FRUITFUL DISCOURSE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Came back from Brunei on July the 8th, with flu, entailing with a two-day medical leave, a really rare case for me for the whole of my carrier. The air-con at the Rizqun Hotel in Gadong was too cold. Even when the room air-con was switched off, the cool breeze still blew in through from the air-con along the corridor outside the room.

But thanks God, it brought me to a realisation that I am getting old now. I could not stand persistent coolness of the air-con anymore. This was an addition to my tiredness of the journey to and from Sfax, Tunisia few days before that.

It also reminds me of the Green Park Hotel in Istanbul when I was there in February for the Basic Concepts of Islamic Economics Conference and the Chaophya Park Hotel in Bangkok when I was there in May for the 6th Annual Muslim World Conference and the 2nd AMRON Conference. Both hotels have an automatic sensing control along the corridor of the rooms. The light only switches on when the sensing control traces a movement. I am convinced that they save a lot of energy through the system.

However, the trip to Brunei this time was one of the happiest and fruitful trip. Firstly, my wife was together with me. Secondly, the brotherhood and sincerity of the brothers and sisters of Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) who hosted me was tremendously wonderful. Apart from the warmest hospitality of those in-charge of me, especially Ali and driver Asrul, the top management of the University - Dr Haji Norarfan, Dr Haji Adanan and Tuan Haji Metuddin - too was very respectable. The Ra'es (Vice-Chancellor) of KUPU SB, Dr Hajjah Masnon even came to my hotel on the last night of my stay to say goodbye and gave a really special gift - the dates from His Majesty the Sultan and the Yang Dipertua Brunei Darussalam. I have been longing for such a gift for so long, especially when I was in Brunei near Ramadhan. It is the normal practice of His Majesty the Sultan to distribute the dates every Ramadhan to all Bruneians. And this year at last, I have got the opportunity to taste the dates through the Ra'es' share, Alhamdulillah. 

The discourse on the academic strategic plan of KUPU SB held at Mangrove Paradise Resort too was very fruitful. My suggestion for KUPU SB to be a pioneer and innovator instead of a follower and an imitator, as well as being a "World First" instead of a "World Class", using what I called a "Heart-to-Heart" method, were well-accepted, Alhamdulillah. May Allah help them in translating these ideas into practice, InshaAllah.

Lastly, thirdly, my article entitled "Why the Need for Negara Zikir (in Brunei)" was also appeared in the Brunei Times on Sunday the 7th, the third day I was in Brunei Darussalam. The article was written on the Kuala Lumpur-Seri Begawan flight and completed at the Rizqun Hotel on the first night of my arrival in Brunei. Many thanks to the Brunei Times Group Editor Tuan Haji Bujang Haji Masu'ut, who not only never fail to immediately publish my writings whenever I sent them to the Brunei Times, but also treated me and my wife for a dinner at the Gadong Coffee Beans on the last night of our stay in Brunei, as was every time I was in Brunei. My gratitude too goes to his Managing Editor Azrina Abdul Karim who always encourage me to write for the Brunei Times.

ON SAFAR AGAIN

After arriving home from Tunisia for about three days, I am abroad again. This time is to fulfil an invitation from Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) in Brunei Darussalam, to help them revising and strategizing its strategic plan, particularly for its academic quality.

Landed at Brunei Airport yesterday, and happy to know from Dr Norarfan Zainal Abidin, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the KUPU SB during dinner last night that the Brunei authority is now revisiting its development vision with a view of injecting spirituality into it. Alhamdulillah.

May Allah SWT help them, InshaAllah.

2nd SFAX INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON ISLAMIC FINANCE

Alhamdulillah, landed at Sfax Airport, Tunisia safely five days ago (on 25th June) at about 10.30 pm. The aim is to participate in the 2nd Sfax International Forum on Islamic Conference, organised by University of Sfax and Tunisian Association of Zakat, with the cooperation of IRTI of the Islamic Development Bank. The theme is Alleviation of Poverty Through Zakat, Waqf and Microfinance.

I presented a paper on Contemporary Vision of Poverty and Islamic Strategies for Poverty Alleviation this morning. It is meant to revisit the understanding of the so-called Islamic concept and strategies of poverty. This need to be emphasized as many talk about Islamic institutions such as zakat and awqaf to alleviate poverty, but leaving the meaning of the poverty undefined. In consequence, we are trying to solve the problems of the western ethno-centric defined poverty, measured by the ethno-centric indicators, using the Islamic institutions like zakat and awqaf. This definitely has to be corrected.

The Forum will end this afternoon. I will fly back to Penang tomorrow morning, again via Paris-Doha and Kuala Lumpur, InshaAllah.

PENANG-KL-DOHA-PARIS-SFAX, TUNISIA

I am at Terminal 3 of De Gaulle-Paris (Paris Airport) now, enrouting to Sfax, Tunisia. Just check-out from Ibis Hotel beside the Terminal after having a two-hour rest at the hotel, after a 24 hours journey from Penang, via KL and Doha. With me is Dr Zakaria Bahari, ISDEV Deputy Director. The flight to Sfax is at 2010. It will be about another last three hours journey to reach there, InshaAllah. Paris Airport provides only 15 minutes free wifi, hence this short posting.

HATRED POLITICS & CLEAN CABINET

I am sad. Taariq showed me a full video clip from youtube on the clash between the PR and BN youngsters in Ipoh the other day. Unlike the PR fragmented version that showed only the part that attracted sympathy to the PR boys, the full version showed who really started the provocation. It was the PR boys.

Regretly, both the PR and BN sides were Malay youngsters, clashing with each other out of the hatred politics that has been implanted in them by their leaders. Now I understand why, and thankful to Allah SWT indeed, that there were no BN boys on motorcycles and cars in Alor Setar on the eve of and during the GE13. If the BN boys were also on the road of Alor Setar that day, the incident such as in Ipoh might have happened. Those PR boys roaming around the city of Alor Setar looked `ready' for anything. The BN boys on the other hand, wisely took the opportunity to disappear into house-to-house campaign, contributing partly to the victory of the BN in Kedah, so I was told.

Even now, after the GE13 and both sides won reasonably, the hatred politics is still being sparked for  personal aggrandizement. The gatherings at Kelana Jaya, later on at Ipoh, and today planned to be in Penang, are some of the examples of the occasions that might trigger further the hatred politics into destructive ends. The youngsters majority of whom love to be in such gatherings do not really understand the past history and the method of the main speaker. They too do not experience the sufferings of both sides during the May 13th 1969. Like myself during my youngster days, it is exciting to be on the side of anti-establishment. It was nice to criticise, but not to be criticised.

But why some people dislike the establishment? While waiting for our cars to be washed at a car washing garage in Permatang Pauh constituency this morning, an Indian told me that even though he is aware of the unfavourable deeds of the PR leader in his constituency, he still supported PR due to his frustration with the appointment of the people with `bad records' by BN government, such as the appointment of the Chairman of FELDA and the Chairman of RISDA. So was my feeling when some BN politicians were appointed as Ministers or Deputy Ministers in the previous Cabinet, although they have lost in the General Election or worst still, not even chosen at all to be contested in the General Election. So dear Datuk Najib, this time around for a real clean Cabinet, please appoint real clean records people who really sacrifice their contributive efforts into the Cabinet.

A Chinese woman (the owner of the garage) stressed that she does not mind if BN still rules Malaysia, as long as justice could be uphold and proven. But she chooses PR in the GE13 this time as she realised the monopoly of some corporations such as TNB (and ASTRO and Media Prima, perhaps) that creates imbalance in the Malaysian socio-economic and political atmosphere. Although she is uncertain of the ability of PR to fulfill her wish, she would like to give a chance to PR. If PR does not fulfill her wish, she would change back to BN in the next GE. So she is not happy with the term `Chinese tsunami' as for her, she supports DAP just because MCA did not do anything for the Chinese.

Another thing Datuk Najib, many Muslims feel insulted watching MAS offering alcohol on its international flights, as much as the Malays feel insulted when there were Ministers or Deputy Ministers in your previous Cabinet do not even once speak Malay. For a Cabinet to be loved by the people and a party to be gained the sustainability of its power, please take into consideration the above mentioned points.

AN OPEN HOPE TO DATUK MUKHRIZ

What a coincidence. I was in Kedah on the eve of and on the polling day itself, and Kedah has been won back by the BN. It is the only state amongst the PR-ruled sates (Kelantan, Selangor and Penang) that falls back to BN in this GE13.

However, I realised that I could not be a good political analysist. Based on the visibility of the PR, and especially PAS supporters on the road in Alor Setar during the GE13, I anticipate a bleak future for BN. But the result of the poll proves that I am wrong. BN won in spite of its invisibility on the road.

To the new ruler of Kedah - especially the Chief Minister Datuk Mukhriz - I appeal that anything Islamic that have been done by the previous government - to be continued, though as minor as the Islamic dress code. I was told by a waitress in the hotel I stayed that hotel workers were forced to have a free hair during the previous BN rule, before PAS-ruler make it compulsory for them to cover their aurat properly. So is the availability of alcohol at the hotel. It was not allowed in the hotel anymore during the PAS rule.

If you, Datuk Mukhriz, sustain such an `Islamicity', and moreover enhance Islam in the State, I firmly believe that Allah SWT will help you in governing the state, and sustain your power , InshaAllah.

SLEEPLESS NIGHT IN ALOR SETAR

I believe some of the PAS supporters in Alor Setar did not sleep last night. I was awakened  many times by the noise of cars and motorcycles with their sound of horns, and twice by the siren of police cars. It was really a lively night, but a little bit scary.

Earlier when driving around the town to observe the GE13 atmosphere, my family and I witnessed a lot of mostly youngsters on motorcycles and cars with PAS flags roaming around the town. Some of them have a rest by gathering at junctions of roads and sounding their horns whenever their counterparts passed through, before they themselves do their re-roaming. Luckily, other parties' supporters, especially BN were almost non-existent.

I pray that GE13 today goes smoothly and safely. It is an important event as Malaysians are to choose between certainty and uncertainty, between ability and inability.

BN vowed to continue its rule with some extent of certainty and has proved its ability to rule, while PR has yet to rule fully and has yet to prove its ability, hence the uncertainty. In some PR-ruled states, its ability is much to be desired. But even if BN continues to rule, the first lady has to be more motherly like the previous one, and more Islamic, while over-generosity and over-development has to be stopped. If PR rules, moral values have to be revived (for PKR), sense of racism has to be avoided (for DAP), and professionalism has to be ensured (for PAS).

We really need Allah to decide for us the right ruler for our lovely Malaysia indeed.