Melihat pada kata-kata atau yang berkata-kata?

"Dia tu siapa orang nak panggil Ustaz? Dahla asalnya pun dari kumpulan sesat..."

Entah kenapa hati saya merasa sedikit panas mendengar nama seseorang yang telah kembali ke rahmatullah diburukkan sebegitu.
Serasa mahu saja saya melawan untuk mematikan kata yang berkata, tetapi saya juga perlu hormat pada 'senior' yang baru kali pertama bersua dan berkenalan.
Saya diam.
Tapi hati saya meronta-ronta mahu berkata...

Mungkin dia pernah datang dari kumpulan sesat,
tapi kita tahukah kalau dia bertaubat dan Allah menerima taubatnya?
Mungkin dia bukan dari latar belakang akademik jurusan agama,
tapi kita tahukah segala selok belok tarbiyah yang dia terima?
Kenapa hanya mahu nampak yang salah-salah saja,
tak bolehkah melihat pada yang baik-baik?
Ada yang kata nasyid sepatutnya begini, begini, dan nasyid dia begitu, begitu
dan itu bukan memenuhi hasrat dakwah Islamiah...
Tapi sejujurnya, pada saya, dan saya rasa pada ramai yang lain
dia dan rakan seangkatannya memberi satu alternatif yang didahagakan ramai
Dia dan rakan seperjuangannya komited dalam usaha dakwah
Nasyid-nasyid, zikir-zikir, selawat-selawat yang didendangkannya banyak yang menusuk-nusuk hati dan menggetarkan jiwa para pendengar
Bukankah itu satu usaha dakwah?
Sejujurnya saya tidak nampak sebab kenapa kita harus menafikan dia hak untuk digelar ustaz walaupun mungkin dia tidak mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan agama secara formal sehingga menerima 'tauliah' sebagai ustaz.
Gelaran ustaz itu kadang-kadang diguna sebagai tanda hormat
Apalah salahnya teman-teman dan orang lain yang menghormatinya memanggilnya ustaz?

Pada saya, ada masa-masanya kita perlu lebih muhasabah diri sendiri
daripada terus-terusan memperkecilkan (usaha) orang lain
Inisiatif dia berjuang di bidang nasyid sudah pun nampak hasilnya, walau di dunia cuma...
Inisiatif yang berkata-kata memperkecil dan memperlekehnya apa pula?
Bukankah ada masanya kita perlu lebihkan tumpuan
pada mesej dakwah yang disampaikan
berbanding individu yang berdakwah itu sendiri?
Bukankah ada waktunya kita perlu lebih fokus
pada kata-kata
berbanding yang berkata-kata?

Ramadhan High-Way Code

Taken from IslamicPoster

Simple yet spot on.

Concise and precise.

(But to do or not to do, that is the question of our iman...)

Cerita ceriti puasa

After spending 3 Ramadhan as a student, Ramadhan at work is kind of 'new' again.
I know, I've been through it before.
But those days, I was still single; not married with three kids like I am today.
There was no real sense of urgency for me to get home before break of fast, and I was pretty much used to breaking fast in the car, on the way back home.
Alhamdulillah home is now just 10 - 20 minutes away from office (depending on traffic flow), and I have a trusty helper at home too.

Anyway, the good thing about fasting in the office is that I get to join a tadarus group. When I was in Tokyo, hubby checked on my Quran reading every once in a while. We could not commit ourselves to being consistent in it. Very unlike the small group that we have in the office - not only we checked each other's reading, we also share the translation of the ayat that we read. I can't say whether or not the group will continue having this tadarus group after Ramadhan ends, but I really appreciate it while it lasts...

The other good thing about fasting in a Malaysian government office is that we get to attend lots of "Ihya Ramadhan" programs. Talks/Forums are scheduled on almost all working days through out the month. Yusri, a colleague who has just returned from Paris, is keen on asking me to join him attending those talks/forums. Which is of course, something that we've both missed during our stay abroad. It was not so bad for me because once in a while, some group of Malaysian/Indonesian students would congregate at Asakusa mosque for "Semarak Ramadhan" program, but Yusri rarely had the chance of attending an "Ihya Ramadhan" program while he was in France. So yes, being given the opportunity, the rezq to attend "the meadows of Paradise"* in the office is something that we are really thankful for, alhamdulillah.

The not-so-great thing about spending Ramadhan in the office is that we have to communicate with others. Things might get heated up, things might go wrong and in the middle of it there is bound to be some resentment, dissatisfaction, anger, frustration etc. It is not easy to deal with all these negativity while one is fasting and wants to remain calm so as not to cause "decreased points" in fasting but at times, well, it happened anyway.

Oh, by the by, hubby had been invited to be the Imam for solat Terawih in a make-shift surau at Presint 14C2. Funny to note that after having used to lead the solat in a mosque in Tokyo, now that we're back, hubby is leading solat in a make-shift surau (2 20ft x 20ft tents) in Malaysia.
Siapa sangka, kan?

Note *
In reference of the hadith, which loosely translated as
“When you pass by the meadows of Paradise indulge freely in it!
They said: O Messenger of Allah! What are the meadows of Paradise?
He said: The circles of 'ilm (knowledge)”
Another related hadith would be,
"He who treads the path in search of 'ilm (knowledge), Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise"

Notes on puasa

Some notes taken from an "Ihya Ramadhan" program yesterday

Q: Is this fast valid?
1. One who fasts while undergoing hemodialysis
Valid.
Among what can deem one's fast invalid is when anything enters a person's "rongga" (including but not limiting to one's nose and mouth). Hemodialysis is not considered to be inserting something into one's "rongga"

2. One who fasts and uses inhaler for treatment of asthma
Invalid.
Unlike rinsing out the mouth or putting drops in the eye, using inhaler is considered as inserting something (usually salbutimol) into one's "rongga".

3. One who fasts and get an injection for medical purposes
Valid.
An injection in the muscle is allowed during fasting but not an intravenous nutritional injection. Likewise, getting an IV drip will render one's fast as invalid because it can act as a substitute for food, yet fasting is to abstain from taking food in any form.

Q: When should I stop fasting?
1. "I started fasting in Country A which started fasting earlier than Country B by one day. I then moved to Country B before Eid and the Ramadhan that year lasts for 30 days. Should I stop fasting earlier than others?"
Yes.
One can only fast for up to 30 days and no more. So in this case, the person could not fast on the 31st day although it was the 30th day for others in Country B.

2."I started fasting in Country X which started fasting later than Country Y by one day. I then moved to Country Y before Eid and Ramadhan that year lasts for 29 days in Country Y. When should I stop fasting?"
In this case the person must not fast on the day Eid is celebrated in Country Y as fasting on Eid is prohibited. However, he or she must make up the days lost by 'qadha' the fast on other days. It is recommended that he or she to make up the days lost until the total day of fasting amounts to 30 days.

#####

Hope this is of benefit to those who were wondering...

Hopes for this Ramadhan

I hope that Muslims will make the most out of these especially blessed 29/30 days...
to repent for all kind of wrong doings
to apologize and grant forgiveness to others
to increase all kind of ibadah and good deeds

I hope that Allah will make it easier for those in places experiencing summer to fast throughout the month.
The long day, the heat, the humidity...
I'll pray that Allah will make it easy for them
And that those who have it easy and still refuse to fast to learn a lesson or two from their Muslim counterparts in those countries experiencing hot sultry summer...
(yes Ju, you are in my prayer...)

I hope that Allah will grant those who have just learn to fast the strength and patience needed.
Be them small kids, new reverts or adult born Muslims who have just started to fast after failing to do so before this.
Let their start be a fruitful one that will lead them to be closer to Allah...
And I hope that there will be less born Muslims trying not to fast during this holy month and drift further away from Allah AlMighty...

I hope that those who are venturing into new areas - wearing tudung, trying to quit smoking, nibbling on food all the time - will be granted strength and self-discipline needed to keep continue doing the good things even after Ramadhan is over

I hope that there will be less Muslims who claim that they fast but missed the real significance of fasting in Ramadhan...
Like those who overspend at Pasar Ramadhan (PaRam) and waste a lot of food at the end of the day
Or like Muslims who 'fast' yet break her/his fast with alcohol
Or like that Muslim couple who asked in an Aunt Agony column, what is the 'kifarah' for an unmarried couple who fornicated during the day in Ramadhan
Or like those Muslim girls (tudung-clad or otherwise, but especially the tudung-clad ones) and their partners who continued all sort of 'ringan-ringan' activities despite not eating or drinking during the day
I pray that Allah will guide them to learn and understand the real meaning of fasting and not continuing getting simply thirst and hunger in their endeavour

I hope that all the great not-to-be-missed bargains in Ramadhan -
the night of 1000 months,
the super extra blessings,
the promised rewards in the hereafter
will entice all Muslims to do good and do better.
And that we will keep the momentum going even after Ramadhan leaves...

Ahlan wa sahlan wa marhaban ya Ramadhan

Air tangan

Kami - saya dan Yati, bibik di rumah - bangun awal pagi ini.
Bertungkus lumus siapkan mee bandung
Untuk hidangan sarapan pagi secara pot-luck di pejabat.

Di pejabat, ada pegawai yang bertanya
"Mee ni puan yang buat ke?"

"Kenapa, tak percaya?"

"Manalah tau, puan kan ada bibik..."

Ada masa-masa memang bibik boleh diharapkan membantu tugas memasak.
Tetapi bibik saya belum dilatih memasak mee bandung (atau mee jawa sekalipun walaupun dia asalnya dari Jawa)
Sesekali memang seronok berkongsi makan-makan di pejabat.
Rasa seronok dan puas bila hidangan yang disaji habis licin dinikmati teman-teman sepejabat.

"Ya, memang ada bibik. Tapi ini kan jamuan sempena meraikan Ramadhan yang bakal tiba, jadi mestilah lebih istimewa. Sesekali saya masak sendiri, bagi yang lain rasa sikit air tangan saya ini."

"Sedap puan, boleh buka kedai ni..."

Sebenarnya mee bandung yang saya hasilkan pagi tadi kekurangan bahan (serai dan saya gantikan sup tomato dengan tomato puree. Saya memang tidak guna kacang atau keledek untuk memekatkan kuah mee bandung saya, sebaliknya guna sup tomato dan bancuhan tepung jagung). Namun, alhamdulillah mee bandung saya mendapat sambutan yang amat menggalakkan. Saya mengaku yang saya sudah lama tidak masak mee bandung, jadi alhamdulillah masih menjadi juga sentuhan kali ini...

Malam tadi Pak Ustaz meragui bila saya katakan padanya saya mahu bangun awal pagi untuk masak mee bandung, "Eleh, bangun buat sarapan sehari-hari pun jarang sekali"
(Dush dush)

Tapi pagi ini dengan hati berbunga-bunga, saya lihat dia bawa bekal mee bandung ke tempat kerja dan beria-ia memuji kesedapan kuah mee yang kekurangan bahan itu.
Ah, mungkin ada benarnya kata orang tua-tua, isteri perlu pandai memikat hati suami melalui perutnya...

Sikit je...

"Ada panggilan untuk ceramah tak bulan Ramadhan ni nanti?"

"Tak ada".

"Oh"

"Agaknya tak dijemput bagi ceramah sebab orang pun faham letih bila berdiri dua jam berterusan... Letih la..."

"Alah, baru berdiri dua jam bagi ceramah pun letih. Rasulullah dan sahabat-sahabat dulu tu berjihad angkat senjata masa puasa, takdak masalah pun... Kita ni cuma berjihad angkat pen, angkat kertas pun dah mengadu macam-macam"

Oopss...
Jadi, ini peringatan untuk diri sendiri;
jangan bagi alasan letih (yang merugikan diri sendiri) untuk menghidupkan Ramadhan kali ini.
Baik melalui ibadah khusus mahupun ibadah am.
Tiada kompromi untuk merungut tak cukup tidur dan menurunkan produktiviti.
Ramadhan bulan istimewa.
Bulan yang patut disambut dengan penuh ceria, bertenaga dan teruja.

Ping Pong - the pics II

Here's a proof that on 1 August 2009 I was in Komples Sukan MSN Perlis, not clad in either red or black attire...
Coincidentally, our department's Batu Seremban team wore red t-shirts, but I doubt they were aware of the siginificance of wearing either red/black on that particular day (in Malaysian history).
Two other department's Ping-pong team wore red and black jersey.
But that day we were busy with our own small, insignificant agenda in Perlis, far and away from all the lock jam/tear gas/water cannons in Kuala Lumpur.
(I also doubt that the players realised the significance of wearing red/black on that very day...)

Note to Mida - yes, I still practised the "slimming effect stance" in the photo, hehehe...

The players, with our Mr Manager in the middle. Thanks to him, we get to keep the nice blue Butterfly (among big names in Ping-pong, the way Nike and Adidas are related to Basketball or track-related sports) jersey. My partner, Encik Lan, is the far right standing guy, in kakhis.

With the three loyal supporters (and Kak Pah being my constant companion/chaperon throughout the 3-days outing) who stayed until the end of the tournament when the Batu Seremban girls had already gone back to the hostel

Selamat...

Took a leave yesterday because Baby Haniyya is down with cold/flu/cough.
Poor baby was taken to see a doctor on last Saturday when he was given a nebulizer treatment there in the clinic and we returned home with three different kind of medicine - for high temperature, for pleghm and antibiotic.
His temperature is not stable - sometimes it's high, sometimes not quite.
But there were a lot of tossing at night (and loss of sleep) as he keeps merengek at night.
Poor Haniyya.

So, he sets the record so far among my sons, to be the earliest to receive nebulizer treatement.
Both hubby and I are asthmatic and now it seems that all our children have some respiratory problem too.
Huzaifah had his first nebulizer treatment when he was about 9 months if I'm not mistaken, in Tokyo. Since then there had been subsequent treatments including two ambulance rides due to asthma related incidents.
Humaidi had his first nebulizer treatment when he was 1 1/2 year old, not long after we returned to Malaysia last year.
Baby Haniyya had his first nebulizer treatment at 6 month.
Poor baby.

He's supposed to get his 6-month jab yesterday.
But there was no point taking him to the clinic because he won't get any jab in his current condition.
Not while he's still down with cold/flu/cough.
Not while he's still on medication.
He's not as boisterous as his two big brothers were at his age.
But now he seems even less lively.
So tak bermaya.
Poor baby.

Please make doa that my baby will recover soon.
It's worrying - especially now in the wake of the H1N1 pandemic/epidemic.
May Allah protect us from any harm, and may we be among those blessed and protected by Him always...

*****

Now that Ramadhan is only a few days away, I hereby seek forgiveness from my readers - family, friends, strangers and all.
Selamat berpesta ibadah di Ramadhan mubarak
dan semoga kekal istiqamah berpesta ibadah di bulan lain...
(I've failed the second part again... and again... and again... I know, I'm so weak that way)
I pray that Allah will grace us to meet, greet Lailatul Qadr wisely and make the best of the extra special night.
Have a blessed, blissful and meaningful Ramadhan.
Ramadhan kareem!

Al fatihah for Ustaz Asri Rabbani

Al-Fatihah for Ustaz Asri Ibrahim a.k.a. Asri Rabbani, who passed away earlier today.

Being from religious school background, I grew up listening to Nada Murni and 'old school' nasyid groups which usually recorded their album at OVA with Allahyarham Ustaz Asri's name mentioned among those acknowleged on the album cover.

In late 1990's, when The Zikr turned a new leaf as Raihan, Nada Murni rebranded themselves as Rabbani and Hijjaz.
I have always preferred Raihan and Hijjaz over Rabbani, but that is not to say that I am not fond of Ustaz Asri.
After all, certain nasyids sound way better when they were sung by Allahyarham Ustaz Asri in his Nada Murni days compared to the "newer version" being sung by others.
He'd been consistent in conveying Islamic message through nasyid through out his life, believing strongly in providing halal alternative form of music and entertainment.

My hope is that his legacy of many nasyid, zikr, selawat etc, will be counted by Allah as part of his "investments" that will benefit him in the hereafter. May he and his family be blessed and protected by Allah always...

*****

I would also appreciate if you can join me in making doa for a colleague.
He's been a confirmed H1N1 patient and is now being treated for it in Subang Jaya.
Been trying to call him but to no avail.
Since it's not advisable to visit H1N1 patients, the best we, his friends, can do for him is to continuously make doa for him and his family...

Interview panel... 5 tips

Adik-adik,

Ya, saya tahu anda semua cuma lulusan SPM.
Dan saya tahu ramai di antara anda yang datang dari keluarga susah, yang amat memerlukan pekerjaan.
Tetapi saya juga punya tanggungjawab untuk memilih yang paling sesuai untuk diletakkan di jawatan yang anda pohon.
Anda tahu berapa banyak permohonan yang telah diterima dalam setahun untuk jawatan ini?
173,438
Dan anda tahu berapa kekosongan yang ada?
647, dengan 3400 simpanan
Sebenarnya anda bertuah kerana menjadi sebahagian daripada 30,203 yang dipanggil temuduga (terbahagi kepada banyak lembaga, di mana setiap lembaga dipertanggungjawabkan untuk menemuduga sekitar 100 - 180 calon).
Jadi jika anda memang benar-benar inginkan jawatan ini, tunjukkan kesungguhan dan minat anda serta serlahkan keupayaan anda dalam beberapa minit yang ada sewaktu ditemuduga.

Melihatkan dia gagal menjawab walau satu soalan pun dengan baik, malah Rukun Negara pun tidak dapat diingatinya, saya pernah bertanya seorang calon,
"Apa persediaan awak sebelum datang temuduga ini?"
"Saya tak sempat buat apa-apa persediaan sebab sibuk dengan tugasan harian. Malam tadi baru saya sempat print resume saya."
"Bila awak terima surat pemberitahuan temuduga?"
"Emm, sebulan yang lepas."
"Dan awak beritahu saya yang awak tak sempat buat apa-apa persediaan langsung dalam tempoh sebulan?"
"..."

Dan seorang lagi calon yang juga gagal menjawab hatta satu pun soalan dengan baik, bila ditanya apa persediaan sebelum datang temuduga menjawab,
"Terus terang saya katakan, saya memang tidak membuat sebarang persediaan. Saya main belasah saja datang temuduga, mana tahu kot-kot ada rezeki saya ke..."

Adik-adik,
Kalau adiklah yang berada di kedudukan saya sebagai penemuduga, yang cuma boleh memilih 4 orang daripada lebih 100 calon, sejujurnya, adakah adik akan memilih calon sebegini?

Jadi mari saya kongsikan beberapa tip untuk menghadiri temuduga sebagai pembantu tadbir:

Tip 1
Buatlah sedikit kerja rumah!
Ketahui serba sedikit tentang jawatan yang dipohon, apa senarai tugas seorang pembantu tadbir (perkeranian/operasi). Bersedia untuk ditanya tentang situasi kerja jawatan yang dipohon - mislanya kami ada membuat role-play tentang pelanggan kaunter yang sedang marah dan tidak dapat diselesaikan masalahnya pada waktu tersebut. Tanya pada kawan, saudara-mara, kawan kepada kawan yang berada dalam jawatan kerajaan. Jangan bersandar kepada pengalaman kerja yang anda ada semata-mata, tapi cuba olah pengalaman yang anda ada selari dengan keperluan untuk jawatan yang anda pohon dan sedang ditemuduga. Seorang calon mempunyai pengalaman bertahun-tahun sebagai operator pengeluaran, naik menjadi line leader dan kini seorang supervisor di kilang di mana dia bekerja sekarang, tetapi apabila ditanya tentang tugas seorang pembantu tadbir, dia diam kerana tidak tahu dan tidak pasti apa jawapannya.

Tip 2
Buatlah temuduga olok-olok sebagai latihan
Saya mengaku, seorang daripada calon yang terpilih sangat lancar dan fasih sewaktu temuduga dan telah berjaya membuat kedua-dua kami di panel temuduga kagum dengannya. Bila bertanya apa persediaan yang dilakukannya, calon menjawab,
"Saya banyak berlatih temuduga dengan ahli keluarga dan kawan-kawan. Kami agak-agak apa soalan yang akan ditanya dan saya juga ada baca sedikit sebanyak sebagai persediaan"
Kalau anda jenis gugup, saya rasa mungkin temuduga olok-olok sebagai satu latihan dapat memperkemaskan persembahan anda di temuduga sebenar.
Di temuduga olok-olok, anda masih berpeluang menulis jawapan untuk soalan-soalan jangkaan, dan berlatih memberi jawapan dengan penuh yakin.

Tip 3
Serlahkan minat dan keyakinan
Kami cuma ada beberapa minit dengan anda sewaktu temuduga. Jadi buatlah yang terbaik untuk kami jadi kagum dengan anda dan memilih anda. Masuk bilik temuduga dengan memberi salam, senyum, bercakap dengan suara yang jelas, bercakap sambil memandang penemuduga dan jawab semua soalan dengan tenang, yakin dan tunjukkan kesungguhan.
Seorang calon lelaki yang ditemuduga menyelitkan sijil penyertaan dalam koir lagu patriotik antara sijil-sijil yang dikemukakan, jadi kami memintanya untuk menyanyikan sebuah lagu patriotik. Calon tersebut menyanyi sambil lewa dengan mata melilau-lilau sekeliling bilik temuduga menyebabkan kami merasakan beliau tidak ada kesungguhan untuk membuatkan kami rasa 'WOW" dengan kelebihan/kemahiran istimewa yang ada padanya.
Ya, beliau gagal dalam temuduga itu.
Dan ya, kami memang ada bertanya tentang kelebihan/kemahiran istimewa setiap calon...
Jawapan yang biasa kami dengar termasuklah,
"Saya pandai menggunakan komputer, Word, Powerpoint, Adobe Photo Shop..."
"Saya rajin, menepati masa, bersedia kerja lebih masa..."
"Saya boleh bergaul dengan semua jenis orang..."
Itu jawapan-jawapan klise.
Jawapan yang kami utamakan adalah yang di luar kebiasaan.

Tip 4
Jangan gopoh (dan jangan bengkeng)
Sebelum memperkenalkan dirinya, seorang calon telah mengucapkan terima kasih kepada kedua-dua penemuduga yang disangkakannya bertugas di jabatan tempat temuduga dijalankan dan beliau menyangka bahawa jika diterima, akan bertugas di jabatan berkenaan.
Dan peluang memperkenalkan diri yang diberikan digunakan sebegitu rupa sehingga tidak memberi peluang kepada penemuduga untuk mencelah sehingga saya terpaksa memintanya berhenti.
Lalu saya perbetulkan tanggapan salahnya - bahawa saya dan teman saya bukanlah dari jabatan tempat temuduga dijalankan dan jika berjaya, tidak semestinya beliau akan bertugas di jabatan berkenaan. Cuba baca semula surat tawaran temuduga - ada tertulis "pelbagai jabatan", bukan?
Dia terkesima.

Seorang calon wanita apabila diminta menamakan 2 orang Menteri Kabinet dan jawatannya, memprotes, "Saya pernah hadiri temuduga sebelum ini tapi tak ada pula ditanya tentang nama menteri"
"Jadi apa soalan yang ditanya dalam temuduga sebelum ini?"
"Soalan umum, tentang peranan saya sebagai belia dalam menangani masalah gejala sosial yang berlaku di kalangan belia"
"Ok. Cuba ceritakan dengan saya tentang peranan yang awak dapat mainkan sebagai belia dalam menangani masalah sosial di kalangan belia di negara kita"
Hah - malangnya, jawapan yang diterima tidak juga memberi kesan "WOW" ke atas saya.

Tip 5
Sesuaikan diri.
Lain penemuduga, lain stailnya. Beri perhatian kepada maklumat-maklumat yang ada dan persekitaran untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan persembahan sebagai calon. Anda nampak saya (lazimnya calon temuduga hadir ke tempat temuduga lebih awal daripada panel temuduga) bertudung dan tidak bermekap, ya, saya memang lebih senang dengan penampilan yang tidak berlebih-lebih. Kebetulan, wakil jabatan yang menemani saya sepanjang temuduga itu juga sama tarikh lahirnya dengan saya, jadi citarasa kami hampir serupa. Bila ada dua-tiga calon yang masuk dengan memakai haruman yang menusuk-nusuk hidung, awal-awal lagi telah ditolak markah penampilan dirinya. Begitu juga dengan yang tidak menghormati etika pakaian bagi penjawat awam - datang dengan berblaus dan berseluar panjang bagi calon wanita, misalnya - juga telah ditolak markah penampilan diri.
Ada seorang calon yang meletakkan gambar bertudung di resume, juga bertudung dalam MyKad tetapi tidak bertudung sewaktu menghadiri temuduga. Di akhir sesi temuduga, saya menegurnya, "Saya lihat gambar yang awak berikan bertudung, dan gambar MyKad awak juga bertudung, tetapi awak tidak bertudung sekarang. Saya cuma mahu katakan pada awak, bila awak telah lakukan sesuatu yang betul mengikut suruhan Tuhan, teruskanlah..."
Ya, saya lebih berminat dengan calon yang tidak berpura-pura - jika bertudung di gambar yang dilekatkan pada resume, bertudunglah dia semasa menghadiri temuduga. Dan sebaliknya.
Tetapi ini cumalah kami...
Seperti yang telah saya katakan - sesuaikan dengan penemuduga, kerana lain penemuga lain stailnya.

Saya harap tip-tip yang diberikan ini dapat memberi manfaat, khususnya kepada anda yang ada kebolehan bekerja dengan baik tetapi sering kandas di temuduga...

Interview panel...

Out of 102 people we interviewed, we could pick out 4.
Just 4 will be offered the job.
On top of that, we could nominate another 20 as reserves.
And we were lucky because more than 60 did not turn out for the interview, otherwise it would be even more difficult for us to do the selection.

It was my first time sitting as the chairperson of an interview panel.
I only agreed to do it because I had had no experience whatsoever sitting in an interview panel before.
Oh my - I know I won't agree to do it again in the near future.
It was tough.
Yes, it was only for clerks - but the competition is very stiff.
And we had to find the balance too - between pure academic merits and other criterias, such as family background.
I mean, if they perform equally well during the interview - between (a) a single SPM holder from rural area who has 12 siblings, 8 still in school, a stay-at-home-mom and a retiree dad and (b) a Diploma holder who has 2 siblings with working parents, I would give more credits to (a) than (b). But that's just me...

There were 2 of us as panel.
Apart from asking candidates to introduce themselves, we asked simple questions such as (not all questions to all individuals, but rather mix-and-match of sort):
- Rukun Negara (in one instance because the candidate had trouble mixing Rukun Negara with Rukun Islam, we asked him to tell us the Rukun Islam);
- name 2 Cabinet ministers apart from PM and TPM or name 2 MB/Chief Ministers;
- what was the current H1N1-related death cases reported on the inteview day;
- what happened in KL on August 1st and why;
- PPSMI's pros and cons;
- explain the concept of 1Malaysia, or at least tell us the motto of 1Malaysia;
Basically, we asked questions that even high school students could answer if they read the newspaper/watch news on TV and have some interests in what's happening in the country.

Apart from that we also asked them about what they know about the position offered or what they believe the job is all about. For those who are already in the government sector, we asked them a little bit more about stuff we expect officers at their level should be familiar with - General Orders, Golden Handshake and stuff. Nothing too specific - merely general knowledge.

At the end of the day, I must admit that most of them don't read too much.
One girl, when asked about how many H1N1 death related cases reported in Malaysia so far (8 on that day), answered "25,000"
Another confidently named "Tan Sri Khalid Jamlus" as the MB of Selangor
Yet another named "Datuk S Samy Vellu" and "Dato' Chua Soi Lek" as 2 current Cabinet Ministers.
And I got all sort of 'new' definitions for ISA (Internal Security Act)
Most of them knew that some 'riots' or 'demonstration' happened, but they seemed not to really understand why 20,000 or so people from all over Malaysia gathered in Kuala Lumpur that day. (I got tired of getting responses carbon-copied from mainstream newspapers, I stopped asking)

When asked about why they wanted to join the government service, typical answers include:
"Kerja kerajaan terjamin",
"Cerah masa depan kalau kerja kerajaan",
"Tak kena buang kerja walaupun masa ekonomi merudum",
"Kerja kerajaan banyak perks, benefits... pergi hospital percuma untuk diri, untuk anak-anak, boleh dapat biasiswa sambung study, dapat cuti sambung study"
Et cetera.
So, it was no surprise that both of us in the panel took an instant liking to a candidate who, when asked why he would like to join the government service, answered earnestly,
"Sebab saya rasa peluang untuk saya mendalami Islam lebih cerah sekiranya saya bekerja di sektor kerajaan"
He's a muallaf Iban, who reverted to Islam in 2004.
When asked what's the name of the current month in Islamic Calendar, he answered "Syaaban" quicker than some born Muslims.

On Nisfu Syaaban, I asked some to tell me what was the previous night's name according to Islamic Calendar.
Answers included "Isra' Mikraj", "Nuzul Quran" and even "Lailatul Qadar" before the candidate quickly added herself "Isy, tak kan lah kot, Lailatul Qadar mana ada tarikh, masa Ramadhan je pulak tu..."
But one particular girl really stood out from the rest
"What was last night according to Islamic Calendar?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure"
"What is this month in Islamic Calendar"
"Hmm, Rabi'ul Akhir?"
"When do we start fasting?"
"End of this month?"
"What is the name of fasting month?"
"Ramadhan"
"What is the name of the month before Ramadhan?"
"Hmm..."
"Okay, okay, I'll ask an easy one, what is the date of Ma'al Hijrah?"
"14 Rabi'ul Awal?"
"Okay, an even easier one - from where to where did Rasulullah performed the Hijrah?"
"Err... from Madinah?"

With that kind of response from a born Muslim, it was easy to see why we were impressed with the Iban muallaf. In Japan, it would be a big achievement for a Muslim revert to pray 5 times a day after 5 years being a Muslim. This guy, he's been praying 5 times a day after he reverted and he had started fasting in Ramadhan even before he officially pronounced the shahadah.

Yes, he's one of the 4 who we nominated to be offered the job.

Rezeki di Nisfu Syaaban

Won a hamper from MuzikFM this morning.
Didn't expect it.
And it's not like I am a frequent caller on a national radio.
But this morning, the topic discussed on "Chit-chat pagi" at MuzikFM was "pengalaman mendapat cahayamata pertama".
And I just couldn't resist calling - and got through after my second try.
So I shared how I had to leave my son with my mother 11 days after I gave birth.
That my baby and hubby only joined me in Japan after more than 6 months later.
How surprised (and embarrassed) I was to find out that I blurted a lot - while I was not fully conscious - to the doctor who had to attend to the 'natural tear' which caused hematoma after I gave birth.
How I could no longer postpone my trip to Japan or otherwise I would not get the scholarship.
And finally, how rewarding it was when on my graduation day, I took Huzaifah on stage to stand next to me as I was conferred the Master degree.
(They even asked me to say some thing in Japanese, which I did, but it was not a full sentence... I muttered "Minna-san, Muaz-san to Azura-san to issho..." I should've completed the sentence with "... itte kudasai" or something along that line. Oh well...)

The next thing I know, not long after I called, I got a call from MuzikFM conti.
DJ Azura wanted to get my details - full name, IC number, address, the stuff.
"Can you pick up the hamper from RTM? Maybe by next two week or so?"
I was surprised "Eh, I got a hamper?"
"Yup, you won this morning best chit-chat"
"Owh, thank you. And yes, I think I can go and pick up the hamper at RTM."

When I looked at Huzaifah during lunch, suddenly it all came back to me - the "sakit perit" of being away from my newborn baby merely days after he was born.
At almost 4, my first born could really cause headaches with all his non-stop activities - he runs when others walk, climbs when others sit, always on the move, on the move, on the move.
But this afternoon, when he came to me and kissed me on both cheeks just before he asked "Ibu, nak gule", I looked back really closely and saw the baby I missed oh-so-much during those early lonely days in Tokyo...
I hugged him tightly.
Kissed him back on both cheeks.
Yes, he might drive my nuts sometimes with his antics, but he's a sweetheart too.
(like Ayah sometimes said "ada anak susah, tak ada anak susah, tapi baik ada daripada tak dak")

"Ibu, nak gule boleh tak? Boleh la...", he repeated asking for some sweets.
I nodded. And hugged him again.
Sometimes a mother needs to be reminded how special each child is.
And it's easy to forget when there are more than one kid in the family.
"Ibu sayang Ujai. Sayang sangat"

Ping Pong - Inter-departmental Tournament 2009

Went to Perlis for J*A's Inter-departmental Tournament 2009.
Spent 3 days and 3 nights away from the family and really, really missed baby Haniyya. In fact, it was the first time I spent any night away from baby Haniyya.
I had had numerous (not merely second) thought about joining the trip to Perlis. But when my boss mentioned in our sectoral meeting that The Big Director has highlighted our sector's lack of participation in the departments sports team, I made up my mind there and then to announced that I would be joining the department's ping pong team to Perlis for the J*A's Inter-departmental tournament. Yes, I know, I always find it difficult to resist any challenge hurled my way, and to me, it was kind of a challenge...

So, Thursday night, I boarded one of the three buses provided, together with 100 plus other officers and support staff to Perlis. Friday evening, we attended a motivational speech by TKPPA(O) (who used to be Mak's officer) in Dewan Warisan, and Friday night we were introduced to Woodball game, and then our players competed for the Congkak Inter-departmental tournament. Despite winning the third place last year, this year our department did not made it past the preliminary round. And I'm afraid I might played a teeny meeny tiny part in it by asking one of the main player to accompany me to a bazar near the Dataran Sheikh Ahmad when the preliminary round was not yet over. Kak Pah, the 'pemain harapan' of our team missed the second game and a substitute player played instead, and we lost. So we did not win any placement for congkak this year (according to Kak Pah, we were No 1 in 2007 and No 3 in 2008, so it was quite a shock not to made it even to the semi-final)

Saturday morning was the day for ping pong and batu seremban players. I wore a long sleeved navy blue t-shirt, only to be told by our Captain that there's a light blue Butterfly jersey similar to those worn by the male team members waiting for me. Upon seeing the jersey for the first time, I worried about it being too tight for me. Alhamdulillah, as it turned out, our Mr Manager was wise enough to get a jersey in a plus size for me. I first thought it would be okay to put on the jersey on top of the navy blue t-shirt, but as it turned out, no air-conditioner was turned on at Kompleks Sukan Negeri Perlis that morning, so I had to change. It was good that I usually had a pair of hand-socks ready in my handbag, because the jersey provided was short-sleeved which meant I had to put on my hand-socks.

Although it was the first time I played mixed double next to Encik Mazlan/Lan (a.k.a Loyot who also used to study and live in Tokyo), I found it easy for us to get along with each other and get attuned to each other's tempo. Our department team won the preliminary round in Group A, which mean we had to meet the second placed team from Group B, the Pension department, in the semi-final.

It was tough fight in semi-final. Encik Lan and I won the first set, but lost the subsequent 3 sets, all in deuce fights. At one time Encik Lan and I were leading by 8-0 in the third set, but we ended up losing our game 3-1. Our team lost to Pension department, 3-2. (The Pension department went on to be the No 2 in the tournament, after they lost to INTAN)

We met the Admin department in No 3/4 placement battle. Encik Lan and I won our game 3-1 (eventhough we lost the game by 2-3 to the same couple in the preliminary round). Prior to that, while we were still playing the third set if I'm not mistaken, a team member whispered, "Puan, kita kena menang ni. Ini deciding match, kita tengah hang 2-2". I looked at Encik Lan, he nodded and from then on we played to win. And we won, alhamdulillah.

So we won the third place in Ping pong, alhamdulillah. Which is a 'cure' of sort for our department since we also did not get pass the preliminary round in batu seremban.

I was so exhausted by the end of the tournament, I hit the sack almost immediately after we arrived back at the hostel. We spent two nights in Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Perlis, Kangar. When we first arrived, the dormitories were dirty, the shared toilets were dirty, the beds all bare and unmade - an obvious change from the cosy hotel rooms I'm getting quite used to when attending meetings/seminars. But hey, the accomodation provided was way better and cosier than the rubbles our friends in Palestine and Afghanistan are sleeping in, so there. I quickly said alhamdulillah, counting my blessing, simultaneously making doa for those freedom fighters in their beloved homeland and chiding myself for being 'kufur nikmat' for a while.

Saturday night, we attended a dinner hosted by Perlis State Secretariat. I was in the wrong place and the wrong time, so found myself seated at the main table, together with other VVIPs. So my diet went out the window for that one night as I was served nasi minyak Perlis style, laksa, kuey teow sup Siam style, Air Batu Campur, Teh Tarik and various local fruits (rambutan, dokong, mangosteen and durian). I took the opportunity to convey Mak's salam (which she had sent since I started joining the organisation many months ago) to TKPPA, as well as asking him to support Mak's NGO by buying Nasi Arab Amal coupons for Iftar Ramadhan program in Gaza. TKPPA asked me to call him when we're back in the office and I promised I would.

Sunday was spent jalan-jalan at a grape vineyard in Sungai Batu Pahat, followed by a visit to Taman Ular nearby. I had no camera with me, so had to satisfy myself by using my phone camera. Pictures will be uploaded later, insya Allah. And since we were already in Kangar, we did not miss the opportunity to go shopping in Padang Besar.

We left Padang Besar at about 3.15 p.m. and arrived at Putrajaya (after numerous stops along the highway) at about 12 midnight.

I arrived back home at about 12.20 p.m. and guess what greeted me upon my arrival?
The oh-missed-so-much sound of baby Haniyya's cry.
Almost as if he knew I was back and wanted to let me know that he missed me too.
Oh well...