Malaysia is fifth in illegal money chart

Assalamualaikum

Congratulation to Malaysian for this 'achievement'. We should be 'proud' of ourselves living in the country.

By Shannon Teoh (Malaysian Insider)

January 20, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — Illicit money outflows from Malaysia tripled to US$68.2 billion (RM208.1 billion) in 2008, from US$22.2 billion in 2000, according to a report by US-based financial watchdog Global Financial integrity (GFI) released this month. The country also had the fifth largest amount of illegal money outflows between 2000 and 2008, among developing countries. GFI defines illicit financial flows as generally involving the transfer of money earned through illegal activities such as corruption, transactions involving contraband goods, criminal activities, and efforts to shelter wealth from a country's tax authorities, said the programme’s website.

The report titled Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2000-2009 said that illicit financial outflows from Malaysia totalled US$291 billion (RM888 billion) in that period. It said that the increase was “at a scale seen in few Asian countries.”

“The volume of illegal capital flight from Malaysia has come to dwarf legitimate capital inflows into the country in recent years,” said the report.

Top of the list of 125 developing countries was China at US$2.18 trillion in that period while Philippines, at 12th, was Malaysia's closest regional neighbour at US$109.3 billion. Zimbabwe was 73rd at US$4.1 billion and Myanmar at 85th with US$2.9 billion. The report said that it is clear that significant governance issues affecting both the public and private sectors have been playing a key role in the cross-border transfer of illicit capital from the country.

It noted that there have been media reports that large state-owned enterprises such as national oil company Petronas could probably be driving illicit flows. GFI said its research indicates that political instability, rising income inequality, and pervasive corruption are some of the structural and governance issues that could be driving illicit capital from many developing countries.

“In the case of Malaysia, the additional factor could well be the significant discrimination in labor markets which move people and unrecorded capital out of the country,” it stated.

GFI identified deliberate trade mispricing - which allows companies to avoid paying taxes — as the cause of 54.7 per cent of illicit outflows from developing countries. The report said that between US$1.26 to US$1.44 trillion flowed out from developing countries alone in 2008.

“Increasing transparency in the global financial system is critical to reducing the outflow of illicit money from developing countries,” the report said.

According to GFI, illicit financial flows pertains to the cross-border movement of money that is illegally earned, transferred, or utilised. The Washington-based GFI says that it promotes national and multilateral policies, safeguards, and agreements aimed at curtailing the cross-border flow of illegal money. It is a programme under the Center for International Policy, which was founded in 1975 to promote a US foreign policy based on international cooperation, demilitarization and respect for human rights, according to its website

PICTURE PERFECT

Assalamualaikum

Let we start with the first picture above. According to the news, there are two jokers caught on camera gleefully doing this heinous thing oblivious that what they are doing are actually being recorded. The more important is, this is not a joke at all. From recording, the two 'mangkuk' who dare to use the word 'jihad', most likely a Malay guy, one with a long hair and another with a baseball cap and a SHORT!! I really can stand this. And more, what is the significant of the slaughtered chicken there? This is what we call a barbaric mentality done by someone with minimal brain cells. Shame on you.

The police should act on the video and report fast. Catch both the culprit and give them a prolong rehabilitation to the true islamic teaching. If they are not repented after that, make sure they stay somewhere where there is no human around so they will never have the chance to put on shame to the religion.

The picture above should be entitled double standard. If anyone can remember an incident where a DAP rep was detained under ISA despite no evidence that she ever complaint about azan. Mind you, she has prove from the mosque reps. Almost the same situation, but totally different treatment altogether. The one before was turn into a national issue for weeks with the PAS as a partner was labelled as a party that condone the kind of attitude from a DAP members and what not.

The argument here is not that the guy should be detained under ISA but why there are two sets of treatment for a wrongdoing that has the evidence and the other one with only an accusation? Why the one that was being accused was treated like real criminal and the one with evidence was not even criticized by their Muslim counterpart?

The third picture was part of the statement purportedly by our two prominent leaders in the country. Unfair statements to say the least but overtly insulting. Someone must clarify this purported statement.

Should I say the picture above 'tells' our level of morality? According to the news, bunch of people stopped haphazardly at the highway to scooped in as many coins as possible making as if it is theirs' while the owner pleaded unsuccessfully to stop them from taking his money. I think if this is true, all the one who get caught on camera should be sentence for a daylight robbery. Shameful on those bunch of people and it seem that even the police officer there can't stop those uncivilized people.
SPR chairman anyone? Anyone must still remember his joke early this week about proxy voting and after days of critique by so many Malaysian crossing the political divide, he suddenly come out today denying SPR ever think about it. What is this nonsense?

And I assure you that there are many more picture evidence of the intolerant and somewhat ridiculous people around us that are actually managing us. Suddenly I remember the Wikileaks report about the leader in the country.

May Allah protect us from this group of people

SELANGOR LAGI.....

They will ask thee about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: "In both there is great evil as well as some benefit for man; but the evil which they cause is greater than the benefit which they bring." And they will ask thee as to what they should spend (in God's cause). Say: " Whatever you can spare." In this way God makes clear unto you His messages, so that you might reflect.

Al Baqara 219

O you who have attained to faith! Intoxicants, and games of chance, and idolatrous practices, and the divining of the future are but a loathsome evil of Satan's doing: shun it, then, so that you might attain to a happy state! By means of intoxicants and games of chance Satan seeks only to sow enmity and hatred among you, and to turn you away from remembrance of God and from prayer. Will you not, then, desist? (Al Maeda 90-91)

Assalamualaikum

Hadis riwayat Abu Daud ada menyatakan tentang sepuluh golongan yang dilaknat oleh Allah tentang penggunaan arak ini iaitu: peminum arak, penuang minuman arak, pembeli, penjual, pemerah untuk dirinya sendiri/orang lain, orang yang meminta diperah untuk dirinya/ orang lain, pembawa dan orang yang meminta untuk dibawa. Begitulah beratnya larangan tentang arak ini sehingga Rasulullah menyenaraikan 10 golongan tersebut untuk menunjukkan bahawa umat Islam tiada pilihan lain melainkan menjauhkan diri dari perkara ini. Secara dasarnya, bukanlah susah sangat untuk mengelakkan diri dari yang satu ini kerana kita ada beribu lagi pilihan minuman lain jika tujuannya untuk menghilangkan dahaga mahupun untuk mendapatkan keseronokan.

Namun begitu, masyarakat Islam kita sekarang berlainan pula keadaannya. Arak sudah menjadi seakan air kosong. Mengambilnya tidak lagi menjadi satu perkara yang memalukan. Jarang yang saya berjumpa di tempat saya bertugas berasa segan atau malu bila menceritakan bahawa dirinya mengambil minuman ini. Bahkan ada yang menjawabnya dengan rasa bangga kerana sudah mencuba minuman syaitan ini. Begitu normalnya umat Islam mengambil arak sehingga dosanya tidaklah lagi menjadi satu hal dan sekatan.

Mungkin inilah kesannya bila negara majoriti umat Islam tetapi pemikirannya tidak islam dan tidak mahu menjadi lebih islamik. Tolonglah! menjadi lebih islamik tidak menyebabkan kita menjadi radikal tetapi kita akan menjadi orang-orang yang masyarakat agama lain berasa selamat apabila mendampingi kita.

Adapun halnya dengan orang-orang beragama islam yang menjadi salah satu dari 10 golongan di atas lagilah tidak menjadi hal kerana dengan beralasan bahawa selagi tidak meminum arak tidaklah berdosa, mereka terus-terusan mencari rezeki dari sumber haram tanpa memikirkan bahwa apa yang mereka lakukan sebenarnya secara tidak langsung merosakkan masyarakat melalui kesan besar arak ini dan merosakkan keturunan mereka dengan membesarkan dan memberi makan dari sumber haram. Ketidakfahaman ini bukan sahaja di kalangan orang islam tetapi berjangkit juga kepada orang bukan islam yang sememangnya memahami islam melalui perlakuan/perbuatan dan apa sahaja yang disampaikan oleh orang islam walaupun apa yang diterima itu kebanyakkannya tidak menggambarkan islam.

Bila ini berlaku, akan keluarlah komen-komen dari pemimpin bukan islam yang bagi mereka betul tetapi hakikatnya adalah tidak tepat dan boleh menjadi satu penghinaan kepada umat islam yang tahu. Baru kelmarin kita membaca berkenaan rancangan MPSJ untuk melaksanakan salah satu enakmen syariah melalui larangan umat islam bekerja di tempat-tempat yang menghidang/menjual arak. Rancangan ini secara dasarnya amatlah disokong kerana umat islam sememangnya tiada pilihan lain dalam perkara ini. Namun begitu method pelaksanaannya seharusnya diperhalusi kerana menarik balik lesen perniagaan tuan punya premis bukanlah satu idea yang baik.

Sememangnya saya mahu melihat ianya dilaksanakan dari segi roh undang-undang itu tetapi bagaimana mereka mahu melaksanakan itu yang perlu ditimbang semula. Ini kerana tanpa method yang baik, percubaan untuk melaksanakan undang-undang ini bukan sahaja akan gagal tetapi mungkin mendatangkan fitnah pula kepada orang islam.

Yang menjadi masalah bagi saya adalah apabila undang-undang yang disokong oleh pemimpin islam di Selangor (baca pemimpin pakatan sahaja) tiba-tiba disanggah oleh seorang pemimpin bukan islam pada hari esoknya. Nampak seperti kenyataan pemimpin bukan islam ini akan digunapakai dalam isu yang melibatkan orang islam dan undang-undangnya. Seperti ada dua bahagian pula di Selangor ini. Satu yang agak pro dengan syariah komplians dengan methodlogi yang tepat manakala satu lagi pihak mempunyai pandangan yang agak islamophobia dan berat sebelah. Mungkin ramai yang tidak faham apa yang saya maksudkan tetapi cubalah baca komen YB Teng Chang Khim, YB Ronnie Liu dan YB Hannah Yeoh dalam hal ini dan anda akan faham.

Saya tidak bermasalah dengan mereka kerana apa yang dinyatakan oleh mereka melambangkan kecetekan ilmu mereka tentang agama kita dan mungkin keserongan pandangan mereka tentang islam namun sebelum mengeluarkan kenyataan seharusnya mereka merujuk kepada rakan-rakan pemimpin muslim mereka untuk memberikan pandangan yang tepat dan tidaklah memalukan diri sendiri dan menakutkan penyokong islam mereka. Saya bersetuju dengan pandangan YB Ronnie berkenaan metodologi pelaksanaannya harus diperhalusi tetapi kenyataannya selepas itu saya berpendapat harus diperbetulkan.

Selangor sememangnya dipenuhi dengan kontroversi dan jika bukan BN yang mencetusnya, saya nampak PR pun apa kurangnya.

DON'T TRY TOO HARD

As Salam

It is common practice nowadays in our country or maybe globally, people are trying too hard to convince others to buy whatever they think are right. Whether it is about their ideology, products or whatsoever, people are trying their level best to convince other to the edge blatantly annoying and piss others of.

Same to do with our political scenario nowadays where people try to convince other with whatever they have to convince that they are the saint and the other site are the big demons. Try to read the mainstream medias or tabloid and you will understand what I mean by this. Telling the truth, watching the RTM or TV3 news will definitely pissed me off nowadays as the extent of their effort to demonise other while giving the picture like they are the saints is too much for me to bear. There is no more impartiality in their reporting and makes you wonder are we dealing with human with the vulnerability of doing something wrong or we have a totally different level of human manning our country right now. Like the prophet?

This is not because I am a pro-opposition but as a Malaysian, I think we deserved to hear a well balanced kind of reporting that excessively lacking wherever you try to get the information from one media. Everyday, we need to read more than one resources just to get the clearer view of an issue. A single source means we will end up having a tunnel vision just like many Malaysian out there that don't have the luxury of getting info from other resources. Don't we deserve to be treated like normal human being not like a group of moron who knows nothing about the world than?

Nowadays, I think, Malaysian as a whole are fast becoming more info savvy and they should stop treating us like a spoon-fed 2 years old toddlers. A more balanced reporting will definitely give a better perception towards the current government policies and information dissemination. A tunnel vision kind of information will definitely drive many of us off from the government instead of making us stay with them. Unfairness will only leads to their demise instead of power. They should start to act like a group of man with brains not just a low IQ tool of the government.

Media is the image of the current government and if many of us see them as a below intellectual kind of institution, the kind of image will definitely goes to the government. We know that this kind of approaches are very useful to the rural and less connected people as they don't have the kind of choices that we have but until when they want to continue be like this? They should be more gentleman and it will definitely win hearts. Don't be cowed by your own shadow and be realistic and embraced the world with eyes wide open.

Unfairness even in reporting will only leads to feeling of injustice. It will further breeds hatred and sense of revenge an the vicious cycle will continue to go on an on and on. The culture of blackmailing, stabbing, sabotaging and manipulating will go nowhere except destruction of a civilization. Only the uncivilized will keep on hanging on this kind of mentality and definitely people will choose the more civilized one in the future.

Something for them to ponder or maybe they can just continue their act and wait for their own demise.

ITU ADALAH HAK MEREKA

As Salam

Setelah beberapa artikel kebelakangan ini saya lebih selesa menulis di dalam bahasa inggeris, kali ini say ingin menulisnya dalam bahasa kebangsaan kita sendiri. Walaupun sumber maklumat saya kebanyakannya di dalam bahasa pengantara kedua negara kita tetapi bukanlah satu masalah untuk menulisnya di dalam bahasa Malaysia.

Kali ini seperti biasanya saya tidaklah berminat untuk menyebut mana-mana nama atau di mana ianya berlaku kerana bukan orangnya yang menjadi masalah kepada saya tetapi isu di sebalik kejadian-kejadian tersebut. Mungkin ramai yang masih ingat beberapa minggu lalu negara kita 'digemparkan' dengan 'kejadian' sepasang suami isteri yang baru berkahwin. 'Masalah' dan 'dosa besar' yang mereka lakukan adalah berkahwin dalam usia yang 'terlalu' muda iaitu suaminya berumur 23 tahun dan isterinya berusia 'baru' 14 tahun. Hampir setiap hari isu ini keluar di dada-dada akhbar kerana 'besarnya' dosa yang mereka lakukan sehingga menteri kita yang menjaga berkenaan hak-hak wanita dan NGO-NGO berlumba-lumba mengeluarkan kenyataan tidak menyokong 'tindakan' yang diambil oleh pasangan muda ini.

Walaupun mereka berkahwin dalam keadaan yang memenuhi semua syarat yang diperlukan oleh undang-undang negara ini tetapi kerana 14 tahun itu dikira kanak-kanak oleh mereka, perkahwinan ini menjadi satu dosa besar yang tidak boleh dibenarkan berlaku lagi. Sehingga pada satu ketika, pihak menteri ini memberi 'nasihat' kepada pihak mahkamah agar tidak menjadikan perkara ini menjadi kebiasaan di negara kita. Secara peribadi saya tidak nampak pun masalah di sebalik perkara ini kerana semua pihak yang terlibat di dalam perkahwinan ini sudahpun memberi restu mereka dan bukankah itu juga dikira sebagai hak peribadi mereka?

Ke depan sedikit beberapa minggu dan negara kita sekali lagi gempar dengan penemuan video aksi lucah di antara dua kanak-kanak bawah umur di mana si lelaki dalam lingkungan 9 tahun dan perempuannya 11 tahun. Gemparnya bukan dari segi masalah kebejatan akhlak mereka ini tetapi orang gempar kerana ada yang berjaya memiliki video ini dan 'seronok' menontonnya. Kemudian satu lagi kes berlaku di mana seorang ibu muda yang mengandung dalam lingkungan 24 minggu ditikam bertubi-tubi oleh kekasihnya (diulang: kekasihnya) di rumah perempuan tersebut dan sedang tenat di ICU.

Kemudiannya, seorang gadis 14 tahun mati disyaki dibunuh oleh dua orang remaja lelaki yang juga lebih kurang sebaya dengan gadis itu. Dan jangan lupa kes GRO yang sudi menjual anaknya yang masih di dalam kandungan kepada pembida tertinggi. Ke semua kes-kes di atas boleh dikelaskan dalam satu kumpulan yang sama: isu jenayah seksual dan ketirisan akhlak. Yang tidak memeranjatkan ialah, menteri yang beria-ia mengeluarkan kenyataan berkenaan pasangan kahwin muda di atas tidak pula berkata apa-apa tentang kes-kes yang lain.

Apakah masalahnya? Saya melihat bahawa masyarakat kita kelihatannya lebih 'selesa' dengan kisah mungkar sehingga responnya tidak seberapa tetapi menjadi 'ketakutan' bila ada orang cuba untuk melakukannya dengan cara yang betul. Apakah beza akhlak di antara pasangan cilik beraksi lucah, remaja 17 tahun mengandung luar nikah atau kanak-kanak lelaki yang disyaki membunuh dengan seorang kanak-kanak yang juga lebih kurang mereka yang mahu terus berkahwin?

Kesilapan besar bagi kita jika kita mengadaptasi akhlak dan norma masyarakat yang berseronok dengan seks bebas dengan nilai agama kita. Namun begitu, melalui isu-isu yang terbaru ini, seolah-olah kita sudahpun berada dalam lubang-lubang dosa itu. Masyarakat kita perlu ada jati diri. Menteri kita perlu ada jati diri. Jangan mudah tunduk dan patuh kepada desakan norma luar yang bagi kita nilainya lebih buruk dari binatang. Biarlah mereka menganggap kita apa sekalipun selagi mana apa yang dibuat selari dengan kehendak agama. Saya tidak terkejut sekiranya pasangan yang berkahwin di atas tidak berkahwin dan beranak luar nikah, tiada siapa pun yang akan kisah kerana perkara itu bukanlah dosa dari mata norma jahiliyah yang diadaptasi kebanyakkan masyarakat kita.

Dan sekiranya ada pihak yang beria-ia mempertahankan norma-norma agama ini, pastinya ada bergerombolan manusia pula yang menyalak kebebasan dan hak asasi manusia untuk masuk neraka dan menjahanamkan diri mereka. Jadi bukankah orang-orang yang memilih untuk mengikut agamanya juga ada hak kebebasan itu? Atau hak kebebasan ini hanya terpakai untuk pengikut jahiliyah untuk mempertahankan diri mereka dari agama dan Tuhan mereka. Agaknya mampukah mereka menjerit hak kebebasan bersuara bila mereka di depan Tuhan mereka? Sememangnya saya pun tiada hak untuk menahan sesiapa untuk memilih jalan yang mereka suka dan bersuara tetapi mereka perlu faham juga yang orang-orang seperti saya juga berhak untuk berkata-kata

Termangu saya memikirkannya dan tiba-tiba terasa lucu.

WIKILEAKING

Salam

Almost every day for the past few weeks, we have been bombarded with multiple surprises from the revelation by the Wikileaks. Even though I don't have the opportunity to read the site by my self but I do read multiple reports about it. Multiple countries have condemn in a strongest way and the biggest is of course our so called world police: USA.

I am not in the position to say whether whatever they said about our country are true or not but I do concern with all the revelations. To borrow the words from Wikileaks: our state is in a very confuse and dangerous state due to incompetent politician in power. In which ever side you are currently, all of us should be very concern with the very negative assessment about our country. Something must be very wrong in our country and obviously we can generally say that our leader is the mirror of the rakyat.

Are we so incompetent that we end up having incompetent leaders? Are we so naive that we are easily preyed upon again and again for the men in power? Or are we an ignorant lot that just swallow anything that anyone up there says? Are all the intelligent people in this country is not so intelligent in assessing the best for the country? Something must be very wrong here that we end up being mocked by our neighbor again. I am not talking that we need to exert our power (I even doubt we have the power) against our small neighbor but till when we keep on left behind to our industrious neighbor?

Once again the selective ways of reporting by the mainstream news line will do the trick for the government and multiplied the damage against the opposition. Fairness will never prevail in our system of information. It is our turn as the rakyat to really go and find as many information that we can get in order to have the comprehensive info.

By the way, do anyone know what is the different between penal code vs corruption or criminal breach of trust in Dr Khir Toyo's case? Why penal code not the other one? Any guest?

1Malaysia?

Salam

On thursday noon, few of the staff in the our department talking excitedly about an UMNO program at Stadium Sultan Abdul Halim. They are talking about all UMNO members were instructed to come down and joint the program as there are thousands of goodies for flood victim that they are also entitled too. A bit surprise because either I am so oblivious about the program or it is specially arranged for those selected group. I can also be consider as one of the flood victims and my neighbours too.

Less that I care about a gas stove or another new mattress as I don't need both. The reason, my gas stove is totally not affected by the floods as there is nothing electronic about it. Just a good wash and it is ready to be use again. Maybe thousands of people in Kedah are previously using electronic kind of gas stove, I have no idea. For me, it can be consider as an obsolete gift. Mattres: maybe cause 2 of my mattress 'perished' with the flood. Still, I don't need it as I think it is better to give to others that are really in need.

I am a bit disturb as when I ask around, many of us don't know about it and I wonder what happen. The next day, the paper tell all about it. The picture tells thousands words. Our beloved PM came down to past the aid to the flood victims and announcing the intensity of the aid at the same time. I wonder where is the state leaders? Where is the MB or his EXCOs. Aren't they are the one that should be there together with Perlis MB, Datuk Johari Baharom, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and all the UMNO bigwigs?

Aren't they invited to the program for their rakyat or there are two sets of rakyat in federal's point of view? Aren't 1Malaysia slogan is for all Malaysian? Why the discrimination? Is this program only for UMNO members? So why bother using the government money?

With my thought still bothered with the news, the DPM came out with another statement that can be seen as the current government policy about this. He said that development funds is only allocated to Barisan MPs and not others. It is not for Opposition MPs. Once again the discrimination and blatant use of power and no regards about fairness or whatsoever.

Is this the way to treat people as a whole? Are they dealing with kafir Harbi or a communist group or a militant? All the people are the Malaysian citizen too so why the discrimination?

Still wondering.

INSURED FOREIGN WORKER?

Salam

Quite sometime not writing anything in the blog. So much things happen but unfortunately i have no chance to comment about it. Foreign workers are always make headlines in Malaysia from the cheapest labor available in the country that can be 'bullied' to do anything in order to get maximum profits or runaway maids that giving headaches and heartache to thousands of Malaysian yearly. To like it or not, foreign workers are almost always at the disadvantage side of the society even though we try to rubbish it. We can't even give the best for the local workers (read: maternity leave) what can we offer to the outsiders. It must be worst especially the coolies and lower end workers.

Recently, someone up there talking about an idea to introduce compulsary insurance to protect the foreign workers in Malaysia. Eventhough the main reason is to reduce the high uncollected hospital bills from those workers due to unscrupulous, unethical and irresponsible taukes outside there but for me it is time now to really make this a reality.

It is high time now for the worker to be protected in this way as most of them are working in generally higher risk indutries in Malaysia. It is actually not a big deal for the bosses as it only takes another 200+ ringgit for every workers as to compare with the continuous profit that they can get from those very cheap and ever willing labours.

I read with disgust when one of the report in the newspaper talking about the objection from the bosses fraternity about extra burden that they need to carry that can erode into their profit. Those selfish lad outside there really make me crinch in shame. don't they care about their subordinates' wellbeing? Is this too much for them? I really think that they should act more humane and think about others too.

I am quite sure if we care about the welfare of those workers, the general view of our country will become better and left no bitter taste when all this guys left our country later.

THE SARAWAK DISASTER

Salam

I am copying the whole article from The Star newspaper just to share with all of you out there. Even though it was described as shocking but I am quite sure that the outside world will interpret it as a disaster waiting to happen. There are lots of bad press about Sarawak outside Malaysia. Whether it is about illegal loggings, totalitarian leaders, corruptions, exploitations and many more.

Maybe many of us done believe it but I was also in shock when I read one of the article about Sarawak in the National Geographic Magazine some where last year that was portrayed as very bad and of course embarrassing. I hope this can be a good call for all those concern about this state that we all know is rich with all the resources but remain somehow a bit lacking behind comparing with the peninsula state.

Obviously, something must be wrong somewhere. This is total disaster. We are talking about 50KM of logging debris not 50 meters and we are talking about the big and wide Sarawak river.

Come on..Please do something

SIBU: Logs and debris, stretching for 50km on the Rajang river, reached Sibu town at about 10am yesterday leaving many people shocked by the scale of what is turning out to be an environmental disaster. “This is unprecedented and beyond imagination,” Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said after assessing the situation at the Express Passenger Boat Terminal in the morning.

According to a statement from the Natural Resources and Environment Board, the source of these logs and debris were from the Baleh River and its tributaries above Kapit. Several days of heavy rain earlier this week in Putai and Nu ngun in upper Baleh had caused a massive landslide which brought down the logs and debris into the rivers. The high water level and swift current in Baleh River and its tributaries also washed the logs and debris along their banks.

Passage hindered: An express passenger boat trying to weave its way through the logs in the Rajang river as it leaves Sibu.

Wong said it was a serious natural disaster which had caught both the public and government off guard. “We haven’t started to calculate the amount of losses and the damage caused,” he said, adding that once the logs and debris had made their way out of Sibu, the authorities would start to check the foundation of the urin and Lanang bridges. It was estimated by a sawmill manager that the volume of the logs and debris would be more than 300,000m3. The situation was worse around noon when the whole area at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan rivers was completely logjammed. Most of the logs and debris flowed down the Rajang while some of them flowed to the Igan.

The map explains the events leading up to the logjam.

The Malay villages which were built on stilts on the right bank of the Igan were fortunate to escape calamity as the logs and debris flowed near the opposite bank. Meanwhile, Land Development Minister Datuk Seri James Masing blamed unscrupulous timber companies for the disaster. He travelled up the river to Kapit yesterday and was disturbed by what he saw. “There is still a lot of debris, making travel unsafe. There are also dead fish in the river. It’s an ecological disaster,” Masing, the Baleh assemblyman, told The Star.

He said that this was the third time in three years – the first was in 2008 at Sungai Gat and the second in Sungai Tunoh last year – that such an incident had happened and he feared that it would have far-reaching implications on the state, particularly on the timber industry. He said the state government had laid down rules for logging but what was happening clearly showed that the rules were not being followed.

“I have gone around the world telling people that we are doing logging correctly. Now this happens. What will people think of us? We must take action against these unscrupulous timber companies.” He said the authorities concerned must take their job more seriously and enforce the laws stringently

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN

Salam

My first entry for the month and I would like to start it with one of a very interesting experience that I encountered recently. May be not that significant for many but for me it is very near to the heart and should be a concern to all too. As my daily activities goes, counselling, negotiating, teaching and many other thing is just part and parcel as a professional like me. As a Muslim, everything that I tell my client must be something that as accurate as possible and I am trying as best as I can not to make any empty promises or false hope.

As a Muslim too, Insya Allah is a must when you try to relay your messages and I, will always try to say it whenever I see my Muslim client. InsyaAllah is a word that should be use with the highest regards to the God and I dare not using it if I just trying to play around and not being serious. Not to say that I am good but it is just a way of respect to the word.

When I use the words recently to one of my client, I was a speechless when the client ask me back "InsyaAllah? are you sure or not? Because this involves thousand of our money for a flight ticket". I was speechless because I certainly know what is the reason why the client ask me back in that way even though the client is a Muslim. I know that in our daily live many of us not using this words seriously. Most of us use the words just to buy time or as a polite way to say 'no' or 'never'. I am sure that many of us out there will be a bit sceptical when someone give an answer of 'InsyaAllah'.

Not that we don't believe the words but it is because we are using it wrongly for a long time. InsyaAllah is not use a word of commitment. It is not use to say that we are 100% depend to Allah. It is not use to say that everything is with Allah's permission. At the end of the day the soul of the words become empty and for many, meaningless.

In this secular world, we should start to use this word as it is supposed to mean. This is our prayer and a way to remind us that everything in our life is under Allah's permission whether it will happen or not. It is a way to bring us to the reality that we have God and stop our over reliance of human ability that is definitely Allah's. Instill the spirit of every single thing in our life is depend on Allah and why not we start with the proper usage of the word INSYAALLAH:)

AL HUJURAAT: 6

Salam,

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Jika seseorang yang fasik datang kepadamu membawa suatu berita, maka telitilah kebenarannya, agar kamu tidak mencelakakan suatu kaum kerana kebodohan yang akhirnya kamu menyesali perbuatanmu itu

Mari kita sama-sama renungkan dalam kehidupan seharian kita. Berapa banyakkah berita-berita yang tidak benar, separa benar, fitnah dan sebagainya berlegar-legar di sekeliling kami. Berapa banyakkah antara berita-berita itu kita terima bulat-bulat tanpa ada inisiatif mencari kebenarannya dan akhirnya kita dibodohkan oleh orang-orang yang ingin kita sentiasa dalam keadaan bodoh. Terbiasa dengan budaya hidup 'disuap' dengan maklumat, kita membiarkan diri kita diperkotak-katik dan diperbodoh tanpa ada keinginan untuk berubah. Terlalu selesa dengan budaya 'disuap' ini sehingga kita menafikan hak orang-orang yang teraniaya dengan cerita-cerita tipu oleh si keji yang tidak beradab.

Bukankah Allah telah memperingatkan kita dengan sepotong ayat di atas betapa pentingnya kita menyelidiki setiap maklumat yang kita terima? Bukankah itu adalah hak kita untuk sentiasa menerima maklumat yang benar agar tidak terjebak melakukan dosa menyebarkan fitnah dan menganiaya orang lain? Selesakah kita dengan budaya percaya bulat-bulat dengan apa yang diterima? Sedangkan budaya inilah sebenarnya menjahanamkan kita dan agama kita.

Sudikah kita diperbodoh-bodohkan oleh pencacai pemecah umat seagama yang sememangnya berfungsi sebagai perosak untuk kepentingan diri dan orang-orang yang ingin 'dikipas'nya. Sudah sekian lama kita membiarkan diri kita ini alpa dengan peringatan Allah di atas. Sudah sampai masanya agar kita lebih rajin mencari kebenaran lebih-lebih lagi dalam keadaan dunia kita sekarang di mana ia dipenuhi dengan manusia-manusia yang bertuhankan nafsu dan kepentingan.

Kita harus sedar, kejahilan dan sikap sambil lewa kitalah yang menjadikan kita lemah dan bodoh. Kerana inilah kita terus bergaduh, berlawan dan berpecah tanpa sebab. Kita terlalu jauh dengan Allah. Kita terlalu jauh dari peringatannya. Satu ayat inipun kita tidak mampu laksanakan dengan baik sedangkan hanya satu ayat ini pun kita mampu melakukan perubahan yang amat besar. Betapa ruginya kita yang jauh dari peringatan-peringatan Allah ini.

Kita harus renung ayat ini sungguh-sungguh. Jangan biarkan diri kita ditipu si fasik, si munafik, si kafir yang memusuhi dan ramai lagi. Peluang kita terbentang di hadapan untuk mencari kebenaran. Kita bukan hidup di zaman batu atau zaman dulu di mana maklumat sukar dan jauh. Maklumat cuma di hujung jari . Susah sangatkah bagi kita mengangkat jari ini untuk mencari kebenaran?

Tepuk dada tanya iman

MENTALLY ILL = HIGHER CRIMINAL RATE?

Salam

I found a very interesting facts that I think should be shared with all of you outside there for the sake of justice in the mentally ill patient who are currently on treatment. It is a fact that is base on a thorough study of thousands of mentally ill patient but nevertheless, the perception and stigma towards the mentally ill person hinder the true facts about the illness.

There are few cases in our country that involve the mentally unsound people and cases that purportedly done by unsound people but later found to be not true at all. Most of us can still recall the kindergarten case where few children were assaulted by unknown assailant that initially was thought to be done by people with unsound mind but later noted to be not true at all. Mind you that majority of the heinous crime are not done by the mentally unsound but the one with sound mind but with the heinous heart. (read Sosilawati case).

According to Malaysian Psychiatric Association president, Dr Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar, people with mental disorder had the lowest potential to commit a crime, even lower than normal people if he /she are undergoing treatment. However, anyone that is mentally il but not being sent for treatment (read: bomoh treatment only) have 4 times higher rate of committing crime than the one who receive treatment.

It is vitally important for all of us to know that mentally ill patient should be properly treated instead of shun them away from the society. the success rate for treated patient is 80% and almost half of the people in our country with mental illness never get the treatment due to misconception and ignorance. We have a lot of stigma in our culture and life that bring injustice to this people. Give them the chance and be more responsible to bring a brighter future for them. I am confident that we all can do this

NATIONALIST: THE EXTREMIST?

Salam.

This entry is dedicated to the mosque incident and the racial slur incident

Its happened that for the past few months I really don't have time to sit and ponder properly whatever happened around me and let alone write about it. Many things happened which i think if I have time, I will definitely commented. It is some sort of therapy for me to ventilate it this way as many things that happen around me are just overwhelmingly difficult to just let go and let it be. Maybe nothing will happen even i write in millions of words but why not?

The last issue that comes around is one of the most worrying things that happen in Malaysia. It is actually happen almost every day but lately, even in the holiest month in Islam that majority of the people in the country observe, the intensity and frequency reaching its peak and disturbing. One way of explaining this is maybe the general election is not far away and playing the sentiment is the best way to do it.

The culture of hatred and prejudice once again become the rule of law in the mainstream and definitely most of them who use this still think that this destructive way is the best way to win again and again. Incomprehensible to think that those people can even think in the way of the extremist and have the guts to use the name of Allah to let them do whatever things they want it to be. Real politic is the way for them again and nothing is sinful or wrong in the eyes of this people who never think about the long term consequences of their action to this holy religion. I don't even care whatever happen to their organization with this kind of mindless and barbaric ways of thinking but I do care about my religion. I don't care if their organization perish because of this but I do care when people misunderstood Islam because of the things that has been done by the so called Muslim but not doing it as what Allah and the Rasulullah says.

They should stop this. Don't embarrassed and victimized others with your action. Speak with the true voice of Islam and stop mix it up with your ideology and your politics. Do the people in power, please give me the assurance that Islam is not being use as the tool of oppression because it is not the way it should be. Islam that I know is a religion of peace and freedom. The more you embrace it, the happier you are and the safer everyone around you will be. Please stop portraying the religion as you like it to be. Islam is not a tool for you to be more powerful.

If this kind of people around, Islam will always be misunderstood as religion of extremist. It will always be when people with no respect and responsible towards the religion use it to rationalize everything that they do and give different interpretation as suited to them. Islam is not to accomodate their view. They should accomodate their view according to Islam.

Are they really a true believer or just an opportunist with and extremist mindset?

THE RELUCTANT MARATHON RUNNER

Salam

Ramadhan comes again into our life with a lot of opportunities and a lot of advantages that we will never get in other months. Such a special months that Allah gives to us just to multiply the 'pahala' in whatever good deeds that we want to do and will do. A chance for us to give the best and make sure this is better than the previous years.

Ramadhan is just like a marathon of 30 days. For many of us out there it is a marathon that they are really waiting for and look for. Mentally and spiritually prepare to give the best for Allah with the high hopes of Allah will give them more in the afterlife. 30 days is too short for them to do everything and they pray that it will go slowly and smoothly so then they can do as many good things as possible. They pray that Allah will give them time to so everything and He will never take them just yet. They miss Ramadhan so much that they cry happily when it comes and mourn when it goes. Such a fortunate group of people indeed as Allah choose them to have this kind of feelings.

While another group is just dragging themselves into this month. Still try to do whatever things that they can do even though it is tough spiritually. They are not that strong but just trying. They like Ramadhan to come but at the same time hopes that it will go faster. They are just like a reluctant camper whom are not really mind to go all the activities but more happy if it is not there in the first place. They have the discipline but not the motivation. For them it is just a routine things that they need to do and go through fast.

The third group, is the one who will just do the minimum. Only the compulsary. No time to do other things and more concern about the month of Syawal. They are preoccupied with all the preparation for the Syawal and save everything for the biggest occasion for them. They are very happy if the month can go faster. They happily doing the countdowns to the first Syawal and spending all they can to satisfy their greed to be seen as the best when come the day. They spend without thinking when preparing for the iftar and most of the time will definitely leads to wasting. Their lust outdo their fasting and nothing can stop them.

And the worst of course a group who don't even care about the month. They hate it because it stop them from many things. They don't even care to do what should they do and will try to maneuver in whatever way to avoid doing things that they should do.

So, where are we?

THAT INNOCENT YOUNG ADOLESCENT

Salam

Have you ever meet or come across with suggestively very young adolescents with typical skull caps or a songkok and typically young girl with tudung anywhere in rest area along the highway or petrol station or in front of the bank? With the same typical sling bags and rolls of calenders or ointment? With the same lines of 'salam encik, kami dari sekolah anak yatim bla bla bla..nak minta sumbangan ikhlas bla bla bla n bla bla bla?

Typical isn't it? Anywhere in Malaysia. Children from orphanage home come to you seeking your sympathy and a small token of helps with the typical same products as and exchange for the money that you give them? Have you ever notice that they are all very very young child just starting their adolescent life and put as the front line for their unfortunate condition of being an orphan? Have you ever notice the typical shyness, frustrated faces of being rejected again and again and the tiredness in their face?

Have you ever try to be in their shoes, trying to beg for help from unknown publics for the purpose of their own sake? Have you ever imagine how this small children feel to be there 'begging'? Have you ever think how on earth they end there regardless whether under the hot sun, crowded places at night? Have you ever notice that they are almost always standing and 'begging' anyone that they have the chance to do it? Have you ever think that they are not suppose to be there in the first place and they should not be given that kind of treatment?

Have something cross into your mind what actually happen here? Have you ever think that they are actually suffering there? Have you ever know what is in their guardian's mind when sending this children into the street? Have you ever think what happen to our welfare system causing this young children 'begging' outside there?

What happen actually? Can anyone enlightened me and ease the pain seeing this young child outside there?

ANAK-ANAK KITA

Salam

Lari sebentar dari isu-isu semasa dan kembali semula kepada satu isu yang sangat dekat di hati dan masih lagi menjadi dilema walaupun secara dasarnya sudah pun membuat keputusan apa yang perlu dibuat bila masanya tiba. Satu perkara yang sangat penting untuk difikirkan kerana ia melibatkan masa depan anak-anak kita dan pastinya perkara ini tentulah menjadi satu perkara pokok yang sentiasa bermain di fikiran semua ibu bapa.

Pendidikan.

Masih teringat lagi semasa saya masih kecil dulu bagaimana ibu bapa saya memberikan penekanan tentang perkara pendidikan ini. Ilmu yang dicari adalah tiket untuk menepuh masa depan dengan lebih baik dan tiada apa perkara pun yang mampu menggantikan tempat mencari ilmu ini. Ilmu adalah sesuatu yang sangat bernilai dan wajib dikejar walau bagaimana susah sekalipun dan walau banyak mana sekalipun cabaran yang perlu ditempuhi.

Ilmu adalah pintu kejayaan dan ketenangan.

Namun begitu, ilmu kini seperti menjadi medan untuk bersaing dan pertunjukan di antara satu sama lain sehingga mana intipati pencarian ilmu itu tidak lagi menjadi prasyarat dalam mengejarnya. Ilmu menjadi sumber perniagaan dan ilmu seolah menjadi alat untuk mendera anak-anak kita pada hari ini. Lihat sajalah bebanan pelajaran yang harus dipikul oleh anak-anak pada zaman sekarang. Sejak dari umur 3 atau 4 tahun anak-anak telah pun mula dipasak dengan pelbagai jenis pelajaran dan ujian dan kerja rumah yang pada zaman saya dahulu adalah dikira tidak masuk dek akal.

Anak-anak sekecil 3-4 tahun sudah pun dihantar ke 'sekolah'. Diajar A-Z, mengira, membaca, menghafal dan sebagainya bila mana secara peribadinya saya beranggapan anak-anak ini terlalu kecil untuk dibebankan dengan perkara-perkara tersebut. Bukankah umur-umur sebegitu adalah masa mereka untuk bermain-main meneroka alam dan bermanja-manjaan? Perluklah kita sebagai ibu bapa 'memaksa' anak-anak kita ke sekolah sejak umur kecil hanya kerana tidak mahu ketinggalan?

Saya tidak nampak apakah kelebihannya menghantar anak-anak pada umur terlalu muda hanya untuk memuaskan nafsu ibu bapa yang hanya ingin melihat anak-anak mereka kelihatan pandai dari rakan sebaya lain. Selalu terdengar ibu bapa mendabik dada anak-anak sudah pun pandai membaca seawal umur 3 tahun namun adakah itu sebenarnya cara mereka perlu dibesarkan? Secara peribadi saya menganggap menghantar anak-anak ke sekolah pada umur terlalu muda tidak jauh bezanya dengan penderaan. Inilah yang dikatakan sebagai penderaan psikologi

Bukankah lebih baik anak-anak ini dibiarkan menikmati alam kanak-kanak mereka dengan riang dan gembira? Saya kira tanpa ada kehidupan kanak-kanak yang baik mana mungkin kita mampu menghasilkan manusia-manusia yang hebat dari segi EQ nya. Anak-anak kita sudah cukup terbeban dengan sistem persekolahan rendah dan menengah yang sedia ada. Lihat sajalah orientasi pelajaran di negara kita. Semua adalah berorientasikan keputusan semata-mata. Dari performans para guru dan sekolah sehinggalah kepada performans anak-anak semuanya berorientasikan keputusan peperiksaan.

Anak-anak dihantar ke pelbagai jenis tuisyen samada anjuran sekolah dan yang dihantar ibu bapa hanya kerana untuk memastikan anak-anak dapat lebih banyak A dalam peperiksaan. Bangun seawal 6 pagi untuk ke sekolah, menggalas beg yang hampir sama berat dengan tubuh badan mereka dan pulang lewat petang sama seperti ibu bapa yang bekerja pejabat. Selepas sekolah anak-anak perlu pula menghadiri kelas-kelas tambahan anjuran sekolah. Malam pula diisi lagi dengan kerja rumah bertimbun dan tuisyen. Hujung minggu juga dipenuhi dengan belajar, belajar dan belajar.

Untuk apa semua ini? Semuanya kerana tekanan yang dihadapi oleh sistem untuk menghasilkan lebih banyak A dari sebelumnya. Apa sudah jadi dengan kehidupan anak-anak sekarang? Tekanan hidup seperti ini bukanlah sesuatu yang indah. Adakah kita merancang untuk menghasilkan robot tanpa jiwa dan kreativiti? Anak-anak hanya diajar bagaimana nak menjawab peperiksaan. Hafal, hafal dan hafal. Kerja, kerja dan kerja.

Berbatu-batu jauh bezanya dengan zaman kanak-kanak saya dulu. Tidak pernah menghadiri tuisyen dari darjah 1 hingga 6. Tiada tuisyen juga di sekolah menengah. Tidak pernah guru sekolah rendah saya menyuruh saya membeli pelbagai buku latihan. Sehingga SPM pun buku rujukan saya hanyalah buku-buku teks yang dibekalkan sekolah. Tiada buku rujukan. Petang tiada aktiviti melainkan bermain. Malam tidur awal kerana keletihan bermain. Tiada pula pernah saya perlu berjaga malam hanya kerana kerja sekolah. Adakah saya membesar menjadi bodoh kerana itu? Tidaklah pula. Adakah saya ketinggalan semasa peperiksaan UPSR, PMR atau SPM atau Matrik? Seingat saya, saya jauh ke depan bahkan mungkin lebih baik dari kawan-kawan yang ke tuisyen siang dan malam.

Bukan tujuan membangga diri tetapi adakah saya juga akan terperangkap dengan kitaran rosak ini dengan membebankan anak-anak saya dengan tekanan ini? jawapannya adalah seratus peratus tidak. Pendidikan bukan untuk menghasilkan robot tetapi manusia-manusia yang berhati perut dan berfikiran waras. Apa guna 20 A jika emosinya lebih baik sedikit sahaja dari robot? Apalah guna 20 A jika hidupnya terbeban dari sekecil 3 atau 4 tahun? Saya tidak nampak ianya berbaloi. Anak-anak kita dalah amanah yang tiada nilai gantinya. Mana mungkin kita sebagai ibu bapa mahu menyiksa anak-anak hanya kerana ingin berbangga dengan kebolehan-kebolehan yang pastinya akan mereka perolehi bilamana cukup umur mereka ke sekolah nanti.

Anak-anak zaman ini sudah terlalu terbeban. Tanggungjawab ibu bapalah untuk membantu mengurangkan beban mereka.

CIVIL SERVANTS AND GRAFT

Salam,

I am not very sure whether this news come out in any other newspaper because I read this fro, The Malaysian Insider. A very alarming news that should be made known to all the civil servants out there in whatever way. It was reported in the internet news portal that 2 fifths of civil servants in Malaysia were suspected to be involved in corruption in 2009. It means that 418,000 or 41% of the civil servants are involved. To make it worst, majority of the civil servants in Malaysia are Muslims and majority of them are Malays. This is terribly worrying for all of us.

If this is true, this is very important for all of us to ponder what actually happen in our system? When the Cuepacs president came out with this statement, it could be quiet accurate and reliable. This people are the backbone of the governments. They are the faces and the bodies of our government. They are the one who are working for the sake of all Malaysian and they are the one who carry out hundreds of policies of our government. This is a terrible illness that can drag all of us into calamities.

If the machine is spoil, it can spoil everything in the system. Corruption means that there is no way justice and fairness can be carry out to the people. No way we can get the best from the system. No way they can be efficient. No way people will believe on them and no way they can deliver.

What has going wrong then? Why this kind of illness so rampant. 2 fifths is not a small numbers. 41% to be more clear. At the same time it affected all the civil servants. The way people will look at them will be totally different. Even the doctors that are consider the people with the highest rating of people confidence will be affected. If this is the picture, the whole system will collapse. It is such a terrible news for all the servants in whatever field they are.

The perception of the people will worsen and like it or not, they will be treated just like criminals instead of a respected government front-liners. They will be treated as bad as what the current government is suffering that is full of allegation of corruptions, cronyism, nepotism, unfair and whatever bad connotations that can be apply.

The fight of corruption should be the biggest war for the government. This corruption culture is too much for our small country. This is too much for our future generation and too much for all of us. We should do everything that we can to stop the rot. It is just unimaginable how good we will be if the civil service is corrupt-free. We can be a developed country with first class mentality in no time.

Should we all wake up from this nightmare? We all should. Stop the rot now and make this country a better place to be. Corruption is the mother of all terrible things in the world and we should hit it with all our might fast and hard

May Allah helps us.

DO THEY EVER CARE

Salam

Another latest show of arrogance by the Israel in the international water and another cry of unfair treatment with blatant disregard of other human except the jews.Another round of cries from all over the world about the brutality of the infamous and should I say the most powerful regime in the world. The untouchable. The 'great' jews and their 'country'. Abything that we could do? Nothing. Anyone will hear what we say? No one. Anyone cares? Maybe..

Toothless is the best words for what we are now. Powerless. Helpless and far from any possible lights of victory. Anyone could say anything about the way they treat our volunteers there in the international water? Killing them in a broad daylight for a possible threat? What threat? A kitchen knife anyone? I feel disgusted but as many of us feel: helpless.

Should we be proud with whom who gamble their life to be on board? Obviously. Should we pray for them? Everyday. Should we continue talk and talk about this? YES!! Should we give all the supports that we can effort? OF COURSE. Should we stand united? Yes, we should do this years back since 1940s.

What is our best chance now? Any of the Muslim world could speak and the Israel will listen or at least their best friend - the US? None. OIC? Not in many years to come. Malaysia? Our leader are currently fighting to deny that Israelis are involve in our defence system and it means: NO CHANCE.

Malaysian? Yes. They are better but how can we outdo the politician in this fight? There will definitely very minimal united front that can be shown by the rival parties except for a blanket statement. Divided again then? Of course. We are always divided by colours, parties, states, religion, country and etc. Familiar with the way we call our muslim friend? Indons, Banglas etc? Ring a bell? And that will be the answer whether we can do this as a united front: NOT IN MANY YEARS TO COME

ISTILAH DALAM TRANSAKSI KEWANGAN ISLAM

Salam Dari keinginan yang membuak-buak ingin mengetahui lebih banyak tentang kewangan Islam, terjumpa pula pelbagai-bagai isltilah yang tidak difahami langsung tetapi penting untuk diketahui supaya lebih jelas bila perlu melaksanakanya. Tidak dapat tidak sebagai seorang Muslim kita hanya ada satu pilihan iaitu kewangan Islam dan kewangan Islam adlah yang terbaik namun amatlah rendah thapa kefahaman kita tentangnya. Mungkin terlalu asas tetapi istilah ini amatlah luas penggunaannya dalam transaksi-transaksi kita dan mahu tidak mahu kita perlu tahu. Perlu saya kekalkan ianya dalam bahasa inggeris kerana saya bukanlah seorang yang bijak mengalih bahasa tetapi bagi saya bahasanya mudah difahami untuk semua. Selamat membaca

1. Bai' al 'inah

• is a financing facility with the underlying buy and sell transactions between the financier and the customer. The financier buys an asset from the customer on spot basis. The price paid by the financier constitutes the disbursement under the facility. Subsequently the asset is sold to the customer on a deferred-payment basis and the price is payable in instalments. The second sale serves to create the obligation on the part of the customer under the facility. There are differences of opinion amongst the scholars on the permissibility of Bai' al 'inah, however this is practised in Malaysia and the like jurisdictions

2. Bai' bithaman ajil

• This concept refers to the sale of goods on a deferred payment basis at a price, which includes a profit margin agreed to by both parties. Like Bai' al 'inah, this concept is also used under an Islamic financing facility. Interest payment can be avoided as the customer is paying the sale price which is not the same as interest charged on a loan.

3. Bai' muajjal

• Literally bai' muajjal means a credit sale. Technically, it is a financing technique adopted by Islamic banks that takes the form of murabahah muajjal. It is a contract in which the bank earns a profit margin on the purchase price and allows the buyer to pay the price of the commodity at a future date in a lump sum or in installments. It has to expressly mention cost of the commodity and the margin of profit is mutually agreed. The price fixed for the commodity in such a transaction can be the same as the spot price or higher or lower than the spot price. Bai' muajjal is also called a deferred-payment sale.

4. Musharakah

• Musharakah (joint venture) is an agreement between two or more partners, whereby each partner provides funds to be used in a venture. Profits made are shared between the partners according to the invested capital. In case of loss, each partner loses capital in the same ratio. If the Bank provides capital, the same conditions apply. It is this financial risk, according to the Shariah, that justifies the bank's claim to part of the profit. Each partner may or may not participate in carrying out the business. A working partner gets a greater profit share compared to a sleeping (non-working) partner. The difference between Musharaka and Madharaba is that, in Musharaka, each partner contributes some capital, whereas in Madharaba, one partner, e.g. a financial institution, provides all the capital and the other partner, the entrepreneur, provides no capital. Note that Musharaka and Madharaba commonly overlap

5. Mudarabah

• A special kind of partnership where one partner gives money to another for investing it in a commercial enterprise. The investment comes from the first partner who is called "rabb-ul-mal", while the management and work is an exclusive responsibility of the other, who is called "mudarib. Mudarabah (Profit Sharing) is a contract, with one party providing 100 percent of the capital and the other party providing its specialist knowledge to invest the capital and manage the investment project. Profits generated are shared between the parties according to a pre-agreed ratio. Compared to Musharaka, in a Mudaraba only the lender of the money has to take losses.

6. Murabahah

• This concept refers to the sale of goods at a price, which includes a profit margin agreed to by both parties. The purchase and selling price, other costs, and the profit margin must be clearly stated at the time of the sale agreement. The bank is compensated for the time value of its money in the form of the profit margin. This is a fixed-income loan for the purchase of a real asset (such as real estate or a vehicle), with a fixed rate of profit determined by the profit margin. The bank is not compensated for the time value of money outside of the contracted term (i.e., the bank cannot charge additional profit on late payments); however, the asset remains as a mortgage with the bank until the default is settled.

7. Musawamah

• is the negotiation of a selling price between two parties without reference by the seller to either costs or asking price. While the seller may or may not have full knowledge of the cost of the item being negotiated, they are under no obligation to reveal these costs as part of the negotiation process. This difference in obligation by the seller is the key distinction between Murabaha and Musawamah with all other rules as described in Murabaha remaining the same. Musawamah is the most common type of trading negotiation seen in Islamic commerce.

8. Bai salam

• a contract in which advance payment is made for goods to be delivered later on. The seller undertakes to supply some specific goods to the buyer at a future date in exchange of an advance price fully paid at the time of contract. It is necessary that the quality of the commodity intended to be purchased is fully specified leaving no ambiguity leading to dispute. The objects of this sale are goods and cannot be gold, silver, or currencies based on these metals. Barring this, Bai Salam covers almost everything that is capable of being definitely described as to quantity, quality, and workmanship.

BERBILANG JEMAAH

Salam

Tidak saya di sini untuk mengulas tentang hukum hakam di sebalik perkataan itu mahupun ingin menyatakan yang mana patut diikut atau yang mana tidak. Namun, ada sesuatu yang dirasakan patut dipandang serius oleh semua orang yang sayangkan agama ini dan sayangkan segala bentuk perjuangan untuk meninggikan kembali agama ini di muka bumi.

Tidak dinafikan bahawa di Malaysia sahaja kita mempunyai pelbagai pertubuhan dan pergerakan yang berteraskan Islam. Pertubuhan dan pergerakan ini samada berbentuk parti politik, NGO, extended usrah group, pergerakan pelajar, alumni dan macam-macam lagi semuanya kasihkan Islam dan bergerak hanya kerana sayangkan agama ini.

Namun begitu satu penyakit yang agak merunsingkan ramai orang ialah wujudnya sikap taksub dan persaingan tidak baik di kalangan mereka-mereka ini. Mereka menjadi tertutup dan tidak mampu lagi membuka minda mereka kepada idea-idea atau pendapat-pendapat yang dikira bukan dari kalangan mereka. Apa sahaja yang dikaitkan dengan diri mereka adalah benar belaka seolah-olah sempurna dan sebarang idea yang kelihatan sedikit bercanggah atau berbau kritikan akan segera dicantas dan ditidakkan dengan cara yang kadang-kadang tersasar jauh dari nilai Islami yang mereka ingin perjuangkan.

Sesetengah dari mereka akan terus melenting dan beremosi bila mendapati ada pihak yang ingin menegur atau menyatakan pendapat. Mereka menjadi marah dan sampai tahap sanggup pula menghina dan memperkecilkan pertubuhan atau pergerakan orang lain. Mentaliti 'aku sahaja yang betul' ini amatlah merosakkan dan mampu memecahbelahkan golongan pencinta agama. Pergerakan mereka semuanya cantik-cantik belaka dan apa yang dilakukan hampir sepanjang masa adalah mencari kekurangan dan cela orang lain untuk meningkatkan 'kemuliaan' gerakan sendiri.

Akhirnya, kita bukan melawan orang yang bencikan Islam tetapi orang yang juga kasihkan Islam sama seperti kita. Kerugian besarlah kita bilamana ini terus berlaku. Kita tidak akan mampu menjadi kuat walaupun kita ramai di luar sana. Jika dilihat dan dihitung-hitung pergerakan yang berbau ISlam di Malaysia sahaja, saya berpendapat kita sudah harus berasa bangga dan mampu tersenyum. Namun kita masih tidak mampu menjadi kuat kerana ketidaksepakatan kita. Masing-masing ingin menjadi hero dan jaguh dan akhirnya menimbulkan persaingan yang tidka sihat sesama kita.

Cuba bayangkan bilamana kita mampu bersatu. Segala bentuk dana, tenaga, masa dan kepakaran pastinya dapat digunasama pada bila-bila masa. Walaupun kita bukan dari gerakan yang sama tetapi matlamat kita yang sama sahaja sepatutnya sudah cukup untuk kita bergabung tenaga dan bersatu hati. Cuba buang mentaliti pengkelasan pada diri kita dan pandanglah matlamatnya. Pasti kita mampu lebih jauh lagi.

Jangan fikir kita sahaja yang betul dan orang lain tidak. Terima kritikan dan perbetulkan dan perkukuhkan apa yang kurang. Jangan mudah melenting atau marah bila kita dikatakan tidak betul tetapi cuba cari di mana apa yang kurangnya dan bergerak dari situ. Memang mudah untuk berpecahbelah tetapi bersatu bukanlah sesuatu yang mustahil. Salurkan tenaga ingin bersaing itu dengan cara yang betul dan pastinya hasilnya haru dibanggakan.

Patutkah kita mula dengan berlapang dada dalam menerima kritikan? Saya berpendapat di situlah salah satu titik tolaknya. Semoga kita semua mampu berjaya seperti gerakan-gerakan lain yang boleh dibanggak di serata dunia. Insya Allah