Aku dan hujung minggu

Testing new gadget, my High-pressure cleaner Winner 150.

Aku turut tersinggung..

P.S Apakah hak penganut ugama lain mempersoalkan undang2 Islam? Dasar perikemanusiaan dan hak-hak kebebasan individu tidak boleh menghalalkan yang haram. Yang haram tetap haram. Mempolitikkan isu2 ugama untuk kepentingan peribadi adalah menjijikkan.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The Malaysian government has threatened action against the country's biggest English-language daily over an article criticizing the caning of three Muslim women, an official said Thursday.

The Home Ministry found the article published in The Star last Friday may threaten "public order," said Abdul Razak Abdul Latif, a senior ministry official.

The government threat against The Star is likely to fuel concerns that the government is succumbing to conservative Islamists who appear to be gaining influence in this Muslim-majority country. Malaysia has long been seen as a model of moderate and progressive Islamic society.

In the opinion piece, The Star managing editor P. Gunasegaram, a non-Muslim, criticized the Feb. 9 caning of three Muslim women for illicit sex, saying it undermined individual rights. The three became the first women to be caned in Malaysia, after an Islamic court found them guilty of having sex out of wedlock.

Abdul Razak, the home ministry official, said the ministry faxed a letter Wednesday to The Star, giving it 14 days to offer an apology and explanation before the ministry decides whether it will take any action, he said.

Action could include revoking the paper's publishing license. All of the country's publications need to annually renew their printing licenses to operate.

Following complaints, The Star removed the article from its Web site and printed an apology Wednesday, saying it was mindful that it needed to be sensitive to people's beliefs.

"We would like to categorically state that there was no intention to insult or offend Muslims with the article," it said.

Star editors could not immediately be reached. Abdul Razak said the printed apology was not enough to settle the matter, and that Star would have to reply to the ministry's letter.

The caning of the three women has caused debate in Malaysia. Rights group say it is a degrading punishment, and that civil law forbids the caning of women.

But the government insists it is a just penalty and the caning provided for under Shariah law does not inflict physical pain.

The country's Islamic courts _ which administer personal matters for Muslims _ can mete out caning sentences for such offenses as drinking alcohol in public and sex out of wedlock. Previously women had usually appealed the caning sentences so that no woman was ever caned.

Muslims make up 60 percent of the country's 28 million people. Non-Muslims are mainly ethnic Indian and Chinese.

Lim Kit Siang, a veteran opposition politician, condemned criticism of the article in a blog posting Wednesday.

"Right-thinking Malaysians are gravely concerned at the rise of intolerance and bigotry," he said. "Is Malaysia's plural society ... retreating into the shell of greater intolerance, bigotry and extremism?"

I am aware of your recent article which had been published by The Star and also had been deleted in all of the sudden after it catches the eyes of Malaysian people especially the Muslims.

You said that caning a women is unacceptable by law. It against the right to privacy to have sex, and it violated the human rights.

Antara yang turut tersinggung:

Em, I suggest that you are a Hindu, P Gunasegaram.

I am a Muslim. I don’t complaint the syariah Law, why would you? Should you complaint that my law is redundant, therefore what are you guys doing during Thaipusam?

Doesn’t the kavadi hurts? Wouldn’t that against the law of our Federation which prohibits ourself to injure our own body?

Why are you guys walking along the fire? Why are you guys stabbing each other?

We have never interfere into your religion, my friend because we don’t give a damn to whatever you guys are into with whatever your business might be. We have never told you to stop doing all these kind of things. We have never told you that these beliefs are outdated and against human rights.

But suprisingly, you told us what is better and what is worse. You are more superior than our God.

P Gunasegaram, you have crossed the line. You are too much my friend. Too much.

www.writtenbyhim.wordpress.com

Aku dan kecemasan

Kalau mengikut Akta Kemudahan Dan Perkhidmatan Jagaan Klinik Swasta 1998, klinik swasta macam aku mesti dilengkapkan dengan peralatan2 kecemasan seperti berikut:

1. Resusitation Sets.




2. Oxygen tank.


3. Intravenous Drip Set.

4. Drip stand.

Peralatan2 ini wajib disimpan di klinik sebagai memenuhi syarat2 akta tersebut. Semasa akta ini baru dikuatkuasakan, ramai doktor2 terutama yang dah senior menyuarakan perasaan tak puashati mereka kerana terlalu banyak benda2 tak logik yang pihak kerajaan mahukan sebelum sesebuah klinik itu boleh didaftarkan.

Antaranya ialah doktor itu perlu melampirkan sijil2 mereka termasuk sijil pendaftaran penuh, ijazah juga surat sumpah menyatakan doktor itu bukan seorang yang muflis dan tidak terlibat dengan jenayah. Ramai doktor mengeluh sebab mereka dah tak tahu kat mana mereka simpan sijil2 tersebut. Kalau dilihat borang pendaftaran tersebut, memang banyak benda termasuk modal syarikat perlu diisytiharkan. Leceh betul. Untuk klinik2 yang sedia ada beberapa pengubahsuaian perlu dilakukan seperti saiz pintu depan, jenis pintu bilik air, jenis sinki dan semuanya memerlukan perbelanjaan yang agak besar jugak.

Aku ikut mana yang boleh. Yang dah tak boleh, aku memang tak boleh buat apa dah. Tentang sijil2, borang2 dan pelan klinik aku takda masalah. Yang aku paling tak setuju ialah untuk menyediakan peralatan2 kecemasan yang pada pendapat aku hanya membuang duit dan hanya akan menjadi barang2 perhiasan dan pameran di klinik sahaja.

Sepanjang 8 tahun di klinik, aku jarang sekali berjumpa pesakit yang begitu tenat sehinggakan aku terpaksa menggunakan peralatan2 kecemasan seperti di atas. Belum aku jumpa pesakit yang kena buat resusitation, yang kena bubuh oksigen atau perlu masuk IV Drip. Biasanya aku boleh anticipate dan aku hantar ke hospital secepat mungkin. Peluang mereka untuk hidup lebih besar jika mereka ke hospital berbanding aku rawat di klinik.

Rawatan2 kecemasan seperti sesak nafas, pengsan, serangan jantung, kemalangan serius serta alahan yang teruk perlu dirawat oleh satu pasukan perubatan termasuk doktor, nurse dan pembantu perubatan. Seorang doktor walau secekap manapun, dia tidak boleh menangani kes2 kecemasan secara berseorangan. Dia kena ada satu pasukan untuk bekerja bersama2 dan serentak untuk membantu pesakit. Sebab itu aku langsung tak simpan peralatan2 tersebut di klinik kerana aku tahu sejauh mana keupayaan aku untuk menangani kes2 kecemasan. Staf klinik aku memang langsung tak boleh diharap. Ajar macamanapun, bila berdepan dengan situasi tersebut ramai yang panik dan tak tahu nak buat apa.

Aku dah biasa menghadapi kes2 kecemasan. Pengalaman bekerja di Unit kecemasan Hospital Besar JB juga Hospital Kulai telah mendewasakanku. Semua jenis pesakit aku dah jumpa. Yang berjaya diselamatkan ramai dan yang tak berjaya pun ramai. Aku dah tak hairan dah.

Satu pengalaman yang paling aku tak lupa ialah aku berjaya menyelamatkan seorang ketua samseng daripada mati. Satu Cina lingkungan 50-an ditikam di perut oleh musuhnya. Masa dia sampai di hospital, dia telah kehilangan banyak darah. Dia dah tak sedarkan diri. Polis dah bersedia untuk menghebohkan kematiannya bila tiba2 dia sedar dan selepas dua jam dia dah boleh bercakap2 semula.

Selang dua minggu, pakar Patologi JB iaitu Dr Shahidan telefon aku ( Dr Shahidan adalah Pakar Forensik Hospital Sg Buluh yang melakukan post mortem kedua ke atas mendiang Teoh Beng Hock). Beliau mengucapkan tahniah kerana berjaya menyelamatkan mangsa tikam tersebut. Tapi selang seminggu, dia mati jugak akhirnya kerana jangkitan kuman akibat tikaman. Dr Sahahidan yang buat post mortemnya.

Hujung tahun lepas, nak tak nak aku terpaksa gak beli benda2 tersebut. Beberapa klinik sekitar kawasan aku telah kena spot check dengan pihak kementerian. Asalnya aku dah ready dengan alasan dan jawapan tapi akhirnya aku mengalah jugak. Sampai sekarang aku belum pernah pakai barang2 tu. Memang nak buat pameran aje sebenarnya.

Aku dan Nissan Fairlady

What would be a great car to drive on a long haul to and from Johor Baru? To have a comfortable drive, a BMW 7 Series or a Mercedes-Benz s Class would be ideal; if you couldn’t get any one of these, an E Class or a 5 Series would suffice as well. However, if it is fun you want, what better car than the Nisan 370Z?

Yes, that was the car, courtesy of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd, the local importers and distributors of the Nissan brand that was given to me (for a short spate of 3 days) for the journey.

Launched not long ago, the test cat that came to me has already got 11,000 kilometres on the clock; I am not the first to test it, and obviously the bunch of journalists who have taken it before me have all maximised the mileage. You’d have to be retarded or very busy, not to keep this car on the road every minute you have it!

The reason is obvious; the Nissan 370Z is a road monster built for one purpose only, to perform, and to perform to the limit if necessary. With a new 3.7 litre V6 engine that pushes out 333PS of power at 7,000 rpm, and developing an immense 363Nm of torque at 5200 rpm, it delivers a huge kick in the pants on demand, yet your grandmother can take it to the market on Sunday (if she still remembers how to use a clutch and a stick shift, because this car is a manual).

The 370Z comes with two available transmissions, a 7-speed automatic with paddle shifts, or a 6-speed manual; if I had my choice, it would be a manual. Top gear in the manual yields 45 km/h per 1,000 rpm, and it will hit a top speed in excess of 270km/h. I only managed around 250km/h, due to the relatively heavy traffic; at that speed, one car on the road 500 metres ahead of you already means you have to lift off, just in case the driver in front suddenly feels like changing lanes. You really have to be very careful because people are not used to having a car close what seems to be a very large gap at regular speeds, in no time at all.

The 370Z is developed from the 350Z, and although it shares much of the DNA with the 350Z, the 370Z is actually a totally new car; it is shorter to start with, having a much shorter wheelbase to provide it with more pin-point handling characteristics. The suspension system remains the same, with double wishbones at the front and a 4-link arrangement at the rear. To keep weight down, there is heavy use of aluminium, and this includes an aluminium sub-frame to increase rigidity. The suspension is sport specs, and ride is on the hard side of firm. It seems to me that when the designers worked on the car, they concentrated more on performance than on comfort.

Having said that, I begin to appreciate the hard suspension at higher speeds; it is actually more comfortable at 200 km/h, and it feels very stable at that speed. If you do not watch your speedometer needle, it easily creeps up to 240, by which time you start wishing you have even harder shockers. At speeds above 220 km/h, I think a larger rear spoiler, and a front air dam to match it would help greatly. Air starts to get into the under body parts and create some lift. The ground clearance of 125mm is low by any standards, and I suppose they have to cater for the road humps and all the undulations, so a speed-activated air dam at the front end would be a boon. Nevertheless, the 370Z is still very much a fun car to drive in the right hands.

Handling is first class, and the driving feel is very continental, or ‘American muscle car’; if you don’t look at the Nissan logo, you will forget that this is a Japanese car. Anyway, in case you lose it, the 370Z has VDC, which is Nissan’s version of traction control. I had no issues in the handling department. Lane change is excellent, and it corners with surefooted ease. Steering response is excellent, and the feel is heavy, which inspires more confidence than a feather-light steering.

The brakes are huge, four pot callipers in the front, and twin pots at the rear, fitted onto large discs; stopping is not a problem, and the large 19-inch wheels with 245’s at the front and wider 275’s at the rear are excellent. Tyre noise is a noticeably loud, though.

The six-speed gearbox is great; you can toodle around at 60 km/h in top gear if you want, and if you just floor the throttle, it will pick up with enough zest if you are lazy. However, if you are adroit with the gears, you can unleash all 333 horses at once, and the acceleration will leave you breathless; you will have to be quick with your gear changes though, as the engine speed builds up very rapidly, and you will be hitting the rev-limiter in no time at all.

On the way back, I had some fun with a Carrera 4S; I could run away just a little on acceleration, but the Carrera could keep up with me. Perhaps it was just a case of nerves, because after about 20 kilometres, the other guy seemed to fall back little by little, until he could not be seen at all. Don’t get me wrong; we were just going fast, not racing. I wanted to do a quick check on acceleration vis-à-vis the Porsche, and I think he wanted to do the same too. The result is inconclusive, but I would think that for a car that costs about a quarter of what the Carrera costs, it really is good.

Fuel consumption, considering the performance, and the way I drove the 370Z, is surprisingly good. We averaged 6.8 kilometres per litre of fuel, and that is a very commendable figure; it works out to 14.7 litres per 100 kilometres, and believe me when I say that because I have seen numbers on other performance cars that are reading something like 20 litres per 100 kilometres. Driven sedately (as if anyone buying this car would), you can get at least 20 percent better.

Overall, the Nissan 370Z is a great car, with plenty of muscle, and very flexible muscles at that. In terms of performance, it really out performs many of the continental makes that have price tags more than double the price of the 370Z;
The price of RM370, 000 (on-the-road with insurance, private individual) seems cheap then.

www.autoworld.com.my

Aku dan Mercedes C200K

Given the fact that more and more young Malaysian executives are earning higher incomes, DaimlerChrysler is looking to cash in on it with the introduction of the new W204 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. As usual, the grapevine has been buzzing with news of the imminent launch of the W204 Mercedes following its debut earlier in the year at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new C-Class comes with two faces, the Elegance having a more conventional front mask, made up of the familiar-looking Mercedes grille, topped with the iconic three-pointed star mounted on the bonnet immediately behind the grille. The Avantgarde looks more aggressive, with a large three-pointed star mounted to the grille itself, and minus the star on the bonnet, the slot being taken by a Mercedes-Benz badge. The body shape and design is absolutely new, but many of the Mercedes-Benz DNA and design cues are retained.

Inside, the trimmings are in-line with what customers would expect in a Mercedes-Benz; leather seats, high quality, two-tone soft-touch plastic trim, with some wood inlays tastefully placed to give it a touch of class. The front driver and passenger seats have electric controls and the controls are like in the E-Class, in the form of a seat profile, and located on the driver and passenger doors. Dual zone air-conditioning is standard, so you can have the air-conditioning freezing cold on one side, and hot air blowing out the other, if you so wish.

A very user-friendly blue tooth connection can pair up your phone with the car, making the interior of the car a huge ‘hands free’ kit. Audio and the blue tooth can be controlled using a toggle mechanism called the Comand Control system (no spelling error here). Driver and passenger airbags, and front-to-rear side curtain bags cover both sides of the cabin.


The design lines of the new C-Class leans more towards the young crowd, with a more aggressive demeanor. More conservative types can go for the Elegance, while the Avantgarde will appeal more to the sporty types. At the front end, Bi-Xenon lights will give a better view at night, and these come with headlight washers. Also standard are fog lights which light up when the car is negotiating a corner. A rain sensor turns on the wipers automatically, and varies the speed according to the amount of rain hitting the front windscreen.

As far as performance goes, the 1.8 litre supercharged engine now delivers 184 horsepower, and 250Nm of torque available from 2,800 to 5,000 rpm. Mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox (with a manual shift option), the C200 scoots to 100 km/h in a little over 9 seconds with the air-conditioner on,(versus a claimed time of 8.6 seconds) and has a top speed of 239 km/h.

On the Avantgarde variant, an Agility Control shock absorber system senses the road condition through the movement of the front shock absorbers and adjusts the rear shock absorber damping force to compensate for any dips or bumps, thus softening the ride shocks. The effect is a more comfortable ride over rough roads. Similarly, when the car is traveling fast over winding roads, the agility control system also modifies the damping forces on the shock absorbers to give the C200 improved handling. In a nutshell, you might say that the system gives you the best of both worlds in terms of handling and comfort.

On a media drive from Petaling Jaya to Cameron Highlands, during which we were able to put the C200 through its paces, we found that the ride comfort over the rough ‘B’ roads was excellent, and on the Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands, we had fun going through the sweeping bends and parabolic corners. The C200 performed flawlessly, although there were a couple of instances where the ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) stepped in to cut back on the throttle when we went into a corner a little beyond what the ESP was programmed to accept as ‘normal’.

In terms of safety, the C200 comes equipped with driver and passenger airbags, and curtain airbags stretching from the front to the rear of the cabin on both sides. As a matter of course, ABS, EBD, and BA are all part of the standard equipment.

Generally, we are of the opinion that the C200 is a great car that lives up to the reputation of the three-pointed star, and will find a place in the hearts (and pocketbooks) of not only the Mercedes-Benz loyalists, but also amongst the young and up-coming executives. It is a car that offers a good combination of class, comfort, and performance, and all-rounder of sorts!

Stop Press! The prices of the Mercedes-Benz C 200 have finally been announced! The Elegance version retails for RM248++K, while the Avantgarde is RM10k more.

www.autoworld.com.my

Aku dan Mini Cooper S

Having always been a Mini fan, ever since I met this mechanic guy in Seremban in 1965 (I was just a kid then) who had a Cooper S that he raced at that then faraway place called Kuala Lumpur. At that time, he bragged about getting 8th position in a race. It impressed me then, but I now know that only winning first counts. Still, that incident left an indelible impression on me. My dream of being a racing driver was born out of that chance encounter, and although I have never had the opportunity to own a Cooper S, it has until today, remained one of my ambitions. I did own a Clubman for a short while, but that was a long time ago. For me, the allure of the Mini will always be there.

So when BMW Malaysia called me to ask if I would like to have the JCW Mini for a weekend, I dropped everything to collect it, and I have not regretted it one bit.

The Mini of today is very different from those little cars of fifty years ago; but the spirit lives on – the characteristic front grille, although much larger now, and more modern, still retains the character of the first Mini. The overall size is bigger, and the interior fittings are more luxurious, but the overall silhouette is much the same. It is like they took the original Mini, sealed it up, and pumped air into the innards to blow everything up into a bigger car.

Now with a 1.6 litre engine, turbo charged instead of supercharged, the Mini is more potent. The John Cooper Works model, dubbed JCW for short, is even more potent. It is the ultimate Mini, tweaked from the 175 horsepower of the Mini Cooper S to give 211 horsepower and 260Nm of torque form 1850 rpm to 5,600 rpm. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the JCW streaks from zero to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and hits a top speed of 238 km/h, yet promises a fuel consumption figure of 6.9 litre per 100 kilometres (combined cycle). Our enthusiastic driving styles returned a more pessimistic 9.5 litre per 100 kilometres, but then nobody is complaining.

It was hard enough trying to get my hands on the car, with the rest of my test team all wanting to have a go with the JCW, but I sneakily pulled rank, saying I needed it to go up north, and that I did, putting 600 kilometres on the clock in one day, and enjoying every minute of it.

If you enjoy driving, especially fast driving, the JCW will give you nothing but sheer driving bliss; anyone could tell by looking at the gleam in my eyes, and the broad smile on my face every time I was behind the wheel. With the turbo on boost, the JCW nips in and out of traffic as if everybody else is standing still. It handles like a go-kart, and you simply point and squirt; it is that easy.

What really impresses is the ease of handling, the extreme stability, even at high speeds. At 200 km/h, the JCW, despite its relatively small size and short wheelbase, feels like it is going at 100 km/h. The humongous brakes are really reassuring, and the large 205/45 R 17 tyres keep you firmly planted all the time. The gear ratio in top gear gives you around 42 km/h per 1000 rpm, and allows for quick acceleration while keeping engine speed decently low at high speeds. With close ratio gears, though, you can shift down with ease, and cheekily overtake others at any time.

The driving experience I had with the JCW Mini is really something very memorable. I had loads of fun, and wished I could keep it longer. At RM270k, it is not something I can afford, although I am sure that it is worth every penny of it.

www.autoworld.com.my

Aku, Accord 2.0 dan Accord 2.4

This article also taken from www.autoworld.com.my

Is the base Accord 2.0 VTi all you really need? Or should you really splash the extra RM30k and go for the 2.4 VTi-L? KON tries to find out...

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I was born the elder of two brothers, and like all good siblings, my brother and I fought all the way from our tender childhood right to our teenage years. We fought over ice-cream, we fought over space on the table, we fought over the front seat of the car, and pretty much anything you can think of. Though we have long since outgrown all that, the lessons we learned from those fights still linger in my memory.

Being three years elder, I was also naturally the bigger-sized sibling until my brother reached his puberty. However, my advantage in size did not always translate into winning of fights. My brother usually hits back with a great deal more aggression to even the odds. It has then been my observation that in a family of siblings, the younger ones tend to be more vocal, outspoken, and active, as if as to make up for the lack in size and stature of their elder brothers and sisters. (Note: Not always true)

This theory applies for cars too. For certain models, the smaller engine variants actually turn out to be better drives. More horsepower don't always equal more fun. The real driving pleasure is sometimes found in the lower end models where you have to work the engine harder, and also where less of the driving sensations are hampered by electronics.

Recently, when Honda lent us five of their cars for the Autoworld Safety & Defensive Driving Course, we had the opportunity to put this hypothesis to test on the Accord. The initial objective of this test was to see if the base 2.0 VTi good enough to meet your needs, or if the 2.4 VTi-L should really be the one to go for. However, the recent introduction of the new Accord 2.0 VTi-L has given this test a whole new significance; this now doubles as a pre-test drive for the new variant.

When this latest Accord was unveiled last year, Honda stunned us by presenting the biggest and boldest-looking car to ever wear the 'Accord' nameplate. The lines of the car meet at sharp angles to give it a look reeking of sleekness and aggression. At the same time, the pronounced character line on the car's waist visually stretches its length, further enhancing its road presence. From photos taken during the Defensive Driving Course, I can tell you that the Accord looks best sideways, and I mean going sideways.

After the Defensive Driving Course concluded, I went home in the Accord 2.4, and I was to meet Jaime the following day to swap for the 2.0. Our test car had an all-black leather trimmed interior, and came complete with auto cruise, power adjusted seats, and paddle shifters.

The dashboard combines a good deal of style and practicality. Its sweeping contours are pleasing to the eye, and there are plenty of storage compartments all-round, all with lids that open and close solidly. The glovebox is a notable exception to this rule as it closes noticeably out of alignment.

Otherwise, the ergonomics and build quality of the Accord is almost impeccable. Steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake, while the buttons on the dashboard controlling the dual-zone air-con and audio unit possess very good tactile feel when operated. The problem lies in figuring how to operate them. Although it proved easy to operate upon familiarization, the sheer amount of buttons on the dash make first time users feel as if as they are trying to access a super computer. For the less tech-savvy, the cluttered dashboard can seem intimidating.

The other complaint of an otherwise faultless interior is the folding seat back which, for one, does not even have split folding, and then requires you to pull a lever from the boot to unfasten the seat back, which you then have pull forwards from inside the passenger compartment. Why can't the mechanism be operated from inside the passenger compartment? Or why can't, upon pulling the release lever, the seat back just tumble forward on its own?

As I drove off in the 2.4, I was immediately impressed at how the car's massive bulk seemed to shrink around me. It gathered pace with serene ease, and changed direction with such agility that you simply would not expect from a front-wheel driven sedan of such massive proportions. Approaching long sweeping bends, just ease off a little upon entry, then gun the throttle on the apex, you will be astonished at how it just grips and goes. For sharper corners, calling the paddle shifts into action enables you to summon more traction from the lower gears to keep you in line.

A slight chink in the impeccable armour of the Accord's drive is the steering wheel, which although accurate, has too much feedback filtered out. You don't so much feel what the front wheels are doing, you only see where they're going by looking ahead.

That aside, there is little to fault about the Accord's handling, I absolutely loved it. I have little doubt that the chassis engineers at Honda placed sharp & precise handling at the top of the list, ahead of even comfort. This is because, on the 2.4, a substantial amount of the road undulations were transmitted to the cabin, indicating a stiff suspension setup. I personally have no issues with this, but the comfort-oriented crowd might not be too pleased.

After having the 2.4 for a night, I wasn't really keen to swap it for the 2.0 the following day. I have good reasons for this. First, have you looked at the rims of the thing? The massive visual bulk do not go at all well with the tiny 16" alloys. Think 523i. Second, during the previous morning, when my colleague Chris was driving this car, I saw that he was really struggling to keep up with my 1.5-litre Honda City. That, ladies and gentlemen, was bad news. I therefore had no doubts that the 2.0 is a good-for-nothing underpowered behemoth.

Not only that, it also happens to come with a good few toys less than the 2.4. Leather trim is now replaced with fabric, and the interior now features a two-tone black & beige colour scheme. The steering wheel is the same as the 2.4, but where there was the cruise control buttons on the 2.4, the 2.0 now has blanks button in place. The most unbelievable omission, in my opinion, is the variable speed function for the intermittent wipers - a feature that even Proton owners take for granted. Also gone, and this is the biggest miss, are the paddle shifts, as the standard selector lever does not include the option of manually selecting 4th gear, an annoying trademark of Honda 5-speed autos.

As I took the keys of the 2.0 the next day, I looked at the car with dread. You see, the point of the exercise was not to find out whether the 2.0 or the 2.4 is a better car, but rather how big is the difference between the two. I can live without most of the toys, but what I dread most would be how the thing feels when nail the throttle to the footwell. I could already anticipate it, the transmission kicks down, the revs climb up, but the speedo takes an eternity to build up speed. God help me...

There is simply no better of putting this, but, I was wrong. Dead wrong. The Accord 2.0 completely defied my expectations. It makes up for its deficit in cubes and horses against the 2.4 with a far greater eagerness and willingness to rev. It might not actually be faster, but it sure as hell feels faster. Where the 2.4 makes smooth and steady acceleration, the 2.0's smaller motor buzzes with excitement every time you stab on the throttle.

When you open the hood of the 2.0 and 2.4, you notice that not only the 2.4 has a nice shining engine cover, it also has a strut bar. This shows when you drive too. When you corner it hard, the 2.0 has noticeably more body roll than the 2.4. However, the steering feel of the 2.0 is better, as you actually get more feedback. There is no more need to guess what the front wheels are doing, you now feel what's going on.

It is an interesting contrast between the two. The 2.4 is the more civilized of the two. It makes its progress in a quiet and graceful manner. The 2.0 is different. It has less electronics, which means a less filtered and ultimately more satisfying driving experience. Ask yourself this, when faced with two little kids, which one are you more likely to fall in love with? The smarter one, or the playful one?

I liked the 2.4 a lot, but the 2.0 was nothing short of a revelation. That it makes do with less toys than the 2.4 ultimately does not matter. The only thing from the 2.4 that I really missed when I went to the 2.0 was the pair of paddle shifters, and those aren't worth RM30k. Between this two, the winner, and this is shocking, is the 2.0 VTi.

However, the arrival of the 2.0 VTi-L changes things completely. At an RM10k premium over the VTi, and packing most of the goodies found in the 2.4, that may well be THE Accord to buy.

Aku, Accord dan Camry

This article was taken from www.autoworld.com.my.

As far as the Honda-Toyota rivalry goes, the arena in which the two giants contest each other most fiercely, at least in this part of the world, is the D-segment, where the Accord and Camry do battle. Nissan's withdrawal of the Cefiro has allowed the duo to exert an almost unshakable dominance over its rivals.

While the Ford Mondeo's impact on this segment remains to be seen, credible alternatives in the form of the Hyundai Sonata, Peugeot 407 and Mazda6 have yet to adversely impact the iron-clad grip of what one of our forummers dub the 'Cam-Cord' duopoly.

The simple fact is that when it comes to buying a large sedan with a budget in the region of RM150k, the Accord and Camry are the two main (sometimes, only) choices that spring to mind. Even if rivals offer superior products, almost none can beat the brand power, residual values, sales and service network which both Toyota and Honda have tirelessly built over the years.

Our national automotive policies have somewhat skewed the market, and along with it, the tastes and requirements of the Malaysian motorist. With some cars costing as much as houses, buying one is not an exercise which most Malaysians can indulge in with abandon. As a result, car buyers in this country are very sensitive to finance-related issues such as resale value, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs. So, while many may lust for the likes of the Alfa 159, BMW 3-series, Audi A4, or Mercedes C-class, come buying time, most end up signing on Honda or Toyota's dotted lines.

Accord vs Camry - The Big Picture

Discounting the Accord 3.5 V6, which is essentially an RM250k niche product, the Accord vs Camry battle is fought on three fronts - the entry level variants (2.0 VTi vs 2.0E), the mid-spec variants (2.0 VTi-L vs 2.0G), and the full-spec variants (2.4VTi-L vs 2.4V). It is worth noting that each variant of the Accord undercuts the equivalent Camry's price by a few thousand ringgit.

Honda did not originally have a direct competitor for the mid-spec Camry 2.0G, offering the Accord in only two trim levels - 2.0 VTi and 2.4 VTi-L. However, they were finally persuaded earlier this year to plug the RM30k gap between the 2.0 and the 2.4 with a new 2.0 VTi-L variant. Priced RM8k above the 2.0 VTi, the 2.0 VTi-L brings the 2.0 much closer to the 2.4 spec-level at a fraction of the price.

Two months down the road, Toyota responded by refreshing the entire Camry range, around since late 2006. Technically unchanged, the new-look Camry instantly comes across as a classier and more refined car than its predecessor. It offers the same three variants as before - 2.0E, 2.0G and 2.4V.

From data provided to us by MAA, this year, the Camry has outsold the Accord by some 1,651 units from January to October 2009 (6,900 vs 5,249). The best selling Camry is the 2.0G, with 3,258 units accounting for nearly half of the model's Jan-Oct 2009 sales.

Meanwhile, for the Accord, the base model 2.0 VTi accounts for the dominant proportion of sales with 2,546 units (49%) sold in the same period. However, it is worth noting that the new 2.0 VTi-L variant, launched in late July has quickly amassed 1,153 sales in three months. If averaged over the number of months the respective models had on the market, the 2.0 VTi-L works out to the best seller in the Accord range.

The hottest battle field between the two cars, therefore, takes place in the middle grounds, where the Accord 2.0 VTi-L is pitted against the Camry 2.0G. Now the volume sellers of their respective ranges, these two also appear on paper, the most balanced variants among their siblings. After much cajoling to both sides, I managed to procure a test unit of each car and pit them against each other in a battle royale.

Losing 400ccs

In many countries, the Camry and Accord model ranges start from the 2.4-litre variants and slowly move up to three-litre-plus v-sixers. Our displacement-unfriendly road tax regime means that the 2.4 versions now assume the flagship role while the smaller 2.0-litre variants serve to bring up sales volumes.

Neither the VTi-L nor the 2.0G loses a great deal in terms of equipment to their 2.4 siblings. For the Accord, opting for the 2.0 VTi-L over the 2.4 VTi-L saves you RM22k, but you have to do without the front strut bar, leather wrapped steering wheel, paddle shifts, side airbags, VSA, and auto leveling HID headlights. Deal breaker? Unlikely, you still get leather seats, power adjusting driver seat, and cruise control, items omitted from the 2.0 VTi.

For the Camry, the downgrade from 2.4V to 2.0G entails less sacrifice of equipment. You only lose the keyless start, steering wood grain finish (which we much rather omit!), traction control, and VSC. Your savings would be less than that of the Accord, but you still have an extra RM20k to pocket for forgoing the extra 400 cubes.

Looking at the bells and whistles alone, the Accord starts the contest at a disadvantage. Its equipment deficit against the Camry makes a sizable list - auto-leveling HID headlights, power adjusting passenger seat, trip computer, intermittent variable wipers, and forward parking sensors.

While it loses out in terms of features & equipment, the Accord quickly hits back in the technical half of the specs sheet. Compared to the Camry's, the Accord's powerplant, drivetrain, and chassis all boast greater levels of sophistication and technical trickery.

Powering the Accord is the 1,997cc R20A SOHC i-VTEC powerplant dispensing 154hp @ 6,300rpm and 189Nm @ 4,300rpm. The Camry meanwhile, gets the 1,998cc 1AZ-FE twin-cam VVT-i motor, which produces less horsepower than the Honda (145hp @ 6,000rpm) but slightly more torque (190Nm @ 4,000rpm). Evenly matched on paper.

However, in the transmission department, Honda has come up trumps as the Accord gets a five-speed automatic transmission against the Camry's four-speeder. The difference is even more pronounced when the Toyota's unit does not even have an overdrive ratio, whereas the Honda has two.

Both cars feature all-round independent suspension, with the Accord having the superior suspension setup, double wishbones up front and multi-links behind. Toyota opted to go for a simpler set up, strutting the front with MacPhersons and using an uncomplicated dual-link suspension behind.

The Asian market's obsession for size is also set to benefit the Accord. It is taller, wider and also longer than the Camry. The Accord's wheelbase is also longer, but it weighs less than the Camry (1,475kg vs 1,510kg).

On paper comparisons favour the Accord. Despite being down on equipment against the Camry, the Accord has the more impressive technical bits and has a lower price tag to go with it. The Accord starts as the favourite. So, bring in the contestants.

The Test Cars

Honda's test car for the Accord 2.0 VTi-L is a five month old unit registered specially for media testing. It is Honda Malaysia's only demo car for that variant, and thus, has changed quite a few hands (i.e. well run-in), having clocked 7,311km on the odometer when I picked it up.

At the 'Driving: The Honda's DNA' event in Sepang during the previous week, this car was assigned to the track course, which meant it went through a whole day of high-revving and hard-braking torture. Nevertheless, I was assured by HM personnel that the car was put through a comprehensive service before being handed to me, with new tyres and brake pads thrown in.

For the Camry, UMW Toyota Motor had only registered a demo unit of the 2.4V. This 2.0G test car was obtained by a special arrangement within their organization. It is only two months newer than the Accord test car, but has clocked far less miles. Its digital odometer read 1,714km when I first twisted its key.

Our Grey Metallic coloured Camry test car is fitted with the optional Aerokit package, which adds RM2,650 to its RM154,990 price tag. The Accord test car, meanwhile, is finished in Taffeta White colour, and goes for RM149,800 as tested.

Aesthetics

Neither the Camry nor the Accord are ugly cars by any means, although which is the better looking car is entirely up to taste. Although measurements say that the Accord is the bigger car, parking them side-by-side we see the Camry having more visual bulk.

The Accord is the more eye-catching of the two with its sharper and more aggressive styling cues. Even if the Camry is fitted with the Aerokit package, there's no argument that the Accord is the sportier and more dynamic looking car.

Taking a contrary approach, the Camry's styling is elegant and more restrained. In this facelift, Toyota has made some very visible improvements in the Camry's styling elements and these small touches make it a far more attractive looking car than its predecessor.

Though the Accord has the bolder and catchier styling, after sunset, the show belongs to the Camry. The Toyota puts on quite a light show at night, with the revamped Audi-aping LED tail-lights looking great when switched on. I'm willing to bet that Honda will follow suit with LED tails when the Accord is due for a refit. The Camry's auto-leveling HID headlamps also ensure that its front is better illuminated than the Accord's.

The contrast in themes between the two cars continue in the cabin. The all-black interior of the Accord trimmed with metallic finishing instantly comes across as the sportier alternative compared to the Camry's two-toned wood-finished dash.

It may surprise you to hear this, but I much prefer the Camry's simpler and more elegant design. True, the grain of wood-paneling is not very attractive, but it's a more welcoming place to be in. The Accord's button-laden dash looks more high-tech, but the Camry's no-nonsense layout is friendlier to use. Especially when it's lit at night, the Camry's cabin instantly feels classier and more luxurious.

Someone wise once said that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, and never has the statement been more true with these two cars. The sportier and dynamic crowd will want the Accord's sharp styling, whereas the conservative will prefer the Camry's more refrained approach. Speaking from a male perspective, the Accord will impress your mates, but the Camry will impress your father in-law.

On the Road

Being cars designed for the masses, driving either of them are painless affairs. But, as you would expect, it's the Accord that provides the more engaging drive. Here, the added sophistication of the Honda's chassis and drivetrain gives the Accord maximum advantage over the Camry.

And the difference is felt the moment you slot into 'D' and go. As you step on the accelerator from stand still, the Accord lurches forward and powers away, with the tachometer flicking itself to its peak torque mark at 4,300rpm before upshifting. The Camry, meanwhile, simply jogs off the mark and inches away with minimal drama.

5A/T gives Accord (left) advantage in refinement & FC over Camry's 4A/T (right)

Despite being a single-cammer, the Accord's R20A loved the high-revs far more than the Camry's lazier 1AZ-FE motor. Even though the Camry also picks up pace quite rapidly, it just isn't as fun to drive, and we haven't taken it to the corners yet.

On the winding roads, keen drivers would definitely prefer the Accord's more communicative and confidence-inspiring chassis. Although the Camry is also a competent handler, its steering and brake pedal have so much feedback distilled out, you're really running on guess-work as to the status of the car's grip levels.

Back on the straights, however, the differences are less conclusive, and the winner will depend on which perspective you take on. Once again, keener drivers will better appreciate the Accord's smoother-revving powerplant. As the speedo edges deeper into triple-digit territory, the Accord's five-speeder ensures lower cruising revs and better refinement, though it gets a little floaty past 140kph. In contrast, it's the Camry that feels more stable and planted, even if the tacho is ticking a few more revs.
Nevertheless, you should know that when push comes to shove, the Camry has the ability to summon the acceleration needed to match, and even beat the Accord. Using manual timing methods, I clocked (in the secret Autoworld test track at Jalan Daorhcuson) the Camry's century dash at 11.8 seconds, just 0.1 seconds slower than the Accord.

A more shocking result followed when I timed the 80-120kph sprint with the gear lever left at 'D'. Even though it felt more responsive and more rapid, the Accord was a full second slower for this sprint, clocking 9.6 seconds against the Camry's 8.6. My suspicion is that the Accord's extra second comes from it having to kickdown two gears instead of one, and also its longer ratios than the Camry.

Better acceleration times does not make the Camry a better drive. The Accord's keener-revving engine, and superbly agile chassis ensures that it remains as the driver's choice. Passengers, will of course better appreciate riding in the Camry with its comfort oriented chassis and classier interior. While the Accord flattens out body roll well, the Camry's simpler suspension cushions out potholes with equal effectiveness.

The Accord is definitely the more enjoyable car to drive, but the Camry is the better choice to ferry passengers. On long highway cruises, driving the Camry also proved to be a less tiring affair.

The Verdict

Spending three days with both cars led me no closer to a satisfactory conclusion as to which of the two is the better car. Although playing in the same market segment, the polar opposite nature of their personalities means that they will always attract different crowds of supporters.
Those looking to portray a sporty and dynamic image will look closer at the Accord. Its sharper styling (16" rims aside) already appeals better to the young and young-at-heart. That its chassis also has the ability to match the looks of its shell gives it a very strong selling point over the Camry.

Usually, such superiority pretty much guarantees the Accord a conclusive victory over the Camry. However, Toyota never engineered the Camry to be a trunk-road burner. The Camry is built around a different set of core strengths. Where it excels against the Accord is its impeccable ride comfort, and also the warmer, more welcoming ambiance of its cabin.

Deciding on which is the better car boils down to a matter of perspective. As a passenger, my preference would be to ride in the Camry, but if asked to take the wheel, I'll go for the Accord. So, on that ground, I'm awarding the tie to the Honda Accord. It's by no means conclusive, but someone's gotta win.




Special thanks to: Desmond

Aku dan petua murah rezeki

20 PETUA MURAH REZEKI

1. Jangan sekali-kali lupa untuk menunaikan ibadah kepada Allah SWT. Walau sibuk macamana sekalipun, pastikan diri kita sentiasa menunaikan perintah2 Allah. Beribadah kepada Allah, maka insyaAllah pasti diri kita akan dimurahkan rezeki dan mendapat keberkatan. Allah (SWT) tidak
sia-siakan pengabdian diri hamba-Nya, seperti firman-Nya dalam hadis qudsi:

"Wahai anak Adam, sempatkanlah untuk menyembah-Ku maka Aku akan membuat hatimu kaya dan menutup kefakiranmu. Jika tidak melakukannya maka Aku akan penuhi tanganmu dengan kesibukan dan Aku tidak menutup kefakiranmu. "
(Riwayat Ahmad, Tirmizi, Ibnu Majah dan al-Hakim dari Abu Hurairah r.a.)

2. Memperbanyak istighfar.
Istighfar adalah rintihan dan pengakuan dosa seorang hamba di depan Allah (SWT) , yang menjadi sebab Allah (SWT) jatuh kasih dan kasihan pada hamba-Nya lalu Dia berkenan melapangkan jiwa dan kehidupan si hamba.

Sabda Nabi s.a.w.:
"Barang siapa memperbanyak istighfar maka Allah (SWT) s.w.t akan menghapuskan segala kedukaannya, menyelesaikan segala masalahnya dan memberinya rezeki dari arah yang tidak disangka."
(Riwayat Ahmad, Abu Daud, an-Nasa'i, Ibnu Majah dan al-Hakim dari Abdullah bin Abbas r.a.)

3.Tinggalkan perbuatan dosa.
Istighfar tidak laku di sisi Allah (SWT) jika masih buat dosa. Dosa bukan saja membuat hati resah malah menutup pintu rezeki.
Sabda Nabi s.a.w. :
" Dan seorang lelaki akan diharamkan baginya rezeki kerana dosa yang dibuatnya."
(Riwayat at-Tirmizi)

4.Berzikir dan Sentiasa ingat Allah (SWT).
Banyak ingat Allah (SWT) buatkan hati tenang dan kehidupan terasa lapang. Ini rezeki yang hanya Allah (SWT) beri kepada orang beriman.
Firman-Nya:
"(iaitu) orang-orang beriman dan hati mereka menjadi tenteram dengan mengingati Allah (SWT). Ingatlah, hanya dengan mengingati Allah (SWT) hati menjadi tenteram."
(Ar-Ra'd: 28)

5.Berbakti dan mendoakan ibu bapa.
Dalam hadis riwayat Imam Ahmad, Rasulullah s.a.w. berpesan agar siapa yang ingin panjang umur dan ditambahi rezekinya, hendaklah berbakti kepada ibu bapanya dan menyambung tali kekeluargaan. Baginda s.a.w. juga bersabda:
"Siapa berbakti kepada ibu bapanya maka kebahagiaanlah buatnya dan Allah (SWT) akan memanjangkan umurnya."
(Riwayat Abu Ya?ala, at-Tabrani,al-Asybahani dan al-Hakim).

Mendoakan ibu bapa juga menjadi sebab mengalirnya rezeki, berdasarkan sabda Nabi s.a.w. : "Apabila hamba itu meninggalkan berdoa kepada kedua orang tuanya nescaya terputuslah rezeki (Allah (SWT) ) daripadanya."
(Riwayat al-Hakim dan ad-Dailami)

6.Berbuat baik dan menolong orang yang lemah.
Berbuat baik kepada orang yang lemah ini termasuklah menggembirakan dan meraikan orang tua, orang sakit, anak yatim dan fakir miskin, juga isteri dan anak-anak yang masih kecil.
Sabda Nabi s.a.w. :
"Tidaklah kamu diberi pertolongan dan diberi rezeki melainkan kerana orang-orang lemah di
kalangan kamu."
(Riwayat Bukhari)

7.Tunaikan hajat orang lain.
Menunaikan hajat orang menjadi sebab Allah (SWT) lapangkan rezeki dalam bentuk tertunainya hajat sendiri, seperti sabda Nabi s.a.w.:
"Siapa yang menunaikan hajat saudaranya maka Allah (SWT) akan menunaikan hajatnya."
(Riwayat Muslim)

8.Banyakkan berselawat.
Ada hadis yang menganjurkan berselawat jika hajat atau cita-cita tidak tertunai kerana selawat itu dapat menghilangkan kesusahan, kesedihan, dan kesukaran serta meluaskan rezeki dan menyebabkan terlaksananya semua hajat. Wallahu a'lam.

9. Buat kebajikan banyak-banyak.
Ibnu Abbas berkata: "Sesungguhnya kebajikan itu memberi cahaya kepada hati,kemurahan rezeki, kekuatan jasad dan disayangi oleh makhluk yang lain. Manakala kejahatan pula boleh menggelapkan rupa, menggelapkan hati, melemahkan tubuh, sempit rezeki dan makhluk lain mengutuknya."

10.Bangun pagi awal (Jangan tidur sampai tengahari).
Menurut Rasulullah s.a.w., berpagi-pagi (memulakan aktiviti harian sebaik-baik selesai solat Subuh berjemaah) adalah amalan yang membawa keberkatan dan murah rezeki.

11.Menjalin silaturrahim.
Nabi s.a.w. bersabda:
"Barang siapa ingin dilapangkan rezekinya dan dilambatkan ajalnya maka hendaklah dia menghubungi sanak-saudaranya."
(Riwayat Bukhari)

12.Selalu berada dalam keadaan berwuduk.
Seorang Arab desa menemui Rasulullah s.a.w. dan meminta pedoman mengenai beberapa perkara termasuk mahu dimurahkan rezeki oleh Allah (SWT) . Baginda s.a.w. bersabda: "Sentiasalah berada dalam keadaan bersih (dari hadas) nescaya Allah (SWT) akan memurahkan rezeki."
(Diriwayatkan daripada Sayidina Khalid al-Walid)

13.Selalu Bersedekah
Sedekah mengundang rahmat Allah (SWT) dan menjadi sebab Allah (SWT) buka pintu rezeki. Nabi s.a.w. bersabda kepada Zubair bin al-Awwam:
"Hai Zubair, ketahuilah bahawa kunci rezeki hamba itu ditentang Arasy, yang dikirim oleh Allah (SWT) azza wajalla kepada setiap hamba sekadar nafkahnya. Maka siapa yang membanyakkan pemberian kepada orang lain, nescaya Allah (SWT) membanyakkan baginya. Dan siapa yang menyedikitkan, nescaya Allah (SWT) menyedikitkan baginya."
(Riwayat ad-Daruquthni dari Anas r.a.)

14.Selalu bangun solat malam (tahajud).
Ada keterangan bahawa amalan solat tahajjud memudahkan memperoleh rezeki, menjadi sebab seseorang itu dipercayai dan dihormati orang dan doanya dimakbulkan Allah (SWT).

15.Selalu menunaikan Solat Dhuha.
Amalan solat Dhuha yang dibuat waktu orang sedang sibuk dengan urusan dunia(aktiviti harian), juga mempunyai rahsia tersendiri. Firman Allah (SWT) dalam hadis qudsi: "Wahai anak Adam, jangan sekali-kali engkau malas mengerjakan empat rakaat pada waktu permulaan siang (solat Dhuha), nanti pasti akan Aku cukupkan keperluanmu pada petang harinya."
(Riwayat al-Hakim dan Thabrani)

16.Bersyukur kepada Allah (SWT).
Syukur ertinya mengakui segala pemberian dan nikmat dari Allah (SWT) . Lawannya adalah kufur nikmat. Allah (SWT) berfirman:
"Demi sesungguhnya! Jika kamu bersyukur, nescaya Aku tambahi nikmat-Ku kepadamu, dan demi sesungguhnya jika kamu kufur, sesungguhnya azab-Ku amat keras." (Ibrahim: 7).

Firman-Nya lagi: " dan Kami akan memberi balasan kepada orang-orang yang bersyukur."
(Ali Imran: 145)

17.Mengamalkan zikir dan bacaan ayat Quran tertentu.
Zikir dari ayat-ayat al-Quran atau asma'ul husna selain menenangkan, menjenihkan dan melunakkan hati, ia mengandungi fadilat khusus untuk keluasan ilmu, terbukanya pintu hidayah, dimudahkan faham agama, diberi kemanisan iman dan dilapangkan rezeki.

Misalnya, dua ayat terakhir surah at-Taubah (ayat 128-129) jika dibaca secara konsisten tujuh kali setiap kali lepas solat, dikatakan boleh menjadi sebab Allah (SWT) lapangkan kehidupan dan murahkan rezeki.
Salah satu nama Allah (SWT) , al-Fattah (Maha Membukakan) dikatakan dapat menjadi sebab dibukakan pintu rezeki jika diwiridkan selalu; misalnyadibaca "Ya Allah (SWT) ya Fattah? berulang-ulang, diiringi doa: ?Ya Allah (SWT) , bukalah hati kami untuk mengenali-Mu, bukalah pintu rahmat dan keampunan-Mu, ya Fattah ya `Alim."
Ada juga hadis menyebut, siapa amalkan baca surah al-Waqi'ah setiap malam, dia tidak akan ditimpa kepapaan. Wallahu a'lam.

18.Selalu berdoa dan meminta pertolongan daripada Allah.
Berdoa menjadikan seorang hamba dekat dengan Allah (SWT) , penuh bergantung dan mengharap pada rahmat dan pemberian dari-Nya. Dalam al-Quran, Allah(SWT) suruh kita meminta kepada-Nya, nescaya Dia akan perkenankan.

19.Berusaha dan berikhtiar sehabis baik.
Siapa berusaha, dia akan dapat. Ini sunnatullah. Dalam satu hadis sahih dikatakan bahawa Allah (SWT) berikan dunia kepada orang yang dicintai-Nya dan yang tidak dicintai-Nya, tapi agama hanya Allah (SWT) beri kepada orang yang dicintai-Nya saja.
(Riwayat Ahmad, Ibnu Abi Syaibah dan al-Hakim).

Bagi orang beriman, tentulah dia perlu mencari sebab-sebab yang boleh membawa kepada murah rezeki dalam skop yang luas. Misalnya, hendak tenang dibacanya Quran, hendak dapat anak yang baik dididiknya sejak anak dalamrahim lagi, hendak sihat dijaganya pemakanan dan makan yang baik dan halal, hendak dapat jiran yang baik dia sendiri berusaha jadi baik, hendak rezeki berkat dijauhinya yang haram, dan sebagainya.

20.Bertawakal dan meletak sepenuh harapan hanya kepada Allah
Dengan tawakal, seseorang itu akan direzekikan rasa kaya dengan Allah (SWT).
Firman-Nya: "Barang siapa bertawakal kepada Allah (SWT) , nescaya Allah (SWT) mencukupkan (keperluannya) ." (At-Thalaq: 3)

Nabi s.a.w. bersabda: "Seandainya kamu bertawakal kepada Allah (SWT) dengan sebenar-benar
tawakal, nescaya kamu diberi rezeki seperti burung diberi rezeki, ia pagi hari lapar dan petang hari telah kenyang."
(Riwayat Ahmad, at- Tirmizi, Ibnu Majah, Ibnu Hibban, al-Hakim dari Umar bin al-Khattab r.a.)

Kesemua yang disebutkan di atas adalah amalan-amalan yang membawa kepada takwa. Dengan takwa, Allah (SWT) akan beri jalan keluar (dari segala perkara yang menyusahkan) , dan memberinya rezeki dari jalan yangtidak terlintas di hatinya. (Rujuk At-Talaq: 2-3)
Pendekkata, bagi orang Islam, untuk murah rezeki dalam ertikata yang sebenarnya, kuncinya adalah melaksanakan ibadah dan amalan-amalan yang menambahkan ketakwaan kepada Allah. Amalan-amalan takwa ini menjadi sebab jatuhnya kasih sayang Allah (SWT) , lalu Allah (SWT) limpahi hamba-Nya dengan keluasan rezeki dan rasa kaya dengan pemberian-Nya.

Sekian, semoga kita semua dimurahkan rezeki dan hidup dengan penuh keberkatan dan rahmah daripadaNYA. InsyaAllah.

Aku ke Sukan MSSD Kulaijaya

Anak aku yang bungsu ada harapan mengikut jejak langkah emaknya iaitu menjadi olahragawan sekolah. Walaupun baru darjah 3, dia dapat mewakili sekolah dalam 4 acara; 100m, 4x100m, 4x200m dan lompat tinggi. Disebabkan kekurangan pengalaman dan terpaksa berlawan dengan budak2 darjah 4, dia langsung tak memenangi apa2 acara. Cikgu dia kata takpa. Kumpul pengalaman dulu untuk lawan balik tahun depan.

Aku sempat singgah di Stadium MPKu untuk melihat acara2 yang dipertandingkan. Cuaca memang panas terik dan kering. Trek memang cantik. Padang boleh tahan tetapi suasananya muram sahaja. Penonton yang datang tak sampai 10 orang. Guru2 pun langsung tak bersemangat. Umumkan nama untuk penyampaian hadiah pun kelam kabut.

Aku sokong langkah TPM iaitu Muhyiddin Yasin untuk mewajibkan pelajar2 terlibat dengan sukan. Pada aku cikgu2 dan emak bapak sekarang tak macam dulu. Sekarang, semua lebih mengejar pencapaian akademik dan berapa banyak A yang boleh score bukannya berapa banyak pingat emas dan rekod baru boleh dicapai. Cikgu2 yang mengajar sukan pun ramai yang kaki bangku. Waktu PJ murid2 bukannya turun padang. Cikgu ajak tengok video kat kelas. Cuaca panas katanya. Takut budak2 demam.

P.S I need longer lens...

Aku dah penat

Kerja, kerja, kerja. Tak kat klinik, buat kerja2 rumah. Tak buat kerja2 rumah, kena uruskan anak2. Ambik anak balik sekolah, hantar anak ke latihan sukan dan sebagainya. Wife aku pun sama. Masa untuk duduk berbual2 langsung takda. Dalam fikiran hanya kerja, kerja dan kerja. Hujung2 minggu pun masih sibuk dengan kerja2 rumah. Cuti 24 jam rasa tak cukup. Nak balik kampung pun dah makin jarang2.

Aku dah penat. Dah bosan bekerja. Apatahlagi bila yang datang klinik, muka2 yang kaki MC. Menyampah. Meyumpah seranah. Tapi dalam hati ajelah. Ada beberapa patient berani tanya kat aku, apasal doktor asyik datang lambat aje? Senang aje aku jawap. " Kakak, kalau 10 kali kakak datang ini klinik; siang ke, malam ke, pagi ke, petang ke, kakak tengok ini muka juga. Saya kerja satu hari 9 pagi sampai 10 malam. Hari-hari kecuali hari minggu. Saya sudah banyak penat. Kalau kakak tak mahu tunggu, kakak boleh pergi lain klinik. Saya sudah tarak kisah punya." Staf klinik aku pun dah tahu dah. Takda yang berani tanya kalau aku datang lambat.

Aku dah hampir 14 tahun jadi doktor. Habis belajar aje terus kerja sampai sekarang. Tak pernahnya aku cuti rehat panjang. Paling lama pun 2-3 hari. Aku terasa nak cuti barang seminggu dua. Jalan2 jauh daripada Malaysia. Tapi apakan daya. Kadang2 aku sedih gak. Kawan2 aku hantar gambar2 kat Facebook. Pergi melancong ke luar negara. Europe, Australia, Japan, Dubai, New Zealand, Mekah, dan sebagainya. Tapi aku? Aku paling jauh ke Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. Kalu cuti aje, balik2 ke Melaka, Melaka dan Melaka. Dah jemu dah.

Aku juga dah jemu jadi doktor. Rasa macam nak buat kerja2 lain yang tak perlu ada ofis, tak perlu ada waktu kerja yang tetap. Aku rasa macam nak bukak restoran . Tak pun jadi photographer. Tak pun jadi surirumah. Aku dah malas nak menghadap orang sakit tiap2 hari. Bosan. Oranglain setiap malam boleh lepak2 kat rumah. Tengok tv, temankan anak2 belajar, pergi shopping. Tapi aku setiap malam kena kerja. Pukul 8, klinik dah penuh. Pukul 10.30 baru sampai rumah. Anak2 dah tidur, wife sibuk dengan kerja2 dia. Tinggallah aku sorang2 melayan mata yang kadang2 tak mengantuk.

Saat paling seronok jadi doktor macam aku ialah bila dapat bersembang2 dengan pesakit2 aku. Aku suka kalau pakcik2 dan makcik2 yang datang klinik. Aku suka tanya soalan macam2. Sejarah keluarganya semua aku nak tahu. Kerana bila mereka dapat berbual2 dan meluahkan perasaan yang berbuku di hati, tekanan darah mereka turun, sakit kepala mereka hilang dan selera makan mereka bertambah. Hilang rasa kebosanan aku bila tengok pakcik2 dan makcik2 tu balik rumah dengan perasaan yang ceria.

Aku juga suka melayan kanak2 yang datang ke klinik. Mereka memang betul2 sakit. Bukannya sakit olok2 atau dibuat2. Hanya merekalah yang dapat menghilangkan perasaan tension aku. Kalau yang datang klinik semua mamat2 Bangla, minah2 Indon dan warga2 tempatan yang malas nak pergi kerja, aku memang boleh sakit jiwa dibuatnya.

Aku nak kena bercuti. Nak kena tinggalkan bandar Kulaijaya buat seketika. Aku nak kena Offkan handphone. Aku tak nak tengok akaun klinik. Aku tak nak tahu berapa banyak lagi hutang2 aku di bank, aku tak nak tahu berapa banyak interest yang aku kena bayar kat bank, aku tak nak tahu berapa banyak ubat2 yang hampir expired kat klinik.

Aku kesian kat wife aku. Aku juga kesian kat diri aku. Minggu depan anak2 dah nak exam. Wife pun ada exam jugak. Masalah aku lagi satu. Bila aku tension aku suka memasak. Bila aku memasak, aku makan banyak. Bila makan banyak, badan jadi berat. Bila badan tambah berat, aku jadi lagi malas. Aku asyik nak tidur pulak. Alahai...

Aku dan Wan Azizah

Apa Wan Azizah tunggu lagi? Ini lah masanya!

Orang biasa pun sudah boleh agak, mana mungkin mahkamah persekutuan akan gugurkan kes Anwar sedangkan kes sudah berjalan dan mengugurkan kes sebelum didengar adalah satu prinsip yang melanggar kedaulatan undang-undang.

Belum pernah ada seorang tertuduh boleh menangguh kes sehingga lebih 25 kali. Siap mahu gugur kes, gugur pasukan pendakwaan dan gugur hakim. Penjenayah perang Saddam Hussien pun tak buat macam itu.

Hanya orang buta sahaja yang masih percaya Anwar tidak bersalah. Daripada tak berani bersumpah sehingga tangguh kes, peguam beliau sendiri Karpal Singh merupakan orang yang mendedahkan kes liwat pertama Anwar semasa tahun 1998 dahulu, 5 bulan sebelum Anwar dipecat Mahathir.

Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah. Sudah terang lagi bersuluh, ramai bekas penyokong Anwar sudah mula buka mata. Jika dahulu mereka percaya ini merupakan satu konspirasi namun hari ini tidak lagi. Mereka semakin sangsi apabila melihat gerak geri dan gelagat Anwar dari hari ke hari.

Saya mengesyaki sesuatu akan mengapa Anwar selalu mahu tangguh kes. Seolah-olah beliau sedang menantikan sesuatu untuk dijadikan bukti dalam pembelaannya. Namun sehingga hari ini beliau masih belum mendapatkannya dan oleh itu beliau mahu tangguh, tangguh dan tangguh lagi.

Apa yang Anwar nantikan? Itu sama-sama kita lihat. Buat Wan Azizah, anda merupakan seorang manusia paling tabah di dunia. Sesungguhnya kita tak mungkin jumpa lagi wanita sebaik dan sesabar anda. Namun pasti anda terfikir sampai bila anda boleh bersabar lagi?

Keluarga anda mempunyai wang yang banyak. Sangat banyak. Gunakanlah wang tersebut untuk berhijrah ke luar negara dan mulakan hidup baru. Bawa sekali anak-anak dan cucu kerana percaya lah, kali ini anwar pasti akan sangkut.

Dia boleh tangguh sampai bila pun dia mahu, tapi masyarakat akan terus sabar menunggu sehingga lakonan beliau tamat. Saya dan rakan blogger lain termasuk komentar-komentar setia saya mahupun Saiful Buhari sendiri tidak akan penat menulis demi menegakkan kebenaran. Kami tidak akan jemu kerana kali ini Anwar tidak akan terlepas lagi.

Konspirasi UMNO

Jika kita ingat kembali laporan polis dibuat oleh Saiful selepas pilihanraya ke-12 berlangsung. Kalau anda mahu katakan ini konspirasi BN, mengapa tidak sebelum pilihanraya lagi UMNO rancang dan letupkan semua ini?

Kerana apa? Kerana BN tidak yakin ini akan mempengaruhi pengundi? Anda silap. Pada pilihanraya umum ke-12, BN dibawah pimpinan Pak Lah sangat lah yakin akan menang lebih besar dan kembali merampas Kelantan. Siap-siap Awang Adek Husin sudah dilambung seolah-olah bakal cuci kaki masuk pejabat MB Kelantan. Namun BN tewas dengan teruk.

Apa perlu coffee boy?

Satu perkara yang saya masih tidak faham mengapa Anwar perlu seorang coffee boy. Adakah beliau terlalu sakit pinggang sehingga nak buat kopi sendiri pun tak reti? Atau Wan Azizah yang tak tahu bezakan kopi dan serbuk bontot kuali?

Rakyat bukan bodoh lagi. Seperti mana BN telah tersilap langkah merendahkan kemampuan rakyat untuk berfikir, begitu juga dengan Anwar. Rakyat terus menjadi pemerhati terbaik dan akan menjatuhkan hukuman apabila tiba saat dan waktunya.

Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga. Kali ini Anwar tidak akan terlepas. Kami akan teruskan apa yang telah kami mulakan sehingga semuanya selesai.

Kepada Wan Azizah, anda akan menjadi saksi pasukan pembelaan. Apa yang anda tunggu lagi? Anda sudah lama bersabar. Kini anda diberi peluang untuk menceritakan segala-galanya kepada mahkamah. Ini lah masanya untuk anda ’smash’ bola tanggung kepada muka Anwar.

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Aku ke Zoo Johor