Salam Aidilfitri

Ketupat palas serunding daging,
Nasi dagang ikan tenggiri,
Hidangan enak dari pantai timur.
Buat sahabatku di alam blogging,
Salam ukhuwah di Aidilfitri,
Semuga berkekalan sepanjang umur.

Maaf zahir dan batin dari Oldstock dan famili.

Ar Raudah Mosque in Bukit Batok, Singapore where I'll be performing my Aidilfitri prayers, insyaallah.

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To all my blogger friends and everyone who has kindly dropped by, I wish you Happy Holidays. Watch what you eat, okay? Stay cool and see you after the break.

To tide you over until the next post, the following is the first part of my attempt at writing fiction. Just a short story that was first written years ago but re-discovered recently on an old 3.5" floppy. Luckily the file was still intact. Although written some time back, the story is still a work in progress (how's that for procrastinating, huh?).

A BINGO STRAIGHT TO THE HEART (Part 1)

It had been a very trying day. The drizzle that began early that morning further compounded the inevitable traffic jam in Kuala Lumpur on a late Saturday afternoon. My spirits weren’t particularly high that day; it hadn’t been for the past few weeks. There were problems at work and my car’s air-conditioning chose a nice time to run out of gas. Bummer.

I was in the lift lobby of the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, waiting for the elevator to take me up to the 3rd floor where my father was being warded. The lift seemed to take ages to arrive, as things are wont to be whenever you are in a hurry. I had not noticed the tall gentleman standing a few feet behind me when he spoke.

“Assalamualaikum. Sorry… but are you Junainah?”

I turned my head, slightly surprised to see a smartly dressed young man who somehow knew my name.

“Alaikum-salam. Yes, I am.” I replied. The young man’s face does not look familiar to me, but then again, I’m poor at remembering faces.

“You studied at Sheffield Hallam University about 5 years ago, I believe. I don’t think you remember me but I was at your house once in the winter of 1990,” he said. I was searching my memory bank when he continued, “We played Scrabble that day, together with Aida and your housemates. I’m Johari, Aida’s classmate, or former classmate I should say.”

The mention of the Scrabble game suddenly brought the memories flooding back. Of course, now I remember! How can I ever forget that day; it had been a day of many `firsts’….

Update 08.11.2021 : Perhaps it is time for me to complete this short story...

End of hijacking saga

NST online reported that MISC has successfully negotiated the release of its tanker Bunga Melati Lima, from Somali pirates who hijacked the ship exactly a month ago. The paper also carried an article about the relief felt by families of two of the crew -> The best Raya gift, say families.

One of the crew of Bunga Melati Lima, Rizal Shah Bin Abdul Jabar, is a nephew of mine. Rizal's mother, Puan Fauziah Salleh, is my cousin. I'm happy for my cousin that her son has been released. Alhamdulillah.

It was reported that negotiations for the other ship, Bunga Melati Dua, is still ongoing. Let us all pray for the successful release of this ship and the safe return of all the crew.

Update 08.11.2021 : The link to the NST online article has expired and is now removed.

Approaching the end of Ramadhan 1429AH

Today is the 27th day of fasting. There are only three days left to go before we leave this holy month of Ramadhan and end our compulsory fasting for this year.

There are many from amongst us who would be sad with the passing of this month. We would miss the bountiful rewards that the Almighty reserves for His faithful servants only in this month. Perhaps there are some who rue the missed opportunity to do good deeds on Lailatul Qadr, the Night of Power that is better than a thousand months. Others would miss the state of being calm and patient that the ritual of fasting is meant to inculcate.

At the same time, I guess there would be many people who would not be missing Ramadhan. They need not worry anymore about sneaking a bite, sipping a drink or puffing a cigarette behind closed doors. May Allah have pity on these types of people.

So how was my Ramadhan for this year? Alhamdulillah, praise be to the Almighty... it has been very fulfilling so far. I have been relatively healthy... the gastric problems that I experienced earlier in the year did not resurface. Things at work, although busy, were all under control. I had to travel to the Head Office only twice this month so most times iftar and sahur were together with my family.

And yes, I would be missing Ramadhan very much. Apart from the religious rituals, I would miss one of the most lively events that happen only during the fasting month, the Ramadhan Bazaar. For a food aficionado like me, the enormous range and variety of food and drinks that you can find at these bazaars are mind-boggling. Dishes from other regions that are not normally available at other times, can now be found at the bazaars. For example, the east-coast dish of nasi kerabu and nasi dagang can be found sold at many stalls here in Johor Bahru. There is this one stall at the bazaar near my home that sells Penang Char Kuetiaw (the Bukit Mertajam version). There are of course, the normal Johor favourites such as lontong kering, nasi beriani, nasi ambang, asma rojak, mee rebus, sup tulang merah, murtabak etc. etc. etc. It is very tempting to try all at once.

Asma rojak at bazar ramadhan Bandar Baru Uda

The range that's available is so huge that I can choose one dish for each day of breaking fast, and when the whole 30 days of fasting is up, there would still be many dishes that I have not tasted. But of course, that was not what I did. In the first week, I sort of experimented by trying the options available and once I found a few stalls that sold tasty food that I liked, I just stick to those few.

Bandung soda, another Johor speciality drink

In our house, the drink that is more or less compulsory to have at iftar is Air Kathira. This particular drink only surfaces during Ramadhan (well actually, some drink stalls sell so-called air kathira throughout the year but these are tasteless). The most famous air kathira in Johor Bahru is called Kathira Abu Bakar. Many news articles have been written about it. However, a new contender has emerged since last Ramadhan to challenge Abu Bakar's top position. It's called Kathira Urip, and I have been a loyal customer since last year.

Air kathira (also spelled khatira or katira) is a cool drink made with evaporated milk, pandan-flavoured syrup, kathira gum, biji selasih and buah kembang semangkuk. Some versions of this drink also include grass jelly (cincau), raisins and shredded dates. The kathira gum is a tree extract and comes in powder form. It is mainly produced in India. You probably know that biji selasih are called basil seeds in English. I found out from a friend of a friend on Facebook that buah semangkuk is called malva nuts in English. Malva nuts (see pic below) come mainly from Thailand.

Air kathira is a delicious drink. I cannot describe the taste. What puzzles me is why Abu Bakar and Urip only sell their drink during the fasting month? I have googled and found a recipe for this drink so that I can try to make one myself.

In a few days, I bid farewell to the holy month that is full of trials, temptations and rewards. May Allah be graceful enough to grant me the time to meet the next Ramadhan.

Update 08.11.2021 : This post is one of the very few that does not have page security issues.

Local version of an Indon song

Pencinta Wanita Versi Kelantan

I had previously heard the mp3 recording of the song Pencinta Wanita that was sung in Kelantanese dialect, but it was only until a few days ago that I saw the Youtube video after a friend, Shimdin Hashim, posted it on Facebook.

Shimdin also included the lyrics, if you fancy singing along.

The original song was a hit a few years back and sung by Irwansyah of Indonesia.

Tajuk Lagu : Minak ko ore tino (Pencinta Wanita versi Kelate...)

Di mano koh buleh cari cinto
Cinto sengoti dale hidok ambo
Lebih kure hok srupo dio
Semugo temu denga dio.....

Ambo toksey nok jangji ngan dio
Pasti sene hidok denge ambo
Biar dio sendiri yang raso
Betapo gilo nyo ko dio

Ambo meme minak ko ore tino
Tapi buke jenih boyo
Tok leh dok nok cari tino sokmo
Ambo cinto hanyo ko dio...

Ambo meme minak ko ore tino
Ore jughuh srupo dio
Ambo toksey doh pado laing so nyo
Hok dok cari dok berjumpo
Cinto ambo ternyato ambo nok hanyo lah dio

Ambo toksey nok jangji ngan dio
Pasti sene hidok denge ambo
Biar dio sendiri yang raso
Betapo gilo nyo ko dio..

Ambo meme minak ko ore tino
Tapi buke jenih boyo
Tok leh dok nok cari tino sokmo
Ambo cinto hanyo ko dio...dio

Ambo meme minak ko ore tino
Ore jughuh srupo dio
Ambo toksey doh pade laing so nyo
Hok dok cari dok berjumpo
Cinto ambo ternyato ambo nok hanyo lah dio

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Hmm.... do Kelantan guys really call their ladies `ore tino'?

Teman Tapi Mesra (macam-macam versi)

While we are at it, I'm reproducing here, the lyrics of another hit song from Indonesian group Ratu called Teman Tapi Mesra.

The first set is the original Indon version, followed by seven (7) Malaysian regional versions. Being a Johorean myself, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of most of the revised lyrics but I can somewhat sing along to the Ganu and Kedah wordings.

If you think the regional lyrics could be improved or corrected, feel free to drop a comment.

I've also inserted a Youtube video at the end but in the original Ratu version so that you can try to sing along with whatever versions that you wish. The vid, however, contains only a still pic... those Ratu girls are too hot to show at this time... ;-)

Teman Tapi Mesra - Ratu

VERSI ORIGINAL - INDON

(1)
Aku punya teman
Teman sepermainan
Ke mana ada dia selalu ada aku

Dia amat manis
Dan juga baik hati
Dia selalu ada waktu
Untuk membantuku

(2)
Namun aku bingung
Ketika dia bilang cinta
Dan dia juga katakan
Tuk ingin jadi kekasihku

Reff :
Cukuplah saja berteman denganku
Janganlah kau meminta lebih
Ku tak mungkin mencintaimu
Kita berteman saja
Teman tapi mesra

Aku memang suka pada dirimu
Namun aku ada yang punya
Lebih baik kita berteman
Kita berteman saja
Teman tapi mesra...

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VERSI MALAYSIA

(I) VERSI GANU (TEMANG TAPI MESRA)

Aku ade temang
Temang sepemainang
Kat ane ade die sokmo ade aku

Die manih letieng
Hati die pong baik
Die sokmo ade mase
Nok tulong akuu

(2)
Tapi aku bengong
Mase die kabo nok kaseh
Pahtu die kate pulok
Nok jadi kaseh betol

Reff :
Aku kabo padang la kite kawang saje
Mung jangan mitok lebih2
Aku dok akang suke ke mungnye
Kite jadi kawang cukup ar
Kawang tapi kacip

Benonye aku suke gok ke mung
Tapi ade doh org chop aku
Baik kite kawang je
Kite saing doh la
Kawang tapi kacip molek
ke guane...


(II) VERSI KELATE (SAING TAPI MESRO)

kawe punyo saing
saing sepermaine
Kemano ado dio selalu ado kawe

Dio amak come
Dan jugo baik hati
Dio selalu ado waktu
Untuk tulong kawe

(2)
Namung kawe bengooww
Ketiko dio ghoyak cinto
De dio jugok ghoyak
Tuk ingin jadi gewe kawe

Reff :
Cukup lah sajow saing nge kawe
Jange demo mitok lebih
Kawe tok ser mengcintai demo
Kito bersaing sajo
saing tapi mesro

kawe meme berkene pado diri demo
Namun kawe ado gewe doh
Lebih baik kito bersaing sajo
Kito bersaing sajo
saing tapi mesro..


(III) VERSI JOWO (KONCO TAPI RAPET)

aku ono konco
konco sak mainan
nang endi ono de'e nang kunu lah ono aku

de'e ayu banget
kambek apik atine
de'e ono wa'e wetu
gawe rewang sama aku

(2)
GAWE aku mumet
wetu de'e ngomong CINTo
de'e jugak ngomongke
AREK djadikan endot'te

Reff :
djadi lah koncoku wa'e
ojo ku'e njalok SENG ORA ORA
ku orak iso MENCINTAI ku'e
Kito berkonco wae
konco TAPI RAPET

aku memang sukak karo de'e
tapi aku wes ono seng du'e
apik'e kito konco wa'e
Kito berkonco wa'e
konco tapi rapet


(IV) VERSI NOGORI (TOMAN TAPI MESRO)

den punyo toman
toman sepermainan
mano ado den selalu dio pun ado

Dio amek la lawa
Jugo baik hati
Dio selalu ado waktu
Untuk tolong den

(2)
Namun den bingung
tiko dio koba cinto
dio pun koba
nak jadi buah ati den

Reff :
Cukup lah yo betoman dongan den
janganlah ekau nak mintak lolobih
den tak nak ngan ekau pun
Kito betoman yo dah la
toman tampi mesro

den sobona'eh suko kek ekau
tampi den dah ado (laie lawa dr ekau)
Lobih baik la kito betoman yo
Kito bertoman ajo
toman tampi mesro..


(V) VERSI PAHANG (TEMAN TAPI MESRA)

Rodong Tapi Rasi
Koi ade rodong,
rodong sepermainan,
mana ade koi ade la dier skali.

Dia bapok la lawo,
baik hati ye juge,
dier slalu ader masa
untuk tolong koi.

(2)
Namun koi bingung,
menkala dier cakap cinte,
dier pun cakap nak jadi gir-pren koi

Reff:
Cukup ler berodong dengan koi
Usah ler mintok lelebih,
koi tak nok ngan awok pun,
kite berodong udah ler,
rodong tapi rasi.

Koi sebenornyer suka amat kat awok,
tapi koi dah ade yg lain,
maka itu la pasal,
kita berodong ajer,
rodong tapi rasi.......

nyanyi ikut slang Temerloh.


(VI) VERSI KEDAH (KAWAN TAPI RAPIT)

cheq ada kawan
kawan selalu dok main
tang mana ada cheq
tangtu mesti dia ada

dia segak sungguh
paihtu amat baguih
dia selalu ada masa
dok mai tulong cheq

(2)
yang dok buat cheq runsin
tang dia habaq ada hati kat cheq
dia habaq mai lagi
teringin nak buat cheq jadi marka dia

Reff:
dah la aihh takat berkawan dgn cheq
toksah hang dok gatai mintak lebih
cheq tak dak hati kat hang
kita kawan dah la no
kawan tapi rapit

cheq memang suka kawan dgn hang
tapi cheq dah ada marka dah la
kita kawan saja kan ka
kita berkawan dah la
kawan tapi rapit


(VII) VERSI SARAWAK (KAWAN TAPI RAPAT)

Aku berisik kawan
Kawan sama main gik kecik marek
Sine ada aku sia ada nya

Nya nang kacak
Nang bait ati juak
Nya nang selalu ada masa
Nulong aku

Yalah aku angol
Bila nya madah hal bergerek
Kakya nya madah
Nya ingin nak jadi gerek aku

Reff:
Cukuplah berkawan jak ngan aku
Iboh ko mintak lebih
Ku sik dapat nerimak kau
Kita kawan jak
Kawan tapi rapat

Aku nang suka ngan kau
Tapi aku dah ada gerek ku pun
Bagus kita duak kawan jak
Kita kawan jak la
Kawan tapi rapat

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Update 26.10.2021 : The Youtube video of 'Minak ko ore tino', while still available online, has been unlinked. The video of 'Teman Tapi Mesra' by Ratu no longer exists.

A story about zakat

Zakat or almsgiving is quite a complicated subject in Islam. Verses in the holy Quran place zakat with almost equal importance with that of the daily prayers (solat) but unfortunately, not many Muslims see it as such.

During the month of Ramadhan, all Muslims are required to pay zakat fitrah, regardless of young or old, rich or poor, bonded or free. The other form of zakat, called zakat harta (assets), is only obligatory if certain conditions are fulfilled. In Malaysia and indeed many Muslim countries in the world, the practice of paying zakat fitrah is in the form of cash as a substitute to a `gantang' of rice.

Since the administration of Islam falls under state jurisdiction, each state in Malaysia determines the value of this cash substitute. We therefore have different zakat fitrah rates for different states. For example, the fitrah in Johor this year is RM6.50 per person (last year RM5.00). In Kedah, it is RM7.00, in Kelantan RM7.60 but in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, it is only RM5.20. It would seem that Muslims in the poorer states have to pay more than their brothers who live in the richer states. Sure doesn't seem logical to me.

Table of zakat fitrah from JAWHAR, Jabatan Perdana Menteri

So why this discrepancy and a significant one at that? Muslims in KL pay RM2.40 less than those in Kelantan. That's a 46% difference.

This issue of having a uniform zakat fitrah rate has been discussed by the various state religious councils for many years. From the look of things, I doubt that they would reach a consensus any time soon.

To understand why this non-uniformity exists, it is perhaps good to know the basis of how the zakat fitrah is calculated. The first aspect to consider is quantity. The requirement of zakat fitrah (zakat ul-fitri in Arabic) is based on Prophet Muhammad's hadith that states that one Sa'a of barley or dates be made as payment. Now, one Sa'a has been translated into one `gantang Baghdad' in Malaysia. But what exactly is a `gantang Baghdad' and what is its equivalent in modern terms?

Scholars are in disagreement on how much a gantang Baghdad equates to, but a common value cited nowadays is 2.7 kg. In Singapore, they have calculated it to be 2.3 kg. I have no doubt other Muslim countries have different figures too. In standard Malay, the gantang is principally a measure for rice. It measures volume rather than weight. Therein lies part of the discrepancy.

The next aspect to consider is the commodity itself. The original `barley' or `dates' in the Prophet's hadith have been interpreted to include the wide definition of `staple food or diet' (makanan ruji) of the general population. In Malaysia, this is, of course, rice. But then, what type of rice is normally eaten by the average Muslim in Malaysia? Most state Islamic councils have adopted Beras Super Special Tempatan Gred A as the basis of calculation. Since the price of rice as determined by Bernas is not very much different from state to state, the huge difference in fitrah rates is still puzzling.

Zakat Fitrah poster by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura

To add to the confusion, some states like Perlis and Terengganu (and Singapore too) have different classes of fitrah rates depending on the quality of rice that you normally eat. So if you consume the higher rice grades such as Beras Siam Wangi, then you are expected to pay the higher rate. A blog entry by Ibnu Hasyim has an interesting write-up on this subject that you can read here -> Zakat Fitrah Orang Kaya Sepatutnya RM13.50 Seorang.

It's not my intention to make all this sound too perplexing. It has been oft-said that Islam is a simple religion... it is only the people who make it difficult.

Which now brings me to the story that prompted me to make this post in the first place. It happened back during my student days in Sheffield, United Kingdom. I was with some friends at their house for the iftar. As we were waiting for the time to break the fast, one of my friends named Arazi, said that earlier in the day after Friday prayers, an Arab brother had approached him. Arazi was asked by the Arab whether he had any debts, to which Arazi said yes.

`He then shook my hand and gave me some money. The Arab brother said that this is zakat money for me', I remember Arazi saying.

This prompted some of my other friends to remark that they had debts too... and wondered why rich Arabs have not approached them to give zakat money. Hehehe... memang dah rezeki kau tu Arazi.

To my non-Muslim readers, let me just explain that last part. There are eight (8) categories of persons who are qualified to receive the zakat collections. Apart from the poor & needy, other qualified recipients include those who are in debt. Many Arabs interpret this literally and make it easy to comply with the many requirements of religion. Simple.

Update 26.10.2021 : The JAWHAR website is still active but I've removed the link so as to avoid future broken links issues. The link to the blog article by Ibnu Hasyim has also been removed due to security reasons. I have since reconnected with my friend Arazi who works with JKR but have yet to relate to him this story.