Everything in Malaysia is Halal?

I went to The Mines last Saturday to buy some presents for my friend's wedding. The last time I went there was 4 years ago.

I had my lunch at the food court. Usually I don't bother to look for halal sign because I assume everything in Malaysia's food court is Halal. I also assume foods at malay and indonesian restaurant is Halal. I decided to go for hot plate noodles with chicken and mushroom. This is chinese food but nowadays, it is not unusual for Malays to sell chinese foods. The noodles stall's worker looked like an Indonesian. So, I think this must be a Malay stall.

After I ordered the food, I just realised that the worker is not an Indonesian. He is a Burmese (from Myanmar). After a while, a chinese worker came out from the kitchen. I saw another chinese/burmese working in the kitchen. Is this a chinese stall? Then, I try to look for Halal sign but couldn't find it. Damn!

Then, I took the noodles and sat. I didn't eat yet because I feel was-was (doubt) and I wait. I saw not many people ate in that area, only a few chinese. Most of the people ate at the opposite side (side where stalls with halal sign). After a few minutes, I saw only chinese ordered from the hot plate stall. I start to become worried.

I decided to go back to the stall and asked whether the food is halal or not. This is something I've never done before in Malaysia; asking whether the food I ordered is halal or not. The Burmese said that it is halal but he didn't really convince me. Anyway, he said it is halal, so I ate. But after having 2 or 3 sips, the was-was feeling came back and I don't feel like eating the noodles. From the way he answered my question, he seemed don't know what halal is. So, I decided to leave and eat at KFC.

The next day, my family and I went to the Look Out Point at Bukit Ampang (my brother said that hill is called Bukit Belacan. I don't know which one is true) to have some drinks. Scenery over there is beautiful and we can see almost the whole KL from that hill. We went to one of the cafe which has the Halal sign. Again, the waiter is Burmese!!! (Please, don't hire burmese as waiter/waitress. Most of them are not muslim and some of them even eat dog's head. seriously!!!).

As I went through the menu, I was SHOCKED because that place also SERVE HAM. I don't know whether they (some Malaysian chinese) don't understand what Halal means or they pretend they do not know. Maybe, they think if they use halal chicken, then, the food is automatically considered as Halal already. NO, it's not.

I'm not really strict about this Halal thing when I was studying in UK. To be honest, I will buy a tuna sandwich at the university cafeteria even though it was placed 2-feet away from a ham sandwich. But in Malaysia, I become extra concern and strict about what am I eating.

Another thing that really make me scared is the fact that some muslims do not know what is ham and pork (but they do know what is pig!). I have met several of these individuals. May Allah protect them.

Are we Malaysian because we were Born in Malaysia?

I have been asked by one of my blog's reader regarding my previous post. It was about people who said that all history explanations are no longer relevant as nowadays, majority of the non-bumi like chinese, indian etc are born in Malaysia, hence there shouldnt be any double standard among the races.

Pena Biru said...

History is no longer relevant because they were born here? They must remember that their great grandparents got Malaysia citizenship because of the history. Without the citizenship of their grandparents, they will NEVER become a Malaysian EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BORN HERE.

Let me give another example. Do we give Malaysia citizenship to PATI's (pendatang asing tanpa izin) children who were BORN HERE? Of course the answer is NO. because their parents are not Malaysian and carries other citizenship ie Indonesia. The same goes with chinese and indians in Malaysia. They will never become a Malaysian if their grandparents did not get the citizenship.

So, there are lots of other BIG factors other than place of birth that we need to consider in this case. Besides, place of birth may means nothing if it not backed up with history, documents etc.

So, if they said history are no longer relevant, it also means they have deny their own citizenship.

History is always important.

Negaraku Malaysia

Saya telah menghadiri kursus BTN di Kem Bina Negara Ulu Sepri, Rembau pada minggu lepas. Kursus tersebut berjalan selama 5 hari dan dihadiri oleh pegawai kerajaan yang akan melanjutkan pelajaran Master/PhD ke luar negara. Peserta kursus tersebut termasuk pensyarah IPTA, doktor dari Kementerian Kesihatan, pegawai Kementerian Pelajaran, Pertanian dan PTD.

Pengisian kursus tersebut adalah berkisar mengenai negara seperti ekonomi, politik dan kestabilan negara, pendidikan, sejarah, ancaman dan lain2. Isu-isu yang hangat diperkatakan sekarang juga diperjelas seperti:

• Konsep bumiputera dan pendatang. Apakah konsep yang digunapakai untuk menentukan sama ada seseorang itu penduduk asal ataupun pendatang? Adakah orang Melayu yang berketurunan Jawa, Patani, Bugis juga adalah pendatang?
• Apakah hak2 istimewa orang Melayu? Adakah hak2 ini boleh dimansuhkan sekiranya mendapat sokongan 2/3 atau keseluruhan ahli2 parlimen?
• Ramai orang mengatakan bahawa orang Melayu mendapat 4 perkara (raja2, agama Islam, keistimewaan, bahasa Melayu) namun, bukan Melayu hanya mendapat 1 sahaja (kewarganegaraan) dalam kontrak sosial. Adakah kontrak ini adil kepada semua kaum?

Semua persoalan ini diperjelas kepada peserta semasa kursus tersebut. Sekiranya seseorang itu tidak mempunyai ilmu dan pemahaman yang jelas mengenai sejarah dan isu semasa, maka mudahlah seseorang itu diperdaya oleh pihak2 tertentu.

Saya tidak bercadang untuk membincangkan perkara ini secara terbuka di sini. Ini kerana, isu ini adalah sensitif.

Akhir sekali, saya mahu pembaca sekalian membaca petikan daripada bekas Presiden MIC, Tun Sambanthan dan Presiden MCA, Tun Tan Siew Chin. Marilah kita renung dan fikir2kan.

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“ PERPADUAN TERAS KEJAYAAN ”

Tun Tan Siew Sin, Presiden MCA dalam akhbar tempatan bertajuk “Tun Tan Answers Critics on Special Privileges” dalam ucapan pada 30 April 1969.

“The Malays, through UMNO, were generous enough to relax the citizenship laws of this country to such an extent that within 12 months of independence, 90 percent of the non-Malays had become citizens whereas before independence 90 percent were still non-citizens after nearly 100 years of colonial rule in the Malay States. In return for this major concession, the MCA and the MIC agreed to continue the policy of preserving the special position of the Malays while at the same time upholding the legitimate interests of other communities.’’

Terjemahan :

Dalam ucapannya bertajuk Menjawab Kritikan Mengenai Keistimewaan Orang Melayu, yang dilaporkan akhbar pada 30 April 1969, Presiden MCA, Tun Tan Siew Sin berkata Orang Melayu menerusi UMNO bermurah hati melonggarkan syarat-syarat dalam undang-undang negara ini sehinggakan dalam masa 12 bulan selepas kemerdekaan, 90 peratus penduduk bukan Melayu telah menjadi warganegara, berbanding keadaan sebelum merdeka di mana 90 peratus daripada mereka masih bukan diiktirafkan sebagai rakyat setelah hampir 100 tahun hidup di bawah pemerintahan penjajah di negeri-negeri Melayu. Dan sebagai membalas kemurahan hati Orang Melayu, MCA dan MIC bersetuju meneruskan dasar memelihara dan menghormati kedudukan istimewa Orang Melayu dan sekali gus mempertahankan kepentingan-kepentingan sah masyarakat kaum lain.

Sumber : Tan Sri Haji Khalid Awang Osman, Malaysia – An Anthology,

Vantage Press, New York, tanpa tarikh, halaman 38-39.

Ucapan YB Tun V.T. Sambanthan, Presiden MIC merangkap Menteri Kerja Raya, Pos dan Telekom di Dewan Rakyat pada 01 Jun 1965.

“Now, in 1955 we won the elections with a great majority. Then we obtained freedom in two years time. During this period, we had to discuss citizenship and various other things. Now, what did the Malays do – since we are speaking on racial lines – what did the Malay leadership do? They had 88 percent of the electorate still with them. What did they do with citizenship?

If we look around in Asia and East Asia, particularly, you will find that my race the Indian race, is not welcomed in Ceylon, is not welcomed in Burma. Look at my brother Chinese race, it is not welcomed in Thailand, in Vietnam, in Cambodia, in all the other areas. What help do they get for citizenship in all these territories? In Burma, as we know, Indians have been send packing, in Ceylon they refused them citizenship and in Burma it is likewise. I know it, you know it. And yet in Malaya what happened? Here, we found that the Malay leadership said, “ We shall take them unto ourselves as brothers, we shall give them full opportunity to live in this country, we shall give them every opportunity to become citizens”. And so, in 1957, for the whole year, we waived language qualifications, and tens of thousands of Indians, Chinese, Ceylonese and others became citizens...

As I said, it has been my great good fortune to have been born in this country. Where else can you find a more charitable, a more polite, a more decent race than the Malay race? Where else can you get such politically decent treatment for any immigrant race? Where else in the history of the world ? I ask you. These are the fects. Who are you to safeguard us? I am 10 percent minority race here. But I am happy here.”

Terjemahan :
Pada 01 Jun 1965, Tun Sambanthan merangkap Menteri Kerja Raya, Pos dan Telekom dalam ucapanya berkata, “Pada tahun 1955 kita telah memenangi pilihan raya dengan majoriti yang tinggi selanjutnya mendapat kemerdekaan dua tahun kemudian.

Dalam jangka masa itu kita terpaksa berbincang dan menangani pelbagai perkara termasuk kewarganegaraan. Persoalannya di sini, apakah yang dilakukan oleh Orang Melayu memandangkan kita bercakap menyentuh perkauman? Apakah yang dilakukan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu? Mereka mempunyai 88 peratus daripada pengundi menyokong mereka. Apakah yang mereka putuskan mengenai isu kewarganegaraan? Jika kita lihat di serata negara Asia dan Asia Timur, kita akan mendapati kaum India tidak akan diterima di Ceylon dan juga tidak diterima di Burma. Dan lihat kepada saudara kita kaum Cina, mereka tidak diterima di Thailand, Vietnam, Kemboja dan di negara-negara lain. Dan apakah bantuan berhubung kewarganegaran yang mereka perolehi di semua wilayah tersebut?

Di Burma, seperti yang kita semua sedia maklum, kaum india telah diusir keluar, di Ceylon mereka tidak diberikan taraf wargenagara seperti juga di Burma. Saya tahu dan anda juga tahu. Dan dalam pada itu apa yang sedang berlaku di Malaya?

Di sini kita mendapati pemimpin Melayu berkata, “ Kita akan menerima mereka sebagai saudara, kita akan berikan mereka sepenuh peluang untuk meneruskan kehidupan di negara ini, kita akan beri mereka setiap peluang untuk menjadi warganegara. Dan seterusnya pada tahun 1957, dengan tidak mengambil kira kebolehan berbahasa (Melayu), ribuan orang India , Cina dan Ceylon menjadi warganegara”.

Seperti yang saya nyatakan, saya amat bernasib baik kerana dilahirkan di negara ini. Di manakah anda boleh jumpa bangsa yang lebih prihatin, bersopan-santun, dan tertib selain dari Bangsa Melayu. Di manakah anda boleh mendapat layanan politik yang baik untuk kaum pendatang? Di manakah dalam sejarah dunia? Saya bertanya kepada anda. Ini adalah fakta. Siapakah anda untuk menjaga keselamatan kami? Saya adalah kalangan 10 peratus kaum minoriti di sini. Tetapi saya amat gembira di sini.”

Sumber : Tan Sri Haji Khalid Awang Osman, Malaysia – An Anthology,

Vantage Press, New York, tanpa tarikh, halaman 60

Nanoteknologi dan Islam

Saya amat tertarik apabila terbaca sebahagian teks daripada Syarahan Perdana Prof. Burhanuddin mengenai MEMS dan Nanoteknologi.

"Sebagai perbandingan, 1 nm bersamaan 1/1000 juta meter, seumpama rambut dibelah 80,000 kali. Jika 1 nm seumpama 1 m, maka sel darah merah adalah selebar 7 km"

Apabila terbaca rambut dibelah, saya teringat mengenai titian sirat al-Mustaqim, iaitu titian yang perlu kita seberangi untuk ke syurga. Titian tersebut sangat nipis. Sekiranya kita jatuh daripada titian ini, maka jatuhlah kita ke dalam neraka. Menurut riwayat, nipisnya titian tersebut adalah seperti sehelai rambut dibahagi 7.

Dulu kita pasti tidak dapat membayangkan bagaimana halusnya rambut jika dibahagi 7. Namun, dalam bidang nanoteknologi, kita mampu untuk mengkaji sehingga ke tahap sehelai rambut dibahagi 80,000.

Apa yang membuatkan saya tertarik dan kagum ialah kerana perkara mikro dan nano ini sebenarnya telah pun di nyatakan dalam Islam sejak berzaman lagi. Allah mahu kita berfikir dan kaji hingga ke tahap paling kecil sekali. Allah telah pun memberi 'hint' berkenaan kewujudan ilmu pada skala mikro dan nano yang mempunyai banyak manfaat kepada manusia. Terpulanglah kepada kita untuk berfikir dan mengkaji ilmu tersebut.

Ilmu2 sains lain seperti proses kejadian manusia dalam rahim ibu dan putaran2 planet juga dinyatakan dalam al-Quran.

Terlalu banyak ilmu yang terkandung dalam Islam yang boleh kita pelajari. Begitulah ajaib dan sempurnanya Islam.

Type of Supervisors

Choosing the right research supervisor is very important. According to Prof. Jailani, 60% of success in completing a PhD is related to supervisor. There are 6 types of supervisors according to Smith and Martin; the collaborator, the one with hands-off style, senior scientist, authoritarian, coach and laissez-faire.

1- The collaborator

More likely to be young and hungry for results. His or her success depends to a larger extent on yours, so he/she has a vested interest in how well you do. Often this mean rapid progress toward your degree, but be careful. In such cases topics are often chosen more by the adviser than by the student. The topics may be less risky and the adviser may want more than the appropriate share of credit.

2- Hands-off

Generally, a mid level academic with other responsibilities, but may be 'less greedy for results'. Such a person can be a source of wise counsel and might let you choose areas of greater risks and significance.

3- Senior scientist

A well established faculty member with varying amount of time. The quality of attention from senior scientist may be the best of all because of their extensive experience. However, while older faculty members may not compete with you, as might their younger colleagues, they may also think they know it all, are less likely to help you learn the ropes, and may not be as available. Also, their energy level might be lower and they may be out of date or living on past glories.

4- The Authoritarian

Likely to set the goals and lay out tasks for the research, usually in some detail. Such advisers welcome conflicts, expect you to speak up and argue, and are active throughout the research process.

5- The coach

Will seek to set goals jointly with the student. There may be a lot of guidance in the beginning or planning phase, but not much during the research itself. The adviser is active in the planning stage, passive during the process and active in the evaluation stage.

6- Laissez-faire

Friendly and supportive but it's not certain you will learn much from them. They will be relatively inactive on the research tasks unless you take the initiative but supportive throughout and generally available. Attractive as they may first appear, working with laissez-faire adviser is a high risk strategy and is only likely to work if you have strong research skills, are independent and know what you want.

itu ini sana sini

1- Semalam, saya masuk ke dalam lab dan belajar cara2 untuk growth material menggunakan molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Buat masa sekarang, MBE tersebut di kawal selia oleh seorang penyelidik TMRnD iaitu Idris. MBE di UKM merupakan MBE pertama di universiti Malaysia dan dibeli oleh TMRnD dari sebuah syarikat Perancis iaitu Riber dengan harga RM 4 juta. USM baru sahaja setup MBE mereka pada tahun lepas.

Kepakaran dan ketelitian yang tinggi diperlukan untuk mengendalikan MBE. Pressure dan temperature sangat penting untuk memastikan kita dapat grow layer yang diingini. Layer yang kami hasilkan semalam ialah GaAs buffer dengan menggunakan GaAs substrate. Ga dan As ditembak ke arah substrate dan sekiranya suhu substrate adalah sesuai, atom2 akan melekat dan tersusun di atas substrate berkenaan. Proses penyusunan atom2 ini dapat diperhatikan dengan menggunakan RHEED screen.

2. Saya baru sahaja sedar bahawa kereta Perodua Kelisa menggunakan minyak pada kadar yang sedikit sekiranya dipandu perlahan (<100 km/j). Untuk perjalanan sehala dari Kajang ke Batu Pahat, minyak yang diperlukan ialah kira2 RM40. Kelajuan pemanduan adalah kira2 110 km/j. Tempoh hari, saya pergi ke Johor Bahru dari Batu Pahat dan kos minyak ialah RM40 juga. Kelajuan pemanduan pula ialah 120 km/j. Ini membuatkan saya mula berasa hairan kerana jarak pergi balik BP-JB adalah lebih rendah berbanding Kajang-BP. Namun, kos minyak adalah sama.

Beberapa hari lepas, saya pulang ke Kajang dari Batu Pahat. Namun, saya masuk ke lebuhraya di Ayer Keroh, Melaka. Kebiasaannya, saya masuk ke lebuhraya di Tangkak. Saya terkejut kerana kos minyak ke Kajang hanyalah kira2 RM25-RM30. Apa yang saya dapat simpulkan ialah, kereta Kelisa menggunakan minyak pada kadar jauh lebih rendah sekiranya memandu <100 km/j. Disebabkan saya melalui jalan biasa dari BP ke Ayeh Keroh, pemanduan adalah sekitar 80 km/j. Di lebuh raya pula, saya memandu kira2 90-100km/j disebabkan jalan agak sesak.

Kos tol Bangi - BP ialah RM17.50 manakala Bangi - Ayer Keroh ialah RM 13.90 (seingat saya). Kesimpulannya, untuk jimat duit (tidak jimat masa), pandu sedikit perlahan dan guna laluan biasa. Boleh jimat hingga RM 36 untuk perjalanan pergi balik Kajang-BP.

Annoucement!!!

1 - For those who are looking for first job or currently working but looking for a better job. For more information, www.ukm.my/ncc2008

2 - For those who are looking for laptops and computer gadgets, this is the best time for you to buy them. Alternative for PC Fair.