MCA is untouchable.

Hishammuddin: I did not make statements against MCA

PETALING JAYA: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has denied making statements against the MCA and will clarify the matter with his MCA friends.
Hishammuddin said he did not criticise the MCA but had merely told the party that all component parties, including Umno, had to reform from within to thwart off attempts by those who wanted to cause a divide in Barisan Nasional.
"I did not make any statement against the MCA. But I told them that the current landscape requires us to look inside and look forward. Umno has done the reforms, too. The time is ripe.
"I received many calls from my MCA friends who said my statement had been well received because there were so many attempts to divide Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC," he told reporters Monday after visiting the Sin Chew Daily newspaper's office here.
Hishammuddin was commenting on newspaper reports of him reminding the MCA to stick with the struggles of Barisan.
On the displeasure voiced by MCA vice-president Datuk Chor Chee Heung over his statement, Hishammuddin said: "I will explain to Chor. I know him very well. I never endeavour to criticise MCA in any manner."

tunku : why should you explain to them in the first place hisham. if you claimed that you did not make the statement against MCA why should you clarify.why are you so afraid Hisham? if you have said that MCA should stick with the struggles of Barisan, what's wrong with it? enough Hisham, be a man now.if chor chee heung is very close to you, he should have call you and ask you before commenting to the media.MCA can say anything to Umno but Umno can't,where's the logic??? it is time that leaders like Hishamudin to be man enough or else resign from politics.Umno does not need a coward vice president.

Dr Chua: MCA won't hesitate to make a stand for community's benefit

PETALING JAYA: The MCA must uphold its responsibility in reflecting the wishes of the Chinese community in order to stay relevant.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said MCA would lose the people's support if it failed to do so.
He was responding to a news report Sunday quoting Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein as saying that MCA should not forget the struggles of Barisan Nasional when it fought for the Chinese demands.
Hishammuddin said this when commenting on certain quarters who viewed the actions of MCA as supporting the DAP, especially on calls involving bumiputra interests.
"MCA respects Hishammuddin's views but he cannot construe this into meaning that MCA is deviating from the Barisan's objectives and struggles simply because MCA has a different voice from him or other component party leaders," he said in a statement Monday.
Dr Chua said the MCA leadership strongly believed that its political struggle was totally reasonable and legal.
He also pointed out that MCA would neither be afraid of sharing similar views with the DAP, nor run away from making a stand, if it was for the community's benefit.
On the Chinese Economic Congress organised by MCA in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Dr Chua said the party would push for the implementation of the 13 resolutions passed during the one-day event.
"The resolutions are not just the concern of the Chinese community but also those of the country's future economic development,” he said.
Dr Chua said some Barisan leaders had yet to learn from the March 2008 general election or understand the people's wish to reform.
The outcome of the election showed a change in the people's thinking and the MCA must change before it could regain their support and trust, he said.
"If some Barisan leaders continue to live in their own world, they will certainly push MCA to its doom, and this will not bring the ruling coalition any good."

tunku : if Umno uphold its responsibility in reflecting the wishes of the Bumi community, then it is racist but if others do that than it is their responsibility and to stay relevant.where is the justify ?

Goals of Fasting

During this Ramadhan do not let the sweetness of our deeds vansh into the night, leaving only emptiness. When one contemplates the texts on fasting, its wisdom and goals in Shariah, and looks at the reality of the Muslim communities, one realizes a wide gap between the reality and our obligations. Remember that Ramadhan is a bounty that Allah blessed His servants with, to strengthen their faith, and increase their piety (Taqwa). Allah said: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious." (Al-Baqarah 2:183). This article is an attempt to present the essential causes of this gap, and to some remedies. primary reason for the gap is ignorance about the goals of fasting and the wisdom behind it. Many Muslims ignore the purpose and wisdom of fasting. Fasting is done merely to conform to the social environmet without contemplation. If one is not aware of the divine wisdom of Shariah and its fruits in this world and in the hereafter, one will not apply it in the right way.

Goals of Fasting

Achieving Taqwa: is one of the most important wisdom of fasting. Fasting brings on Taqwa as it lessens the desire of the stomach and mutes the sexual appetite. Whoever fasts frequently would overcome these two desires more easily. This deter against committing abominations and sins and assist in controlling life leading to Taqwa.
Strengthening willpower and acquiring patience: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam called Ramadhan the month of patience as it increases one's will power to control his desire and the selfishness of his soul. This training allows him to be strong in following Allah's commands. The most important being to carry the Message and propel it forward. The person trains himself to be patient in obeying Allah by stopping at the limits set by Allah both by way of action and abstention. Allah said: "These are the limits set by Allah, so approach them not." (Al-Baqarah 2:187)
Fasting is pure worship: The fact that he is abstaining from food and drink both in public and in secret shows his honest faith and strong love of Allah, and his knowledge and feeling that Allah is all-knowing of everything. For this reason Allah has made the reward for fasting greater than for any other type of worship. Allah said in the hadith Qudsi: "Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied [in rewards], the good deed by ten of its like, up to seven hundreds, up to whatever Allah wills, except fasting, it is for Me and I will reward it. He abandons his desire and his food for My sake.." (Related by Muslim) lbn al-Qayyim said: "...And people may see that a person is not eating in front of them, but the fact that he is really abandoning his food and his desire for the sake of God is a thing that nobody can find out about, and that is the essence of fasting." (Zaad al-Ma'ad 2/29).
Relieving Muslims from life's distractions: Eating, drinking, and socializing all distract a person and weaken ties with Allah. It is by the Mercy of Allah that Muslims are ordered to fast so as not to be bothered by the intrusion of these activities. Nor by the thought about them nor the anticipation for them when devoting themselves to the all types of worship Either reading the Qur'an, offering additional prayer or making I'tikaf. For this reason the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Fasting is a shield, and a secure fortress against Hell fire" (Related by Ahmad).
Discovering Allah's Blessings: A person experiences the hardship of the poor. He should then be thankful to Allah Who has blessed him with His bounty while others are deprived. This should make him more sympathetic and willing to share this bounty. The poor rediscovers that fasting helps a person be more devoted to worship. More able to concentrate and meditate. He should then be able of this devotion all year long, a blessing he should thank Allah for.
Acquiring strength and endurance:It has been discovered that depriving the body of food for a period of time helps its defense and endurance mechanism. This in turn this protects the body from certain diseases.
Remember that fasting is not only dependent on abstentions: Many believe that fasting consist only of certain abstentions, forgetting that Allah established certain acts of worship with fasting. Among which are:
Qiyamul-layl: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Whoever performed the night prayer during Ramadhan out of belief and anticipating God's rewards, will be forgiven his previous sins."(Related by Muslim).Performing Umrah: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "An Umrah during Ramadhan is like a Hajj with me." (Related by al-Hakim).
Offering Iftar (meal) to those who fasted. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Whoever feeds a fasting person has the same reward as him, except that the reward of the fasting person will not be diminished." (Related by Ahmad).
Reading and completing the Qur'an: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Fasting and [reading] Qur'an will intercede for the person: fasting will say: O Lord I forbade him eating and drinking so let me intercede for him, and the Qur'an will say: I deprived him from his night sleep so let me intercede for him," he then said: "So they will intercede." (Related by Ahmad). The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to recite the whole Qur'an to Angel Jibreel each Ramadhan.
Giving in charity: Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu said: "The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam was the most generous among people, and he was more generous during the month of Ramadhan." (Related by Muslim).
I`tikaaf: which is to confine oneself in the masjid for prayer and invocation leaving the worldly activities. Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu said: "The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to perforrn I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan." (Related by Muslim). It is surprising that many people have abandoned I'tikaf though the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam never abandoned it from the time he arrived to Madinah until he died.
Supplication: In the verses dealing with fasting, Allah said: "And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then answer them, I am indeed near to them. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me." (Al-Baqarah 2: 186). This is an encouragement for the fasting person to increase his invocation. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Three invocations will be answered: The invocation of the fasting person, the invocation of the oppressed, and the invocation of the traveler." (Related by Muslim).
Repentance: Ramadhan is the time of repentance and return to Allah, for it is a time when the devils are chained, and when many people are saved from hell fire every night by the grace of Allah.
Applying oneself in all good deeds in the last ten days of Ramadhan: Aysha radhiallabu anha said: "When the last ten days come, he sallallahu alayhe wa sallam would pray most of the night and wake his family, and apply himself, and tighten up his loincloth.", and she also said: "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to strive in the last days of Ramadhan more than he did during the other days." (Related by Muslim).
Abstaining from vain talk: Sins decrease the reward of fasting although they do not annul it. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Fasting is not [only] abstaining from eating and drinking, but abstaining from vain and obscene talk, so if someone insulted you or wronged you say: I am fasting." (Related by al-Hakim) and he also said: 'Whoever does not abandon lying, then Allah does not need him to abandon his food and drink." (Related by al-Bukhari).

Prophet’s sermon regarding the month of Ramadan

“O People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgivenesses. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honoured you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.
Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgement. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.
Be kind to orphans so that if your children may become orphans they will also be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Allah Almighty looks at His servants with mercy. Allah Answers if they supplicate, Responds if they call, Grants if He is asked, and Accepts if they entreat.
O people! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires. Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Allah for long intervals, and make this load lighter. Understand fully that Allah has promised in His Honour and Majesty that, people who perform salat and sajdah (prostration) will be guarded from Hell-fire on the Day of Judgement.
O people! If anyone amongst you arranges for iftar (meal at sunset) for any believer, Allah will reward him as if he had freed a slave, and Allah will forgive him his sins. A companion asked: “but not all of us have the means to do so” The Prophet (SAWS) replied: Keep yourself away from Hell-fire though it may consist of half a date or even some water if you have nothing else.
O people! Anyone who during this month cultivates good manners will walk over the Sirat (bridge to Paradise) on the day when feet will tend to slip. For anyone who during this month eases the workload of his servants, Allah will make easy his accounting, and for anyone who doesn’t hurt others during this month, Allah will safeguard him from His Wrath on the Day of Judgement. Anyone who respects and treats an orphan with kindness during this month, Allah shall look at him with kindness on that Day. Anyone who treats his kinsmen well during this month, Allah will bestow His Mercy on him on that Day, while anyone who mistreats his kinsmen during this month, Allah will keep away from His Mercy.
Whosoever offers the recommended prayers during this month, Allah will save him from Hell, and whoever observes his obligations during this month, his reward will be seventy times the reward during other months. Whoever repeatedly invokes Allah’s blessings on me, Allah will keep his scale of good deeds heavy, while the scales of others will be tending to lightness. Whoever recites during this month an ayat (verse) of the Holy Qur’an, will get the reward of reciting the whole Qur’an in other months.
O people! The gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. While the gates of Hell are closed, pray to your Lord that they never open for you. Satan has been chained; invoke your Lord not to let him dominate you.”

Has Letterheads Issue Affected Support For DAP?

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Political analysts are in two minds over whether the recent "hoo-ha" over the misuse of DAP letterheads in Selangor will have any bearing on the people's support for the party, one of three which make up the opposition Pakatan Rakyat pact.
One of them, Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, believes that "somehow, the issue has tarnished the party's image" but another, James Chin, does not think the party has been affected in any way.
The "hoo-ha" was over the misuse of DAP letterheads belonging to Selangor state executive councillor Ronnie Liu as letters of support by the now-sacked Klang municipal councillor Tee Boon Hock.
Tee was also sacked from the party but Liu was severely reprimanded by the DAP disciplinary committee for not managing his office in accordance with public expectations.
The committee also strongly advised Selangor state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim to be careful with his statements or tweets after he had sent the tweet "OMG, the real culprit freed" following the party's sacking of Tee.
Some people may regard the committee's decisions as right to contain the fallout, if there is any, following the letterheads "fiasco".
Others may think that the party will now have to contend with integrity problems in its own house as it tries to meet the high expectations of its supporters.
Explaining his view, Dr Sivamurugan said that before 2008, the people were not bothered with what was happening in the DAP.
"They were not concerned that much then, but now the people are watching closely as they will be cautious with the vote they are going to cast in the next general election," he said.
He said the party had been promoting competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) as its policy in the running of a government, as it is doing so in Penang which it has been helming since the 2008 general election.
Dr Sivamurugan said the DAP could not deny there was "no crack, no crook or no faction" in the party.
"It is going to be an issue now how the DAP can condone this kind of attitude when you are preaching CAT," he said.
Chin, on the other hand, believed that Tee's case would have no bearing whatsoever on the party's hardcore supporters.
Some party insiders revealed that the matter was discussed at length during the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Thursday night, which was attended by all the CEC members, except Teng.
In fact, Liu was asked to leave the meeting when the matter was brought up for discussion as each of the members expressed their opinion on the matter, a leader said.
Others felt that the disciplinary committee's decision was akin to Liu receiving a "yellow card" and Teng basically being given a "verbal" warning in a football match.
But at the same time, some raised questions over whether the disciplinary committee's decisions were enough to repair the damage which they felt had been done.
One source said Disciplinary Committee chairman and Member of Parliament for Cheras Tan Kok Wai had explained in detail how the committee came to the conclusion to give Liu a severe reprimand as there was no evidence to back the sacked Tee's allegation that Liu had knowledge of the support letters that were issued.
This has prompted some senior party leaders to ask the disciplinary committee to enhance the punishment, saying the whole episode had raised doubts on the party and there was a need for the party "to repair its image".
"Many spoke on the issue, some even suggesting that Liu should step down voluntary as an exco member, but this was opposed by other leaders as they argued that the punishment could not be enhanced as there was no provision for that," said a source.
The CEC has deferred its decision on the appeal by Tee, who is seeking to nullify the disciplinary committee's decision to sack him.
Party secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the CEC needed time to consult the Selangor government first before arriving at a decision.
He had said that Tee was apparently sacked by the state government for another reason. "So, we need to clarify with them first," he had said.
Disciplinary Committee chairman Tan, when announcing the committee's decisions Wednesday, had said that "this episode has damaged the party's image".
But has this affected the people's support for the party? Will it have to be left for time to tell? Perhaps.

tunku : in my opinion, the dap supporters damn care about what's happening in the party as they only know that they want to rule the country by hook or by crook. they have agendas to make this country into a republic country.they have found puppets(pas/pkr) to help them to achieve their ambition. people can see it , there are so much haywire,corruptions etc in the states ruled by dap or by it's proxy pkr. i am sure people can see what's happening in those states.we hope the loyal Malaysian will reject this evil and racist party.dap is as dirty as cowdang. dap and anwar will ruin this beloved country of ours.BEWARE.

Inner dimensions of Ramadan fasting

By: Abu Hamid al-Ghazali

It should be known that there are three grades of Ramadan Fasting: ordinary, special and extra special.
Ordinary Fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.
Special Fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet - and all other organs - free from sin.
Extra special Fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly matters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these constitute provision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world. Those versed in the spiritual life of the heart have even said that a sin is recorded against one who concerns himself all day with arrangements for breaking his Fast. Such anxiety stems from lack of trust in the bounty of God, Great and Glorious is He, and from lack of certain faith in His promised sustenance.
To this third degree belong the Prophets, the true Auliya and the intimates of God. It does not lend itself to detailed examination in words, as its true nature is better revealed in action. It consists in utmost dedication to God, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of everything other than God, Great and Glorious is He. It is bound up with the significance of His words: 'Say: "Allah (sent it down)": then leave them to play in their vain discussions.' [al-An'am, 6:91]
Inward Requirements for Ramadan Fasting
As for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It means keeping all one's organs free from sin and six things are required for its accomplishment:
1. SEE NOT WHAT DISPLEASES ALLAH (SWT)
A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or that distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He. Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, said: 'The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God will receive from Him, Great and Glorious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.'
Jabir relates from Anas that Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, said: 'Five things break a man's Fast: lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze.'
2. SPEAK NOT...
Guarding one's tongue from idle chatter, lying, gossiping, obscenity, rudeness, arguing and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He, and with recitation of Holy Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue. Sufyan Said: 'Backbiting annuls the Fast.' Layth quotes Mujahid as saying: 'Two habits annul Fasting: backbiting and telling lies.'
Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, said: 'Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is Fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: "I am Fasting, I am Fasting!"'
According to Tradition: 'Two women were Fasting during the time of Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace. They were so fatigued towards the end of the day, from hunger and thirst that they were on the verge of collapsing. They therefore sent a message to Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, requesting permission to break their Fast. In response, Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, sent them a bowl and said: "Tell them to vomit into it what they have eaten." One of them vomited and half filled the bowl with fresh blood and tender meat, while the other brought up the same so that they filled it between them. The onlookers were astonished. Then the Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, said: "These two women have been Fasting from what God made lawful to them, and have broken their Fast on what God, Great and Glorious is He, made unlawful to them. They sat together and indulged in backbiting, and here is the flesh of the people they maligned!"'
3. HEAR NOT...
Closing one's ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to utter is likewise unlawful to listen to. That is why God, Great and Glorious is He, equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer, in His words, Great and Glorious is He: 'Listeners to falsehood, consumers of illicit gain.' [al-Ma'idah, 5:42]
God, Great and Glorious is He, also said: 'Why do their rabbis and priests not forbid them to utter sin and consume unlawful profit?' [al-Ma'idah, 5:63]
Silence in the face of backbiting is therefore unlawful. God, Great and Glorious is He, said: 'You are then just like them.' [al-Nisa, 4:140] That is why the Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, said: 'The backbiter and his listener are copartners in sin.'
4. DO NOT...
Keeping all other limbs and organs away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking Fast. It is meaningless to Fast - to abstain from lawful food - only to break one's Fast on what is unlawful. A man who Fast like this may be compared to one who builds a castle but demolishes a city. Lawful food injurious in quantity not in quality, so Fasting is to reduce the former. A person might well give up excessive use of medicine, from fear of ill effects, but he would be a fool to switch to taking poison. The unlawful is a poison deadly to religion, while the lawful is a medicine, beneficial in small doses but harmful in excess. The object of Fasting is to induce moderation. Holy Prophet Mohammad, on him be peace, said: 'How many of those who Fast get nothing from it but hunger and thirst!' This has been taken to mean those who break their Fast on unlawful food. Some say it refers to those who abstain from lawful food, but break their Fast on human flesh through backbiting, which is unlawful. Others consider it an allusion to those who do not guard their organs from sin.
5. AVOID OVEREATING
Not to over-indulge in lawful food at the time of breaking Fast, to the point of stuffing one's belly. There is no receptacle more odious to God, Great and Glorious is He, than a belly stuffed full with lawful food. Of what use is the Fast as a means of conquering God's enemy and abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods? It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together. It is well known that the object of Fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety. If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant under normal conditions.
The spirit and secret nature of Fasting is to weaken the forces which are Satan's means of leading us back to evil. It is therefore essential to cut down one's intake to what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting. No benefit is derived from the Fast if one consumes as much as one would usually take during the day and night combined. Moreover, one of the properties consists in taking little sleep during the daytime, so that one feels the hunger and thirst and becomes conscious of the weakening of one's powers, with the consequent purification of the heart.
One should let a certain degree of weakness carry over into the night, making it easier to perform the night Prayers (tahajjud) and to recite the praises (awrad). It may then be that Satan will not hover around one's heart, and that one will behold the Kingdom of Heaven. The Night of Destiny represents the night on which something of this Kingdom is revealed. This is what is meant by the words of God, Great and Glorious is He:
'We surely revealed it on the Night of Power.' [al-Qadr, 97:1]
Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes blind to this revelation. Nor is keeping the stomach empty sufficient to remove the veil, unless one also empties the mind of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. That is the entire matter, and the starting point of it all is cutting down on food.
6. LOOK TO GOD WITH FEAR AND HOPE
After the Fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum between fear and hope. For one does not know if one's Fast will be accepted, so that one will find favor with God, or whether it will be rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be at the end of any act of worship one performs.
It is related of al-Hasan ibn Abil Hasan al-Basri that he once passed by a group of people who were laughing merrily. He said: 'God, Great and Glorious is He, has made the month of Ramadan a racecourse, on which His creatures compete in His worship. Some have come in first and won, while others have lagged behind and lost. It is absolutely amazing to find anybody laughing and playing about on the day when success attends the victors, and failure the wasters. By God, if the veil were lifted off, the doer of good would surely be preoccupied with his good works and the evildoer with his evil deeds.' In too full of joy to indulge in idle sport, while for one who has suffered rejection laughter will be precluded by remorse.
Of al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: 'You are an aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.' But he replied: 'By this I am making ready for a long journey, Obedience to God, Great and Glorious is He, is easier to endure than His punishment.'
Such are the inwardly significant meanings of Fasting.

Dap Wants Autonomy For Penang

Autonomy for Penang in national interest
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/138933

The recent spat between the Penang chief minister and the State Development officer brought to light an issue that most people think about but dare not suggest: autonomy for Penang.
Always the bell wether state, Penang has all the ingredients of being an example of a new model of development in Malaysia.
The best way to make Penang a sustainable and liveable state is to grant its people more autonomy to determine the type of development they need and the freedom to aspire to better futures.
Penang has a higher per-capita income than the rest of Malaysia and contributes about 30 percent of the total value of exports fromMalaysia.
Lacking in natural resources, Penang has been reliant on its people and foreign direct investments to modernise. But a national policy intent on 'spreading'wealth across the board has resulted in the artificial stunting of places like Penang.
Different model
Whilst wealth is concentrated in the Klang valley with KL as the biggest beneficiary, it is now time to look to a different model of wealth creation - one that does not take away from centres of growth but instead builds them up.
Like Kuala Lumpur and now, the Iskandar region in Johor, Penang needs to be given the opportunity to decide what type of development is suited to it.
Currently, there is so much politicking over such a small physical space with three to four layers of bureaucracy that Penang has not been able to achieve its full potential.
Like the Basque region in northern Spain, which recently saw a great rejuvenation, Penang can be declared an autonomous region with its state government allowed to collect taxes, manage its own finances and carry out its own development policies.
Uncontrolled development
There are two examples why the current system does not work for Penang. The first involves uncontrolled development in the state where development does not follow the existing requirements and limitations imposed bythe Structure Plan and Local Plan.
It is only natural that developers would want to maximise profits from their small plots of land. But uncontrolled development has led to very high densities in places like Batu Ferringhi and Tanjong Bungah, with scant regard to the carrying capacity of the one road that serves thearea.
The second example involves swift-breeding in Georgetown.Although the state government has come out quite clearly that swift-breeding is not suitable for heritage buldings and there have been incessant complaints by property-owners, there is still little action on the ground.
In both cases, the red-tape arising from federal, state and local governments make decision-making nearly impossible.
A certain type of high density development may be suitable for the Klang Valley, but not for Penang. Similarly, swift-breeding may be okay for some towns but not in Georgetown, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
In both instances, federal agencies have to be consulted and they have to make decisions that take into consideration the whole country. In short, the decisions are not only hard to make, but are also unnecessarily unimaginative.
There are fears that autonomy for places like Penang will lead to the eventual disintegration of the federation. The reality is that we are not so much a federation but a union, where state governments have very little autonomy to determine the type of development suited to local conditions.
Giving back to state governments their constitutional rights and the extra resources generated by its citizens will enable these growth centres to better contribute to the wider development of Malaysia.

tunku : this is what they are planning for long time, first autonomy then they will ask for separation.first they took singapore away and now they want penang.we hope the government will investigate this dirty agenda of dap thoroughly.no wonder they are "cleaning" away some people out of penang lately.they are not given right to do business etc.dap is playing with fire now.we hope things are under control.

She's not Muslim but will begin fasting this year.

Muslims across West Yorkshire and the world are marking the most important month in the Islamic calendar - Ramadan.
But one non-Muslim from Bradford is taking part in the holy month in a bid to gain a better understanding of how her Muslim friends are feeling.
Eilish Bromley works with the youth service in Bradford. She's not Muslim but will begin fasting this year.
She explains her reasons behind it.
She says: "I've got a lot friends who are Asian and they're fasting so I want to respect their religion and fast.
During this month, Muslims refrain from drinking, eating and other activities from dawn until sunset.
Fasting is intended to teach Muslims the virtues of patience, humility and spirituality, and is carried out as an offering to God.
Participants rise in the darkness to eat a pre-dawn meal called "suhur".
They must stop eating and drinking before the dawn call to prayer, and must not break their fast until the fourth call to prayer at dusk.
Muslims are expected to start observing the fasting ritual once they reach puberty, as long as they are healthy.
Eilish says: "I'm also trying to have a small understanding of what's going on around the world, people who are suffering in poverty, and I hope this will also help me gain more understanding about myself."
She says she will have to rise early around 3am, before dawn, to have her breakfast.
Eilish has fasted in the past and it's something she says she was glad she did and will be glad to do it again.
She explains: "I will try and eat the same amount I eat normally. I didn't notice any weight loss the last time I did it. I don't think you necessarily lose any weight.
"It's about trying to gain a better understanding of people and what they are going through, which is why I want to do it."
Fasting this year will be particularly difficult for British Muslims, for whom daylight fasting means going 17 hours without food.
The elderly, the chronically ill and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups are expected to try to feed the poor instead.
The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, which is called called Shawwal.
When fasting is over, celebrations are held and Muslims go to their mosques in their best clothes to say the first Eid prayer.

tunku : Bravo Eilish.God Bless You.May Allah gives you His hidayah.

Some health guidelines for fasting

by Dr. Farouk Haffejee
This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadan.
During the holy month of Ramadan, our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is over-weight, Ramadan is an ideal time to normalize one's weight.
In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours.
* Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, unpolished rice, etc. (called complex carbohydrates).
* Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).
* Fiber-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.
The foods eaten should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.
AVOID
* Fried and fatty foods.
* Foods containing too much sugar.
* Over-eating especially during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur)
* Too much tea during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur). Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
* Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadan. Smoking is unhealthy and one should stop completely.
EAT
* Complex carbohydrates during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur) so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.
* Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.
* Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.
* Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
* Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.
DRINK
* As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar (Breaking fasting) and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.
Common Medical Problems
CONSTIPATION
Constipation can cause piles (haemorroids), fissures (painful cracks in anal canal) and indigestion with a bloated feeling.
Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.
Remedy: Avoid excessive refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking, brown flour when making roti.
INDIGESTION AND WIND
Causes: Over-eating. Too much fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils, carbonated drinks like Cola also produce gas.
Remedy: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or better still drink water. Avoid fried foods, add ajmor to wind-producing foods.
LETHARGY ('low blood pressure')
Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon.
Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.
Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.
Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood
pressure reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their medication adjusted during Ramadan. They should consult their
doctor.
HEADACHE
Causes: Caffeine and tobacco-withdrawal, doing too much in one day,
lack of sleep, hunger usually occur as the day goes by and worsens at the end
of the day. When associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be
quite severe and can also cause nausea before Iftar (Breaking Fasting).
Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two
before Ramadan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganize
your schedule during the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR
Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily,
feeling shaky (tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headache,
palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.
Causes in non-diabetics: Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates
especially during the meal before Dawn (sehri or suhur) . The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.
Remedy: Eat something at suhur (sehri) and limit sugar-containing foods and
drinks.
Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan,
consult your doctor.
MUSCLE CRAMPS
Causes: Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.
Remedy: Eat foods rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit,
dairy products, meat and dates.
Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone
problems should consult their doctor.
PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART BURN, GASTRITIS AND HIATUS HERNIA
Increased acid levels in the empty stomach in Ramadan aggravate the
above conditions. It presents as a burning feeling in the stomach area under
the ribs and can extend upto the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola
drinks worsen these conditions.
Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People
with proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well
before Ramadan.
KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquids to drink.
Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.
JOINT PAINS
Causes: The increased pressure on the knee joints during Salat. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may result in pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.
Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra
load. Exercise the lower limbs . Being physically fit allows greater fulfillment,
thus enabling one to be able to perform solat with ease.

The Virtues of Ramadhan

Ramadhan is one of the twelve Arabic months. It is a month which is venerated in the Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, including the following:

1 – Allah has made fasting this month the third pillar of Islam, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…”
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
and it was narrated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing prayer; fasting Ramadaan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah) ; paying zakaah;.”
2 – Allah revealed the Qur’aan in this month, as He says in the verse quoted above (interpretation of the meaning):
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…”
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
And Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).”
[al-Qadr 97:1]
3 – Allah has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?
The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn”
[al-Qadar 97:1-5]
“We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]”
[al-Dukhaan 44:3]
Allah has blessed Ramadaan with Laylat al-Qadr. Explaining the great status of this blessed night, Soorat al-Qadr was revealed, and there are many haadeeth which also speak of that, such as the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month which Allah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.”
Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 2106; Ahmad, 8769. classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 999.
And Abu Hurrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760.
4 – Allah has made fasting Ramadaan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” And al-Bukhaari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
The Muslims are unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to pray qiyaam at night in Ramadaan. Al-Nawawi said that what is meant by praying qiyaam in Ramadaan is to pray Taraweeh, i.e., one achieves what is meant by qiyaam by praying Taraaweeh.
5 – In this month, Allah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell, and chains up the devils, as is stated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”
6 – Every night Allah has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256) narrated from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “At every breaking of the fast, Allah has people whom He redeems.” Al-Mundhiri said: there is nothing wrong with its isnaad; and it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 987.
Al-Bazzaar (Kashf 962) narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has people whom He redeems every day and night – i.e., in Ramadaan – and every Muslim every day and night has a prayer that is answered.”
7 – Fasting Ramadaan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadaan, so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Saheeh Muslim (233) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadaan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.”
8 – Fasting in Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.”
9 – Whoever prays qiyaam in Ramadaan with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood (1370) and others from the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Salaat al-Taraaweeh, p. 15
10 – ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj. Al-Bukhaari (1782) and Muslim (1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a woman among the Ansaar, “What kept you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two camels that we used for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and he left the other for them to use for bringing water.” He said, “When Ramadaan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj.” According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with me.”
11 – It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in Ramadaan, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) always did that, as it was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadaan in i’tikaaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaaf after him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1922; Muslim, 1172.
12 – It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadaan to study the Qur’aan together and to read it a great deal. You may study the Qur’aan together by reciting it to someone else and by having someone else recite it to you. The evidence that this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibreel used to meet the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) every night in Ramadaan and study the Qur’aan with him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6; Muslim, 2308.
Reading Qur’aaan is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadaan.
13 – It is mustahabb in Ramadaan to offer iftaar to those who are fasting, because of the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Khaalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Maajah, 1746; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 647. see question no: ( 12598 )
And Allah knows best.

S'gor MB finds hidden video recorder in his office

SHAH ALAM: A beeping sound led Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to a startling discovery in his 21st floor office at the state secretariat build - a video-recording device hidden behind the drapes of a window.
Khalid said he made the discovery on Tuesday evening and had no idea how long the device had been there.
He told a press conference after chairing the weekly exco meeting Wednesday that the device was beeping because its battery was running low.
Khalid showed the device to reporters and said there was a recording of him the whole of Tuesday.
"We will get experts to analyse the system and seek the help of the police when needed," he said.
He added that security personnel were inspecting the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera in the office and it would take at least a week for them to complete the job.
He said experts would also be called in to inspect the device.

tunku : it is so funny that some people would put such a BIG camera as a hidden camera and with beeping sound.i guess they put there for khalid to discover it.maybe they are out of issue.

How to Welcome the Month of Ramadan

By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint, (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent but he that will give more, of his own free will, it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also Clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during the month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful. When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way. (Al-Baqarah 2:183-186)
Allah SWA is giving us another opportunity in our life to witness the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a great time of Allah’s blessings and His mercy. Every Muslims should take full advantage of this time. We should get ready now to welcome this month and receive it with happiness. Following are some ways to welcome this month:
1. Special Du’a: Pray to Allah that this month reaches you while you are in the best of health and safety so that you can fast and do all your acts of devotion (‘ibadat) with ease and enthusiasm. It is reported by Anas bin Malik that the Prophet – peace be upon him - used to say from the beginning of Rajab in his prayers:
"O Allah bless us in Rajab, bless us in Sha’ban and bless us in Ramadan." (Musnad Ahmad, 2228)
When he used to see Ramadan’s crescent, he used to pray:
"O Allah, make this crescent to shine on us with safety, faith, security, Islam and good fortune to do what is beloved and pleasing to our Lord. Our and your Lord is Allah." (Al-Darmi 1625)
2. Thanks and Happiness: When the month comes, then you should be thankful to Allah and show happiness. The Companions of the Prophet – may Allah be pleased with all of them - used to greet each other on the beginning of Ramadan. The Prophet – peace be upon him - used to say:
The Prophet – peace be upon him - said giving the good news of the month to his Companions, "The month of Ramadan has come to you. It is a blessed month. Allah has made obligatory on you to fast during this month. The gates of heaven are opened in this month and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained. In this month there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whosoever is deprived of its blessings is indeed deprived." (Musnad Ahmad 8631)
3. Planning and Determination: You should make a good plan for the whole month about how you are going to organize your days and evenings during Ramadan. Plan special schedules for your work so that you can pray on time, read the Qur’an and take Sahur and Iftar on time. Have sincere intention and determination to take full advantage of this time. Also have a full determination and commitment that you will not do any sin or anything wrong during this time. Make sincere repentance and seek the forgiveness of those whom you might have offended. In this way you can benefit much more from your fasting and prayers.
4. Learn about the Rules of Fasting: Fiqh of fasting is very important so that you do not do anything that will spoil your fasts. Learn the way of Prophet Muhammad in fasting. That is the best way. Fast is not spoiled only by eating and drinking during the fast, but also by speaking bad words and doing wrong things. The Prophet – peace be upon him - said, "Whosoever does not give up bad words and bad deeds, Allah has no need in that he leaves his food and his drink." (Al-Bukhari 1770) You can learn it from here.
5. Charity, Generosity and Kindness: The month of Ramadan is the month of kindness, charity and generosity. Plan to invite your neighbors, co-workers, friends, Muslims and non-Muslims to have Iftar with you. Let your non-Muslims friends and neighbors know about this month and its blessings. Be more generous and help the poor and needy. Plan to give your Zakat and Sadaqat at this time and help others as much as you can. It is reported in a Hadith:
The Prophet – peace be upon him - was the most generous person, but in Ramadan he used to be more generous when Jibrael(a.s.) used to meet him. Jibraeel(a.s.) used to see him during Ramadan every night and he used to read the Qur’an with him. The Prophet –peace be upon him - was then more generous with goodness than the blowing wind." (Al-Bukhari, 5)

Court Dismisses Karpal's Application To Have DPP, Mohd Saiful Testify

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- The High Court here on Monday dismissed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's application to call star witness Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and deputy public prosecutor Farah Azlina Latif to testify about their alleged affair.
Judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah ruled that the issue had been answered via affidavits and that the court was not willing to be dragged into the matter.
In rejecting Anwar's application, Mohamad Zabidin said the court practiced the adversarial system and that he did not want to descend into the situation.
He also rejected an application by Karpal Singh, Anwar's lead counsel, to cross-examine senior deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, who had filed an affidavit-in-reply to Anwar's affidavit in relation to his (Anwar's) application to have the charge against him dropped on the grounds that the integrity of the prosecution team had been compromised in the wake of the alleged affair.
Mohamad Zabidin also ruled that the defence's allegation that Mohd Hanafiah had illegally married and attempted to register the marriage with the Kota Baru Syariah Court, was not related or relevent to Anwar's trial.
Earlier, Karpal Singh in his verbal application to cross-examine Mohamad Hanafiah, had told the court that the credibility of the senior DPP was at stake.
"We want Mohamad Hanafiah to be in the witness box to answer the allegations against him as we have documented proof on the allegations," Karpal Singh told the court.
This, however, received strong objection from Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohamed Yusof Zainal Abiden who contended that the defence's application showed clear abuse of the court process. "I'm saying this for the first time, we can't allow the defence keep on delaying this trial, we simply can't look only at the interest of accused. We must look into interest of complainant and the public as well," pointed out Mohamed Yusof, who is heading the prosecution.
This drew an immediate rebuke from Karpal Singh who said: "We are not delaying this trial and this trial has been delayed mainly due to misbehaviour of this DPP who committed a serious offence under the Syariah Law. What kind credibility has this man got?"
Mohamed Zabidin then ordered Karpal Singh to submit on the merits of his application to drop the charge against Anwar.
Anwar, 63, the Parti keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor and member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh, is accused of sodomising Mohd Saiful at Unit 11-5-1 Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
Karpal Singh had argued that the application (to drop the charge against him) should be allowed because neither Farah Azlina nor Mohd Saiful had replied to the allegations made in Anwar's affidavit.
"Both of them personally never denied the alleged affair and had access to the investigation papers of the case. Why did they not submit affidavits-in reply and why did DPP Mohamad Hanafiah issue the reply when Anwar's allegations against them are very serious," Karpal Singh said, adding that without Farah Azlina and Mohd Saiful's affidavits, it could be presumed that Anwar's affidavit was true.
He further contended that even Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had issued a press statement that an investigation on the alleged affair was still ongoing and this was the reason the reason the defence wanted to ensure Farah Azlina and Mohd Saiful replied to Anwar's affidavit.
Karpal Singh also questioned as to why Mohd Saiful, who had taken an oath at the mosque prior to this concerning his accusation against Anwar, was very reluctant in rebutting the allegation against him.
"Anwar had alleged that due to the affair, Farah Azlina had access to the investigation papers (IPs) and that Mohd Saiful, the lead prosecution witness, was privy to the IPs," added Karpal Singh.
Karpal Singh also told the court that the contents of Mohamad Hanafiah's affidavit were mainly newspaper cuttings, claiming whatever were reported were merely hearsay.
"The court must strike out the charge against Anwar since the entire charge against him is tantamount to abuse of court process," Karpal concluded.
Mohamed Yusof, however, had argued that Anwar in his affidavit must show how the alleged affair had caused prejudice to his sodomy case as well as how the affair had affected the integrity of the prosecution team.
He submitted that the contents of Anwar's affidavit were worthless as there was no evidence to support the allegations.
He stressed that Mohamad Hanafiah had clearly had stated in his affidavit that Farah Azlina was merely a typist and assisted in general duties in the team, and only he was in charge of the IPs.
He added that Farah Azlina had joined in the team in January this year, replacing DPP Shamsul Sulaiman, who took up optional retirement.
He argued that even though Mohd Saiful had the access to the documents, this had not affected the trial as what was said by Mohd Saiful in court was already in the public domain and that Mohd Saiful's testimony was to confirm the matter.
The testimony from Mohd Saiful in court was on his personal experience, he added.
The court will hear the defence's submissions on the merits of dropping the charges Tuesday.

tunku : the defense team trying hard to delay yet again the case.again they are arguing on stupid matters. so what the ex dpp having affair with saiful? she's not the case's witness.anyway she had asked to resign and she did that.so what more the defense team want to argue? about karpal questioning saiful on why he took oath at the mosque prior to this concerning his accusation against Anwar, that shows saiful is not afraid like anwar.anwar dare not "sumpah" as he knows that he's guilty as charged.

Chua Wants Sabah BN To Consider Giving Another Seat To MCA

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek wants the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to consider allocating another state or parliamentary seat in the state for MCA in the coming general election.
He said it was appropriate that MCA be given another seat considering the party membership in Sabah which had increased to almost 30,000 people in 25 divisions.
"It is also in line with MCA's vision to meet the request of the Chinese community in Sabah to be represented by a party based in the peninsula," he told reporters after opening the Sabah MCA annual assembly, here Sunday.
Chua said that despite the increase in MCA membership in Sabah, the party was only represented by one elected representative, Kapayan assemblyman Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai.
He said it was time for MCA to play a more prominent role in meeting the needs of the Chinese community in Sabah.

tunku : after failing miserably in peninsular, now they want more seats in Sabah.how can they think about asking it?we hope Najib will not entertain this "stupid" demand from MCA. it is better for Najib to give the seat to the local parties there.MCA need to prove themselves first in the next election that they are asset to BN and not a burden.then only they have all the right to demand. CSL,go and work hard, not making stupid remarks and demands.

Umno warns of backlash over Soi Lek’s remarks

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Umno leaders fired back today at MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for accusing them of using religion to compete with PAS for Malay support, warning him that he risked triggering an adverse reaction from the Malay community.
“Dr Chua needs to stop doing this. He is shifting racial politics into religious politics.
“This is very dangerous. People might start blaming Islam because of what he said… they might blame Islam and say that corruption in the country is rampant because of the religion,” said Umno’s Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who is also the former Selangor mentri besar.
Dr Chua, the MCA president, appeared to criticise Umno as well as PAS today for using religion to compete for Malay support.
He also blamed this on how the country had been trapped as a “middle income” nation for more than 10 years, claiming that the competition between the two Malay-centric parties had led to some “non-progressive policies”.
Dr Khir told The Malaysian Insider that Dr Chua’s remarks could cause unrest within the country, and disturb the “harmonic balance” created by the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
”We do not want to start blaming each other, pointing fingers… this leads into religious arguments. This is dangerous,” said Dr Khir.
The Selangor opposition leader said that the MCA president should instead focus on rebuilding an already fragmented MCA.
“Dr Chua should look into the Chinese problems. Why is there no support from the Chinese towards BN? In Selangor, there are virtually no new registered Chinese voters.
“I think Dr Chua is too influenced by western campaigns to discredit Islam as a religion. You will only end up making Malay leaders angry and more enemies,” said Dr Khir.
The Umno man insisted that there was nothing wrong with Umno reaching out to Malay voters with Islam, because Islam was part and parcel of the identity of the Malay party.
He dismissed Dr Chua’s remarks that Umno had become conservative in recent years.
“Umno is a progressive, open party. Under BN, we allow other members to join, to contest. We give rights to other races, and make sure everyone is happy.
“Islam is close to Umno, part of our life. You cannot ask for the religion to be separated from the party. It is a part of what Umno is,” said Dr Khir.
Umno Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan argued that Umno was a party that followed the wishes of its grassroots, and it will always be the voice of the Malays.
“Umno has always been the voice of the Malays. It is not about what Umno wants really… we are looking at the Malay heartbeat, sometimes they want Umno to be concerned with more religious issues,” said the Umno man.
Abdul Rahman told The Malaysian Insider that Umno was neither liberal or conservative, and that it only responding to the needs of grassroot supporters.
“Umno is only reacting to the wishes of the grassroots. If the grassroots want Umno to be more liberal, we will be as we have been. But if there is a message that they want us to focus on religious issues, then we will do that too,” he said.
Abdul Rahman warned of the dangers of not protecting Malay interests, stressing that the majority race needed to be appeased to avoid any disruption to the existing stability of the country.
“It is important that the Bumiputera majority do not feel restless… they need to be contented, not threatened.
“1 Malaysia is already in place to ensure that everyone has a place in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile Perkasa’s Dr Zubir Harun warned Dr Chua not to politicise the issue of religion as it might lead to Malay voters rejecting BN in the next general elections.
“Chua Soi Lek should instead concentrate on rebuilding and rebranding MCA so that the party could get more Chinese voters.
“MCA should not politicise Islam because the party will alienate Malay voters and affect Barisan Nasional’s chances in the general election. MCA should also stop using the Allah issue to gain the support of non-Malay voters,” Dr Zubir told The Malaysian Insider.
Dr Chua had claimed that the competition between PAS and Umno had led to some “non-progressive policies” formed, resulting in Malaysia being trapped as a middle-income nation for the past 10 years.
His strong words suggest that MCA, the second largest party in the ruling coalition, is no longer content to be Umno’s junior partner.
The party recently came under criticism from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Umno deputy president, for apparently sharing DAP’s view that the “Allah” ban should be lifted.
MCA was forced to back down from its stand and its leaders were indirectly warned to back off after Muhyiddin announced the Cabinet’s directive to impose a gag order on all parties.
The Malaysian Insider understands that there is also a growing anger among MCA leaders over the recent prosecution of former party president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik over the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.

tunku : perhaps CSL should look at his party and dap which is a sister party indirectly before accusing others. all these while they have been doing the thing that they accuses other for doing so.he should concentrate to clean all the dirts in MCA which was created by him partially and make MCA stronger again and not being a burden for BN. MCA is not serious in helping BN to win in the next election,we can see that clearly.they will just jump side.

S'gor Speaker Teng says he issued support letters for companies

KLANG: Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim said he, too, had issued support letters to companies to get jobs from the Klang Municipal Council (MPK).
However, the letters stipulated that MPK's terms and conditions must be adhered to, Teng said.
"I issued the letters during the interim period after Pakatan Rakyat took over the state government in 2008, when no councilors had been sworn in yet," he said when contacted Wedneday.
He said he issued the letters to recommend companies to undertake clean-up jobs in his Sungai Pinang state assembly constituency.
He said MPK, like other local councils, had a pool of regular contractors who received jobs.
"When we took over, we invited more contractors to come in and offer their services, and these new companies were given support letters to be included in MPK's list," said Teng.
He said MPK required the letters before the new contractors were included in its list.
"These support letters are not meant for specific projects as they did not guarantee the companies got contracts," said Teng.
Meanwhile, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim announced earlier in the day that troubled former Selangor DAP organising secretary Tee Kim Hock was still a Klang councilor, even though his party had expelled him.
"No decision has been made as I am still waiting for the Selangor audit report," said Khalid after chairing the weekly exco meeting.
Tee landed in trouble for allegedly issuing support letters using exco member Ronnie Liu's letterhead to get his son's company a contract with MPK.
Liu has since claimed he did not know his official letterhead had been used by Tee.
Khalid said Tee was considered as being on leave now.
He added that it was common to issue support letters, and that in the past, such letters indicated the power MPs and ministers wielded.
However, he said the Pakatan Rakyat government's focus was on welfare-related matters when issuing support letters.

tunku: i am sure pakatan supporters will accept teng's act as a noble act but if it is done by BN then it will be havoc in the nation and it will be hot topic in their 'ceramahs'. the invited contractors are obviously their cronies and will get the job.why would MPK need supporting letters from the speaker? they should see the company's background,capabilities etc to accept them,not with the speaker's supporting letter.this shows that dap indeed is not clean.

Anwar Ibrahim and his jews connection.

Gore, Wolfowitz want US to weigh in on Anwar trial
By AL GORE AND PAUL WOLFOWITZ

We come from opposite sides of the political spectrum and disagree about a great many things. However, one issue that brings us together is the case of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia who is now leader of the political opposition in that country.
Mr. Anwar has been charged under very dubious circumstances with sodomy, a criminal offense under Malaysian law. If convicted, he faces a possible 20-year sentence—effectively life in prison for a man of 63. His trial, scheduled to resume next week, threatens not just Mr. Anwar but all those in Malaysia who have struggled for a freer and more democratic nation. It is also important for the rest of the world, because it casts a troubling shadow over the future of a nation that should be a model for other Muslim countries.

Our views of Anwar Ibrahim have been formed completely independently of each other. We do not always agree with his views on foreign policy, but we do agree that as a political leader, statesman and intellectual, Mr. Anwar possesses qualities that encourage hope for the future. These qualities include lucidity and openness to debate and engagement; commitment to principles of accountability and good governance; and a serious concern for the future of his country and the world—not to mention his extraordinary courage in standing up for what he believes. We are convinced that he is committed to the values of pluralism, tolerance and freedom that are needed for Malaysia to flourish.
In the end, what matters is not our opinion of Mr. Anwar's character, but the opinion of his fellow countrymen. Malaysians should decide for themselves, through an open electoral process, who they wish to lead them. They should not be deprived of that opportunity by an abuse of judicial power.

tunku : both the jews, gore and wolf are morons.Malaysia has election every 5 years and the people can freely vote who they want. this is desperate attempt from anwar's lovers to safe his butt(not others). they know that the facts are all against their puppet in Malaysia and time is running out, so they are doing all the propaganda to make the world believe in them. anwar and his defense team keep delaying the court hearing as they do not have any facts to prove anwar is not guilty.al gore , wolf are the people with loose character and we can understand why they are backing up anwar.a loose character person will always back their type of person. to both of them sodomizing is not a crime, so they will always say that anwar is innocent.they are so desperate right now.

Government mulls over offering discounts to traffic offenders

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is mulling the possibility of offering discounts to traffic offenders with huge amounts of outstanding compounds.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said while issuing summonses was to discipline traffic offenders, the Government had no intention to burden anyone.
“We are looking into that possibility provided that we are convinced that everyone has learnt a lesson not to take this matter for granted.
“There will be a high-level meeting to be chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government (Tan Sri Sidek Hassan) that will decide on whether to reduce the compound,” he told newsmen after attending a working group meeting between Malaysia and Australia on counter-terrorism here on Tuesday.
The Australian delegation was headed by its Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism Bill Peterson.
The police recently said it had issued more than 10 million saman ekor (traffic offences caught on camera) since 2000 and motorists who ignored these summonses risked being hauled to the police station.

tunku : just take stern action on those traffic offenders. we must understand that we are talking about offenders here.why want to give special treatment to them? law is law.everyone understand that.the offenders can take matters to court if the are not satisfied with the summonses.the home ministry should not take soft approach on this matter otherwise no one will respect traffic law in this country anymore.if you don't want to be summoned , follow the rules. don't blame the government for your unlawful act.

Dr Mahathir: Explain 1Malaysia holistically

GEORGE TOWN: The 1Malaysia slogan must be explained in detail to the people of various races living in the country, to provide a holistic understanding of the concept, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"When I speak to the Chinese and Malays, they have differing views and cannot be united. I feel an in-depth explanation is needed," he told reporters here Monday when asked by delegates of the Malaysian Muslims Welfare Organisation (Perkim) about the people's confusion over the 1Malaysia slogan.
"They (people) do not know which one is for the Chinese or which one is for the Malays. If (they) ask me to explain, how can I explain? It was not me who introduced the slogan," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the Government should consider the proposal to amend the law for rape because the existing law may be outdated.
"Times have changed. Pornography and pornographic pictures are easily available so when some see such movies or pictures, they lose their sense of direction and cannot decide what is right or wrong," he said.
Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh has called for the death penalty to be introduced for the rape of children and urged for Section 376 of the Penal Code (rape) to be amended to provide for the death penalty in such cases.
Under Section 376 (2) (e) of the current Penal Code, the punishment for raping children below the age of 12 is jail of not more than 30 years and caning. - Bernama

tunku : i guess the confusion in 1Malaysia slogan is that the people(some) did not really understand it contents.it is very clearly stated respect and uphold the constitution and the right of the Malays.so we hope the people understand that section clearly.knowing Tun, he wants this particularly content to be understood by all.

Sodomy 2 - What more Anwar ?

Sodomy II: Karpal wants prosecution team to step down over affair

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s defence team is applying to strike out the charge against Anwar on grounds of compromised integrity of the prosecution team over the alleged affair between Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Farah Azlina Latif and Saiful Bukhari, who has accused the Opposition leader of sodomising him.
Karpal told the High court that entire prosecution team should step down and Solicitor General II Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden should take blame.
High Court judge Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said the court will hear the application on Aug 9 before continuing with the cross examination of witnesses.
On July 27, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail confirmed on Tuesday Farah Azlina was dropped from the prosecution team in the sodomy trial of former deputy prime minister.
He said the move was a follow-up to the allegation that Farah Azlina had had a romantic relationship with the key witness in the case, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
He said Farah Azlina was also dropped from the Prosecution Division of the Attorney-General's Chambers for the same reason.
"The Attorney-General's Chambers cannot compromise on any issue that can tarnish the image or credibility of the department and we are looking at such matters very seriously.
"This can be very difficult for us but any personal matter, if it can have any implication in whatever form on the department, will be handled very seriously," he had told reporters at a press conference at his office, here.
The press conference was held to explain the latest development and answer questions on the relationship between Farah Azlina and Mohd Saiful as reported in the website 'Malaysia Today' recently.
Abdul Gani had said Farah Azlina had to be dropped not because she was found guilty, but to avoid any negative public perception on the prosecution team.
"This move is also to ensure that the smooth running of the case is not affected," he said.
However, he said Farah Azlina had very limited involvement in the case, which was to assist in recording all notes on the proceedings.
"She had no access at all to the investigation papers or any confidential information that the prosecution has," he had said.
The prosecution team for the case is headed by Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden who is assisted by DPP Datuk Nordin Hassan, DPP Noorin Badaruddin, DPP Mohamed Hanafiah Zakaria, DPP Wong Chiang Kiat, DPP Mira Mirna Musa, DPP Naidatul Athirah Azman and Farah Azlina.

tunku : what else this moron wants? keep delaying the court case.if he's really innocent, he should speed up the process and get his name clear but this moron is guilty as charged.that's why he keeps finding way to delay the hearing. that lady got nothing to do with the moron and furthermore had been dropped from the prosecution team.so get the things moving morons.at least saiful having affair with WOMAN not MAN.

Drama by DAP

Decision To Sack Premature, Says Tee

SHAH ALAM, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Klang municipal councillor Tee Boon Hock has described as premature, the DAP disciplinary committee decision to sack him from the party yesterday.
He said, it was inappropriate for DAP to "punish" him at this stage as the Selangor Government was still investigating allegations against him (Tee) over the misuse of a state exco member's letterhead to secure contracts for his family and cronies.
"The DAP disciplinary committee has jumped the gun in making such a premature decision. The party should have waited for the outcome of the state investigation into the allegations.
"People must understand that the allegations involve the local council and the investigations are under the purview of the state audit department...it is a state administration matter and not under the DAP," he told Bernama when contacted Sunday.
In its expulsion letter addressed to Tee, the disciplinary committee said it had studied the documents it received and verified that there was basis for the allegations.
On Tuesday, an English daily reported that a municipal councillor had allegedly used Selangor Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman Ronnie Liu's official letterhead and seal to produce his own letters of recommendation to get Klang Municipal Council (MPK) contracts for his cronies and family members.
Although the newspaper did not mention the identity of the councillor, it described him as a DAP veteran in his 50s, who had contested twice for a state seat in previous general elections and was a member of the MPK tender board.
Tee, however, denied that he was the man in question, but was later asked to go on leave by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, pending investigation into the case.
The DAP veteran also felt that there was a "hidden hand" behind the decision to sack him.
"I believe there is a hidden hand in the sacking, especially with the upcoming party elections. It might be some people want me out of their path," he said, adding that he had yet to decide on whether to appeal against his sacking.
Meanwhile, a group of supporters who claimed loyalty to Tee, staged a 30-minute demonstration outside the Pandamaran DAP office in Klang to protest his sacking from the party.
They also held banners which described the expulsion as unfair.

tunku : the DAP staged a drama and showed to the public that they acted against their man for malpractice but actually it was just a cover up for the people higher up.one day before the sacking he was backed by the party but when they found out that it will relate to others, they sacked him.tee became the scapegoat.by right, dap should have wait for the investigation to complete before sacking tee.