak made in Bintangor is. My other half's aunt made her way down to Bintangor town from Sarikei when she has cravings for this particular food. The tumpik made elsewhere is no match for the Bintangor's version, they claimed. However, I found that tumpik is not sold ubiquitously as the akok in Kelantan. Probably, it is more common in Mukah, the Melanau heartland. Tumpik Lemantak is a traditional Melanau food. Another probability is, the tumpik is more commonly prepared at home for own consumption.

Probably anyone out there has recommendations of where good tumpik lemantak can be found apart from Bintangor?

Tumpik generally means pancake. Lemantak is the sago flour, which is processed from the ripo, derived from the sago tree. So, tumpik lemantak is a pancake made of sago. It is not fried, but pan baked.

The famous stall in Bintangor is called by the name of the product is sells, "Tumpik". It is stall number 15 from a row of stalls. To be sure of the correct one, the stall is owned by Hj Abang Saini bin Abang Bantin. His name can be found on the sign board hanging at the entrance of the shop.

The front of the stall no 15, "Tumpik" stall.

To find this stall, locate the wet market first. It is along Jalan Teo Kin Ngo. The whole block of stalls, in which stall no 15 or the Tumpik stall is one of them, is next to the wet market. The GPS mapping diagram below would suffice as reference points, to get you to the place. The coordinate of the stall is N2.16995 E111.63641. 

Amazing, that this stall has been featured in a local newspaper. The clippings of the article on this food prepared in this stall was framed up and put out with pride on the glass panels of the food stall by the owner. It ran a full page in the Utusan Sarawak newspaper. 

There are 2 versions of tumpik. The regular one, which is plain sago pancake with shredded coconut. It cost RM2.50 per piece. The "special" version, which has shredded fresh prawns as the stuffing in the middle of the plain tumpik cost RM4.00. Both are eaten together with the "gula apong" or nipah palm sugar to enhance the taste.

The plain version when eaten at the stall. The small bowl contains gula apong dippings.
 Photo Credit: http://kampua4life.blogspot.com/2010/11/bintangors-legendary-tumpik.html

I love the special version, with prawns in it. As Bintangor is located by the river, and prawns comes fresh everyday, the taste of the fresh prawn augurs well with the sago and coconut in the tumpik. Fresh prawns are tastier and "sweeter" than the frozen version sold in hypermarkets. The "special" tumpik is already delicious on its own even without dipping into the gula apong.

For the plain version, it may taste flat or tasteless to most people. To make it tastes better for those with sweet tooth, dip first in the gula apong before eating.

Here are some more photos for those wanting to try this trully Sarawakian traditional food.

Plain Tumpik Lemantak.

Special Tumpik Lemantak with prawn stuffing in the middle.

The Demise

A grand aunt had just recently passed away at the age of 85. She has been unwell and bed bound most of the time in the past 5-6 years. I myself is unclear of the reasons of her being bed bound. Her legs progressively weaken over the years, from moving slowly, to being able to sit down only and finally spending most of the time in the bed. Since then, her world was never beyond the village house anymore. The old creaky bed, made of belian wood was where she rests, takes her food and does her business. Bathing time is twice per day. All taken care of the very diligent daughters and sons, my aunts and uncles. They never failed to keep her kempt and comfortable. Unlike the some old folk's home that I have visited before, the room where she slept is clean, airy and free of fecalith odour. The wooden hinged windows allows just enough light to pass in, and allow her to have a glimpse of world outside, even if it was just the change of seasons and blue sky. Probably that was the window that she used when she was younger to see if the washed clothes on the line were dry. Or, that could be the window that she used to lean on while waiting for the my late grand uncle to come back for lunch after a day in the market selling satay.

She is no more bounded by the belian walls of the old village house. Her next temporary house will be the realm of intermediaries, or the alam barzakh. This will be the final longest trip. The trip that nenek will be left alone in the dark, quiet and souless place, when all of us will be at the house, the house that you have lived half your life. We will pray for you nenek, so that your torment in the grave will be lessened.

Yes, nenek, although you have left us all, it is just a matter of time before we will follow suite, awaiting for the day of resurrection, the day that all of us, will be judged. Thanks for reminding us, dear nenek.

MAY all of us be awarded Jannah.

Passed away 20 March 2011, 11AM.

Hujan Acid dan Radiasi

As Salam.

Baru baru ini, satu pesanan sms telah diedarkan berkenaan keperluan untuk mengelakkan diri dari terkena hujan asid yang berpunca dari loji nuklear yang meletup di negara Jepun. Sememangnya, pesanan tersebut telah disangkal dan dikatakan sebagi hoax. Ucapan terima kasih perlu diberikan kepada pembawa berita tersebut kerana mempunyai sikap ambil peduli. Namun, ini boleh menyebabkan keadaan panik sekiranya diterima bulat bulat.

Hujan Asid

Pembentukan hujan asid bukan berpunca daripada radiasi. Radiasi di sini merujuk kepada kesan daripada letupan bom atom ataupun daripada bencana kebocoran radiasi seperti yang kita maklum di negara Jepun. Hujan asid adalah kesan pengendapan gas gas pencemar di udara dengan hujan. Gas pencemar ini adalah sulfur dioksida (sulfur dioxide) dan nitrogen oksida (nitrogen oxide). Kedua duanya boleh dihasilkan secara semulajadi (reputan tumbuhan ataupun letusan gunung berapi) dan melalui aktiviti manusia (pembakaran terbuka dan pembakaran bahan api dari kenderaan). Pencampuran air hujan dengan gas pencemar di udara ini akan turun sebagai hujan asid. Sekiranya gas pencemar ini bercampur dengan salji atau kabut, maka salji dan kabut berasid akan terhasil. 

Keasidan hujan atau endapan tersebut ditakrif sebagai pH (potential of Hydrogen) 5.6 dan ke bawah. Air mempunyai pH neutral sebnyak 7.0.

Gas pencemar ini boleh bersepadu dengan partikel habuk dan asap. Habuk dan asap yang bercampur dengan gas pencemar tersebut akan hinggap pada bangunan dan pokok. Apabila bercampur dengan air hujan, lelehan yang terbentuk akan menjadi berasid. Separuh daripada keasidan di udara akan kembali ke bumi melalui cara ini.

Hujan asid tidak boleh menyebabkan kulit menjadi lecur serta merta. Kesan yang dihasilkan bersifat jangka panjang. Keadaan yang berasid boleh merosakkan bangunan dan mengancam kehidupan seperti pokok dan hidupan air. Letusan Gunung Merapi di Indonesia baru baru ini telah menghasilkan abu yang berasid. Abu tersebut telah hinggap pada monumen bersejarah Borobudur. Hujan yang menimpa akan menjadi berasid apabila bercampur dengan abu tersebut. Lelehan berasid yang terhasil akan menghakis batuan pada monumen tersebut. Oleh itu, pembersihan serta merta telah dilakukan untuk mengelakkan kerosakan pada monumen bersejarah terbabit.

Radiasi

Perkataan radiasi selalunya meresahkan ramai orang awam. Ini mungkin hasil daripada kesan pengeboman Hiroshima dan Nagasaki menggunakan bom nuklear semasa perang dunia kedua dahulu. Selain itu, krisis nuklear Chernobyl di Ukraine pada tahun 1986 yang mengakibatkan kesan radiasi yang dasyat terhadap kehidupan sekitarnya menambah kepada rasa bingung ini. 

Radiasi boleh dikategorikan kepada 2 jenis, yang boleh menghasilkan ion (ionizing raditaion) dan yang tidak boleh menghasilkan ion (non-ionizing radiation). Contoh radiasi ynag tidak boleh menghasilkan ion yang digunakan dalam kehidupan harian ialah microwave, infrared dan gelombang radio. 

Radiasi berion (ionizing radiation) adalah bahaya kepada manusia sekiranya tidak terkawal. Manusia menerima radiasi berion secara semulajadi dari angkasa lepas melalui sinaran kosmik (cosmic ray). Selain itu, pesakit juga menerima sinaran xray yang merupakan sejenis radiasi berion. Ukuran dedahan radiasi ini boleh diukur menggunakan unit Sievert (Sv). Purata dedahan radiasi yang dibenarkan pada orang awam adalah sebanyak 3.0 mSv setahun. 80% daripadanya berpunca dari radiasi semulajadi (background radiation). Jumlah dedahan radiasi yang dibenarkan untuk pekerja di sektor radiasi pula, tidak melebihi 100 mSv dalam 5 tahun dan tidak melebihi 50 mSv pada satu-satu tahun.

Radiasi boleh memberi kesan kepada tubuh manusia melalui 2 cara utama, secara luaran (radiasi secara terus, melalui air yang dicemari bahan radiasi) atau dalaman (pernafasan gas beradiasi dan makanan beradiasi).

Kesan Radiasi.

Radiasi yang tidak terkawal boleh memberikan kesan secara terus (deterministic) atau tertunda (stochastic). Kesan serta merta akan berlaku sekiranya terdedah kepada radiasi yang tinggi dalam masa yang singkat, contohnya demam radiasi (radiation sickness), kulit melecur dan kematian serta merta. Ini boleh berlaku apabila seseorang menerima 1.0 Sv, yakni 300 kali ganda dedahan radiasi yang dibenarkan selama setahun.  Kesan tertunda pula adalah kanser ataupun kesan kesan yang lain disebabkan perubahan genetik pada sel manusia akibat radiasi.

Perlindungan dari radiasi.

Dari perspektif kesihatan awam, cara terbaik ialah mengurangkan dedahan kepada radiasi. Ini dilakukan melalui pemindahan mangsa dari kawasan krisis radiasi dan perintah berkurung. Pil iodine (potassium iodide) juga akan diberikan sekiranya keadaan memerlukan (radiasi yang sangat tinggi dan membehayakan) untuk mengelakkan kanser kelenjar tiroid di kemudian hari. Pil iodine ini akan membantutkan serapan iodine beradiasi ke kelenjar tiroid sahaja. Pil ini bukan rawatan kepada dedahan sinaran radiasi. Namun, semua ini hanya sekiranya keadaan memerlukan, seperti mereka yang berada di kawasan krisis di Jepun sekarang ini. Faktor cuaca seperti angin dan hujan turut mempengaruhi keputusan untuk bertindak secara aktif atau tidak. Pantauan radiasi di 6 stesen di seluruh negara dan makanan yang diimport dari Jepun merupakan antara usaha untuk menjaga kesihatan awam negara ini.

Dengan ini, semoga orang awam akan sentiasa mendapatkan panduan dan berita terkini dari media yang sahih.

Sumber:

http://www.epa.gov/

http://www.who.int/ 

Nota persendirian.

Elakkan 3, 6 dan 7

Plastik merupakan bahan yang sangat biasa digunakan sebagai bahan pelapik makanan atau bekas makanan sehari hari. Penggunaan plastik boleh membawa mudarat sama ada kepada diri kita sendiri atau kepada persekitaran. Plastik merupakan bahan yang tidak mudah urai. Proses penguraian beg plastik umpamanya memerlukan 1000 tahun . Untuk itu, langkah mengurangkan penggunaan plastik pada setiap hari Sabtu dan promosi berterusan mengitar semua barangan terpakai adalah langkah yang baik.

Bekas plastik yang digunakan untuk menyimpan makanan hendaklah dipilih daripada bahan yang sesuai dan selamat. Pernahkah kita melihat nombor dalam segitiga yang terdapat pada bekas bekas plastik, sama ada pada botol air minuman, bekas mentega dan sebagainya? Setiap numbor tersebut merujuk kepada jenis polimer yang digunakan untuk membuat bekas plastik tersebut. Setiap polimer ini akan mempunyai sifat yang tersendiri. Sifat ini akan membantu kita memilih jenis plastik sebagai bekas makanan yang selamat.

Sumber gambar: http://www.oureverydayearth.com/

Nombor dalam bentuk segitiga tersebut tidak merujuk kepada kekerasan bekas plastik tersebut. Malah, nombor tersebut tidak juga merujuk kepada bilangan kali bekas plastik tersebut dikitar semula.

Berikut disenaraikan maksud nombor dalam segitiga yang diletakkan di bahagian bawah bekas plastik dengan maksudnya. Tahap keselamatan juga turut disertakan. Asasnya, terdapat 7 jenis polimer yang digunakan untuk membuat bekas plastik.

[1] PET atau PETE: polyethylene terephthalate - selamat

Polimer ini bersifat jernih dan digunakan  untuk membuat bekas minuman ringan, air mineral dan jus dalam botol. Bahan ini mudah untuk dikitar semula, tidak luluh atau tidak mengeluarkan bahan kimia yang merbahaya. Plastik ini diterima pakai untuk dikitar semula dalam kebanyakan program kitars semula. Fiber yang dihasilkan dari PET ini dipanggil polyester. 

[2] HDPE: polyethylene beketumpatan tinggi -  selamat

Polimer ini bersifat lut cahaya dan digunakan untuk membuat bekas susu, bekas pencuci pakaian atau 'kloroks' dan bekas shampu. Malah digunakan dalam pembuatan paip, besen dan tong sampah. HDPE ini tidak luluh dan mudah untuk dikitar semula.

[3] PVC: Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride -  tidak selamat

Polimer ini digunakan untuk membuat batang paip PVC, plastik pembalut (cling wraps), kebanyakan alat mainan, aksesori fesyen langsir bilik mandi, bekas pencuci dan bekas penyembur. PVC boleh meluluhkan phthalates ke dalam bahan yang dikandung dan dibebaskan sebagai gas. Lebih teruk, PVC tidak boleh dikitar semula.

[4] LDPE: polyethylene berketumpatan rendah - selamat

LDPE digunakan untuk membuat beg plastik, pembalut makanan lutsinar, botol susu dan beberapa bekas makanan. Polimer ini tidak luluh dan mudah dikitar semula.

[5] PP: polypropylene - selamat

polimer ini digunakan unutk membuat botol susu, bekas makanan segera dan kebanyakan bekas makanan guna semula seperti tupperware. Polimer ini agak selamat dan tidak luluh. Kitar semula adalah mudah.

[6] polystyrene - tidak selamat

Polimer ini sangat biasa digunakan untuk membungkus makanan dan alat sudu garpu plastik. Mungkin ada di antara kita yang menggunakan polystyrene untuk membungkus makanan tegahari kita sehari hari. Sekarang kita mempunyai sebab untuk berhenti menggunakan polystyrene tersebut. Polystyrene boleh meluluhkan styrene, dan mencemarkan makanan yang dikandungnya. Styrene adalah sejenis neurotoxin dan agen penyebab kanser. Polystyrene telah diharamkan penggunaannya di beberapa buah negara maju seperti di Portland, dan San Francisco.

Salah satu program yang dijalankan di USM unutk mengurangkan penggunaan Polystyrene.

(sumber: http://thewhitecoffin.usm.my/about%20us.html)

[7] Lain lain -  tidak selamat

Ini merujuk kepada plastik yang diperbuat dari polimer selain yang dinyatakan di atas. Nombor 7 ini juga merujuk kepada plastik yang diperbuat daripada kombinasi 2 atau lebih polimer. Contoh polimer yang tergolong dalam kod nombor 7 ini adalah acrylic, acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene, fiberglass, nylon, dan asid polylactic.  

Polycarbonate atau PC merupakan contoh polimer yang diberikan nombor kod 7 ini. PC ini digunakan secara meluas untuk membuat bekas gelen air dan botol susu. Malangnya, PC boleh meluluhkan bisphenol A seterusnya mencemarkan air minuman dalam bekas tersebut. Bisphenol A ini merupakan bahan tambahan dalam PC untuk memberikan "kejernihan" dan kekerasan pada bekas PC tersebut. BPA ini turut boleh dijumpai dalam bekas makanan bertin dan bekas minuman keras.

BPA adalah bahan kimia yang menyerupai hormon estrogen. Banyak kajian haiwan menunjukkan kesan buruk terhadap organ reproduktif, sistem saraf dan perkembangan sikap. Selain itu, terdapat kebimbangan terhadap risiko kanser apabila terdedah kepada BPA yang tinggi. Kajian risiko kanser di US NAtional Toxicology Program menunjukkan peningkatan risiko leukemia dan kanser testis pada tikus yang dujikaji. Namun, penemuan ini masih tidak dianggap meyakinkan. BPA turut boleh berpindah daripada ibu kepada kandungan dan kepada susu badan.

Ada di antara polimer yang dikumpulkan bersama sama dalam kumpulan 7 ini selamat digunakan. Namun kita tidak mengetahui sekiranya bekas plastik tersebut diperbuat daripada polimer yang selamat atau tidak, contohnya polycarbonate yang mengandungi BPA.

Dengan itu, eloklah sekiranya kira membuat pilihan yang bijak dari sekarang dan elakkan menggunkan plastik yang berkod 3, 6 dan 7.

Sumber:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/
http://thewhitecoffin.usm.my/about%20us.html
http://www.who.int/en/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code

 

 

Anthony Brookes Dies

As Salam..

As a person born barely 3 decades after independence, I admit that history surrounding how the nation got its Independence is still less understood by me. Not that I lack understanding in the road map on how the nation got its Independence, but the spirit, the emotion and energy by those people who were involved, wonders me. Those days, roads were lacking. Without roads, information will arrive late to the receiver. Today, information can reach the other side of the world in mere seconds through the cyber highway. Governments were brought down this way, and it is getting easier and more rampant.

Sometimes, I wonder, how would I be if I was born in those days.

One of the ways to really capture the energy of those rebellious days is to pick up a book. Real history books that narrates the true turn of events written by those who lived the time. History lessons in schools are the abridged version. Only essential materials are included just enough to make it understandable. History teachers are tied to finish up their lesson syllabus, thus making history which should be enjoyable as another feat of rot learning.

Pic by Alamy from The Telegraph.

What I would like to share in this post, is related to the history of Sarawak. Anthony Brooke, the heir to the throne of Rajah of Sarawak passed away on March 2nd at age 98. It is awkward that I am not well equipped on some of the facts about him and how he stands in the lineage of the Rajahs of Sarawak, as I read it in The Telegraph. To say the least, I am a bit embarrassed. I reckon, a person born in this land of the Hornbill should possess a good amount of knowledge on local history, particularly pertaining to the Rajahs of Sarawak till how the state formed Malaysia together with Sabah, Brunei, Singapore and Malaya. 

Some of the roads in Kuching were named after historical figures. For example, McDougall Road, Abell Road, Ellis Road, Crookshank Road, Deshon Road, Bampfylde Road, Ban Hock Road, Tun Ag Haji Openg and many others. Sad to say, I do not know most of these people. It must be something worthwhile to read up about them and their contributions to Sarawak that their names are etched in history as road names.

How do stand in history?

Where is it from?

The profession of doctors have been viewed as a noble one. Asked any first year medical student, for the reasons of choosing this line of study, almost all would answer, " ...to help people" or along that line. Therefore, it is up to the medical practitioner to uphold the sanctity of the the profession. Humility in the profession, will eventually be given 'pahala" or reward in this world or thereafter.

Doctors are bound to medical ethics. Without this codes of ethics, the system is exposed to risk of abuse. Risks may outweigh the benefits. Patients will suffer and be treated unjustly. When this happens, doctors too will be part of the blame. Humanity is jeopardised.

We know that thieves and robbers earn their income through unjust ways, which is stealing from other people. No matter if the rich steals from the poor or the poor steals from the rich, the main issue remains, stealing. The source of income is therefore illegal as it is derived from robbery, which is wrong. In the Islamic perspective, it is forbidden, or haram.

Doctors earns their income through the practice of medicine. Can the income be haram in the case of doctors? Yes it can when the doctors commit something illegal or forbidden in the practice of medicine. How is is illegal when the main purpose of practicing medicine, as heralded by first year medical student is to "...help others", one may ask? This is when medical ethics is breached. For example, conducting abortion which is not justified by any compelling reasons, supplying codeine or dextromethorphan containing cough syrup to abusers, and the list goes on. Even charging unnecessary medicine to patients that results in poly pharmacy can be a source for forbidden income.

As one of the speakers mentioned this morning over the radio, one who accumulate wealth illegally and forbidden in the face of the religion, will not lead a blessed (rahmat) life. They are bound to ripples of turmoil and vacuums even if they seem to be blissful in the outset.

So, where does your income comes from?

Integrity

Integrity is a very important trait in any person who does not live in seclusion. Thus, it is important in any person. 

Integrity involves honesty to some extend. The Online free Merriam Webster dictionary defines integrity as a state of incorruptibility, soundness and completeness.

There are many types of integrity such as the professional integrity, personal integrity or artistic integrity (Cox, La Caze et al. 2008). Having high integrity in one sphere does not guarantee a person to have equally high integrity in another sphere. 

Countries can be lost if integrity is loss. Rampant loss of integrity can bring down the government. Companies can lose billions if integrity of their staffs are in dire. Trust can be jeopardised if one’s integrity is questionable.

In human relations, the relationship between parents and children needs integrity. Without which, will lead to distrust between both parties. Most often, the children are affected, having a sense of distrust of their parents.

In the practice of medicine, issuing illegal medical certs to certify a person not fit to work on a particular day even though it is otherwise healthy is an example of poor integrity. The patient who is not genuinely sick may request that the doctor issue him the MC as he/she was late for work, or even “feeling lazy” as some patients would describe. The issue becomes complex if the patient put reasons such as needing to settle the summonses or to take care of their immediate family members who was admitted to the hospital to be absent from work. The medical cert is for genuine cases when the sick person comes for treatment and needs rest in the doctor’s professional opinion. It does not serve as a certificate to permit one to be absent from work to care for other people’s affair.

In the higher institution of learning, integrity is equally important. Lecturers and teachers must possess a certain level of integrity in carrying out their duties. Things that need to remain as a secret from other lecturers and students should remained as it is. Favouring another student for trivial and unjust reasons not related to academic work by merit should be thrown out. Even if the student is older than the lecturer or shares similar background such as attending the same school or state or having politically influential parents, it should not oppress the teacher to be a good facilitator of knowledge to other students. Illegal flings with students as a result of random attraction should not blind the lecturer’s view on the potential of other students under their care too.

Integrity test on one’s ability to refrain from opening the mouth unnecessarily as well. Gossiping is the lowest form of poor integrity. This is similar to rumour mongering. Not everything that is told should be inform to others. Most of the time, it should remained as a knowledge that is kept to one self. We should only inform others if the outcome does not benefit most parties or in other case, harmful.

Because of that, it is important to practice integrity. One of the method is to think before saying. It is easier said than done and needs continuous practice. 

I once received an email about a wise man who would ask himself 3 questions before speaking. However, it is not in my list and I can’t seem to find it in google. If I may recall, which I may be wrong, some of the questions are, 1) Is it valuable 2) does it benefit me? 3) Does it benefit others? Any negative answer to any of the questions will strike out the need to speak or inform and listen to the information that one was about to share.

Integrity makes trustable friends and honours a person. Loss of integrity makes new friends, but may not always be a friend in need.

Cox, D., M. La Caze, et al. (2008). "Integrity." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Fall 2008 Edition. Retrieved 10 March, 2011, from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/integrity/.

               

Things that irks

As Salam..

Medical and health staffs are always being watched in every movement they make. An irritation no matter how small it is, will irk clients. Complaints will be made and a few sleepless nights will ensue. "Quieter" clients will remain quiet, and the richer ones will opt to go to the private centres to get their treatment.

I just got some complaints or "luahan perasaan" by some patients. Here are some of it, which I think not only affect the government hospital but also the other services. Not all the time, but infrequently you do get this.

• Doctor messaging in their mobile while consulting patients. A quick read on incoming messages is fine, but taking time to reply and then seem not focus on the attending patients is an insult.
• Doctors updating their facebook accounts. When patients approach them, they respond slowly, totally not focused. Although it has been blocked, some centres do provide streamyx broadband. Even if not so, their handphones have access to personal 3G band.
• doctor failed to explain  why a certain medication were given to them even after the patients asked them.
•  At times, when patients asked more, the reply from doctors are, "who is the doctor here? you or me?". This is very arrogant and rude indeed. Patients who read have access to the Internet, though not all are true and updated. It is your job to inform them.
• Doctor and nurses jollying and frolicking with each other in front of the patients and their relatives. Do you joke in front of the sick if they were your own parents?
• Do not consult others when unsure of the treatment. It is ok if the medical personnel or doctors do not know at times. It shows that they are honest. But, do consult other colleagues or specialist when if you are not sure, rather than giving out the wrong medication and kill the patients later on. 
• This is the best part.. doctors work like robots.. just continuing medications prescribed by the previous MO or specialist, even though an ailment is long gone or not there at all. This man was suspected to have pulmonary TB, which was confirmed negative on chest xray (reported by radiologist) and sputum AFB, yet, given full course of anti TB meds. Isn't that a waste on resources and the rakyat's money? Thus, the current moratorium on new medical school is the correct step taken.

Well, that was the account given by the patient. I have no idea what the story is on the other side. The question here is not about who is right or who is wrong. But how the current generation of government workforce should not be complacent when carrying out their duties. No doubt, things are improving. A friend from a private company mentioned before, if all the government service staffs are employed in his company, half will be fired within a year.

Please, rakyat didahulukan.

Dishonestly honest

As Salam..

Honesty is virtue, Yes, we all agree on that fact. However, we sometimes find it hard to be honest to other people, what more to ourselves. We deny ourselves to the actual facts and reinforce ourselves to the beliefs that we suscribed to. This can be done in response to disbelief. Sometimes, people are dishonest because of  personal gain. 

Recently, I found out that one of the hindrances of being frank and honest is the need to not deliberately offend the other person. This trait is very prevalent in our own  conservative society. Sometimes, it may be inappropriate to the point that it may be ridiculous (the other person is). I learned that people may be so tight up that their tongues may be tighter to tell and warn the other person on the harm he or she may get from playing with fire.

It is strange that the spirit within a solidarity can't be used to protect the whole herd. Brothers and members of a clan are supposed to look out for each other. Tell them if they are doing it wrong. Tell them even if it may offend them. Tactful words and proper explanations will let them see the light at the end and understand the reason on such direct-to-your-face tell. Ibn Hazm mentioned, "anyone who cares about your friendshp is willing to criticize you, while those who make light of your fault show they do not care" (1). 


There is a nice hadith that I came across in an article (1). The prophet said that the best companion is the person whose appearance reminds you of God, whose speech increases you in knowledge and whose actions remind you of the hereafter. It is really challenging to find these natures in a friend and companion of late. Appearance is most often  deceiving. Despite this, good thoughts towards a person is most welcomed. But, in the event of his or her canard acts, we are vindicated enough not to include them in our future communications. That said, forgiveness is still virtue and must be uphold at all times.

If you don't tell them of the things that puts them in the path of sin and evil, or about to bring rancour of others, they will not know and will never know. Once told, at least the decision they make after that is an informed one. Never think that by just keeping mum, while pretending as if nothing happened will keep away troubles. 

It just shows how dishonestly honest one is.

References:( Not according to the proper referencing method)
1. http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/purification-heart/the-best-companions/

Waiting for the Call

As Salam...

I do not consider myself being a nasheed fan. But, some songs really touches and reverberates my heart. This is one of them, titled "Waiting for the Call" by Irfan Makki. He sang this during the recent Maher Zain Concert in Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam.

His voiced is uniquely high pitch, akin to the late Michael Jackson's. This is a song about the call and journey to perform the Hajj, one of the 5 pillars in Islam. It describes too the feeling that one may get when in prostration to the Almighty in front of the Ka'aba. Hopefully, God grants us all the permission be with Him in Mecca Al Mukaramah. Video of Br Irfan Makki after the lyrics.

Miles away, oceans apart
never in my sight always in my heart
the love is always there it will never die
only growing stronger a tears rose down my eye

I am thiking all the time
when the day will come
standing there before you
accept this Hajj of mine

standing in ihram, making my tawaf
drinking blessings from your well
the challenges that I have suffered
and might were rekindles my imaan

O Allah! I am waiting for the call
praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall
O Allah! I am waiting for the call
praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

I feel alive and I feel strong
I can feel Islam running in my Veins
to see my muslim brothers, their purpose all the same
greeting one another, exalting one True Name
I truly hope one day that everyone’s a Muslim.
that they remember you in everything they say

standing in ihram making my tawaf, making my tawaf
drinking blessings from your well
the challenges that I have suffered
and might were rekindles my imaan

O Allah! I am waiting for the call
praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall
O Allah! I am waiting for the call
praying for the day when I can be near the Kabah wall

Here is the one which was sang during the Maher Zain Live in Concert at Stadium Malawati on the 26th of Feb 2011.