Oh, God!, part 1

Since young I have believed in the existence of God. I would not have been alive today or be doing what interested me most today if god had not directed me towards it.

When I was young, I was sickly and weak. One such health problem was rheumatic arthritis which attacked me at a most unexpected age, at least for most of the folks at that time, when I was merely six years old. They claimed it was an old person's sickness and here was me, too young to be struck by this kind of pain in the joints. Once it became so painful and the swelling as so bad that I could not walk. I was living in Caunter Hall, Penang at that time. Not far from this Chinese village where my parents rented part of an upper portion of a wooden was a temple where, neighbours told my parents, was a medium who had miraculously cured many who seek her help. So, I was taken there one afternoon when the medium was in a trance. The medium told my parents to leave me on the floor just outside that temple. I must admit her looks and prancing behaviour  in no way gave me any confidence that she was going to be my saviour. Run? I could not even raise myself off the floor. The rheumatic pain was that bad. If i could even walk I would have broken any walking record to disappear from the scene. Helpless, I was. Before I could even cry for help, the huge lady medium was stepping over my feet. But she was fast and soon the torture was over. What a relief! Next, she ordered me to stand up and walk. Well, i did just that. there was certainly no need for a repeated instruction. And i did walk! I walked home all by myself. Unbelievable? For everyone else, perhaps. For me, it happened. What cured me? Was it fear? Was it the work of God? I did not really know. But, looking back after a number of other incidents, I believe it is the work of God through that medium. Why not? After all, we do know that God, no matter where you religious belief lie, is all almighty. He does his will, sometimes through mysterious ways.

Of course, there are those who say that it is the work of the devil, to convince me of its power. If it is really the work of the devil, then these people have to admit that the devil does do good and at least once relieved a poor, painful innocent little boy from agonizing pain. Anyone would have to admit that was a good deed for any devil, even if this little boy could have been a wee bit naughty during that young age. No, I did not become any devil's disciple, as anyone who truly knows me can confirm. So, I would like to think that God, in His mercy, gave this boy, me, a chance to build his health, become more active in activities good for the immune system and the opportunity to be a state gymnastic coach when I became a teacher until my retirement at age fifty-six in 2002. For all this, I have God to thank. Thoughts of Him is constantly with me to this day and the reason for this will be revealed in the next few remembrances of His presence in my life.

Great people we still have.

The article below is taken from the Malaysian Insight, a Malaysian online news portal, as it tells of great people who ought to be examples for many leaders in Malaysia. Many of our leaders, unfortunately, do not have the qualities that the bilal of a surau, Sapno Tukijo, a hotel manager, Subri Hashim, and the Christians, the Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia movement have shown after Penang suffered its worst flood. Well, read on, my friends and know what happened.

The Malaysian Insight

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I’ll do it again, says bilal who opened surau to non-Muslim flood victims

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Looi Sue-Chern Updated about 2 hours ago · Published on 19 Dec 2017 12:00PM · 

Sapno Tukijo was praised and vilified after opening the surau doors to non-Muslims when Taman Free School was inundated with floodwaters. Sapno was honoured at a dinner yesterday. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, December 19, 2017.

LAST month, Penang suffered its worst floods in 30 years. Amid the chaos and destruction, one man became an instant hero when he opened up a surau in Taman Free School to provide shelter for victims.
Sapno Tukijo’s action, however, also painted him as a villain among Muslims, for the bilal had allowed non-Muslims to seek refuge in the surau.
On social media, he was lauded but others vilified him for allowing non-Muslims – some of whom were shirtless and in shorts – into the surau.
“I don’t care about the attacks. The people who criticised me were not at the scene. If they were there, they might have done the same thing,” said Sapno.
“We were experiencing a very bad flood, worse than any before. The water was rising at 2am when people were sleeping,” he said, recalling the storm on November 4 and 5.
“If another disaster happens, I will do it again,” Sapno told The Malaysian Insight last night.
Honoured by Christians
The Taman Free School surau bilal was among those honoured by the Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia movement (CPHM) at its interfaith Christmas dinner at G Hotel yesterday, for helping Penang flood victims irrespective of race, religion and background.
Sapno, who unwittingly found fame for doing what came naturally to him, said he was touched by the gesture.
“I feel thankful. We are all servants of God,” he said.
His newfound fame also earned him the permanent residency he had long applied for.
“I had been waiting for it for 24 years. I just got it last week at the immigration office in Putrajaya,” said the soft-spoken man who has lived in Malaysia for 30 years.
Unsung heroes
Others who also helped the flood victims included hotel manager Subri Hashim, who ferried the victims to the surau.
The Taman Free School resident was on his way to the surau when he saw a Chinese man calling out for help.
“I was on a boat when I saw a Chinese man calling for help. He said that there were old people trapped in their homes in the neighbourhood behind the surau.
“We paddled there and saw people signalling for help with torch lights. Almost every home had elderly people. Some were so frail they had trouble moving.
“We made several trips, as the boat could take only five to six people at a time,” he told The Malaysian Insight.
That day, the double-storey surau was all they had with the floodwaters rising to their necks, Subri said.
“There was nowhere else to go. So, we put everyone on the top floor of the surau.”
Mosques, suraus are open to all
Taman Free School surau treasurer Abd Nasir Salleh said the place of worship became a shelter for about five days until all the flood victims left.
The welfare department, he said, sent officers, doctors and nurses to care for the victims, especially the elderly.
“A Malay family nearby also helped by making drinks for the victims. When people come to our mosques or surau in peace and with good intentions, we have to take care of them,” he said.
Nasir said there was no rule dictating who could enter or not enter mosques or surau.
“Our houses of worship are for all. They are centres for the community and places of charity. Holding prayers or religious events is only one of its many functions.”
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who was the guest of honour at the CPHM event, thanked Sapno and the others for showing good example, adding that they had practised what Islam preached.
CPHM chairman Lee Min Choon said those who had aided flood victims around Penang had shown basic goodness.
“Our religions teach us to serve humanity. We cannot do it without working together, so we must learn to do it despite our differences,” he said.
Global Unity Network (Unity) president Shah Kirit Kakulal Govindji said the various faiths had doctrinal differences but their people should focus on their shared similarities.
“Like in the Quran and Bible, we can find many similarities. Why don’t we agree in areas where we can, and agree to disagree where we cannot?
“It will be good to start by showing tolerance towards each other, before we move on to acceptance and respect.”
Leading by example
CPHM and Unity have been working together for several years, organising events that bring religious leaders from different communities to sit together, and make friends as a way of countering the rising polarisation in Malaysia.
CPHM’s northern region representative Pastor Samuel Teh said while politicians might create situations to gain mileage and serve their own agendas, groups like theirs are organising their “grassroots movement” to bring the communities together and encourage all to work towards a common good.
“It should be like how Sapno and others have broken the barrier and mentality that the surau was exclusively for Muslims through their acts of kindness,” he said.
Shah Kirit said problems among the different races and religions are often caused by misconceptions and prejudices.
“It all depends on how we resolve problems. As community leaders, we can have dialogues among ourselves, and then bring the message to the people we speak to in our respective communities.
“Once the people are educated, there will be no more room for hatred,” he said, adding that politicians’ attempts to fan racial and religious sentiments will also no longer work.
“If we cannot change upwards, then we change downwards,” Shah Kirit said. – December 19, 2017.

All kinds to make a world

Humans are created with a mind to think better than other living things. Although we may look alike in many ways, there are also differences among us. with a head, a body and four limbs, able to walk upright and able to think of everything there is to be thought of, humans are able to mix among ourselves and communicate in one way or another. Of course, there is the difference of skin and hair colour, bodily structures, cultures, beliefs and languages used but in many ways we are similar.

Unfortunately, it is usually the differences that can bring about problems. Race can bring unity or disunity. People of the same race usually band together probably for safety reasons. Of course, they normally can communicate better than a particular language alrady in use amongst them. Herd mentality may be good but it can also drive off people of another race or bring up suspicions ofactions unfamiliar to a certain group. And that is where enmity begins.

Then there is religion. Religion comes from the belief of God. In the known religions, the holy book has taught humans the good values. Yet, many who belong to one of the great religions in our world have committed sins that the holy book forbid. Could it be the result of humans usurping the power of God, declaring what they believe in to be the truth, and people of other faiths not obeying God's words? So, from here arose the differing thoughts or beliefs of people of the same religion. And with that we have different sects or groups insisting that theirs is the way, the only route to God that all others must follow. This even leads to killing to achieve what is their God's way. Why? Do they realise that when they kill an innocent believer of God they go against Him? And to think that humans are given brains superior to other creatures so as to be able to think. Is that why people say "to err is human"/

Then, we have science-minded humans who need proof of the existence of God to believe there is such an all almighty power. Rightly, or wrongly, they are atheists. Well, they were given the right to choose and they decided that unless proof is given to them, their belief is right. This group usually do not impose their belief on others and so do not create any problems for others. However, God will accept them as long as they do good and are a contributing group in society. (Here, I indicate my belief in God as events in my life lead me to believe a powerful force has given me guidance and strength.) Whatever you belief in, let it be, for it takes all kinds to make a world.

Here's a true animal lover.

Today, in Malaysians kini, I read of a young lady, Norashikin Ahmad, with the guts to reveal her love for animals such as dogs despite being in a religion that does not favour its members being near them, more so if there is any touching.. For her, love overcomes all barriers. She certainly has my greatest admiration. Even when she is ostracized by the member of the mosque near her home, she continues with what she loves best. That is something very few humans in this world have the courage to carry on. She certainly has a heart of gold, one of God's most beautiful creations!

All the photographs below are copied from Malaysians kini. The article comes from its writer, Annabelle Lee.

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MALAYSIANS KINI Norashikin Ahmad, 24, has been rescuing dogs and cats ever since 2014 when she got her first job. She houses 120 cats and 50 dogs in a purpose-built shelter next to her home in Alor Gajah, Malacca. On top of running the shelter, she works full-time, helps out with her mother’s food business and has to travel to the mosque in the next village to pray as she is not welcome at the one right outside her house. We first meet Shikin (as she is commonly known) at the Alor Gajah morning market where she works at her mother’s food stall on Sundays.
After the market, we follow her to a small village off the main road. There are several buildings on her property but none that look, or smell, like an animal shelter.
Shiro, a tiny scrappy-looking shih tzu, straggles out to greet us.
Shikin throws Shiro a rubber ball as she points to a maroon-coloured building in front of us, “that’s my shelter!” .

Autism and all that is necessary to bring out the talent in the child.

Autism

Autistic boy wonder in Penang gets letter from Obama

BY LOOI SUE-CHERN

Published: 22 August 2014

Gifted 11-year-old Delwin Cheah with the letter from US President Barack Obama. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, August 22, 2014.It is not everyday a boy receives a letter from the President of the United States. Let alone if he is an 11-year-old who lives halfway across the globe.

But Penang boy Delwin Cheah Wien Loong did, when he received a letter from President Barack Obama.

Delwin is no ordinary boy. He is the Malaysia Book of Records' "Youngest Artist To Hold Solo Visual Art Exhibition (Autism Spectrum Disorder)" and the United States' Record Setter's "World Youngest Savant Artist (ASD) to hold a Solo Exhibition".

Delwin is autistic but his achievements had previously earned him and his family the chance to meet and rub shoulders with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Now, he has a letter from Obama, thanking him for his "gift", a book of his drawings titled "I Can Draw".

In the July 14 letter, Obama wrote that "the world needs young people like you who are trying hard in school, serving your community, and dreaming big dreams".

"We face many challenges, but with your help, we can build on what we have already achieved and forge a brighter tomorrow," the US president wrote.

Delwin's parents Lawrence Cheah and Erina Law said they never expected a letter from the president and were surprised to learn that Obama had recently received the book.

"The book came out two years ago when Delwin had his first art exhibition," she said.

Her husband Lawrence said they had no idea who gave the book to Obama.

"We are also trying to find out who is this person," he said.

The couple and their son have been in the news many times because of the boy's talent in drawing.

Banking on what Delwin can do, the proud parents have been trying to reach out to other parents with autistic children, reminding them never to give up.

Often, they try to inspire others with Delwin's story, from the time they discovered he had Asperger's Disorder at age five but also an IQ of 114, making him the world's youngest Savant artist today.

Lawrence and his wife advocate early detection and early intervention, and they stress on the importance of teaching and training children with autism from young to help them develop their talents.

"Once you have the diagnosis, you can only accept (that your child has) autism and start seeing to your child's training and education to develop his or her hidden talents," he said, stressing that waiting for the child to grow up to be taught would be too late.

He said Delwin had started drawing when he was just over three years old, and even then he had been drawing wild animals especially Safari animals.

"I sent Delwin to art classes after we discovered that he liked drawing. The teacher came to me and said my son was the worst student and he can never be an artist.

"Delwin could not take instructions. He just drew whatever that came to him. So the teacher did not know how to deal with a student like that.

"But we never gave up and we kept encouraging him to develop his skills and his art. Delwin is where he is now because we persevered together with him as a team," Lawrence said.

When it comes to art, Delwin is not like kids his age, who would normally use pencils to draw so they could easily rub off mistakes. Delwin uses pens and draws his animals so well there are no mistakes.

Law said it is important to understand how autistic children learn and do things differently, and be supportive instead of regarding them as disabled.

Delwin, she said, does not hold a disabled person's card and goes to a normal school with normal schoolmates.

He is enrolled in Lighthouse Academy Penang, a private school with an American syllabus in Tanjung Bungah that uses a homeschooling approach with its students.

"Delwin attends school like other children his age. He just learns differently," she said.

The family's hardwork with Delwin and their belief in his abilities paid off when the boy began making waves in recent years.

On Christmas Day 2011, Delwin was recognised by Stroke of Genius, an American organisation that educates and empowers people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) by promoting their abilities.

In April 2012, he took part in the organisation's art exhibition at the United Nations Plaza in New York and in February last year, he had his first solo show.

In April last year, Delwin made the Malaysia Book of Records as the youngest artist to hold a solo visual art exhibition with 60 art pieces.

Later in November, he was officially named the world's youngest savant artist to hold an exhibition by the Record Setter.

In April this year, he again made his mark with the Malaysia Book of Records for winning the "Most Outstanding Personality (Art Category)" award.

The latest feather on Delwin's cap is of course the letter he received from the White House.

Savant syndrome is a condition in which a person with a mental disability, such as an autism spectrum disorder, demonstrates profound and prodigious capacities or abilities far in excess of what would be considered normal.

Some people with Savant syndrome demonstrate exceptional skills in areas like rapid calculation, art, memory and musical ability.

Asperger syndrome or Asperger disorder (AD) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterised by significant difficulties in social interaction, non-verbal communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests.

People with Asperger's do not have a learning disability and most go through mainstream school, pursue higher education and enter employment, and some would excel in areas like mathematics, science, language, memory and concentration. – August 22, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/autistic-boy-wonder-in-penang-gets-letter-from-obama#sthash.5OMXzS8S.dpuf

Wise words from a Johore prince.

First, it is only proper that people know that Johore is one of the states in Malaysia.

And when somebody's wife shook the hands of the prince from Johore, there were so many negative comments, he had no alternative but to comment on them.  
Below is the prince's comment which was published on Malaysiakini on 9 July, 2016.
As i find his words has so much wisdom in them, I hope to share them with anyone interested .

COMMENT I was informed by our club Johor Darul Takzim FC's website that there were a lot of negative comments on how JDT player Mohd Safiq Rahim's wife shook hands with me.
There are a few individuals who are trying to be an ustaz or the state mufti on Facebook.
To me, when it comes to religion we are nothing compared to the Almighty. Therefore only Allah can judge us and not human beings.
Only Allah can decide whether our prayers are accepted or not. Only God can judge whether we go to heaven or hell.
We are simply human beings and therefore should not judge others especially on petty things. Islam is about love and respect and not about judging others especially when it involves hatred.
The problem is, too many are trying to be smarter than the Quran.
Although I am born to be a ruler, I am also just a human being. I have no rights to judge whether Allah will accept you or otherwise. Unless you rape people or hurt children, kill people, steal or take from the needy.
Here is some honesty that some of you hypocrites are not used to because too many of you are used to pretentious people in your life here.
I am a Muslim and the holy religion of Islam is much bigger than me. I must say I am not an expert when it comes to Islam but one thing I believe is that Allah will bless you, if you have a good heart, kind, honest, helping one another and respecting others.
Who's to say which path leads to heaven?
There are many school of thoughts in Islam. Who are we to say which one of us will go to heaven? Who are we to say which school of thoughts is the right Islam.
As for me, I prefer to stick with what I have been taught since I was young and to abide by the Holy Quran.
I'm also going to stick to my customs and traditions of a Malay because I'm born Malay.
If there are some of you who wish to be an Arab and practice Arab culture, and do not wish to follow our Malay custom and tradition that is up to you. At least I'm real and not a hypocrite and the people of Johor know who their ruler is.
I don't pretend to wear a jubah but behind closed doors be addicted to drugs and neither am I a gambling junkie. I do not steal from my people and I always speak the truth.
I have the courage to speak what others dare not because of their own personal interest and with me, what you see is what you get.
I always strive to be as real and transparent as I can with my people because as I've mentioned numerous times its better to be hated for being honest and real than be loved and be a fake and a hypocrite.

Pada suatu ketika di Padang Seri Gelam. Perkara yang aneh telah berlaku sebentar tadi.----A very unusual incident happened at Padang Seri Gelam some time ago.
Posted by JOHOR Southern Tigers on Monday, February 22, 2016
Education is key
I respect your choice even though I'm amazed why we Malaysians, especially the Malays, are so easily influenced. The answer is simple. Education.
Education allows us to see the world differently. Education gives you the knowledge to abide by your principles and policies in life.
I have no rights to tell you what to believe or follow and all I have is my honest, humble opinion that we shouldn't try to be smarter than the Quran. All we need to know are the basics.
To my fellow Johoreans - be Muslim, not extremist. Being Muslim is to respect one another. Johor has its own tradition and culture and the same goes to other states. We are all different - different in our interpretations of the teachings of Islam, different in religion and different in ethnicity.
Pointing fingers and judging each other will not make this country a better place. We shouldn't have any place in our heart for hatred.
Do you know how we can make this country a better place and live in harmony? Simple, educate yourself, and respect one another.
Long live Johor, may Allah protect the sultan and the state of Johor.

A lady all religious leaders ought to learn from.

Today I read of an incredible Sarawakian lady by the name of Zabariah Matali who used a Christian center with a cross on the wall for an interfaith 'buka puasa' (opening of fast) event. Defending her usage of a Christian center with a cross on its wall, Zabariah said that there was nothing offending as the cross is just a religious symbol of the place just as the Islamic sayings on the wall of her own Islamic center would not have been offending to members of other faiths should they come to her center.

To me, she is truly God's messenger of peace and unity for all humans no matter what religion they belong to. After all, God is the creator of all humans, no matter the race or religion. Would God wish any harm or disrespect to any of his people, no matter what name humans call their God. For me, God has always been God and I have no name for Him as He certainly has been here before any of us. When man created a name for God, it is obvious that they use their own language and as they wanted it.

Fortunately for the world there comes a lady who can see clearly that we should praise and pray to God and have respect for Him no matter how we name Him. The world would certainly be a better world if all religious leaders were to follow the example set by the Sarawakian lady.

It is certainly time for religious leaders to set aside their own human beliefs and ideas so as to return to the true path of God. This is obviously necessary as we see religions throughout the world go separate ways to form their own groups with differences which are less than holy and can bring calamities to the world as they want others to believe only in their own philosophies and human beliefs. Let us return to the true teachings of God without changing or misinterpreting them to suit our own desires, be they political or human egos.