Tribute to alma mater ...

Pos Malaysia concludes its stamp issue for the year with a set of four entitled "Premier Schools" released today. Present and former Victorians would definitely take pride that their alma mater -- Victoria Institution -- is among the schools featured.
Pos Malaysia says premier schools are those over 100 years which have been identified as cluster schools for their academic and co-curriculum achievements.
"These schools have produced many national leaders, corporate figures, professionals, sportsmen and scholars who have contributed significantly to the growth of Malaysia is this era of globalisation," according to details accompanying the First Day Cover.

Rekindling decades-old friendship ....

After 30 years, the fifth formers of Victoria Institution in 1978 got together tonight for a long overdue reunion. A good number of our former teachers made the evening more meaningful with their presence.
A friend said he knew about the planned gathering through Facebook and suggested everyone present to join the network.
I have kept this class photo of 5 Science 2 with our class teacher Mrs Foo for a long time.

With three decades gone, some of us who turned up for the reunion were beyond recognition. But we all agreed that Mrs Foo, who taught us biology, remains gorgeous as ever.


Looking closely at the photographs, I realized that those seated had held their hands in almost similar position even after all these years. Some things don't change, I suppose!
Here's the group photo of all who attended the reunion.

Journalism in a complex environment...

Over 40 journalists from the Asia-Pacific region are gathering in Jakarta to discuss how the media play both a positive and negative role in how diverse cultures inter-relate especially where politics and religions intersect.
The three-day forum entitled “Asia-Pacific Regional Media Programme” is being co-sponsored by the European Union, Norway, and New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Speakers included former Indonesia foreign minister Ali Alatas, Griffith University's Prof. Michael Wesley, general secretary of International Federation of Journalists Aidan White, Indonesia's former assistant minister/state secretary of foreign affairs Prof. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, and 'the father of the Indonesian media' journalist and author Goenawan Mohamad.
The forum explored how in a time of rapid globalisation and increasing contact – and conflict – between cultures, journalism often has to straddle the 'fault lines' that separate us as peoples.
At times, the media, and journalists themselves, choose simplicity and conciseness over accuracy – particularly where time constraints and available space restrict one's challenge to report on conflict accurately.
The conference being held at the Hotel Mulia Senayan will be followed by a one-day workshop discussing "The Role of Media in Muslim-Western Relations."
The workshop is organized by the New York-based Alliance of Civilizations Secretariat and the Search for Common Ground, a non-governmental organization.

A story to live by ...

A friend emailed me this story today:
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend.
He was always there for her.
She told her boyfriend: "If I could only see the world, I will marry you."
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her.
When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.
He asked her: "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"
The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.
The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that.
The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:
"Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.
Life is a gift.
Before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out for a companion.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who died too early on this earth.
Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin .
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

Food for thought ...

Rising prices have plunged an additional 75 million people below the hunger threshold, bringing the estimated number of undernourished people worldwide to 923 million in 2007. As the World Food Day is observed today, UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director-General Jacques Diouf called for a political and financial push to boost sustainable agriculture in the world’s poor countries, double global food production and free the world of hunger and malnutrition.
"I wish to reaffirm that we know what needs to be done to eradicate the hunger of 923 million people in the world. We also know what needs to be done to double world food production and feed a population that is expected to rise to 9 billion people by 2050," he said at a ceremony in Rome marking World Food Day, the anniversary of FAO’s foundation in 1945.
Noting that $US22 billion was pledged to promote global food security earlier this year, but that only 10 percent of this has so far materialized – mainly for emergency food aid – Diouf declared:
"What we need ... is political will and delivery on financial commitments, if we are to be able to make the essential investments that are needed to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security in the poorest countries of the world."
The theme for this year celebration is "World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy".
FAO estimates had put the number of people suffering from chronic hunger worldwide in 2003-05 at 848 million, an increase of 6 million from the 842 million in 1990-92, the World Food Summit baseline period.
Soaring food, fuel and fertilizer prices have exacerbated the problem. Food prices rose 52 percent between 2007 and 2008, and fertilizer prices have nearly doubled over the past year.

New stamps, new friends...

When I wrote last Sept 16 about a man who got started on collecting first day covers (FDC) after an unexpected visit to the philately section at Kuala Lumpur general post office, it drew a response from the man himself.

Signing his name as ‘Din’, he said he had since collected many stamps and was getting hooked to it. Like most collectors, 'Din' was looking forward to the next issue of FDC, which happened to be today in conjunction with World Post Day.
By coincidence, we bumped into each other again. What's interesting was that ‘Din’ brought along a friend whom he had encouraged to take up the hobby.
As any other day when new stamps are released, the place will be a meeting point for collectors. While you get to see familiar faces, there will be new friends to make like Mr Ho and retired Major Ranjit Singh.

Being a seasoned collector, Ho took the trouble to explain to us the ‘secrets’ of stamp collecting.
To think that we were total strangers who could sit together to talk about stamps and become friends is most satisfying. Surely this kind of interaction should be encouraged especially among the young generation.
Everyone is free to join this friendship circle. All you need to do is go to the philately section of the KL main post office whenever new stamps are issued.
As for the latest stamps offering, Pos Malaysia has showcased some of the country's unique flowers in conjunction with World Post Day 2008. The collection is to increase awareness of such flowers that are attractive and unique because of their shape or fragrance.
The collection features four flowers -- kembang songsang (climbing lily), kenerak (kenerak), akar dani (rangoon creeper) and cempaka pisang (banana shrub) while the miniature sheet depicts the bakawali (gooseneck cactus).

Footnote: World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Berne. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. In most countries philatelic exhibitions are organized during this period and special stamps and date cancellation marks are issued on 9 October.

Despite doom prediction, postal services remain relevant.…

Billions of parcels, letters and express items are sent by post to people all over the world. Goods or important documents, migrants’ remittances to their families, newspapers and books -- the list goes on.
Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Edouard Datan says despite predictions of their demise not so long ago, postal services are alive and well and now more relevant than ever.
"E-mail and the Internet have not replaced them, but have instead created new opportunities," he said in his message to mark World Post Day today.
"We live at a time where the different means of communication complement each other. The postal sector provides a precious service, not only to anyone who buys or sells online, but also to people not yet able to make full use of the new technologies and for whom the mail is a vital link with the outside world. With growing international and inter-regional trade, the development gap between postal services around the world needs to be narrowed so that businesses and individuals can benefit more from them," he said.
It is worth recalling that the UPU this year is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a United Nations specialized agency. Since 1948, the postal sector has contributed in meaningful ways to the noble mission of the United Nations, assisting development, reducing poverty and the digital divide, promoting health, environmental protection and sustainable development, to name just a few.
Owing to their universality, postal services provide a link between people all over the globe. This is especially important at a time when millions of people do not enjoy the right to communication. In a constantly changing world, postal services make it possible to establish and maintain this contact and this link, both of which are vital.

Smile…you’re on World Smile Day!

"Smile an everlasting smile, a smile can bring you near to me…"
I recall the opening lyrics of the Bee Gees hit ‘Words’ as the World Smile Day is celebrated today.
There are hundreds of languages in the world but a smile speaks them all. It is perhaps the only thing that unites us and bonds us together as human beings.
It is rare that a smile fails to get a friendly response. Say it with a smile, no matter what language you speak and you will communicate. A smile may happen in a flash but the memory of it can last a lifetime.
The World Smile Day was first celebrated in 1999. As usual, the theme for the day is "Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile". And as ever, the image that leads the way on this day is the iconic Smiley Face.
Harvey Ball, co-owner of an advertising and public relations firm in Worcester, Massachusetts designed the irresistible Smiley Face in 1963 to help ease the acrimonious aftermath following the merger of two insurance companies.
The logo was to accompany a "friendship campaign" that the company came up with to encourage employees to smile as they went about their work or interacted with customers. Thinking about what would inspire employees to smile, he decided the most simple and direct symbol would be a smile itself and that is what he drew.

"I made a circle with a smile for a mouth on yellow paper, because it was sunshiny and bright," Ball recalled in a 1996 interview with The Associated Press. Turning the drawing upside down, the smile became a frown. Deciding that wouldn't do, Ball added two eyes and the Smiley Face was born. He was paid a $45 fee for his timeless creation.
"Never in the history of mankind or art has any single piece of art gotten such widespread favor, pleasure, enjoyment, and nothing has ever been so simply done and so easily understood in art," said Ball. He died in April 2001.
In Malaysia, we had a song about smile that was aired over radio and television:
Here's the lyrics of the song Senyum Seindah Suria:
Senyum Seindah Suria,
Yang membawa cahya,
Senyumlah dari hati,
Duniamu berseri,

Senyum umpama impian,
Dalam kehidupan,
Kau tersenyum ku tersenyum
Kemesraan menguntum...

Senyum..kepada semua,
Senyumanmu amatlah berharga
Senyum..umpama titian
Dengan senyuman terjalinlah ikatan...

And here's the English version:

A smile is quite a funny thing
It lightens up your face
And when it's gone you'll never find
Its secret hiding place
Far more wonderful it is
To see what smile can do
You smile at me
I smile at you
And so one smile makes two

Smile
Smile
It isn't hard to do
Smile for a while
And let one smile catch two...

New friend on Facebook ...

Yasmin Ahmad, my new friend on Facebook, is in South Korea to attend the screening of 'Muallaf' at the Pusan International Film Festival. One of Asia’s top, the festival kicks off today in the beach resort city. It will show 316 movies from 60 countries.
Like many others who commented on Facebook, I hope Yasmin will have a good trip.
From the comments given, many love her Petronas Raya TV commercial which I had wrote about on this blog.
While Hari Raya enters its second day in Malaysia, the Malaysian Embassy in Jordan emailed me some photos of the Aidilfitri celebrations in Amman which was attended by visiting Tengku Muda of Pahang, Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah. The celebration was held at the residence of ambassador Hasnudin Hamzah on the first day of the Aidilfitri on Tuesday. Hasnudin said there was the usual spread of Malaysian food such as lemang, rendang, satay, nasi dagang, nasi tomato and lontong.
On the second day of the Aidilfitri Wednesday, the celebration was held at the Malaysian Students Department attended by the Tengku Muda, Hasnudin and over 500 Malaysian students throughout the kingdom.

Surprise ‘Hari Raya’ visitor…

Talk about working on festive holiday, Bernama staff on duty had a surprise visitor when Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek turned up at Wisma Bernama today to personally convey his Hari Raya greeting.
Accompanied by his family, the minister made stops at Radio Bernama24, NAM News Network (NNN), Bernama TV and the editorial department on the 1st floor.


Interviewed by the radio station, Shabery highlighted about Malaysia’s unique Hari Raya ‘open house’ which livens up the festive atmosphere.
He was just back from the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) where the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and their wives jointly held a Hari Raya open house.
"Seluruh lapisan masyarakat mengunjungi rumah terbuka itu dalam suasana ceria yang mungkin tak ditemui di negara-negara lain...inilah suasana yang membuatkan Malaysia indah.
(Malaysians of all walks of life were there in a cheerful mood that is uniquely Malaysia...this is the kind of atmosphere that makes Malaysia beautiful)," said Shabery.
He gave credit to the media for cheering up the festive occasion.
"Apalah hari raya tanpa TV dan radio? (What is Hari Raya without TV and radio?)" said Shabery who later attended the Hari Raya ‘open house’ organised by the station.

Of Hari Raya eve and 'balik kampung' ...

KL is relatively quiet with many of its residents going back to their hometown for the Hari Raya celebration tomorrow. For those who remain in the city, they are bound to be asked: "Tak balik kampung ke?" (Aren’t you going back to your hometown?). I was asked of the question not less than five times today alone – at the bank, hypermarket, petrol station and at the roadside stalls selling ketupat, lemang and rendang along MRR2 near Zoo Negara. Its not the first time for me and my family to celebrate Hari Raya in KL. So, we are quite used to it. I’m going to take the opportunity to visit my friends especially those who grew up with me at the long demolished Asrama Dr Latiff.

Thank you to friends who sms me Raya greetings. I do hope everyone will have a wonderful time. Some advised me to drive safely, probably thinking I might be going somewhere out of the city. As far as driving is concerned, I’m having a breeze driving around KL with less cars on the road.
But not all ‘balik kampung’ journey ended in joy when 12 Indonesians – eleven women and a man -- drown after their wooden barge sank off Port Klang this morning. 112 others were rescued. Klang district police chief ACP Mohamad Mat Yusop said all the dead were in their 20s. One of the women was pregnant.
The barge sank 10 minutes after setting sail from a forest area in Pulau Che Mat Zin, near Westport for Tanjong Balai in the Sumatra at about 7am.
Mohamad said the 5m-long barge had capacity for 70 passengers but was carrying about 130 people.
All the Indonesians were believed to be on their way home to celebrate the Aidilfitri.
It is unexpected events like this that requires media organizations like Bernama to be on alert despite the festive mood. For this, my thoughts go to all who have to work during Hari Raya. They are the unsung heroes – men and women – who keep the organization going. Since Bernama started operation 40 years ago, it has never once ‘close for holiday’.
My colleague, Muin Abdul Majid, who is based in Dubai, is celebrating the Aidilfitri far away from his family. Like other Muslim Malaysians across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he joined other Muslims in the Gulf nation and many other countries in the Middle East in celebrating Aidilfitri today.
In Dubai, the Malaysians converged on the Matrade centre for the Aidilfitri prayers led by Shushilil Azam Shuib, the Malaysian Education Promotion Centre (MEPC) regional director.
The UAE Moon Sighting Committee announced Monday night that the UAE was to celebrate Aidilfitri Tuesday.
Selamat Hari Raya. Maaf Zahir Batin.

Hari Raya on Wednesday amidst ‘homecoming’ cheer of hijacked vessels…

Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 1 as news of a second Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) tanker, hijacked in the Gulf of Aden by Somali pirates, has been freed brought relief for families of the 29 Malaysian hostages.
The ‘balik kampung’ exodus is expected to reach top-most gear following the announcement of the Hari Raya by Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.
But the more anticipated ‘homecoming’ would definitely be that of the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) vessel.
The MT Bunga Melati Dua was released at 4.14am today and was reported to be heading towards Djibouti, East Africa with the crew in good health.
The good news came a day after pirates released another MISC tanker -- MT Bunga Melati Lima.
The MT Bunga Melati Dua, with a crew of 39 -- 29 Malaysian and the rest Filipinos -- was hijacked on Aug19. One of the Filipino crew was killed after being hit by a stray bullet, when the ship was taken over by pirates.
Ten days later, the MT Bunga Melati Lima, with 36 Malaysian and five Filipino crew encountered the same fate while sailing from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia to Singapore.

Feel-good stories about 'balik kampung'...

Most of my friends who have ‘kampungs’ to return to for the Hari Raya would have made the journey by now. I can imagine how happy they are to celebrate the joyous occasion with their parents or either one of them who are still alive.
My buddy Halim, who commented on my blog about the Petronas Raya commercial, took more than 17 hours to balik kampung from where he is based in Central Asia. I’m happy that he saw the TV commercial to make his homecoming even more special.
"…it is exactly 8.10 am Friday morning where I am at and I have a 7.10 pm flight home to catch. Another 11 hours. I have got all my bags with me here at the office. Exactly 17 hours later I will be landing at KLIA. I know the meaning of balik kampung for Hari Raya now. In the commercial, it was about a mother and her son, who came home for Hari Raya. I will go see my mother before Hari Raya and I will see her during Hari Raya and I will go see her after Hari Raya....
Never has a flight been so looked forward to...," he wrote on his blog: dudaesimboyo.blogspot.com.
Another buddy, Fisol describes vividly what balik kampung means to him on his blog hardkocks1961.blogspot.com.
"A friend asked me today whether I would be going home for Aidilfitri. I believe the question should be, when. As far as I’m concerned, not to return home for Aidilfitri is not an option, simply because my Mak is expecting everyone to be home for the festival, no matter how tight our schedules are or how crazy the traffic heading north would be at this time of the year," he said.
While many KL residents have made their way to their hometowns and kampungs to celebrate Hari Raya, the city’s main shopping areas remain busy with last-minute shoppers looking for bargains.

(Along the back lane between Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Masjid India at noon today)

Petronas fuels ‘balik kampung’ message …

Keeping up to its thought provoking messages, the Petronas television commercial for the coming Hari Raya drives home the poignant meaning of ‘balik kampung’.
It relates the story of a ‘busy’ young man going back to his ‘kampung’ where his mother lives alone. She had not been answering his phone calls as the line had been down. So when he couldn’t get connected to the internet, the young man decided to spend the night in town as he needed to use the facility to complete his project.
At the small hotel in town, he met an elderly man whose son had just undergone an operation. He was staying at the hotel as there was no place for him to sleep at the hospital.
"I can’t bear to leave him alone.
"It’s heart-breaking not being able to see him or hear his voice," said the man, looking dejected.
His remarks threw the young man into a deep-thought.
Seeing the young man buried in paperwork with a note-book computer at hand, the man said: "You look busy. Aren’t you going home for Raya?"
That further evoked a hard look on the young man who had left his mother alone at home.
When she did not answer his phone call, the young man decided to return home that night itself. On seeing him, the mother was of course surprise as she thought he would be spending the night in town.
Although it was a straight-forward message, the commercial still leaves behind a deep impact. We often take for granted persons whom we are supposed to love. We always think they will forever be there for us. We seldom appreciate their love and sacrifices.
In the commercial, the mother told the young man that she had sewn a pair of ‘baju Melayu’ for him but he seemed uninterested. He was more concern about his work.
When the mother asked him to take along some food which she had cooked for him, he declined it, saying he was running late.
Do value the moments to be with our parents while they are still alive. You’ll never know when it will be too late.
To view the 2008 Petronas Raya commercial, go here .

'Balik kampung' joy rising ...

With the 'balik kampung' joy creeping in as Aidil Fitri draws closer, I reckon there are many urban dwellers who are magnetized to the excitement but don’t have a ‘kampung’ to go back to for the Hari Raya. The thoughts of the simple lifestyle of a picturesque ‘kampung’ get feverish as evergreen Raya songs fill the air almost everywhere you go.
"Balik kampung, wo, wo, wo, balik kampung…wo, wo, wo, balik kampung, hati girang", goes a long-time favourite tune.
For those wanting to experience the kampung way of life, one option is the homestay programme. The good thing is that it’s an all-year round opportunity, not just during the festive time.

"I used to wonder why some people would want to come and stay with poor kampung folk. We live a simple life. There is not much luxury and comfort in our homes, yet people are attracted to that," says fisherman Ramli Ibrahim who rents out one of the three rooms in his house in Kelantan.
"After talking to our guests, I realised they are attracted to the quiet and slow pace of life in our kampung. They want to live with us and eat what we eat and take part in our activities.
"Surprisingly, I get many Malaysians who just want to get away from the city and try out the simple kampung life."
He would never have dreamt of making a living by opening his home to total strangers and allowing them to share in his family life, according to a report in the New Straits Times today.
But two years ago, he and a group of villagers living in one of the many small islets along Sungai Kelantan in Tumpat, learnt about the concept behind the homestay programme.
Since then, the 49-year-old father of six and 19 other villagers on Pulau Suri have been taking in visitors who are eager to experience their simple kampung lifestyle.
Apart from curious and adventurous foreigners who want to learn about local culture, the villagers also get people from big cities like Kuala Lumpur who want to sample the rustic kampung lifestyle.
Kelantan Homestay Association president Mohd Nasir Mustapha says the organisation hopes to attract more people like Ramli to take part in the homestay programme as it is a good way to boost tourism.
Since it was set up in May, the association has recruited 1,200 members mostly from remote areas like Jeli and Gua Musang.

"Di hari raya
Terkenang daku kepada si dia
Kampungku indah nun jauh di sana
Ayah serta bondaku..."
(Dendang Perantau)

Standing up for peace...

On this International Day of Peace, September 21, Malaysia has pledged to make it an annual celebration.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak says September 21 is a significant international day as it was chosen by the United Nations (UN) as a day of ceasefire and to stop all forms of violence throughout the world.
By creating the International Day of Peace (Peace Day), the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal.
The ‘Peace Bell’ is rung at the UN Headquarters to celebrate the day. An inscription on the side of the bell reads: "Long live absolute world peace."
But it's so ironic that it was only yesterday that at least 60 people were killed when an explosives-laden truck exploded at Islamabad's Marriott Hotel in the latest incident of violence.
"Malaysia condemns all forms of violence, aggression and foreign interference in the domestic affairs of another country," said Najib in his speech read out by Deputy Defence Minister Abu Seman Yusop at the Walk for Peace event in Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.
Participants at the event observed a minute of silence at 12pm sharp as a remembrance for those who had fought in wars.
Every country in the world celebrates the day in their own manner.
The first Peace Day was celebrated in 1982 when the United Nations General Assembly declared the third Tuesday of September as the International Day of Peace to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace.
In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.
During the discussion of the U.N. Resolution in 1981 that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:
"Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples…This day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace."
Malaysia has submitted to UN calls to send troops for peacekeeping operations to countries that were having conflicts in the past 35 years.
"We begin with dispatching troops to Congo and followed by Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Western Sahara and Timor Leste. At present a Malaysian contingent is serving in Lebanon at the request of the UN," said Najib.
Let’s give peace a chance!

A friend ….

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in you
(C)alls you just to say "Hi!"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust be with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever judges
(O)ffer support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

The 'tall' club ...

Millions of people visit towers across the globe annually for an experience of "being at the top". The spectacular heights and panoramic view offered by these towers create tourism opportunities both for the towers and the host countries. With the advent of technology, modern towers are getting higher and higher, reaching incredible heights and in the process, acquire new purposes in telecommunication.
Malaysia’s own Menara KL is among 27 members of the World Federation of Great Towers (WFGT). Created in 1989, the WFGT is an association of international monuments to foster global awareness and develop international opportunities for promotion.
Menara KL Chief Executive Officer Zulkifli Mohamad says 40 million tourists visit the towers yearly.
"Through our membership in the WFGT, Menara KL offers an important window of opportunity in terms of promoting the country’s tourism products and services to the global communities," he said.
The federation meets annually to decide on the following year’s activities and to formulate a marketing plan. Moscow is hosting this year’s conference from September 14 to September 20.
The key criterion for inclusion in the WFGT is that the building must have a public observation deck.

Menara KL joined the WFGT on its inauguration day on October 1, 1996.

Standing tall at 421 meters in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, the tower perches majestically on top of Bukit Nenas, which is itself 94 metres above sea level.


The other 26 member towers of WFGT are: CN Tower in Toronto (Canada), Empire State Building in New York (United States), Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai (China), Blackpool Tower in Blackpool (England), Calgary Tower in Calgary (Canada), Central Radio and TV Beijing in Beijing (China), Collserola Tower in Barcelona (Spain).
Donauturm in Vienna (Austria), Eiffel Tower in Paris (France), Euromast in Rotterdam, (Holland), Fernsehturm Tower in Berlin(Germany), John Hancock Center in Chicago, (United States), Macau Tower in Macau (China), Olympic Tower in Montreal (Canada), Ostankino Tower in Moscow (Russia), Praha TV Tower in Prague (Czech Republic), Q1 in Gold Coast (Australia), Rialto Towers in Melbourne (Australia), Seoul Tower in Seoul (South Korea), Sky Tower in Auckland (New Zealand), Sydney Tower in Sydney, (Australia), Tashkent Tower in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Tokyo Tower in Tokyo ( Japan), Torre Latino in Mexico City (Mexico), TV and Radio Tower in Tianjin (China) and UFO in Brastislava (Slovak Republic).

Getting started on FDC...

A man watched curiously as the postal staff cancelled the set of 10 stamps, each valued at 50 sen, with postmarks of today's date.
"What use are the stamps anymore?" he asked his equally curious friend.
Standing close to them, I could not avoid overhearing his remark.
"The postmarks are the ones that add value to the stamps on this specially-designed envelope," I told the man, showing him the complete First Day Cover (FDC).
"They indicate the date of which the stamps were first issued to the public...that's the thrill of collecting first day covers," I explained.
After some thoughts, the man decided to buy the set of 10 stamps and first day cover from the counter at the Philately Unit at the Kuala Lumpur General Post Office.
"This will be the start of my collection," he said after sticking the stamps on the envelope. He then duly got it stamped with the special postmark.
The latest stamp issue is entitled 'Royal Headgear'. In its accompanying leaflet, Pos Malaysia says the royal headdress 'Tengkolok' is part of the ceremonial attire of the Malay Rulers. For centuries Malay Rulers had been wearing headdress made of woven silk fabric that is shaped into different styles as part of their regalia since the days of the Malay Sultanate. This headdress is also called 'destar' and the style of folding is called 'solek'. The colours of the headdress varies from one state to another.

Ramadan "tests" US Muslim students ...

Sitting with their classmates in the lunchroom but are unable to eat during daylight, the holy fasting month of Ramadan is testing the mettle of US Muslim students, the IslamOnline.net portal reported.
"The point of Ramadan is to challenge yourself," Noora Aljabi, a 15-year-old student at Evansville Day School in Tri-State area, told Evansville Courier & Press, which was quoted by the portal.
In its report published Saturday September 13, the newspaper said Noora's younger sister Nadia started fasting this Ramadan.
"It's a little harder here," said the 13-year-old. "But it shows we're strong."
Muslims are not required to observe Ramadan until they reach puberty but many Muslim children try fasting for short periods before that.
"There are seven or eight Muslim kids at my school that are fasting," said Romaze Akram, 15, who lives in Newburgh but goes to the Signature School in Evansville.
The news report estimated about 200 Muslim families in Tri-State region, which surrounds the New York City.
American Muslims, estimated between six and seven million, started fasting on Monday, September 1.
Muslim students say that fasting in Ramadan helps them feel the plight of the poor.
"We know we're going to be able to eat at the end of the day," said 16-year-old Amira Aljabi.
"Other people in the world, they never end it."
Many students seize on the holy month to answer questions about Islam by their non-Muslim colleagues.
Myeda Hussain recalls answering questions about her fast by her classmates when she was in elementary school.
"I was very proud of my parents' heritage," said Myeda, who is of Pakistani origin.
Students say that for the most part, their non-Muslim classmates are respectful and supportive.
"My best friend even fasted with me last time, just to support me," Noora said.
"She's Lutheran Christian."

A friend's poetic feeling...

A friend who has been following my blog wanted to share with me a poem he penned. It was inspired by his observation and self experience about the many challenges in life. The poem is so meaningful that I should copy and paste it here:

APA SALAHNYA

Apa salahnya
sesekali kita mencari kesalahan diri
dan memaafkan kesilapan orang
agar tunas sengketa
layu di taman sukma

Apa salahnya
sesekali kita dilukai
dan merasa pedihnya
agar kita lebih mengerti
bagaimana sakitnya bila disakiti

Apa salahnya
sesekali kita mengalah
dan belajar memujuk hati
agar hidup menjadi lebih harmoni

Apa salahnya
sesekali kita dihampakan
dan dibiar tanpa peduli
agar kita lebih mengerti
bahawa hidup tidak seindah mimpi

Apa salahnya
sesekali kita menyanggah adat
dan menegakkan hakikat
agar kebenaran terjulang
di menara hasrat

Apa salahnya
sesekali kita menyongsang arus
dan kembali ke pangkal makrifat
agar hidup lebih selamat

Apa salahnya
sesekali kita berterus terang
dan menghormati pendirian sendiri
agar tertegak
maruah dan harga diri

SHAMSUDIN PUTEH

Being media-friendly helps...

Being friendly with the media helps corporate entities enhance their image.
As corporate image is the perception that people have of an organization, a growing number of companies are giving emphasis to media relations.
Good rapport with the media is a powerful mean of communicating with the public and other organizations.
Now that we are in the month of Ramadan, it has become a tradition for corporate bodies to organize ‘buka puasa’ (breaking fast) events for the media as an appreciation for the support given.
These events are normally held in hotels where company big-wigs themselves turn-up to touch-base with the media people.
Some companies take the opposite approach. If the media can’t attend the buka puasa-do away from the office, the companies bring the food to them.
That’s what Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad did when it held a ‘buka puasa’ treat for Bernama staff at Wisma Bernama today.
The initiative speaks well of the company which recently earned the top-spot as overall most-admired Malaysian company ahead of other corporate giants in the Wall Street Journal Asia’s Asia 200 survey of readers.
With its tagline "Good Food, Good Life", Nestle, which started operations in the country in 1912, produces household names such as MILO, NESCAFÉ, MAGGI, NESPRAY and KIT KAT.
So popular the names are that you don’t hear people ordering hot chocolate but MILO when you go out. So does MAGGI goreng (friend MAGGI)!


Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad Managing Director Sullivan O'Carroll turned up for the event. (Pix by Zuber Nordin)

'Man gets and forgets...'

While waiting for the light to turn green at a traffic junction, my attention was drawn to the sticker on the car in front of me. It says:
"Man gets and forgets, Allah gives and forgives".

Meanwhile, a news report from Grozny says the once war-shattered capital of Chechnya is set to finally receive a grand mosque that is going to be the largest not only in the Muslim-majority country but Europe as well.

"Ceremony of opening is planned for October 17," President Ramzan Kadyrov told the Russian news agency Interfax today.
The inauguration will mark the first day of the International Peacemakers' Conference, titled "Islam - Religion of Peace and Progress," Kadyrov said in the report picked up by Islamonline.net.
The mosque will be able to accommodate over 10,000 people and has minarets that soar 180 feet into the air.
Within its surrounding is Chechnya's Islamic administration, a religious school, an Islamic university, a hotel and a religious library.
The mosque is tipped as the biggest not only in the mountainous republic in the North Caucasus region but in Europe as well.
The construction began more than three years ago at an estimated cost of some US$20 million, said the report.

Of right and wrong…

A story about friendship from Africa picked-up from the internet -- modern-day story-telling tool.
Once there were two boys who were great friends and they were determined to remain that way forever.
When they grew up and got married, they built their houses facing one another.
There was a small path that formed a border between their farms.
One day, a trickster from the village decided to play a trick on them.
He dressed himself in a two-colour coat that was divided down the middle. So, one side of the coat was red and the other side was blue.
The trickster wore this coat and walked along the narrow path between the houses of the two friends. They were each working opposite each other in their fields.
The trickster made enough noise as he passed them to make sure that each of them would look up and see him passing.
At the end of the day, one friend said to the other: "Wasn't that a beautiful red coat that man was wearing today?"
"No," the other replied. "It was a blue coat."
"I saw the man clearly as he walked between us!" said the first, "His coat was red."
"You are wrong!" said the other man, "I saw it too and it was blue."
"I know what I saw!" insisted the first man. "The coat was red!"
"You don't know anything," the second man replied angrily. "It was blue!"
They kept arguing about this over and over, insulted each other.
Eventually, they began to beat each other and roll around on the ground.
Just then, the trickster returned and faced the two men, who were punching and kicking each other and shouting "Our friendship is over!"
The trickster walked directly in front of them and showed them his coat.
He laughed at their silly fight.

The two friends saw his coat which was red on one side and blue on the other.
The two friends stopped fighting and screamed at the trickster saying, "We have lived side by side like brothers all our lives and it is all your fault that we are fighting. You have started a war between us."
"Don't blame me for the battle," replied the trickster.
"I did not make you fight. Both of you are wrong and both of you are right. Yes, what each one saw was true. You are fighting because you only looked at my coat from your own point of view."

A worthy companion ...

Maggi mee is a favourite item for many Malaysians travelling abroad. The more difficult the place is to get food, as one perceived, the more packets or cups of the instant noodle gets into the suitcase.
While Maggi (or probably some other brand name) is a worthy travel companion, the ‘grub’ makes convenient stock for some working abroad.
My old friend Halim, who is into his second Ramadan in oil-rich Turkmenistan, occasionally turns to Maggi even for breaking fast.
"No buka puasa outing here. If they have Pizza Hut or McD here, that would be nice. That would be enough," the ‘oil patch hand’ wrote on his blog.
For someone who has forgotten what galley food tastes like, it is no surprise that he misses Malaysian food especially during the fasting month.
"No pasar Ramadan here. If they have it too, it would not have the food that we need. Need, not want, but need.
The solat terawih are as fast as it was last year but the pak imam took a page out of some of the masjids back home - in the middle of the solat terawih, they would hold a tazkirah," he said.
My thoughts are with you, my friend!

*Located in Central Asia, Turkmenistan borders Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the southwest, Uzbekistan to the northeast, Kazakhstan to the northwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Its capital is Ashgabat.

Don’t cry wolf …

Over ‘kopi-o’ and 'karipap' after Terawih prayers tonight, a friend asked me about the false sms attributed to Bernama.
He said such act of lying, in this instance via sms, was really bad.
"Whoever the prankster is should realise that it is not funny to tell lies," he said.
After another sip of the black coffee, he said: "You must remember the story of the shepherd boy who cried wolf."
Out of boredom, the boy had shouted "Wolf" several times, just to laugh at the people who came running to the hill to help him drive away the so-called wolf from his flock of sheep.
One day, a wolf did appear and started to eat the sheep!
The terrified boy shouted, "Wolf! Wolf!" but no one believed him this time, and the whole flock was lost to the wolf.
The moral of the story is that even when liars tell the truth, no one believes them.

A story of truth well told ...

It's a surprise that after writing about "Truth well told" two days ago, I received the following story in an email.
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked: "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"
The man said: "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way."
What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind.
But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind.
Moral of the story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1,000 reasons to smile.
Great men say: "Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness....
In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience."
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling...
And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!

Of false, unfriendly SMS ...

In this business of truth and credibility, nothing is left unspared by unscrupulous character/s in their destructive attempts to hoodwinked the public.
While Bernama strives to relay fast and accurate information, we have had to grapple with challenges, probably, arising from our credible reputation.
Tonight, we had to lodge a police report over the spreading of false news through the short-message service (SMS) purportedly transmitted by Bernama.
The report was lodged by Bernama's technical department senior manager Abdul Halim Hafiz at Jalan Travers police station at 8.45pm tonight. The department supervises news flow on Bernama's SMS news service.
In his report, Abdul Halim said irresponsible elements had used Bernama's name to spread the false news that seven Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties would be holding press conferences to announce they were pulling out of the ruling coalition.
"I have checked Bernama's SMS news log for today and found no record of such an SMS sent," he said.


Bernama's SMS news service is only available to registered subscribers with the Maxis and Celcom cellular telephone networks through the SMS code 26822 and follows a pre-set format.
Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek described the act of spreading the rumour via SMS as irresponsible.
He said it showed that those responsible were prepared to lie in order to influence the people.
"This (the SMS message) is a big lie. They also gave the date for the component parties from Sabah and Sarawak to quit BN as today, which has turned out to be untrue," said Shabery.

Journey of life ...

Wonder what had made a friend hurt so bad that he decided to stop blogging for at least a month in protest.
All he said in his blog mynasir.blogspot.com was that he could never imagine the incident could ever happened to him.
"… (it) hurt me so bad I don't even want to talk about it."
I SMS him yesterday hoping that whatever reason that had made him so upset would soon be over. Now that we are in the month of Ramadan, I do hope he would be forgiving.
Before calling it a day, I went through the emails and found one that I should share out. Here goes:

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.
You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin."

Truth well told...

For over 100 years, global advertising firm McCann Worldgroup has stuck to the motto "Truth well told".
In the growing marketing challenges of sustainability and credibility, the philosophy has remained relevant as it was when the company was founded in 1902.
"To tell the truth is very easy, everyone can do it. Truth well told is a challenge, it requires a deeper understanding of the products, it requires passion and a lot more," McCann Malaysia CEO Tony Savarimuthu said in an interview with the New Straits Times.
"Consumers can’t be fooled with frivolous claims. Our primary job is to advocate the integrity of truth in communications," he said.
Talk about credibility and integrity, the latest posting on Information Minister Shabery Cheek’s website today – notashabery.com deserves a pat on the back.
"Instead of being antagonistic towards bloggers the Government should be a part of blogosphere," it says.
The issue at hand was the recent decision by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block access to a controversial website known to be critical of the government.
Disagreeing with the move, it says blocking a website violates the Multimedia Super Corridor’s bill of guarantees that there will be no censorship of the Internet.
"There are plenty of existing laws – those dealing with defamation and sedition, the Official Secrets Act and so on – to deal with bloggers and website owners who publish “undesirable” content," it added.
Stating that there were plenty of reasons that it was not only a bad move but a futile one, the article says it further alienates youths – the cyber-generation – who turn to the Internet for news and information.
So, what can the Government do?
"Firstly, it can stick by its original commitment to keep the Internet free from censorship. Backtracking from a mistake is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.
Secondly, instead of adopting an antagonistic attitude towards bloggers – which it can’t control – it should try to engage bloggers and be a part of blogosphere. It would not hurt at all for the Government to have, for example, an official blog.
But more than that, the Government could set up a cyber-diplomacy team to deal with bloggers and news sites in a friendly and non-confrontational kind of way.
Say, a blogger posts something critical of the Government, this team could send the blogger a message to present the Government’s point of view. If the blogger doesn’t want to publish it, the team could post the response in the “Comments” section.
What if the blogger removes such comments?
Such a recalcitrant blogger is not likely to be someone that’s well-followed, and is probably not influential anyway," said the post under the heading "Cyber-diplomacy is the answer".

Turkey to host OANA General Assembly in 2010 ...

Istanbul will host the next General Assembly of the Organisation of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in 2010.
OANA president Dr Ahmad Muchlis Yusuf said the Turkish news agency, Anadolu, had offered to host the meeting since Istanbul had been designated as the European culture capital for that year.
He said this at the conclusion of the 30th OANA Executive Board meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. The last general assembly was held in Jakarta last November.
Dr Ahmad Muchlis, who is Indonesia's Antara CEO, said the venue for the next OANA Executive Board meeting had yet to be finalised although Iran's Mehr News Agency had tentatively offered to host it next year.
He said the meeting in Istanbul would decide on the issue of subscription by member agencies as some of them had fallen behind in their payments.
Bernama Editor-in-Chief Yong Soo Heong suggested that the annual subscription be halved to US$6,000 from US$12,000 as some smaller news agencies may be facing financial constraints.
The meeting also agreed on a revenue-sharing formula for new contracts secured by member agencies for marketing news content from OANA.
Members will get to keep 60 per cent of the proceeds while the rest would go to OANA.
Formed in 1961, OANA groups 41 news agencies from 33 countries.

Globalising Bernama ...

Bernama Web TV, Southeast Asia's first live Internet news channel, has been launched by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at his office in Putrajaya.
The web version of the 24-hour news channel can be accessed from around the world at the www.bernama-tv.com website.
The new platform is another milestone for Bernama, coming exactly a year after it had launched Bernama Radio 24.
In his speech, Abdullah said the media should not be afraid of or feel apologetic in upholding the truth.
"Upholding the truth is a fundamental principle towards ensuring that justice prevailed.
"Hold steadfastly to the principle of truth because the credibility of any institution depends on how strongly the institution upholds the truth," he said.
Abdullah said the introduction of the online version of Bernama TV would enable Malaysians anywhere in the world to follow news on the country real time.
At the same time, it could enable the world community to know more about Malaysia and follow developments in the country, he said.
Interestingly, leading news agencies in the Asia-Pacific region are meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan to discuss ways to ensure the speedy dissemination of unbiased and objective news around the world.
With the theme "Information for all in the Globalising World", the 30th executive board meeting of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) is expected to formulate strategies to enhance cooperation among its members.
Aslan Aslanov, Director-General of the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AzerTAc) says in a contemporary world of globalisation and integration, access to unbiased information for all was a necessity.
However, he said even when inter-civilisation dialogues between the East and West had become topical as never before, there were still some media organisations that were continuing to spread biased and distorted information, sometimes to the extent of even insulting religion or national values.
"And this is nothing but an incitement to hatred and extremism," added Aslan.
Formed in 1961, OANA currently groups 41 news agencies from 33 countries including Bernama from Malaysia, Antara (Indonesia), Xinhua (China), Kyodo (Japan), Yonhap (South Korea), IRNA (Iran) and Anadolu (Turkey).
Antara CEO Dr Ahmad Muchlis Yusuf, current President of OANA, said OANA's priority under Antara's three-year leadership after taking over from Bernama last year would be to build closer relationships, starting with a programme known as internal consolidation.

The meaning of “Merdeka” …

Having witnessed the effects of war in Iraq, Merdeka (independence) has a profound meaning for Malaysian Ambassador to Jordan Hasnudin Hamzah.
"During my trip to Baghdad in April, I could see damaged buildings and roads because of the bombings," he told me by telephone from Amman.
Hasnudin is also accredited to Iraq, which borders Jordan.
Based on his experience, Hasnudin has been telling Malaysian students who are pursuing their studies in Jordan to defend Malaysia’s independence at whatever cost.
"They should appreciate those who had fought for the country's independence from colonialisation.
"I hope they will use the knowledge they obtain to fulfill our country's aspirations to ensure that Malaysia’s sovereignty, freedom, harmony and prosperity will always be preserved," said Hasnudin.
Currently, there are 725 Malaysian students in Jordan.

Rugby-inspired winning logo…

It has been revealed that the logo for this year’s 51st Merdeka celebrations was inspired by rugby, most distinctly its scrum.

Forty-eight year old Anuar Dan said he came out with the design based on his observation of the sports.
"In rugby, the players of various races interlocked their shoulders, working out strategies to beat their opponents," he told Utusan Malaysia newspaper.
Anuar took a month to produce 20 designs but eventually submitted five for the competition.
"I’m thankful that one of my designs was selected from more than 800 received by the organizer," said the Health Ministry officer.

(Utusan Malaysia photo)

Azerbaijan stresses need for accurate information...

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev welcomed participants of the 30th Executive Board Meeting of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) taking place in its capital Baku.
The holding of the event demonstrates the importance Azerbaijan places on media, he told the visiting heads and representatives of the region’s leading news agencies.
Aliyev noted that their visit was very significant in terms of delivering true information about Azerbaijan to the international community.
"Sometimes wrong information are given related with our country and this meeting is also significant from view of real elucidation of procedures in public life of Azerbaijan," said Aliyev.
Underlining the importance of professionalism and responsibility in the work of mass media, he also stressed the positive role of holding regular gatherings including trainings.
The Azerbaijani leader said the meeting on the theme of 'Information for All in the Globalizing World' was a good forum for exchanging views and experience.
He took the opportunity to highlight Azerbaijan`s economic potential, saying the former Soviet republic has been the world’s fastest growing economy over the past few years.
He said Azerbaijan has been successfully developing the non-oil sector with education and information technologies being a high priority.
He also touched upon Azerbaijan`s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which, the President said, left over million Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs.
The Azerbaijani leader said that notwithstanding all difficulties, his country had managed to become the regional leader.

Alhamdulillah, Ramadan is here again....

Muslims in Malaysia and neighbouring countries begin fasting today at the start of the blessed month of Ramadan.
The holy fasting month also started in most Arab and Gulf countries as well as North America and European countries, according to web portal IslamOnline.net (IOL).
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, and United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen and Mauritania had announced Saturday, August 30, that Ramadan will start today.
IOL reported that the politically-divided Palestinians will be united in starting the holy fasting month on Monday after the religious authorities in both Gaza Strip and the west Bank issued statements to that end.
Sunni religious authorities in both Iraq and Lebanon announced Saturday that the new crescent was not sighted and that Ramadan will fall on Monday.
Syria's top Islamic judge confirmed that the holy month of Ramadan will start today.
In Cairo, the grand mufti of Egypt confirmed that the new crescent was not sighted Saturday and that fasting will also start today.
The minister of justice and religious affairs in Djibouti also announced Monday as the start of Ramadan.

The European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) confirmed that Ramadan will fall on the first day of September based on astronomical calculations.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith, Central London Mosque, the imams' society in the Netherlands, the imams' association in Belgium and the Islamic Center in Milan decided to follow ECFR on the start of Ramadan.
Muslims in Bosnia and Serbia will observe the first day of Ramadan on Monday, the Islamic Sheikhdom of Bosnia and Serbia had said.
Croatian Muslims will follow neighbouring Bosnia in observing the beginning of the holy fasting month.
Turkey's Presidency of Religion Affairs, the country's highest religious institution, had earlier announced Monday as the start of Ramadan based on calculations.
Muslims in Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Bulgaria will be following Turkey in observing the dawn-to-dusk fast.
Muslims in Germany, Austria, Romania and Ukraine begin fasting today based on calculations, according to Muslim organizations.
The Islamic endowment authorities in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia decided to follow Saudi Arabia and Egypt in observing Ramadan as of Monday.
Australian Muslims will start fasting Ramadan on Monday, according to the Islamic center in Canberra.
The deputy head of the Russian Council of Muftis told IOL Monday has been confirmed as the start of Ramadan according to astronomical calculations.
The head of the Islamic cultural center in Saint Petersburg told the portal that the Islamic republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kirghizstan always follow Turkey in depending on astronomical calculations.
Muslim scholars in the Philippines also announced that Ramadan will fall on Monday based on astronomical calculations.
Most Muslims in China will start fasting today based on astronomical calculations.

* To friends who have sent me Ramadan greetings via sms and email, thank you. Wishing you all a blessed Ramadan that brings with it the love of Allah!

Celebrating 51 years of nationhood ...

Unity takes centre stage as Malaysia celebrates 51 years of independence today. The theme of this years’s celebrations is ‘Unity the thrust of success’.
Award-winning director Yasmin Ahmad is among Malaysian personalities who embrace unity and racial integration themes in her works.
"I think there is no such thing as a creative person. The best of artistes are those who observe," she was quoted as saying in a special article in the New Sunday Times today.
Yasmin recently won the Gold Award at the Cannes Advertising Festival for her work Tan Hong Ming in Love. The TV commercial, part of last year’s Merdeka campaign by Petronas, features an interview with a Chinese schoolboy who admits having a crush on his Malay classmate Umi Qazrina.

Commenting on its success, she said: "I think it’s the simplicity and charm that people’s hearts. I only followed God’s direction. I observed."
For AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes, the progress of the homegrown enterprise to blossom into an internationally-recognised name is proof that in Malaysia, success is there for the taking regardless of one’s ethnicity.
"I tell people that if we (the AirAsia team) could do it, then anyone can and that’s the best about this country; that it allowed it to happen," said the man whose name is synonymous with the region’s largest low-cost carrier.
"The fact that it (AirAsia) has delivered on its promise to Malaysians of enabling everyone to fly is inspiring. We set out to create a Malaysian airline, not a Malay, Chinese or Indian airline and the fact that we have done it, makes us immensely proud."

Another Petronas masterpiece...

Congratulations to Petronas for another fantastic television ad for Merdeka.
A number of friends confided that the Petronas ad for this year brought tears to their eyes.
It reminded them not to take for granted the sacrifices made by their parents to inspire them to be what they are today.
Many had to watch it over again to realize how touching and meaningful the message was.
The three-minute ad relays the message that 'patience, perseverance and hard work pave the road to success'.
It tells the story of how a father kept rejecting his son’s request to have something even for his birthday.
But the son became creative – using mosquito net to fish after the father refused to buy him a fishing net.

When his birthday request for a pedal car got no where, the boy searched around for discarded items and build his own ‘oversize’ wooden car.
Eight years later,the boy grew up to become ‘Aiman Gyver’ -- the kampung Mr Fix-it.
Along came an offer to further his studies.

Again he approached his father, still selling cempedak by the roadside, to enquire if he could take up the offer.
The father, who kept a photo of a big bike in a box, was just quiet. Then, after a while, he smiled.
"A smile means you agree," said the son.

Then the father took out an account book from the box and handed it to the son.
It clearly stated the name AIMAN BIN HANAFI with the savings amounting to RM41,718.29.
A surprised Aiman was beyond words and tearfully hugged his father.
"Thank you Dad"
Ten years later, the father still selling cempedak by the roadside, was startled when a big bike stopped by his shade.
"What bike is this?" he asked the rider.

Without saying a word, the man took off his dark glasses and pulled down the bandanna covering his face.
It was Aiman.
Smiling broadly, he told his father that the bike was "ABAH PUNYA".("This bike is yours")