Housemen may have to serve 5-year term (NST) – Agree or Not?

By: Dr^Waqipedia

PUTRAJAYA: Doctors may have to extend their compulsory public service from the current three years to at least five years. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk T. Murugiah said there was an urgent need for doctors and it was time for the issue to be resolved quickly.

“We will be submitting our suggestions to the ministries and agencies that are relevant in addressing this issue by next month,” he said after meeting Public Service Commission officers here yesterday.

The present three years of public service for doctors was too short, he said.

They should serve the government for five to 10 years. “We are aiming to achieve the doctor per patient ratio of 1: 250 in the future,” he said adding that the current ratio stood at 1: 600.

He said the medical field was also facing shortage of dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists but the need for doctors was more critical.

Murugiah said he would send the proposal to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in the Prime Minister’s Department, the Health Ministry and the Public Service Department.

“With the extension of public service, doctors would gain more experience.

Murugiah said 50,756 civil servants, including those undergoing paramedical training were recruited last year.

The government received more than seven million applications, with almost 200,000 applicants showing up for interviews.

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I got YM message from my friend this morning telling me about the newly proposed five years duration of compulsory public service (housemanship) from the current three years. I am sure that this new statement would cause uproar among the house officer (HO) and medical students. According to the statement above, I summarize the reasons of such proposal being put as:

1. Rising need for doctor’s service in government hospital due to lack in number
   
2. To help the new doctors to gain more experience
   

I don’t have any objection of second reason but not for the first one. Malaysian government should realize better that it was all are the consequences of how the doctors were treated in the government hospitals. Besides being over-worked in the hospitals, minimum time for rest, there are also other issues such as bullying and high-handedness by senior doctors and specialist.

Housemen are suffering in hospitals

Being stranded with that kind of situation will distorted the ability of doctors to treat patients, to think wisely and make a right decision. Look how a houseman in HKL is expected to work, 7 days per week comprising 5 days of 12-hour days and 2 days of a 36-hour continuous stretch all totalling about 110 hours per week. The average working week for all Malaysians is 40 hours per week and the labour laws allow up to 48 hours per week. So a houseman works up to three times more than a normal Malaysian.

Is that fair? Does it live up to human right? Or as a Muslim, did you find it a torment? Of course they are being paid RM100 for 24 hours of work (the other 12 hours is already paid as salary) but does the pitiful amount of RM4 per hour is enough for them who has to forgo their sleep, family and social life.

A houseman has to work for long hours in a very demanding working environment; deal with many sick patients, emergencies and trauma patients, etc. No doubt this environment is to be expected in a hospital but coupled with the crazy hours, being always on their feet, the irregular meal times and the low income; I doubt many people will last long as housemen.

The housemanship for these young doctors is two years and during this period they are not allowed to take medical leave- if they fall sick, the leave taken will be deducted from their annual leave. Any parent with a son or daughter as a houseman can tell the suffering that their child is going through.

In fact, during this two-year housemanship, their life is almost non-existent as all they want to do after work is to go to sleep. In fact, some of them have become withdrawn and suffer from depression and anxiety.

Solution for betterment

Extending the compulsory service is not the best solution of tackling the lack in number of doctors in hospitals when we already know how bad they were being treated in hospitals. I believe that this is the real culprit that causes a lot of doctors to stop working for government and go to private.

I guess as long as the government serve them well, they will think twice to forfeit their services. The main problem with our present government is that its ministries are filled with opportunist politicians, while there is a serious lack of professional specialists. The top persons are there for show, making noise and creating chaos. Many ministries are in a mess. The Health Ministry is no different.

Reference:

1. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/4dkext/Artice/index_html
   

Financial Freedom Origin 2

By: Dr^Waqipedia

Just the short notes for features of people who has had become a millionaire and for any people, who want to step the ladder, these are several features that you need to develop in yourself. Overall, it depends on the personality and attitude of a person. I won’t elaborate much here just to make sure anyone can read it with clear of mind and think. From time to time, I will explain it one by one in detail and how much I, myself try to work it up.

1. Live well below your means
   

   Be frugal and thrifty in daily expenditure, buy or spend on needs and well-planned expenditure, not just for the sake of lust or acting rich. It’s about how you discipline yourself and it has to start now, not when in any difficult situation or tight budget.

2. Allocate your time, energy and money efficiently, in ways conducive to build wealth
   

   Spend time once per week, maybe an hour to check your weekly expenditure and plan for future – savings, investment, emergency stuffs or anything that you ought to spend. Make it a habit to draft it on paper so you can see how much input or output.

   Don’t forget to spend time learning about financial and investment, know the principles of unit trust and world economy by reading or discussion with appropriate person.

3. Believe that financial independence is more important than displaying high social status
   

   The more you earn, the higher your expenditure. No need to show off although you have attained quite a great job. Be modest and mixed with other people. A lot of people prefer to sacrifice their savings just to enjoying a luxurious life although they know that they have debt all around him.

4. Parents did not provide economic outpatient care
   

   Don’t depend on your parent’s money. You will weaken yourself when you rely on anyone else. Trust me, be independent and survive. That way, you’ll learn more, about life and survival.

5. Proficient in targeting market opportunities
   

   If you really decide to join the market (i mean, start your business and invest), welcome! But please make yourself ready. Know your niche well and be proficient in it.

6. Choose the right occupation
   

   People who want to accumulate wealth need to understand well how he should evolve in his life. Minimize realized (taxable) income and maximize unrealized or passive income (capital appreciation without cash flow).

7. Financial goals and good intention
   

   Put goals for it such as to become wealthy by the certain age, generate passive income or building capital while conserve value of assets. Make a plan for 30 years in advance and set your goals.

   Lastly, make sure everything you gain need to be contributed to society. Like what Mr Ali Hassan Mohd Hassan, Managing Director of Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn. Bhd said, his secrets for his successful business are obey Allah’s order, respect parents and people around, make a lot of ’sadaqah’, do good deeds to other people with full honesty and believe everything come and go with Allah’s doing.

So, any of you get the general idea? Now, put it into action. Goodluck!

‘He is sufficient for me and He is the best Disposer of affairs’

By: Dr^Waqipedia

I happened to stumble to a blog and find this word; “He is sufficient for me and He is the best Disposer of affairs“. He refers to Allah SWT. Actually, I amazed with the beauty of the words and immediately asked the owner of the blog, where she had the words. She said that she copied it from somewhere else and forgot the source.

However, just a week ago, I got a PDF book from a friend which written by Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali; My Dear Beloved Son & Daughters (In Arabic version, it’s Ayyuhal Walad) and I took a browse on it. One article attracts me so much. It is about two ’sufi’, Hatim Al-Asan and Shaqiq Al-Balkhi. Hatim has accompanied Shaqiq for 30 years and once upon a time, Shaqiq asked Hatim what he has gained in the course of those years. Hatim replied that he got eight benefits when he was with him and one of it is like below;

“I saw everyone relied on a created thing, some on currency, some on wealth and property, some on trade and craft and some on creatures like themselves. I meditated on the saying of Allah: “And whosoever places his reliance on Allah sufficient is Allah for him. Allah will surely accomplish His purpose. Verily for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion? I therefore placed full trust in Allah (We should all try to do the same). He is sufficient for me and He is the best Disposer of affairs.”

The advice is simple. Although how big your effort or level, leave everything to Allah SWT. Maybe sometimes you expect that you have had prepared much, but in the end, you still fail or do it in wrong way. Its Allah’s doing and He will provide and serve you the best (although in hard way). Also, in Quran, it’s also mentioned that the best thing that you think for you, maybe it actually is not. However, the bad thing part; perhaps it’s the best one for you.

Before I came back from holiday, my family did an ‘usrah’ and we sat together. It’s a routine that my father trained us to do. Besides having meals together, he trained us to take the chance of time between Maghrib and Isya’ to sit together and gave us a little bit ‘tazkirah’ or reflection. For me, it’s a continuous learning and that’s the place where I can hear my parent’s or my sibling’s insight. Therefore, my father asked me to give ’sedikit penyampaian’ which could be beneficial for my little siblings and also for us all. I took that story above and reflect it in my own experiences; from being a secondary school to a half-degree student.

The best part is when my father gave his comment on it, after I finished do the talking. He told us two stories regarding two situations which have happened for him that need us to reflect. Previously, when his first son (that’s me), finished his PMR in MATRI, where I was offered with Skim Pelajar Cemerlang (SPC) from MARA. Believing that if I took this opportunity, my pathway of becoming a doctor will be easy and bear no difficulties, my father accepted it. Therefore, I was enrolled to MRSM Bitara Pengkalan Chepa for 2 years and ended up in Kolej Teknologi Timur for A-Level Cambridge. At the moment, he thought my path was secure and would eventually go to medical school although whatever happens. He believed that MARA would take care of it all and he trusted it.

However, it was a mistake. I finished my A-Level Cambridge with flying colours but no placement for good university. Why? Because all the best places had been occupied and I ended up ‘must’ go to Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia. How am I supposed to accept it after 2 years studying and struggling with English as the first language? Therefore, I fought for it and fortunately, I met CUCMS. The story was how much my father had to work hard just to make sure I get my place to a good medical university. Before he met CUCMS and got in touch with Prof Hatta Shaharom, he had to meet certain peoples asking for help (my father is not kind of person who loves to freely asking for helps except it’s really important). Sometimes, he just woke up early in the morning to check his account bank, saving in Tabung Haji & etc and he also is prepared to mortgage his estate for the sake of paying me studying medicine at a proper place.

However, for my brother who is now studying in Yarmouk University, Jordan in Islamic banking studies, the situation was far worse where my father has less money to afford him studying but the way he handle it was different. It’s not the physical way which is different but the spiritual way. He put full trust in Allah SWT’s help and did his efforts asking for sponsorship from MARA and JPA. I also helped in the process and all of our family prayed for it. Alhamdulillah, everything goes smoothly and now, he is offered with JPA sponsorship.

The moral here is not just how much my parent loves us; their sons and daughters but it is also how much we have to put trust in Allah’s doing. That’s the same way that I feel when I indulge myself handling a lot of projects and programs. Sometimes, it seems like the program was really great and would get a lot of big sponsors but in the end, it just messed up. However, there were also times when I thought the projects would be a failure, at last it were successful. Simply to say, it’s all Allah’s doing in order to measure our honesty and how much we put our trust on Him. Nevertheless, I learned and reflected a lot in doing all those projects previously and as time goes by, I understand how much the dependence on Allah SWT is needed.

In summary, put 20% full effort working for it and 80% hope and ‘do’a’ towards Him. And yes, feel sufficient of Him for you, because He is the best Disposer of affairs. Insya Allah, he will give the best for you.

Financial Freedom Origin

By: Dr^Waqipedia

A friend asked me, why you want money and why you want to become wealthy. How is your plan to achieve it?

My answer is simple, the same reason as Abu Bakar As-Siddiq and Uthman Ibnu Affan did, take business as their profession while at the same time, use these profession to make great input for the sake of Muslim community, not for themselves. In hadith, it’s already mentioned that business takes 90% of income of Muslim community world.

In a book written by Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali; My Dear Beloved Son & Daughter, there are some words that I would like to exchange here. This is words from Hatim Al-Asam, a sufi who accompanied Shaqiq Al-Balkhi for 30 years, when he was asked by Shaqiq, what did he gain from him for the last 30 years. He answered of eight benefits and one of them is about properties and wealth. He said;

“I saw that every human being is trying their best to accumulate as much as they can from this world and then holding onto it strongly. I meditated on the Quranic verse “What is with you must vanish; what is with Allah must endure”. So I gave freely my worldly possessions for His sake by distributing them among the poor so that it would be my provision in the future with Him the Exalted.”

How much money that you accumulate, if you use it for yourselves, it will be effective in this world only but not hereafter. That means, if you utilize it for the sake of Islam and mankind, it will be like doing two things in one time. It’s a better investment; for this world and hereafter. I believe my intention is true but how could I achieve it? To answer it, it takes quite of time for me to read, learn, think, analyze and apply it in life. The questions are not only about what I have to learn or what kind of business or investment that I should do but it also involved how reliable the things you do in term of ‘halal’ or ‘haram’.

Actually, I just finished my holiday for one week after Psychiatry posting and Alhamdulillah, it was one of the best and meaningful holiday for me. I have a lot tonnes of reasons to get really indulge in this holiday. I have gone through a lot for the last three semesters and honestly, I need three dimensional space to ‘wake up’ for the sake of my professional exam at the end of this year. Less to say, I took the full opportunity of the last one week holiday to rest, peace my mind and doing what I really want to do (maybe for the rest of my life); reading and investing.

So, let’s stop talking about other thing and focus on business and investing. Business and investing is related to risks, thrill, wealthy and financial freedom. To achieve wealthy or financial freedom, it takes a great amount of courage, experiences, efforts, knowledge, analyzing ability, calmness and frugality. How I learn about this? It’s started with my observation on ‘rich’ people when I was a 12 year old kid but from time to time, the way I perceive them is different. Then, four years ago, in my first year of medical school, I took one step forward; I bought a book written by Robert T. Kiyosaki, ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’.

Reading the book changed my perception on wealth and investing. At the moment, I knew I had to invest on my ‘knowledge’ first. I tried to attain it more by buying his other books, try to read and understand it. However, I didn’t put my full effort to understand and utilise the contents of those books written by him. I neglected it nearly a year due to my commitment towards PPIM.

When I started back, I felt like to go back from the future. I regret for procrastinating and find out how much I had waste my time. Maybe what young folks said is true, ‘Time is money’. Actually, it is not money but the experiences which I could gain from the time I left behind. The sooner I join the ‘party’ or the ‘market’, the earlier I can reach wealthiest or financial freedom.

For the time around, I, little by little, did my readings on certain books and try to learn as much as I can but learning by me is quite hard. I turned back to what Donald Trump said which meant like this, ‘To reach your dream, you need friends or team mates who believe in your dream, work with you and has their own specialties to complete each other’. Well, it goes back to team works and group based learning to reduce time consumption and raise the level of understanding, which means no self studying.

I read all these three books written by Robert T. Kiyosaki; Rich Dad Poor Dad, Quadrant Cashflow and Guide to Investing and certain articles from Donald Trump and Warren Buffett. However, I realized then that my foundation of financial freedom has got some loop holes which need to be close as soon as possible but I, myself, was not very sure of what I lack of.

Soon, I stumbled upon a book which actually has been recommended by Robert T. Kiyosaki besides Think and Grow Rich (Napolean Hill); which is The Millionaire Next Door written by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. I bought and read it. I took nearly one week to finish it and it’s AWESOME! No wonder he recommended people to read this book before dwelling seriously with investing. In this book, they mentioned about the criteria and features of people who are millionaires based on the research and survey that took years to finished. Being a millionaire is not based on high monthly income but on abundance of net worth. The idea here, ‘owns substantial amount of appreciable assets than displaying high consumption lifestyle’. It looks simple but it goes back on the attitude and principle of life.

Therefore, I want to exchange my own understanding of the real features, attitude and insight of real millionaire or wealthy people whom in simple word, they are people who can live for years without ever working after they retired but at the same time, they still can make their own contribution towards society and mankind. There are several features and I will write about it one by one so people can have great understanding on what I mean and what I have gone through. If I am bluffing, may Allah SWT correct me. Honestly when I wrote down those features of a millionaire, I imagined myself as future Muslim millionaire who is mentoring my apprentice to become better than me.

To be continued….

Reference: http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/977344-Dear-Beloved-Son

I Asked You Because I Know I Can Trust You…

By: Dr^Waqipedia

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

Last week, my housemate talked to me about his problems. He had some problems regarding his relationships with certain friends and housemates. He asked me about my feedback on him and how to settle his problems. Although there was a little bit of quarreling and resistance from him before he got down to my opinion, he accepted it and promised to do something about it. I could see a ‘defensive mechanism’ working, as usual but he had the courage to ask for feedback and talk face to face. Of course it was hard for him to accept everything at that moment but I asked him to take time and rethink about it. Above all, I appreciate his courage to ask for improvement even though he is elder than me. Deep in my heart, I hope he can make it up.

In our life, being corrected by other people or asking for feedbacks are two different things although the results are still the same. Both will get other people’s views, opinion and feedback on us. The different is the courage to go in front and ask for it. It’s also the same courage needed to listen to negative responses from others, still smile and willing to respond. Take words from Winston Churchill;

“When you are being corrected, what does it take to accept it with smile and say to that people thank you? It is courage and faith. It is about getting opinion of people around you to improve yourselves. It will give you chances to take care of your weaknesses and maybe can open up a new opportunity on you. Be positive and be optimist.”

For me, feedback or response can be positive and negative. A lot of people tend to prefer the positive such as praises, happiness, awards and good results. It makes us feel better and appreciated. It also tells us that we are right on track doing the true thing. However, the diverse goes to negative feedback. It gives us criticism, complaints, unhappiness, inner conflict and pain.

While accepting negative feedback is hard and feels bitter, it has as much useful data and information in it as there is in positive feedback. In fact, it’s so valuable that I like to refer it as ‘improvement opportunities’. The world has simply given me opportunities on where and how I can improve myself or what I am doing. It’s like riding a car to a destination but mistakenly taking wrong course. However being reminded by Garmin GPS, we take off the course, make a detour and find a new, true path.

‘Feedback is the breakfast of a champion’. I forget who said it but it gives me a realization on how much it works on people who aim for improvement and success. Here is a place to get better; here is where we can correct our behavior to get even closer to what we dream for – success in career, a better relationship, wealth or self improvement towards God. So, why don’t we embrace it welcomingly, the same way when we receive the positive feedback?

In my life, I observe how people react to it especially to negative feedback. I also learn it through my own experiences, when I did mistakes and how I unconsciously respond to it. (1) Some will break down and cry, “I can’t take it anymore. It’s too hard to take this negative criticism. I quit!” (2) Some will get into defensive mode, become mad and reacted with anger and hostility toward someone who was giving the feedback. (3) The remaining will just ignore it. Of course the first and second are simply ineffective. The third one is totally out of question. Although it may temporarily release whatever emotions build up but it takes us out of the game. It’s simply information that may be useful for us in the future, no need to take it personally. Just welcome it and use it thoughtfully.

Nonetheless, I also learn how much people are not voluntarily giving feedback. They feel scared, uncomfortable with possible confrontation or bad outcome. They don’t want to hurt our feeling and afraid of our reaction. So, sometimes we have to approach them, ask for it and make it safe for them to talk. Be willing to ask, be willing to face it and be prepared for the ‘truth’. Truth is truth. It won’t change. Better off knowing the truth than not knowing anything. At least you can do something; you can fix what’s broken or impaired.

What is the worst part if we avoid it? You will be the only one who is not in the secret. The opposite possibly has already told their friends, parents or anyone about what they are dissatisfied with. In the other hand, you are still in your own world. You still did the mistakes and eventually you deprived of the very thing you need to improve. Although you may know it one day but its hurtful once you know because the closest person to you never mentioned it but people has already know. That’s why now and again, we need to be more proactive; beware of the changes and take one step forward to solve it first.

Bear in mind that eating those words has never give me indigestion. I can still eat like before, I can still sleep after putting a thought on it and it feels great to know the truth. So, what’s wrong in doing mistakes? By doing more mistakes and mistakes, we can evolve more and more to the better level. For me, it is the successful recipe of the well known people in this world. For real, be an optimist person. It does not seem too much use being anything else. Put action on it, work on it. Make the improvement. There is nothing else to offer except honesty, courage and trust; to be a different people who dream big and bear large responsibility.

“Human beings were given a left foot and a right foot to make mistake first to the left, then to the right, left again and repeat.”

Nevertheless, being a good Muslim is not about doing the same mistakes repetitively. Do one mistake, learn from it, improve and never do the same mistake. Whatever it is, it’s important to listen to any feedback. Simply take a step and listen. Listen externally to what others may be telling you, but also listen internally to what your principle, your feelings, your intuitions and instincts may be telling you. If you are as good to go; you feel the path is right for you, in this world and hereafter, just proceed with your life and pray that God always with you.

I happened to did mistakes some times and I tried my best to acknowledge it. I wrote it down in my private blog – My Insight file, read through it often and inscribed several improvements. I learned to thank them for the feedbacks whether it’s positive or negative. Maybe sometimes I tried to explain, justifying and blaming but in the end I felt it was a waste of time when it came to a certain situation.

I remind myself that my dream, successful life consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. It is just one step ahead of me. So, I must not give it up. Positive attitude and optimism is a little thing that will make a big difference in my life. Takes time to refocus on vision, incorporate the lessons learned, recommit to original plan or create a new action plan and get on with it.

Just stay in the game; be patience and keep moving forward toward the fulfillment of our dreams and destiny.

Before we finished our talk, I told my housemate, ‘It’s a pain for me to keep a lie and pretending like I don’t know. So, I am here, talking honestly to you so it will remain till I died. Just like Prophet Muhammad SAW said;

“When we died, there is only 3 things that are continued to give us benefits in afterlife; a good child, a useful knowledge thought to others and the charity we gave.”

‘Hopefully you can take my feedback and rethink about it. It’s not like you has got to do it all at once but the courage of you to ask and act on it, it will make a difference.’ He thanked me and before he left, he said,

‘I asked you because I know I can trust you…’

After all, it is about courage, trust and faith.

Mengejar Erti Perpaduan

Oleh: Dr^Waqipedia

“Bangkitlah pemuda pemudi Islam, bersatulah….jangan bercerai berai, teguhlah dalam perjuangan. Ya Allah, hanyalah engkau tempat kami menyerah diri. Berikanlah kami ketenangan dan kedamaian…”

Hampir beberapa minggu saya menyepikan diri dari mengambil tahu perihal politik negara. Bukan kerana tidak berkesempatan tetapi sudah penat, bosan, sakit hati dan menyampah. Penat melihat dua pihak yang sama agamanya mahupun bangsa bergaduh antara satu sama lain. Bosan melihat kerosakan dan implikasi buruk yang timbul akibat kesilapan dan kebodohan dalam menangani situasi dan keadaan semasa. Sakit hati apabila melihat ada sesetengah pihak cuba mempergunakan agama, bangsa dan negara untuk kepentingan sendiri atau pihak tertentu. Menyampah apabila pihak media memaparkan situasi semasa yang berat sebelah, tidak menyeluruh dan semakin mengeruhkan suasana.

Isu Pemindahan Kuil di Seksyen 23, Shah Alam

Tetapi apabila timbul isu pemindahan kuil di Seksyen 23, Shah Alam, timbul sedikit rasa ingin tahu. Atas beberapa sebab kerana ia melibatkan soal sensiviti agama dan ia berlaku di Selangor, sebuah negeri yang baru setahun jagung diperintah di bawah Pakatan Rakyat. Jika dilihat di dalam media massa, begitu banyak paparan berita dan isu-isu membongkar kelemahan pemerintahan kerajaan baru Selangor. Sebelum Mac 2008, yang selalu menjadi mangsa kutukan adalah Kelantan. Mungkin pihak media massa sekarang sedang beralih angin, sudah bosan untuk ‘melondeh’ kelemahan pentadbiran kerajaan Kelantan kerana semakin banyak ‘dilondeh’, semakin terkenal negeri di bawah bayu ini dan semakin membuka mata ramai orang akan keunikannya.

Berbalik kepada isu pemindahan kuil, masalah ini telah bertapak sekian lama semenjak permerintahan BN di Selangor, hampir 20 tahun tetapi tiada penyelesaian didapati. Walaubagaimana pun, ia kembali kecoh kebelakangan ini apabila pihak kerajaan baru mengambil langkah untuk mencari penyelesaiannya. Proses penyelesaian ini melalui beberapa proses iaitu atas cadangan PKNS yang akan mengambil alih tapak kuil asal di Seksyen 19, kebenaran daripada MBSA selaku perancang Bandar Shah Alam, persetujuan AJK kuil dan kerajaan negeri yang selaku pemantau semua aktiviti pembinaan dan perobohan kuil. Daripada proses-proses ini terbitlah cadangan untuk pemindahan kuil ke Seksyen 23, Shah Alam.

Proses atau pelepasan ‘birokrasi’ ini perlu dicapai terlebih dahulu sebelum ia menjadi ‘cadangan rasmi’ dan dibincangkan bersama pihak awam iaitu penduduk sekitar kawasan pemindahan kuil baru. Mengadakan perbincangan bersama penduduk sebelum mendapat persetujuan ke empat-empat pihak ini tidak memberikan sebarang makna, jika cadangan itu belum lagi merupakan cadangan rasmi.

Oleh itu, selepas selesainya proses-proses ini, pihak kerajaan negeri merancang pertemuan dan perbincangan dengan penduduk Seksyen 23 berhubung cadangan pemindahan tersebut pada 5 September lepas. Walaubagaimana pun, sebelum majlis dialog ini diadakan, berlakunya demonstrasi sebagai tanda protes membantah keputusan tersebut. Malangnya, dan cukup menyedihkan, ia disertai dengan aksi-aksi yang kurang wajar dilakukan sebagai seorang Melayu yang mengamalkan Islam. Menghina sembahan penganut Hindu dengan menyepak atau menendang-nendang kepala lembu yang bagi mereka (penganut Hindu) adalah makhluk suci atau tuhan mereka. Cuba selami ayat 108 Surah Al-An’aam;

“Dan janganlah kamu memaki hamun sembahan yg mereka sembah selain Allah SWT, kerana mereka akan memaki Allah SWT dengan melampau batas tanpa pengetahuan mereka. Demikianlah kami jadikan setiap ummat menganggap baik pekerjaan mereka…”

Lihatlah bagaimana peringatan yang diberikan oleh Allah SWT kepada penganut-penganutnya. Menegakkan prinsip kita tanpa menyakiti orang lain. Berfikir secara rasional, timbang tara setiap tindakan sebelum bertindak mengikut hati atau nafsu. Teringat pesanan seorang rakan;

“Never break these four things in life; trust, relation, promise & heart because when they break, they don’t make noise but pains a lot….”

Akibat daripada tindakan tersebut, ada pihak-pihak tertentu tersinggung dan sakit hati. Pada masa yang sama, ia menunjukkan suatu contoh yang sangat buruk sebagai seorang yang mengaku mengamalkan Islam. ‘Peak’ untuk insiden ini adalah kekecohan pada majlis dialog pada 5 September lepas. Lihatlah sendiri video di atas bagaimana sikap biadab dan kurang matang dalam bertindak mendominasi suasana.

Melihat situasi yang berlaku, saya merasa sedih. Mungkin kita bukan seorang penganut Islam yang baik, tetapi di mana sifat berbudi dan menghormati, di mana semangat 1 Malaysia? Dalam hal ini, saya berkecuali dalam soal pemindahan tapak kuil tersebut kerana penduduk setempat dan pihak berkaitan seperti MBSA dan kerajaan negeri lebih arif tetapi yang menjadi ‘the main concern’ adalah sikap kita. Adakah ini contoh yang ingin kita tunjukkan kepada generasi masa depan? Adakah ini contoh yang ingin kita berikan kepada yang bukan Islam? Sebagai masyarakat Shah Alam yang saya rasa rata-ratanya golongan cendekiawan, pastilah sikap dan akhlak yang ditunjukkan ini tidak sepadan dengan ilmu dan status mereka.

Biarpun, adanya tanggapan sesetengah pihak ia adalah mainan politik dan adanya pihak-pihak tertentu yang cuba mengeruhkan suasana tetapi saya tetap positif dalam usaha-usaha kerajaan negeri untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini. Walaubagaimana pun, sejenak berfikir akan situasi semasa terutamanya dalam arena politik negara, banyak perkara yang terlintas dalam fikiran. Sebelum merumuskannya, marilah mendengar dendangan nasyid Bersatulah dan cuba dalami intipatinya.

Sakha – Bersatulah

Ada beberapa perkara yang ingin saya utarakan dan ‘highlight’kan, dalam masyarakat Melayu Islam di Malaysia terutamanya dari segi kesatuan.

1. Kurangnya kesatuan sesama umat Islam. Kita lebih membesar-besarkan titik perbezaan dan masalah, tidak memanfaatkan kelebihan persamaan dan mementingkan kepentingan dan agenda sendiri. Bersatu bukanlah bererti menghapuskan perbezaan tetapi menguruskan perbezaan. Perbaiki kekurangan dan kelemahan, pada masa yang sama, bawa perubahan kearah kebaikan.

2. Apabila perubahan kearah kebaikan dan kesatuan cuba dihulurkan, kita boleh saksikan iringan-iringan kecaman, tuduhan, sindiran yang semakin meretakkan perhubungan. Seperti sebelah tangan menghulurkan salam tetapi yang sebelah lagi menghulurkan pedang.

3. Islam dipergunakan menjadi suatu alat untuk mencapai kepentingan diri atau sesetengah pihak. Kebenaran Islam itu mutlak tetapi kumpulan yang memperjuangkannya tidak mutlak. Begitu juga Negara, ia milik semua pihak. Biarpun berlainan pendapat atau kumpulan, tidak bererti ada yang cinta ataupun tidak cinta kepada tanah air, tetapi cara cara melahirkan dan menzahirkannya mungkin berbeza. Begitu juga dengan Islam tetapi Islam mempunyai panduannya tersendiri iaitu Al-Quran dan Hadith. Maka, memperjuangkan Islam ada tatacara tersendiri berpandukan panduan-panduan tersebut.

4. Perpaduan boleh didapati dengan pelbagai pendekatan berbeza samada pendekatan kenegaraan mahupun Islam. Seperti konsep 1 Malaysia, ia mempunyai ‘essence’ atau ‘value’ yang cuba diterapkan oleh Islam kepada penganutnya. Cintakan bangsa, agama dan Negara. Di dalam Islam, bersatu bukan sahaja suatu dorongan fitrah (keperluan) tetapi juga dorongan Allah SWT (tuntutan).

5. Soal perpaduan adalah soal hati. Dan ia berbalik kepada bagaimana mendidik hati supaya pemikiran yang tercorak adalah sesuai dengan fitrah ini. Sebagai seorang yang menerima didikan Islam, saya yakin Rasullullah SAW telah menunjukkan contoh teladan terbaik dalam menyatukan seluruh umat manusia. Baginda menyediakan asas yang kukuh untuk membina perpaduan ini dengan bermula dari dalam, dengan menjinakkan hati, diperkenalkan dan diperdekatkan untuk mencintai Allah SWT.

6. Inilah proses yang dilakukan oleh Rasullullah SAW ketika mula menyatukan umat Arab jahiliyyah. Hati-hati yang liar dijinakkan supaya beriman kepada Allah SWT dan akhirat. Itulah iman. Iman menjadi prasyarat membawa kepada perpaduan. Tanpa iman, secara automatik hilangnya perpaduan, kasih sayang dan ‘ukhuwwah’. Jika adanya perpaduan, ia hanya bersifat sementara dan hangat-hangat tahi ayam. Lihatlah firman Allah SWT dalam Surah Al-Hasyr ayat 14;

“Kamu menyangka mereka bersatu tetapi hati mereka berpecah belah..”

7. Iman melahirkan rasa takut kepada Allah SWT, gerun kepada balasan neraka, cintakan syurga, benteng kepada hawa nafsu dan sifat-sifat keji. Maka, kuat iman, kuatlah perpaduan. Tidakkan nampak akan rasionalnya rakan-rakan?

Akhir kata, mari kita renung sabda Rasullullah SAW, yang diriwayatkan oleh al-Bukhari dan Muslim;

“Tidak sempurna iman seseorang kamu sehingga dia mengasihi saudara islamnya seperti mana dia mengasihi dirinya sendiri…”

Marilah mengejar perpaduan, membawa perubahan dan lebih matang dalam menghadapi kekecohan politik semasa.

Reference:

• Dilema Melayu-Islam – Pahrol Mohamad Juoi
  
• http://www.anwaribrahimclub.com/2009/09/rumusan-yb-khalid-sesi-%E2%80%98dialog%E2%80%99-dengan-penduduk-seksyen-23/
  
• http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/112184
  
• http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0907&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Politik&pg=po_01.htm
  
• http://www.tvantara.com/v1/newsdetails?news=2097
  
• http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/36672-hisham-defends-cow-head-protestors
  

‘Always My Son’ by Dr Zabidah

By: Dr^Waqipedia

Always My Son

You are my son, a part of me, and that will never change,
No matter what you do in life my love will still remain.
I held you as a baby and I looked into your face,
And I knew then, no other one could ever take your place.

I knew then as I held you, you would grow to be a man,
And anything you did in life I’d try to understand.
I knew you would make choices and would follow your own heart,
I only prayed that in your life I’d always have a part.

I knew some things you did in life would give me so much pride,
But also realized some things would tear me up inside.
I only want the best for you and want you to succeed,
And want you to find happiness with everything you need.

I can only guide you and give you a helping hand,
You will choose the path to take now that you are a man.
Along the road that you will choose, whatever that may be,
Just remember this my son that you can count on me.

I will not try to push you to live life in my own stride,
I only promise I will love you and stand by your side.
I know that you will make mistakes and life is full of them,
But realize my love for you will not let me condemn.

I know this life’s not perfect and we do the best we can,
Just realize I love you and I’ll always understand.
I knew one day you would grow up and you would leave my nest,
I will do what I can for you and let God do the rest.

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY~

Love from your mother…

Today is Tuesday, 8^th September 2009 and it is my housemate’s birthday, Syed Syafiq. I have no idea what present to give him but I tried to be the first person to wish. However, in the end, Syafiq came back late in the morning. Slightly disappointed, I promised him to break ‘fast’ together today in JM Bariani, Alamanda. He has been my great companion since last year and I hope I can do the best for him, at least wish and take him for dinner for his 21^st birthday. It’s my sign of appreciation towards him.

As usual, his hand phone full with birthday wishes. Just like his Facebook. ‘Hi, Syafiq! Happy birthday!!’ wishes seems like covering the whole page of Facebook. However, among the large numbers of birthday wishes, I find one wish which is the best. It’s from her mother, Dr Zabidah, which I called her ‘aunty’. I knew her mother quite a while but it feels like forever. She is a mother of 4 sons, a busy doctor but a great cook, as well as housewife. In the blink of eye, it seems like I was part of the family and Syafiq is like my own brother.

For Syafiq’s birthday; her first son, she gave him a poem. Like the one I paste above. It touched me like no others. Reason? My father happened to give me once when I was in my secondary school. I kept it for 6 years but lost it when I joined CUCMS. My father is not a man who is good in revealing his love towards his son through his speech but he shows it through his action. When I was young, I always being scolded by him because of my naughtiness and I did think that I would never understand him. I always make mistakes and make him angry and down.

As time goes by, I did learn my father’s thought and action. I gradually understand how much he loves me as his first son, how great his expectation towards me and Islam, how much he wants me to be great in life, to grab the real happiness in this world and hereafter and the most important, understand my real existence in this world. He tried his best to guide me, brought me to a road that he believed is the best, and although sometimes I tend to waver from that path, he reminds me. He never gave up on me although some people look down on me. Of course, a father always believes in his son, no matter what.

That’s why I tried my best to live to his expectation. My father taught me that achieving a never-ending happiness is greatly related to your understanding of responsibilities towards yourself, family, country and God. For him, if I understand that, happiness will come by itself. Live like a great man, crawl up to accomplish dreams and keep the spirit burning till death comes. That’s why when I wrote my do’a; to die ’syahid’ at age of 50, to be recited by him in front of Kaabah last month, he didn’t laugh at me. He understands me and I want him to know that I will be his great son and continue his job.

Although the poem he wrote to me has lost 3 years ago but I still can recall the essence of his words. That’s the reason why I was touched by the poem – Always My Son.

To Syafiq, I want him to know that there is always someone who will stay at your side although sometimes the world seems like to put you aside. They will never give up on you, they believe in you no matter what. Therefore, when you reach your dream and stand at the top of the world, don’t forget them; your parent. It is always a reminder not only for you, but also for me.

To aunty, thank you for taking care of me like your own son. Although I am an outsider, you treat me more than just a son. I hope that one day; my wife will do the same towards my sons and daughters.

I happened to dream a family that full of laughter, having dinner together, pray together, give ‘tazkirah’ to them and hang out together to all interesting places in this world. Although it’s just a dream, I want to realize it. Having this in thought, it gives me the sense of ‘begin with the end in mind’. It helps me to realize my upcoming responsibilities as a man, a father, husband as well as a Muslim, which are not the same if I thought of a short term relationship.

Thanks aunty for the inspiration. I feel great today.

Project Management 1

By: Dr^Waqipedia

My Learning Process

For the last 3 years, I have involved in a lot of programs and projects from medical camp, conference, talk to carnival-type. I have experiences becoming the participants, the committees and sometimes, I lead the projects. I hope I can list it down one by one but what concerned me is not the number of projects or program that I joined or conducted, it is always about the management and the outcome of them. The outcome of those projects is greatly related to how we manage it.

From mistakes I’ve done and from experiences I’d gained I gradually learned from time to time the existence of project management. I bought books and tried hard to learn it by myself. Although I couldn’t apply almost everything in those books I read but I learned a lot from it. Honestly, I have never regretted joining or conducting any program because for each of them, it expands my capability and wisdom in dwelling with all the risks and problems in what-so-called ‘project management’.

Learning through reading and self application in life is two things that I did. I believed that the experiences would make the different. No need to worry doing any mistakes. Like an old friend advice me,

“If you feels that you had never made a mistake in life, then it means you had never tried anything new in life…or maybe you are traveling in a wrong path..”

Let the advance worrying become advance for thinking, planning and implementing.

Reasons of My Obsession

I have big reasons to be good in this. I will, one day, set up or running any companies and the knowledge of ‘project management’ can help me in handling them. In the competitive markets today, timely and successful project completion is critical for the growth and survival of the companies. I know that in any big companies nowadays, they have introduced Project Management Office (PMO), task force, work teams and various forms of projectized organizations. They will make sure that their underlings learn the basic and effective techniques in Project Management, for the sake of ensuring the successfulness in any projects. However, it is no doubt that anyone who has experiences doing this kind of work and has had basic of it can evolved and do better than their friends.

In medical profession, being a good project manager will help you to become a good Medical & Health Officer (MHO) or a good leader for medical research. So, for that purpose, I put my efforts to master this.

Fundamental of Project Management

First, let us understand the meaning of ‘project’. It is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique service, product or result. ‘Temporary’ here indicates that every project has beginning and end dates. By the time it has been completed, the project team disbands or moves on to other new projects. It differs with on-going operation. Let see the examples;

• Le Tour de Kelantan 2007 – it was a 3 days program, the committees was set up one month before the project and right after the project, the committees was disband to give a new start to the next project – Neo Cyber Medical Check Up Program
• BLS Training School Tour – it is a continuous program, not limited to years, there are one project manager and a team who plan, set it and ask for sponsorships, then under them there are several people who are assigned to lead several projects going to school teaching BLS and giving motivational talk.

The first one is a project but the second one is on-going operation. However, inside the on-going operation, there can be projects.

Key Point for a Successful Project

Key 1: Follow 5 management processes deliberately

There are 5 project management processes that should be followed to ensure the project meets project requirements, namely;

• Initiating process
• Planning process
• Executing process
• Monitoring & controlling process
• Closing process

For every process, they are a lot to be discussed but I prefer to explain them in separate post.

For additional info, it doesn’t mean that every project needs to follow these processes but it’s necessary to check them up so nothing will be left behind. It’s good to have checklist, it will become a great reminder.

Key 2: Understand the 3 competing constraints – project scope, time and cost

Then, let see the project requirements or goals. Actually, it can be grouped into 3 key competing constraints – project scope, time and cost.

• As usual, when we set our committees, we will divide our work scope and task. It is important to make all the committees understand their job and avoid any clash against their work scope.
• Dateline for every step or processes need to be set to avoid last minute working.
• Cost or money can have big effects on any projects. All the committees need to discuss and make up for an ‘imaginary budget’ before proceed with project. It is essential in order to give them a finance guideline to move forward. Treasurer also needs to beware about the money consumption and always update the budget & cost.

Key 3: For a project manager, they need to have the 3 attributes of a successful project manager

• Knowledge on project management & the project itself
• Good leadership skills
• Good communication skills

Key 4: The application of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) & Project Plan

WBS is the foundation to a good project management plan; used to subdivide the major part of project or project work into smaller, more manageable tasks. Normally, before start to work, the project manager will call upon the important people in each committee and brainstorm the major tasks. Although it consumes a lot of time but it is worth it.

Once WBS is established and has been detailed, a timeline or project schedule can be mapped out; cost can be estimated and risks which can occur can be expected. WBS helps a lot in identifying the risks and let us prepared for it.

In advanced level, the entire detailed plan can be converted to a Gantt chart. I tried to apply it in previous projects and I find it beneficial. However, it is time-consuming and not really applicable for small-scale project. There must be one person who fully taking care of it and the secretary is preferable besides project leader.

Key 5: Risk Management

It starts during the project planning stage and the risks commonly identified while doing the brainstorm session or WBS. Honestly, I have never applied it thoroughly although I take some essences of it. The risk management includes 6 processes i.e.

• Planning
• Identification
• Qualitative & quantitative analysis
• Risk response planning
• Monitoring & control

The objectives of risk management are to increase the probability and impact of positive events; and to decrease the negative one. In responses to the negative risks, we can avoid, transfer, mitigate or accept it; depends on its situation.

In my experiences, for every decision we want to make regarding the risks, we need to discuss it with our teammates. Sometimes, strong will is needed to make a concluded decision and get rid of certain views.

Key 6: Execution & Controlling of the Project

If you are the project manager, it is absolutely your responsibility to control and tract the performance of the project closely. The 3 key competing constraints can be used as tracking tools;

• Time controlling: concentrate on the timeline which has been set before (or Gantt chart, if you have) to monitor the actual completion dates of tasks versus plan
• Cost controlling: like I has mentioned before, the treasurer or finance team should keep track on everything that has been spent or being spend
• Scope controlling: let say for example, for medical checkup program, at first, we agreed to do only basic medical checkup such as BMI, blood pressure or blood sugar measurement but then, suddenly, the villagers asked to do ’sunathon’ too. The sudden change on scope impacted the cost and schedule of the project. Therefore, something like this must not be ignored and need early notification.

Key 7: Documentation and formal review

I think this is one of the most crucial things in any projects. Apart from filing the project documents accordingly for future reference, it is important to document and share the “lessons learned” of the project. This ensures continuous improvement for the team and next projects. That’s why, after any project, a project manager will arrange a grand dinner to gather all the crews and reflect back everything.

Honestly, the tips I gave above is based on my experiences and what I have learned from my reading. I try to make it simple and understandable; as anyone can apply it. Although I know I didn’t thoroughly explain the whole thing but I hope anyone who read it can get the general idea of handling a project. The rest, you can learn more through trial and error or maybe the best is you asked for someone superior to guide you – mentoring.

Reference:

1. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management by Eric Verzuh
   
2. The Portable MBA in Project Management by Eric Verzuh
   
3. Managing Projects in Organization by J Davidson Frame
   

 

‘Heart’ Debridement?

Oleh: Dr^Waqipedia

Minggu ini merupakan minggu kedua elektif saya di Hospital Serdang di bawah jagaan Dr Basir Towil. Melihat pesakit-pesakit di ‘Ward Orthopedic’ yang rata-ratanya adalah pesakit MVA (Motor-Vehicle Accident) dan ‘diabetic foot’. Tetapi saya banyak menghabiskan masa di OT (Operation Theatre), melihat pembedahan-pembedahan di bilik OT 8 yang sememangnya dikhaskan untuk ‘orthopedic surgery’. Setakat ini saya pernah melihat ‘arthroscopy procedure’, ‘total joint arthroplasty’ untuk bahu dan lutut dan beberapa kes melibatkan ‘Ilizarov procedure’.

Ilizarov Procedure – Bone Transport

Berkenaan ‘Ilizarov procedure’, apakah itu? Ini soalan pertama saya kepada Dr Basir, dan jawapan beliau, “It’s a procedure to lengthen or reconstruct limb bones for correcting any deformities or post-traumatic fractures such as infected bones due to osteomyelitis or open bone fractures.” Prosedur ini dicipta oleh seorang pakar bedah ortopedik dari Rusia dan kemudiannya di’upgrade’kan dari masa ke semasa.

Dengan prosedur ini, ia mampu menyelesaikan masalah yang berkaitan dengan ‘bone lengthening, bone transport, correction of angulation or deformity’ dan ‘bone fixation’. Konsep rawatan adalah sama iaitu untuk memanjangkan atau ‘reconstruct’ tulang-tulang pada bahagian badan tertentu tetapi yang berbeza adalah teknik pembedahan. Dari segi peralatan, macam-macam ada. ‘Carbonite rings, wires, half pin, threaded socket and rods’ dan ‘bolts & nuts’, itu adalah peralatan-peralatan yang akan dipasang pada pesakit tersebut. Memang jika dilihat peralatan-peralatan tersebut dan lain-lain, terasa seperti berada di bengkel kereta.

Tetapi saya tertarik dengan seorang pesakit yang menghadapi ‘open tibial fracture’. Dia terlibat di dalam kemalangan jalan raya tahun lepas lalu mengakibatkan tulang kiri bawah lututnya patah dan retak. Lukanya agak parah sehingga kelihatan koyak bahagian dagingnya. Apabila diperiksa, didapati tulang yang telah retak itu terpaksa dibuang kerana hancur teruk dan ada jangkitan kuman yang teruk di bahagian tersebut. Ini menyebabkan kaki kirinya pendek 8 cm. Jadi, hasil konsultansi doktor-doktor pakar, mereka memutuskan untuk membuat ‘bone transport’.

Tulang di bahagian atas di potong dan dicantum dengan yang atas dan bahagian yang dipotong tadi dibiarkan memanjang sendiri secara perlahan-lahan dengan dibantu oleh peralatan ‘Ilizarov’. Setiap sebulan atau 30 hari, skru-skru tersebut akan dilonggarkan dan dijarakkan beberapa cm. Ini membantu proses pemanjangan dan penyembuhan tulang tersebut. Biarpun, ia mengambil masa yang lama, tetapi efeknya sangatlah berbeza. Pesakit yang seawalnya seperti bakal mempunyai kaki yang pendek sebelah seumur hidup, akhirnya kembali mempunyai bentuk kaki yang normal dan Insya Allah mampu berjalan seperti biasa kembali.

Tetapi apa yang lebih menarik minat saya adalah lukanya yang dalam sehingga ke bahagian daging. Kenapa?

Debridement

Luka pesakit ini cukup dalam, bernanah dan daging-dagingnya, ada yang telah menjadi busuk dan hitam. Sel-sel daging ini telah mati dan membiarkannya sahaja bakal membawa jangkitan yang lebih parah kepada bahagian-bahagian tisu badan yang sihat dan bersih. Ia juga melambatkan proses penyembuhan luka pada kaki pesakit. Oleh itu, ‘debridement procedure’ dilakukan bagi membuang tisu-tisu mati ini dan nanah-nanah tersebut.

Sesuatu luka yang mengandungi tisu-tisu mati akan mengambil masa yang lama untuk pulih kerana tisu-tisu ini sebenarnya adalah tempat yang cukup ideal untuk kuman-kuman atau bakteria merbahaya membiak contohnya Clostridium perfringens. Walaupun luka tersebut tidak mudah untuk dijangkiti tetapi ia boleh melemahkan sistem imunisasi badan.

‘Heart’ Debridement?

Memahami konsep ‘debridement’ ini, saya terfikirkan seketul daging yang disebut oleh Rasullullah SAW dalam sebuah hadis;

“Di dalam hati manusia, ada seketul daging. Jika baik daging ini, maka baiklah seluruhnya tetapi jika ia rosak, maka rosaklah seluruhnya. Dan daging ini adalah hati.”

Bayangkan hati kita, yang semenjak lahir sehinggalah sekarang, telah dinodai oleh pelbagai ‘kuman-kuman’ dosa dan maksiat. Dosa-dosa kecil atau besar dan maksiat yang dilakukan sedikit demi sedikit berkumpul di hati dan menyebabkan membesarnya titik-titik hitam atau ’tisu-tisu yang mati’. Bayangkanlah jika tisu-tisu mati ini dibiarkan begitu sahaja, tanpa ada langkah pencegahan untuk merawatinya, maka lama-kelamaan kita akan dapati tisu-tisu yang mati yakni titik-titik noda hitam dan jangkitan kuman-kuman ‘maksiat dan dosa’ semakin bertambah dan membusuk.

Jika ini terjadi, apakah yang akan terjadi pada hati dan diri seseorang itu? Semakin lama semakin teruk. Semakin lama semakin banyak maksiat dan dosa yang dilakukannya. Semakin banyak kerosakan yang dilakukannya di muka bumi ini. Dan semakin banyak jua dia mengingkari Tuhan yang telah menciptanya. Adakah mereka tidak menyedari akan perkara ini?

Logiknya juga, apabila hati telah rosak, maka parameter iman atau boleh diibaratkan sebagai ’sistem imunisasi badan’ kita akan menurun. Semakin mudah untuk menerima maksiat, menganggap enteng akan dosa. ‘Selemah-lemah iman adalah membenci kemungkaran dengan hati.’ Hadis ini memberi peringatan supaya kita meletakkan ‘limitation’ dan garis panduan untuk mengukur iman dan kebersihan hati. Bagaimana caranya?

Cuba bayangkan jika hati atau daging ini dizahirkan di pandangan mata. Setiap hari kita melihatnya, menggendongnya ke mana saja kita pergi dan orang-orang sekeliling mampu melihatnya. Jika hati yang dizahirkan ini bersih dan cantik, maka senang hatilah kita. Tetapi jika ia rosak, busuk, bernanah dan hitam, kita sendiri akan merasa jijik untuk melihat atau memegangnya dan orang-orang di sekeliling pastinya tidak terkecuali.

Jadi, marilah kita bersama-sama menjaga ’seketul daging’ ini iaitu hati. Seorang yang sedar akan perihal pentingnya menjaga hati, dia akan menganggap dosa-dosa yang dilakukannya umpama jangkitan bakteria-bakteria atau virus-virus yang merbahaya dan ditakuti seperti AIDS, TB dan ’swineflu’. Tetapi bagi orang yang tidak, dia hanya menganggap dosa ibarat lalat yang hinggap pada hidung, dikuis dan lalat itu lari.

Marilah kita duduk sebentar, berfikir sejenak dan bermuhasabah. Fikirkan kembali dosa-dosa yang telah dilakukan. Adakah ia terlalu kecil sehingga kita melengah-lengahkan taubat kepada Allah SWT? Adakah kita menganggap dosa-dosa itu satu perkara yang bersih dan ’sterile’ sehingga tidak tergerak diri untuk mencucinya? Ruginya kita jika kita diberi kefahaman Islam, akal untuk berfikir dan kemahiran dalam perubatan tetapi tidak mengaplikasikannya di dalam kehidupan.

Bagi saya, inilah perbandingan terhadap orang yang sensitif akan hubungannya dengan Allah, dan orang yang tidak sensitif akan hubungannya dengan Allah.

[Coretan 4.00 pagi, 21 Ogos 2009]

Rujukan:

1. http://www.limblengthening.com/
2. http://www.answers.com/topic/debridement
3. http://www.operationalmedicine.org/Videos/WoundDebridement.htm
4. http://www.podiatrytoday.com/current-concepts-in-wound-debridement
5. http://www.fpnotebook.com/Surgery/DER/WndDbrdmnt.htm

Erti Kemerdekaan

Oleh: Dr^Waqipedia

“Hati yang mencari kebahagiaan, adalah hati yang mencari kemerdekaan…dan kemerdekaan yang hakiki adalah tunduk kepada Ilahi…”

Hari ini 31 Ogos 2009, hari kemerdekaan Malaysia yang ke-52. Merdeka. Ini bermakna umur negara tercinta Malaysia sudah menjangkau separuh abad. Suatu jangka masa yang matang untuk melakukan perubahan dan pembangunan, seiring dengan globalisasi yang berlaku di seluruh dunia. Walau bagaimanapun, semakin jauh usia meninggalkan kita, semakin ramai yang lupa akan erti kemerdekaan ini. Tahu, memahami dan menghayati erti kemerdekaan.

Meniti Waktu Lalu

Ketika usia kanak-kanak, setiap kali tiba hari kemerdekaan, saya akan menyertai peraduan melukis dan mewarna. Bakat yang ada dan sedikit usaha kadang-kadang membawa hasil yang berganda. Selalu juga memenangi peraduan-peraduan tersebut. Tetapi jika ditanya apa itu merdeka dan apa perasaan menyambut merdeka, jawapannya, ‘Entah…’

Generasi muda seperti saya adalah golongan yang tidak pernah merasai keperitan hidup di zaman penjajahan mahupun menghadapi keperitan hidup untuk bangkit daripada kemiskinan atau kemunduran. Generasi muda sekarang semuanya cukup, daripada McDonald, KFC, komputer, kereta, internet dan lain-lain. Pada saya, keselesaan dan kemewahan ini tidak mampu untuk mendidik hati-hati generasi muda ke arah menghayati erti sebenar kemerdekaan.

Lihatlah bagaimana pejuang-pejuang kemerdekaan tanah air seperti Tok Janggut, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong dan lain-lain yang berkorban harta dan nyawa untuk mendapatkan pembebasan dari cengkaman luar seperti Portugis, Belanda, British dan Jepun. Sejarah perjuangan yang cukup panjang, sejak 1511 hingga ke Perang Dunia Kedua 1941-1945. Mereka memilih untuk bebas, tidak dijajah tanah air mahupun tunduk dan patuh kepada orang luar yang hanya mahupun keuntungan. Mereka mahu tanah air dan bangsa yang dibina dengan sistem sendiri, tidak terkongkong dengan sistem hidup Barat yang merosakkan. Itulah nilai kemerdekaan bagi mereka dan demi mencapainya, pengorbanan, jerit perih dan kesusahan hidup bukanlah satu perkara yang besar kerana mereka sedar akan tanggungjawab dan matlamat yang perlu dicapai.

Ayah saya, merupakan seorang anak petani yang miskin. Bangun seawal pukul 4 pagi untuk membantu datuk saya di bendang dan pada pagi hari, beliau akan berjalan sejauh hampir 5 batu untuk pergi ke sekolah. Balik sekolah hampir dini hari, masih lagi membantu datuk saya menguruskan hal-hal berkaitan. Malam pula diisi masa dengan mengulangkaji pelajaran dan belajar ilmu agama. Inilah rutin hidupnya setiap hari di zaman sekolah rendah. Cukup berbeza dengan kita sekarang yang dihantar dengan kereta atau bas. Itupun masih lagi lambat. Jika pulang ke kampung di Ketereh, masih ada lagi nostalgia-nostalgia lama iaitu rumah aka pondok kecil, tempat tinggal ayah saya sekeluarga dulu. Sekecil pondok menunggu bas.

Oleh kerana itu, ayah saya lebih memahami erti keperitan hidup, cuba bangkit mengubah kehidupan keluarga, bercita-cita untuk memberi keselesaan yang lebih kepada ibu bapanya yang tercinta. Kefahaman dan penghayatan terhadap pengalaman hidup membawa kepada usaha dan tawakal yang berganda. Dan apabila kejayaan dicapai, nilainya begitu besar untuk dikenangi dan dihayati. Mungkin itu adalah jua suatu bentuk kemerdekaan.

Dua contoh yang saya berikan adalah dua contoh yang pernah dihadapi oleh masyarakat kita pada beberapa dekad yang lalu. Oleh kerana itu, masyarakat dahulu berusaha untuk keluar dari kepompong penjajahan orang luar dan sekaligus membebaskan diri daripada cengkaman kemunduran dan kemiskinan. Tapi bak kata ayah saya, ini hanyalah kemerdekaan fizikal.

Namun, bagaimana pula dengan sekarang? Apa pula bentuk penjajahannya?

Realiti Penjajahan Moden

Era globalisasi yang melanda dunia semenjak beberapa dekad lalu telah membawa kepada suatu bentuk neoklonialisme Barat. Suntikan neoklonialisme ini menyerap bersamanya indoktrinasi kebebasan, liberalisme-kapitalisme, hedonism dan gaya hidup individualistik dan ia menyusup ke dalam setiap segi daripada hiburan, ekonomi mahupun kebudayaan.

Serangan-serangan ini menyerang minda masyarakat sekarang sedikit demi sedikit dan akhirnya menjadi barah yang membawa kepada permasalahan sosial di kalangan muda-mudi serta orang dewasa. Jika dikaji dengan lebih mendalam, nampak akan kecenderungan masyarakat terhadap keseronokan dan hiburan semata-mata. Pengorbanan generasi lalu yang sepatutnya menjadi inspirasi untuk maju lebih ke depan diabaikan. Inilah penjajahan bentuk baru yang membawa kepada permasalahan hati dan lain-lain.

Jadi, inilah perjuangan baru kita untuk kebebasan dan kemerdekaan. Menghadapi dan menyelesaikan masalah hati dan minda yang terperangkap, mengisi kemerdekaan erti kata yang sebenar.

Perspektif Merdeka

Menjalani usia-usia remaja, menghadapi cabaran dan perit hidup, saya mula belajar erti kebebasan dan kemerdekaan. Saya memahami ia sebagai sebuah fitrah semulajadi manusia, sentiasa menginginkannya, mengejarnya demi diri sendiri atau cita-cita. Kemerdekaan memberi kebebasan untuk memilih hidup tanpa kongkongan. Kemerdekaan membenarkan kita memiliki diri sendiri, membina impian dan mengatur langkah untuk mencapai impian tersebut. Kemerdekaan juga menjadikan bumi ini luas untuk diterokai dan menjadikan jiwa kita hidup, berkembang tanpa batasan.

Walaubagaimanapun, pengertian setiap manusia terhadapnya adalah berbeza-beza samada dari sudut pengertian, bentuk kemerdekaan itu dan usaha yang perlu dilakukan untuk mencapainya. Jika ingin diikut kefahaman sendiri, merdeka itu bebas. Bebas untuk bertindak apa sahaja, tiada peraturan, hanya mengikut hawa nafsu sendiri tanpa ada susun atur dan undang-undang.

Memperjuangkan kefahaman dan pandangan masing-masing atas landasan hawa nafsu dan logik akal bakal membawa pertembungan antara dua pihak berbeza pegangan dan percanggahan ini boleh membawa kepada krisis sehingga lahirlah pelbagai bentuk jenayah dan kerosakan di muka bumi ini. Huru hara pasti berlaku yang akhirnya menimbulkan kebimbangan dan ketakutan dalam jiwa kita.

Apakah dalam keadaan jiwa yang tertekan ini diistilahkan sebagai jiwa merdeka? Ini hanyalah kemerdekaan palsu. Lihatlah gambaran yang dberikan oleh Allah SWT dalam Surah Ar-Rum ayat 41;

“Lahirlah kerosakan di daratan dan di lautan oleh kerana usaha manusia sendiri sehingga Ailah merasakan kepada mereka sebahagian dari azab perbuatan mereka agar mereka kembali ke jalan yang benar. “

Kemerdekaan seperti ini hanyalah umpama azab dan neraka dunia. Jadi, apakah pula kemerdekaan hakiki?

Kemerdekaan Hakiki

Kemerdekaan hakiki bukanlah kebebasan daripada kemunduran, kemiskinan mahupun penjajahan tanah air kerana ia bersifat sementara dan fizikal. Faktor penentu untuk kemerdekaan hakiki adalah pada hati dan persepsi diri. Dan ini dapat dikecapi melalu perhambaan kepada Allah SWT, bukan kepada entiti-entiti lain. Tidak kepada nafsu, tidak kepada kebendaan atau kehendak masyarakat.

Rasa hamba ini, sujud seorang Muslim kepada Allah SWT seperti yang ditegaskan oleh Syed Qutb, merupakan lambang ketinggian dan kemuliaan serta syiar kemerdekaan hakiki.

Logiknya? Orang yang hatinya penuh dengan rasa kehambaan kepada Allah SWT tidak takut untuk memperjuangkan kebaikan atau sesuatu yang hak. Memperjuangkan hak untuk memiliki tanah air, berjuang untuk keluar daripada kepompong kemiskinan demi kemaslahatan ummah, dan berjuang untuk memilih Islam sebagai sistem hidup. Lihatlah seperti rakan-rakan kita di Palestin, biarpun tanah air terjajah tetapi hati dan minda mereka bebas. Mereka bangga dengan perjuangan mereka, menuntut kebebasan tanah air dan memperjuangkan Islam.

Lihat juga contoh generasi awal Ikhwanul Muslimin yang rela ditangkap, dipenjara dan diseksa kerana berjuang untuk membawa syiar dan sistem hidup yang lebih baik untuk masyarakat Mesir. Mereka berjuang bagi mengubah corak pemikiran sekular masyarakat ke arah pemikiran yang lebih murni. Mereka inginkan perubahan dan kemajuan. Kerana itu, mereka rela berkorban.

Inilah hakikat kemerdekaan yang sebenarnya dan hakikat inilah yang terlalu sukar dicapai melainkan kita balik kepada keimanan dan ketundukan kepada Allah SWT. Pesanan seorang ustaz dalam tazkirahnya;

“Kita akan merdeka sekiranya kita menjadikan Alllah SWT sebagai Ilah dan Rabb kita dan membebaskan diri kita daripada ketuhanan yang lain. Kita merdeka dengan membebaskan diri kita dari perhambaan kepada nafsu diri atau nafsu orang lain. Kita tunduk pada sistem Allah dan mengingkari sistem-sistem lain. Kita merdeka apabila meletakkan perjuangan untuk menegakkan sistem Allah SWT ini sebagai perjuangan kemerdekaan untuk seluruh manusia.”

Inilah inspirasi yang perlu ditanam dalam diri kita, sebagai seorang Muslim yang mahukan perubahan ke arah yang lebih baik. Inilah kemerdekaan yang kita dan ramai lagi dambakan. Pesanan Syed Qutb,

“Dia merdeka. Hanya menerima segala tasawwur, sistem, cara hidup, syariat, undang-undang, nilai dan neraca pertimbangan dari Allah sahaja. Jadilah dia sama dengan manusia lain, berdiri pada taraf yang sama. Mengadap tuan yang satu dan tidak menjadikan sebahagian daripada mereka sebagai Tuhan, selain dari Allah.”

Inilah kemerdekaan yang saya harapkan dan mahu dikongsi bersama-sama rakan-rakan di luar sana.

Yang pasti, masa akan terus berlalu meninggalkan kita namun perjuangan kemerdekaan perlu diteruskan. Yang berlalu akan tetap bersemadi kukuh di hati dan sanubari. Namun, ambillah yang semalam sebagai pengajaran, esok sebagai harapan dan hari ini sebagai medan berjuang.

[Coretan 4.30 pagi, 31 Ogos 2009]

Rujukan:

1. http://www.pemudaumno.org.my/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4509
2. http://www.ctl.utm.my/merdeka/calon/merdeka2/web-content/sejarah%20erti%20kemerdekaan.html
3. http://halaqah.net/v10/index.php?page=33