Followers

Monday, June 30, 2014

LITTLE GIRL NEEDS USD100K SURGERY BY END JULY TO CELEBRATE HER 4TH BIRTHDAY NEXT APRIL.



This is not a hoax, her uncle is a friend of mine.

On April 8, 2011, Shakirah Ariana was born in General Hospital Ampang, Kuala Lumpur with a rare condition called Heterotaxy Syndrome which majorly affects her heart. 1 in 4 million babies are born with this condition in the world. Ariana is sadly one of them. Ariana has a single ventricle defects which encompass a large spectrum of disorders, of which require 3 series of staged her surgeries. At present Ariana has undergone 2 heart surgeries:

1.     1st stage - BT Shunt surgery at Gleaneagles Hospital, KL, Malaysia under Dr Lim Miin Kang and Dr Lee Wee Seng when Ariana was 2 months old; and

2.    2nd stage - Bi-directional Glenn surgery at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, MA, United States of America (BCH) under Dr Gerard Marx and Dr Emani Ram, when she was 15 months old.

Since these surgeries, Ariana is thriving and is doing amazing. She is on track with all her development milestones. Just like any other healthy toddler, Ariana has her favourite hobbies too - she loves to play with her cousins, loves everything about the beach (the sea, the waves, the sand :)), swimming when her mommy allows her, loves the playground and even loves to bake cupcakes!

Ariana turned 3 in April 2014, and requires her final stage surgery- the fenestrated Fontan. Given the medical options for Ariana in Malaysia is limited, Ariana is scheduled to have this surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) early August 2014. BCH has graciously agreed to discount this surgery from approximately USD$1 Million++ to USD$108,480. Ariana’s mommy (a single mom) will need to raise approximately RM380,000/= to pay for Ariana’s surgery and associated expenses by July 2014.

Ariana and her mommy needs your help to make this happen and a chance for Ariana to lead life to the fullest. For those who wish to contribute, you may do so by the following methods:

1.     Deposit into Maybank Account No: 15408 00 00063 under Shamila Bashir Binti Abdul Kariem Bashir (Ariana’ mommy)

2.    Cheques payable to “Shamila Bashir Binti Abdul Kariem Bashir” addressed c/o Cagamas Berhad,Level 31, The Gardens North Tower,Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra,59200 Kuala Lumpur.

Your prayers and contributions are sincerely appreciated.


PEACE, anas

Join us to #SelfieSomethingNice




WHAT?
#SelfieSomethingNice project is a part of #SaySomethingNice Campaign.
The goal is to collect as many selfies as possible to form a Malaysian Unity map.

WHY?
We want to create opportunities for Malaysians to showcase Unity and provide a platform for them to work towards a common goal. Imagine Malaysians of diverse backgrounds, expatriates and foreign workers who have helped shape Malaysia taking part in an initiative to bring everyone together through #SelfieSomethingNice.

HOW?
From 30 June 2014 onwards, take a selfie and upload to the following channels:
  1. Facebook – Upload to SaySomethingNiceCampaign page.
  2. Instagram – Upload to your IG and hashtag #SelfieSomethingNice
  3. WhatsApp – Selfie and WhatsApp to this number: 019 253 1899
  4. Email to selfiesomethingnice@zubedy.com
  5. Twitter – Hashtag #selfiesomethingnice'
Please be mindful, do not upload negative or pornographic materials.


Let us together do our part in promoting unity in Malaysia.



Sunday, June 29, 2014

Unnecessary ill will by Wong Chun Wai - The STAR

‘The Herald’ editor Rev Lawrence Andrew speaking to the media outside the court in Putrajaya. - filepic‘The Herald’ editor Rev Lawrence Andrew speaking to the media outside the court in Putrajaya. - filepic


What's in a name? Well, in Malaysia, it is a big issue and, as events have shown, there are no winners even if the matter has been decided by the apex court.
LET me, right from the beginning, point out that I am a Christian. I am a Protestant, which is different from being a Catholic.
Protestants do not regard the Pope as the leader of the church, unlike the Catholics. The priests and nuns in Catholic churches practise celibacy.
In simple language, they are all unmarried and abstain from sex whereas pastors in Protestant churches can get married and have families.
In Malaysia, both priests and pastors are lumped together and referred to as paderiin Bahasa Malaysia. I do not know why, but that’s how things are.
The fact that there are differences within a faith is not exclusive to Christianity. All the major faiths have different schools of thought.
So when some Muslim groups in the country got angry with the Catholics over theHerald case, it was a Protestant church in Desa Melawati that ended up being hit with Molotov cocktails.
In Malaysia, because of our history, many Catholic churches are easily recognised by their large cathedrals with very distinct architecture.
The mainstream Protestants who came earlier, like the Methodists and the Anglicans, also have distinct churches but the newer Protestant churches tend to be located in shophouses, shopping malls, warehouses and even above coffee shops.
And that’s because the local authorities – the councils – make it difficult for churches to be built.
The conditions forbid the cross from being displayed openly and even putting the word “church” on the signboard is taboo. Many churches simply substitute the word “church” with words like “community centres”.
It is convenient to blame the federal government for everything but much of the authority is vested in state hands.
The church I go to in Petaling Jaya is located in an office block. As far as I am concerned, it is a church to me. To everyone else in the congregation, it is a church.
What is the point I am driving at? Simple. We need some common sense here, which is definitely missing from some of our religious and political elites. There are those who have been speaking a lot of gibberish while some have chosen to remain silent, hoping that the problems will vanish into thin air.
What’s in a name? Well, in Malaysia it is a big issue and, as events have shown, there are no winners even if the matter has been decided by the apex court.
There are only losers. All of us are affected by the negative media attention, especially the bad press overseas. And the sad and painful reality is that so much unnecessary ill will has been generated that threatens to tear at the social fabric that is keeping us together.
Have we managed to resolve anything? No, if you ask me. Many Malaysians remain just as unsatisfied and unsettled, and confused.
The federal government has correctly pointed out that Christians can still use the word “Allah” in churches and that the court ruling is confined only to the CatholicHerald, which had used the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia edition.
It’s just being practical. Anyone can insist on a blanket ban but how does one enforce such a ruling? By stationing policemen at all churches?
The 10-point agreement, for example, makes it clear that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can use the Al-kitab and the word “Allah” over there. We can engage in a debate as to what happens when they are in the peninsula, but seriously, how would it be possible to stop them from doing the same here?
There are many Sabahans and Sarawakians in the peninsula who are here to study and to work. It just shows up the ignorance of the peninsular Malaysians when they assume that anyone with a Malay-sounding name and who looks Malay is a Muslim.
The Malays must not forget that the bumiputras comprise many ethnicities who have different faiths as well.
Umno may be strong on its Malay-Muslim agenda but there are actually many Christian bumiputras who are members of the party, something which is lost on some delegates at the annual assembly.
We may see the UiTM, where the recent controversial conference was held, as a fully Malay/Muslim institution but the fact is there are many Christian bumiputra students at the campus, some 3,500 at last count.
In a reply to a parliamentary question, the Education Ministry said the Christology Nusantara conference was an intellectual discourse but one can imagine the dire consequences on any Christian organiser who dares to hold a similar “intellectual” discourse at another public university or college.
What irks many Malaysians is why there seem to be different standards on such matters. Some groups seem to get away with just about anything while action is promptly taken against other groups or individuals.
We should make it clear that anyone who insults another, whether as an individual or as a group, on the basis of race or religion should not be spared.
If the authorities close an eye to these political thugs, it would encourage them to further divide the nation and, worse, send the wrong message that they are endorsed by the authorities.
At the same time, Christians must be honest enough to admit that in most churches, the word “Allah” is hardly used and I doubt the congregation, especially those in English-speaking churches, feel comfortable using the word, instead of “Lord”.
While Christians have fought for the right to use the word, the reality is that it is rarely used – except in services involving Sabahans and Sarawakians. Well, the babas in Malacca would also argue that they, too, refer to God as “Allah”.
One thing is clear. The Al-kitab, mostly printed in Indonesia, will continue to be studied and distributed, like it or not, by Christians who are more comfortable with the Malay language.
After all, our education system has produced a generation of Malaysians, regardless of their ethnicity, who are more at home with Bahasa Malaysia than English.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Join us to #Collectsomethingnice








 WHAT?
Zubedy aims to assist Kechara Soup Kitchen by collecting goods and pre-used items for the benefit of the homeless and urban poor.

WHY?
  •         Kechara Soup Kitchen is a non-profit organisation and requires as much help as               they can get. This project is a lending hand for their good work.
  •         The project can help ease the burden of the homeless and urban poor.
  •         It encourages members of the public to positively contribute and do something nice           for the society.


HOW?
  •       Start off by putting aside the things you wish to give away/ donate.

           -  Second-hand clothings – only nice and usable ones, please.
           -  Hygiene products – soap, shampoo, toothbrush and paste, etc.
           -  Towels, blankets, etc.
           -  First aid – plasters, ointments, etc.
           -  Canned food – baked beans, etc. (meat not allowed)


  • Once you have everything sorted and ready to give away, please contact Ms. Dayana (dayana@zubedy.com) or Ms. Adrina (adrina@zubedy.com) at 03 - 7733 6919 or via their respective email addresses
  • They will record your collection and advice on how to proceed from there including the drop-off mechanism.


WHEN?
  • Collection can start from now till 22nd August 2014.
  • Distribution will be done during the campaign’s 17-day period, from Hari Merdeka to Hari Malaysia.



Thursday, June 19, 2014

Thursdays with Zubedy - Moving Towards NEW POLITICS




Moving Towards NEW POLITICS 


zubedy has recently announced our latest endeavour in bringing together 2 of Malaysia's prolific icons of moderate politics - Y.Bhg Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, the CEO of Global Movement of Moderates Foundation and YB Dato' Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the Parit Buntar MP at a press conference recently.

The 2 respectable figures will co-author a book titled 'New Politics', which zubedy will publish. With this book, we hope to achieve several goals:
  • To promote positive New Politics - a state of political maturity where moderation is key and extreme partisanship is a thing of the past.
  • To encourage the Middle Path as a standard practice among the targeted audience of the book and Malaysians in general.
  • To get fellow Malaysians to take active participation and engaging the 2 figures of moderate politics.


Below are some coverage of the press conference:

1. 'Voteaccording to conscience' - The Star (published on 18 June 2014)
7. PemimpinUMNO, PAS Hasilkan Buku Bersama - Bernama (shared by Utusan Malaysia)
10. PAS'Mujahid and UMNO's Saifuddin to co-write a book on New Politics - Malaysia Chronicle (taken from Bernama)

The book will be designed as a dialogue between Malaysians and both Y.Bhg Datuk Saifuddin and YB Dato' Dr Mujahid. This is where we need your help. We want to gather as many questions as possible for the book, questions you would like to see them answer. The topic can be of any topic - education, economy, socialisation, politics, etc.

Please submit all questions to aizuddin@zubedy.com.


We look forward to your questions.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Abide by A-G, he has final say - The STAR

AS a Muslim and a student of constitutional law, I am embarrassed and dismayed by the overzealousness and oppressiveness of several actions of Mais (Selangor Islamic Religious Council) and Jais (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) over the last few months.
Among them are the seizure of 321 Bibles from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) on Jan 2, the raid on a Hindu temple to arrest a Hindu bride suspected of being a Muslim and the more recent defiance by these state authorities of the constitutional decision by our Attorney-General, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, that BSM has committed no offence in importing or possessing Bibles in the Malay or Iban languages.
The A-G is the country’s highest legal officer under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution. It is he, and not Jais, whose power is to decide whether prosecution must commence before a civil court. (BSM is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts.)
The A-G is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister. His status is that of a Federal Court judge and to brush aside his views on a matter with significant constitutional, international and political implications smacks of recklessness and arrogance.
It is legally true that under Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, state assemblies are authorised to “control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among” Muslims.
In pursuance of this power, Selangor has enacted Section 9 of the Non-Islamic Religion (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 banning the use of 35 words, including the term “Allah”. This law is an overkill and (in my view) clearly unconstitutional. It does not link the usage of the banned words to propagation. Most absurdly, it imposes an absolute ban.
The word Allah appears in the Selangor state anthem. The words Allah and Muhammad appear on every police badge. Are we then to believe that every non-Muslim police officer wearing the police badge is attempting to proselytise Muslims and must, therefore be prosecuted?
To make sense of this law, it must be read in light of the rest of the Constitution, especially Article 10 on free speech and Article 11 on freedom of religion. Only if the usage affects public order, national security or amounts to propagation, can the law be triggered.
This is also the learned view of the A-G who found that the import and possession of the Bibles by BSM did not violate the terms of any law.
As to the Mais and Jais view that the seized Bibles must not be returned but must be referred to the court to be disposed of under Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code, my understanding is that the section applies only if a charge is framed. The A-G has already said that there will be no charge.
According to Mais and Jais, the A-G is wrong. The order of the Selangor government is wrong. Only Mais and Jais are right.
This smacks of pride and arrogance which is both a threat to our system of rule of law and a violation of the spirit of Islam.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Boko Haram And The Politics Of Terror by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar

The heinous abduction of 276 girls from a boarding school in the village of Chibok in the north eastern part of Nigeria on the 14th of April 2014 falls into a pattern of hideous terror unleashed by the Boko Haram in Nigeria, north Cameroon and Niger for a few years now.

Boko Haram’s terror, i t is estimated, has resulted in about 10,000 deaths. Both Muslims and Christians, clerics and nonclerics, Nigerians and non Nigerians, have been the victims. Police stations, government offices, schools, mosques, churches, and tourist sites frequented by Westerners have been attacked at various times.

Through acts of violence, Boko Haram, founded in 2002, seeks to oust the Nigerian government and replace it with an “Islamic State” based upon the sharia. Eliminating Western education in particular and a secular way of life in general is central to its notion of an Islamic state. It subscribes to a myopic interpretation of sharia with the emphasis upon harsh, punitive laws. Many of its rules keep women subservient to male power. Those who do not adhere to its notion of the sharia are categorised as “apostates” who deserve to be put to death. In that sense, Boko Haram is very much a Takfiri movement — a movement which easily condemns fellow Muslims as apostates. 

A number of leading ulama (Islamic religious scholars) in Nigeria and West Africa have criticised Boko Haram for not only resorting to violence but also for its bigotry and dogmatism. Its attempts to coerce Christians to embrace Islam and to force what are perceived as secular schools to close down have earned the ireof a lot of the ulama and Muslims who constitute half of Nigeria’s total population. They rightly regard Boko Haram as a movement that has shamelessly betrayed Islamic teachings. Indeed, some Muslims insideand outside Nigeria have even begun to wonder if Boko Haram isn’t the creation of forces that are determined to tarnish the image of the religion ! It is alleged that it is funded by foreign elements though Boko Haram is also known to have staged bank robberies and the like to finance its operations.

From its criminal activities it is obvious that the movement is not just about a distorted, perverted interpretation of religion. Boko Haram is essentially about the pursuit for power. Like many other groups, both Muslim and non-Muslim in various parts of the world, it has consciously chosen to manipulate religious
emotions as it lusts for power and the glory that accompanies it. 

However, if Boko Haram continues to command a constituency, it is partly because of the larger situation prevailing in the country. Nigeria is one of the most unequal societies in the world with an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. There is also massive corruption at all levels of society. A weak delivery system has increased the burden of the people. All this has fuelled anger and disillusionment with the State. As a movement fighting the State, Boko Haram has been able to tap into some of that frustration.

The global environment has also abetted Boko Haram. The unending suffering of the Palestinian people at the hands of Israel, an intimate ally of the United States; the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and the massacre and torture of innocent civilians; and the alienation and humiliation of Muslims in many Western
countries post 9-11, have helped to reinforce the anti-Western sentiments of groups like Boko Haram. These episodes and trends provide justification for militants who try to avenge injustices and indignities
perpetrated against Muslims through their own acts of terror.In recent months, the presence of French soldiers in Mali and the Central African Republic has given Boko Haram yet another reason to ventilate its hostility towards the West.

In this regard, there are Muslims who ask why Western elites are so concerned about the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls now when just two decades ago, Washington had imposed sanctions upon Iraq that killed some 650,000 children and when hundreds of deformed babies — the tragic victims of depleted uranium from US military operations —— continue to be born in that blighted land to this today? What this shows is that a selective approach to issues of justice in the global arena and the stark double standards of the powerful undermine the battle against violence and terrorism.

It is further undermined by the material and political support that the centres of power in the West and in other parts of the world sometimes offer to certain terrorist outfits — in spite of their rhetoric against terrorism. This had happened in Libya in 2011 and is happening now in Syria on a much more extensive and systematic scale. It is this hypocrisy that has compelled analysts to conclude that there are good terrorists and bad terrorists, the former being those who are useful tools in the perpetuation of Western hegemony while the latter are those who oppose that hegemony!

Given this scenario, how does one address the terrorism of Boko Haram and other such groups? One, it is the responsibility of everyone — governments, businesses, unions, civil society organisations, media, professionals, academics — to work towards a just and equitable international order where no nation or cluster of nations exercises global hegemonic power that can only be sustained through violence which in turn begets violence from terrorist outfits.

Two, elites in power and with influence at the state level everywhere should ensure that there is good, honest governance. For elite corruption as we have seen in so many countries, is grist to the mill for groups that seek to remedy the situation through violence.

Three, hidden hands that manipulate terrorist groups for their own nefarious agenda at national, regional and international levels should be exposed without fear or favour. This is where the media has a critical role to play.

Four, the sources of funding of terrorist groups at different levels should be laid bare through more effective intelligence gathering and exchange. There should be no tolerance for attempts to conceal or camouflage terrorist funding, even if it involves the powerful.

Five, Muslim intellectuals committed to the universal, inclusive message of Islam should join hands across continents to counter the narrow, bigoted, dogmatic distortions of the purveyors of violence and terror within the ummah. In fact, there should be similar movements within all the other religious communities too, since bigotry and dogmatism often spawning violence is a challenge that has emerged in all religious communities in the 21st century.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Thursdays With Zubedy - #WahaiMelayu Allah Tak Akan Ubah Nasib Melayu, Kalau Kita Melayu Tak Nak Ubah Diri Kita Sendiri




  
" Ungkapan 'Allah Tak Akan Ubah Nasib Melayu, Kalau Kita Melayu Tak Nak Ubah Diri Kita Sendiri' seperti yang dipilih oleh Anas Zubedy untuk buku ini bertepatan dengan perjuangan bangsa dalam memastikan kelangsungan kewujudan mereka dalam persaingan moden era globalisasi. "

- Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

As aptly captured by Tun Dr Mahathir in his foreword for #WahaiMelayu, this book by Anas Zubedy aims to help and positively motivate the Malays, especially budding entrepreneurs, in moving away from their 'takuk lama' (rut) and challenging them to be competitive and independent. This is to break self-limiting artificial boundaries like the concept of a lazy race or that Malays are only good in politics or arts and not business, and many other sociocultural myths.

The book encourages the right motivation and inspiration for a specific culture like the Malays. This is the same in dealing with people anywhere around the world - we just need to find the right way to communicate and engage with them. To trigger the best of them, so they can come forward to be productive and effective.


#WahaiMelayu is now available at major bookstores at the price of RM24.90. Please contact 'Aizat Roslan at 03-77336919 / 019-3570699 or via email at aizat@zubedy.com, should you wish to place a direct order from zubedy. 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

#SaySomethingNice 2014 @ Putrajaya Youth Festival



The #SaySomethingNice campaign for 2014 formally kicked-off on 24th May at zubedy's office in Damansara. During the same weekend, the #SaySomethingNice campaign also participated in the Putrajaya Youth Festival, which took place from the 23rd to the 25th of May, 2014.


As a part of the campaign's collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the #SaySomethingNice campaign was given a spot at the Festival. The Putrajaya Youth Festival had a total of 60 segments, of which it gave a particular focus to education, spiritual, skills, arts, talent, interactive, and volunteerism. With the participation of many youths and youth-related groups and the attendance of many other, the Festival served its theme of "From Youths to Youths".

Placed alongside the Scouts Association of Malaysia, Malaysian Red Crescent Society, and many other bodies, the #SaySomethingNice campaign exhibited photos from last year's campaign as well as the #SaySomethingNice posters, which passers-by took the opportunity to share and write nice things on it.


It is this simple and positive message of the #SaySomethingNice campaign that attracted many organisations and individuals to enquire and participate in this Unity effort.