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.

Jogja: Intro

As Salam

In a retrospective attempt, I will try to put down as much as possible, as I could remember on the accounts during the visit to Jogjakarta. Perhaps, the info here could serve as a reference for future travels to Jogja or any other places worthy of a visit. It should be fun and easy to read (hopefully) and should not tresspass the boundaries of being technical as such in a travel book. Rather, it is sort of a personal travel notes, capturing on the events that was seen, felt, acted upon and what should be acted on as well.

Planning a trip to Jogjakarta was not really a "planned" one. The ticket to Jogjakarta was bought after the no frills airline with red and white stripes made an early bird promotion way back last year. After considering that the total cost of the tickets to Jogja was still safely within the affordable zone, we made the purchase. This surely is one critical step if planning for a shoestring trip - hunting for cheap tickets online.

The departure card will be distributed during the flight.

We left KL departing for Jogja on a Friday morning. The flight took about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Once in the air zone of Jogja, the sight of mountain tops protruding from the blanket of blue morning mist welcomed our eyes. It was very soothing.

The landing was smooth. Adisucipto Airport of Jogja was about the size of the Kota Bharu Airport. Compared to the latter, Adisucipto Airport has a ground floor only, which is odd considering it as an international airport. We first met the immigration officers to clear our pasports. The queue was not that long, but some of us had to stand outside on to the tarmac before seeing the officers. After passing through the imigration, we had to search for our luggages, which were already laid on the floor. The conveyer belt has since, stopped working. There were only one conveyor belt and it really is a small one. We took our bags, and it had to go for another scan through the xray machine again.

AdisuciptoAirport, immediately after alighting from the craft. Notice people starting to queue at the stairs.

Before reaching the facade of the airport, passengers need to pass a small room. The taxi stand is located there. The cost to the main town from the airport should be Rp 50,000 only. I have checked this with the Lonely Planet Planet guide book and our guide while in Jogja. Try haggling for less if they ask for an extra Rp10,000. 

There is another counter right opposite the taxi stand. This counter provide guides who will drive you around visiting places of interest in Jogja for a price. After negotiating on the price, we finally settled for Rp 400,000 per day worth of trip. We further agreed to hire the guide from this company for 3 days. All in all, it will cost Rp 1,200,000. This will cover the important landmarks such as the Borobudur temple, Prambanan Temple, Parangtritis beach in the south and Jogjakarta city tour. However, be forwarned that this cost does not cover all entry tickets to the sites and parking fees. This fee covers only for the guide, petrol and the waiting time in each of the place. Along the way, we can always rearrange with the Pak Supir (guide/ driver) to mix and match the places of interest to meet our wants.

1001 Malam Hotel fits the bil. 

Actually, there is no need to fear for first timers to Jogja. There are many "losmen" or lodging facilities on offer with relatively cheap price with basic amenities. It my be onerous for the real adventurous backpackers when it comes to looking for a losmen. It should be fine as long as there is a place to wash up and sleep. Dirt cheap lodgings may risk you ending in a run down moldy rooms with old smelling bedsheets and separated bathrooms. However, we do want a certain level of comfort at affordable price and safety while travelling. Nothing near the scenes in the survivor series though. The rule of thumb is, borrowing a catch phrase from the red and white striped no frills hotel, we need a "5 star accomodation with a 1 star price", that does not leave a hole in our pockets. May be, it is wiser to book earlier during peak seasons, through AGODA or hostels dot com. Reviews of the accomodation from travellers can be read from TripAdvisor, Lonely Planets and AGODA itself. There are of course, many others if you trust them.

I don't really like to put in brand names when journalising on line. It gives free promotion without perks for me. However, if it is a good place, why not say good things about it? Otherwise, I'll just keep quiet and recommend others. 1001 Hotel is a nice 16 roomed quaint boutique-like hotel. It is simple and clean and the staffs are friendly.  There is an attached bathroom with hot showers. The wifi is stable. The mini garden where the rooms open to is beautiful with palm trees and native decors giving it a tropical ambience. The thing is, the curtains are a bit transluscent  (which is uncomfortable) and  throughout  our stay there, the room is not serviced. If you want to watch tv at night while lazing on the bed, after the day's travel, there is no tv available in the room. TV and some reading materials are in the lobby. 1001 Hotel is located in Sosrowijayan Wetan in Gang (lane) 2. It can be easily googled up. Along Gang 2 itself, or generally in Sosrowijayan, lodgings are aplenty.

Apart from the Sosrowijayan area, another loaction where one can easily find lodgings and hotels is the Prawirotaman area. Both of these places are lively aspecially at night. Halal food are ubiquitous but be sure to ask before ordering. Moneychangers, dobbies, rentals, internet facilities and even batik courses are commonly available in both areas.

To be continued...