The Pandemic

“Dear humanity,

I don’t think I need to introduce myself. The whole world is talking about me, in lock down because of me, and in perpetual stress because of me. Unlike most of you, I don’t have time to waste, so I’ll get straight to the point and share with you things about myself which the media will not cover.

I do not differentiate between people; young or old, sick or healthy, practicing or otherwise. Don’t accuse me of harshness. I’m simply following the orders of the Supreme Lord who released me.

I’m the one who has busied tyrannical governments from furthering their oppression of their Muslim minorities. I am the one who has humbled the pharaohs of the 21st century and snapped the spine of arrogance in every one of them. I am the one who closed the venues of alcohol, fornication, gambling, smoke and terrified every user of interest. I am the one who harasses the disbeliever behind closed doors as he now questions everything he ever stood for. I am the one who struck fear into the heart of every sinner and cornered him into regret. I am the reminder that moral decay cannot go without retribution. I am proud of this, I don’t apologise for it, and shame on the hard hearts of humanity for needing me as their reminder.

Yes, you are right;

I am also the one who closed the doors of the Mosques. This is my only sorrow, but it is the wish of my Lord and He is Most Wise. Perhaps you will now realise the luxuries of praying in congregation and sitting in the companionship of angels that you’d previously taken for granted. Why did you need me to realise this?

Your entire lives have come to a grinding halt because of me; a weak, microscopic and silent creature of Allah. What then if He was to send my brothers upon you, by flipping your countries over like He did with the people of Loot? Or rained fire over you as He did with the people of Shu’aib? Or instructed the earth to swallow you as He did with Qaaroon?

I did not cause this. My Lord said you did.

“So each We seized for his sin; and among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast, and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves.” (Al-Qur’an, 29:40)

Don’t be afraid of me but of the One who sent me.

Don’t busy yourself thinking about how to avoid me, but how to draw closer to the One who sent me.

I, and the rest of creation, are at His mercy, dominated by His power, helpless without His aid. My forelock is in Hands, His wish is my command, and I prostrate to Him. Don’t allow your heart to obsess over me or anything else. Glorify Allah and think well of Him.

I know myself better than you do, so I will say it how it is;

Many of you will die because of me. Those who pass away upon goodness will meet goodness with Allah and can hope for the station of martyrdom. But those of you who die having neglected Iman, lived without vision and delayed repentance, you will soon come to realise that death was in fact the least of your problems.

I don’t know for how much longer my Lord wants me to be around, but one thing is for sure; I may be the calm which follows the storm, and if and when that does arrive, what I’m doing to you today will seem like bliss.

I raise my voice out of mercy to you, and so I ask one last time:

Will you repent?

Will you live with purpose and goals?

Will you promise to follow up every sin with a heartfelt apology?

Your temporary visitor, your sincere advisor, the feeble servant of Allah,"

Corona

Source:Unknown

The New Normal

Now we’re in the 4th MCO in Malaysia. It’s 30th of April 2020.

Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO) period started with :

#Phase1 March 18, 2020 to March 31, 2020
#Phase2 April 1, 2020 to April 14, 2020
#Phase3 April 15, 2020 to April 28, 2020
#Phase4 April 29, 2020 to May 12, 2020

By right, there are 2 more phases to go through. And still not totally out of it for sure.

Here’s the current situation:

1. Non-essential businesses and offices in Malaysia are closed during the order and staff will continue to work from home. Over 2 million Malaysians may be left jobless once MCO is over.

2. All forms of learning are online including school & gym classes. Parents are appreciating teachers and caretakers more and more.

3. Only essential shops are operating - groceries, banks, pharmacies, petrol stations and now hardware stores.

4. Face mask is now a commodity. And has became a fashion trend.

5. Your mouth and nose are considered private parts. They have to be covered at all times.

6. Sanitizers, disinfectants and soaps are now essentials.

7. Most shops won't allow you to enter unless you have a face mask on and your temperature taken.

8. Shops stick tape on the floor to help customers keep a distance of 1 meter between each other.

9. Restaurants are only open for takeaways. Delivery is life.

10. The number of people at the store is limited.

11. Non-essential shops and enterprises are closed. Some closing down permanently.

12. All entertainment outlets are closed.

13. There is now a curfew. We cannot be outside our homes after 7pm. All essential shops closes by 7pm. And naturally you do not want to be in stores for too long!

14. Public transports are only available at certains hours too.

15. Most airplanes are grounded and tickets are crazy expensive.

16. Hotels are converted to quarantine centres. And some are shutting down.

17. The entire sports season is cancelled.

18. Concerts, excursions, festivals, entertainment activities have been cancelled / postponed.

19. Weddings, family celebrations, holiday parties - are all postponed.

20. No gatherings are allowed. All places of worship are closed - mosques,churches, temples. Services are held online. Lonely calls of Azans can be heard, but you are not invited to the mosque.

21. The government has roadblocks everywhere and prohibits all unnecessary travel. Fines are heavy at rm1000 and/or prison 7 days.

22. Petrol is RM1.25 and yet, no one is queuing at stations.

23. The Health DG is more popular than the PM.

24. There are daily updates on new cases, rehabilitation and death, from all govt depts.

25. Frontliners - doctors, nurses, police, paramedics, and others at curbing the disease are the real heroes.

26. Backliners - cleaners, security guards and even ehailing/delivery riders and others that are helping us get through this trying time, we learn to appreciate all of them more and more.

27. There are no physical bazaars to go to this Ramadan.

28. And Raya will most likely be celebrated online with your loved ones...to be updated by 12 May 2020.

Why should I copy this status?

One day, this will appear on my FB memory feed to remind me that "life and freedom" are precious. The new norm has begun.

Don't take things for granted, but cherish everything ...

Think Positively.

You are not stuck at home, you are safe at home.
Tq sis dr fid Rafidah Md Noor

#covid19 #StayAtHome #staysafe

Source: Prof Muni Munirah

Kenyataan Media
Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)
1 Februari 2020 / 7 Jamadilakhir 1441H

JANGAN KEMBALIKAN PPSMI, KEMBANG DAN MANTAPKAN DLP

Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM) membantah ura-ura untuk melaksanakan semula Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik Dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) sepertimana yang pernah dilaksanakannya sebelum ianya dimansuhkan pada tahun 2011.

PPSMI dalam bentuk yang asal telah terbukti tidak berjaya sehingga menyebabkan kerajaan membatalkannya.

Unsur utama PPSMI ialah 'paksaan' ke atas semua sekolah tanpa kecuali untuk melaksanakan pengajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris. Ini berlaku, walaupun terdapat sekolah yang tidak mempunyai persediaan yang cukup dari segi sumber, prasarana dan guru yang kompeten.

PPSMI telah digantikan dengan program Program Dwi-Bahasa (DLP) pada tahun 2016* yang memberikan pilihan yang luwes kepada sekolah dan Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah untuk melaksanakan pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris berdasarkan beberapa syarat.

IKRAM berpandangan program DLP lebih praktikal dan memberi peluang ibu bapa membuat pilihan. Oleh itu, ia wajar dikembangkan dengan memberi sokongan yang sewajarnya kepada sekolah yang bersedia untuk melaksanakannya.

Maklumat yang diperolehi daripada ahli IKRAM yang bertugas sebagai guru menunjukkan bahawa program DLP seperti yang dilaksanakan sekarang juga masih menghadapi kesukaran terutama mendapatkan guru yang mempunyai kepakaran dan berkeupayaan mengajar Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Oleh itu, tidak banyak sekolah yang berupaya melaksanakannya. Jika ini merupakan hakikat dalam pelaksanaan DLP, pelaksanaan PPSMI pastinya akan menghadapi masalah yang lebih besar dan bakal menemui kegagalan.

IKRAM umumnya bersetuju dengan keperluan meningkatkan prestasi pengajaran dan pembelajaran Bahasa Inggeris di semua peringkat. Oleh itu, Dasar Memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia Memperkukuh Bahasa Inggeris (MBMMBI) perlu diperkasakan.

Program pengukuhan Bahasa Inggeris, Highly Immersive Programme (HIP) perlu dimantapkan dengan membuat pemantauan pelaksanaan yang berkesan di semua sekolah.

Prof Dr Omar Yaakob
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pendidikan
Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia