LEST WE FORGET

If U think U av huge problem, look at them


If u think ur job is tough, how about him ?

If u think ur salary is low, how about her?

If u think u dun have many many frens, ask urself if u have one sincere fren?

If u think studying is a burden, how about her?

When u feel like giving up, think of this man.

If u think u suffer a lot in life, do u suffer as much as he does?

If u complain about your transport system, how about them?

If u think the society is unfair to you, how about her?

Shameful, lest we forget ...

1125 - Orange Room -

Taylor's University College

Summer Is Here !!! Lets Partay ....

I got my first real six-string

Bought it at the five-and-dime

Played 'til my fingers bled

It was summer of '69

Me and some guys from school

Had a Band and we tried real hard

Jimmy quit and Jody got married

I shualda known we'd never get far

Oh when I lock back now

That was seemes to last forever

And if I had the choiceYa

I'd always wanna be there

Those were the best days of my life

Ain't no use in complainin'

When you got a job to do

Spent my evenin's down at the drive in

And that's when I met you

Standin on a mama's porch

You told me that you'd wait forever

Oh and when you held my hand

I knew that it was no or never

Those were the best days of my life

Back in Summer of '69

Man we were killin' time

We were young and restless

needed to unwind

I guess nothin' can last forever, no

And now the times are changin'

Look at everything that's come and gone

Somethimes when I play that old six-string

I think about ya wonder what went wrong

Standin' on a mama's porch

You told me it would last forever

Oh the way you held my hand

I knew that it was now or never

Those were the best days of my life

Just 2 tell ya

Zokhri Idris is thanking God its Friday ......XXX

Still Alive but dying LOL

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Trials keep You Strong,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Failures keep You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only God keeps You Going!

You are so special!
Happiness is NOT something you find, It's something you create.

Nothing in this world is IMPOSSIBLE ,,, because the word IMPOSSIBLE itself says I M POSSIBLE..

Believe in doing ordinary things in an extraordinary manner

2206 Taylors University College

June 13th 2008

4 Looks A Day Keep Ur Sorrow Away ....

Look back and ‘Thank’ God

Look forward and ‘Trust’ God

Look around and ‘Serve’ God

Look within and ‘Find’ God


One asked. “How do I get the best out of life?”

Face your past without regrets. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear!

Life is short, so forgive quickly. Believe slowly … Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that makes you happy

The Hellish Week Is Now Over

Its been a week (n two days)


Nothing much happened except invigilating n marking


Onto invigilating, now I’ve got new hobbies i.e. starring @ ppl’s watch n gurls’ earings (omg … am I a stalker?)


But dun blame me … invigilation could be stiff u c, I mean really stiff n freeze. U cant readm u cant leave da hall n all u can do is walking ere n dere, having an eye to eye 2 da candidates.


So damn boring liao


So I’ve found my new hobbies as I av stated b4


I AM NOW OBSESSING TO WATCHES N EARINGS


Isnt dat scary?


LOL

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Too bad, my course and teaching evaluation was given on the same day whereby da entire nation commomerated teachers day. I had to face my superior for less than 30 minutes juz 2 run thru all da statistics and data obtained from online survey done by my studs. After all I (I mean they da studs) din score too badly. Out of band 5 I got 3.733 which I personally rate as ‘satisfactory’ taking into consideration my virgin months of lecturing and teaching (teaching sumting I never learnt b4 in uni ) emphasis added.

During da interview I kept on starring at me watch, asking meself, when izzit gonna be over. I got a movie outing wif students for god sake. N its less than an hour b4 it starts playing. In da end all of my replies be similar and standardised “yes mam, I’ll do dat 2 improve” (I repeated it everytime she pin-points my weaknesses)

Since I was and still doing well (I hope) in my lecturing, im not hesitate to share to all of da readers all comments and feedbacks given by students. Yeah sum of them cud be very motivating n sum cud be demoralising. But I guess dats self-explanatory in nature – WE CAN PLEASE EVERYONE AFTER ALL.

Please find da red highlighted wordings r da comments from me studs while da writings in blue are my direct responses to it.


Disclaimer Notice: Comments will be treated as ‘anonymous’ and the students’ identity will not be revealed.


1) A ‘YOUNG’ lecturer is definitely fun and more understanding compare to most lecturer. He has good understand in legals. And has definitely done a great job in delivering it. No problems at all meeting up regarding studies. I reckon all other lecturers to bond with their studs this way =)

Good start. Feels obliged to read the remaining comments upon reading da positive one first. But im not really gud in LS 2 b honest. Im still juggling wif da subject but Thanks. May the other lecturer would consider your suggestions (which I really hope so)


2) Even though Zokhri is a very young lecturer…but pls do not judge his teaching skills just bcuz he is not as senior as the other lecturers in taylor’s…he can be very much better that wat others actually expected..most importantly he is caring and always be there to help his students…n fight together with them…

Thanks for being understanding and accept my condition as who I am. I promise I will work hard to improve myself and to be one of the best lecturers in taylors. But I aim to be the best lecturer dat u had in your life. As I always say, Lets Make This Happen 2gether chayok2


3) He is a good friend but not a good lecture. His lecture was not clear. Some time just explain the sentences from the lecture note.

Am i? its ok sumtimes its hard to draw a line btw being a fren n a lecturer but I’ll try. Even I have to say im more comfortable to be your fren. I admit my lectures aren’t clear at times.it because I dunno how to explain differently from wat the textbook suggests =(


4) He is a good friend of us, but since we all know this is his first job, I think he is becoming dull as he does not have experience in lecturing. But for a first-time lecturer, he did well overall.

Owh no! am I becoming dull? I pretty much know dat da subject is dull and mundane but I hardly accept im dull =) sokay I’ll put more make-ups and I gonna rock ya in SAM


5) He’ll be a good fren bt nt a good lecturer..bt overall..he’s still ok..

Yeah I know dat


6) His accent is too heavy, it makes it hard to understand sometimes

I beg your pardon, sir (wif a deep English accent) LOL but I just could not help it but I will try my best


7) I love legal studies

Do you love me ? (Runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn)


8) Is quite nice … even though he has no experience.

Wat do u mean im quite nice? Izzit not really nice? Haha


9) Keep the smoothness going man..

Oh yes dude (assuming you are a guy) will keep on rolling


10) Makes notes out of text books, but reads them out word by word during lectures, making it boring and having no extra information. More explaination should be given. A bit too lenient on class, becomes noisy. Has a very good and close relationship with students.

Im sorry but I will try not to read much in class. I will be talking and talking like dere’s no script in front. Thanks 4 highlighting dat. Major improvement is currently under construction so please bear wif me. (^_^) I’ll be controlling d class next semester. I’ll make sure during lesson I’m the boss n u guys need to sit down n listen muahahahaa


11) Mr. Zokhri is clearly trying his best as well as giving his best. Very helpful.

Thanks n I appreciate it much. Life is about giving n contributing. 4get wat u'll get but giver everything dat u had. BE A GIVER !!!


12) Mr. Zokhri is surely a fun teacher but he lacks experience on how to conduct an effective teaching so that students are able to comprehend the lesson without much problem.

We aren’t born wif experience. We have to find em and it is thru training and mistakes we can get em. Perhaps u can b my white mouse in my first experiment. LOL


13) Mr. Zokhri needs to be more strict during lectures although he can’t help not being one. Seriously XD I suggest that he should give his students to try out the past year questions on Legal Studies and discuss the answers/format with his students. Other than that, he makes a good friend and a very understanding open lecturer.

Dats y..im just born not to be strict. Its killing when I tried to be strict as its just not me to be in a different character in a different situation. On da 2nd note, I dun thin k I shud change da way I am in lectures. Studs should accept me in da way I am, rite? I’ll try to find the past years so that u got no more weekends coming ha ha (joking)


14) My favorite lecturer! Don’t u dare kick him!

(touched n crying) Thanks ya =)


15) Naughty. I like

Ermmmmmmmm (horny) which part do u like the most? LOL


16) No comment… I suck naturally at LGS anyway, cannot blame the lecturer

Even so, I still have faith in you U sucked once, but dat doesn’t mean u gonna suck forever =)


17) Omg..so boring!! Fell like give up legal studies.. legal=history!!

I cant help dat. N I respect your opinions as I had once hate maths too. (n Im glad now I dun av to)


18) Perhaps own materials + own words during lectures would be helpful, for students with no background in this subject will find it hard to commence or even delve into the lecture when it starts from the first line of the text / notes … a little too formal

Sure will work on it. I’ve talked about it above


19) Should give more consultation to students one by one

Haaaaaaaaaa die laaaa like dat.. kenot maaa got 96 studs all together. But I’ll give more time if he/she can bring me sumwhere* for consultation
· secret recipe/starbucks/mcD/old town kopitiam/Little Taiwan* only
· no AC please (not halal maaa)


20) The lecturer not really clear about the subject. It makes us confuse sometimes. He is practically reading from the text book. He should use simple language as the English in the textbook is quite deep. The notes that he has given is exactly from the textbook. He should write with more simple English. Its going to be mid year but the class are still having difficulty in catching up the subject.

Yeah, at times I’m blurred too. Its like parliamentary deadlocks … wat the heck? I’ll try to make notes from textbook other than u r using then haha but seriously U got a point, n I submit no further argument.


21) The lesson goes about too fast at times. Hard to cope with and understand…

Fast and furious u mean? Ha ha. I can be slow but u would only take ur finals next year then


22) The note given is a bit massive. The lecturer is inexperienced.

Thanks =) he is training himself to be an experience one


23) The subject itself, is at times dry and at times interesting, and it was made a fun subject because of the fantastic lecturer who presented it. The lecturer is kind, friendly, and speaks in a fluent command of English. His friendly nature and ability to turn something dry into something hilarious and humourous has placed him in a special place in our hearts. We consider our lecturer as our friend, and I believe that is an important aspect in a Teacher-Student relationship, which will in turne make the course more effective in its purpose of giving knowledge. The notes prvided do not spoonfeed; they motivate the student to pick up the textbook and do their own research, which is more effective. The textbook itself wasn’t all that great. It had fantastic quality of language, yet it was quite boring and dry. Ut was a little bit more about memorizing than actually learning and understanding. There’s just too much to remember. Yet the textbook does encourage critical thinking and argument analysis. I have not unlocked the full potential of the subject yet, but I believe it is not for long before it can be done.

Waaaaaaaa so long. But this is da best I think. U commented in a constructive way giving me to think da unthinkables and giving more chance to improve. I value all of your words and I know its not for long before it can be done (for both of us) U MADE MY DAY


24) The subject scope is too wide and most of the lessons taught are not relevant to law studies later on if one wishes to pursue a law degree in the U.K.

Erkkkkkkkkkk sowi I seem not to understand you


25) The teacher is friendly and strict when comes to evaluation and collaborative task.

Hehehehehe. Do u want it once more? –evil grins-



26) The way he teaches us is okay, but sometimes we don’t really understand. Maybe its because he is a new lecture and this is his 1st year teaching students and he has not enough experience yet to teach us. We cant understand legal sometimes due to some difficult words. I think he should teaches us using the simple words (vocabulary) and also try to relate facts with examples. I hope he will provide more simple examples and more explanations for us so that we can understand more and much easily.

I will. But dear, law is juz like dat. Language is a key asset in da subject even its not everything. But as u sed, I have da onus to present da lecture in a simpler way of presentation


27) This legal lectural is a very kind person and can be a very good friend. He is able to provide certain helps effectively. However, he does not had enough experience in teaching this difficult subject and handle the class. The notes should not be totally astract from the textbook. In spite, the notes should be simple and easy to understand for the students. So the notes should be improved. He should provides a clear explanation on the tack and assignment given. Exercises should be given every weekend so that students are able to improve faster. Answers for the exercises should not totally follow the model answer but provides own answer.

I will try my very best but I cant promise. Again, I have my own reasons why am I using da words in da textbook. Which I dun think u will accept but I will try to patch things up xxx ur young-not-enuff-experience lectural xxx



28) Try giving more complete lecture handouts give more assessment like short response test

Wat do u mean complete lecture handouts?



29) Try to give more exercises so that the student will have better ability to answer questions in the exams. Very good because the lecturer is willing to sacrifice a lot of time for consultation with the students but some of the explanation for the CPT assessment was not complete. Lecturer seems unsure about some parts of the assessment. Maybe Ms Loo could provide more help as a senior lecturer

About the cpt? Yeah u read my mind but I will keep myself updated and let u know so I hope u wont mind bearing with me. Sokay if u die in legal studies, I’ll die too. U jump I jump k


30) You are the coolest lecturer!! Keep it up –

Correction - Am I the hottest (male) lecturer in college?


-Happy Teachers Day to Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-

Happy Mothers Day ....

Blessed is your face

Blessed is your name

My beloved

Blessed is your smile

Which makes my soul want to fly

My beloved

All the nights

And all the times

That you cared for

I never realised it

And now it's too late

Forgive me

Now I'm alone filled with so much shame

For all the years I caused you pain

If only I could sleep in your arms again

Mother I'm lost without you

You were the sun that brightened my day

Now who's going to wipe my tears away

If only I knew what I know today

Mother I'm lost without you

To whom will I tell my sorrowin your absence, mother?

I didn't know your real value,

my beloved mother

The Messenger (pbuh) said'Paradise is under the mothers' feet

Your image is in my heart, my soul, and my dreams

When you left, my soul left

Our separation was painful

The world gave me painand sorrow

my beloved mother

I cry like a cloud

You are like a song on my tongue

I've wronged you countless times

Forgive me mother

A Wish To Meself (too)

A Happy Teachers Day 2 all who teach and profess their teaching wif passion, patience, high-determination and a full-sincerity. Believe you me, by words we can change the world.

Kudos to all Teachers

XXX

WHY TEACHING ???

Today, the Taylorians were in the midst of joy celebrating Teachers Day. Its da day where we (da lecturers) got free gift, playing games wif studs n frens, enjoying performances and having ‘free lunch’ (yeah … da most awaiting agenda 4 da day) Weeeeeeeeeeeee ….


So again, why teaching? Why lecturing stands as my noble slash profession @ da mo? (wait am I a noble person? –grins- ) I shud have end up being a prominent legalist n start 2 flag up my reputation in da legal world. Yeah, I shud. And I know dat I’ve disappointed many including me parents for not being somebody as what they had expected.


But then, I’ve discovered dat my love and passion are in knowledge and world issues are beyond than everything. I wanna be a ‘thinker’ and will propagate everyone surrounding me 2 b 1. I hope my kids ( L2, L3 and P3 jangan marah k…nanti cepat tua ) will eventually join me 2 create a better society in future, 2 make da world a better living for da entire mankind. But 1st, I av 2 educate em and mould em wisely.


I know I sound extremely ambitious and (n ridiculous too) but isn’t it a thousand mile journey begins wif a single step? N I know I have just landed my foot on2 da first step …


Well anyhow, I mind not to be serious and melancholic in dis entry. Its Taylors’ Teachers Day today n we shud av lotsa fun. I shud av go and par-tay wif all my studs … lets av a blast of celebration b4 exam stress starts 2 kick off our asses (its already start kicking 2 some noe)


After all, da pics below cud b 1 of da reasons why I love teaching.


They bright up my day =)



2023 - Orange Room -
TUCMC

Reasons Why I Love Teaching LOL

Let's Be G-A-Y

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Trials keep You Strong,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Failures keep You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only God keeps You Going!

You are so special!

Happiness is NOT something you find, It's something you create.

p/s: I chose PINK cuz I thot PINK is a happy colour. A bit gayish but its OK I think LOL

xxx

A QUARTER CENTURY: A TOAST, A PRAYER, A REFLECTION AND A RESOLUTION

Its da time of da yer again. 365 days have passed, making me older than da yer b4. Concomitantly, I wasn’t really waiting 4 3rd May.


I thot it wud bring no difference n change 2 da existing life im embracing now. So, my mates and I planned 2 go out clubbing at da heart of KL (juz a normal clubbing without 1 being wild and insane)


N I guess we did (kot???) HaHa


We reached O**** about half eleven, allowing ourselves 2 get sum air and breath after a not-too-long journey via train.


But the ambience started to arouse. 10 mins b4 12 every1 seemed 2 b high and it affects me too. FYI – I can get high wif just seeing ppl high without consuming any tablets or liquids)


LOL


So dere u go Zacky. My plan to commomerate my a-quarter-century turning on da dance floor was a success. Dancing like dere will be no 2moro.


Had a late supper after dat a.k.a. birthday treat @ one of da stalls in Cheras. Not really keen eating bcuz it was really l8 nite. But it wud be odd 4 da buzzday baby not eating so I ordered Lime Juice and Kuey-Teow Soup


( wats Kuey-Teow in English btw? )– WTH –


Morning came
Well afternoon actually cuz we woke up @ 12 sumting after a gud rest.


Probably will go 4 birthday dinner wif family.


Will write again l8er 2nite (after obtaining da whole list of wonderful thots n wishes sent by every1 circling me life)


A PRAYER:

O Allah,Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change, The Courage To Change The Things I Can, And The Wisdom To Know The Difference …Amen


A REFLECTION:

Only now I know dere’s no need 2 appreciate n 2 idol sum1 dat u really love. da days which I’ve been thru taught me dat my endless devotion to family n few best frens (ex-best mates) was just a like a piece of paper. They buy when they need it, they dispose it when they no longer need.

N I will put an end 4 all my heartful concerns and services 2 em.


A RESOLUTION:

No 1 cud decide wats da best 4 me. I will av da final say 2 my life and will take full responsibility n honour 2 execute it.

No 1 can stop me from pursuing my own happiness wif da way dat I want n in da way I hoped 4.

No 1 will tell me wat 2 do, wat 2 wear, how 2 behave and all. Im now passing my quarter century n able 2 take care of myself


-BRB-

1 May 2008

To some (especially studs), Labour Day is just any normal day. It’s a probably a day off from the whole hellish week they encounter. True, one cud get up L8 from bed, no school no lectures but shopping, manicuring, bla bla bla ( da list goes on )

But 2008’s Labour Day marks a significant moment in my life. Its da first Labour Day I ever celebrated (despite I’ve been working 4 quite sumtimes in da UK, but since UK got no Labour Day so it is not be counted)

And da first person 2 send me a wish was my student in College. She sent me a beautiful text early when sunrises which I will forever treasure during my working days in Taylors.

“Happy Labour Day in advance! (I’m da 1st to wish u?) Hehe. It’s a joy not to be part of the unemployed statistics, for unlike Australia, Malaysia has no unemployment benefits ^ ^ -+6016-40****-

Besides, I had a very fulfilling and a thoughtful day on 1st May. Went to watch “The Kite Runner” (which I marked ****) –to avoid misinterpretation * means a star and not the 4 letter-word – ‘sigh’ with Pacel and he spent me a lunch too (@ Secret Recipe Summore) weeeeeee. I had fun n relaxing hours away from College and notes. Hurrahhhh

To all employees who serve their superior(s) with all da best that they could, a Happy Labour Day to you. May all of our work be much appreciated and be rewarded accordingly.

ISLAM: A Blessing to Malaysians?

Dear all,

This was given by my colleague (not a Malay Muslim but by a Chinese Buddhist). To some, this topic might be outdated as the debate is leading the Malaysians to no-where point and would be a clueless direction as we are yet to have a collective interest for all subjects. Even to claim oneself as a Malaysian rather than “I-am-Malay” or “I-am-Chinese” is far too difficult to achieve. But quoting Prof Shad Faruqi (whom I attended one of his remarkable lectures): “Its in not about the result we matter but the actions and effort that matter.”

How true. And the old saying that been taught since in kindergarten is ‘A thousand mile journey begins with a single step’ – motivating us the human to keep on putting effort and striving even though we may perceive the results would be impossible. Yeah the taught that counts.

Ok I wont give a long speech dis time but I leave u with an excerpt before u can start analyzing the arguments put forward by the speaker (I also provided a bit of the speaker details at the end of the essay) Just in case u would accuse me committing plagiarism. LOL

A little lengthy, but makes a lot of sense. The same applies to all religions and race. We should start thinking as Malaysians!!!


Lets God’s Love Unite Us All,
Zokhri

Subject: "Islam: a Blessing to Malaysians?" by Wan Saiful Wan Jan*

www.malaysiathinktank.org.uk


This is an edited transcript of the speech delivered by Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Director General of Malaysia Think Tank London, at the Ibn Khaldun Seminar on 18 December 2007, organised by the Centre for Public Policy Studies and Malaysia Think Tank London at Menara Integriti, Institut Integriti Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The theme of the seminar was "Islam: a Blessing to Malaysians?".


To start with, let me tell you a bit about Malaysia Think Tank London. We are relatively young classical liberal think tank. Our focus in on policy issues and we try to use classical liberal values to produce policy proposals. Based in London, we started our operations lastyear. I lead the senior management team and we are supported by an International Advisory Board. We are now looking into the possibility of opening a KL office, and we are planning a series of events beginning from February next year in Malaysia.


The topic tonight is not an easy one. I know the publicity of this event explicitly links me with PAS but I am not speaking for PAS. I represent myself in this forum.

Majority - minority relationship

Let us start with a scenario.

Having lived in the country for many years, a group of ethnic minority wants to contribute to making the country stronger and more prosperous. They decided to speak up and contribute proactively to ongoing debates on policy matters by presenting the views of their ethnic group to policy-makers. Among the things they asked for was for the majority to treat them as equals, and to allow them to practice their religion freely.

How did the majority community respond? They responded by saying that the ethnic minority group:
- may have hostile agenda
- is ungrateful and divisive
- does not respect the majority community
- is trying to change the socio-demography country
- does not respect the feeling of the majority


One politician said that the ethnic minority group is a minority population and should not try and punch above their weight in changing the country's culture or policy.


Where do you think the above took place? It could easily have happened in Britain where the ethnic minority were Muslims, the majority was White British.

But, unsurprisingly, it could also be read as a Malaysian problem wherein the minority group was the Christians or Hindus or Buddhists or any non-Muslim groups, and the majority was the Malay Muslims in Malaysia.


As a Malaysian Muslim living in Britain, I feel that it is not easy being an ethnic minority, especially when the majority feels that you are threatening them.


Living as a minority


Speaking in London on 15 November 2007, Professor Tariq Ramadan called for Muslims in Britain to engage in a "post-integration discourse". He said that Britain is home for many Muslims. Their parents may have come from other countries, but for the younger generation, Britain is home. And that is why the minority Muslim communities in Britain are being urged to speak up - because Britain is their home. Speaking up is not an option. But it is an obligation for them to work as hard as they can to make the country better. I believe that the same arguments can be applied to non-Malay non-Muslims in Malaysia.


In the UK, the Muslim minority is demanding that they are treated as equals. That they are allowed to practice and to preach their religion, that they be allowed to pray and fast while at work or in school. That they be allowed to wear what they want to wear, where-ever and whenever they want to wear it. That they are allowed to build more places of worship in the areas where they live in. And so on and so forth.


Looking at Malaysia from abroad, I see non-Muslim non-Malays in Malaysia also asking to be treated as equals. I see some of the more religious non-Muslims asking to be allowed to practice and preach their religion. That they be allowed to build or retain holy sites, churches, temples and so on.


In short, non-Muslims in Malaysia seem to be asking for exactly the same rights as Muslims in the West are fighting for. In the West, Muslims are crying to be equals with the majority non-Muslims. In Malaysia non-Muslims want to be treated as equals too. But, in the West, some local non-Muslims are saying "Don't challenge us, this is our country!".

In Malaysia some Malay Muslims are also saying "Don't challenge us, this is our country!".

It is not easy being a minority, is it?


It saddens me when I see and hear about how the majority tries to silence the minority. Only this time, it is the reverse of the situation on the UK. Over there the majority is the non-Muslim. Over here, the majority is the Muslims.


Confusing ethnicity and religiosity


That is, of course, a big over-simplification. I propose that there are actually two layers of the problem, and these two layers have been mixed into one, making the composite problem 'thicker'.


The first layer is essentially the differences between ethnic groups. Since the early stages of the life of our nation, there have been rather visible differences between the socio-economic status of the different ethnic communities. They may live in one country called Malaysia, but they are oblivious to "the other". They live together, but in many sense, they are actually living apart. Things like demands for the protection of ketuanan Melayu or recent calls for special privileges for Indians, only make this problem worse. So, if we dissect the problem, we will see that the first layer is the differences between ethnic groups who are grappling with the challenges of becoming a bangsa Malaysia.


The second layer is the differences between religious groups. There are obvious differences between one religion and another. Once again, we find cases where people of different religions find it difficult, and some even refuse, to inter-mingle.


Ethnicity and religiosity are supposed to be different issues. You cannot necessarily tell one's religion based on one's ethnic group. One ethnic group is not necessarily adherence to one particular religion. The Prophet Muhammad and Abu Jahal were both Arabs, but one was a Muslim and the other was not. Saidina Abu Bakr and Salman al-Farisi were not from the same ethnic group, but both were Muslim. So, in that sense, Malays are not necessarily Muslims. Chinese are not necessarily Buddhists or Christians. Indians are not necessarily Hindus. Ethnicity and religion are two separate things.


Unfortunately for us Malaysians, somewhere along the line, these two layers got mixed. That is when you start seeing Malay groups like UMNO claiming to defend Islam; Indian groups like the MIC fighting for Hindu temples, but not saying much when mosques were demolished, even though there are Indians who are Muslims; and groups claiming to be the defenders of Islam like PAS and ABIM seem to focus more on Malay rights when there are Muslims who are not Malays and Malays who are not Muslims. You also see a relatively new Hindu group - HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) - claiming to act for all Indians when not all Indians are Hindus, and not all Hindus are Indians. Somehow, the two layers - ethnicity and religion - became blurred and the actions of these groups make the problem worse.


A disaster to mankind


So the question is, is Islam a blessing to Malaysians? Islam is a blessing to Malaysians if practised as it should be practised. The problem is not with Islam, but with Muslims, and with those who say they speak for Islam. In reality, some Muslims, and some groups who claim to speak for Islam, are simply disastrous.


Although Islam is a blessing to mankind, many Muslims (not all), and some Muslim groups (not all) are simply a disaster to mankind. They seek to impose their beliefs on others. They want to coerce others into living the way of life that they define as acceptable. Even within the Muslim communities - and note that I am saying Muslim communities in the plural because I do not believe there is only one interpretation of Islam - they say you must follow their interpretation because they know best what Islam is.


In short, we have living amongst us, Muslims who believe in coercion and imposition, not just coercing non-Muslims into living lives the way they say, but also coercing Muslims into subscribing to their version of Islam.


These people have forgotten that Islam is a non-hierarchical religion. We do not have a central religious body that decides what is Islamic and what is not. If we go back to the golden age of Islam, you will see that Islam was practised in different ways. I believe that that age was golden because learned Muslims at different places were able to interpret Islam in different ways, and subsequently there was competition between the different schools of thought.


For example, when Sufism became widespread in the Muslim world, there were various different orders of tariqah. When Islamic fiqh was being developed, there was not just one school but several. Even in the matter of aqidah, there was not just one school, but several. It was the competition among the various schools that allowed the flourishing of knowledge and wisdom among Muslim communities.


Moving forward. So, let me come back to the issue of Islam being a blessing to Malaysians but many Muslims are a disaster. How do we move forward?


I have been a member of PAS since 1992 and I am proud to see the party gradually changing for the better. I have been very lucky because I have been given the opportunity to deal and communicate directly with many of the top leaders in PAS. Through my association with PAS, I have been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to get to know many Islamic groups in Malaysia. At the same time, in the UK, as well as my involvement in the British Conservative Party, I have been involved with various Muslim organisations in the United Kingdom, and, believe me, the variety of Muslim groups in the UK is even wider than what we have in Malaysia.


Looking at Malaysia and Britain, I think there is a common thread weaving through many (not all) of these various religious and ethnic-based organisations. Many feel like they are victims, or they feel that they have been victimised at one stage in the past. Many feel like they have been, or are being oppressed, and they need to speak as one religious or ethnic group. Many feel like they have to defend themselves from attacks by other religious or ethnic groups, and that is why they group together as one religious or ethnic grouping.


It is funny that in the UK, where Muslims are the minority, they feel they need to be defensive about Islam, but you also see the same thing in a country like Malaysia, where Muslims are in the majority. Muslims in Malaysia also feel that they need to be defensive about Islam, even though they are the majority. And their reactions to current issues are almost very similar. They group together to create an "us" versus "them" situation, and they appeal to the emotions of followers.


For Malaysia, in order to move forward I believe we, Muslims, have to stop being defensive. Islam is a confident religion. Why is it that Muslims seem to have lost our confidence? Why is it that when others disagree with us, we show them the keris, or we insist on putting our beliefs into law, which is, just like the keris, a tool for coercion?


I believe these are all signs of defensiveness, and I believe it is high-time for Muslims, and in fact, those of any religion, to stop being defensive, and go into what Professor Tariq Ramadan calls, a "post-integration discourse". We are not, or no lonegr, victims. Even though we are a minority, we are an integral part of this society.

Let us debate substantive policy issues that will improve the country as a whole.

Liberating values of Islam


In order to move forward, we Muslims and Islamists must go back to the liberating values of Islam and formulate and propose policy ideas that are also liberating and fair for everyone. Non-Muslims should do the same and stop intentionally stirring emotional issues that would only create more division.


Let us move away from divisive emotional debates and try to focus about the very positive and liberating aspects of Islam, and other religions.


Rather than continuing to talk about the emotive issues like race and religion, let us shift the debate to real policy issues. Stop sensationalising issues like apostasy and threat to Malay rights. When talking religion, why is it that we like so much to debate about apostasy when we know it is divisive? Why can't we debate education, health, crime, domestic and international trade, economy, public services, schools, universities, hospitals and so on?


Islam promotes choice and defends the right of individuals to choose. That is positive. Let us stop all this rubbish about "Dalam Islam memang ada pilihan tetapi pilihan itu ada hadnya". This type of statements is turning a positive into a negative. We should go straight into the positives of choice, and find ways to introduce choice into national policies.


Choice in education


Let us look at education - the key to building a successful nation. Let us talk about how to introduce choice into our education system, particularly in schools, so that everybody, Muslim or not, would benefit. Let us make sure our education system is fair in the Islamic sense of putting the right thing at the right place.


To give a more specific example, citizens in this country pay taxes (or at least are supposed to do so!). Is it fair that, when everyone regardless of their religion, pays the taxes, and that tax money is then used to pay for schools and teachers, we still lump students into two groups - Muslim students learn Islamic studies, all other non-Muslims learn Pendidikan Moral. Buddhists pay taxes. Christians pay taxes. Hindus pay taxes. Why don't we have Pendidikan Agama Islam, Pendidikan Agama Kristian, Pendidikan Agama Buddha, Pendidikan Agama Hindu in schools?


Did Islam not teach us to be fair? If fairness means putting things where they rightly belong, surely the most rightful thing to do is to allow Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Baha'is and so on to learn about their own religion, because after all, they have paid for those services through their taxes. Is it fair to force them to pay taxes to ensure Muslim children get Islamic education, but at the same time depriving children of other religions from learning theirs?


Let us translate the Islamic value of choice into giving true choice to parents - give them the choice to decide what religion their children will study in schools. This should not be dictated by the state, especially when the diktat is unfair to those of other religions.


Protecting consumers


Let us go to a second example. Let us look at how to ensure consumers pay the lowest prices for the best products. Surely protecting the consumers and ensuring that consumers get the best deal is a very Islamic thing to do. How do we ensure consumers get the best deal? The answer is by providing a guarantee for choice and competition in the market place, by removing government intervention in the markets, and by allowing traders to compete with others freely to give consumers the best value for money.


We have seen how government interventions only result in cronyism. State interference in the marketplace must be removed, and the role of the state in the market place must be limited. Let us open up our markets for traders, so that they have to compete to give best value for money. Who will benefit? The consumers, of course!


Let us allow the Islamic values of competing to do good (fastabikul khairat) to also operate in the market place. This 'invisible hand' will push traders, in their quest to attract consumers, to do good for the consumers, by striving to provide consumers with the best value for money, even though the traders themselves may not be intending to do so.


New Economic Policy


Let us look at a third example - the New Economic Policy. I know many Islamists try to justify this pro-Malay policy by saying that the Malays need help the most, and therefore they must be assisted. I don't know how these Islamists sleep at night because if they truly believe Malays need special treatment because they are all poor, they are either lying or are naive. The reality is, there are Indians, Chinese, Malays, Ibans, Kadazans, Orang Asli, and many more who are also poor and are in need of help.


Islam is a fair religion, and there is nothing more fair than abolishing the NEP that favours only one skin-colour, and introduce a scheme to assist everyone who is in need. Yes, perhaps it should be done gradually. But there should be a clear target and we should develop a timetable towards that aim.


It baffles me to see our Muslim politicians battling each other to argue how Malays are still poor and that the NEP is still needed. This is like arguing that they have failed to do what they were elected to do. And the Malay voters are even more ridiculous. They keep on electing these self-confessed, failed politicians!


What could be more Islamic than campaigning for the abolition of the NEP, towards the creation of a policy that truly helps those in need, regardless or race and religion? If "adil" means putting things where they rightly belong, then the most rightful thing to do with the NEP is to put it into the rubbish-bin.


I can't really go into the details of each policy area as this would require more time and space that this short occasion. But my main point is, we should move away from debates on race and religion, and start talking about really substantive policy issues.


Malaysia for all Malaysians


The Muslim Malays must grow up. This is not just a Malay or Muslim country. This is our country and you can see the diversity of our population as soon as you venture outside your own house. We have to realise that when people talk about Malay rights, it is not necessarily because they want to threaten the Malays, but it is because they want to improve the country as a whole.


I know how it feels to be told to stay away from certain issues because, in England where I live, I am a minority. It saddens me to see my non-Muslim non Malay brothers and sisters to be told the same in Malaysia.


So, let me conclude by saying this. I am a Malaysian Muslim. I consider myself an Islamist who believes in classical liberal values. I live in England where I am a minority. I know it is not easy being in the minority. When you speak up, some (not all) of the majority says that you shouldn't punch above your weight. When you try to make constructive proposals, some (not all) of the majority say you are trying to change their country. But, in all honesty, all that you want to do is to make the country better for everyone, not just for yourself. Somehow, because you are a minority, you are looked at with suspicion.


That is why I am urging every Muslim to make Islam truly a blessing for all Malaysians by not going too much into emotive issues. And this is equally applicable to people of all religions. We all should stop deliberately stirring up emotions, and we should move towards debating policy issues using the moral values of our religions, if you really want to use religion as the basis of your thinking.


Let us stop debating and sensationalising things. Let us walk away from debates that appeal only to the emotions. Instead, let us debate policy issues, and appeal to the intellect. Let us debate things that really make a difference to the lives of everyone in this beloved country of ours. Let us think about how to introduce policies that can liberate the people from the grip of the state. Let us together find ways to give back freedom and liberty to the people, socially, economically and politically, while at the same time holding true to the values of our religions.


And, especially to Muslims, let us go back to the values of Islam that promote fairness, freedom and liberty, not the centralising and socialistic tendencies of some Islamists factions.


*Wan Saiful Wan Jan is Director General of Malaysia Think Tank London.Previously, he was at the British Conservative Party Research Department and the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit. Wan Saiful is a life-member of PAS. While completing his university studies in England, he was actively involved in HIZBI, a movement for Malaysians in the United Kingdom closely associated with PAS. He was among the longest-serving President of HIZBI, and after he stepped down, wasappointed as Mursyid. He moved from KL to England in 1993 and has been living there since. In May 2007, he contested in the English local elections as a Conservative Party Candidate. He is active in the Conservative Party's Muslim Forum (CMF) and has co-authored a submission to the shadow cabinet on (British) National and International Security.

My Dream Comes True

Facebook Status Update : Zokhri feels like @ da top of da world becuz of da lurvely gift.




Wednesday saw me going to Sunway Pyramid joining me best fren 4 a date. I was still in a great Goosebumps to receive a call from my dearly fren, asking me out after work. All I cud recall, its for a celebration.




And she really seemed celebrating. She has eventually released herself from a daunting period of her life and welcoming series of joy and happiness ahead.




-Kudos to u sweetheart. May da dark clouds fade away and da sun shines all da way throughout ur life- amen




As she was (and still I think) in a happy mode + giving mode, she spent me dinner @ Ichiban Ramen … yeah me like Japanese … da Tenpayaki Salmon Set was awesome. (Kenyang nak man-push)




N after dat, we headed to MPH & Popular (da must-go places whenever I visit Sunway). She proclaimed, “dear, in da mood of giving. Get any book dat u want @ any price”




Waaaaaaaaaaaa… (although I pretended to be speechless)




Feeling unabashedly, (hehe) I asked 4 a book dat I always wanna have and to re-read. It was only in every of my visits to da bookstores, it ended up wif a disappointing (n cud be demoralising too) statement “Sorry, no stock”
Without further a due,
Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ….




Yeay

Telling u, it’s a really a masterpiece. It’s a perfect blend of melancholies and motivation from da very beginning till da end. It preaches da reader to believe in true love (which I’ve wrote dat once b4).

Believe u me, by merely reading da synopsis, u will start beaming into tears (seriously shit ok)

*Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry. They were childhood sweethearts – no one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other. Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry’s death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms Holly discovers that Gerry has left her a bundle of notes, gently guiding her into her new life without him, each signed “P.S. I Love You”.

With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing – and being braver than ever before.

Live is for living, she realises – but it always helps if there’s an angel watching over you.*

-sedey giler plis-



My Target : I must finish reading before watching the film. Its already showing in the States and cud be in any moment from now in Malaysia.




My Next Reading will be : The Kite Runner by Khaled Hoseini.

Off to lecturing …

TODAY IS EARTH DAY : SHOW YOUR CONCERN

Valued Visitors @ readers,


Today is Earth Day. Let us contribute in some small way to help our "Mother Earth", today, tomorrow or any day. U mite question how can a small effort of urs would change the whole world? Wat does da difference it makes shud u really care? How could the earth return all da good deeds we’ve shown to her?


But have u ever wondered, if dis small effort been understood and embraced by everyone, don’t u think dat something can be done.? Admittedly, it’s the law of the nature that - to create awareness aint easy. Not within few days and months or even years. But there has to be a start somewhere by someone. The starter mite not even witness da change will take place during his lifetime, but his initiative will be fondly remembered n cherished even though he’s no longer exist on dis mortal earth. And wudnt dat put him/her die in honour, because of initiating a start to the whole mankind? A start dat bring benefit 2 da entire universe in sustaining and maintaining sumting dats called L-I-F-E ? Dats da least we can hope for shud we really care and love our earth.


I understand people can give tones of excuses if he/she wish not to do it, but believe you me, if God wud like to charge us for ever 02 dat we inhale n for da CO2 dat we release, u wudnt even dare to raise an objection. Only if we know da price of a fresh air to breath, da value of a nice conducive place to stay, da price of high blue sky up high n da nice feelings of the seething winds, we definitely wudn’t allow ourselves for a single taught disagreeing with da idea.

Above all, may I throw u wif a question
If its not us, who else ….

Zokhri
(Its never too late 4 a change)

Today is EARTH DAY
As we observe Earth Day today and to show our support towards reducing our carbon footprints, these are some of the little things you can do to help preserve what is left of our natural environment.
What you can do:Find out how your actions impact the global environment and discover a number of simple ways in which you can make a real difference.

WATER

Where does it all go?

A leaking tap can waste 140 litres (37 US gallons) of water per week, almost the amount of water needed for a whole load of laundry.
A dishwasher uses up to 70 litres (18 US gallons) of water to complete a full cycle.
Washing clothes uses as much as 25% of residential water, each machine load using up to 150 litres (40 US gallons) of water, more than a full bathtub.
A running tap can waste up to 6 litres (1.5 US gallons) per minute.
An average toilet uses 13 litres (3.5 US gallons) per flush. An older toilet may use up to 20 litres (5.5 US gallons) per flush while a low-flush toilet uses only 6 litres (1.5 US gallons) or less.
3 things you can do today:
Install a water butt to collect rainwater and use this or household leftover water in the garden and for watering indoor plants.
Take a shower instead of a bath, but remember - power showers can waste even more water than a bath.
Only wash full loads of laundry unless you can change the load setting in your machine each time.

CARBON DIOXIDE

Where does it all go?

Driving a 12mpg (5kpl) 4x4 will waste more energy in 1 year than leaving the fridge door open for 7 years.
A car produces approximately three times its weight in CO2 emissions every year: therefore, owning unnecessarily large vehicles can cause needless damage to the environment.
Air travel is the fastest growing contributor of global carbon dioxide emissions. At present, it contributes 3.5%, but this is expected to rise to 25% by 2030.
3 things you can do today:
Buy local produce to reduce transport costs, CO2 emissions, and food miles, and hence the harmful effects on the climate. Further benefits include less vitamin depletion due to reduced transportation time and increased local business.
Adopt a car-share scheme with a friend or colleague for your journeys to and from work. This cuts pollution and saves you money.
Switch to green electricity. Most energy suppliers offer competitively priced domestic tariffs, which use green or renewable energy to help tackle climate change and can reduce your household CO2 emissions by at least a third.

WASTE
Where does it all go?

Food miles = the distance travelled by your food from the source to your table. The greater the distance travelled, the greater the impact on the environment. The transportation of food, including by air, train or road, wastes fuel energy and increases CO2 emissions.
Americans throw away enough office and writing paper annually to build a wall 12 feet (3.7 meters) high stretching from Los Angeles to New York City - a distance of 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres).
About two-thirds of household rubbish can be composted. The average person throws away 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of organic waste every year - equivalent to 2,800 banana skins.
3 things you can do today:
Take a reusable bag when you go shopping.
Use local recycling schemes for all appropriate household waste such as paper, cans, glass, plastic and clothing.
Make compost from your organic kitchen waste. It makes a great fertilizer and reduces pollutants.

ENERGY
Where does it all go?

Leaving a computer monitor on at night wastes enough power to microwave three dinners.
By 2015, China's population is projected to be around 1.4 billion. If the average Chinese consumer used as much oil as the average American uses, China would require 90 million barrels per day - 11 million more than the entire world produced each day in 2001.
Poor roof insulation can waste up to US$320 in energy costs every year.
3 things you can do today:
Install energy-efficient light bulbs, these can save nearly US$130 each over their lifetime compared to normal light bulbs.
Let your leftovers cool before putting them in the fridge, this will reduce the amount of energy used.
Try putting on a sweater instead of turning up the thermostat.


With regard to Earth Day, I would like to share that there's a sponsored public screening of a film by Leonardo DiCaprio The 11th Hour, a thought-provoking documentary on the importance of preserving nature.
Public screening will take place from 30 Apr - 4 May 2008 at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac). Free tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served-basis and are obtainable upon registration at www.ytlcommunity.com/climatechange.
We encourage all friends & colleagues to go watch the film! Who would want to miss out on Leonardo?
The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) Sentul Park Jalan Strachan (Off Jalan Ipoh) 51100 Kuala Lumpur.
Cheers and have a great day.

Time After Time (Mode:Emo)

*In the name of time*
*Verily, man is in loss*
*Except those who believe (in Faith & Religion) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (al-Ma’ruf) which Lord has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (al-Mungkar) which Lord has forbidden] and recommend I another to patience (for the sufferings, harms and injuries which one may encounter in God’s cause during preaching His religion)*


Mode : Breathless

I realise more often than not, dat Im drowning in da sea of hectic ness, overloaded wif work and future plans executions 2gether wif existing commitment. How 24 hours a day seem not to be enough as our commitments demand more.
Which reminds me of an old Arabic saying (professed by the late As-Syahid Imam Hassan Al-Banna :
Al-Wajibaatu Aksaaru Minal Auqat
i.e. our obligation is indeed more than the time given

As April 16th has elapsed, I’ve been ‘awarded’ wif 96 Essay Scripts from studs. 1 script at least will contain 2 essays. N I’ve 2 finish marking em soon as studs are eager 2 know wat will they get after their ‘mini-so-and-so’ battle. N da office n sum of em expect me 2 spend some extra time & effort labouring over dis menace ongoing n 4ever never be ended (@least not before November)

-Agonising myself ….. unobstrusively.

Gone laaaaa my weekends … -

Despite being fully occupied/overloaded, I still wanna do few stuffs (which of course not being carried out … just yet)

- Blog Updating: I wanna share how depress I am 4 being told and designed 2 b sum1 whom I am not. N da s*** reason they say is ‘ u r employee of the Company. U are abided by our policies and ethics’ -Screw YOU-


- Ask Rozairee out 4 free meal (Secret Recipe kannnnnnnnn?)


- Revise and improvise my piano lesson wif Maxine Lao Shi’


- Finishing “The World is Flat” by Thomas Friedman


- Treat E-1 for his belated 23rd birthday


- Balik Kampung aka Visiting grandma n kuzzies


- Participate in Islamic Study Circle (Usrah) by KBI. But im afraid studs wont accept me.


- Conduct extra coaching/tuition on Legals (strictly to certain individuals whom I identify really in need of help)


- Organise a personal “Career Talk in Law” wif me studs.


- Improvising my Quranic verses memorisation.


- Legal Update: to follow up a famous n most controversy case in Aussie of John n Jenny Deaves – it’s about an incest of father-daughter relationship … n they got a baby after 7 years of consummating.


EUWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW


- Plan a vacation sumwhere in mid May wif ……… @ Redang ? Cherating ? Langkawi ? – U Choose


- N clubbing perhaps? He he -grins- dis shud be da most awaiting agenda of da month I think weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee


Dere r so many things 2 do within dis short period of tyme.
Haihhhhhzzzzzzzzzzzzz


HATE SAM HATE TAYLORS

Full stop & Signing-off

P/S: me dunno how can I come up wif ‘kinda-bit’ such an Islamic entry dis tyme. Got Quranic n Arabic sayings summore =)


XXX 2152 SAM Office XXX

Zokhri's World Book of Record

Dis is 2 declare dat I've surpassed my world record by sleeping 4 more than 12 hours in just one day

Walaooooooooooweeiiiiiiiiiii


Starting Time : 0035

Ending Time : 1309


n u know how long is dat? Gud Heaven

Dat shows College & Studs really drill me hard dis week. Test n marking r totally stressful & never ending ...

Let c if I able 2 achieve da record 2nite (which I bet I will)


Adiosss ... Off 2 Starbucks 4 marking
XXX

My Lil' Prayer ...

O Allah,
Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change, The Courage To Change The Things I Can, And The Wisdom To Know The Difference …
Amen