The Kuala Lumpur Traveler

Wishing all Muslims around the world, a very Happy New Year 1403H.

May Allah forgive our past sins and lead all of us to a better year of 1403H. May this new Islamic year brings us more ‘barakah’ and ‘rahmat’ from Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala

To the uninitiated, today (28th Dec 2008), is the first day (1st Muharram) of Muslim calendar year 1403H. The start of Muslim year, Muharram, coincides with Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) journey from Mecca to Medina on the first of Muharram in 622AD.

Hijrah means migration. The Hijrah refers to the Prophet’s migration from Mecca to Madinah. This journey took place in the twelfth year of his mission (622 C.E). This is the beginning of the Muslim calendar. By Islamic law the word hijrah usually refers to leaving a place to seek sancturary or freedom from persecution or freedom of religion or any other purpose. Hijrah can also mean to leave a bad way of life for a good or more righteous way.

Source: Islamic Dictionary

In Islam, a new day starts in the evening upon sunset and not after midnight.

So, just before sunset on the last day of Zulhijjah, Muslims will read a special prayer (doa) after the evening Asar rites or prayers, to seek God’s forgiveness for sins committed during the year, and repentance for misdeeds.

And then after sunset ( it being a new year – Awal Muharram), Muslims will say another prayer (doa) immediately after Maghrib (dusk) rites or prayers, seeking God’s guidance and help towards a better spiritual and physical life in the new year.

Source: Pahang Delights

Image credit: Blog Penang, Malaysia

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Zahar Hashim…. yet another casualty of ‘you criticize me, I kick you out’ unwritten policy of UMNO Baru.
This rare, brave UMNO Baru spesies had alleged that there were discrepancies in the recent Eurocopter deal (so obvious isn’t it?), and criticised both Pak Lah and Najib over the same issue. As expected, Zahar Hashim was subsequently suspended as division leader within UMNO Baru shortly after that but this man is not taking it lying down.
The retired army captain had submitted his application to join PAS and had been reported to be joining the PR in the upcoming Kuala Terengganu by-election campaigns.
Poor …read more

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Two weeks ago, me and my daughter (yes… I play golf with my daughters more than I do with friends… at least that is the trend for the time being) played at Danau Golf Club for the very first time despite the fact that this golf course is only 30 minutes away from my residence.
Danau Golf Club is owned by University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and is located. of course, in Bangi. I find this course very interesting. The fairways are wider compared to some of the golf courses I have played but the disadvantage of this is that the …read more

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Wishing all Malaysian Christian friends, blog readers and the folks at b5media, a very Merry Christmas. To the rest, a very Happy Holidays.
Image credit: Glitter Graphics

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From past experiences, by-elections have always been seen as buy-elections by many quarters except the government. During by-elections, there are tonnes of money poured by the government in the forms of development projects, allocations, donations to poor people, long standing land applications that are suddenly approved and what not.
As far as Terengganu is concerned, there are already many completed and on going projects since BN’s worst general election ‘awarded’ to the people of Terengganu. Just take a drive from Kuantan to Kota Bharu along the coastal road and you will have to spend at least additional 2 – 3 hours …read more

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Just few days after announcing its principle agreement to allow the sale of its IJN stake to Sime Darby, the BN government… as announced by Najib, today put a halt to the plan.
The cabinet has decided to postpone the controversial sale of the National Heart Institute (IJN) to Sime Darby, according to MCA president Ong Tee Keat at a press conference in his Transport Ministry in Putrajaya.
[...]At a press conference this evening, Najib said the deal has been postponed until an in-depth review is undertaken by the relevant ministries.
Source: Malaysiakini
As clear as crystal, and admitted by no less than a …read more

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Anwar Ibrahim’s latest statement on Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy, ‘Not the time to point fingers‘ does make sense but I beg to differ, nevertheless.
With so many unfortunate incidents involving hillslope developments that had claimed so many lives, NOW IS THE TIME to point fingers…. and make those responsible to pay the price of their negligence.
Yes, I agree with Anwar that the focus now should be on finding out the cause of the tragedy but what would that achieve if there is no one responsible to follow up on the remedial steps to ensure similar landslides does not happen again. And …read more

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I just came back from my Eid Adha holiday. Last Friday night, I was actually at Ukay Perdana having teh tarik with some of my friends. I left the mamak restaurant at about 10:30pm only to learn there was a big landslide the following day but I was not able to log on to the net to blog about it.
My belated condolescence to the deceased family of Bukit Antarabangsa landslide victims and I hope those who survived will be patient and thankful to the Almighty for having escaped such a tragedy.
Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy could have been avoided if not …read more

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I would like to wish all my Muslim readers a very happy Eid Adha. I will be celebrating this year’s Eid Adha in my home town in Kota Bharu. Eid Adha in Kelantan is somehow more grand than anywhere else in Malaysia, at least that is what my perception is.
For those who are performing Haj, and performing sacrifice or ‘korban’ this year, may Allah accept our sacrifice, ibadah, good deeds and reward us with His forgiveness and Jannah in the Hereafter.
To those who are traveling to their home towns for Eid Adha holidays, please drive safely. Enjoy your holidays!

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After his failure to deliver September 16 promises, Anwar Ibrahim is still Anwar Ibrahim he used to, but who can blame him? Now he is talking about renewed interest to take over the BN Government this time through Sarawak. For his failure to deliver the anticipated and much talked about September 16 takeover, Anwar just had this to say…
[...]admitted his plan to sign up defecting lawmakers had been a “headache”.
[...]“It is not easy to explain why we couldn’t form the government as there are some matters that I still cannot talk about,” he said.
Source: Malaysiakini
Wait… did he say he has …read more

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