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...

So much to blog about, so little time

There are so many things that I want to blog on. Unfortunately, time constraint left me without the opportunity to finish what I started. Oft-times, I would find myself blogging about something, and later unable to finish the posting. I could only finish the posting later, and as a result, there are times I would post the entry a few days later than planned.

I guess, in this instance, it's better late than never.

Wolverine trailer - not!

Just for laughs.

Personal space and time

I am trying to put my life in order. I have been obliging to a lot of things that I now feel that I really need to be better organised. Office work, studies, lecturing, talking engagements, creative writing "obligations" and last but certainly not least, family responsibilities are different facets of my life.

I need to slot another item in that list.

Space and time for myself. But personally, I don't see that possible anytime soon.

Health matters

My wife was discharged on Wednesday from the hospital. Her condition has improved but she is not 100% well yet. She was diagnosed as having pneumonia, bronchitis and sinusitis. Apparently the sinusitis may be the cause for her infections.

On Monday, we'll be going back to the hospital for follow-ups. One of the specialists she will have to see is an ENT specialist. The specialist will examine the condition of her sinus and determine whether a surgery is necessary. If a surgery is necessary, then she'll have to be readmitted.

Let's pray for the best.

Ludicrous plot

I don't watch that much television. For the past four days, since I've been spending time at the hospital, I have been "forced" to watch television as there is not much to be done anyway.

I have always been critical of Malaysian teledramas. Most of these dramas have ridiculous plots, poor acting and full of stereotypes. I wonder if script-writers actually do any research at all. And it's astonishing that the viewership for these programmes is high.

One teledrama that baffles me has this plot about a pair of twin girls who do not look alike. The technical term is of course fraternal twins, otherwise known as dizygotic twins or biovular twins - or simply, non-identical twins. What is ridiculous is how this drama depicts the reasoning behind the twins not being identical is because, wait for it, they are born 20 minutes apart!

For goodness sake! Can't the script-writer or director or producer check the facts first? They seem to be more interested in glamour more than anything else.

The power of dreams

I received a YM message from my colleague who is in Tokyo. Today, one of the items on the agenda is a visit to Honda. Had I been on that trip, this would be the highlight for me.

Anyway, what intrigues me is that there is only one foreigner working at the Honda factory. And he is a Malay Muslim Malaysian. Who would have thought?

I guess this achievement by the Malaysian befits Honda's tagline, "The power of dreams".

Hot vanilla

I have been spending my nights at the hospital since my wife is warded. Since this started, I have acquired a liking for a particular drink.

Hot vanilla.

I have never tried hot vanilla before in my life. Not many outlets have this drink. At the cafe on the ground floor of this hospital, there is hot vanilla. I gave it a shot. The verdict? Hot vanilla, I like.

Entry's reaction

I did not anticipate that my entry entitled "Promises and Hypocrites" would generate the kind of attention it did. A number of people thought that I directed the entry towards them, and sent apology messages.

I admit that I wrote the entry with a particular person in mind. But this person, as far as I know, does not blogroll. Even if he does, I doubt that he gets the message.

Anyhow, I didn't mean for anyone else to terasa with what I wrote. If anyone did, I apologised. Let's just take the entry as a friendly reminder to each and everyone of us.

When it rains, it pours

I was supposed to leave for Japan last Wednesday. Alas, we can only plan but it is Allah who wills for something to happen.

A day before the scheduled trip, my father had difficulty breathing. When my mother called, I rushed home and took him to a specialist hospital. The doctor at the Accident and Emergency Department found his heart's rhythm rather odd, and referred my father to a cardiologist. After some further tests, it was found that my father has bronchitis. He was warded for two days.

I immediately cancelled my trip to Japan. I had to prioritise, and family has to come first. Also, at the same time, I was not feeling 100 percent myself. I had high fever, which fortunately lasted only until Thursday.

My father was discharged on that Thursday afternoon, and has to continue with his medication at home. During this time, my wife has been complaining of some breathing difficulty. And today, when she was in school, she called me up telling me that she couldn't breath properly.

I rushed to her school, and brought her to the same specialist hospital. They did some tests, and she has pneumonia. Currently she is warded, and will probably be out in five days time.

I guess what they say is true, that when it rains, it pours. I pray that I be given the strength during this time.

Promises and hypocrites

When I was in Glasgow, one of the masjids that I frequented for prayers was the Dawat-ul-Islam or Oakfield Avenue Masjid situated at Oakfield Avenue which is very near the University of Glasgow. The masjid is more popularly known to students as the University Mosque for obvious reasons. It is just a small renovated tenement flat which definitely serves its purpose.

Anyway, I am not blogging about the masjid per se. It's just that I remembered that this masjid used to have (not sure anymore though) selected verses from the Quran put up on its many pillars. One particular verse that stuck in my head until today is from verse 2 of Surah as-Saff (61) which is translated thus:

O ye who believe, why do you say that which you do not do?

I find this verse drives home the message of the importance of keeping promises. It is sad when someone who supposedly have knowledge and is well-respected ended up breaking promises. To me, why promise something that you can't keep? Why say something that you are not certain that you'll be able to deliver? In Islam, it is hypocritical for someone to break their promises.

Unfortunately, in our life, we tend to come across these people. I, for one, have been promised a lot of things by a certain someone. Until now, most of what were promised remained just that - empty promises and hollow words.

Tell me, if you were in my position, what would you do?

Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2009

It's that time of the year again when bookphiles all over the country converge to Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur for the annual Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF). This year marks the 28th year for the book fair, and will take place from 17th to 26th April 2009.

I never miss the opportunity to visit KLIBF every year. Unfortunately this year, I will be away for most of the book fair's duration. I will only return from my Japan working trip on the 22nd, and I hope that I'll have the chance to catch the tailend of the book fair.

For those who happen to have some spare time, do visit the book fair. I'm sure you'll find something there that is of interest.

Lecturing experience

I delivered my last lecture to the group of students from the Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya whom I have been teaching this semester. Teaching this lot has turned out to be the best experience for me thus far. I wish them all the best in their exams and their future undertakings.

During the upcoming short semester, I will return to lecturing at the Faculty of Science. This time around, my subject happens to be the faculty's compulsory subject and must be taken by all first year science students. I have been informed that there are more than 300 students taking this subject.

I hope I'll live up to the challenge of lecturing the subject that many people seem to dread - "Philosophy and History of Science".

Deadlines, deadlines!

I have three big deadlines coming up in the next few months.

The first three chapters of my PhD thesis will be due at the end of May.

The manuscript for the sequel to Transgenesis: Bisikan Rimba is due at the end of July, but the editor also said that if possible, they hope that I could get it ready by the end of May.

The manuscript for my entry for Sayembara Fiksyen Sains dan Teknologi UTM-Kumpulan Utusan has to be ready by the end of August.

I think I need to take some time off to get these things done.

Wimax

Fed up with dial-up.

Tired with wifi.

Now, I've migrated to using wimax.

My first reaction?

Amat laju!

[Translation: Very fast!]

Salted egg crab

I had a craving for salted egg crab yesterday. One of the best restaurants that had this on their menu is Cheng Ho.

Cheng Ho is a restaurant that specialises in Chinese Islamic seafood located at Wangsa Maju and owned by Amy, the well-known rocker of the famed rock band, Search. I was introduced to this restaurant late last year. While the price may be on the high side, the meals prepared, to me, are very delicious. And salted egg crab is my favourite dish there.

So, after work yesterday, I went to the restaurant. They open for lunch (until 2.15 p.m. if I'm not mistaken), and reopen again at 6.15 p.m. for dinner. I arrived just before opening time. The restaurant was still closed, but I could see from the outside that the staff were having a briefing. Before the briefing began, there was a recitation of the doa. I said to myself, "How very Islamic!" What I saw really impressed me. Not many restaurants I know perform a short prayer before they are opened. This is, to me, an effort, on the part of the owner and staff to ensure that their efforts are blessed by Allah SWT.

This little effort on the part of the restaurant staff only served to increase my confidence in their service. And I have to say that the salted egg crab was tasty. If anyone ever got a chance to stop by Cheng Ho, make sure that you order the salted egg crab.

[Cheng Ho, or Zheng He, was of course a Muslim Chinese admiral assigned by the Emperor of China to establish relationship with the Sultanate of Melaka during the 15th century].

Working trip

I will be leaving for Japan next Wednesday for about seven days. The whole trip is packed with meetings and study visits. Among the places that I'll be going to are Takushoku University, Tokyo Science University, Hollywood Digital University, Meiji University, Meiji High School and Honda.

This will be my first trip to Japan, and I hope that it will be an eye-opener and good experience for me, insya-Allah.

Tiring affair

This morning, I left for Shah Alam to attend two meetings at Universiti Teknologi MARA. The first was a breakfast meeting with Professor Dr Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy. This was followed by the university's Research Ethics Committee of which I am a member. The meeting ended at close to 1 o'clock.

I immediately drove to Universiti Malaya for another meeting to discuss an upcoming international workshop scheduled to be held in July. By the time I got back to the office, it was already 5 o'clock.

I must say that attending meetings can be a tiring affair. My body and mind are very exhausted. I hope I can sleep early tonight.

Promotional trailer

It's finally here. After putting up the teaser in December, here is the finished product: The promotional trailer for my science fiction novel, Transgenesis: Bisikan Rimba.



What do you think?

Challenge of a postgraduate student

When I enrolled for my PhD course three semesters ago, one of the requirements for completing the PhD is to publish in refereed journals. There are many refereed journals around, and I don't see that as a problem.

The latest requirement is that postgraduate students must publish in ISI journals which are highly cited worldwide. This poses a challenge for postgraduate students as getting published in ISI journals is not easy.

I am in the middle of identifying which journal to send my article to. Hopefully, things will work out, insya-Allah.

Campus life

Truth be told, I have never stayed on campus during my undergraduate studies in Glasgow. Sometimes, when I think about it, I do regret not having the experience of living on campus.

On Thursday evening, I was a panellist in a forum organised by the students of Applied Science with Islamic Studies held at the Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya. The forum was lively, so much so it ended at 11.30 p.m. instead of the scheduled 10.30 p.m., and by the time I left the university campus, it was already 12.15 a.m.

That was the first time that I left the university at that hour. And I was surprised to see campus life at night is very lively with activities. I could see students associations having their meetings. And there were also students who were studying and writing up assignments within the faculty's building. Outside, I was surprised to see a student jogging!

I guess there is never a dull moment on campus. And that's what I missed.

[For a brief review of the forum, read this entry].

Say it as it is

People say that those born in the year of the tiger has a short temper. I was born in that year. When I was a young boy, I used to have a very short temper. I would easily snap at people and if I remember correctly, I was quite fierce.

Later, when I got into secondary school, I have learnt to keep my temper at bay. I don't recall ever losing my temper when I was in my teens.

Since my schooling years, I have managed, more or less, to control my anger. Yes, there have been occasions when I had to vent out my anger out of frustration mainly. But more often than not, many people who know me would probably have never seen me angry.

But I guess, things will have to change somewhat from now on.

Lately, I have been getting severe bouts of migraine almost every day. You could see the veins popping up on my forehead when I have these migraine attacks. When I checked my blood pressure, it is quite high. And I have been advised by my doctor that I should not hold back when something is bothering me.

I have seen many cultures in my life. Malaysians, in particular Malays, have always been "courteous" and unwilling to show their displeasure out of respect and out of fear that they would offend others. Americans are well-known to be direct and honest in giving their opinions. Arabs are almost similar. When I was in Egypt, I witnessed that if they don't like something, they will say it, but once they said their piece, they don't hold any grudge.

I have been advised to just say my piece. Never mind if others are "offended" or if they want to sulk later on. And I must admit, I am feeling slightly better after doing this. No more sugarcoating my words or trying to play diplomat.

From now on, I will say it as it is.

Too bad if you can't take it.

Credit where it's due

No doubt, many people have complaints about Malaysia's counter services in various government departments. Rarely though we hear people praising these services when they perform. But I believe that credit should be given where and when it is due.

I had to go to the Immigrations Department today to renew my passport for upcoming overseas trips. I arrived at the department's Wangsa Maju branch at around 11 a.m. with all the necessary documents. I was given a number and less than 10 minutes later, my number was called up. The officer at the counter was pleasant and courteous, and the whole process was completed in around five minutes. Five minutes later, I paid the fees for the passport renewal and was told that the passport would be ready in an hour's time. True enough, one hour later, the passport is ready to be picked up.

I have to admit that the visit to the Immigrations Department at Wangsa Maju was very pleasant and hassle-free. The officers were always smiling and spoke courteously. They entertained my queries professionally. The service rendered was efficient and prompt.

I hope that all other counter services in all government departments (as well as banks) are as professional, efficient and courteous.

Last week at a seminar

Last Thursday and Friday, I was busy at the Universiti Malaya. I was involved in the organisation of a seminar on Islam and science in civilisational development. In spite of the problem with my voice (and overall health), I spoke three times. The first was during the opening ceremony representing my organisation which was one of the co-organisers. The second was when I presented my paper during the first session. And the third time was during the closing ceremony on Friday.

It was one of the best seminars that I have ever attended. The discussions were lively and there were a lot of information for the participants. All in all, I have to say that the seminar was very successful.

Decisions

If life is a journey, we'll have to decide which route to take. There are times that we have difficulties in deciding once reaching a crossroad. And usually, once the decision has been made, there is no turning back.

I have come across major crossroads in my life before. Almost each time, I had taken risks, venturing into the road less travelled. Alhamdulillah, so far, each decision I made (no matter how crazy or irrational they may seem then), have turned out well.

I am yet again standing at a crossroad. In actuality, I don't have to make this decision today. In fact, I don't really have to decide for another year.

I have one aim that I want to achieve in my life. But I don't foresee that happening just yet. I have given myself until 2013 to achieve that aim. But what if, opportunity were to present itself early? What if I now have that option to achieve that personal aim much earlier? Should I go for it? Or should I stick to the schedule?

For the time being, I am still weighing my options. I will not make a hasty decision. Nevertheless, the decision will have to be made.

I pray that whatever decision I make, it will be for the best.

Voice imperfect

I have nearly lost my voice.

I'll be giving a lecture on Islam and organ donation tomorrow at the UKM Medical Centre. The following day, I'll be presenting a paper on using science and technology for daawah at a seminar organised at Universiti Malaya.

While my fever has receded, my body has yet to fully recover. I hope my voice won't cause too much problems when I talk in the next couple of days.

New maid

My maid from Indonesia finally arrived on Monday. I hope this new one will work out well for us. It's not an easy task getting the most suitable maid for the family.

Available now

Details here.

Have passport will travel

I don't travel much. I don't like travelling really. Most of my travels are work or study-related.

My first passport was made when I was 11. At that time, I was living in Johor Bahru and the school had organised a study trip to Singapore. So, I made my first passport in order to enter the Lion City.

My second passport was made when I was 17. This time around, I needed the passport since I was leaving for the UK to further my studies.

My third passport was made in 2003. I needed the passport because I was involved in meetings and conferences in Indonesia, Egypt and Algeria.

On Tuesday, my boss told me (before sending me home) that I should be prepared for a couple of overseas trips in April and May. I just said "okay" without thinking much about it. After all, it is part of my work. Then when I got home, I noticed that my passport is no longer valid. Looks like I have to make a trip to the Immigration Department very soon to get my passport renewed.

Sent home

For the first time in my working life, I was asked to go home by the boss yesterday afternoon.

He wanted me to get a good rest so that my fever would recover. I did as he instructed and went home. But my body temperature was fluctuating up and down that I didn't get to sleep until 2 a.m. Even then, I didn't sleep soundly.

And by 5.30 a.m., I was already up and getting ready for work.

I wonder if I'll be sent home again today?

Feverish panellist

I was a panellist for the recording of "Forum Bicara Addeen" at the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, University Malaya. The topic discussed was "Berdakwah dengan Sains dan Teknologi". My ex-colleague, Encik Abu Bakar Yang, was my co-panellist, while Ustaz Mahathir Shaharuddin moderated the forum. The forum will be aired on Radio IKIMfm on Saturday, 21st March at 9.00 p.m.

I wasn't too well during the recording yesterday. My body temperature was quite high. Nonetheless, I gave it my best and hopefully the recording comes out good.

Territorial workers

There are those who think that they are extremely clever that no one else knows how to do their job. These are people who think that they are indispensable.

Truth of the matter is, no one in any organisation is irreplaceable. One might think that one is good at his/her job, but there is someone else out there who can do the job better. You would see that these very same people have difficulties in delegating tasks to their subordinates, for fear that their subordinates would not be able to deliver. These type of workers are very territorial, guarding their work territories with the same ferocity of a lioness.

I don't have any problems with territorial workers who think they are irreplaceable, for as long as they can deliver and prove that they can actually do the work. Some of these territorial workers are really good in delivering what is required of them.

I do, however, have issues with workers who think they cannot be replaced, but could not even complete a simple task. Imagine having given a menial task many many moons ago, and yet until today the task has yet to be completed. When asked, the reply that you get is, "I forgot" or "I'm busy". When suggested that the task be delegated (since it's not a task that required a genius like Einstein to complete), it never got done. The irony is, for a "busy" person who guards her territory and thinks that she's irreplaceable, she has time to read magazines while other people are busy working. If you ask me, it's procrastination to the nth degree.

I do applaud workers who go beyond their call of duty, willing to contribute for the benefit of the organisation, and put the organisation before themselves. This category of workers is difficult to find, but once an organisation has them, then they are always considered valuable assets that should be emulated by all.

P.S. I am still feverish, hence my touchiness. At least, I got this out of my system.

Pain in the head

I have been having high fever since yesterday evening. Part of my head is throbbing. I guess that's my body protesting for some rest.

In spite of the pain, I managed to get quite a few things done today. Having said that, I do feel somewhat exhausted.

Unlike previous weekdays, I'm planning to go home early to rest. Hopefully, by the time of tomorrow's forum, my fever and migrain will recede.

No time to rest

The next couple of weeks will be busy. I have a lot of speaking engagements and a few books to take care of. At least, the academic semester is coming to an end, hence I'll be wrapping up my class in the next few weeks.

No time to rest.

Akhir Sa'ah

When I was in the city of Kaherah in Egypt a few years ago, the students there brought me to a fast food outlet called "Akhir Sa'ah". I was informed that the meaning is "last minute" implying that the outlet could cater for food ordered at the last minute.

However, that's not what I would like to blog on today. One of the things that I find annoying is last minute tasks. I was about to leave the office at about 7 p.m. yesterday when I was asked to do something. The problem was the person who knows how to prepare the material is down with chickenpox. There is no way I could get him to the office in his condition.

I was fortunate that a couple of weeks ago, I actually sat down with the person to come out with the draft of the required material. It didn't dawn on me at that time that I would be using the draft under this circumstances. I am glad I actually got it done when in actuality, there was no directive or need for me to have it done at that point in time.

In any case, the proactive act paid divident today. I was told that the draft material "saved the day".

Lesson learnt today: Work well in advance.

Faster than the brain

I am sure that all of us know of people who speak without thinking. Or rather, people who speak faster than their ability to think. These people would often spew out words without actually thinking about what their words will cause. That is why, it is often best if "we think before we speak".

People whose mouths are faster than their brains, more often than not, cause problems to others. One word of advice, if you can, stay away from these people.

And for those who speak faster than their ability to think, jangan menyusahkan orang lain (don't cause problems to others).

Exhausted

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then my blog entry today (aside from this sentence and the title above) will be represented by the following picture:

The Prophet

Today is the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. There is nothing more valuable to a Muslim than the faith in the One and Almighty Allah. And if not for the dedication of the Prophet, we would not know the teaching of Islam.

On this special day, let us learn from the Prophet. Let us emulate his noble character. Let us strive to be better Muslims. And let us not forget the sacrifices of this special man.

Engagements

I have a number of talking engagements (which require a lot of reading and thinking) lined up which will keep me busy for the next couple of months or so.

On 10th March, I'll be giving a motivational talk at MRSM Batu Pahat to some 500 students there in conjunction with the college's seventh anniversary.

On 17th March, I'll be one of the panel members in a forum recorded for Radio IKIM's Forum Bicara Addeen. The recording will be at the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, Universiti Malaya. The discussion revolves around utilising science and technology for daawah in conjunction with Bulan Dakwah Kebangsaan. The programme will be aired on 21st March at 9.00 p.m. over at Radio IKIM.

On 25th March, I'll be talking on organ donation from the Islamic perspective in conjunction with World Kidney Day at Pusat Perubatan UKM (formerly Hospital UKM) in Cheras.

On 26th March, I'll be presenting a paper entitled "Dakwah Menggunakan Sains dan Teknologi" at Universiti Malaya during a seminar organised in conjunction with Bulan Dakwah Kebangsaan.

On 2nd April, I'll be involved as a panelist in a forum to be organised at Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya. The topic will revolve around current issues of science and technology from the Islamic perspective.

On 27th May, I'll be presenting a paper entitled "Anak-anak dan Perkembangan Terkini Teknologi Maklumat: Panduan Berguna untuk Ibu Bapa" at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM).

There are a few other engagements which have yet to be finalised. Aside from being kept busy with books, I will also be running around delivering lectures and talks.

This used to be a normal routine for me when I was working at IKIM. When I left in December 2005, things slowed down quite a wee bit. However, with the economic slowdown that we are experiencing, I'll be very much occupied with the things I used to do some years ago. Apparently, the more things change, the more things remain the same.

It looks like I'm back in business, and it's business as usual.

Have a listen

Since I'm having nostalgic trips down memory lane, have a listen to the following bagpipe performance playing "Scotland the Brave".

Bagpipe tunes

Buchanan Street

For some strange reason, I am getting more and more nostalgic of my Glasgow years lately.

Back then, one of the places that I like to go on weekends was Buchanan Street. Buchanan Street is a pedestrian street, where you walk from one end (that begins at St Enoch Square's underground station) to the other end (that ends at Buchanan Street's underground station). Along the way, there are shops to your left and right.

I liked Buchanan Street for three reasons.

One, it is where my favourite comics outlet - Forbidden Planet - is located. Forbidden Planet was where I used to buy my comics.

Two, it is home to Princes Square, a quaint mall (by Malaysian standards). This is one of the most beautifully-designed shopping complexes that I have ever seen. I took one of my first photos in Glasgow there, and the photo is one of the best that I had from my Glasgow years.

Three, along Buchanan Street there would be buskers performing with bagpipes (though there were other types of performers performing as well; some would play guitars, others would sing). There would be small crowds cheering them on. And I would usually be there to enjoy the free show as well. It was like watching a free concert, I guess.

Truth be told, I enjoy bagpipe music. It has a certain air of mystery to it. Play a bagpipe tune accompanied by drums, and you'll get some of the most amazing tunes. Every now and then, when I hear tunes like "Scotland the Brave", "Skye Boat" or "Amazing Grace", my mind would be transported back to the past. I am a sucker for Celtic tunes.

Have a listen to the following tune, "Flower of Scotland". To my mind, it's a tune that is difficult not to appreciate.



I wonder why, after nearly 13 years since I left Glasgow, I am now feeling overly-nostalgic about the place.

*Sigh*