Achievement in Career

Title

Most people know that I'm working as a Research Executive in Yayasan Ilmuwan and one of my job scopes is writing articles.

Recently, I wrote an article entitled "Bijak Menggunakan Teknologi Maklumat Seiring dengan Tuntutan Islam" and it was approved by the higher authority in my company and then submitted to Utusan Malaysia. About a week after that i.e. today the article was posted in a column named Wacana Islam with a slightly altered title "Bijak guna ITC seiring tuntutan Islam". Click here for the article.

Yup, you might question the ITC abbreviation. Why not ICT? I also don't have answer for that as it's what the editor (if that's a right term) from the newspaper did. However, it shouldn't be a big issue anyway as it didn't change the meaning of the title and the content of my article. Thanks to Utusan Malaysia for choosing the article to be posted in your newspaper. :)

Achievement

Apart from that, I take this as a first step towards more developments in my career. As I love writing, having the article posted in a prominent yet leading newspaper in Malaysia is something, I have to admit, I'm very proud of.

However, that again shouldn't be a big issue as, one it's just my personal achievement, and two there is bigger issue to be discussed: the content of the article itself.

Have you read the article? Do you have any additional points? Maybe you want to comment or criticize the article. I'm open for the betterment of my writing skills.

Behind the story

You may also question, of all topics, why write about that?

Initially, I was planning to write something about H1N1 from which I can relate to my biomedical science background. However, my time was taken after I was assigned for the talk on organ donation last weekend. I had to make proper and full preparation as it was, again, my first experience of delivering speech in front of public after I started my career.

Insha Allah, given enough time, I will still write about the H1N1.

But, another question is: how did I find the time to write the above article? Simple: I wrote it earlier than last week. :)

Zaki boleh!

Video: Talk on Organ Donation from the Islamic Perspective @ HUKM

The video above is the last part of my speech during the talk. Pardon the low quality of the audio.

Basically in the video I explained some quotes from the Ulama' regarding organ donation namely Sheikh Yusuf al-Qardawi, Sheikh Zaki Badawi and Ustaz Hasrizal. All of them encourage organ donation and in his blog post, Ustaz Hasrizal declared that he has put his signature to be an organ donor.

I found some minor mistakes in the speech and that's exactly the point for recording the video as I wanted to see how I delivered the speech so that I'll improve what needed to be improved.

May Allah bless my effort. Amin.

Organ Donation Talk: Another Step in My Career

I delivered a speech in Kidney Transplant Workshop organized by the Nephrology Unit of UKM Medical Center of Cheras last Saturday. The speech was regarding The Organ Donation from Islamic Perspective.

Held in Bahasa Melayu, I actually replaced the initial speaker i.e. The CEO of Yayasan Ilmuwan, Tuan Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen who had other commitments to give more attention on. Thanks to him for providing me the notes and other sources before I actually went to the workshop and delivered the speech.

It was my first time to deliver speech in front of people whom mostly I did not know of. Not only that, other speakers in the slot were all doctors and other professionals who had far more experience in their respective fields. However, having the chance to share same rostrum with them was a great experience.

In my speech, I explained the Islamic perspective regarding organ donation which basically has no problem with it as long as the rules and regulations related are carefully followed. Given only 15 minutes, it was actually not enough to describe all things related to it thus I had to choose some important points such as the Quranic verses, hadith from Prophet Muhammad SAW and other quotes from distinctive Ulama', and not to mention the fatwas in Malaysia regarding organ donation.

Taking it as a gear 1 of my career, I am looking forward to doing more things like this in the future as they are not only beneficial for the public to be given the awareness about many contemporary issues, but for my self development also as I love to be challenged with new things and experience.

And yes, if I had to relate this to my academic background, it was useful to learn about Organ Transplantation as one of the syllabuses in Pathology subject when I was in the third year of my biomedical science degree. When the doctors in the slot explained about, for examples, cadaveric donors, anatomy of the kidney and rejection symptoms, I could only smile for those only refreshed the memory when I was sitting in the front row listening to the lecturers.

Some other interesting stories during the workshop:

1. One of the doctors told me it was good to know that actually Islam promoted organ donation because all these while he thought the religion was the reason for the sadly low number of donors among Muslim Malays. He was a Chinese and thus I believe a non-Muslim.
2. One of the committees said to me: Muda lagi rupanya yang bagi speech ni. Biasanya kalau nak cakap hal-hal agama ni, orangnya tua-tua. I smiled, the most that I would do. No further comment. :)
3. After the speech, one of speakers addressed me as an "Ustaz". During Q&A session, one of the audience also did the same thing. Huhu... (Aku dah pakai tak macam Ustaz pun masih dipanggil Ustaz. Redha je la~ :P)

Bahagian II: Sehari Sebelum Konvo, Aku Panas

Susulan daripada entri pagi tadi.

Pemeriksaan kesihatan aku bersambung hingga waktu petang. Maklum la, kalau mula lewat, habis pun lewat la.

Di kaunter tempat hangen aku berlaku, ada notis baharu ni:

Agak-agak korang la, siapa yang rajin buat benda ni ye?

*wink2* :D

Jawapannya ada di ruang komen.

Sehari Sebelum Konvo, Aku Panas

Aku baru balik daripada hospital kerana mahu menjalani pemeriksaan kesihatan. Saje gedik-gedik nak buat pemeriksaan walaupun aku tahu aku sihat insya Allah~

Ok bohong. Medical checkup untuk kerja sebenarnya.

Punya la aku keluar seawal pagi untuk mengelak kesesakan. Pukul 8 pagi aku dah terpacak kat depan pintu Jabatan Pesakit Luar (JPL) tu. Tiba-tiba aku perasan ada satu notis ditampal di situ,

"Medical check up bagi pelajar IPTA/IPTS bermula pada pukul 10.30 pagi"

Ok fine. Aku bukan lagi pelajar mana-mana IPT. Aku dah bekerja. Yayasan Ilmuwan yang suruh aku buat pemeriksaan kesihatan bagi rekod mereka.

Terus aku meluru ke kaunter. Ada notis yang sama ditampal di situ. Dia ingat aku buta agaknya, notis yang di pintu mungkin aku tak terbaca.

Sampai sahaja di kaunter, aku kata, "Saya nak buat medical check up..."

Belum sempat aku habiskan ayat aku, penjaga kaunter tu potong ayat aku, "Medical check up start pukul 10.30 ye"

"Saya bekerja. Saya bukan pelajar mana-mana IPT."

"Owh untuk yang bekerja pun pukul 10.30."

"Tak tak. Kat notis ni kata pelajar IPT sahaja. Tak kata pun pasal orang yang dah bekerja."

"Er... Semua memang start pukul 10.30, encik~"

"Dah tu sini tulis pelajar IPT je. Notis ni boleh buat orang keliru!" sambil jari aku menunjuk-nunjuk pada perkataan IPTA/IPTS.

"Terima kasih sebab bagitahu pasal ni ye. Nanti kami betulkan."

"Ok." terus aku meninggalkan kaunter. Di pintu keluar sempat aku mendengar penjaga kaunter tu berkata, "nanti datang lagi pukul 10.30!"

"Ok!"

Ni baru pukul 9.45. Tengok la macam mana nanti. Ada tak notis tu. By the way aku kat rumah ni. Nasib baik rumah aku lebih kurang 5 minit je daripada hospital tu.

Aku tak kisah berulang-alik, pasal rumah aku dekat je dengan hospital. Tapi aku rasa tertipu dengan notis tu. Camkel!

Korang Emosional tak?

Situasi #1

Buka blog. Cerita macam-macam pasal diri dan hidupnya. Maklumlah, diari atas-talian katanya.

Sekali dapat komen berunsur kutukan dan cacian.

Esoknya, tutup blog. Taubat katanya.

Situasi #2

Buka akaun Facebook. Add kawan tu, add kawan ni. Makin lama makin ramai. Makin lama makin syok sebab.. ye la makin ramai makin meriah lah kan~

Sekali buat satu kuiz aplikasi Facebook. Keputusannya menggelikan hati. Sekali ada kawan kutuk dan caci.

Esoknya, tutup Facebook. Taubat katanya.

Situasi #3

Facebook lagi. Add kawan tu dah lama dah. Selama ni seronok je bertukar-tukar komen sesama sendiri, bergurau senda bagai nak rak.

Sekali kawan tu bagi pandangan supaya jangan terlibat dengan aplikasi tertentu, terus down.

Esoknya, terus Remove from Friends. Taubat? Entah...

Kekadang aku pelik jugak dengan manusia yang emosional ni... Walaupun aku cuba untuk memahami, kekadang aku gagal juga.

Owh mungkin mereka perlukan masa kot?

Takpe la... Lusa boleh:

1. Buka blog lagi.
2. Buka akaun Facebook lagi.
3. Add as friend lagi.

Kan? :)

Masalahnya pada Kau ataupun Dia?

Situasi #1

Aku beraya di sebuah rumah junior yang pernah kukenal di UIAM. Aku memang maklum dia berasal daripada keluarga yang kaya raya.

Masuk-masuk sahaja ke rumahnya, terus dia tunjukkan seksyen baharu dalam rumahnya yang dipenuhi dengan perabot mahal, pemain piring hitam klasik, dan 3D puzzle berbentuk bangunan-bangunan bersejarah dan terkenal.

Matanya bersinar-sinar menceritakan semuanya. Aku tumpang gembira.


Situasi #2

Aku berjumpa junior yang lain pula di UIAM Kuantan. Dia aktif dengan perniagaan melalui internet.

Dia ceritakan pengalamannya dan tak semena-mena, keluar kenyataan daripada mulutnya, "Semalam baru dapat cek bernilai RM600"

Matanya bersinar-sinar menceritakan semuanya. Aku tumpang gembira.


Situasi #3

Junior yang lain pula. Dia suka berkongsi cerita mengenai keluarganya.

Macam-macam ceritanya mengenai kisah jatuh bangun dalam keluarganya, dan bagaimana dia bahagia dengan keluarganya sekarang setelah apa yang dilaluinya beberapa tahun dahulu.

Matanya bersinar-sinar menceritakan semuanya. Aku tumpang gembira.


Dalam ketiga-tiga situasi di atas, kalau aku jahat:

1. Aku rosakkan semua perabot, alat muzik dan mainan-mainan tu. Biar puas hati aku.
2. Aku curi duitnya. Dia kan banyak duit. Biar puas hati aku.
3. Aku bomohkan keluarganya. Biar kembali tak bahagia. Biar puas hati aku.

Tapi, orang yang kenal dengan aku tahu bahawa aku memang takkan buat semua tu, sebab aku memang suka berkongsi kegembiraan. Tak perlu timbul rasa hasad dengki sebab akhirnya ia akan memakan diri.

Paling jahat pun, apa yang aku nak buat ialah bagi statement kat dia: Ada aku kesah?

Bila kesah sangat, tu yang timbul pe'el jahat tu. Kan?

Kalau puas hati aku pun, Allah puas hati dengan aku ke?

Besen

Situasi #1

Aku dan emak di dapur. Aku tengah masak.

Tiba-tiba aku nampak ada satu objek di raga peralatan dapur yang sangat familiar. Owh, baru aku ingat. Ia ialah besen yang pernah digunakan untuk tujuan sanitari Baba dan Bubu. Aku sudah belikan besen yang lebih besar, sesuai dengan peningkatan usia mereka.

Aku kata kepada mak, "Mak, macam kenal je besen tu?"

Mak faham maksud aku dan menjawab ringkas, "A'ah."

Aku sambung, "Dah bersih kan? Nampak macam baru pun. Takpe la. Guna macam biasa. Yang tahu dulu ia bekas apa, diam-diam sudah. Kan masih boleh guna."


Situasi #2

Dalam kereta. Bosan dengan keadaan trafik yang sesak, aku mulakan berborak dengan kawan aku.

"Weh, ko kenal Minah tu camne eh?" aku merujuk kepada makwe dia sekarang.

"Kat universiti aku sekarang. Sejak sambung master ni, aku rasa dah tiba masanya untuk aku fikirkan pasal pasangan hidup."

"Aku dengar, dia ada sejarah hitam di universiti dia dulu? Betul ke?"

"Aku tak kisah sangat apa yang dia dah lalui dulu. Dia yang aku kenal sekarang ialah seorang perempuan yang sudah belajar daripada kesilapan lalu. Aku tak nak judge dia based on sejarah silam dia. Aku terima dia sebagai dia yang sekarang. Sejarah dia dulu lah yang menjadikan siapa dia yang sekarang, iaitu wanita muslimah yang solehah."

"Kau tak takut sejarah berulang kembali?"

"Pasal tu aku kena mainkan peranan untuk bimbing dia untuk terus ke jalan yang betul. I have to be supportive, not destructive."

"Aku setuju dengan ko. Tak ramai orang macam ko ni. Yang nak jatuhkan orang yang pernah jatuh lagi ada lah!"

"Alah.. Macam kes penagih dadah yang dah keluar pusat serenti lah. Sama je..."

"Betul betul betul..." Aku buat gaya comel Upin dan Ipin.

Raya with SKKD Friends

Please be informed that until today I haven't found a single word to describe how great my raya this year was. Even the word great is an understatement.

After almost 12 years we haven't gathered since 1997 when we were in Standard 6 in Sekolah Kebangsaan Kanchong Darat (SKKD) or also known as Sekolah Kanak-Kanak Degil, the raya celebration has brought us together again.

I have to thank Facebook for all reasons for being the medium of reconnection between my ex-schoolmates and me. It started (to me at least) with the reunion on breaking fast at KFC of Banting, then it continued until raya celebration in which we had few trips of convoy to visit our friends' houses, a trip to send one of our friends to bernikah and also the extended hang out at maplay until 3.30 am. Wahaha... The next day I had a convoy with some juniors of mine from UIAM pulak around Selangor and KL. Pergh!

One thing I'd like to share, my boss said:

Kawan-kawan masa sekolah adalah kawan-kawan yang lebih baik. Mereka berkawan kerana mereka memang mahu berkawan. Bukan atas sebab lain.

When I think about it, I have to agree.

Dulu masa kecik-kecik, otak kita masih bersih. Kan? Nak berkawan tu, sekejap je dah boleh kamceng. Kalau tak percaya, tengok budak-budak kecik bila diorang jumpa budak-budak yang sebaya dengan diorang. Senang je diorang nak berkawan, walhal baru berjumpa.