Mistaken identity

This happened twice to me in the last two weeks.

Last week, I received news that "Prof Halim" of Universiti Sains Malaysia passed away. But it turned out that the "Prof Halim" who passed on was the one in Universiti Malaya.

Tonight, I received news that "Dato' Ismail Kamus" passed away, when in actual effect, it was "Datuk Ismail Salleh" who passed on.

It is understandable that people would spread news of someone's death without giving it a second thought. But one lesson I think we can all learn from all this is that, whatever the news may be, in this day and age of fast information, it is worthwhile to stop and check first.

Online forms not original?

Last Monday, I took my parents to the Immigrations Department to have their passports done. As I had blogged some time back, my experience dealing with the department was pleasant. The experience on Monday was similar. The service provided by the department was efficient, prompt and pleasant. The whole process took less than one hour much to my parents' delight.

However, there was one thing that I found somewhat "odd". My parents had to fill a form in order to get their passports. It was the same form that I had to fill up when I renewed mine. So, I went to the department's website to download and print the form. My parents had the form filled up at home before going to the department.

Here comes the odd part. When we got there, the officer at the counter informed us that the downloaded form could not be used. Instead we have to use the "original" form. I find this pretty absurd. Why have the forms online for people to download and print, when people have to use the original forms?

Ramadhan is here again...

I know this post is somewhat late as Ramadhan has started on Saturday, but nonetheless, may I wish all Muslim friends and visitors a blessed Ramadhan.

Where can I get this?

I received this picture in my e-mail. Any idea where to get one of these delicious-looking keyboards?

Reading Room

Two of the books I edited when I was with IKIM are reviewed in a column called "Reading Room" in The Star. Incidentally, these were the last two books that I edited during my tenure at the institute.

Unfortunately, I could not find any links online for this column. As such, I am reproducing (by retyping) the part which featured the two books.

READING ROOM

Compiled by ROUWEN LIM

Food and Technological Progress

Author: Multiple authors; edited by Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen Shaikh Mohd Salleh, Azrina Sobian

Publisher: MPH Group Publishing

193 pages

We all need to eat to live. Common food-related issues that are raised globally include famine and poverty, nutrition, ethics, and shortages. The subject of food in relation to Islamic beliefs is rarely, if ever, raised in detail. This book delivers an Islamic perspective on the subject of food security; the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food; and the ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways. It maintains that it is important to fulfil the criteria of halalan tayyiban (lawful and of good quality).

Genealogy and Preservation of the Progeny

Author: Multiple authors; edited by Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen Shaikh Mohd Salleh

Publisher: MPH Group Publishing

223 pages

This is a guide to upholding the tenets of Islamic religion against the challenges of the biotechnology age. It kicks off its argument with referencing Islam as a way of life and goes on to explore various dimensions of biotechnology in relation to preservation of the progeny. It is likely the first book to link one of the objectives of Islamic law, maqasid al-shariah (preservation and safeguarding of the progeny), to advancements in biotechnology.

That one decision in life...

I am somewhat nostalgic, perhaps overly-nostalgic, this afternoon. For some reason, I got myself thinking about my memories of Scotland, a place where I called home for nearly half a decade. Without actually realising it, it has been 13 years since I left Scotland. Time does actually fly, I guess.

Never in my wildest dreams when I was growing up would I think that I would wound up in Scotland. But alas, that decision that I made in December 1991 changed the course of my life. Regrets I have none. Only fond memories of the lochs and the bens of Scotland, as well as its unique culture and friendly people that I got to know over the years.

While it is true that there is no place like home, and home to me is Malaysia, I have to say that if ever there is a second home for me, then Scotland would be the place.

H1N1 music video

Message through music.

It's funny but I hope it drives home the message.

Misdirected mail

This morning just before leaving for work, there was a letter in my mailbox. It was quite odd, because usually the postman arrives around noon. Most definitely, the postman does not send letters that early.

The thought that came to mind almost immediately is that in all probability, this letter was sent to another address (probably one of my neighbour's). This neighbour (whoever he or she is) probably put the letter into my mailbox on his/her way to work. I am very grateful for this neighbourly act.

However, I am a bit saddened for two reasons.

First, the date on the stamp is 22nd July. That was 15 days ago. As far as I know, the mail service in the country only takes two to three days to arrive at its destination. Did the person who got my mail keep it for almost two weeks? Or did the mail itself arrive late?

Second, I found the envelope opened. Who opened my letter up? Could it have been an honest mistake? Or was it the act of someone curious? Whatever the reason may be, I find this worrying. Fortunately the contents which included a letter, a few documents that I needed to sign and a cheque were left intact (at least I think there was nothing missing).

I was a bit upset over this in the morning. Not only the letter (which I have been waiting for since early July) arrived late, its private contents were, most probably, irresponsibly scrutinised by someone.

I have to say that I am grateful that the letter is finally in my hands. But this is an episode that has left me rather suspicious.

Double H threats

Most people's concern in the country lately is the haze and the Influenze A (H1N1) virus. I call this the "Double H threats".

The roads today were relatively empty. For some reason, not many cars were on the road. Traffic was pretty smooth. A friend said it could be due to the fear of H1N1. It feels somewhat surreal to see Kuala Lumpur with very little traffic on a normal day. The city was not deserted, but the roads were certainly rather quiet.

Quite a few schools, offices and institutions are closed. A man working at a kopitiam near my office told me that a few offices at our office complex are shut down for a few days. He wondered out loud if it could be down to H1N1. Later in the morning, I found out that my sister's faculty in Kuantan is also closed down for a week because of H1N1.

Just after 4 p.m., I drove to Universiti Malaya for my lecture at the Faculty of Science. I noticed the dark grey hazy skies. The haze has enveloped the city for the past couple of weeks. Brief rain brought some respite, but only temporarily. One could smell smoke in the air.

When I arrived, I noticed quite a few students coughing. I'm not sure whether this was due to the haze or flu (hopefully not H1N1). During the lecture, I could hear a number of students coughing from time to time.

As I switched on Facebook not too long before I type this blog entry, a doctor friend wrote on her status:

H1N1... getting worse... HUKM at least 15 patients infected... including one doctor. Some patients resistant to Tamiflu!

One does not need to be a genius to figure out that the situation is not improving. And yet, I find it ironic that many of us seem oblivious of these Double H threats.

Be safe everyone. Stay indoors if there is no reason to be outside.

In memoriam: Dr Alias Mohd Yatim

You have to admit, Facebook does have its advantages. It was through this Internet application that I learnt of the death of Dr Alias Mohd Yatim albeit somewhat late. Dr Alias passed away on 28th July 2009.

Dr Alias was perhaps the longest serving chairman of my secondary school's Parent-Teacher Association. My father knew him quite well. When my sister was in school, both of them became quite close as they waited for their daughters to finish the day's schooling.

His eldest daughter is one year older than myself, and his youngest was the same age as my sister (14 years my junior). I know three of his daughters quite well. In fact, his second daughter Arni Aryani Sarlis was in my batch in school. His passing is most definitely a great loss to his family.

In my professional career, I have met him several times during academic seminars. He lectured at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and more recently the Open University of Malaysia (OUM). I am sure his students will miss him dearly.

A childhood friend, Wong Chee Hong, would never miss visiting his home in Kulim during Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Dr Alias was always a father figure to the friends of his daughters. We are always welcomed to his home.

My only regret is that I came to know of his passing rather late. I was unable to pay my last respects. Nonetheless, I pray that his ruh will be placed amongst those who are promised paradise in the Hereafter. And to his family who mourn his passing, I pray that they would remain strong.

Al-Fatihah.

A poem: "A Man's Trail"

I found the following poem from an online source some years back, and read this as one of the capsules for Radio IKIM. To my mind, this is one of the most touching Islamic poems that I have ever come across. The poem was quite popular back then, and I am putting it up again as a reminder for us all. After all, we need to be reminded from time to time so as to not stray from the right path. (A special thanks to Alawiyah Ahmad for reminding me about this poem after all these years).

Note that the author of this poem goes by the name of Dee77. I believe the author is a Singaporean. If anyone has details about the author, do let me know. Thank you.

A MAN'S TRAIL

This is the story of an average human

From his story there is so much to learn

"I work through life working day and night

Let me tell you of my miserable plight

Before that, let me thank Allah Most Merciful too

That's why I'm sharing my story with you

From young I was told I had to be the best

I must learn to score for my exams and tests

I studied hard to be the top in class

So that my friends will respect me with all the fuss

In my youth days, I was actually insecure

So much temptations and many are impure

I prayed sparingly but it didn't help me

Why couldn't I feel that Allah was watching me?

I wanted to be the cream of the cake

I didn't allow myself to make a single mistake

I wanted more friends and also be praised

When I didn't get complimented, I felt so dazed

I began to doubt myself again and again

Was I not good enough or was I insane?

I was feeling inadequate for my lack of looks

Was I too fat, short, or did my smile give the spooks?

I learnt to dress up in trendy clothes bought from stores

I wanted people to look at me and say 'wow' in awe

I wanted to be adored, praised and be popular

Success to me is to be top scholar

I wanted to shower myself in fame

I also hoped to earn a big name

I studied hard and topped my school high

I believe that to make friends, success is a tool

Whenever I was with friends and my date was just beside

I felt the pressure to display my witty side

I'm afraid my friends would leave me if I'm not nice enough

So I bought them gifts and other good stuff

Branded clothes, car, intelligence and friends indeed

You may think I have all that I need

But I'm still unhappy inside and I don't even know why

Was I not good enough, too ugly or too shy?

At work, I pleased my boss to show him I was the best

I treated my colleagues lunch and sacrificed all my rest

I was afraid that my boss disliked me if I lazed about

In front of him, I did my best and tried to stand out

Then I climbed the corporate ladder and be my own boss

Finally, I was successful but I was still in a loss

I was cheerful outside but scared inside

I was not even sure what I'm doing is right

I looked around to see all my best friends

I wonder if they still like me if my wealth ends?

I cannot bear to face rejection or even fail

If I become poor and old, will my friendships be stale?

I work hard, but who am I trying to impress?

The fear of losing my reputation is causing me stress

I want friends to respect me forever and ever

I could imagine my friendship to sever

But alas! My business failed me terribly

I was down with illness and suffered painfully

All the people whom I thought were faithful friends

Left me because my status has no stands

I'm left alone and wonder whether it is true?

To make good friends, wealth matters too?

I looked at the side of my bed and saw the Qur'an

Guilt enveloped me because the Qur'an I have read none

Since I was alone and feeling so bored

I explored the Qur'an to know about Allah the Lord

True Muslims friends start to befriend me

It doesn't matter whoever I'll be

They accept me and love me despite my flaws

I don't have to make them like me by using force

I don't have to impress Allah with my witty charm

I already know Allah loves us and protects us from harm

With Allah's help, we can attain peace in self

So let's put doubt back in Satan's shelf

If there are problems with work and with men

Please remember that it's part of Allah's plan

Ask from Allah because He listens to us always

Allah will help us with His Kindness and Grace

I met a man who is unfortunately blind

He then advised me with words so kind

He said, 'Love yourself and be grateful for what you are

You owe it to Allah for coming this far

Allah loves us and makes us Muslims

But many people don't appreciate it, it seems

It doesn't matter if we're poor or earn less

Allah loves who we are and He cares

Don't do good deeds if you do it for show

Or else your spiritual status will sink below

If you're humble, do good deeds and pray to Allah Most Wise

You can earn yourself a place in Paradise

Good Muslims overcome worries and insecurity

They are unfazed even if they are treated with hostility

Why be a slave to affluence and glamour?

Why worry if we are not witty with humour?

Always be yourself, dear brother, have no pretence

Allah will still love you, even if you don't have any fans

Why be afraid, dear brother, when friends shun away

When Allah is there for you it's always that way.'

After the blind man left, my mind started working

I was still surprised and truth starts coming

It seems that I may be a boss or lying here poor

but good Muslims greet me with salaam, a smile and no fear

I kept wondering, what is success to me?

Is it about having friends, or earning a good degree?

I had all these and yet I was not satisfied

Could it be because that Allah was not on my side?

Then I realize that I have been foolish

My INSECURITY is the one that was my leash

Why was I ungrateful to Allah Most Great?

Allah's helping us all the way as Fate

Oh! I'm ashamed for being so proud

When my success was actually a passing cloud!

Now I realize my great big mistake

So I do more good deeds now with sincerity and no fake

Let's learn from this life and tread the virtuous road

Remember that this world is only a temporary abode

Now I live through my life devoted to the Islamic cause

And repent, so Allah will love me despite my flaws."

Remember true success is not about having lots of friends

In fact, it is about passing Allah's tests

Happiness is not about showing off your generous part

In fact, it's about the ATTITUDE of your heart

Say: 'I like who I am and I'm glad to be me

I love being a Muslim and Allah sets my heart free!

I can feel in my mind and in my little heart bone

I confess - with Allah around, I know I'm never alone'.

-Written by Dee77

Happy birthday, Abah

Today is my father's 60th birthday. This entry is just a short note to say thank you for being there all these years.

Happy birthday, Abah. May happiness always come your way.

This amuses me

From time to time, I find something in the Internet that I find amusing. And the following is one of them...

Professional

I have come across many people who claim to practise professionalism when it comes to carrying out their duties. I often hear them say, "I will be professional when dealing with this matter" or "I can be professional about this" or "When it comes to work, I am a professional".

I truly and honestly wonder, when we mention the word "professional", do we really know what this word mean? More often than not, I find people misuse and misunderstood this word.

Some equate professionalism with power and superiority that come with a certain position. Some regard professionalism as a means to create castes and cliques in an organisation. To me, those with this myopic understanding does not understand the meaning of being a professional. Rather, they are confused between being professional and being bossy.

A professional is someone who is able to create a conducive working environment, and not someone who creates animosity, uneasiness and feuds, thus giving unnecessary headaches to the upper management.

A professional is someone who checks all the facts before making a conclusion. Even in the Quran, we are reminded that:

O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done.

[Al-Hujurat, 49: 6]

A professional is someone who is able to facilitate matters efficiently, effectively and promptly, He/she does not procrastinate or delay matters. As a matter of fact, he/she who is a professional would ensure that the matters need taking care of are expedited, and know how to prioritise.

A professional is someone who does what is said. He/she is a believer of action speaks louder than words, and not the other way around.

A professional is someone who does not feel threatened when there is someone better even if that person is lower in rank. He/she would instead treat this situation as an opportunity to learn and improve, rather than treating the situation as a threat.

A professional is someone who is able to take criticisms. In other words, a professional's ego does not dominate. After all, no one is perfect and flawless. Criticism is a part of continuous self-improvement.

Of course, this list can be longer. The reason why I listed the above is simply a reminder to myself and others. Do not simply claim to be a professional if we are unable to meet the above "requirements" so to speak. Personally, I have never claimed to be a professional. I find it odd to be saying the words, "I am a professional" because it sounds so egoistic and aloof. To me, let others judge your actions whether you are a professional or otherwise.

My concern in my line of work has always been to make things easy for others. That has always been the maxim in my working life, i.e. "memudahkan, jangan menyusahkan" as outlined by the following Hadith related by Ahmad:

Make things simple, and do not make things difficult. Give news that makes the heart happy, and not news that worries the heart. And one should obey, and not feud with others.

Body language

The first day of interview for Yayasan Ilmuwan ended at around 5 p.m. which saw 21 of the 34 candidates called for the interview attending. Today's interview was for the post of research executive. The candidates had to go through three stages of interview. The first was the personality test, followed by the writing test (to test the candidates' flair for writing in Malay and English) and the third was the face-to-face interview. Alhamdulillah, we found three candidates to be suitable for this post.

Anyway, the point that I would like to share here is the importance of body language when attending an interview. It is important for candidates to remember that their body language "show" a certain aspect of their character. Slouching, continuous scratching of the arm and fidgeting would easily be detected by interviewees. Admittedly some of these "movements" are done subconsciously. Having said that, I think it's always crucial that candidates be conscious with regard to their body language.

Just my two cents...

Aquaria: Trip 3

It has been a long while since I last took my family on an outing in Kuala Lumpur. Well, shopping doesn't count.

Last night, my eldest son Amir Husaini told me that he wanted to see fishes swimming in water. So, I decided to bring the family out to Aquaria. This would in fact be Husaini's third trip to Aquaria. The first visit was blogged here. As for my youngest son Ammar Qusyairi, this would be his second trip there.

There weren't that many people there compared to the previous visits. Husaini was of course excited with the various fishes and other marine life that he saw. He was particularly interested in the big fishes such as the sharks and manta rays.

Qusyairi on the other hand was more interested in the people getting excited with the exhibits. He wasn't paying much attention to the fishes, rather his attention was fixated to the excitement of other children.

All in all, I think the boys had a good time. I will take them there again when they are slightly older, so that they'll be able to appreciate the marine life better.

Choosing the best option

There are many times that we make choices that change our direction in life.

I had always wanted to be a doctor when I was schooling. But immediately after the SPM examination, I made the choice of going to Glasgow, rendering my early ambition null and void.

All the while when I was in Glasgow, I had always envisioned myself working for the oil company that sponsored me. But almost immediately after returning home, I changed my mind despite getting an offer to work in a chemistry laboratory. I chose instead to go into the academic world.

It has been 13 years since I made that decision. And during this period, I made other "crazy" decisions as well.

And all these have indeed changed my life for the better, alhamdulillah. While the choice that I made in 1996 did not seem to be logical, I can say that I have no regrets whatsoever despite many of my friends questioning my sanity for choosing the path I chose.

To those who have stood by my "crazy" decision those many years ago, including my family and my closest friends who have helped me to go through some difficult times back then, allow me to say thank you.

No doubt choosing what is best for us may be difficult. Often we do not want our decision to disappoint others. There are times when the choice seems to be paved with difficulties ahead.

But sometimes, we have to put ourselves first when deciding what is best for us. Choose, and leave the rest to Allah SWT, i.e. by observing tawakal. I am often reminded that it is better to make a wrong decision than not making one at all.

Back on tv

A year ago, as was blogged here and here, I was involved in the production of a documentary entitled "Rahsia Anatomi".

I had just been informed that the programme is now on air at 9 a.m. every Tuesday on TV1. The documentary has 13 episodes altogether.

I missed the first episode already as I was not informed earlier. Too bad I won't be able to watch the rest of the episodes as well as I'd be working.

Mondays

What is it with people and their dislike for Mondays?

I noticed many of us complain when we get to Monday. Quite a number of us start Monday rather reluctantly.

Frankly, I don't believe this is a good attitude to have.

For me, I am grateful that I have been given another day to live. The fact that I get to start the week breathing is reason enough for me to be thankful.

If people say, "Oh, no. It's already Monday", I would say, "Alhamdulillah, it's Monday."

For that matter, I would say "alhamdulillah" for the other days of the week as well.

Pi joke

One of the things that intrigue me academically is the study of the history of the irrational number, pi. So, I find the following to be quite funny.I guess there is such a thing as a pi joke.

The search is on

I have to say that it is going to be quite a task to sift through the 400 or so applications that we have received up till the closing date (yesterday). Currently, the summary for the applications is being compiled, and the next step would be the shortlisting process.

I hope to have that done by Monday, so that we can fix the date for the interview by the third week of the month. Of course, this is just my wish but the final say belongs to the big boss.

I am aware that some of the applicants have stumbled upon this blog when they searched for Yayasan Ilmuwan. A note for all applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview.

If you are one of the lucky ones to be called for the interview, may I share the following advice:

1. Be presentable, i.e. dress smartly.
2. Be punctual.
3. Bring all your original certificates.
4. Equip yourself with general knowledge.
5. Speak confidently but politely.
6. Be honest. If you are not sure or you do not know something, just say so. It is unwise to try to guess or kelentong because that will only put you in a bad light.

All the above are of course common sense. Please be aware that we are looking for someone who not only possesses good grades, but also someone who has the potential to perform in carrying out his/her responsibilities.

As an aside, Yayasan Ilmuwan's website is now up and running at www.yi.org.my.

Should you receive the call for the interview, I wish you all the very best.

Small but significant pointer: Don't let your words shout

In everything that we do, politeness is important. We have to be polite, not only when we speak, but also when we write.

Those familiar with netiquette would be aware that using capital letters is akin to shouting. Therefore, even when we communicate with others using e-mails or chat programmes, it is important that we do not use capital letters, because if we do, we give the impression that we are shouting to the other person.

Now, imagine that you are a jobhunter applying for a job. Would you write in your application using capital letters to the organisation or company with the job vacancy? I think common sense would dictate that we should not. Nevertheless, I have found one application with the following message:

Dear Mr/Mrs,

THIS IS MY RESUME AND COVER LETTER FOR JOB APPLICATION...

THANK'S...

To me, the message is somewhat crude and sounds like shouting. And I am not even commenting on the grammar.

I believe it is important that jobhunters polish their letter-writing skills and know the basic of netiquette especially when applying online. Don't take the smallest of things for granted. Every letter in every word in every sentence of the application will draw the picture of the applicant and give prospective employers a certain degree of what to expect from the applicant.

Choose your words carefully. And present your words politely.

Two points to remember

I thought I wouldn't be blogging about how to apply for jobs anymore, and I guess I thought wrong.

Anyway, I would like to highlight two more points. These may seem trivial but they do carry weight if the prospective employer is particular. More so when the number of applicants is high.

Point number one, when sending in applications over e-mail, make sure that you apply to one employer at a time. Do not c.c. one application to several employers in one e-mail. One applicant actually did this when sending her application. Aside from Yayasan Ilmuwan, she also sent the same application to two other companies. The message in the e-mail is a generic message, something along the line of "applying for a suitable post".

My advice is to never do this. Send individual applications to the respective companies and organisations. Take the trouble to address individual company or organisation, and state the actual post that you are applying for. The applicant may be thinking that it is good to just c.c. one application to several companies and organisations, but the impression that the applicant gave is that he/she is lazy and just trying out his/her luck.

Even if you still want to send one application to several companies and organisations, please be smarter. Use blind carbon copy (b.c.c.) in your e-mail. This way, those receiving your application would not be aware of other applications. But still, one must state what position one is applying for. Bear in mind that the prospective employer has to sift through hundreds of applications for more than one position.

Point number two, when attaching files, make sure that the files are properly (and decently) named. Remember you are applying for a job, not writing an e-mail to a friend. Improperly and indecently named files will give the wrong impression to the prospective employer.

Like I said, these two points may seem insignificant, but they do give a certain impression to the companies and organisations that one is applying for. Always remember that there are hundreds of applicants applying for the same position. It is important to give out the right impression from the way we send in our applications. Otherwise, one would risk not being shortlisted for interview.

Final tip, hopefully: Be thorough

This is essentially an extension to what I wrote a few days ago.

It is important that we check and recheck any document that we want to send in order to ensure that there is no mistake. Surprisingly, quite a few applicants sent in their applications twice, and one actually sent the application thrice. When I compare the original submissions to the ones sent later, there are a few new information here and there added in the applicants' curriculum vitae. The impression that I get is that the applicants updated their information after the original submission, and reubmitted their applications.

Again, this highlights the applicants' lack of thoroughness in submitting their applications. Applicants should first update and check their curriculum vitae and all related documents before sending them in. When one resends the application, it is as if he or she was not thorough the first time.

And please, never ever do the following mistake. An applicant e-mailed in the application three times. The first submission had an attachment containing a curriculum vitae. The second submission contained a message saying that the first submission was erroneous because the curriculum vitae actually belonged to someone else, and hence the second e-mail contained the right attachment. The third submission had no messages whatsoever, and contained an attachment which in essence is the same as the second attachment. The only difference is the photograph in the last e-mail is different compared to the second one.

Now, if you were an employer looking for an employee, would you employ someone who is not careful, thorough and meticulous?

I think not.

Yet another pointer: Send appropriate photos

Thus far, we received close to 200 applications for the four vacancies that we have. One point that I feel I must emphasis is the need to send in an appropriate photo to accompany the application.

Most people would use passport-sized photographs which, to me, is the best thing to do. The passport-sized photographs are suitable for job applications. Some may argue that this kind of photos are formal and emotionless. But to me, if you are serious in applying for a professional position, then this kind of photographs is the best.

Having said that, I have noticed some applicants who send passport-sized photographs which show them wearing collarless t-shirts with writings on them. Unfortunately, such depiction give the impression that the applicants are not serious especially if they are applying for management positions.

There are also applicants who send photographs which have been cropped or photoshopped. There is nothing wrong with this, of course, but again please make sure that the photos are appropriate for the purpose of applying for jobs.

The reason I raise this is that there are applicants who send photos of them posing in a rather unsuitable manner. The first thing that came to my mind was, "Is this person applying for the position of a researcher, or is this person applying to become a model?"

The fact of the matter is photographs will project the applicants' image and will give the prospective employer the first impression of those applying for the vacant positions. Therefore, it is important to project the right first impression to the prospective employer.

Do a little bit of homework. Know the nature of business of the employer. Do not send casual photographs if the employer is looking for a serious and professional employee. The safest bet is to dress smart (no collarless t-shirts though) and take a passport-sized photograph.

Another pointer: Spell it right

This is basically an addendum to the blog post yesterday.

Back in the UK, when I was secretary to a student's organisation, I was reminded by the president to ensure that the spellings for everyone's name is correct and accurate. Since then, I have been giving extra attention in making sure that I got everyone's name correctly spelt.

The same applies when we write to organisations and companies. If one is a jobseeker, and is writing to the organisation or company that one is applying to, it is imperative that one makes sure that the name of the potential employer is correct, right down to each individual letter.

For example, the organisation that I am attached to is Yayasan Ilmuwan. It is a very typical mistake that many people make when they spell the word "Ilmuwan" as "Ilmuan". In Bahasa Melayu, there is no such word as ilmuan contrary to what many people may think. Ilmuwan means "scholar(s)". Essentially, the suffix wan when added to a noun or a verb would turn the word into a noun that refers to a person.

Common examples include angkasawan, olahragawan, dermawan, rupawan, agamawan, etc. Hence, the same rule applies to ilmuwan. I suspect the problem arises because ilmu ends with the letter "u", and when one pronounces ilmuwan, there is a tendency to think that the word is spelt without the "w" that comes after "u".

I notice most applicants who write to Yayasan Ilmuwan made this common mistake, i.e. by spelling "Ilmuan" instead of "Ilmuwan". The mistake in the spelling highlights the lack of attention given to the smallest of details.

Perhaps, what struck me as even weirder is that there are also applicants who got the name wrong altogether. There are at least two applicants who I noticed addressed their applications to "Yayasan Ilmu".

What happened to the wan? It's one thing to drop the "w", but to drop three letters altogether is simply unbelievable.

The correct spelling for the names of organisations and companies should not be taken lightly. There are also organisations and companies which have spellings that may be grammatically wrong or for historical reasons are spelt using the old system of spelling. PETRONAS as we know is the short form of Petroliam Nasional Berhad. Let's not be a smart alec and change the spelling "Petroliam" into "Petroleum" in this instance. Or the word "Bandaraya" in the case of Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur should not be changed into "Bandar Raya" even though the latter is the correct form of spelling according to the latest system of spelling.

I am sure none of us would be happy if our names are spelt wrong, so treat the spelling for these names just like the way we would want people to spell our names.

Correctly.

Tips for jobhunters

Currently, the organisation that I am attached with has a few vacancies. We have advertised in the newspapers yesterday, and I have received nearly 50 applications thus far which are sent through the e-mail.

The number of applicants goes to show how things are currently. People are almost desperate for jobs, that they are willing to apply anything under the sun, as long as they have something to hold on to. I welcome applicants who are willing to strive and learn new things.

Unfortunately, it saddens me to see that quite a number of these applicants have some basic problems when it comes to applying for jobs.

Some of them did not even bother to write a covering letter. To me, while e-mail can be used for applications, it is important that they also include a covering letter which states at least the job that they are applying for. At the very least, the covering letter is a form of courtesy to the potential employer, and it shows the level of professionalism that the applicant has. A few of these applicants even sent empty e-mails with no text whatsoever, save for the attachment containing their curriculum vitae. I think this is sheer laziness. An applicant should never assume that the employer knows what they are applying for, and an applicant should never think that he/she is the only one applying.

The second aspect that I noticed many applicants took for granted is the use of language in writing letters and e-mails. Great care must be taken when communicating, especially with potential employers. This at the very least gives a fairly good first impression. An abrupt and rude letter and/or e-mail will most probably scare the potential employer away from even shortlisting the applicant. What more if the job requires communication with other people. How can an employer trust the applicant with communicating with other people if the first impression shown in his/her letter/e-mail is bad? E-mail may be an informal way of communicating, but still one must still observe certain ethics in writing e-mails.

The third aspect I find lacking is a good command of language. Some of the applicants do not seem to take the effort to check the grammatical and spelling errors in their resumes or letters. Imagine writing "executive research" when one should write "research executive", or writing "2nd class honest" instead of "2nd class honours". This kind of careless errors show that the applicant is not careful and/or lazy in rechecking his/her documents. If the person is applying for a job as a research executive, which among others requires the person to be extra careful and meticulous, then the errors in the documents will probably show them to be otherwise.

So, if you're looking for a job, make sure that:
(i) Your curriculum vitae is accompanied by a covering letter.
(ii) Write using proper language even when you are communicating using e-mail.
(iii) Check and recheck your documents before sending them to potential employers.

A good indication

Last week, shortly after class, a student of mine walked up to me. He is an international student, and he said, "My friends and I have been wondering..."

"Yes?" I asked.

"What course will you be teaching next semester?"

"As far as I have been informed, I will still be teaching this subject."

"Any other subjects besides this?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Owh."

I noticed his disappointment, and promptly asked, "Why did you ask?"

"We thought we wanted to enrol in the subjects that you'll be teaching."

I just smiled in response.

I have been asked to teach this subject, History and Philosophy of Science, by the university. And I was asked to make things simple. This subject is considered a killer subject by many students of the Faculty of Science. I have tried my best, and now we're coming towards the end of the short semester. If the above dialogue is any indication, I would think that I may have succeeded to a certain extent.

And of course, the final exam result will paint the true story.

A blogger's dilemma

I have things that I wanted to blog on. But by the time I look at the dashboard, I have run out of things to write even before I started writing.

I want to keep blogging. But every time I put my fingers on the keyboard, I realise that I don't have the words to say.

I will be back when I find the words.

Irn Bru

When I was studying in Glasgow more than a decade ago, I was introduced to the many facets of its unique culture and charms. Most of us would know some of these, which include bagpipes, kilts, Scottish songs, etc.

And it was around this time I got acquainted with Irn Bru. Dubbed "Scotland's other national drink" - the other being whiskey, in case you're wondering - Irn Bru, as Wikipedia puts it, is a popular carbonated soft drink. The brand is also known for its innovative and wacky advertisments.

A colleague (thanks En Lan!) recently went to the UK for a holiday, and he bought me a can of Irn Bru at a town called Inverness (which is very near Loch Ness). Irn Bru used to be a staple soft drink for me back in those days. So seeing the can somehow made me nostalgic, and brings back a lot of memories.

Here's to Irn Bru (and to good old memories of Bonnie Scotland)!

Well-deserved Datukship

I just would like to express my happiness and extend my congratulations to my former boss at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), who is the Deputy Director-General of the institute, on the Datukship he received from the Yang Dipertuan Agong.

In recent weeks, people have been talking about how some would go distance to buy titles like Datuk. But in the case of Datuk Nik Mustapha Haji Nik Hassan, he truly deserves the accolade for his hard work and integrity. I have had the pleasure of working as a staff under him for close to eight years, and in that time, I have indeed learnt a lot from him. To my mind, this Datukship is actually long overdue.

Congratulations, Datuk.

[Looks like I'll have to adjust to calling him Datuk Nik from now on].

In two newspapers

Perhaps for the first time, I was in two different newspapers yesterday which highlighted two different issues.

The first was Berita Harian which carried a paper that I presented at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) a few weeks ago. The paper was on guidelines for parents in safeguarding their children in light of developments in ICT. The write-up in Berita Harian can be read here.

Meanwhile in Utusan Malaysia, the issue of stem cell transplant (as well as organ transplant) was carried yesterday. This was from a forum I attended at UKM Medical Centre in April, and the article can be read here.

There was also an interview done after the forum that I blogged about last month which was featured in Utusan Malaysia on the 5th of May. The link to this interview can be found here.

Philosophyphile

When I was in my teens, I used to read about philosophy and the various Greek philosophers that everyone has at least heard of - people like Socrates, his student Plato, and Plato's student Aristotle. Although I may not have understood the philosophical thinking of these ancient philosophers, the subject of philosophy certainly got me intrigued.

When I did my undergraduate studies, the focus on philosophy of science was absent even though in truth, the science that I did have a lot of philosophical underpinnings in it.

A few years back, when I was doing my master's degree, I went back to philosophy even though the focus wasn't so much on Socratic, Platonic or Aristotlean thoughts. My thesis was more of a comparison between the modern western philosophies of science which include the views of the logical positivists, empiricists, Karl Popper (and his falsification) and Thomas Kuhn (with his paradigm shift), and that of the modern Islamic thinkers such as Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, Syed Naquib al-Attas, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ziauddin Sardar and Osman Bakar.

Beginning this semester, I have been teaching the subject of philosophy and history of science to the students of the Faculty of Science of the Universiti Malaya. I find that I am once again intrigued by philosophical thoughts of the ancient thinkers, going back to the pre-Socratic philosophers such as Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Leucippus and Democritus (and many more), all the way to the Chinese sages like Confucious and Mozi, all the way to the classical Muslim philosophical thoughts of al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, ar-Razi, al-Ghazali, Ibn Rushd and others.

I have to admit that reading and teaching philosophy have been very satisfying mentally. Last night, I made a pit stop at Kinokuniya at KLCC, and bought myself several books on philosophy. This subject is indeed fascinating. It may be a bit heavy as it requires a lot of thinking, but it has indeed broadened my perspective on many things. Call me a lover of philosophy - philosophyphile - if you will.

And to quote Socrates, "I know that I know nothing". That's why I'm trying to read on philosophy as much as I could.

Akhlaq

We often complain about bad things. And attention is always given to negative things. Yet, ironically, we seldom if ever highlight good, positive and examplary experiences. That is what I want to blog on today. Something good and something that is refreshing. Something that goes to show that there are still people out there who are genuinely virtuous, selfless and possess good character.

A few weeks ago, I was in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. I was there to see Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Albakri (popularly known as Ustaz Zulkifli Albakri) who is a lecturer at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). USIM is located in a relatively new area, and there is no public transport as far as I noticed.

I called up Dr Zulkifli when I reached there. He wasn't at the faculty, but instead he asked me to wait for him at the guardhouse. At the guardhouse, there was an Arab man waiting for a taxi or something. As there were no taxis forthcoming, he started to ask anyone who was coming out of the gate for a lift to the Nilai commuter station. I was unfamiliar with Nilai, and hence I wasn't able to assist him.

Shortly after, Dr Zulkifli arrived in his car. He told me to follow him back home so that we could have our discussion there. But before that, the Arab man asked Dr Zulkifli for a lift. Dr Zulkifli told him that he wasn't going to the commuter station. And yet, he still offered the Arab man assistance. He told him to get into his car (while I followed from behind). Upon reaching his house, Dr Zulkifli asked one of his students who was assisting him in a writing project to send the Arab man to the commuter station. And even before that, Dr Zulkifli offered him a glass of fresh orange to quench his thirst after waiting in the sun for quite a while.

Frankly, I was humbled by this show of virtuous character on the part of Dr Zulkifli. How many of us would assist, what more be hospitable to a total stranger? In this day and age, when crimes are aplenty and the world "out there" seems to be no longer safe, more often than not we tend to be extra careful, usually to the extend that we are unable to distinguish between people who sincerely need our assistance and those who are out to harm or cheat us.

Dr Zulkifli is a pious, humble, soft-spoken alim whose character is truly examplary. I saw with my own eyes how he translates the teaching of Islam into his character. And to see such a character with a virtuous akhlaq in this day and age is really an eye-opener.

Blogging versus other things

Guilty as charged! I have not been updating any of my blogs.

While blogging provides a platform (or perhaps more accurately, an outlet) for me to voice out on matters that I feel important, this activity has to take the back seat for the time being. I may not be able to blog as frequent as before.

Family, work, studies and a few other things have to be given the priority.

My wife has yet to fully recover from her illnesses. While her sinusitis has been treated by the surgery she underwent, the aftereffects from pneumonia and bronchitis are still there. The specialist who is treating her has given her some new medications to treat the symptoms she's having now. And she still has a number of follow-ups in the coming weeks.

Workwise, things are pretty busy. I am trying to get a number of titles published by the year's end. And to do this mostly on my own can be quite time-consuming. Fortunately, one of the executives at the office is kind enough to assist me when she's not tied up to her actual duties. Aside from this, there are a few seminars that I will be involved with in the coming months. And I will have to sit down to prepare working papers for these seminars.

Lecturing part-time at Universiti Malaya is also taking up quite a chunk of my time. The subject I'm teaching, "History and Philosophy of Science", is a killer subject for most of the students. I spend up to six hours at night to prepare for the lectures. I want the students to understand the subject in simple terms and I try to put things in perspective so that they would be able to digest the subject better. I have been told by a few of the students themselves (some of whom are resitting for the subject) that I am doing a good job so far. I hope they are right, and we shall see if they are right from the results of their exam.

My PhD thesis is also something that requires a lot of attention. I am hoping that I'll be able to complete at least the first draft of the thesis by the end of the year. It may sound crazy judging from the things that I have to do, but then again some have said that I am crazy to be taking in so much at any given time. My thoughts? I don't think I am crazy. Eccentric maybe. Workaholic definitely.

On top of all this, two deadlines await. By the 31st July, I will have to submit the manuscript for my third novel which happens to be the sequel for my second novel. By the 31st August, I will have to submit another manuscript for a novel-writing competition. Both are science fiction novels, and I think I'll be sticking to this genre for the coming years.

This coming Thursday, I'll be at the Read Malaysia 2009 book fair at the Malaysian International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC) at the MINES between 2.30 to 3.30 p.m. for a meet-the-author session. If you have the time, do drop by and say hi (and buy my novel).

Phew. No wonder I have been getting less and less sleep and rest these days. With these things to do, I guess that's why blogging comes out bottom of the list of things to do. When it comes to blogging versus everything else that I do, I think everyone could see which of the two becomes the priority. I don't want to promise anything, but I will try to blog if I have the time and energy left in me. Do drop in from time to time though. There just may be something new here.

DUKE

I find the new Duta - Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) or the E33 extremely useful. I travel from my home/office in Setiawangsa to Universiti Malaya quite frequently, and since my sister started her short semester classes at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Gombak, I have also started to commute there from home as well.

The E33 saved a lot of time spent on the road. This expressway connects major highways and roads which otherwise would require one to drive into the city to get across to these places. And when one is in the city, one would likely be trapped in the customary traffic jam of Kuala Lumpur, massive or otherwise.

Essentially, the E33 enables road users to avoid entering the city. In the past, without the E33, it will take me up to 45 minutes on a good day to reach Universiti Malaya. Nowadays, with the E33, I only need around 20 minutes. Likewise, the travelling time to IIUM has been halved with this expressway.

And all it costs is RM2, which to me is money well spent (considering the amount of time one saves).

Snippets of updates

Wow, I didn't realise that I have not posted any entry here for quite a while. Since my wife was discharged from hospital last Wednesday, I had to do a lot of catching up at work. So much needs to be done, so much so that I was not able to focus on other things which are more personal in nature.

Just a few updates:

Alhamdulillah, my wife is recovering well from the surgery last week. She has started working today. Hopefully, her health will continue to improve.

As for the complaint letter I sent regarding the service at a Petronas service station, well both the station manager and the area manager contacted me to apologise. How on earth they got my phone number is still a mystery, although I think I can figure that one out. Anyway, kudos to the both of them for their prompt - and polite - response to the complaint, and for being professional in tackling the issue. I have to say that I am happy that the matter has been resolved.

On a more academic note, I have begun my lectures for the short semester at Universiti Malaya. I find that after a few semesters as a part-time lecturer at Malaysia's oldest university, I am beginning to feel at home and at ease with this role. It's an interesting experience that I really enjoy and cherish.

And finally, that break that I blogged about some time back. After all the things that have been happening of late, I really do need one.

Update: Post-op

It was around 2.30 p.m. before my wife was back at the ward. However, she's still unconscious because of the anaesthesia.

Updated (8.30 p.m.): The effects of the anaesthesia wore off at around 7 p.m. at around the time the ENT specialist arrived for his round. Everything seems to be okay and my wife is expected to be discharged tomorrow, insya-Allah.

My 5 sen

Many people have said that in other countries, the consumer is king. In Malaysia however, consumers seem to be the victim.

I have been in the hospital since yesterday as my wife is warded. So yesterday evening, I walked to the nearby Ampang Point to look for something to eat. My wife wanted tuna sandwich as a snack, so I stopped by at the Dunkin' Donuts outlet there.

It was here that I realise that some outlets do not return the change as per printed on the receipt. If, for instance, you should be getting your change of 15 sen, you will only get 10 sen. These outlets would say that they do not have 5 sen in their cash register. So, the customer will be shortchanged by 5 sen. Small amount, I know, but this is downright cheating especially when the outlet did not even inform that they are unable to give the exact change. I am unsure whether it is a policy of this outlet not to inform their customers of this matter.

Is it difficult to stock up on 5 sen coins? Is it hard to inform the customer that you are unable to give the exact change? For customers who do not check the change they receive, they would probably just walk away without realising that they have been "cheated".

So, as consumers, we have to know our rights, even if it's only a change of 5 sen. It is your money after all, not the shop or outlet that you go to.

Interview in Utusan Malaysia

Last week, I was a panellist in a forum on stem cell therapy at the UKM Medical Centre (formerly Hospital UKM). After the forum, I was interviewed by a journalist from Utusan Malaysia on a slightly different topic but a topic that is close to my heart, namely organ donation from the perspective of Islam. The interview came out today in the paper's Mega pullout section. Unfortunately, there is no link to the write-up.

On a related note, I was informed that there was an organ donor yesterday at Hospital Selayang, and there is a potential donor today also from the same hospital. I hope that people will continue to pledge and donate organs, because this will certainly help to save many lives, insya-Allah.

Warded for surgery

Later this morning, my wife will be undergoing surgery on her sinus. The surgery is scheduled at 11 a.m. today.

She was warded a couple of weeks ago for pneumonia, but apparently the condition was caused by sinusitis. Hence, her surgery today. Even though this is a minor surgery, I pray for her well-being nonetheless.

I'll be updating her condition from time to time.

Mesra?

The following is a very long complaint letter addressed to the relevant party regarding an incident that occurred on 30th April. I am not sure what will come out of this letter, but at least I have said my piece.

------ooooo-----

To whom it may concern,

MESRA service leaves a lot to be desired

I have always believed in supporting local brands. PETRONAS has always been my choice when it comes to petroleum. No doubt this choice is somewhat biased since I was a PETRONAS scholar in the early 1990’s. While I did not join PETRONAS upon completion of my studies, I have never severed my ties with PETRONAS. By filling up at PETRONAS, it is actually a small way for me to show my appreciation to the company that supported my studies for nearly five years. Ever since I owned a car in 2000, PETRONAS is my only choice. And to show further my support to PETRONAS, I have also signed up for the MESRA loyalty programme.

These past couple of years, whenever I fill up at any PETRONAS station, I would use my credit card. As such, there is really no need for me to go to the counter for this transaction as all this can be done at the pump. And as a result, I will not be aware of any notice posted at the counter. On average, I fill up between six (6) to eight (8) times a month, costing me up to RM650.

Last week, one of my staff informed me of a new MESRA loyalty programme, and that applications have to be submitted by the 30th of April. Apparently, there is a notice on the counter (but not at the pumps). If not for the information relayed by my staff, I would not have been aware of it at all. As a loyal MESRA card holder, I picked up a form on the 29th of April. As I was tied up with several things at that point in time, I was only able to return the form the next day (which happened to be the last day).

I went to the Setiawangsa PETRONAS station on the morning of the 30th of April, and I was told that the station has run out of MESRA cards. I was asked to leave my name and phone number, and was duly informed that a new batch of MESRA cards would arrive after 4 p.m. and that I would be contacted once the cards arrive. There were no calls received, and thus, at 8 p.m. I dropped by at the same station simply to inquire further.

I first went to the counter. The staff (whose name I did not get unfortunately) there told me that the cards did not arrive (contrary to what I was told earlier in the morning). I then asked what to do with the MESRA application form, but she was not able to answer. She however was polite enough to direct me to another staff who was at the back, probably at the store.

After waiting for a few minutes, this staff (who was referred to as “Ika”), came out with a sour face. I inquired the same question, what should I do with the MESRA application form? The reply that I got was that the cards were out of stock. Fine, I already have that information as early as that morning, but my question was what was I to do with the MESRA application form. I asked the question again, and instead of getting a direct answer to the question, I got a telling off from this staff. She said that I was late in returning the form.

I tried to explain to her that I was not aware of the notice because I have been filling up using my credit card, but again she stressed that I was late in returning the form. As far as I understand (unless my years of furthering my studied under PETRONAS scholarship dulled my intelligence), the last day to submit the application form to switch to the new MESRA card was on the 30th of April. Had I sent in the form on the 1st of May, then that would be late. By right, as long as the form is sent within the stipulated time frame, then it should never be regarded as late.

I did not get the answer that I was looking for from this staff. She was getting agitated, and I decided to leave things at that. As I was walking out the door, this staff walked up to the counter and in a high voice scolded (from my point of view) the polite staff whom I met earlier. She said, “Why don’t you tell them that we have run out of cards?” I find this situation totally uncalled for. The fact that the polite staff was scolded in front of all the customers was simply unprofessional. And to do this when I was still there was downright rude. I felt like turning back and giving my piece of mind to this stressed out staff, but I refrained.

I purposely wrote this complaint letter today, instead of on the 30th of April, because I had wanted to see if anyone from the station called me up as was promised. To date, no calls were received. When I walked out of the PETRONAS Mesra station that night, I felt that there is nothing mesra about the place. Professionalism was missing, and a simple question failed to be answered. I still have the form with me, but I have lost my interest in renewing my MESRA card. What is the point of joining a loyalty programme, when my loyalty all these years have been rewarded with rudeness and unprofessionalism?

I will still go to a PETRONAS station to fill up, but not at the Setiawangsa station. However, I will no longer use the MESRA card as I have lost faith in the kemesraan of the people manning the stations. The incident taught me an important lesson, and that is the programme is nothing more than a PR exercise that is not translated into action by some of the staff at PETRONAS stations. The number may be small, but it is these few bad apples that spoil the whole lot, leaving the so-called MESRA service a lot to be desired.

Thank you.

Amir Husaini's fourth birthday

Today is Shaikh Amir Husaini's fourth birthday.

Throughout these four years of your presence in our lives, you have certainly brought a mountainful of cheer and joy. And you have certainly taught me how to become a father.

Happy birthday, son.

Give me a break

For the fourth time since late February, I have come down with fever again. I suspect that the reason for this is the lack of rest of late. I have some family matters to take care of in the coming week, and after that, insya-Allah, I plan to take a short break. But then again, it's not really a break in the true context of the word, as I plan to get myself holed up somewhere outside the office to write my PhD thesis and finish my two upcoming novels.

Break? Well, maybe after that...