the world seen with one eye – limited and skewed

Normally I would refrain from writing on sensitive issues but an article written by Dr. MAZA over the weekend really caught my attention. He was explaining the confusion that often happens between two common Malay words of Arabic origins, ” izin” and ” redha” (which later morphed into “rela”). Izin basically means permit, allow, agree or consent, while “redha” may also means consent, agree or permit. But it has another layer, a more spiritual meaning that when one “redha” means one wholeheartedly agree to the decision to what Allah has decided upon. You may izin but not necessarily the izin come with redha. But if you redha, you will provide the izin. A wife may give the izin for the husband to get another wife but not necessarily she redha. The izin maybe to prevent the husband from committing maksiat or to ensure she may not lose her husband entirely to the other woman. A father may give izin for his son to use the bike due to the incessant niggling requests from the son, and he could not stand it any more, but it does not mean he is redha. A rape victim may appear to give in to sexual advances of her predator, but the izin may be to prevent further physical harm, or as a shock reaction, but definitely she is not redha to what is happening. What the good Dr. MAZA was alluding to is under the current use of the word Allah controversy. Muslim who izin the non Muslim to use the word Allah definitely not necessarily they redha to the faith of the non muslims. He pointed out that, both Muslim and non Muslims should understand this concept to prevent further misunderstandings. To the Muslims, please do not accuse fellow Muslims who agree to the non Muslims to use the term Allah as agreeing or consenting to the faith of the non Muslims and accusing them of being kufur. Again giving izin not necessarily you are accepting and consenting the faith. To the non Muslims, when Muslims give izin to use the word not necessarily a licence for them to do anything they like. It is a sign that Islam respects but not necessarily agrees to other faiths. Just like a good debate, you respect the arguments of the opposition but not necessarily you agree to them. Under the Malaysian consti, it is still an offence to preach other religions to the Muslims in the country. The Muslim Government leaders may allow people of other faiths to built their house of worships but that does not mean they accept their faiths. You’ll be surprised to know that the biggest reclining Buddha statue in the country is in….Kelantan, yes Kelantan, the state government which has been under the Islamic PAS for more than 10 years.
Ummph…the whole thing reminds me of the term often use in the civil service – “paksa rela” and there was this novel in the 70’s by Marwilis (I think) called “Izin dalam Paksa” – ahh well , that is another story. Should we get our RELA to be more active in exposing the Pendatang Tanpa Izin or are we redha of their presence here?

Today I append a possible scenario on MYKad sourced from TVSmith Dua Sen. Quite hillarious.

THE NAKED CARD
by TV Smith

The multi-purpose MyKad is the latest version of our perpetually metamorphosing IC. With an embedded smart chip, it can also store our medical history, driver’s license, act as an ATM card, serve as an electronic purse and even be used at the National Library. However, a recent experience by a holder brought to light the questionable control on access, potential information abuse and privacy infringement. As the belated debate rages on, I can foresee a likely scenario when ordering pizzas in the near future…

Operator : “Thank you for calling Pizza Rumah Attap. May I have your…”

Customer: “Haloo, can I order..”

Operator : “Can I have your MyKad number first, Sir?”

Customer: “It’s eh…, hold on…… 6102049998-45-54610″

Operator : “OK… you’re… Mr Dhaljeet Singh and you’re calling from 17 Jalan Awan Hitam, off Jalan Ipoh. Your home number is 4094 2366, your office 7645 2302 and your mobile is 014 266 2566. Which number are you calling from now Sir?

Customer: “Home! How did you get all my phone numbers?”

Operator : “We are connected to the MyKad system Sir”

Customer: “May I order your Seafood Pizza…”

Operator : “That’s not a good idea Sir”

Customer: “How come?”

Operator : “According to your medical records, you have high blood pressure and even higher cholesterol level Sir”

Customer: “What?… What do you recommend then?”

Operator : “Try our Low Fat Hokkien Mee Pizza. You’ll like it”

Customer: “How do you know for sure?”

Operator : “You borrowed a book entitled “Popular Hokkien Dishes” from the National Library last week Sir”

Customer: “OK I give up… Give me three family sized ones then, how much will that cost?

Operator : “That should be enough for your family of 10, Sir. The total is 99.99 Ringgit…”

Customer: “Can I pay by credit card?”

Operator : “I’m afraid you have to pay us cash, Sir. Your credit card is over the limit and you’re owing your bank 6720.55 Ringgit since October last year”

Customer: “Mera Lund Choong…” [Translation]

Operator : “That’s not including the late payment charges on your housing loan Sir.

Customer: “I guess I have to run to the neighbourhood ATM and withdraw some cash before your guy arrives”

Operator : “You can’t Sir. Based on the records, you’ve reached your daily limit on machine withdrawal today”

Customer: “Never mind just send the pizzas, I’ll have the cash ready. How long is it gonna take anyway?”

Operator : “About 45 minutes Sir, but if you can’t wait you can always come and collect it on your motorcycle…”

Customer: “Kuti!” [Translation]

Operator : “According to the details in your MyKad, you own a Comel Scooter, …registration number WOB 1123…”

Customer: “Tera peh thenoo picheyo kush karda hunda!” [Translation]

Operator : “Better watch your language Sir. Remember on 15th July 1987 you were convicted of using abusive language on a policeman… ?”

Customer: [Speechless]

Operator : “Is there anything else Sir?”

Customer: “Nothing… by the way… aren’t you giving me that 3 free bottles of cola as advertised?”

Operator : “We normally would Sir, but based on your records you’re also diabetic……. “
© 2003 TV SMITH
Link to this article: http://www.tvsmith.net.my/duasen/150703_mykad.html

My daughter was accepted by UiTM main campus in Shah Alam. For the past 3 semesters she was in Lendu’s campus in Malacca.The only drawback is that, unlike Lendu, Shah Alam campus does not provide accomodation. We have to find suitable abode for her on our own. So yesterday we travelled to Shah Alam searching for accomodation. Her good friend apparently had an auntie who offered her flat for them to stay. Unfortunately the flat is in Batu Tiga, a good 10km away from the campus. We decided to find another accomodation after her registration tomorrow. For the time being she will commute from home. The wifey broached the idea of trading in the Serena for smaller cars for my daughters so that she can commute to her college. I was more keen for her to take the public transport. I believe children these days should face some form of hardships to inject some steel into their life.
But that is beside the point. A friend of mine told me, if you ever want to sell off or trade in your car you must do it quietly or the car would give you a lot of trouble as if it knows that it is no longer wanted. I laughed off the idea which I thought borders on ridiculousness and illogical. This morning, as I was ascending the Pesiaran Bukit Kiara hill on the way to the office, the Serena suddenly stalled with smokes billowing from the engine compartment. I can hear some sizzling sound coming out as if it is frying steaks and I can smell something burning. I quickly killed off the engine, pressed the emergency lights button, and pulled aside. I was only about 50m from the office gate. I called the AAM people and after half an hour lifted the bonnet. I can see the reason. The radiator tophead had a-6cm fracture and the pressurised water and coolant was squeezed out of the fracture and splattered all over the engine compartment. Oh no, this could mean another major opex outlay, I thought to myself. Why now, when I am desperately scrambling for funds to finance my children early term education. All three of them came up to more than 2K requirement to be met. Anyway, I can only hope and pray that, the blow out did not harm the engine parts. The good people of the AAM said cracked radiator tophead is quite common these days. I do not believe him. I regularly service the car, they should have detected that earlier.Anyway the temperature never gone beyond the halfway mark. So I never thought anything was amiss. I had to replace the radiator, plus the coolant, plus the gear oil and so forth. Another big hole was burned in my pocket, or shall I say, another line was added to my already unbearably long credit card debit statements line. So coimg back to what my friend told me in a jest a few months ago and in the light of my discussion with the wifey regrading trading in the Serena – does the car knows?