memburu damai

satu pendakian yang belum tentu
dimana siggahsana yang dicari
dibalik lembayung senja
atau jua
dibalik fajar yang menyinsing di dinihari
atau jua
disingkap di sepertiga malam
dalam genangan titisan airmata yang dingin
demi tangga demi tangga
mencapai ketenangan
untuk mengecap damai
andai segala doa
mendapat restu
Gusti Yang maha Agung
aku ingin berangkat segera
sekarang juga.

CABARAN UMAT ISLAM DI ALAF BARU

Adelaide, 11 Sept- “Islam tidak menolak hak-hak sebagai manusia, malah Islam amat menitik beratkan sifat kemanusiaan. Namun, ia mengancam akidah umat Islam apabila ‘human rights’ ini dijadikan satu ideologi kerana manusia menjadi asas dalam memutuskan semua perkara,”. Ini adalah antara pengisian daripada Pn. Norsaleha Mohd Salleh, pensyarah Usuluddin Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor (KUIS) kepada peserta program “Cabaran Umat Islam di Alaf Baru” yang bertempat di Parks Community Centre, pada Ahad lepas.

Menurut beliau, masyarakat perlu sedar akan ancaman Humanism, Pluralism, Syiah dan Kristianisasi yang melanda masyarakat Malaysia hari ini sebelum terlambat.
Beliau yang juga merupakan Ketua Wanita ISMA dan Ketua Majlis Pembangunan Wanita dan Keluarga ISMA Pusat berharap supaya para pelajar yang belajar di luar negara dapat menyumbangkan sesuatu kepada masyarakat apabila pulang ke tanah air nanti.

“Tanggungjawab mengajak masyarakat ke arah kebaikan bukan hanya terletak pada ustaz atau ustazah sahaja malah perlunya kesedaran umat Islam untuk mengembalikan, membangunkan serta mempertahankan jati diri umat dan jangan sesekali dipandang kecil”, ujar beliau lagi.

Lebih membimbangkan lagi kira-kira 250 000 orang di Malaysia dianggarkan telah murtad dan ditambah pula dengan penyakit sosial remaja yang semakin membarah, berpunca daripada rosaknya hubungan dengan Allah. Serangan-serangan halus ini diulas dengan lebih lanjut dalam forum yang menampikan ahli–ahli panel iaitu Ustazah Norhayati Abdul Wahab, Dr. Hasimah Ismail dan Dr. Mohd Zaki Ibrahim bersama moderator, Dr. Rozanizam Zakaria.

Hadirin disarankan untuk kembali kepada ajaran Islam dan memperbaiki hubungan dengan Allah serta bersama-sama dalam usaha pentarbiyahan dan mengadopsi gaya fikir baru dalam menghadapi ancaman-ancaman tersebut. Program ini telah dihadiri oleh masyarakat di Adelaide yang terdiri daripada para pelajar dan warga Malaysia yang bermastautin di sini .

Disediakan oleh,
Wartawan
Media ISMA SA

WALL CLIMBING IN KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia has it all: an array of limestone outcrops on Peninsular Malaysia, granite boulders and monoliths at the east coast, limestone crags and sandstone mountains in Sarawak and alpine granite and big walls in Sabah. However, this vast potential is still awaiting exploration and development by a small, but growing community. The hub of Malaysian climbing is still KL with the two main regions Batu Caves and Bukit Takun.

All the crags listed in the KL region are located at Batu Caves, the last limestone outcrop on Peninsular Malaysia. Further south there is nothing but granite, most of it hidden by dense jungle. The huge potential lies north of KL, in the states Perak (around Ipoh), Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang where hundreds of limestone crags wait for being explored.

The big unknown is East Malaysia that can offer another enormous untapped potential of climbing crags. Most of the routes in Malaysia are bolted sportclimbs on limestone crags, with some trad exceptions on granite walls.

Malaysia is using the French grading system. The weather in Malaysia is tropical, meaning same temeperature all year long. Rain season should kick in during april and may, followed by a little bit dryer time from june till august. The rain strikes again in september and october, while november till february is considered dry season. However, being in the inner tropics the rain and dry seasons are less dramatic compared to Thailand or Bangladesh. Usually rain sets in around 3.00 pm, independent on the actual season.

Climbing is possible throughout the year: the rock, especially limestone dries quickly even after tormental storms. Watch out for the exceptional heat and humidity, especially when you are used to climbing at moderate temperatures. Standard equipment for a Malaysian crag is sun cream, mosquito repellent and plenty of water.

Kuala Lumpur

1. Camp 5
   EZ501, 5th Floor, 1
   Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama
   47800, Petaling Jaya. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
   603 784 555 61
   http://camp5.com
   > 2500m2 Indoor climbing wall, top rope walls from 8 to 13m height, 8m trad rock-like wall,lead walls from 16 to 20m. Massive comp wall. 400 m2 of bouldering, with a 5m top out and 2 caves

2. First World Hotel / Theme Park
   69000 Genting Highlands,
   Pahang, Malaysia
   > Indoor climbing wall

3. MadMonkeyz Climbing Gym
   19-1, Jalan Metro Wangsa, Wangsa Maju
   Section 2, Wangsa Maju
   Kuala Lumpur, Setapak, Malaysia 53300
   +603 4142 0698
   http://www.madmonkeyz.my/
   > MadMonkeyz Climbing in Malaysia is dedicated to bouldering and movement training for climbing. Located at Wangsa Maju, Madmonkeyz is accessible by public transportation and is open 7 days a week offering great routes and a comfortable atmosphere to train in.

Putrajaya

1. PutraClimb
   Challenge Park 2, Jalan P5 Precint 20
   Putrajaya, Malaysia
   http://www.putraclimb.com
   >Massive overhangs, up to 25 meters. 50 Lead anchors.Lead walls range from moderate to very difficult. French 6A to 7C or more. Bouldering wall for beginner and advanced.

Shah Alam

1. Shah Alam Exteme Park
   Behind KFC, Seksyen 13
   Shah Alam, 40000 Malaysia
   http://www.mbsa.gov.my
   > 3 bouldering rocks which are part of the park.

Saudi Women Given Right To vote

By Asma Alsharif

JEDDAH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will allow women to stand for election and vote, the king announced on Sunday, in a significant policy shift in the conservative Islamic kingdom.

In a five-minute speech, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud said women will also take part in the next session of the unelected, advisory Shura Council, which vets legislation but has no binding powers.

"Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior ulama (clerics) and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from the next term," he said in a speech delivered to the advisory body.

"Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote."

Women's rights are regarded as a litmus test for the government's appetite for social and political reform. Saudi Arabia adheres to a strict version of Islamic law that enforces the segregation of the sexes.

"This is great news," said Wajeha al-Huwaider, a Saudi writer and women's rights activist. "Women's voices will finally be heard.

"Now it is time to remove other barriers like not allowing women to drive cars and not being able to function, to live a normal life without male guardians."

The king did not address the issue of women being allowed to drive. Although there is no written law against women driving, they are not issued licences, effectively banning the practice.

Women in Saudi Arabia must also have written approval from a male guardian -- a father, husband, brother or son -- to leave the country, work or even undergo certain medical operations.

After entering the Shura Council chamber leaning heavily on a cane, King Abdullah, who is thought to be 87 or 88, read only a section of a longer prepared statement that was later released in full by the authorities.

The part he did not read included reference to Saudi foreign policy including the kingdom's continued support for a Gulf-brokered plan for a power transition in Yemen.

SEEKING CHANGE

King Abdullah has long been pushing cautious political reforms, but in a country where conservative clerics and senior members of the ruling family oppose even minor changes, liberalisation has been very gradual.

He built a new university for students of both sexes and encouraged women to participate more in the labour market.

Despite calls on social media for widespread protests in Saudi Arabia during the Arab Spring pro-democracy protests in the Middle East and north Africa, the only noteworthy demonstrations were confined to the country's Eastern Province, which is home to the country's Shi'ite minority.

Activists in the country have long called for greater rights for women. Ruled by an absolute monarchy supported by conservative Wahhabi clerics, Saudi Arabia is a conservative country where religious police patrol the streets to ensure public segregation between men and women.

A campaign this summer by women who broke Saudi law by driving on the kingdom's city streets prompted some arrests.

Hajj Preparations in Full Swing

By IslamOnline.net & Newspapers ,

Monday, 31 August 2009 14:27

Nearly three million Muslims from around the world pour into Makkah every year to perform hajj.

CAIRO — With cameras to guarantee pilgrims’ safety, buildings to accommodate more worshippers and a monorail to ease the faithful’s movement, Saudi preparations are in full swing for the spiritual journey of hajj.

"Fixed and mobile cameras have been established in various parts of the holy sites to monitor the movement of pilgrims in order for the security forces to intervene whenever required,” the Supreme Hajj Committee said in a report cited by the Arab News on Monday, August 31.

It said a number of “experimental” buildings have been constructed near the holy sites in Makkah to accommodate more pilgrims.

"These buildings, with a capacity of 25,000 pilgrims, were constructed with the objective of accommodating more pilgrims in the holy site of Mina.”

The Jamrat Bridge has also been equipped with state-of-the-art technology to help authorities intervene in case of any deadly stampedes during the stoning ritual.

In 2006, 364 people were killed in a stampede at the entrance of the Jamarat Bridge.

Saudi authorities have also installed a new advanced fire-fighting system to extinguish possible fire during the peak days of the soul-searching journey.

The system includes powerful water pumps operated by electricity and diesel, which can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute.

Nearly three million Muslims pour into Makkah every year from around the world to perform hajj.

One of the five pillars of Islam, hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim — who can financially afford the trip — must perform hajj once in their lifetime.

Monorail

Saudi authorities are also carrying out a multi-billion project to link the holy sites by monorail, a single rail serving as the track for a wheeled or levitating vehicle.

"Work on the project began in Muharram (December 2008) and will be ready for use to 35 percent of its capacity during the Hajj season of 1431 HA, (2010),” the Supreme Hajj Committee said.

The SR6.5 billion project, which will link Makkah with the holy sites of Mina, `Arafat and Muzdalifah, will be operational with full capacity in 2011.

The monorail will pass by three stations in Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina.

The last station in Mina will be on the fourth flour of the Jamrat Bridge.

The monorail will help transport at least 500,000 pilgrims within six to eight hours, in addition to ending traffic congestion in Makkah during hajj.

"The monorail project will help withdraw about 53,000 buses and other vehicles being used by pilgrims coming by land from within the Kingdom and neighboring GCC countries,” the report said, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Studies are also underway to extend the monorail to a station close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah in order to link it with the Haramain Railway that connects the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

"The monorail will be distinguished for its speed as well as closeness to the pedestrians."