LET US UNITE AND COMMIT TO FIGHT AGAINST HYPOCRISY

I refer to the Sunday Star Says column headline today that reads, “Let this royal installation inspire us to unite”.

The article suggests that while the throne of the YDP Agong is more than just a symbol of the country’s KEDAULATAN, it also carries among others the duties of ensuring the nation’s wellbeing, the rakyat’s interest and more importantly, the people’s unity. In the Royal Address, the YDP Agong calls us to pray to God to bless Malaysia to progress and prosper, live peacefully, happily and in unity. The article also stressed that while the YDP Agong plays an important unifying figure, we the rakyat must also play our part and COMMIT to do better. In order to commit to do better, we must first identify and define the roadblocks that are hindering us in achieving our goals.

This article proposes that one of our biggest roadblocks to progress and prosper, let alone be united, is the practice of HYPOCRISY that is prevalent within the nation. For example, it is hypocrisy that is holding us back from holistically dealing with graft with the comprehensiveness needed to really achieve the goals of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) and break the chains of corruption. It is akin to patching the holes of a boat at the bow yet allowing water to gush in from the holes at the stern. The boat will still sink.

What is hypocrisy?

Hypocrisy is a negative trait that involves dishonesty, deception and deceit. It is a pattern of behaviour of those who say one thing but do another. It is a sickness of the heart. It is the sin of pretending to virtue or goodness thus avoiding looking at the shortcomings within and figuring out our true compass. Hypocrisy makes us sincerely belief that we should not be held to the same standards and accountability as the others, simply because, we have better intentions. Hypocrisy helps us rationalise wrongdoings. How else can one justify the murder of thousands of children, women and the elderly in Gaza without hypocrisy stemming from a sick heart?

Those who practice hypocrisy is called a hypocrite. Generally, we can regard a hypocrite as a morally‐corrupt person who consciously and deliberately deceive others in order to further their own interests.

The Prophet’s identification of hypocrites is crisp. He said,

“Four traits whoever possesses them is a hypocrite and whoever possesses some of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: the one who when he speaks, he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise, when he disputes, he transgresses and when he makes an agreement, he violates it” - Sahih Muslim and Bukhari

How can we unite against hypocrisy?

To work with the YDP Agong and achieve his prayer, there are many actions we need to commit to in mitigating and fighting hypocrisy. I would like to focus on two - The Leadership-Followership dynamics.

LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS

Firstly, we must not support, vote or empower anyone who practice hypocrisy to leadership positions – regardless of the political party that they represent, race or religious background or age. This is made easier in the next general election as we have had the luxury of having sampled the leadership of many through the political coalitions, in one way or the other, since the last few changes of governments.

As a point of reference, we can use the four clear and concise traits as explained by the Prophet to make our decision. We do not support nor put in leadership positions those who; -

1. Whenever they speak, they lie.

2. Whenever they promise, they do not keep.

3. Whenever they dispute, they transgress.

4. Whenever they make an agreement, they violate it.

To those who are already in power, we must feedback them on their hypocrisy. Demand them to do what they say and pressure that they avoid practicing double standards. Do not take their hypocrisy in silence. Perchance they may think that we condone the behaviour and they can get away with it.

FOLLOWERHIP DYNAMICS

Secondly, we must purge our own hypocritical tendencies. Leaders can only exist when they have followers. Followers create leaders. We are the pillars that hold them up. Without us, their house crumbles and their hypocrisy have no place to do harm. We need to be truthful, reflect and check if we have allowed the sickness in our hearts give birth to hypocritical tendencies that choose others who are hypocritical too to lead us.

Having said that, if we were honest with our intentions and were genuinely duped by the Oscar level acting by those who have betrayed us with their veiled hypocrisy, we must remember at heart the English idiom, “Once bitten, twice shy” and act accordingly in the next elections. Failing which, we are nothing but incorrigible foolish followers destined to forever be the football of deceitful leaders.

We must first be honest with our own self. As Confucius say, “an honest person must avoid hypocrisy”.

As our first act to commit to YDP Agong’s prayer for the nation, send this article to your leaders. Tell them you are watching them, especially those who have betrayed you. Tell them in no uncertain terms their hypocrisy is now in the open.

“ Negaraku, Tanah tumpahnya darahku, Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju.

Rahmat Bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan, Raja kita, selamat bertakhta”

Peace.

Anas Zubedy

Kuala Lumpur

Note: picture from Sinar Harian

HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS (T&D) AND SERVE THE CUSTOMER WITH INTEGRITY - NATIONAL TRAINING WEEK

FREE ADMISSION - NATIONAL TRAINING WEEK 2024

WHEN ? This Tuesday 25th 2pm

VENUE ? WISMA HRD Corp or Join via Zoom (Register and Links below)

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Those interested in running a T & D business and CLIENTS who want to be served by ETHICAL VENDORS

WHAT IS COVERED?

Doing business the right way through competence, grit, integrity and hard work.

1. How to research, innovate, and create training programs that have volume potential and last for a long time.

2. How to build a brand, devise strong marketing plans, and set a sales process that ensures consistent sales.

3. How to duplicate success and train trainers to teach your training products with the quality required.

4. How to lead and manage the tasks, the team and individuals towards your company goals.

5. How to manage money prudently and avoid unethical deals.

Register here: https://bit.ly/REGISTERNTW

You may also join our ZOOM session

https://bit.ly/NTWzubedy

Meeting ID: 849 8801 9778

Passcode: 308980

Walk-ins are welcome!

RATIONALE

The cornerstone of a successful and sustainable business is built on trust and integrity. In today's world, where quick profits often tempt individuals to cut corners, maintaining ethical standards is more important than ever.

Selling without deceit or “kelentong”, builds trust and a solid customer base. Proper money management reduces the temptation to bribery and unethical behaviour. When individuals are financially prudent, they are unlikely to engage in unethical practices to make ends meet. They won’t have to.

Insisting on income earned through honest means, or “halal” earnings reinforces business integrity, while fulfilling tax obligations is essential for running a legitimate business. Taking what is not yours or resorting to bribery reflects incompetence; inability to succeed through merit, ultimately harming both their reputation and the quality of work.

Corruption is detrimental to both society and business. When bribery becomes a norm, it not only degrades the quality of products and services but also demoralizes those who strive to achieve success through honest means. This talk emphasizes the right way to run a business. Through competence, grit, integrity and hard work.

Peace, anas

Have a Meaningful KAAMATAN and GAWAI 2024

Have a Meaningful KAAMATAN and GAWAI

Feedback is like looking in the mirror, but more.

In his song “Man in the Mirror”, Michael Jackson inspires us to take a hard look at ourselves and challenge our shortcomings and biases. He wants us to change from within. It is good advice, but to rise above our own biases is not easy. We can be unaware of our blind spots. This is why feedback is important.

Feedback can be positive or negative information or criticism we receive to help us improve our performance. The key word here is PERFORMANCE. To benefit from feedback, we must be deeply curious to know how we perform. We must seek feedback about our strengths, weaknesses, and bad habits.

We can perform only from our strengths. Unfortunately, most of us do not really know what we are good at. Many try to hide our weaknesses even from ourselves, thus allowing little things to trip us daily. Not many are aware of our bad habits. Bad habits are the things we do that negate our strengths – the things we do or fail to do, that hinder our performance and effectiveness.

We urgently need feedback.

One effective way to check our strengths and performance is through feedback analysis. Write down what we expect to happen in the next 12 months and compare the results with our expectations. This method can help us discover what we do right, show us where we are not competent and make us aware if we are lying to ourselves.

Feedback analysis is urgent today more than ever. With a multigenerational workforce where each generation bring to the workplace a different way of working, feedback analysis can help determine performance and success.

With performance and feedback being our anchor, we can practice the lyrics from Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”, “I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life. It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference. Gonna make it right”.

PEACE, anas

Tun Jugah

Tun Jugah (1903 - 1981) was a Malaysian politician from Sarawak. He played a fundamental role in the formation of Malaysia. For Malaysia to be successful, Semenanjung, Sarawak, and Sabah must always listen to each other’s feedback.

Have a Meaningful Wesak 2024 :How to be SUCCESSFUL and HAPPY – The 5A Formula

 

Have a Meaningful Wesak 2024

How to be SUCCESSFUL and HAPPY – The 5A Formula

No matter which generation we belong to, Gen X, Gen Y or Gen Z – to be successful and happy, we will need to learn how to align our goals to the goals of others. This ability is key for success as it is impossible to become successful working alone. We are social animals and we belong to society – we need others and they need us to make things happen.

We need to be skillful in aligning our goals with the goals of others. Here we share with you the 5A Formula outlining five key areas of alignments. Practicing them will not only bring us success, but also make our journey more joyous.

1. Align with our Company Goals and Values

It is very difficult to work well when our values and goals do not align with the organization’s. Waking up to go to work will be a bane. The good news is, most organizations have good goals and core values like teamwork, integrity, customer first and being innovative. These are values we could easily dive deeply into. We have to avoid companies that lack good values and ethics where our conscience questions us each time we look into the mirror.

2. Align with our Boss’s goals

Our immediate boss is our most important ally at work. Our main task is to make his job easier. We must work hard to make him successful. We help him achieve his business goals as our goals hinges on his. We must make his goals our goals. We must learn to “be like water” – never rigid and able to change forms. If a boss is a detailed person, we learn to be detailed too. If the boss is full of energy, we up our ante too. We do not complain about his peculiarities but instead enthuse about his strengths.

3. Align with our Customers’ goals

At the very core, customers pay our salary – not our company. They are the reason we go to work every day. Our organization’s success is dependent on whether we manage to fulfil the needs and wants of our customers. When we align our goals with our customers’ goals, we stop having a buyer-seller relationship. We become co-solution partners in making things happen to benefit both parties. Aligning our goals to our customers’ goals is one of the surest ways to make ourselves happy and successful at work.

4. Align with our Colleagues’ goals

Our colleagues are our family at work – Our Team. When we align our team goals towards the company and customer goals, we form a high performing team that motivates one another to be and do our best. We are able to overcome difficult challenges even in a highly tense environment because we know that we have each other’s backs. Silo mentality is foreign to us as we believe when we and our colleagues – team – align ourselves to company goals, we are successful.

5. Align with our Ownself

Finally, aligning with our own goals. We must practice writing them down. If we cannot, then we have not done enough thinking. Once written, reflect and be our own critic. It is vital that we be in touch with who we are today and who we can be tomorrow. Avoiding self-deception and knowing what it takes to achieve our goals. Know and accept our own limitations to avoid being delusional. What if you do not know your goals yet? Then, help others who know what they want to achieve. One of the better ways to discover our own calling besides reflection is through action.

May you and I, become successful and happy through the practice of the 5A Formula.

Peace and Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu, anas

Tun Tan Cheng Lock

Tun Tan Cheng Lock (April 5, 1883 - December 13, 1960 ) is a very good example of a

leader who managed to align his goal to the nation's goals, to Tunku's goals, the goals

of his colleagues and his major customers "The Malayan public". This alignment helped

us achieve our independence in becoming a successful nation.

April 5, 1883 - December 13, 1960

Have a meaningful Vaisakhi 2024

How do you learn best? What is your learning style?

The word sikhi means student, seeker or learner. A sikhi is committed to learning and growing. It is a lifelong journey. Today, we call it continuous learning.

However, to learn effectively and efficiently we must first be aware of the way we learn best. Unfortunately, many don’t. Furthermore, we live in a world that tends to educate using a ‘one mode fits all’ approach.

For example, are you a reader or a listener? If you are a reader, you likely absorb and process information more effectively through reading. If you are a listener, you understand and remember information better when you hear it spoken aloud.

It is of utmost important to ask, “How do I learn best?”. Some learn by writing, others by doing, while another by hearing themselves talk. If you learn by writing, school would have been an agony as it predominantly uses the reading and listening method.

You can take a step further by asking if you work and learn best with people or alone. Do you learn better under stress or do you need a structured and predictable environment? Will you learn better in a large or smaller organization? Big or small groups? What is best for you?

A simple way to start knowing how best you learn is to consider the 4 predominant learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinaesthetic.

If you learn best using patterns, shapes, and other visual aids instead of written or spoken words, your best way to learn is Visual. If text-based input and output – reading and writing in all of its forms is your cup of tea, Read/Write. If you are the Auditory type, you will benefit most from lectures, group discussions, and other avenues that involve talking things through. You are a Kinaesthetic learner if you learn best via concrete personal experience like carrying out physical activities to practise applying new knowledge, simulations, recreating experiments and work-based learning.

Let us all be a better sikhi by knowing how best we learn.

Peace, anas

Have a Meaningful AIDILFITRI 2024

 Have a Meaningful AIDILFITRI

“Benih yang baik, jatuh ke laut menjadi pulau” – Malay proverb

A seed (benih) is packed with potential. But it would not grow into its potential without absorbing and making full use of resources from the outside – like sunlight, water, and nutrients. A seed left in a bottle for years will remain a seed. Good seeds can go bad if they are kept too long.

Similarly, you and I – we too are like seeds, packed with potential. However, like seeds, we can only grow if we make full use of opportunities that lay outside of us - making full use of resources outside of our own. Staying idle stunts us. Idle for too long, we become a deadwood or marginal.

Today, we are faced with a worrying trend where many in the 20’s and early 30’s are choosing to stay idle or jump in and out of work while “waiting for that perfect job”. They are unlikely to reach their potential as one needs to stay at a job for some time to develop marketable skills. The discipline to stay at one job for a period of time, aligning one’s goal with the company’s goal, is a crucial requirement for success.

Many do odd jobs thinking it is a smart move as it brings easy and good money. Odd jobs, done beyond a reasonable period, will soon be considered as a main profession, and work history. These young people will fall into the part-timer’s category of the work force.

It is essential that we convince them to take a job. A real full-time job that provides external resources that they can absorb and grow like a good seed. To nurture the skills required to succeed like discipline, self-motivation, time management, money sense, communication, problem-solving, leadership etc. and functional skills specific to a job role.

Be a good seed – as only, “benih yang baik”, when it falls into the vast sea, can grow into an island.

Have a Meaningful AIDILFITRI

Maaf Zahir & Batin

Salam, anas

HOW TO BE A GOOD-HEARTED MATURE MALAYSIAN – Learning from the sock incident.

You and I, let us be a good-hearted mature Malaysian. The next time we chance upon a potentially sensitive issue, like pair of socks with the word Allah printed on it, we work hard to contain the issue making sure it does not blow up, hurting many, and spread nationally especially via social media.

We must have good faith that other fellow Malaysians are good-hearted and mature too. We do not do such things to hurt others, wantonly and purposely. We have good hearts, respect and care for each other. With a heart that is good, we would first assume that it would be very likely be an honest mistake. We do not need to allow it to snowball into a national issue.

Our standard operating procedure should be, upon discovering such coincidences or accidents in any operations, is to speedily contact the person in charge so that the organization can nip it in the bud. A mature Malaysian knows well that no business will do such things deliberately knowing for sure that they will lose their customers.

While we all wish for the ideal situation where no mistakes occurs and quality control is airtight, humans will continue to make mistakes. We must have a safety mechanism - by being a good-hearted mature Malaysian. We know how to make things better, not worse.

We confine religion and traditions as unity platforms. To bring us together. To unite. These we spread like wild fire. Let it snowball not just nationally, but we show the world that our religion and traditions are our foundations of unity.

As a good-hearted mature Malaysian, we guard our religion and traditions from becoming tools that create animosity. But these start with a good heart. We need to nurture our hearts. As the Prophet said,

“There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart” - Sahih al-Bukhari.

Peace, anas.

PILIH HIDAYAH AL QURAN ATAU HIDAYAH PERMAINAN POLITIK?

“Tolaklah (kejahatan yang ditujukan kepadamu) dengan cara yang lebih baik”

Salam,

Kepada sesiapa yang benar-benar percaya bahawa sesuatu kejahatan telah dilemparkan kepada Islam. Mereka yang yakin dengan sepenuh keyakinan bahawa ianya bukanlah sesuatu yang dilakukan dengan tidak sengaja.

Maka inilah hidayah AL Quran – cara terbaik membalas kejahatan tersebut.

“Dan tidaklah sama (kesannya dan hukumnya) perbuatan yang baik dan perbuatan yang jahat. Tolaklah (kejahatan yang ditujukan kepadamu) dengan cara yang lebih baik; apabila engkau berlaku demikian maka orang yang menaruh rasa permusuhan terhadapmu, dengan serta merta akan menjadi seolah-olah seorang sahabat karib.

Dan sifat yang terpuji ini tidak dapat diterima dan diamalkan melainkan oleh orang-orang yang bersikap sabar, dan tidak juga dapat diterima dan diamalkan melainkan oleh orang yang mempunyai bahagian yang besar dari kebahagiaan dunia dan akhirat.”

Quran 41:34-35

Yakinkah kamu dengan hidayah Al Quran? Ataupun kamu lebih yakin dengan hidayah setengah pemain-pemain politik?

Pilihlah Al Quran.

Salam, anas

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MENGAPA PROFESSOR BERAGAMA HINDU KAGUM DENGAN NABI MUHAMMAD

Cendekiawan beragama Hindu kagum dengan Kerahmatan Islam yang di contohi Nabi Muhammad. Walaupun Nabi kita mempunyai kuasa mutlak untuk menghukum musuh-musuh Islam yang telah berlaku teramat jahat dan salah terhadap agama Islam, pengikut-pengikut dan dirinya sendiri, Nabi kita dengan penuh rahmah mengampuni dan berlaku baik terhadap mereka.

Kata Prof. Ramakrishna Rao dalam bukunya, Muhammad – The Prophet of Islam,

“At the conquest of Mecca, he stood at the zenith of his power. The city which had refused to listen to his mission, which had tortured him and his followers, which had driven him and his people into exile and which had unrelentingly persecuted and boycotted him even when he had taken refuge in a place more than 200 miles away, that city now lay at his feet. By the laws of war, he could have justly avenged all the cruelties inflicted on him and his people. But what treatment did he mete out to them?

Muhammad's heart overflowed with the milk of love and kindness as he declared, "This day, there is no reproof against you and you are all free".

This was one ·of the chief objects why he permitted war in self-defence- to unite human beings. And when this object was achieved, even his worst enemies were pardoned. Even those who had killed his beloved uncle, HUMZA, mutilated his dead body, had ripped it open and chewed a piece of his lever.”

* Sila muat turun buku tersebut untuk membaca keseluruhan isinya. ( https://jihts.org/.../06/Muhammad-The-Prophet-of-Islam.pdf )

“Dan tiadalah Kami mengutus kamu, melainkan untuk (menjadi) rahmat bagi semesta alam. - Quran 21:107

"Maka, berkat rahmat Allah engkau (Nabi Muhammad) berlaku lemah lembut terhadap mereka. Seandainya engkau bersikap keras dan berhati kasar, tentulah mereka akan menjauh dari sekitarmu. Oleh karena itu, maafkanlah mereka, mohonkanlah ampunan untuk mereka, dan bermusyawarahlah dengan mereka dalam segala urusan (penting). Kemudian, apabila engkau telah membulatkan tekad, bertawakallah kepada Allah. Sesungguhnya Allah mencintai orang-orang yang bertawakal." Quran 3:159

Semoga kita yang Islam di Malaysia mencontohi Nabi Muhammad dengan zahir dan batin dan senantiasa memperingati ayat-ayat Al Quran di atas.

Salam, anas

KK MART, THE QURAN, PROPHET MUHAMMAD, YOU AND I - A how to approach.

A how-to approach.

1. Take the Prophet as our example. Grab every chance to practice his behavior.

2. Practice mercy.

“And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” - Quran 21:107

3. Practice gentleness, kindness and avoid being harsh or hard-hearted. Consult with the people involved and make informed decisions by speaking gently. Improve communication. Act with compassion, forgiveness, and ultimately, put your trust in Allah.

“ So by mercy from Allah, you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. – Quran 3:159

4. Nurture a sound and good heart. The Prophet says,

“There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart”. Sahih al-Bukhari.

Thank you. Peace, anas

KELUARGA NABI: What does the Quran say?

I refer to the recent news about an individual claiming to be the descendant of the Prophet.

This subject matter is not new to Muslim history and society. The Quran at 16:64 says, “ We have revealed to you the Book only to clarify for them what they differed about, and as a guide and mercy for those who believe.”

So what does the Quran say?

“ Muhammad is not the father of any of your men,1 but is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.” – Quran 33:40

“The Prophet has a stronger affinity to the believers than they do themselves. And his wives are their mothers…” Quran 33:6

“The believers are but one brotherhood, so make peace between your brothers. And be mindful of Allah so you may be shown mercy.” Quran 49:10

The wives of the Prophet are called “Mothers of the Faithful” or in Arabic "Umm al-Muminin". So who you think is KELUARGA NABI?

Peace, anas

WEBINAR : MALAYSIAN HISTORY - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE INCLUSIVE ?

MALAYSIAN HISTORY - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE INCLUSIVE ?

Hey guys!!! Welcome back to our MPPI Talk Series. I will be moderating the above webinar this Wednesday.

Speakers:

1. DATUK DR. RAMZAH DAMBUL

CEO Institute For Development Studies (IDS) Sabah.

Member of National Unity Advisory Council (MPPN)

2. ENCIK AROF ISHAK

Researcher, Author, and Executive Committee of the Malaysian Historical Society.

Date: 21st February 2024 (Wednesday)

Time: 8:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Registration link: https://forms.gle/fwagAQW8tYLjty4G7

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/MPPI21FEB24

Meeting ID: 961 5469 9445

Passcode: 117459

Peace, anas