Ramadhan, Bazar Ramadhan and ...

Salam,
well, most of us already know the 'hikmah' behind ramadhan. Physically it help us to improve our health, spiritually ramadhan teach us to become more closer to GOD. Am sure you are much better than me to explain all the surah/hadith about ramadhan hence am not going to discuss about that.

Ramadhan-Bazar Ramadhan.
Am not sure about another place around the world, but in Malaysia Bazar Ramadhan is a must. A ramadhan without Bazar Ramadhan is like eating ketupat pulut without rendang tok. From one perspective Bazar Ramadhan bring lots of benefits. Bazar Ramadhan provide a place for the part-time entreperneur to earn extra income (much much better rather than begging on the street), bazar ramadhan is very handful for the 'overworked private/public worker', it provide an alternatives to get something to eat during iftar without having to cook at home after working the whole day.

However, there are also some negative elements about Bazar ramadhan. First, I remember my ustaz told me that fasting teach us to feel the hardship faced by the poor. But, here in Bazar Ramadhan we tend to spent lots of money buying lots of food due to our weaknesses in controlling our 'nafsu makan'. Even myself also would not be able to resist the temptation of ayam percik, air bandung soya ais, bihun goreng etc etc, in average I used to spent RM10 on each visit to Bazar Ramadhan which eventually most of the food were thrown in the bins afterward. What a waste. So there you are..., we torture ourself of not eating and drinking the whole day, we really behave during ramadhan, we control our anger, we did not swear during ramadhan..in brief we did all the noble act during ramadhan, but all these 'heaven reward' acts easily dissappear when we visit Bazar Ramadhan. Am not saying that you shouldn't visit and buy food from Bazar Ramadhan, but then this are the most likely consequences you will get from visiting Bazar Ramadhan. Moreover when we talk about the very unreasonable price of food let alone the terrible taste of the food which we will certainly swear the seller of his/her terrible food. Gone are the pahala puasa!

Here in Scotland there are no Bazar Ramadhan, well I do miss the Bazar Ramadhan back home. However, I think without Bazar Ramadhan we will be able to avoid all the above negative elements of bazar ramadhan. Am not saying that my fasting here is much better than fasting in Malaysia but at least I do have the chances of reflecting what a waste fasting the whole day getting all the pahala which later on we turn it into bala after a short visit to bazar ramadhan. Salam.

Naik Gaji during recession.

Malaysia boleh. Sabah boleh. It was historically a catch phrase coined to motivate our national badminton player during the very memorable thomas cup final in 1992, I was in form five that time. There was also a song created with the theme 'Malaysia Boleh'. Each and every Malaysian can sing that song. "Jika kau fikirkan kau boleh, kau hampir boleh melakukan, jika kau fikirkan kemenangan kau hampiri kejayaan". Then, the word become 'a national catch phrase' to motivate malaysian that they can do if they have the will to do. And it was certainly proven, because we have a very strong will and determination, we believe that we can do, then we come out with 'the world tallest building' later on categorise as 'the world tallest twin towers', we have the best airport in the world..and list goes on and on.

While the world struggling to cope with the latest recession there was one part of the world which seems very prosperous and seems did not affected by the worldwide recession. some economist might wondering as to why this particular part of the world has a very good economy and probably the economy adviser of this particular part of the world could be awarded a noble prize. However, it is not a surprise one though. It is all because of the 'Malaysia Boleh spirit'. We can do whatever we want because we can and we have the very strong will to do it.

so, based on the above spirit of Malaysia Boleh, the Sabah government has just passed the bill to increase the salary of its cabinet members, speaker and the assemblyman. (look at the Daily express, 07/08/09 report). The reason given is that it was about time and it was long overdue because to serve the people better, these assemblyman/woman need to be given better salary. Well, if they deserve to get it..then be it. However you might want to consider the followings;

1. Sabah is still the poorest state in Malaysia. Most Sabahan have to leave sabah to find job in peninsular Malaysia/Singapore. Then you might argue that it was the local who did not want to work in our huge palm oil plantation hence we need to bring Indonesian/Filipinos to work in our plantation. My response; it was because the plantation company wanted to maximise their profit hence resort to cheper labour. But, why cant these 'overworked cabinet members/assemblyman' make a rule that plantation company in Sabah must hired at least 80% local to work in their plantation and make a mandatory to these companies to provide not only better salary but also better condition. If these so called cabinet members can do this then am more than happy to hear that they get naik gaji!

2. The infrastructure in Sabah still the worst compared to another state in Malaysia. Inadequate electricity supply is becoming worst. You might argue that it was a sign of good and improving economy, more and more factories being open hence inadequate electricity supply. My response, it was indeed a false economy, if there was demand then for sure there will be enough fund to provide better infrastructure or there was enough funds indeed but it only cater for certain group of people only. Why cant our 'overworked cabinet members' push for more fund from the federal to provide its own rakyat with better infrastructure. If they can do this then I'll dance on the street happy for them because they get naik gaji!

With due respect to our assemblyman/woman they should have in the first place put on hold for the plan to increase their own salary until the recession is over. If they can do this then they truly uphold the true spirit of Malaysia Boleh. They will be remembered as genuine assemblyman/woman who fought for their constituents. But, hey this is 21st century, a century for the opportunist which is actually the idea that we borrowed from darwin-the survival of the fittest. If you are not fit enough you will not be able to survive in this century.

Congratulations to the people of Sabah, because it was us who voted these assemblyman/woman to the State assembly to represent us. It was us actually who put them in this or that position that they can used to enrich them first. We, who voted them is their 2nd or maybe the lowest in their priority. Some of you might feel offended reading this entry..but then this is Malaysia Boleh, Sabah Boleh. You can do whatever you want to do as long as you have the will to do, and I am certainly uphold the true spirit of Malaysia Boleh and Sabah Boleh in writing this entry.