It worked, now with few more days in this month I believe I have whatever it takes to beat this month’s taget.

Surely it feels good to be back on track, but I must now learn to never go off-guard again.

Many things happened though out this month, however I prefer to talk about the current and future, with reference to the past whenever required.

Its the new year of Hegira 1433, and surely it is a new start for me too, towards goodness.

Let’s Do Goodness, all.

TG

Believe the mental block era is already over, let me share a piece of what I wrote about (shortened version). Read the rest of the article when it is released…

—Quote—

Menuai Hasil dari Murtabak Raja

Ali Imran Mohd Noordin

KUALA LUMPUR, XX Nov – Pernah makan Murtabak Raja? Ianya tidak asing
lagi bagi warga Pantai Timur khususnya di Kelantan dan Terengganu, di mana ia
menjadi kegemaran masyarakat pelbagai lapisan umur.

Trend yang menyaksikan ramai warga Pantai Timur sudah berhijrah ke kota-kota
besar hari ini menghadkan peluang mereka daripada menikmati makanan ini,
menjadikan ia santapan hanya sesekali apabila pulang ke kampung sahaja.

Menyedari hal ini, Mohd Wahyu Affandy Zainuddin, 29, merasa terpanggil untuk
melakukan sesuatu untuk memenuhi permintaan terhadap permintaan makanan ini.

‘CINTA PANDANG PERTAMA’

Segalanya bermula pada akhir 2008. Wahyu yang mengusahakan perniagaan kedai
runcit ketika itu berkata, tidak pernah terlintas di fikirannya untuk terlibat
dalam perniagaan murtabak.

“Asalnya saya tidak sukakan murtabak. Tetapi selepas mencuba sejenis Murtabak
Raja sejuk beku beberapa tahun lepas, tiba-tiba rasa sedap pula,” katanya sambil
mengenangkan peristiwa yang mengubah hidupnya kini.

TINGGAL KEDAI UNTUK MURTABAK

Ketika mendapat tawaran menyertai ‘Program Eksekutif Peruncitan MARA-OUM’ pada
2007, beliau yang berkelulusan Ijazah Pengurusan Sukan turut mendapat tawaran
kerja daripada Majlis Sukan Negeri Terengganu (MSNT), di samping sedang bekerja
di sebuah syarikat minyak dan gas (oil and gas) tempatan.

Kedai ini turut mendapat sentuhan hipermarket terkenal, Mydin melalui Pengarah
Eksekutifnya, Datuk Ameer Ali turut bekerjasama dengan MARA dalam program di
atas.

“Walaupun kedai runcit memberi pulangan yang baik, jiwa saya sudah meminati
industri makanan dan minuman (food and baverages). Jadi saya membuat keputusan
untuk fokus dalam bidang ini,” tambahnya.

2010 YANG CEMERLANG

Tahun 2010 mencatatkan pelbagai sejarah buat MWA Enterprise. Satu daripadanya
ialah apabila produknya digunakan dalam penerbangan ke tanah suci buat jemaah
haji kelolaan Tabung Haji.

Di samping itu, murtabaknya dinobatkan sebagai johan kategori murtabak sejuk
beku di Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism International Show
(MAHA) 2010.

Tahun yang sama juga menyaksikan Murtabak Raja menjadi menu penerbangan Malaysia
Airlines (MAS) melalui kerjasama MWE Enterprise dengan LSG Sky Chefs – Brahims
Sdn. Bhd.

Terbaru, produknya turut menarik minat Yayasan Usahawan Terengganu untuk
dipamerkan di ‘Dubai Trade Exhibition’ pada bulan Mac tahun ini (2011).

MENGORAK LANGKAH PANJANG

Percaya dengan potensi produk ini, Wahyu tidak mahu menoleh ke belakang lagi.
Daripada menjadi agen, beliau membuat keputusan untuk membuka kilang Murtabak
Rajanya sendiri.

Selain kos membuka kilang, Wahyu juga melabur sebanyak RM 100,000 dalam bidang
R&D untuk memastikan produknya mencapai kualiti dan kehendak pasaran.

Belum pun setahun kilang tersebut beroperasi, beliau telah merencana pembukaan
kilang baru yang lebih besar di Marang. Kilang baru ini dijangka dapat
mengeluarkan 45,000 keping murtabak sehari di samping pengeluaran sedia ada.

FRANCAIS ATAS PERMINTAAN

“Pada awalnya saya mahu fokus 100% kepada segmen sejuk beku. Tetapi permintaan
yang menggalakkan, sehingga ada yang datang mengetuk pintu kilang untuk membeli
memberi saya semangat berjinak-jinak dalam bidang francais pula,” katanya.

Dalam masa 6 bulan sahaja, lebih 19 kiosk francais menggunakan jenamanya telah
dibuka di bandar-bandar penting di Terengganu. Turut tidak ketinggalan,
pelbagai negeri lain seperti Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, dan Johor.

Kiosknya juga telah mendapat tempat di hipermarket seperti Mydin dan Giant serta
pelbagai lokasi strategik. Sehingga kini pihaknya menyediakan 3 pakej francais
agar dapat disesuaikan dengan keperluan franchaisee yang berbeza-beza.

LETAK, TINGGAL, TUAI

Terbaru, Wahyu memperkenalkan konsep ‘Letak, Tinggal dan Tuai’ khusus buat
mereka yang berminat dengan bisnes secara francais sebagai pendapatan sampingan,
di samping komitmen kerja sedia ada.

Hanya dengan bermodalkan RM 2000, franchaisee dijangka boleh menghasilkan jualan
antara RM 800 ke RM 1500 sebulan, berdasarkan jualan sebanyak 50 ke 100 keping
murtabak sehari.

“Elemen ‘letak’ bermaksud franchaisee boleh meletakkan murtabak dalam rak peraga
untuk dijual di kedai-kedai tumpangan. ‘Tinggal’ berfungsi apabila pelanggan
sendiri mengambil murtabak dari rak peraga dan membayar kepada tuan kedai. Hasil
jualan boleh di’tuai’ di akhir hari dari tuan kedai,”

“Ia sama seperti konsep penjual kuih yang meletak barang jualan di
restoran-restoran di waktu pagi dan mengutip hasil jualan di petang hari,” kata
Wahyu.

Kunci kepada konsep ini ialah penggunaan rak pemanas yang direka khas,
membolehkan murtabak dapat dimasak tanpa perlu digoreng. Ia juga bertindak
sebagai rak peraga untuk diletakkan kedai-kedai tumpangan.

PINTU SENTIASA TERBUKA

Kepada pihak-pihak yang berminat untuk menjadi pengedar atau menjalankan
francais Murtabak Raja WM bolehlah menghubungi beliau di talian 09-61799299 atau
016-9809299 atau email wahyuaffandy@yahoo.com.

Informasi berkenaan produk ini juga boleh didapati di laman sosial Facebook di
www.facebook.com/MurtabakRajaWM.

—Unquote—
TG

It is not because I bump to any series of paranormal activities – no, I didn’t. But these two months has proven how a mentally frozen person can be very much not like the way he suppose to be.

It is about my performance at work. In September, I only manage to submit 2 articles, thought that I didn’t have enough material so I volunteered to many assignments, so I would have more issues/content/matter to write about.

It didn’t turn the way I expected it to be. October was a humiliation to my capability – total article submitted/published: 1.

Currently I am working on a 1000++ words article about an entrepreneur. This kind of subject hardly take me more than 3 days (average is 2 days) but as I’m writing this, 16 days has passed (and counting).

Good thing is, I have come to the conclusion part on that article, that will be my first submission in 3 weeks!

In short, I have lost all three elements described at this post’s title. Surely not a happy thing to accept, being me.

Now is November. I pledge to turn this month’s leaf 180degrees. It will see me return from ‘death.’

By tomorrow the current article I’m working on shall be submitted, following to that I will use my known ‘magical’ ability to change my destiny.

You can do this, Imran.

You can fix this, Imran.

ABRACADABRA!

TG

P.s – Started working on this article 2 days back, managed to only think of the title. Now it is completed, so will my torn soul–shall heal completely soonest.

I haven’t tell you that I currently learn Tajweed, that is to learn the correct way to read the holy book Al-Quran. Apparently, the test will be held tonight, and I have to admit, I cannot recall anything at all of what I have learnt.

This is not good. Not good at all.

Comparing the situation to the various paper tests/exams I had gone through in my life, this is not the one that I can just flip through the note for 5 minutes and will be likely to pass (the exam). Though I do possess religious school background, I cannot recall any moment when we (or at least, myself) has been thought on ‘Idghams’, ‘Madds’, or the ‘Izhars’. All I remember was we were thought to memorize the verses, one after another. I know at one point of my life, everything in Juz Amma were in my head, then few verses from Chapter 2: Al-Baqara, not even able to finish it, the ustaz made us change to start from the back, from Chapter 77: Al-Mursalat, then ‘upwards’. I managed to ‘install’ that, and another 1 and a half surah that were Al-Insan and Al-Jiin.

Of course this is the case back in my school days, at age 13-15. I was one of the slowest ‘installer’ in my class, that made me always be the one that receive various types of punishment, and pushed back as a non-popular.

From that moment, I had always dislike the first hour at school. I know that I will end up being the ‘target’ if things didn’t go right, and I couldn’t do much as I cannot read the Quran as fluent as others.

My desk mate back then, Muhammad Abdul Rahman was one of the best the school can have. He was fluent, sharp and always be on top of the list. He helped me, and that boosted my hafazan performance, for a while before the class was reshuffled.

Back then, I questioned what the school was trying to do. We were told to memorize the holy book, but what’s the point to memorize something that you do not understand? I didn’t dare to ask any of the ustaz, I didn’t think that they will answer me properly, because all they will say (I thought) was just “It rewards you with a lot of ‘pahala’,” which I found too shallow to accept.

That question was left unanswered for many years, ’till I have even forgotten that I once did ask about it.

Only when I was 20++ years old, the question popped again, and this time I found way to answer it.

From the moment after a long religious talk with Yoshi, a Jew I met in Washington D.C during SIFE Business Internship Innitiative program, I found that I know very less of my own religion when it comes to what Al-Quran really say about certain issue. I couldn’t quote any verse to support my point (compared to Yoshi that was able to quote verseby verse of his book), what more to understand Judaism/Christianity of what said in their book.

Mind you that even with that lack of knowledge, we (Yoshi and I) agreed that both religion came from the same god, and we also agreed that there is not even a single reason why the preachers of Islam and Judaism should hate each other. In fact, we should learn to understand, and make peace to every mankind.

That discussion left me wonder, and slowly develop a new personal interest-to read the translation of the Quran. It’s not that I never done it prior to the case, but the case has strengthen my eagerness to understand my own religion direct from the book, and not merely from what said by man.

Until today, the interest continues, but I am still unable to read Quran fluently, correctly. That’s why I decided to learn, but until this moment, I see no light, nor the end of the tunnel.

As I am writing this, I think I will need to take more drastic approach. I am thinking about the free class at Heritage Row. Maybe that can be my fast help.

For now, I have learn a lot of things, the way Allah says it. Though I normally do my reading alone, I do refer to those with deeper knowledge on the book. Just to ensure that I am kept on the right line. Don’t plan to become any kind of ‘Ayah Pin’ yet.

One verse that I always love. That answers my question on why Prophet Muhammad s.a.w never force people of different beliefs to preach Islam-it is because in the eyes of Allah, all beliefs are accepted, as long as the preachers hold tight to the teaching, as all beliefs always promote towards goodness, from Chapter 2: Al-Baqarah, verse 62 that says:

“Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] – those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness – will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”

Of course there are religions that didn’t refer Allah as the Almighty, but if we take the part when Allah acknowledge those that do righteousness, that is the proof that Allah is kind to all human and He never discredit them with what they had done.

And in Chapter 61: As-Saf verse 9 it was said:

“It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.”

Here, it is clear that Allah want the Muslim themselves, those that claim to preach the Quran, to fully perform as what asked by Him, and by doing that, will set a good example to preachers of other religion. Only by doing that, the preacher and the religion will gain its respectable position by others, though some will remain their dislike-ness to Islam.

Allah ask us, the preachers to PROVE to the world that we are worth to be called ‘the best of mankind’ as said in Chapter 3: Ali Imran verse 110:

“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah . If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.”

Islam is so beautiful, its just the preachers need to understand it the way Allah want them to believe, and perform according to it.

It is time for us to look around, to our Muslim brothers and sisters, to our  friends of Christian, Hindu, Buddha, Judah, Sikh, Jain and many others, to hold tight to their religion. To do our best according to what has been thought, and to make sure the world will be in direction of peace, where everybody understands and respect each others’ beliefs, just because that is what all religion always talk about.

The world is far from the end, it is time to make up something before it has gone too far towards it.

TG

Noon time: Pretty much decided to go FRIM to accompany different friend, preparing for our Sunday tryout.

Evening: Teng asked, “Hang kayuh tak Putrajaya Interpark esok?”

Heart divided, all three are too hard to be pushed away…

How lah..how lah?

TG

At any point when my weight reaches 94kg, god always ‘grant’ me with a diet regime – fever, flew and the family.

As usual, I will be suffering day and night, not being able to eat for a few days, and normally the symptom will be prolonged for a few days even after fever.

Of course, the fast result is weight loss – the painful way.

In a way, I thank HIM for loving me, being 94kg is not healthy, you see. HE showed HIS love by helping me to get back to shape.

I also thank HIM for being generous. Despite going through the pain alone, HE provided me such a very supportive wife to accompany me during the tough times. In previous cases, it was always my mom.

Since day before yesterday, i was haunted with a series of dreams in my sleep. Interestingly it continues from one to another, and they all was about one same issue – Perpecahan Melayu.

I have no idea why, but the issue kept playing in my dreams, until I can even feel that I was tired with that issue while sleeping.

There were three issues:

a. Who are the Malays?

b. Malays loves to seek for differences rather than similarity in developing its own race.

c. Despite with clear pathway towards success, self-interest always comes first, making all Malays kept looking for the ‘right’ pathway and once they find it, no one would want to recognize it just because they will not gain name and fame and the cycle of searching will then starts again, and kept repeating.

I take it as a lesson, direct fron the Creator.

Thank you, Allah.

TG

Somehow this year, the above didn’t seem to work out.

Since I was a kid, I hardly hear any of Malaysian citizens to be hurt or killed when they are overseas.

Should there is any of such situation that I could recall, it will be the tragedy of Al-Muassem Tunnel during one

I am so used to the phrase “ALL MALAYSIANS ARE SAFE” or “NO MALAYSIANS WERE INVOLVED” regardless of any unfavorable situation happens overseas. Be it earthquake, volcano eruption, flood, landslide, forest burning, capsized ships, air crash, political chaos, civil war, bombings, pirate attack or anything else, the phrase I always heard in the news was “Malaysian Embassy has relocate/identify/taken all necessary action Malaysians effected by the situation.”

That somehow built a perception in my mind that, for being a Malaysian, the chance for me getting involved in those unwanted condition has been minimized and should anything happen, help will come in no time.

However, this year alone the country has witnessed 3 events to picture that what I has thought (and rely on during every of my international trips) are already invalid.

The attack on Ashraf Haziq during the London Riot, the death of my Bernama colleague Noramfaizul Mohd Nor in Somalia and the recent death of 1 Malaysian with another 3 were badly injured in a bomb attack in Sungai Golok, Southern Thailand, I take as an alarm call of safety of Malaysians abroad.

Even during the pirate attacks on 2 MISC chemical ships (Bunga Melati 2 and Bunga Melati 5) at Gulf of Aden (GOA), we didn’t find any of Malaysians being hurt. The only casualty was on a Philipino, not Malaysian.

For note, my cousin, Sapian Satar was onboard Bunga Melati 2 and it was just my 2nd week at MISC when the incident happened.

At the end of more than 1 and a half-month incident, all the remaining crews were safely back home after MISC collaborated with Royal Malaysian Navy to send an envoy on Ops Fajar to settle the ransom.

Despite never ending series stressful situations (that may took life of the crew), the Malaysian crew managed to maintain good relationship with the pirates and keep situations under control. At the end of the saga, the Captain of Bunga Melati 2 even received a bundle of Somali paper money as token of souvenir.

Right after that incident, MISC and Royal Malaysian Navy collaborated on Bunga Mas 5 program, a ship dedicated to protect MISC vessels along GOA route. That was such a noble effort, but costs the Chemical Business Unit of MISC a bomb.

Recently another vessel, Bunga Mas 6 was launched for the same purpose. Good thing, because Bunga Mas 5 alone cannot cope with the current demand. Hope with Bunga Mas 6, MISC vessels may sail in lesser days as the waiting time (to get Bunga Mas 5 to escort them) can be reduced. Hope it will bring in good money for them too.

Now, it is time for all Malaysians to understand and take the necessary actions. It starts with us to realize that the burden to our own safety lies to no one else but ourselves.

Second, always check with Wisma Putra for travel advice. For your information, from time to time , they will publish a safety list that will be useful in case when you have no idea what situation can to expect in the new place.

Ever heard of country Mayotte, St. Kitts and Nevis or Moldova? Or very known place like London, Bangkok or Jakarta?

Many would have no idea about the existence of the first three countries (for sure, does not know what happens inside it too) and no one can expect when the next riot will attack the three cities.

Thus, seek advice from Wisma Putra, they did a lot of work for Malaysians, and always ready to serve us.

There are many more tips, many that I might not know too. However for this one, I would like to highlight because I hardly hear any of my friends that run a safety check with Wisma Putra prior flying (or in any other method) away.

We, Malaysians are becoming the center of attraction from the world day-by-day. Being famous can be good, it can also bring detrimental effect to us.

Just be aware, stay sane and know the world deepest possible, that may reduce the unwanted risks.

TG

Remember the essay writing competition I told you about: This is what I have submitted.

Since one of the competition’s rule is ‘belum pernah disiarkan oleh mana-mana bahan bercetak’ (must have not being published in any printed media) then I guess it is fair for me to put it here for your reading.

I have to admit, this is not purely an ‘innovation-derived’ essay but I guess with the time and space, plus with the lack of awareness in technology advancement that I possess, this is what I have decided to submit.

Yes, it is far-fetched, yes it was a squirrel. But I still hope I manage to send the message accross.

Here it goes:

—Quote—

Tajuk: Inovasi Nilai Sejarah Membangun Bangsa.

Negara ini sekali lagi dilanda musibah. Ketika kita sedang bergelut dengan krisis yang tak kunjung sudah, isu buang anak, bunuh, rogol dan ragut menjadi hiasan utama di dada-dada akhbar, pergaduhan antara figura-figura politik seakan tiada penghujungnya dan kini, bertelagah pula kerana fakta sejarah.

Tanpa mahu meletakkan kesalahan pada sesiapa, apatah lagi mencari si kambing hitam untuk dijadikan lauk akibat amarah si pengembala, tetapi sudah tiba masa kita fikirkan sejenak keadaan ini dan lihat dimana silapnya.

Timbul sahaja isu sebegini, rakan-rakan seusia mula mengeluh, tidak tahu apa yang harus dibuat. Kata-kata seperti “Dari zaman sekolah dahulu aku memang tidak minat matapelajaran Sejarah,” dan “Itu semua mainan politik sahaja,” menjadi ayat-ayat lazim untuk menyelamatkan diri daripada kejahilan untuk membezakan antara yang benar dan yang palsu.

KENALI DIRI, PERCAYA DIRI

Sejarah adalah elemen terpenting dalam kehidupan seseorang manusia untuk mengenali dirinya sendiri. Individu yang tidak kenal dirinya tidak akan tahu nilai diri serta tujuan hidupnya. Sewaktu kecil dahulu saya sering diejek kawan-kawan kerana nama datuk saya yang pelik. ‘Bandan Sahib’ bukanlah satu nama biasa untuk masyarakat Melayu, hatta hingga ke hari ini tidak pernah saya dengar mana-mana individu yang mempunyai nama demikian walau dalam kalangan ahli keluarga saya sendiri.

Untuk nota, arwah datuk saya berasal negara India, beliau belayar dari sana, mendarat dan seterusnya bermastautin di Pulau Pinang, berkahwin dengan gadis tempatan lalu mempunyai 3 anak dan meninggal dunia di sana ketika ayah saya berusia 15 tahun.

Sudah tentulah sebagai seorang anak kecil, diejek dan disisihkan kawan-kawan bukanlah sesuatu yang menyeronokkan. Sewaktu di usia remaja, rupa fizikal ala Asia Selatan menampakkan saya ‘kurang’ Melayu, maka saya diberi gelaran ‘Bangla’.

Saya hanya mula menghargai perjuangan arwah datuk saya apabila memahami perjalanannya mengubah nasib diri. Belayar meninggalkan kampung halaman buat selama-lamanya, mengharapkan hujan emas di negeri orang, bukan calang-calang orang yang mampu melakukannya.

Teknologi perkapalan yang ada pada masa itu menjadikan setiap pelayaran adalah perjalanan antara hidup dan mati. Tidak ada teknologi GPS (Global Positioning System), sistem AIS (Automatic Identification System), telefon satelit, radar-radar canggih, badan kapal berkembar (double hull) untuk mengelak risiko karam mahupun carta elektronik pelayaran yang menjadikan pelayaran hari ini amat selamat berbanding lebih separuh abad yang lalu.

Menyabung nyawa, meninggalkan tanah air tercinta, berdiri di atas kaki sendiri di tanah orang, itulah antara ciri-ciri postif milik arwah datuk saya. Kini saya tidak malu lagi. Bahkan saya sanggup pertahankan arwah datuk saya apabila diperlukan.

Saya bangga dilahirkan sebagai diri saya. Tidak kira apa yang dikatakan, tidak kira seindah mana kehidupan orang lain, saya bersyukur ke hadrat ilahi dilahirkan sebagai cucu kepada seorang pejuang. Pejuang terhadap nasib dirinya sendiri.

Pun begitu, ada sesuatu yang kurang dalam kisah datuk saya tadi, iaitu rekod terperinci, terakam dan terpelihara mengenai kisah pengembaraan beliau. Hanya sekeping gambar menjadi bukti keterikatan kami. Tidak ada catatan, tidak ada gambar-gambar lain, apatah lagi rakaman video, sebagai bukti nyata untuk menyokong kisah beliau yang hebat itu.

MASA TIDAK BISA MENIPU

Perpatah Inggeris ada mengatakan, ‘Time will tell’ bererti, ‘masa akan menceritakan/menentukan’. Persoalannya, bagaimana masa akan mampu menyatakan kebenaran tanpa disokong oleh fakta-fakta yang tidak mampu disangkal keraguannya?

Hari ini, salah satu teknologi yang berkembang pesat adalah teknologi maklumat, atau lebih glamour dikenali sebagai ‘Information Technology’ (IT). Negara kita juga menjadikan IT sebagai satu cabang ukuran kepada tahap kemajuan negara, selaras dengan standard antarabangsa.

Apabila berbicara tentang IT, yang sebenarnya dibincangkan ialah berkenaan pengembangan, penimpanan, pemeliharaan dan penggunaan ilmu pengetahuan di masa, dan tempat yang betul serta digunakan ke jalan yang positif.

Percanggahan sejarah terjadi kini akibat tidak ada sistem pemusatan informasi-informasi berkaitan sejarah. Terlalu banyak pihak mendakwa mereka mempunyai bukti sahih terhadap sesuatu perkara, yang boleh membawa kepada manipulasi untuk kebaikan sesetengah pihak sahaja.

INTERAKSI SOSIAL MEMBANGUNKAN BANGSA

Siapa yang mampu hidup sendiri di dunia ini? Dalam masa yang sama, pembangunan kendiri setiap individu juga akan banyak dipengaruhi oleh jenis pergaulan dan pihak-pihak yang berada di sekelilingnya di sepanjang proses pembesaran.

‘Kegembiraan’ sesetengah pihak menjadikan sensitiviti ciptaan dengan mengambil kesempatan terhadap kejahilan masyarakat umum terhadap sejarah demi mencapai kepuasan diri sudah menjadi trend masa kini.

Terlalu ramai yang mahu bicara tentang tragedi berdarah 13 Mei, sibuk mengapikan masyarakat dengan fakta yang tidak diketahui hujung pangkalnya, yang hanya diketahui ialah “orang dulu-dulu berkata…” sudah menjadi satu virus yang tiada ubatnya sehingga ke hari ini.

Tiada pula yang mahu bercerita akan fakta terwujudnya Rukunegara hasil daripada tragedi ini yang kemudiannya menjadi segala pembalut luka sekali gus merawat penuh kesakitan dan kecacatan hasil perperangan ciptaan kita sendiri?

Mengapa yang tragedi itu digembar-gemburkan selalu, manakala kisah indah bermulanya satu titik indah pengharmonian masyarakat Malaysia secara terancang yang akhirnya menghasilkan satu bentuk kejayaan yang menjadi kebanggaan negara di waktu ini dibiarkan sepi?

Kemajuan bidang IT berjaya menghanyutkan sebilangan besar generasi muda kita ke cara hidup yang membinasakan serta dimomokkan dengan sentimen perkauman yang tiada penghujung.

Mengapa kita tidak menggunakan teknologi yang sama sebagai landasan kepada serangan minda dan meniupkan semangat keharmonian kaum di kalangan kita?

Ajarkan mereka mengenai sejarah dengan cara yang lebih interaktif. Biar mereka tahu bahawa di zaman Melaka dahulu masyarakat berbilang kaum dari seluruh dunia pernah hidup aman di bawah satu pemerintahan yang adil dan saksama.

Gunakan laman sosial seperti ‘Facebook’, ‘Twitter’ dan ‘MySpace’ sebagai tempat untuk menyebarkan video-video positif tentang keharmonian antara kaum di negara ini, yang pernah digelar ‘Suvarnabumi’ atau ‘Bumi Emas’ kerana kekayaannya serta kedamaian masyarakat di waktu itu.

Ketengahkan karya-karya video ‘indie’ mereka yang positif terhadap pembinaan bangsa Malaysia. Sebagai contoh, usaha stesen televisyen berbayar Astro melalui saluran 318 saban tahun menayangkan video berteraskan rasa cinta kepada negara dalam bentuk video sebegini memotivasikan anak-anak muda untuk berkarya selari dengan aspirasi negara. Inilah masanya, inilah tempatnya.

Peluang sudah ada, hanya perlu diolah dan diguna sesuai dengan kepesatan teknologi masa kini.

PENDIDIKAN DAN PERPADUAN

Sejarah juga telah membuktikan bahawa permainan adalah salah satu elemen pendidikan yang efektif. Pelbagai nilai kendiri dan budaya seperti kerja berpasukan, saling menghormati dan bertatasusila dapat dipelajari melalui permainan-permainan tradisional.

Di masa kini, anak-anak muda tidak langsung canggung untuk menggunakan alatan-alatan canggih sebagai ‘permainan’ mereka. Buku-buku nota kini diganti dengan ‘iPad’ dan ‘tab’. Belum pun mencapai akil baligh, sudah pandai minta telefon pintar ‘Blackberry’ dan ‘iPhone’ daripada ibu bapa.

Walaupun perkembangan sebegini berkembang pesat di bandar-bandar utama seluruh negara, golongan luar bandar tetap tidak ketinggalan dengan adanya program-program anjuran kerajaan melalui Skim Komputer Riba 1Malaysia.

Satu perkembangan positif yang tidak pernah dijangka ialah, peluang-peluang untuk mencipta perisian-perisian yang boleh dimuat turun ke dalam telefon pintar, ‘iPad’ serta komputer riba melalui internet.

Perisian-persian ini biasanya menggunakan elemen hiburan seperti permainan, kuiz-kuiz mudah sehinggalah buku-buku elektronik yang boleh disediakan secara percuma dan jika dipakej dengan menarik, tidak mustahil ia akan dapat menarik minat generasi muda sebagai trend masa kini.

Ini boleh dijadikan landasan baru pendidikan tidak formal dalam usaha menyemai sikap-sikap positif membawa perpaduan di kalangan bakal pewaris negara.

Kerajaan juga telah menyediakan fasiliti-fasiliti serta program-program pembangunan pengusaha perisian tempatan melalui Perbadanan Kemajuan Multimedia (MDeC). Jesteru ia perlu digunakan dengan sebaiknya untuk menyebarkan propaganda positif terhadap rakyat di negara ini demi kebaikan negara pada masa akan datang.

PENGURUSAN POLARITI AGAMA DAN BUDAYA

Setiap agama mempunyai satu ciri menarik, iaitu semuanya mengajak para penganutnya ke arah cara hidup yang aman, damai dan harmoni. Tidak ada agama yang dicipta dengan tujuan untuk mencetuskan huru hara, apatah lagi suasana berpecah belah di dalam masyarakat.

Islam, Kristian, Hindu, Buddha, Sikh dan lain-lain semuanya tidak menyokong perbuatan-perbuatan seperti rompak, bunuh, curi, rogol, gangsterisma, dan sebagainya malahan mengeji perbuatan-perbuatan tersebut.

Dalam masa yang sama, kesemua agama di atas amat memuji dan menggalakkan perbuatan-perbuatan baik seperti tolong-menolong, mengambil berat sesama ahli masyarakat, serta bersangka baik terhadap setiap orang.

Inilah ramuan rahsia yang menjayakan kehidupan masyarakat berbilang agama di Malaysia dicemburui pelbagai pihak. Budaya suka mencari yang positif sesama kita dan bertoleransi di waktu-waktu sukar menjadikan kita sebagai masyarakat yang dikagumi dan disegani seantero dunia.

Hubungan erat ini wajib didokumenkan dan disimpan sebagai bahan sejarah buat tatapan generasi akan datang. Inovasi penstoran maklumat bergerak pantas pada hari ini dan sebagai sebuah negara yang punya program pembangunan Koridor Super Multimedianya sendiri, kita punya banyak cara untuk melakukannya.

Buktikan kepada generasi akan datang, masjid, tokong, kuil dan gereja yang berjiran antara satu sama lain adalah bukti kesatuan kita yang wajib dijaga dan dipertahankan sampai bila-bila.

LAKUKAN SEBELUM TERLAMBAT

Di sebalik berita-berita baik di atas, jangan lupa bahawa kita masih belum selamat dari tangan-tangan kotor yang sentiasa mahu mencari jalan untuk meruntuhkan negara kita.

Krisis-krisis masyarakat masih belum ada ubatnya. Siapalah yang tahu bilakah akan tiba suatu hari dimana tidak ada jenayah dilaporkan di akhbar. Tidak ada fitnah dicanang di sana sini dan tiada prasangka buruk yang membungkam di hati ahli-ahli masyarakat.

Semua ini tidak mustahil, hanya dengan merendahkan diri dan berfikir dengan minda terbuka, setiap warganegara Malaysia boleh dididik untuk menjadikan kisah perjalanan sejarah negara kita yang kaya dengan kejayaan sebagai satu platform perpaduan.

Negara-negara dunia pertama sudah tersilap langkah. Hasil kemajuan dan inovasi mereka digunakan ke jalan kini memakan diri mereka sendiri.

Suatu masa dahulu, elemen-elemen wajib pasti dalam sesebuah drama atau filem seringkali melibatkan babak kemusnahan insititusi keluarga, keruntuhan moral, mengangkat tinggi perilaku-perilaku jenayah dan mempromosikan unsure seks dan penggunaan dadah.

Kini, elemen-elemen tersebut sudah semakin dipinggirkan, diganti dengan unsur-unsur yang bakal membangun bangsanya serta penciptaan generasi pelapis negara yang bakal mewarisi negara.

Penerapan nilai-nilai kekeluargaan serta nilai-nilai moral yang positif menjadi rencah baru dalam produksi-produksi mereka, tidak lain dan tidak bukan semata-mata untuk memulihkan kembali ‘kerosakan’ yang pernah mereka lakukan dahulu.

Generasi muda kita kini berada di tahap yang sangat membimbangkan. Tak siapa pernah menyangka hanya selepas 54 tahun merdeka, kita tidak lepas dari kisah bayi dilahirkan dalam tandas, sumbang mahram, budaya samseng yang tidak terkawal dan macam-macam lagi.

Inovasi teknologi telah memberi sumbangan besar kepada ketamadunan manusia, termasuk kita. Ia hanyalah sebuah alat yang boleh menjadi baik atau buruk selari dengan kehendak pemiliknya. Gunakanlah landasan ini dengan baik. Jadikan sejarah kita sebagai elemen utama dalam membentuk jati diri bangsa agar sentiasa tahu asal-usulnya, kenal kisah silamnya serta mampu bertindak untuk kebaikan negaranya.

Sama-samalah kita berusaha menjayakannya, semoga dilimpahkan pertolongan oleh Yang Maha Esa.

1663 patah perkataan

Bibliografi: Buku: Pelan Hala Tuju Program Transformasi Kerajaan – Ringkasan Eksklusif, Terbitan: Unit Pengurusan Prestasi dan Pelaksanaan (PEMANDU), Jabatan Perdana Menteri. Tarikh Penerbitan: 28 Januari 2010.

—Unquote—

Hope the message has been delivered properly.

TG

Suppose to write something related to innovation and government transformation effort, how la…

For many days I have been in mind block mode. Now the situation has changed. I have a thing to write about.

Yes, I repeat..only A THING.

It will be written on my ‘suka-suka hati’ mode and I promise its going to be far-fetched from what it is suppose to be.

Overnight office la nampaknya malam ni…

TG

However for the good of greater number, SIFE stands for Students In Free Enterprise, an NGO based in Springfield, Missouri, USA.

We run community outreach programs that are in line with free economy values, aspire people to live on their own feet and grab what they deserve to earn to have a better life.

I joined SIFE through UiTM chapter from end of 2003 until early 2006, where I decided to let go most of the things in my life for the good of others, including my participation in debate club, my monthly allowance from MARA as well as my love life (yup, you read it right-and I never regret it).

In return, I gained priceless experience and chances to see the world from various perspectives. I had the chance to mingle with the captains of the world economy, community leaders, politician, academicians, artists, commoners as well as the underprivileged.

I was also lucky to make in the team of presenters for SIFE National Competition in 2004 where we were crowned as Champion, and that qualified us to the World Cup which was held in Barcelona, Spain.

We stood in the finals, together with 5 other teams – Curtin University of Technology of Australia, Flagler College of the United States, Kaduna Polytechnic of Nigeria; University of the Free State of South Africa and Wilfrid Laurier University of Canada.

Curtin walked out of the hall as Champions while Flagler was the Runner Up. I could never forget that moment when we thought we had hold the world in our hands, just to see our dreams were shattered by the scream of joy by the Aussies.

For note, the year before, SIFE UiTM was the Runner Up in Mainz, Germany and in 2004 the goal was no other than to bring the world cup home.

In 2005, again I was lucky to be selected into the SIFE Business Internship Initiative (BII) program that involved selected SIFE members from USA, Malaysia and India. It was fully funded by the government of US.

That explained how I ended spending 3 months in the land of Uncle Sam. (During our time there, UiTM won the national championship again and qualify for World Cup in Toronto, Canada, but luck was way off of our side) Upon my return to Malaysia, series of things that happened has diverted my attention other things and the juniors ran the show.

SIFE has developed me in many ways, I have always put it this way – through debating, I have built myself and through SIFE I can channel what I had gained and help to build other people.

That is why, until today I cannot live without giving back to the community. Since my schooldays, the trend started by my role in Peer Help Society, and during my days in Perlis I traveled around for free English camps for schoolkids, as well as involved in inter-religious community program, then came my SIFE days,and today, I do whatever I can from free motivational talk, free English lessons up to ‘touching’ the community via my cycling activities. God knows what will I do after this.

Now back to the title of this post (yes, I have gone far-fetched, as usual) this year, FINALLY after years of lobbying and a lot of effort and tears, SIFE World Cup will be held in KUALA LUMPUR!

Hearing this, I jumped to joy (I literally did). Just like the football World Cup, it is a great honor for the home team (in this case, we have teamS) to be chosen as the event’s host. And unlike football’s World Cup, SIFE World Cup can ensure no hooligans, nor street chaos comes together with the package.

Given SIFE’s nature of being backed by the big players of global economy like Wallmart, KPMG, Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company, and many more , it will be a great platform for any local talent for a four eyes meet up with the business leaders of MNCs (I am talking about Chairmans, CEOs, BODs, and Top Management here, not the ikan bilis) and learn from them, which we normally see in university textbooks and business mags or watch on Bloomberg).

Not to forget, the new friends that will come from all over the WORLD. This year, participants of 37 countries will proof their worth for to be the champion, a lot of room to make new friends, so the next time to travel, there’ll be somebody waiting for you at the airport!

So my young SIFErs, please make use of this chance to the fullest, make sure your presence is noticed, and be open to understand culture. Take the opportunity to learn, be a good host, take care of your new friends well.

I really hope to be there, maybe I’ll find an excuse for it.

Deep inside, I’m a little heartbroken to see that at this very first time the competition be brought to KL, the one to represent Malaysia is not UiTM. It is actually good to see balance of power in the Malaysia scene to make it more competitive, but of course I can’t lie that I had a little hope to see my juniors (though I do not know them) to fulfill the dream that the we once talked about over our coffee in Amsterdam–to make Malaysia proud in our own soil.

To Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) team, I pray that you will make the country proud. Remember, many has failed to use their chance well, just because they are not able to understand the responsibility they were carrying on their shoulders. Trust me, God will be fair to those that work hard sincerely, and He will be fair to you too.

Let’s come together and support our team – Universiti Teknologi Petronas!!!

MALAYSIA BOLEH!

MALAYSIA BOLEH!

MALAYSIA BOLEH!

May force be with us.

TG

p.s: For more info about SIFE World Cup 2011, please visit http://www.sife.org/worldcup/