JUMPING FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL

Definitely, I am not the only one. There are a lot of people who spend their nights from hotel to hotel as what I have to do for the last two days. Last night I was at the Carlton Holiday Hotel in Shah Alam, Selangor and tonight I am at the Park Royal Hotel in Batu Feringghi, Penang. Next month and the following months until February next year, apart from the hotels in Malaysia, I will be in a few other hotels abroad, InshaAllah: in Nakhorn si Thammarat (Thailand), in Bandung (Indonesia), in Doha (Qatar), and in Vancouver (Canada). These are what have been already committed in my work schedules.

Carlton Holiday Hotel, Shah Alam, Selangor

Park Royal Hotel, Batu Feringghi, Penang

I was in Shah Alam last night to help Selangor Zakat Council (LZS) to draw an action plan for an effective zakat distribution in the state. Together with me were Professor Dato' Hailani Muji Tahir and Associate Professor Dr Sanep of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Tuan Syed Ghazali Wafa of ANGKASA. I proposed an action plan for zakat organisational empowerment through localisation approach that involves decentralisation and popular participation.

Localisation here simply means collecting zakat locally and distributing it to the local asnaf. This definitely needs decentralisation of power and decision making process as well as the participation of the local masses. Tuan Syed Ghazali Wafa proposed a new form of zakat calculation by taking into consideration both the nisab and had kifayah. Associate Professor Dr Sanep proposed a new kind of educational assistance through zakat, changing it from the present scholarship to educational loan (Qardul Hasan), to be managed by profesional body such as the scholarship section of the Yayasan Selangor.

R-L: Associate Professor Dr Sanep, myself, Ustaz Farid of LZS, Prof Dato' Hailani, and Tuan Syed Ghazali Wafa discussing about the action plan

Now, after flying back to Penang by 1355 flight this afternoon, I am at Feringghi Park Royal Hotel to attend the School of Social Sciences' Workshop beginning tomorrow morning till Sunday. It is actually a rather relax Workshop cum family gathering, with a little programme related to devising strategy and implementation of KPI by Professor Abdul Karim Alias and academic staffs' promotion briefing by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal. Our new Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato' Omar Osman too will be here to give away prizes to Top 10 KPI contributors and Excellent Lecturers of our School. i-Pad2 will be given to us in the afternoon, followed subsequently by a briefing on its usage. The occasion will end up with a dinner tomorrow night.

Another note: On the flight back to Penang this afternoon, I was sitting beside another Minister. This time was Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, the former Penang Chief Minister and currently Gerakan Party President-cum-Minister at the Prime Minister's Department. As usual, I took the opportunity to talk about politics, especially about his political leadership that at the moment seems to be challenged by some individuals in his own party Gerakan as well as by mainstream newspapers like the Star and Utusan Malaysia. He was very frank explaining all about it, including about his frictional relationship with the present Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. But above all, he created a personal touch by trying to memorise my name, sending regards to my wife who was his students in the 70's at USM, and introducing me to a drink in the flight called Ginger Ale as well as ensuring that it is halal.

HECTIC BUT ENJOYABLE (AND HOPEFULLY MEANINGFUL) LIFE

Presenting Shafiza (Master Mixed-Mode graduate 2009) ISDEV Excellent Dissertation Award 2011 during ISDEV Graduate Night, 18 March 2011. She is one of the six Master Mixed-Mode graduates who won the Award.

Still as hectic as usual.

After a week in Medan and Lake Toba  (11 to 17 March) and fulfilling whatever have to be accomplished there - viz. signing of ISDEV-Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) MoU, presenting a paper  at International Seminar on the Application of Islamic Management, launching of ISDEV-Universitas Sumatera Utara-Universitas Medan Area Journal of Islamic Development Politics,  delivering keynote address at the 4th International Workshop on Islamic-Based Development, and leading an intellectual expedition to Lake Toba and Somasir Island in Prapart -, I attended ISDEV Graduation Night in USM a day after arrival in Penang. These were followed by participation in a Regional Conference on Zakat organised by JAWHAR in KL on 22 March, and remained there in KL till yesterday, 25 March, to complete editing work of articles for a series of edited book on the Transformation of Zakat, based on papers presented at ISDEV 5th International Conference on Islamic Development Management (IDMAC10) last December, as well as discussing with potential publishers to publish them.

Even this weekend, since yesterday until Sunday 27 March, I am supposed to be on the top of Gunung Jerai to fulfill an invitation by Pusat Urus Zakat Pulau Pinang for a brainstorming to improve the management of the institution. But as the formal invitation came in a short notice, I am unable to make it. So is another invitation to talk on Economics of Southeast Asia - An Islamic Perspective at a roundtable meeting of the representatives of Southeast Asian countries on Tuesday 29th, also because of short notice.

Yes, a hectic life, but an enjoyable one and hopefully meaningful in the eyes of Allah SWT. Photos below are some of those activities.

25 March 2011 - About to leave Quality Hotel City Centre in KL for Penang after completing editing books on Zakat Transformation and meeting with potential publisher.

23 March 2011 - With PTS Islamika editors Rohidzir and Amirol (3rd and 2nd right respectively) after a meeting on the possibility of publishing books by ISDEV members with them

22 March 2011 - At Regional Zakat Seminar 2011 on Zakat Fund as a Means for Poverty Elimination Amongst Asnaf, at Legend Hotel KL, organised by JAWHAR

17 March 2011 - At Polonia International Airport, Medan, Indonesia with wife, ISDEV Deputy Director Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad and Indonesian brothers, shortly before leaving for Penang

18 March 2011 - Families of ISDEV Graduates at ISDEV Graduate Night 2011

16 March - Dinner at the house of Pak Suhrawardi, the Deputy Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU)

Visiting Pak Siregar (sitting 2nd right), the Rector of Universitas Pembinaan Masyarakat Indonesia (UPMI), one of ISDEV sympathisers in Medan

15 March - Launching the Journal of Islamic Development Politics (JISDEV), co-published by ISDEV, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and Universitas Medan Area (UMA) at the 4th International Workshop on Islamic-Based Development (WAPI-4)

15 March - With Dr Zakaria and Dr Zahri at the 4th International Workshop on Islamic-Based Development (WAPI-4)

13 March - ISDEV fraternity at a jetty in Prapat, after boarding off from a boat from Samosir Island

13 March - Impromptu `nashid concert' hosted by ISDEV PhD candidates Syakir and Anwar after dinner at Wisma Wisata Bahari, our accommodation in Prapat. Also performed at the `concert' were ISDEV Alumni Dr Sukiman and graduate students Datuk Chairil Anwar, Taha and Ridzuan

13 March - In front of a hotel on Samosir Island with wife (right), daughter and ISDEV graduates

14 March - Suria, former Aceh Member of Parliament currently pursuing his Master degree at ISDEV, performing an Aceh's song in the bus on our way back to Medan from Prapat

12 March - Presenting a paper at International Conference on Islamic Management Application at UMSU

13 March - ISDEV fraternity on a boat to Samosir Island

13 March - ISDEV Alumni Dr Sukiman of Institut Agama Islam Negeri Medan delivering a tazkirah in the bus on our way to Lake Toba

11 March - ISDEV Deputy Director Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad (3rd left) with my family members at Penang International Airport before leaving for Medan, Indonesia

12 March - Signing of Memorandum of Cooperation between ISDEV and UMSU, represented by me and UMSU Rector Drs Agussani respectively at the International Conference on Islamic Management Application

TIGHT SCHEDULES

Tight schedules overwhelmed me since reporting for duty at USIM, and subsequently after that, till now. Writing about the previous schedules is impossible, but this could perhaps be replaced by photos. This is what I intend to do in subsequent postings, God willing.

MUSAFIR PANJANG BERAKHIR TANPA BUAH TANGAN

Di depan bangunan Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, Arab Saudi

Dua hari lagi berakhirlah musafir panjang saya pada tahun ini. Pada Jumaat 16 Julai 2010 ini, saya sekeluarga InsyaAllah sudah akan berangkat pulang ke Malaysia.

Selama lebih kurang empat bulan setengah, sejak 1 Mac yang lalu, saya sekeluarga telah Allah swt izinkan menggali pengalaman di dua buah negara yang agak berbeza iklim dan suasananya. Lebih kurang tiga bulan setengah pertama Allah swt telah izinkan saya sekeluarga bermaustautin di bumi anbiya' Arab Saudi, di Jeddah, dan hampir setiap hujung minggu menjadi tetamu Allah swt di Mekah atau menjadi tetamu Rasulullah s.a.w di Madinah. Pada sebulan terakhir pula, Allah swt izinkan saya sekeluarga bermaustautin di bumi bukan Islam United Kingdom, di Oxford, yang masyhur dengan kehebatan ilmu pengetahuannya.

Di  depan Radcliffe Camera, Universiti Oxford

Selalunya bagi orang bermusafir seperti saya ini, ketika hampir-hampir hendak pulang ini antara lain tentulah sibuk membeli belah untuk membawa pulang buah tangan kepada sanak saudara dan teman-teman. Saya sekeluarga juga begitu dalam musafir yang lepas-lepas.

Tetapi dalam musafir kali ini, perkara ini tidak kami lakukan. Memang ketika dekat-dekat menghabiskan musafir di Arab Saudi dahulu, saya suami isteri jenuh memikirkan apa yang hendak dibawa pulang untuk sanak saudara dan teman-teman. Tetapi kami agak buntu kerana tidak tahu apa buah tangan istimewa yang boleh kami bawa pulang selain dari tasbih, minyak atar, sejadah, kurma, dan kopiah yang sering orang bawa pulang dari Mekah dan Madinah. Sebelum ini, saya sendiri juga banyak menerima barang-barang ini dari sanak saudara dan teman-teman yang ke Mekah dan Madinah, sehingga sebahagian besarnya tidak sempat saya gunakan. Kebanyakan barang-barang ini pula bukanlah dibuat oleh warga Arab Saudi. Sebaliknya kebanyakannya diimpot dari negara-negara luar terutamanya China dan India. Tambahlagi saya tidak pulang terus ke Malaysia dari Arab Saudi itu. Saya ke United Kingdom terlebih dahulu dan tentulah agak sukar saya membawa buah-buah tangan tersebut sebelum membawanya pulang ke Malaysia.

Dalam keadaan demikian, Allah swt memberikan kepada saya dan isteri satu idea. Duit yang sepatutnya kami gunakan untuk membeli buah tangan bagi sanak saudara dan teman-teman itu kami gunakan untuk membeli al-Qur`an. Kemudian kesemua al-Qur`an itu kami wakafkan kepada Masjidil Haram di Mekah dan Masjid Nabawi di Madinah atas nama sanak saudara dan teman-teman tersebut. Setiap keluarga adik beradik di sebelah saya dan adik beradik di sebelah isteri saya semuanya dinamakan sebagai pewakaf dalam wakaf tersebut. Begitu juga dengan semua warga ISDEV.

Menghadiahkan buah tangan kepada sanak saudara dan teman-teman ISDEV dengan cara itu rasanya adalah jauh lebih bernilai dari membawa pulang buah tangan dalam bentuk biasa. Wakaf itu berpanjangan manfaatnya, berbanding dengan buah tangan biasa. Pahala juga dapat dikongsi bersama oleh nama-nama yang diniatkan sebagai pewakaf itu setiap kali ada orang membacanya. Pahalanya juga berlipat ganda dari biasa kerana pembacaan al-Qur`an itu dilakukan di dalam Masjidil Haram atau di dalam Masjid Nabawi.

Jadinya harapnya apabila saya sekeluarga tiba pulang pada 17 Julai nanti, sanak saudara dan teman-teman ISDEV tidak lagi mengharapkan apa-apa buah tangan. Memang kami tidak membawa pulang apa-apa buah tangan pun kerana buah tangan itu telah kami berikan ketika kami di Arab Saudi lagi, ketika di Mekah dan di Madinah. Harapnya semua gembira dan berpuashati dengan buah tangan yang kami berikan dengan cara itu, InsyaAllah.

Di Mekah di hujung minggu

JOURNALISTS TO AVOID

If I were asked to avoid anybody, one of those on the top of the list are the journalists. What I mean by journalists here are not all journalists, but those that come to you to extract your opinion or statements, but then write differently from what you mean for unknown reasons, either because they are incapable of interpreting rightly what you are saying, or because they are doing that on specific purpose.

I have encountered with such journalists quite a number of times and the latest was in Medan last Friday, 24 November 2006. After giving a talk on Economic Development in Islam Hadhari at 45th Year Anniversary Seminar of the Economic Faculty of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), a number of journalists from printed and electronic medias surrounded me for questions. I have been cautious enough to ask them the questions that they are going to ask prior to their recording and shooting of my answers. Consequently, I have refused to answer some questions that I thought were tricky and `trappy', and answered the others that I thought straight forward and manageable.

Surrounded by the journalists

The next morning, on Saturday 25 November 2006, to my surprise a major Medan newspaper came up with a disgusting title: "Malaysia Sukses Dengan Islam Hadhari" (Malaysia Is Succesful With Islam Hadhari), quoting me saying that. It appalled me for at least two reasons.

The paper

Firstly, how could Malaysia is considered as being succeeded in continuing her development by adopting the teaching of Islam Hadhari when Islam Hadhari was only launched two years ago and its action plan has only been designed quite recently and has yet to be implemented fully? It is of course indeed still immatured and too early to judge.

Secondly, the explanation that followed the quotation was only confined to the earlier part of my paper that explained what is Islam Hadhari, while the later part that contained a critical analysis and suggestions for the betterment of the Islam Hadhari, such as the terms used in it, its theoretical framework, its implementational method, its achievement measurement index and its position in national development strategy have been left out totally. The journalist has definitely failed to analyse my paper in full, hence failing to highlight what I was actually wanted to say, that is Islam Hadhari is laudable, but it could still be improved by strengthening the five areas above.

Actually this was not my first encounter with such a journalist. Sometimes in 1990's, a formal newspaper of an opposition party in Malaysia also published my saying at a Premier Lecture of a so-called `satisfactory' accomplishment of development in Kelantan, but leaving out totally my critical analysis and suggestions for the betterment of the development strategy in the state. Like the above journalist in Medan, this journalist took only the earlier `good' part of my speech delivered at the invitation of the State Government of Kelantan, leaving out the critical part of it.

Such a misleading news about my speech also happened during my Professorial Lecture at Universiti Sains Malaysia on 28 July 2001. A journalist quoted me in a Medan newspaper of `my' saying in the Lecture that the Sultan of Kelantan was apprehensive of the PAS government in the state, while in reality I was not even mentioned a word about both parties. The journalist apparently did that to relate his story to my theoretical underpinning of Islamic development explained in the Lecture.

More surprising was my encounter with a journalist of an English newspaper sometimes around 1993-1995 at a hotel in Jalan Macalister, Penang, Malaysia. I was there to listen to the then number two man of the now defunct Darul Arqam, Ustaz Haji Abdul Halim Abbas, to be interviewed by a group of journalists from various newspapers. The interview was supposed to be a session for him to explain about Darul Arqam, in the midst of continuous attacks from Malaysian government in general and Islamic Development Office (JAKIM) in particular. The interview went smoothly in a cordial atmosphere.

But on the way out of the hotel after the interview has completed, Ustaz Haji Abdul Halim was casually asked by the journalist of that English newspaper about the value of the Darul Arqam's wealth. Ustaz Haji Abdul Halim was quite astonished as he understandably did not know the exact value of the wealth at finger tips. Looking Ustaz Haji Abdul Halim in a dumb, the journalist quickly guessed, RM365 millions (around that figure if I am not mistaken)? Ustaz Haji Abdul Halim nodded lazily, still unsure of the exact value.

The next morning, it was the figure that became the headline of the newspaper, not the content of the interview explained by Ustaz Haji Abdul Halim for about an hour or so. Subsequently, other newspapers quoted it and eventually the figure became the `official' figure of the value of Darul Arqam's wealth!

Not long after that, a journalist from the same newspaper also used to suggest to me in an interview after a course at National Productivity Centre in Kepala Batas, Penang that Darul Arqam might still has underground activities eventhough it has been banned by the government. She insisted for my agreement several times and I know that if there was even a little gesture of agreement, it would become the headline the next morning. Luckily I did not do that because it was out of my knowledge whether there were underground activities or otherwise.

For the above reasons too, whenever journalistic students of Universiti Sains Malaysia came to interview me for their Berita Kampus, I either refused them or entertained them but with a condition that they should show me their writings before they publish. But for the most of the times, they never showed up after that. They said they were squeezed by their deadlines and the writings have to go to the press before they could come back to me. The eventual result is expected, viz. usually unsatisfactory!

Undeniably, it is not that I did not try to understand the sub-culture and nature of a journalist's works. Around the time when the former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was sacked out of UMNO, a journalist of a mainstream Malay newspaper in Malaysia used to release to me that he wanted to quit the job. He said he was stressed with his own hypocritical behaviour - writing stories that he himself actually did not exactly know their truth. He has to do that for the sake of his newspaper's hidden or known objectives. But I did not know exactly why, he is still there until now and in fact has became a prominent editor of the newspaper. May Allah s.w.t. helps and guides him.

In the case of the recent Medan incident, fortunately there was another major newspaper that helped to overcome the misinterpretation. It came with a more correct title: "Indonesia Harus Mencari Paradigma Alternatif Pembangunan Ekonomi" (Indonesia Must Search For An Alternative Development Paradigm).

I say it was correct because this was actually the theme of the seminar, that is Alternative Paradigm of Economic Development. I was invited to talk on Islam Hadhari as one of the possible alternative for Indonesian economic development. It was preceded by an introductory remarks by the Dean of the Economic Faculty of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Drs Jhon Tafbu Ritonga, who critically reviewed the past and prevailing Indonesian economic development paradigm and pointed out for an alternative. And I proceeded with an explanation on and critical analysis of one of the possible alternatives, that is Islam Hadhari that has been introduced in Malaysia.

The right coverage of this newspaper gave me a little bit of relief indeed. I am glad that there are still sharp-minded journalists with analytical capabilities around!