Raising Funds For Underprivileged Children In Malaysia

WHAT IS TREK FOR A CAUSE?

The TREK FOR A CAUSE is an initiative by the Monyets & Yaks (MY) Team to raise awareness about and funds for educating underprivileged children in Malaysia. The beneficiaries will include children from poor coastal communities in Sabah, Orang Asli communities and refugees.

WHAT WILL THE FUNDS  BE USED FOR?

The funds will be used to set up education facilities and provide support to help these children meet their basic needs in the pursuit of education. Funds will be used to pay for books, teachers, teaching materials, clothing, nutrition and extracurricular activities for the children.

The main beneficiaries will be the Orang Asli communities in Pahang and Kelantan, communities in the islands of the east coast of Sabah and the refugee children, mostly scattered in the Klang Valley.

HOW CAN I CONTRIBUTE?

Contribution may be made via direct deposit or cheque. For direct deposit, payment can be made to Yayasan Kemanusiaan Muslim Aid Malaysia (CIMB Bank Account Number 1422-0000070-10-8). Donations may also be made by writing a cheque to Yayasan Kemanusiaan Muslim Aid Malaysia and sending it to

YAYASAN KEMANUSIAAN MUSLIM AID MALAYSIA

8-1-2, Menara Mutiara Bangsar

Jalan Liku, 59100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel : 03-22881996 Fax : 03-22881966

Donors should furnish their full name and address so that an official receipt can be sent to them. "Trek for a Cause" should be written at the back of cheques. Corporate sponsors. Companies can choose to be a key sponsor by making a donation of RM 10,000 or more.

The MY team will bear the company logo on their trekking shirt, and carry and display the sponsor’s banner at the highest point (Thorung La at 17,770 ft). Companies wishing to contribute may contact the MY team (Dr G Balamurugan at 012-3831135).

FURTHER INFORMATION

For information about the MY team and the Annapurna trek, please contact :

Dr G Balamurugan (Tel : 012-3831135) email : gbm@ere.com.my

Azree Anis Zubedy (Tel : 012-3190804) email : azree@zubedy.com

Dr Casey Ngo (Tel : 012-5120652) email : casey.ngo@rsync.com.my

For information about Muslim Aid Malaysia, please contact :

Habsah Marjuni (03-22881996) email : hmarjuni@gmail.com

WHO ADMINISTERS THE FUNDS?

The funds will be administered by Yayasan Kemanusiaan Muslim Aid Malaysia (Muslim Aid). Muslim Aid is a non-political and non-sectarian aid agency. Muslim Aid Asia was officially established in 2004 in Malaysia and in 2008, Yayasan Kemanusiaan Muslim Aid Malaysia was established to concentrate on delivering aid within the country. Among the recipient communities are refugees in Malaysia, the Orang Asli, single mother, poor children and orphans. All donations to YKMAM are tax-exempt (LHDN 01/35/42/51/179-6.6487).

Website:http://muslimaidasia.com

Facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/YKMAM.

WHO IS THE MONYETS & YAKS (MY) TEAM?

The MY (Monyets & Yaks) team is a group of amateur trekking enthusiasts. This is their second major expedition to Nepal, having successfully trekked to the Everest Base Camp in 2011. Besides enjoying what they do, the MY team aims to contribute to society in any way possible. The MY team’s 2013 Annapurna trek aims to raise at least RM100,000 to support the education of underprivileged children in Malaysia.

The members of the MY team pay for all their own expenses. 100% of all funds raised will go the charitable cause.

The members of MY team 2013 expedition are :

•        Dr G Balamurugan (Team leader)

•        Azree Anis Zubedy

•        V Sathyabama

•        Dr Casey Ngo

•        Ravi Karuppiah

•        Fong Chuen Far

•        Briony Homer

•        Mun Lawrence Low

•        Suresh Singh

•        Amir Effendi

THE TREK

The MY team will trek through the Annapurna region in western Nepal from 14 - 30 March 2013. The Annapurna trek is a very challenging trail through mountains and valleys surrounded by 8000m high peaks. The team will start at Bhulbule (an altitude of 2760 feet), a little village at the foot of the mighty Annapurna Range. They will trek all the way up to the Thorung La pass (17,770ft ) which is one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The MY team will trek for a total of 12 consecutive days and cover over 80 km of rugged terrain. 


Click here for more information on this drive

The Syrian Diary - No Politics, Only People Telling Their Story: An Impressive Documentary By Anastasia Popova

This exclusive documentary by Russian TV station, Rossiya 24, is a “must watch” as it gives a very good insight on the events that have been taking place in Syria since 2011. It shows how both the Syrian Army and the Syria people are defending their country Syria from the unimaginable crimes committed by extremist terrorists who operate with massive international media, military, intelligence, and financial support, a situation that no one would ever want to be in.

Click here to watch the video

PM Najib and Oppa Gangnam Penang Style.

I grew up in Penang. I grew up amongst the Chinese, mainly Hokkiens. Thanks to the experience, I am familiar with them and conversant in their dialect.

Those who grew up amongst them will be familiar with their logic and reasoning during mediation. There is a favourite defence mechanism.  It goes like this;

“Wa bo sa lah.” [I’m not in the wrong]

“Lu bo ka wa kong.” [You didn’t tell me (from the very beginning]

“Lu bo sia lok lai ma.” [There’s no written agreement]

The above sequence is an automatic response typically whenever they are in a debate or dispute. It’s almost like a standard operating procedure. And because of this line of thinking, it is not entirely surprising that when the Prime Minister asked, “Is Penang ready for BN?” during the Chinese New Year gig; there are those among them who boldly answered ‘No’ without feeling any guilt.

Let me explain.

Unlike the Malays generally, the Penang Chinese do not easily feel ‘terhutang budi’ when someone extend a kind act as did the BN. When they extended a gift, like bringing Psy to Penang, many Penang Chinese generally do not see it as an obligation to be nice in return. Their reaction is simple, “I did not ask you to do it. If you do it… that is your problem lah.” Basically, Wa bo sa lah. Lu bo ka wa kong. Lu bo sia lok lai ma.

If Penang Gerakan or MCA hope they can wrestle the votes of Penang Chinese in favour of BN simply because they brought Psy to Penang, I will be genuinely surprised. It will be asking far too much. Penangites will go and have fun at the concert with Psy entertaining them, eat the free food, but they are still likely to vote for the DAP. There was no earlier ‘agreement’ to require voting for BN in return for the kind act of bringing Psy and the party; and therefore, they do not feel that they are in the wrong. Wa bo sa lah. Lu bo ka wa kong. Lu bo sia lok lai ma.

This is especially true where DAP supporters are concern. As their leader, CM Lim Guan Eng openly told them it is okay to be a freeloader and go have free fun, eat the free food, and dress in symbolic opposition colours.

But does that mean BN had a public relations disaster as per pro-opposition pundits are trying to sell? Not at all!  Unfortunately today in Malaysia, extreme partisanship has made critics from both sides exaggerate situations way far off reality with the hope to paint the other side as bad as possible and colour their side as best as they could. 

Through the CNY show BN may have achieved the following.

1. The Chinese New Year gathering  has reminded the Penang Chinese that BN/Gerakan/MCA are still around, can still move things in a big way and Penang is not the monopoly of the DAP. It was an occasion for BN to engage the rakyat directly. The event was a good PR opportunity for a re-launch of sorts.

2. Furthermore, the Penang rakyat including hard core DAP supporters get to meet, see, and listen to the Prime Minister in person. With his earnest effort to woo and mingle with the grassroots it helps to bolster the image of a leader who mati-mati wants to be a Prime Minister for all Malaysians. By stressing that he wants to be the Prime Minister for all, including the Chinese who currently are seen solidly with the opposition sits well among the fence sitters of all races. His willingness to risk going into ‘an enemy territory’ and be humbled and snubbed portrays him as a leader who is soft in the outside but very strong in the inside.

3. Chances are those who answered either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the Prime Minister at the gathering, would have answered the same regardless. But this event is advantageous to the BN for it is luring the fence-sitters. And they form the bulk of the electoral roll nationwide. What happens in Penang does not stay only in Penang.  Both BN and PR should worry about what these non-partisan undecided voters think of BN and PM Najib after the event instead of focussing on hard core supporters from each side who are already decided. In this coming election, the non-partisans are the kingmakers.

4. As suggested in item 3, what happens in Penang does not stay in Penang. I have strong convictions that scores of Malays will not take kindly that a ‘Malay’ leader like PM Najib has been snubbed openly by a mainly Chinese crowd. Many Malays will see this as rude, unbecoming, and uncultured.  In the Malay way of being and ideals, when one comes bearing ‘gifts’ – in this case, an international star  performer and good food – and you decide to take it, at the least one must be courteous and considerate. Acting any other way can be construed as ‘tak berterima kasih’ and ill-mannered. Some will say, if they can do it to Najib a Prime Minister, imagine what will they do to us, we the rakyat jelata.

At most, from a Malay standpoint, one should just remain silent instead of answering ‘No’. By not saying ‘yes’ it will mean ‘no’, but in a nicer way. Malays are sensitive to such things.  In the late 90s, many Malays while not being Anwar’s supporters and may even agree with Dr Mahathir’s point of view did not take kindly with the manner the former DPM  was treated.  Such behaviour by the Penangites, coupled with other incidents like CM Lim Guan Eng using the Allah issue in his Christmas message for political purpose (which probably baffled even people in PAS his own comrades in PR) and the recent rude ‘gesturing’ to Her Majesty The Queen by someone many Malays see as a DAP supporter will make them rasa was-was with the DAP leadership. This will have a direct impact on the average Malays be they from UMNO, PAS, PKR or party less.

In short, Malaysian politics is far more complicated and sophisticated and by far more dynamic than one might aspect. For example, when CM Lim Guan Eng uses the Allah issue for political purpose perhaps to gain the support of the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, he dented his own team mates in PAS and PKR within the Peninsular. Similarly, when Ibrahim Ali and right wing Malay groups like Perkasa reacted by suggesting the burning of the Bahasa Malaysia Bible, the act will move various parties in differing ways.

In short, what one group does have repercussion in many forms across the nation. Playing to one group, will affect another – it is no easy task to win the leadership of Malaysia. Leaders must find a delicate balance.

To lead this nation, and to be Prime Minister of Malaysia, each candidate no matter if you are in a Malay or Chinese stronghold; in Penang or Kelantan or Sabah or Sarawak you must be a leader for all. It is not enough to have the Malays supporting you. You also need the support of the Chinese, the Indians, and the communities of Sabah and Sarawak. You will need the support of people in urban areas and rural areas. You will need support from the old, the middle aged, and the young.

In doing so, a Malay leader cannot be too Malay, the Chinese cannot be too Chinese, the Indians cannot be too Indian, the Sabahans cannot be too Sabahan, the Sarawakians cannot be too Sarawakian. They all have to be Malaysian first.

Najib’s Oppa Gangnam in Penang has shown that he is serious about wanting to be a Prime Minister for all. For that, he has my respect. I hope he and those like him be they from BN, PR or civil society will continue to work towards being a Malaysian leader no matter what. Even if you receive millions of  ‘NOs!”

Anas Zubedy

Kuala Lumpur

Love actually is all around us by Soo Ewe Jin - The STAR

LET'S talk about love. Love is not a one-day commercialised event that deludes you into spending a tidy sum to prove your love for another person.

The reason a bunch of roses is more expensive on Feb 14 is pure economics. As long as there is a willing buyer, there will be a willing seller. And we all know that famous saying by P.T. Barnum, “There's a sucker born every minute”.

Actually, I love flowers. A bouquet of flowers given or received at the right time, for the right reason, is actually one of the joys of life.

And I follow the principle set by a dear friend who said: “Please send me flowers while I can still smell them, not when my body is in a coffin. For that, it's better to give the money to a worthy cause.”

You see, when we fall into the trap of expressing love only on a particular day, like the way hampers are delivered to people on festive occasions, it is no longer special.

It just gets lost in the maze of things and the only people who benefit are the suppliers.

So, let's talk about real love.

Every morning, my neighbour in an adjacent street takes her mother out for a walk. Her mother is in a wheelchair and she has to be particularly careful when she reaches my street as it is a main road. Her cheerful disposition is always welcome balm for a tired soul.

In the hospitals, especially the public ones, you see real people resting in the corridors, exhausted after taking care of their loved ones. Some travel great distances just to get medical attention.

more on this article

TWZ: Black eyes, blue eyes, green eyes...Aren't we all Malaysians?

We are happy to invite you to attend the book launch of "Aren't We All Malaysians" by Datuk Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa. It is to be held as follows:

Date:

23 February 2013 (Saturday)

Time:

9.00 – 11.30am

Venue:

zubedy (m) sdn bhd, 3rd Floor, Wisma WIM, Jalan Abang Hj Openg, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur

We look forward to seeing you. Feel free to get in touch for further information. We are contactable at this number: 03 – 7727 0758 and the following email addresses: hidayah@zubedy.com / aizat@zubedy.com.

Please RSVP by 21 February 2013.

Islam and the Third Sex by Prof Hashim Kamali

Note: This article was published in JUST COMMENTARY in Nov 2011

Transgenders and Hermaphrodites in Islamic Teaching

The untimely death of Ashraf Hafiz Abdul Aziz at 26 and the difficulties he faced put many in a reflective mood as to what could have been done better to address his suffering when he was alive. By refusing to grant Ashraf his plea to change and register his name as Aleesha Farhana, the courts may have adhered to the letter of the law but it is questionable whether they were compassionate enough.

If one were to learn a lesson, it would be to find better answers through suitable legislation and grant of flexibility in the adjudication of intensely humanitarian cases such as Ashraf’s. The Birth and Deaths Registration Act 1957 only allows amendment in personal identity if an error had been made in the first place. The gender reassignment surgery Ashraf had two years ago apparently did not warrant

such an amendment.

There are an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 transgenders in the country, most of whom are grappling with stigma and prejudice. They get little comfort from the authorities, and even religious leaders tend to lecture them on how they should reform themselves. They have low self-esteem and often get involved in the vice trade.

Ashraf’s case evidently invoked voices of compassion in the media and elsewhere, although the media coverage on him seemed more interested in the colour and make-up of his clothes rather than his emotional trauma and pain.

Islam is cognizant of the predicament of transgender individuals, and even though the fiqh tradition provides a certain amount of detail, it is the general guidelines of the Quran and Hadith that need to be looked at first.

Islam identifies itself as din al-fitrah, a religion that manifests harmony with human nature, which implies that Islam seeks to respond positively to the legitimate needs of people. Our natural need and reason, informed by the available guidelines in Islam and scientific evidence, should guide us in our quest to provide fair responses to issues.

Justice is a cardinal principle of Islam, yet it is to be tempered with fairness (ihsan) as in the Quranic verse, “God commands justice and fairness”

(al-Nahl, 16:90).

God’s affirmation that “We have bestowed dignity on the children of Adam” (17:70) is unqualified and absolute in that human dignity is divinely ordained and inheres in all individuals by virtue of their humanity. This should be duly reflected in our social and family relations, business transactions, laws and governance.

All of this is to be further moderated by the principle that “God makes no soul responsible for what is beyond its capacity” (2:233). Prophet Muhammad also said that “people are God’s children and the most beloved of them to God is the most compassionate of them to His children”. There is acknowledgement in the Quran also of “men who have no wiles with women”, side by side with minors and elderly persons with whom women can behave more freely within the home environment (24:31 and 24:60).

The fiqh discourse on transgenders draws a certain distinction between two categories of persons, namely the khuntha and the mukhannath. The former is a male person who resembles a female in speech, movement and appearance due to an inherent condition that is beyond his ability to control, and there is, therefore, no sin, shame or blame attached to it. Juristic discourse concerning the khuntha is almost entirely focused on their rights in respect of privacy, clothing, burial ceremonies, inheritance rights and others. This is a language not of denial but affirmation that such persons do exist among us and that society should allow space for them to lead a life of dignity.

The mukhannath is, on the other hand, a person who conceals his masculinity and much of his feminine behaviour is deemed to be of his own making. There is blame attached to this and the case is treated differently to that of the khuntha.

To differentiate one from the other may admittedly not be self-evident, in which case scientific evidence plays a crucial role, although the fiqh tradition, too, has moved beyond simplistic categories to discern shades of differences between them.

Fiqh and science both confirm that sexual orientation is latent within each individual, emerging in complex interactions between one’s biological make-up and early childhood. Current research is pushing slowly but steadily towards the conclusion that sexual orientation is largely inherent.

Khuntha is further divided into two types: easy to discern (khuntha ghayr mushkil), as opposed to khuntha mushkil, whose condition is difficult to determine.

The former is a person who exhibits both masculine and feminine traits, but one of these is predominant. This is basically a man with feminine tendencies, or a woman with masculine tendencies, and it is possible to determine the application of fiqh rules pertaining to their rights.

The khunsa mushkil, or transgender in the full sense, is a person who may have both male and female sexual organs, or has neither but whose urinary tract ends with an aperture. If the former, an attempt is made to determine the manner of urination. If this proves reliable, and natural inclinations, whether towards men or women, also fail to provide a clue, the case is treated as one of indeterminable hermaphrodite.

Jurists and schools of law have differed as to details in the application of fiqh rules pertaining, for example, to inheritance, by taking an average of two separate distributions for a male and a female respectively, or the lower of the two, depending on which school of fiqh one follows, to be assigned to the hermaphrodite.

Some of these questions can now be better determined perhaps in light of advances in science, in which case the rules of ijtihad would suggest recourse to scientific evidence, general guidelines of the Quran and Hadith, as well as the enlightened aspirations and insights of our society and our quest to finding more refined answers.

11 August 2011

Prof. Mohammad Hashim Kamali is founding chairman and CEO of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS), Malaysia.

Priceless, the real ‘kuih kapit’ by Soo Ewe Jin - The STAR

Letters and cards help to build up your treasure trove of special memories with loved ones.

SOON after I got married, I was privileged to be selected for a short-term press fellowship in the United States. It was only for six weeks, but for someone who had just tied the knot, saying goodbye to your better half while still in the honeymoon phase was not easy.

At the airport, my wife quietly slipped me a letter with clear instructions not to read it until I was up in the air.

Well, if saying goodbye was tough, the letter made it even tougher. Her words, so poignantly woven together, were guaranteed to make even a grown-up man cry. In my short sojourn there, we would faithfully write to each other, trusting the postman to always deliver.

At another phase of our life, she was the one going away when she was awarded a press fellowship to be in Cambridge for three months.

I was then a full-time househusband and though our time apart was longer, the two young boys kept me well occupied.

There was still no e-mail and Skype then, so the hand-written letters were something to look out for.

I reckon that we suffer less from separation anxiety these days because there are so many ways for us to stay in touch, no matter how far apart we may be geographically.

But in my household, we have maintained this wonderful tradition of writing love letters to one another for special occasions, and even for no apparent reason.

Early in our marriage, we had read a book that taught us how to store such treasures, from letters to cards to little mementos. There are many such boxes in my home and it is a joy to rummage through them to bring back those special moments.

And our sons also joined us. The cards they send to us are always special, never a Hallmark card but always homemade ones that reveal the creative streak in them that make the words truly meaningful.

Read more on this article