By Zora Chan Excerpt from the Borneo Post dated November 10, 2009 Revamp to prepare Sarawak for new development policies and approaches: CM The new faces are Abdul Wahab Aziz who has been appointed Assistant Minister of Rural Development and Assistant Minister of Housing and Urban Development; Datuk Talib Zulpilip as Assistant Minister of Tourism; Dr Stephen Rundi Utom as Assistant Minister of Public Health and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities; Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie as Assistant Minister of Environment; John Sikie Tayai as Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department and Assistant Minister of Rural District Council; and Mong Dagang as Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Research and Co-ordination) and Assistant Minister of Tourism. Wahab, Talib and Dr Rundi are from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Nansian is from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), while Sikie and Mong are from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). Three assistant ministers, namely Datuk Bolhassan Di (Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Information Technology) and Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication; Datuk Hamden Ahmad (Assistant Minister of Youth and Assistant Minister of Tourism); and Datuk Ambrose Blikau (Assistant Minister of Rural Development and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities) were dropped.Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the reorganisation was meant to prepare Sarawak for new development policies and approaches that could take place some time in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) or after the next state election. “There’s no major cabinet reshuffle until after the next state election,” he told a media conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here. Taib, who retained the Finance, and Planning and Resource Management Minister portfolios, said with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) coming up, he would reform Syarikat Sesco Bhd (Sesco) in the next one or two years. He said Second Planning and Resource Management Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is also Public Utilities Minister, would be assisting him. On his two deputies, Taib said he had assigned Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan to Tourism and Heritage Minister’s portfolio, while Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang to the Modernisation of Agriculture Minister’s portfolio. Dr Chan retains his portfolio of Industrial Development Minister while Jabu retains his post of Rural Development Minister. He said his two deputies had specific missions this time around with Dr Chan focusing on rationalisation of research particularly in agriculture because research should be in the forefront of the sector; not backstage. He explained that he had placed the research component under Dr Chan as the latter had done a good job in information technology development in the state. “Research findings will signal where to change our policy concerning agriculture,” he said. Dr Chan would also have new responsibilities in tourism to come up with a more systematic approach for the sector particularly in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry, he said. Taib said since Jabu was “quite good” in agriculture and the sector had close relation to rural development, he expected Jabu to come up with a more aggressive agriculture policy after the next state election. The policy should be in line with the federal government’s efforts to eradicate poverty, he said. He said Dato Sri James Masing retained his portfolio as Land Develop-ment Minister and that he (Taib) expected to see gradual improvement on the mechanism to sort out native customary rights (NCR) land claims. “NCR land claims cannot be handled through normal settlement,” he said. He proposed a new concept – Native Estate Exchange – to be introduced after the state election whereby land owners with five acres or less would have the choice to invest. Taib said there was no way to separate Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry which is held by Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom, which, according to him, covers a large area of concerns. However, Mawan will now have three assistants, namely Datin Fatimah Abdullah who will be in charge of Assistant Minister of Women Development; Datuk Lee Kim Shin as Assistant Minister of Sports; and Larry Sng as Assistant Minister of Youth Affairs and Training of Youths. Taib said: “The challenge of this ministry is to update and upgrade the welfare list that must be done soon because the federal government is introducing assistance to help those with income below the poverty line.” He said the main problem was that the majority of people in need did not know that there were aids available to them, and where to get them. He said when they received no aid, they complained. “Anybody with problems like not being able to make ends meet (for example) widows or unemployed single mothers should register with the ministry and be welfare recipients,” he said. Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg would continue to hold the housing portfolio which had been merged with urban development, said Taib. One of the new tasks for the Minister of Housing and Urban Development would to develop Kuching City as a model for future towns and cities in Sarawak, he said. He said Johari would also look into improving public transport system, which he described as “still far off”, and the one challenge of getting people to like using public transport. “The attitude of the public is that people who use public transport are those who can’t afford to have good cars. But in developed countries, they don’t have that kind of mentality,” he said. He said the people needed to change their perspective on public transport because the government could not afford to improve it unless there were sufficient people using the system. Taib said Environment and Public Health Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh would have to work closely with the Public Utilities Ministry from now on to see how environmental issues could be addressed on a sustainable basis. Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong would take over Infrastructure Development and Communication Ministry, he said. He also said Sikie, who is currently the Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, would be supervising matters concerning Adat Istiadat Court besides going to the ground to assist in rural district councils that often faced financial problems. Nansian’s working experience in Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) would be an asset to him, said the chief minister. To a question, Taib said he did not appoint any assemblymen from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) as assistant ministers due to insufficient representation from the party. “If I appoint two, all or 100 per cent will be in the government. If I do that, PBB will ask for 10,” he said. SUPP lost two assistant minister seats when Datuk Sim Kheng Hui and Datuk Alfred Yap lost in the 2006 state election. “There’ll be new female in the next term. I don’t appoint ‘first-termers’,” he said, adding that the first term for any assemblymen or women was for them to learn the traits of being politicians and how to communicate with government agencies. He said ‘first-termers’ should concentrate on serving their constituents otherwise they would not have time for their people. He also explained that no new faces had been appointed as full ministers because the present ministers had more experience. “If we get a fresh one, the new guy may be struggling (with his new appointment),” he said. Also present at the press conference were Dr Chan, Jabu, Johari, Masing, Mawan, State Secretary Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani and State Attorney-General Datuk Razak Tready.
KUCHING: The much anticipated state cabinet reshuffle saw changed portfolios for some ministers while six new faces were appointed as assistant ministers yesterday.The new cabinet line-up will take effect on Dec 1 and the new appointees will be sworn in at a later date.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Six new faces; three dropped
Friday, January 2, 2009
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sarawak Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Michael Jackson has become a Muslim — and changed his name to Mikaeel.
Religion News Blog
Posted: Friday November 21, 2008
The skint superstar, 50, donned Islamic garb to pledge allegiance to the Koran in a ceremony at a pal’s mansion in Los Angeles, The Sun can reveal.
Jacko sat on the floor wearing a tiny hat after an Imam was summoned to officiate — days before the singer is due to appear at London’s High Court where he is being sued by an Arab sheik.
A source told last night how Jacko, brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness, decided to convert as he used a studio at the home of his chum to record a new album.
The star — whose hits include The Way You Make Me Feel — was spotted looking “a bit down” by a producer and a songwriter who had both embraced Islam.
The source said: “They began talking to him about their beliefs, and how they thought they had become better people after they converted. Michael soon began warming to the idea.
“An Imam was summoned from the mosque and Michael went through the shahada, which is the Muslim declaration of belief.” Mikaeel is the name of one of Allah’s angels.
“Jacko rejected an alternative name, Mustafa — meaning “the chosen one”.
Brit singer Yousef Islam, 60 — who was called Cat Stevens until he famously converted — turned up to help Jacko celebrate.
RHB Islamic Bank in $99 million deal for smelter
CPI Financial
Sunday, November 02 2008
By: Staff Writer
Syndicated Islamic term financing facility to raise funds for the first aluminium smelter plant in Malaysia
RHB Islamic Bank said it has successfully structured and lead arranged a syndicated Islamic term financing facility of up to RM355 million ($99.7 million) for Press Metal Sarawak (PMS), a subsidiary of Press Metal Berhad (PMB).
PMS received approval from Sarawak State Development Authority for the development of a comprehensive aluminium smelting plant and related industries in end May 2007. A land measuring approximately 366 hectares or 905 acres in Mukah was acquired by PMS.
RHB Islamic Bank Berhad was appointed by PMS as lead arranger to raise funds for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the smelting plant. The syndicated term facility brings on board financiers Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia), Asian Finance Bank, Al Rajhi Banking & Investment Corporation (Malaysia) and Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia.
The Shari’ah-based facility is offered to PMS under two Islamic principles, namely Istisna’a (manufacturing contract) and Ijarah (lease). Financiers will enter into an agreement with PMS by placing an order for the construction of the project at an agreed construction price. Subsequently, PMS will lease it from the financiers for an agreed period and at an agreed rental payment amount. During the construction period, advance rental shall be served to the Financiers.
The development site is located along Jalan Mukah – Balingian of Mukah Land District, about three kilometers to the east of Kg. Kuala Bedengan. Target completion and commencement of the smelting plant operation is in the second quarter of 2009 with production capacity of 50,000MT per year.
PMS’s smelting plant project is a part of a major heavy industrial manufacturing development in Sarawak and is supposedly in line with Malaysia’s industrial development policy to develop the industrial and manufacturing sectors in Sarawak.
RHB Islamic Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RHB Bank, first opened its doors to customers on 16 March 2005.
It describes itself as the first full-fledged Islamic bank to mature from an Islamic banking window operation of a conventional bank. RHB Islamic Bank says it offers the full range of Shari’ah-based banking and financial products and services, available at not only more than 180 RHB Bank and RHB Islamic Bank branches nationwide but also through RHB PhoneBanking and Internet Banking facilities.
RHB Islamic Bank claims to offer consumer, corporate, commercial and electronic banking solutions which include savings and current accounts, financing facilities, collection, payment and trade Services as well as investment banking, capital market and treasury products.
Jangan Malu Berdoa Meskipun Dosamu Sebanyak Buih Dilautan
http://abufarras.blogspot.com
Sepertiga malam adalah waktu yang paling baik untuk berdoa sebanyak-banyaknya. Rasulullah Saw. bersabda, "Tuhan kita Yang Maha Suci dan Maha Tinggi akan turun pada setiap malam ke langit dunia ini (yaitu) pada sepertiga malam yang terakhir, kemudian ia akan berfirman, 'Barangsiapa yang berdoa kepada-Ku maka Aku akan mengabulkan (doa)nya dalam setiap malam. Barangsiapa yang meminta kepada-Ku maka Aku akan memberikan kepadanya. Dan, barangsiapa yang memohon ampunan kepada-Ku maka Aku akan mengampuninya'." (HR. Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daud, dan Tirmidzi).
Berdoalah, berdoalah, berdoalah! Insya Allah doamu akan didengar dan dikabulkan meskipun dosa-dosamu sebanyak buih dilautan. Yang mesti engkau lakukan adalah bertaubat dan memperbanyak istighfar sebelum berdoa. Karena dengan cara itulah dosa-dosamu -- meskipun mungkin tidak semua -- sedikit demi sedikit terkikis.
Oleh karena itu, janganlah engkau khawatir doamu tidak dikabulkan karena setan pun tidak khawatir jika doanya tidak dikabulkan. Buktinya toh Allah mengabulkan keinginan Iblis untuk menggoda manusia hingga akhir zaman. Sufyan bin Uyainah berkata, "Janganlah engkau merasa khawatir Allah tidak akan mengabulkan doamu hanya karena engkau mengetahui bahwa dalam dirimu terdapat kejahatan. Ketahuilah bahwa sesungguhnya Allah Swt. telah mengabulkan permintaan makhluk yang terjahat, yaitu Iblis ketika ia berkata: '...beri tangguhlah saya sampai waktu mereka dibangkitkan'. (QS. al-A'raf: 14), kemudian Allah mengabulkan permintaannya. Allah berfirman, 'Sesungguhnya kamu termasuk mereka yang diberi tangguh'. (QS. al-A'raf: 15)."
Sedangkan engkau? Dosa-dosamu tidak lebih banyak dari Iblis, tetapi mengapa engkau malu? Mengapa engkau merasa minder untuk berdoa kepada-Nya, sedangkan Dia Yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang?
Jangan terjebak pada rayuan setan yang mengatakan, "Malulah kamu, sudah banyak dosa tapi tetap saja berdoa kepada-Nya!" Itu bohong! Karena, doa itu 100% baik bagimu. Kamu tidak diminta malu dalam berdoa. Justru Allah sangat senang dengan hamba-Nya yang berdoa, dan Allah sangat murka dengan hamba-Nya yang enggan berdoa. Singkirkanlah rasa malumu dan mulailah berdoa, "Ya Allah ampunilah dosa-dosaku...Ya Allah berikanlah aku rezeki...Ya Allah kuatkanlah imanku...Ya Allah berilah aku petunjuk...Ya Allah perbaikilah akhlakku..."
Perhatikanlah doa para Nabi berikut ini dan jawaban atas doa itu dari Allah:
Nabi Nuh As. berdoa: "Bahwasanya aku ini adalah orang yang dikalahkan, oleh sebab itu tolonglah aku (Ya Allah)." (QS, al-Qamar: 10). Kemudian Allah Swt. menjawab doa itu: "Maka Kami bukakan pintu-pintu langit dengan (menurunkan) air yang tercurah. Dan Kami jadikan bumi memancarkan mata air-mata air, maka bertemu- lah air-air itu untuk suatu urusan yang sungguh telah ditetapkan. Dan Kami angkut Nuh ke atas (bahtera) yang terbuat dari papan dan paku, Yang berlayar dengan pemeliharaan Kami sebagai belasan bagi orang-orang yang diingkari (Nuh)." (QS. al-Qamar: 11-14). Demikianlah, akhirnya Allah menyelamatkan Nuh dan kaumnya yang beriman.
Nabi Zakariya As. berdoa: "Ya Tuhanku, janganlah Engkau membiarkan aku hidup seorang diri dan Engkaulah Waris Yang Paling Baik." (QS. al-Anbiya: 89). Kemudian Allah Swt. menjawab doa itu: "Maka Kami memperkenankan doanya, dan Kami anugerahkan kepadanya Yahya dan Kami jadikan isterinya dapat mengandung. Sesungguhnya mereka adalah orang-orang yang selalu bersegera dalam (mengerjakan) perbuatan-perbuatan yang baik dan mereka berdoa kepada Kami dengan harap dan cemas. Dan mereka adalah orang-orang yang khusyu' kepada Kami." (QS. al-Anbiya: 90). Akhirnya Allah memberi Nabi Zakariya dan istrinya keturunan meskipun mereka sudah tua dan mandul.
Nabi Ayyub As. berdoa: "(Ya Tuhanku), sesungguhnya aku telah ditimpa penyakit dan Engkau adalah Tuhan Yang Maha Penyayang di antara semua penyayang." (QS. al-Anbiya: 83). Kemudian Allah Swt. menjawab doa itu: "Maka Kamipun memperkenankan seruannya itu, lalu Kami lenyapkan penyakit yang ada padanya dan Kami kembalikan keluarganya kepadanya, dan Kami lipat gandakan bilangan mereka, sebagai suatu rahmat dari sisi Kami dan untuk menjadi peringatan bagi semua yang menyembah Allah." (QS. al-Anbiya: 84). Nabi Ayyub As. yang semula sakit parah kemudian Allah sembuhkan.
Nabi Muhammad Saw. berdoa sambil menangis pada perang Badar: "Ya Allah, wujudkanlah apa yang Engkau janjikan kepadaku. Ya Allah, jika Engkau hancurkan segelintir orang ini maka Engkau tidak akan disembah (lagi) di bumi ini." (HR. Muslim, Abu Daud, Tirmidzi, dan Ahmad). Ya, akhirnya doa itu dikabulkan-Nya. Hanya dengan segelintir orang mampu mengalahkan pasukan yang jumlahnya lebih banyak sepuluh kali lipat.
Perhatikanlah keadaan kaum muslimin ketika sedang dikepung oleh musuh-musuh mereka dalam perang Khandaq. Pada saat itu, mereka berkata, "Apa yang akan kita lakukan, wahai Rasulullah, sungguh mereka telah mengepung kita?" Rasulullah Saw. pun bersabda, "Katakanlah oleh kalian: 'Ya Allah, tutuplah aurat-aurat kami dan amankanlah (lenyapkanlah) ketakutan-ketakutan kami'." (HR. Abu Daud, Nasa'i, Ibnu Majah, dan Ahmad). Sejak saat itu, para sahabat selalu membaca dan mengulang doa tersebut, dan belum lewat satu hari atau dua hari, Allah Swt. telah mengirimkan angin badai yang menghantam wajah orang-orang kafir.
Doamu akan memberikan kekuatan kepadamu yang sebelumnya kamu lemah karena dosa. Doamu akan memberikan maghfirah-Nya kepadamu yang sebelumnya Dia tidak mengampunimu. Doamu akan memberikan rezeki kepadamu yang sebelumnya tersendat karena kedurhakaanmu kepada-Nya.
Biarkan rasa malumu berganti dengan airmata penyesalan dan pengharapan. Karena, itulah rasa malu yang sesungguhnya. Yusuf As. malu kepada Allah sehingga dia tidak mau diajak berzina walaupun kesempatan begitu terbuka lebar. Malik bin Dinar yang semula adalah orang yang berbuat maksiat kemudian bertaubat dan rajin berdoa dan beribadah. Rasa malumu kepada-Nya bukannya menyurutkanmu untuk beribadah kepada-Nya, tapi justru menyemangatimu dan mendorongmu untuk lebih intensif memuja-Nya.
