My 16 - Likas

A beautiful sunset that was mistaken for a dawn.
- Achille-Claude Debussy (1862-1918); French composer.

Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
Likas

Likas is a second 'training-ground' for us - medical officer-going-to-be; beside in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu. Here, we're posted for O&G and Peadiatric as the hospital caters referral for both fields.

One of the landmark in Likas is the 'floating-mosque' or officially known as Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu. The location just beside the beach make the mosque unique compared to others. I remember my first EidualAdha prayer in Sabah was in this mosque. Apparently I didn't make it asI thought they started as in Peninsular. Guess what? When I arrived there, everybody were rushing back as they've finished the prayer. Well - in Sabah, the sunrise 'early' as the time was already standardised during Mahathir's time. Ever wonder why 6.00 AM in Sabah is bright compared to KL?

Half-moon over the mosque's minaret

Hail to Erdogan!

Guess it's a payback time for Israel. In a recent World Economic Forum that was chaired by David Ignatius - and with panels consisted of Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkey's Prime Minister), Shimon Peres (Israel President), Ban Ki-moon (UN Secretary General), and Amr Moussa (Arab League Secretary); Mr Erdogan blasted Mr Peres regarding Israel's decision on insurgency against Gaza Strip.

It first started when Mr Peres pointed towards Mr Erdogan while asking "What Istanbul will do if thousands of missiles / rockets attack Istanbul?" While given insufficient amount of time to react to the question given, Mr Erdogan repplied that he regreted that the forum's participant clapped their hand when Mr Peres delivered his view regarding Israel right to attack Gaza. "When it comes to killing, you know well how to kill," he told Mr. Peres before scooping up his papers and leaving the stage.

This is one of leader wheter it Muslim or not; able to stand against issues that erode human rights. I do hope that our leaders are brave enough to stand in the international level in issues that concerning Muslim Worlds and Human Rights. TAHNIAH Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan!

Still Can't Ignore

I'm watching Buletin Utama in TV3 tonight. There's segment from the journalist that currently in Gaza - looking with their own eyes on what happen to the people of Gaza. They've interviewed several children that suffered from the inhuman attack.

One of them had some of their family members killed during the strike. And this little girl has kept deep into their heart that she will strike back the Zionist Army when she had a chance. Hatred has been nourished in their heart and mind towards the Israeli as a consequence from the military strike. What do we expect from a little child that had experienced her own family members killed in front of them?

Another boy even though non of his family killed, had friends that used to play with got killed last couple of weeks. When he been asked whether he afraid of Israel, he replied "NO!". "It's enough with Allah's protection." What a brave kid! I wonder how man of children in Malaysia have the same spirit.Some of them even still afraid of ghost or dark. Looks like the Israel's strike unable to totally destroyed HAMAS defense as they've created thousands of Palestinian that will hunt them down.

May Allah be with the Shuahada and strengthen the Muslims. Amen.

My 12 - Great Pride for the Land of Grace

"Prayer is the Key to Heaven, but Faith unlocks the door."
- Anonymous.

Ubudiah Mosque
(Built in 1917)

One of the symbol of pride for people of Kuala Kangsar is this mosque. One of the most beautiful mosque in Malaysia - Ubudiah Mosque Perak's royal mosque. It was built in 1917 with the cost of $200,000 during that time.

From left : onion-shaped dome with multiple minarets; the mosque mimbar or pulpit is located to the side of the mihrab for a khatib or some other speaker to offer a sermon (khutbah).

It was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a government architect who is notably credited for the design of the Ipoh railway station and the Kuala Lumpur railway station based on Mogul architecture. The construction was interrupted twice when at first two elephants belonging to the sultan's and Raja Chulan were fighting and ran over and damaged the imported Italian marble titles. The second time when the World War 2 broke out, by the Japanese Invasion.

From left : mosque's interior design of windows and ceiling with crystal chandelier.

Me and Ayeesha infront of the mosque

My 8 - Head of Indian Muslim's Legacy

"I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."
- Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), Lebanese-born America's poet, novelist and philosopher.

Kapitan Keling Mosque
(Built in 19th Century)

There're several other places that I wish to highlight here in the blog from my family visit to Penang.One of it - the magnificent Kapitan Keling Mosque. It is situated on the corner of Lebuh Buckingham (Buckingham Street) and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Masjid Kapitan Keling Road).

The tower only minaret - stunning architecture of British Mogul

The mosque got it name from the head of Indian Muslim Community - Caudeer Mohudeen that credited to build the mosque around 1800. The current mosque was actually upgraded in the 1910s, based on architecture of British Mogul Revival style, with the addition of Mughal domes and turrets, a large minaret and a madrasah. The mosque completed around 1916.

The mosque now is the location for the daily 5-times prayer as well as school and central community place for the locals.

Partial Solar Eclipse

"Nations, like stars, are entitled to eclipse. All is well, provided the light returns and the eclipse does not become endless night. Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul."
- Victor Hugo (1802-1885); French poet, novelist and dramatist.

Partial Solar Eclipse
1747 MST on 26th January 2009
Picture taken from Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur.

Solar Eclipse Phenomenon

Allah All Mighty!

Just now I had a chance to observe solar eclipse - partial one not the full. This event happen from 1630 Malaysian Standard Time (MST) when the moon 'touched' the sun disk till it eventually covered the sun 'almost' at 1750 MST. The phenomenon finished on 1855 MST when the moon 'leaved' the sun.

Partial Solar Eclipse phases

The last time Malaysia having a chance to observe solar eclipse - if I'm not mistaken in 1998. The annular type. I remember that time - the best place to see it somewhere in Sabah. Hmm, where is it?

I've tried various technique using my digital camera to capture the event. But *sigh*, this is the results from the poor camera. From left to right and up to down : first direct picture, then with sunglasses on top of the camera; then with one negative film - finally with both negative film on top of it.

There's various believes among the people around the world regarding the solar eclipse. Some consider it as a bad omen. I even remember that even some believed that the sun has been 'killed'. After centuries of knowledge expansion, human knew that the solar eclipse phenomenon is one of the nature's event. It is one of the All-Mighty's power. For us Muslim - it's a 'Sunat-Muakkad' (things that obliged to do) to perform Solah during this time as a sign that we 'bow' to His Greatness.

After I've adjusted both negative films, I'm able to capture above image. MasyaAllah! Oh, another thing : Beware! Do not look directly to the sun as it might damage your retina. This is not something that fake my friends.

Only Tears ...

080109; 0750 Hrs : Day 12 of invasion. The non-stop inhuman violets against the Palestinian since 27th December 2008 didn't change much. Either the oppression by the world is not enough or simply the Israeli and the Zionist regime didn't bother to what world have voiced out.

Up until now 700 Palestinian have been killed with to total of more than 200 children among them. So, what the world leader - among them are the one we have elected - have said about this humanitarian crisis:

"You have until 8am [06:00 GMT]," on Thursday, said leaflets which were dropped by the Israeli military. Israel has warned thousands of people in the Rafah zone on the Egyptian border to leave their houses ahead of planned air strikes.

The Cabinet today agreed that Parliament holds a special session on the Gaza onslaught next Monday, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. He added Malaysia would proceed with its initiative to call for the meeting if the United Nations Security Council failed to resolve the crisis within the next 48 hours.

The President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Miguel d'Escoto called the Israeli incursion a "monstrosity", and criticized the "disfunctionality" of the UN Security Council.

OIC issued a communique condemning the "brutal and sustained aggression". The communique also called for the Palestinian factions to end their differences and noted the OIC's continued aid works in Gaza and its support for the PNA and other "legitimate institutions". The OIC has requested all "peace loving nations" work to call the UN general assembly.

"What happened in the school was a hugely offensive and inhumane thing. We never expected that people who sought refuge in a UN building would be attacked and killed," Heba, a Gaza resident and mother of two. Israel is facing mounting pressure to agree a ceasefire after an attack on a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) in the northern town of Jabaliya on Tuesday left 43 Palestinians dead and around 100 wounded.


"When you are trying to feed 750,000 people a day in Gaza as we are, you need a permanent ceasefire. You can't do that in a three-hour window,"Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for the UN relief agency Unwra, regarding the move by Israel to ceasefire in 3 hours time to let the Palestinian get their basic supply did not go far enough.

Mark Regev, spokesman for Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, said on Wednesday regarding the Egypt-French proposal: "We welcome the French-Egyptian initiative. We want to see it succeed," adding that talks would "continue on the basis of that initiative"."A sustainable calm in the south will be based upon the total absence of hostile fire from Gaza into Israel and an effective arms embargo on Hamas that enjoys international support," he said.

The United States of America blocked efforts at the Security Council to broker a ceasefire; reported by Reuters on 4th January 2009.

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said at the UN that the US considered a ceasefire "necessary" and that she had impressed on Israeli and Arab ministers "the importance of moving [the] initiative forward''.However Rice reiterated her belief that any ceasefire "will not allow a return to the status quo". "If the Arabs don't settle for less than a resolution and the US can't be convinced of a statement it is not clear where this will go," she says.

“And we decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture, that indeed you would do mischief on the earth twice and you will become tyrants and extremely arrogant!” (17:4)

Stand Unite for our Brothers

"Peace has to be created, in order to be maintained. It is the product of Faith, Strength, Energy, Will, Sympathy, Justice, Imagination, and the triumph of principle. It will never be achieved by passivity and quietism."
- Dorothy Thompson (1893 - 1961); an American-German descendant journalist. She against idea of Zionism and very critical of the newly created state of Israel.

Happy New Year 2009M and Ma'al Hijrah 1430H everybody. May this year bring us prosperity and success in what we plan to achieve.

Whole world shocked with what happen in Gaza Strip when we approached new year. Hundreds of air strike launched by the Israeli's IDF to the Gaza City in attempt to destroy HAMAS strength in the name of terrorism. But is it true? Who decide that the right to defend our own land is the act of terrorism?

Our brothers suffered enough and yet not much help reached them. I wonder where are the rich Arabs and other Muslims around the world? Where're those with big influence in the world's political stage? The Palestenian's issue seems never end even after thousands of UN Resolution, as if it will never end. Then what can we do as Brothers?


I would like to share on what written in Harakah - Friday Edition. It mention that PAS President urged the Muslim community to perform 'Solat Hajat' and 'Qunut Nazilah' where we pray for our brothers strength to obercome this problem and Allah's judgement onto the Israelis / Zionist regime. I know its nothing much but these are the small things that we can do.

The other thing is to stand unite and voice our concern through any media; be it mass media, demonstration or even boycott the American / Israel's goods. I know some will say that by boycotting their product such as McDonald's, Starbucks, etc (just name few) our local people will loose their job. But do please remember that previously Dr Yusuf Al-Qardawi - one of prominent Muslim scholars did gave a 'fatwa' that every money that we spent on these products will end as weapons to kill our brother!


I do hope that our government will act on this matter. First - the Malaysian parliment should voice-out that people of Malaysia condemn this barbaric act and will not tolerate on the destruction of Palestin. We - through UN, OIC, G15 and NAM should stand unite against the act of Israel - that totally against UN Resolution and world peace!

May Allah saves our Brothers and give strength not only them but us to fight the Zionist regime. Amen.

Kh 16 - Malaysian's Gourmet!

D'Wau Restaurant,
#0426 Wat Bo Village,
Salakamreuk Commune,
Siem Reap Angkor, CAMBODIA.

+855 63 966 955
wau_restaurant@yahoo.com

Malaysian Kitchen - finally after several days : Halal foods

From left : Dara still didn't know that Malaysian foods are to hot and spicy; kerabu mangga (left) and mechu kreng (right) - sort of chicken's tom yam in Khmer's cook.

From left : nice surroundings; one of the waitress - surprisingly they're all fluent in Malay even they are all Khmer Muslim / Chams

"Nice foods - but expensive. Cost us 11 USD for the two of us. Guess its normal for them. But I know its difficult to find halal foods here."

Kh 15 - Plight of Our Brother in Cambodia

Neak Meah Mosque - with its Golden Dome

• Muslim in Cambodia is minority - estimated 500,000 in present Cambodia or roughly around 3% of Cambodian.
• Majority of them are Cham with minority from Malay.
• Some scholars like Po Dharma divide them into 2 major groups - orthodox branch and traditional.
• All of them are Sunnis of the Shafi'i school like in Malaysia.
• They all unified under four dignitaries - mupti, tuk kalih, raja kalik and tvan pake.
• Every villages have their own notable council consisted of hakem, katip, bilal and labi.
  
• These four and hakem exempted from personal tax and were invited in national ceremonies.
• During the Khmer Rouge regime, a lot of mosques has been destroyed and the Muslim wouldn't allowed to practice in public.
• Currently they've been striving and surviving in this difficult era. Some has fortune enough to provide their child education.
  

From left : Stung Thmei village's signboard; mimbar of Neak Meak mosque.

From left : Madrasah Qamaruddin Al-Islamiah - Kampong Stung Thmei; Muslim Family Restaurant - just behind the mosque.