Emiza's Life

Delisha's 3rd Birthday Party

2012-01-01T22:21:00.000+08:00

My 6 children with my nephew, Hadi (the one who is pinching his nose)

01012012. New year starts afresh though Muslims celebrates new year at the end of November last year. How's everybody's new year? I hope everything's goes well just like what you plan. My new year starts with a birthday party for my dad, Mr Abang Ariff (he's birthday is today) and my 4th child Delisha Baseerah (hers is on the 6th of January). Last night, I slept at around 11 pm and nothing special happened in Miri. For the birthday party today, I prepared all food by myself including the birthday cake. Oh, how I really wish I can be the next Nigella Lawson. Hahaha.. Just dreaming for a while.

My cooking

I cook Creamy Pasta, Potato salad, Pizza Hut Style Chicken Wing, Bingka Cheese and Grilled Sausages. I even baked the birthday cake that I named Diva Double Chocolate Cake. As for the recipes, I'll try to post it tomorrow.

Relaxing for a while with y hubby and my new Galaxy Note

Birthday girl with her present on her head and in the pink bag behind her

Happy 3rd birthday, Delisha!

Diva Double Chocolate cake

Yummy!

Enjoy the photo of the food! Need to sleep early because tomorrow have to get up early to register three of my children to school! I'll post the next entry about the registration (hopefully I don't forget to take photos of tomorrow's event). Good night!

My confinement for the 6th time!

2011-12-22T15:17:00.000+08:00

Presenting baby Desheya

On the 23rd of November 2011, at 7.32pm, I gave birth to my 6th baby, Desheya Bisharah Binti Buna, a beautiful baby girl at 2.7kg. She was born at 36 weeks 6 days gestation week and that made her categorized under borderline preemie. My husband picked the name for her (I picked for the other 5) and her name meant Desheya: good day, Bisharah: a female narrator of Hadith.
I was 1 cm dilated when I checked with my doctor that day and he suggested me to induce labor because he knows that I don't have anybody to help me at home with the kids (he delivered all of my children except for my first born Dayana) and the baby is in a good size for her gestation age. I agreed and after 5 hours, I gave birth to Desheya, and without fail for the 6th time too, my loving husband was beside me at the whole time.
I exclusively breastfed Desheya until now, and will breastfeed her til she's 2 years old or until my breastmilk runs out - which is usually the case every time I'm pregnant with the next baby. Tomorrow is my last day of confinement, which is the 30th day! Hooray! It's not that I'm really in confinement. I don't have anybody to help me and my husband only took 1 week off. My sister help me for 4 days and my brother help me in the morning for the first week only because his wife also gave birth to a baby boy, 2 weeks before me. I was on my own. I cook, I clean, I wash, I do every housework that I usually do and still have to care for all 6 of my children.
So, I have to take extra initiative to help myself regain energy and health during my confinement days, as I have to care for myself. I eat chicken cook with kacang ma (motherwort) herb for 14 days straight to warm me up from the inside and I took Sendayu Tinggi's Amme 60 Days pills. I also take GNC's fenugreek supplement to boost my breast milk production. I used the traditional corset / bengkung to warm my stomach and I asked my regular tukang urut / massager to massage me on the 7th day and 30th day.
I bathe with 7 types of traditional jungle products (leaves and branches) which my brother bought from the open air market at Miri for 20 days. I only remember some of the names of the leaves; daun serai wangi, tepus meroyan, daun sembung. The leaves have to boil first before the water can be use for bath. After 2 weeks, I started to exercise a little bit and now, after 30 days, I lost 6 kg. I gain 9 kg during my pregnancy, so I need to lose another 3 kg (but my target is another 5 kg).

Bath herbs

Sendayu Tinggi's confinement set

I sleep with socks and for the first 2 weeks, I cover my head with a head gear and use long sleeves or jacket to cover my body from cold air that is not good for women after child birth. I'm looking forward to my post natal check up on the 5th of January so that I can proceed to make baby number 7! Hahaha.. Just kidding. But if Allah gives me another baby, I will accept it with open heart and open arms! :)
So, for those mums out there who don't have anyone to help during your confinement days, don't worry! Always wake up with positive attitude and energy and you wouldn't feel helpless and always remember to take herbs and take care of yourselves in order for you to take care of your family.

Danish Bisyari's Kindergarten's Graduation Day Performance

2011-10-17T10:38:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, 16th October 2011, was Danish's kindergarten Graduation Day. He is still in level 1 so he didn't get anything but he was to performed a group dance of Doraemon's theme song (Chinese version). I'm so proud of him. If you notice the video, there's a part when his Doraemon's face fell down from his shirt and his friends gather around him to help him to put the face back on the shirt. That part makes tears streaming from my eyes because it shows that even though they are 5 years olds, but they have a very high spirit of friendship. Anyway, enjoy the video.

The Virtues of Pregnancy in Islam

2011-10-06T08:47:00.000+08:00

I went for my fortnight pregnancy check up last night and as usual, the whole gang (hubby with our 5 kids) accompanied me. I am 30 weeks pregnant now and the baby is 'still' a girl , according to the scan image. the baby is very healthy and very active! I thank Allah for that. So, after the check up, we went to Parkson at Bintang Megamall to use up our RM30 voucher that will expire on this Friday. The kids gets small toys each and Dayana (my eldest child) bought herself a laptop toy using her money rewards that she got from her fasting days. She even bought me towel flower for my upcoming birthday. Thanks, love!

Pregnant me with the love of my life

After we arrived home, I asked all of them to sleep especially those elder two because it's school nights and after the smaller ones were finally asleep, I wind up, relaxing on the bed, doing some reading over the internet with my Blackberry. This 6th pregnancy is the most tired pregnancy that I ever had because beside of being pregnant, I need to take care of 5 other children ranging from 7 years old to 17 months old. How tiring is that! My body is always aching but I still have to do the usual house chores that a housewife needs to do. But thanks to the Osim and Ogawa massage machines (not the expensive 'chair') that my hubby bought, I can at least relax and massage the aching muscles on my body.

I read about pregnancy and I came across this interesting article of the virtues of pregnancy in Islam. I would like to share this with all the readers out there as an information, or even as an eye opener for those wives who doesn't want to be pregnant! Believe me, in this modern days, some women are busy upgrading their career and doesn't want to have a child. But who knows, maybe after reading this, these women will have a change in their hearts. Insya Allah.

SOURCE: http://www.shariahprogram.ca/women-islam/virtues-of-pregnancy.shtml

THE VIRTUES OF PREGNANCY

· When a woman is pregnant with a child, all the angels will make Istighfar (repentance) on her behalf. Allah SWT will, for each day of her pregnancy, write for her 1000 good deeds and erase from her 1000 bad deeds.

· When a pregnant woman starts to feel the pain from contractions, Allah SWT will write in her records as someone who is doing jihad (spiritual or physical struggle) in His path.

· When a woman becomes pregnant by her husband and he is pleased with her, she obtains the reward of a person engaging in fasting for Allah SWT and a person spending the night in ibaadah (worship).

· A woman from the time of pregnancy until childbirth and weaning the baby, is like the Mujahid (someone fighting in the path of Allah, swa) who is stationed on the frontiers of the Islamic land. If she dies during this period, she dies the death of a shahid (martyr).

· Two raka'at salaat performed by a pregnant woman is better than 80 raka'at salaat performed by a non-pregnant woman.

· A woman who is pregnant gets the reward of fasting during the day and of doing ibaadah (worship) during the nights.

· A woman who gives birth gets the reward of 70 years of salaat (prayer) and fasting. For each vein that feels pain, Allah SWT gives her the reward of one accepted hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah).

· If the woman dies within 40 days of giving birth, she will die as a shahid (matyr).
(Hadith)......."A woman that dies in her virginity or during her pregnancy or at the time of birth or thereafter (in nifaas) will attain the rank of a martyr"
Nabi(salalaallahu alayhi wassallam) is reported to have also said ".......When her labour pains commence, the inhabitants of the earth and the sky are unaware of the stores of comfort that are prepared for her. When she delivers and breast feeds her child, then she will be granted a reword for every gulp of milk, if she had to remain awake during the night for the sake of the child, she will receive the reword of emancipating seventy slaves in the path of Allah Ta'ala. O Salaamat! Do you know who these women are? They are pious, upright, with a delicate nature yet obedient to their husbands and not ungrateful to them"

Another story of a CRUEL MOM!

2011-09-18T20:50:00.002+08:00

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Mother, 25, whom nobody knew was pregnant gave birth to twin boys on parents' toilet, smothered them and hid them in laundry basket

By RACHEL QUIGLEY

Last updated at 2:55 PM on 16th September 2011

Lindsey Lowe, from Tennessee, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her newborn twin boys

A young mother charged with murder has told police she hid her pregnancy, gave birth to twin sons at her family's home and killed the infants by smothering their cries so her parents wouldn't hear them.

Police in the affluent Nashville suburb of Hendersonville arrested Lindsey Lowe, 25, on Wednesday after her father discovered one baby's body in a laundry basket.

According to a police affidavit, the young mother said she didn't tell her family she was pregnant, but believes she got pregnant in January and never visited a doctor.

Police said on Thursday they were trying to identify the father of the twins.

When they interviewed Lowe, she told them she went into labour on Monday evening while on the toilet at her parent's home. She said the first baby fell into the toilet and began to cry.

'Lowe stated that the baby was crying and Lowe did not want her parents to hear and find out about the child,' police wrote in the affidavit. 'Lowe stated that she put her hand over the child's mouth and she stated that she kept it there until the child was dead, which was a couple of minutes.'

A few minutes later, the affidavit says, she gave birth to the second child, who also fell in the toilet. She again put her hand over the baby's mouth and held it there until the baby died, which she said took less time than the first child. She put both babies in the laundry basket and covered them up with blankets.

Scroll down for video

Lowe's father called police yesterday after finding a deceased infant in his daughter's room

Lt Scott Ryan said: 'A child was found deceased in a part of the bedroom that you wouldn't normally find a child and that was suspicious in and of itself'

Lowe said she never checked the sex of the child. Police said both boys appeared to be full term and weighing about 5 or 6 pounds.

The 25-year-old, who works at a paediatric dentist's office, was charged with first-degree murder and remained in jail Thursday with no bond. Police said she is undergoing a medical evaluation.

More...

Police Lt Scott Ryan said on Thursday that he didn't know how she hid the pregnancy, just saying that she didn't tell anyone. He would not say whether Lowe was helping them to identify the father.

Lt Ryan said women with unwanted pregnancies have several options, including a safe haven law that allows newborns to be dropped off at places like hospitals and police stations.

'No matter how bleak the outlook may be for you, let someone help you out,' Ryan said.

The 25-year-old graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in interior design in 2008, according to a university spokesman.

There was no answer at Lowe's two-story brick home in an upscale cul-de-sac in Hendersonville in Middle Tennessee.

But another young mother said she could not believe what had happened at their usually quiet neighbourhood.

She told News Channel 5: 'You never would have thought that would happen two houses down.'

Another neighbour said: 'I wanted to throw up. I was seriously nauseated to my stomach, I have a baby, I love her. I'd do anything for her.

'To know that somebody couldn't take the time to love a child and would do something like that just tears me apart.'

The father, who reportedly did not know his daughter was pregnant, found a newborn baby in her bedroom, apparently hidden and lifeless.

Lt Ryan told Channel 5: 'Will always remember this day and the events. It's very sad our heart goes out to the mother the rest of her family and to those children who didn't have a chance at life.'

Totally Inhuman! Mother surfed internet while 12 years old son kills his 2 years old brother

2011-09-18T20:43:00.000+08:00

This is just too horrific! What kind of mother is this woman? Read it for yourself and judge it!

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Mother 'surfed internet for Pippa, the Beckhams and more for four hours as her two-year-old son lay beaten and dying'

Boy's brother Cristian Fernandez, 12, charged as an adult over the murder
Mother Biannela Susana charged with manslaughter

By PAUL THOMPSON

Last updated at 5:28 PM on 16th September 2011

A mother spent hours surfing the internet while her two-year-old son lay dying after being beaten savagely by his 12-year-old half-brother, prosecutors claim.

Biannela Susana waited almost four hours before seeking medical help for her son David Galarriago after he had been beaten unconscious.

The 25-year-old looked at sites about Pippa Middleton and David and Victoria Beckham, was on email and did online banking as her son lay critically injured.

Biannela Susana is charged with manslaughter and Christian Fernandez murder for the death of her son David, 2. She spent four hours surfing the web after Christian allegedly beat David before seeking medical help

Prosecutors said she was aware of the injuries to her son as she looked at medical sites to try and get information about child concussions.

She also spent time on the Wikipedia page for 'coma'.

Prosecutors said by the time her son was rushed to hospital it was too late to save him due to severity of his injuries.

Cristian Fernandez, 12, could become America's youngest ever 'lifer' after being charged as an adult over the murder of his brother at their home in Jacksonville, Florida, last June.

Fernandez is accused of slamming his brother's head into a book shelf causing the toddler to die from blunt force trauma.

The youngster was branded a danger to the public when prosecutors brought the first degree murder charge. He had broken his brother's leg in a previous assault and had a history of violence.

As her son lay unconscious, Susana googled for music videos and information about celebrities like the Beckhams and Pippa Middleton

She also searched for information on concussions and what to do 'when someone gets knocked out'

Announcing the adult murder charge against the 12-year-old State Attorney Angela Corey said;' 'It's one where you go, at what point do you step in, so you prevent another murder, and that's how we felt in this case.

'If we don't intervene now and do the tough thing. We have to protect the public from this young man.'

A 200-page report by investigators has revealed how the boys' mother spent four hours on the internet while her son lay dying.

As well as looking at celebrity sites, Susana also watched YouTube and went to a music download website and looked at songs off of an album called 'My Destiny.'

Police said Susana had logged on to the computer at 10.54 and her last search was after 3pm, after which she finally called for medical help

If Cristian is convicted he could become America's youngest ever 'lifer' after being charged as an adult over the murder

A forensic examination of her laptop computer showed that she googled the phrase 'when someone gets knocked out' at 10.54am. She went to a site about concussion 11 times during a 20 minute period.

As well as viewing celebrity sites she also did some online banking before looking up the website for St Luke's Hospital where he son would be taken.

Police said Susana had logged on to the computer at 10.54 and her last search was after 3pm.

Doctors have said her son might have survived had he been taken to hospital soon after being knocked unconscious.

His injuries were so severe when he was admitted to St Luke's Hospital that he was flown by helicopter to Shands Jacksonville hospital's trauma unit where he died two days later without regaining consciousness.

Susana has been charged with aggravated manslaughter.

Aidilfitri 2011

2011-09-09T18:52:00.000+08:00

Wow.... It's been so long since the last post. How's you Hari Raya? Ours was great though not so many people came except for the first day of Raya. I baked the cakes, the biscuits and cook everything by myself. My sister helped me to do the popia, biskut semperit and Kek Holiday Inn but she couldn't help much because her working schedule at the border of Sungei 7 was packed. But I forgot to snap the photos of the biscuits and cakes. For the biscuits, I made Biskut Makmur, Biskut Ais Krim, Biskut Famous Amos, Biskut Corn Flakes and Biskut Tembikai. For the cakes, I made Kek Lapis Korea, Kek Lapis Cream Cheese Almond, Kek Coklat Peppermint, Kek Fingers Baba and Kek Astronaut. For the dishes, I cook ketupat, kelupis, Daging Masak Black Raisins, Kari Ayam, Rendang Daging Limau Purut, Sayur Campur, Sambal Asam Jawa, Ayam Masak Sos and Nasi Hujan Panas. So, enjoy the photos... and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2011!!!

Golden Churn: Halal in Brunei, Haram in Malaysia PART 2 UPDATED

2011-08-16T05:47:00.000+08:00

This is a very important post dedicated to all Muslim regarding Golden Churn. Use your 'akal that had been given by Allah before you make any decision:

Sayyadina Abdullah ibn Abbas said that "Whatever the Qur'an termed as Halal is Halal and whatever it deemed Haram is Haram and about which it remained silent, this is forgiven" (Abu Dawud Vol 2). Hence, to say that something is Haram without it being deemed as Haram is wrong. Shah Abdul Haq Dehlwi, pioneer of the science of hadith in the subcontinent, says in relation to the above hadith that: "The reason why ibn Abbas recited this was to let it be known that something can only become Haram by way of revelation and it was not permitted to make anything Haram through ones own desires"(Ash'atul Lum'aat Vol 3).

Therefore, to say that anything is Haram without there being revelation about it is incorrect in itself. Allah also says "Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allah which he has produced for His slaves and the pure foods? (7:32). This verse again reveals that no person today has the right to declare a pure item Haram. Prohibition is only proven through revelation.

SOURCE: http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/bidah/en/chap2.php

I don't understand why Malaysia still didn't acknowledge Brunei's finding in this matter though they know that Brunei is an Islamic country and Brunei is our neighbour.

SOURCE:http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2011/08/12/mora-all-golden-churn-products-halal

MoRA: All Golden Churn products halal

Golden Churn Creamery Butter on display at a local store in Gadong. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) declared yesterday that the Golden Churn Creamery Butter products distributed in Brunei are halal and free from pig DNA. Picture: BT/Saifulizam

QURATUL-AIN BANDIAL
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, August 12, 2011

Mixed reactions to Golden Churn butter test results

ALL Golden Churn Butter products distributed in Brunei have been deemed halal and free from pig DNA after authorities tested 17 samples of the butter in the past week, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) yesterday said.
"After evaluating the reports made by the Department of Scientific Services, Ministry of Health, BruneiDarussalam, which analysed 17 samples collected from all four districts in this country, including samples from a neighbouring country, the result of the analysis on all samples have shown that Golden Churn Pure Creamery Butter is free from pig DNA," read the statement issued yesterday.

The Islamic Religious Council made the decision yesterday during a meeting which determined that butter products from Australian manufacturer Ballantyne were safe for Muslim consumption.

The announcement came a day after MoRA bared that the Halal Food Control Division collected new samples for a new round of tests and assured the public that the results would be released immediately.

On August 7, the MoRA advised Muslims to avoid consumption of the Golden Churn Pure Creamery Butter "for the time being" due to doubts surrounding its halal status.

In Malaysia, The Star newspaper reported on Wednesday that the butter would be voluntarily recalled from the Malaysian market due to possible porcine contamination of the butter manufactured in New Zealand.

However, the Golden Churn frozen butter produced in Australia that come in 250g packets in the clear and will continue to be sold in markets throughout Malaysia, said The Star report quoting the Golden Churn manufacturer Ballantyne Foods Pty Ltd regional general manager Hemmat Nasrallah.

The Brunei Times

However, this is taken from The Star, Malaysia and from my opinion, it shows that Jakim didn't do thorough checking on the butter, but the decision was made after finding that the product came from the same factory as that distributed in Sarawak, although brought into the country by different importers. This shows that they didn't do a RETEST on the product but base on ASSUMPTION!

Published: Monday August 15, 2011 MYT 3:42:00 PM

Jakim: Golden Churn butter non-halal

KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) Monday confirmed that the Golden Churn Pure Creamery Butter sold in Malaysia is non-halal.

Its director-general Othman Mustapha said the decision was made after finding that the product came from the same factory as that distributed in Sarawak, although brought into the country by different importers.

"This was confirmed by the agent of Ballantyne Food, from New Zealand, which manufactures the product.

"Therefore, Muslims should not use the product," he said in a statement here.

On July 19, the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department had declared the product non-halal after it was found to contain pig DNA.

Othman said the company had been informed of the matter and it had agreed to withdraw the product from the shelves.

He said the decision was made after discussing the matter with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, the Chemistry Department, the Health Ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division, the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and the Johor Islamic Religious Department on Aug 8.

With the product being confirmed non-halal, he advised holders and new applicants of the halal certificate who use the product to change it with other type of butter which is certified halal and to keep the purchase receipt of the new product as proof.

They are also required to carry out a ritual cleansing process by using clay soil and water, known as 'samak', and it has to be witnessed by the Islamic Religious Department in the respective states, he added. - Bernama

Bingka Durian Diva

2011-08-10T20:28:00.001+08:00

I was craving for durian very badly so I bought 6 of them for RM50 at E-Mart Market. Most of the durian were overcooked so today I decided to make Bingka Durian for the first time in my life. After googling here and there, I decided to come out with my very own version of Bingka Durian for iftar (breaking fast). The result was AMAZING! All of my kids loves the bingka! I'm so proud of my version of Bingka Durian. Hope you enjoy baking it and devouring it! Yummy!

Bingka Durian Diva

Flesh from one whole durian
8 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup coconut milk
1 3/4 cup flour
150 gm melted butter
2 tsp yellow coloring

1. Blend durian flesh, eggs and sugar together until smooth and silkiy.
2. Pour into a mixing bowl. Then add in coconut milk, water, flour and melted butter. Whisk until it's mixed well.
3. Add in coloring and mix it again until the color blend in with the mixture.
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius for 1 hour or so.
5. Wait until it's cool before cutting it into pieces.
6. Yummy!

Golden Churn Creamery Butter: Halal in Brunei Haram in Malaysia?

2011-08-10T16:04:00.001+08:00

I've been researching about this Golden Churn haram issue since it was reported haram by JAIS. But, why does Brunei's KHEU announced it as halal? Is there any political agenda in Malaysia behind this?

Please read here for more info. As for me, I don't know what to say. I'm very speechless about this issue.
And this is taken from the Brunei Times:

MoRA: Golden Churn keeps its halal status in Sultanate

Blocks of Golden Churn butter on display in a supermarket in Brunei. Local authorities have maintained the brand's halal status. Picture: BT/Rudolf Portillo

QURATUL-AIN BANDIAL AND FITRISHAHMINAN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, August 6, 2011

GOLDEN Churn Creamery Butter will maintain its halal status in Brunei despite Malaysian authorities' plan to withdraw the Australian product's halal certification after a batch tested positive for traces of pig DNA.

A senior religious officer from the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Halal Food Control Division (HFCD) told The Brunei Times yesterday that the test conducted by the ministry on the product last month yielded negative results.

"We sent samples for testing to Makmal Scientific under the Ministry of Health last month. The results turned out negative, so for the moment Golden Churn is still considered halal," said Hj Ali Hassan HjAhmad.

The HFCD officer said halal testing on food products was carried out on a regular basis and these tests adhere to the strictest standards to ensure the safety of food for the general public.

"We also test the products when there had been concerns raised such as the pig DNA claims last month," he added.

The butter product has come under scrutiny by the governments of Brunei and Malaysia after various test results showed conflicting findings. Some batches had tested positive for the pig DNA while others were found negative.

Ad East Marketing, Brunei's sole distributor of Golden Churn Butter, is also adamant that the product ishalal and safe to be consumed by Muslims in the Sultanate.

A source from the company, who only wanted to be named Helen, said they would continue to distribute the product despite the decision from Malaysian authorities.

"I am confident with our local authorities here. Since we are in Brunei, our decisions are based on what we have discovered in Brunei, so we will stick with the announcement," she said. "They can't (the local authorities) be wrong, it's an independent scientific analysis done here in Brunei."

Helen acknowledged that some sectors of the public could be caught in between the conflicting findings with Sarawak being "a close neighbour".

In response, Ad East Marketing has started to give out copies of Brunei HFCD's statement published in a local news report last month to retailers to assure them the product is safe for Muslims.

Helen added that purchase orders from retailers and clients have not been affected.

"I am glad that our local authorities have done the test in Brunei and people will be assured by the local findings," she said.

According to a recent report in Malaysian daily The Star, Assistant Minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister's Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman said Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism would revoke the halal certification logo of Golden Churn Creamery Butter.

"The confusion over the matter is now resolved with the decision made by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) in a meeting on Tuesday that the butter is not halal," he said.

Jakim had initially declared the butter to be halal in early July, according to a report in The Borneo Post, but subsequent tests in a Sarawak laboratory detected traces of pig DNA.

"We cannot pick and choose the samples and the decision is that overall, it is banned for the Muslims," said Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman.

Ballantyne, maker of Golden Churn, said in statement dated August 1 that "there are false claims about our Golden Churn Certified Halal Butter brand originating from West Malaysia".

"I can reassure all our valued customers and consumers that both Ballantyne factories in Australia and New Zealand are certified halal by halal certification authorities for all our butter brands we produce and distribute," said Executive Chairman Andrew Ballantyne.

The golden foil-wrapped butter carries the halal logo and has been certified by the Islamic Coordinating Council of Victoria. The Brunei Times

In Memories of Beloved Grandma (December 1928 - August 2011)

2011-08-10T15:51:00.000+08:00

Our last photo taken together during our visit June 2011 before going back to Miri

My beloved grandma (my mum's mother) had just passed away at around 1.30pm today at Serian Hospital, Kuching because of old age illness. Her name is Margaret Burak anak Likin. She's a Bidayuh Bukar Sadong and she's a Christian. We never see religion as an obstacle in our family relationship and in fact, we are very close to each other. Every week, we will chat on the phone and every Chinese New Year (her husband who is my grandpa, is a Chinese) or Hari Gawai, we will go back to Tebakang, Serian to visit her.

She doesn't like her photo to be taken

She'svery lovable and understanding grandma. She's very active, doing all sort of things including the common activity of the Bidayuh highlanders like harvesting hill paddy, harvesting black pepper and others. She doesn't have any illness due to her healthy lifestyle and eating. She had gone through a very hard life during her younger days because her husband died when my mom was about 5 or 6 years old. She had to raise 4 children by herself, by doing other people's laundry, rubber tapping, cooking for dormitory school and she even suffered during the Japanese war.

With her great grandchildren, my children

My grandma is so full of life and she shared so many stories to me. She loves us purely and unconditionally, never thinking about our different religion. She always remind me to take care of myself in order to be able to care for my children. Among my children, she loves Danish (my second child) the most because she can't forget how thin and small Danish was when he was a toddler. She thought Danish was constantly sick that resulted the thin features but when I explained to her that Danish is a very healthy boy but not with a big appetite, she was very relieved and every time she saw Danish, she will force him to eat and eat. But now, growing up, Danish has a really big appetite! Alhamdulillah.
I pray that her soul will rest in peace. I love you so much, my dearest grandma. Your advices, your guidance and our memories will always be kept in my heart.

GOOD INFO FOR MUSLIMS REGARDING ASSALAMUALAIKUM

2011-08-04T12:42:00.000+08:00

This article is taken from kiemiftah (credits for this knowledge to him) regarding the misunderstanding regarding the salam Assalamualaikum. Please read it carefully and pass it to as many Muslims as you know. Sharing is caring!

Image from Google

Satu artikel ditulis dan disebarkan secara meluas di dalam laman sosial Facebook, bertajuk:

SIAPA YANG MENGGUNAKAN PERKATAAN “SALAM” & “A’KUM”? apakah maksud disebaliknya??

Maka berpalinglah (hai Muhammad) dari mereka dan katakanlah: “Salam (selamat tinggal)”. Kelak mereka akan mengetahui (nasib mereka yang buruk).

(QS. 43:89)

Baik gunakan ASSALAMUALAIKUM or ASSALAMUALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH… Ilmu utk dikongsi bersama. Sekadar peringatan untuk semua rakan-rakan muslim yang lain.

Pagi semalam saya dengar radio ikim (91.50 fM). Ustaz Zawawi ada cerita tentang sunnah Rasulallah s.a.w. Antara yang dibincangkannya ialah tentang bab cara memberi salam.

Menurut ustaz Zawawi Yusof, Baginda SAW memberi salam dengan lafaz “Assalamualaikum” dan menjawab salam dari para sahabat baginda dengan salam yang lengkap iaitu “Waalaikumussalam warahmatulallahhi wabarakatuh”

Ringkasnya, baginda SAW akan; Beri salam dengan ucapan - “Assalamualaikum”

dan…Jawab salam - “Waalaikumussalam warahmatulallahi wabarakatuh”

Lagi satu, perlu diingatkan juga semasa menjawab salam, saya dengar ramai orang jawab salam dengan ucapan yang tidak tepat.

Jawab salam yang betul ialah ; “WAALAI KUMUS SALAM” dan bukannya yang selalu saya dengar iaitu ; “WAALAI KUM SALAM”

Apabila kita ingin berkirim salam pada orang lain, hendaklah kita berkata

“Kirim salam, assalamualaikum pada ASHREE ye” contoh lerr…

Dan bukannya : “Kirim salam kat ASHREE yer”. Dan jangan pula memandai-mandai tambah

perkataan seperti “Ko tolong kirim salam maut kat dia yer”.

Statement ini walaupun dalam nada bergurau, tapi ia adalah menyalahi syariat dan berdosa, walaupun sekadar gurauan!

Selain itu, janganlah kita menggantikan perkataan “Assalamualaikum” dengan “A’kum” dalam SMS atau apa sekalipun melalui tulisan. Jika perkataan “Assalamualaikum” itu panjang, maka hendaklah kita ganti dengan perkataan “As-Salam” yang membawa maksud sama dengan “Assalamualaikum”.

Sesamalah kita memberitahu member-member yang selalu sangat guna short form “A’kum” dalam sms ataupun email. Perkataan ‘AKUM‘ adalah gelaran untuk orang-orang Yahudi kepada orang-orang bukan yahudi yang bermaksud ‘BINATANG’ dalam Bahasa Ibrani.

Ia singkatan daripada perkataan ‘Avde Kokhavim U Mazzalot’ yang bermaksud ‘HAMBA-HAMBA BINATANG DAN ORANG-ORANG SESAT’.

Jadi, mulai sekarang jika ada orang hantar shortform “A’kum“, kita ingatkan dia guna “As Salam” kerana salam ialah dari perkataan “Assalamualaikum“.

Jangan guna “Bye” kerana “Bye” adalah jarum sulit Kristian yang bermaksud “Di Bawah Naungan Pope.” Jangan guna “A’kum” kerana“A’kum” bermaksud “Binatang” dalam bahasa Yahudi. Jangan guna “Semekom” kerana “Semekom” bermaksud “Celaka Kamu.” Gunakan perkataan “As-Salam” sebagai singkatan bagi “Assalammualaikum.” Tolong forward kepada umat Islam yang lain , untuk elakkan diri daripada membuat dosa..

Sekian, semoga ada manfaatnya…

PANDANGAN/JAWAPAN KEPADA ARTIKEL DI ATAS

Pertama, perlu dijelaskan bahawa short form assalamu'alaikum ialah A'kum, selagi kita maksudkannya dgn lafaz Salaam atau Assalamu'alaikum, maka bagi pendapat ana, tidak menjadi kesalahan kerana tiada dalil atau bukti khas mengatakan pengharaman penggunaan perkataan tersebut. Tambahan pula, yg menghantar SMS atau yang menulis dan yg menerima atau yg membaca amat memahami short form tersebut bahawa lafaz asalnya ialah ASSALAMU’ALAIKUM...

Dalil dan sandaran ana, sebagaimana short form bagi Sollahu 'Alaihi Wassalam iaitu SAW dan Subhanahu Wa Taa'ala iaitu SWT dan byk lagi short forrm yg diguna pakai dan difahami oleh semua...

Namun, jika yg membaca dan yg menulis, tidak memahami maksud short form tersebut maka lainlah pula hukumnya..

Kedua, ana cukup setuju dgn saranan, menggunakan As-Salam lebih baik, namun perkataan “Salaam” juga tidak menjadi kesalahan untuk digunakan, bahkan kedua-duanya betul (rujuk dalil-dalil daripada ayat Al-Quran yang ana sediakan di bawah berkenaan penggunaan SALAM)..

tetapi ana sekali-kali tidak setuju dgn pandangn yg mengatakan tidak boleh mengatakan "Sampaikan/Kirim salam kepada si fulan" dan MESTI menggunakan “Kirim salam dengan lafaz “Assalamu’alaikum” sahaja yg sebetul/sepatutnya, sedangkan dalam bahasa Arab ada disebut..

بَلِّغْ تَحِيَّتِي إِلَى فُلَان

سَلِّمْ عَلى فُلَانٍ

Kedua-dua ayat ini jelas menunjukkan tiada lafaz Assalamu'alaikum, sedangkan penggunaan kedua-dua ayat ini adalah secara meluas oleh org arab dlm percakapan seharian mereka, dan tambahan pula makna ayat adalah sama dengan bahasa melayu kita iaitu “Sampaikan salam kepada si fulan”..

Sebagaimana dibolehkan menggantikan lafaz “Assalamu'alaikum” dengan “Salaam” kerana mempunyai makna yg lebih kurang sama..begitu juga dalam ucapan ini..difahami bahawa “sampaikan SALAM” adalah sama erti dgn “sampaikan ASSALAMU"ALAIKUM”..

BERIKUT ADALAH PENDAPAT/JAWAPAN YG MENARIK BERKENAAN HAL INI

1. Untuk setiap huruf jawi dan rumi, ada atau tidak perkataan buruk? Jika ada, maka tidak mustahil "A.L.L.A.H" dan "alif lam lam ha" dimaksudkan dengan buruk untuk setiap huruf. Jadi, ki...ta tidak boleh guna "Allah" dalam Jawi dan Rumi lah ye? Macam tu?

2. Betul atau tidak, singkatan "A'kum" bermula sedikit lewat dari wujudnya internet dan sistem pesanan ringkas? Jika betul, adakah dan siapakah manusia bukan Melayu atau Yahudi pertama yang guna "A'kum"? Jika bukan Yahudi atau agen - agennya, siapa? Jika Melayu kita juga yang mula (sebab aku tak yakin American Muslim yang mula "A'kum"2 ni), adakah dia pandai bahasa Yahudi? Yahudi atau bukan Yahudi, SIAPA yang mula cipta singkatan A'kum? Sebut nama, kita selidik sama - sama siapa dia. Kalau tak sabit tuduhan email layang ni, fitnah melulu walaupun niat baik nak menegah adalah haram. Dosa tetap dosa. Siapa tukang forward sama je dosa dengan orang yang cipta penipuan ni.

3. Apa agaknya reaksi orang bukan Islam, terutamanya Yahudi yang kita benci-benci sangat ni, kalau mereka baca benda ni? Tak malu ke kalau korang sebenarnya paranoid dan takut dengan bayang - bayang sendiri?

INI ADALAH BUKTI KESALAHAN DALAM TERJEMAHAN "AKUM"

sila rujuk gambar tersebut..

Avde Kokhavim U Mazzalo atau KOKHAVIM atau AKUM adalah sebenarnya BUKAN SAMA SEKALI membawa maksud BINATANG tapi BINTANG...

Avde Kokhavim U Mazzalo membawa maksud HAMBA2 PENYEMBAH BINTANG & ORANG2 YANG SESAT.. Itulah maksud sebenarnya...

INI ADALAH JAWAPAN UST ZAHARUDDIN TTG HAL INI

Salam,

Terima kasih atas “teguran” atau “peringatan” yang diberi.

Bagaimanapun, saya tidak lah termasuk di kalangan orang yang bersetuju untuk mensyaratkan assalamualaikum di tulis penuh. Tidaklah saya ketahui apakah dalil khusus yang digunakan bagi mensyarat dan mewajibkannya.

Menurut Islam, yang lebih penting adalah “kefahaman intipati”. Jika anda faham ianya adalah lafaz penuh, maka tiada lagi masalah bagi menulis ringkasannya. Perlulah memahami Maqasid Shariah (objektif dari hukum Shariah) dalam hal ini. objektif shariah dalam hal memberi salam adalah sunnah dan mendoakan saudara seIslam. Ia dibuat dalam bentuk verbal biasanya. Apabila ditulis secara tulisan, jika benar formal, bolehlah anda menulisnya dengan lengkap, tetapi di kala tidak formal, yang penting maksud shariahnya sampai.

Tulisan “salam” atau “akum” atau “askum”, sudah tentulah bermaksud lafaz salam yang penuh, tiada siapa yang akan menulisnya kecuali bermaksud lafaz salam yang penuh. Maka adalah menjadi suatu kecacatan sendiri apabila si pembaca membacanya dengan lafaz singkat. Sebagaimana singkatan “utk”, “dsbg” dan difahami secara automatik ia adalah bermakna “untuk”, “dan sebagainya”.

Justeru, Islam adalah agama yang memudahkan dan bukan menyusahkan dengan perkara amat cabang dan kecil ini, bagi merasakan inidvidu yang menggunakannya adalah salah. Bagi saya, orang yang mengganggap salah itulah yang salah.

Adalah logik dan diterima Syara’ utk menggunakan singkatan bagi lafaz salam di sms, mahupun email danlain-lain tempat yang sesuai, kerana ia tetap bermaksud lafaz salam yang ditujukan.

Saya sebenarnya amat pelik, saya telah selalu membaca dan mendengar pertikaian seperti ini, tetapi ini yangpertama kali saya ditujukan secara peribadi, persoalannya mengapa isu yang sekecil ini juga terdapat perdebatan. amat membuang masa..

Wallahu'alam..

(SAMBUNGAN DARI A.Z.B.A)

Jika kita berterusan berpandangan cara ini dan menutup pemikiran, pasti satu hari nanti akan ada satu kes baru, bahawa memberi salam mestilah ditulis dalam tulisan Arab sahaja, kerana ejaan Assalamualaikum tidak tepat dari segi bacaan dan panjang pendeknya..

Na'uzubillah dari perbahasan yg hanya akan lebih menyusahkan org awam..

Berikut adalah sebahagian ayat-ayat Al-Quran, yg menggunakan “Salaam” dan membawa maksud yang baik, sama dengan lafaz “Assalamu’alaikum”..

Al-An’am, 54

وَإِذَا جَاءكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ

Apabila orang-orang yang beriman kepada ayat-ayat Kami itu datang kepadamu, maka katakanlah: "Salaamun alaikum” (mudah-mudahan Allah melimpahkan kesejahteraan atas kamu).

Al-A’raf, 46

وَنَادَوْاْ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَن سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ

Dan mereka menyeru penduduk surga: "Salaamun 'alaikum” (mudah-mudahan Allah melimpahkan kesejahteraan atas kamu).

Yunus, 10

دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلاَمٌ

Do'a mereka di dalamnya ialah: "Subhanakallahumma”, dan salam penghormatan mereka ialah: "Salam" (sejahtera dari segala bencana)

Hud, 69

وَلَقَدْ جَاءتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُـشْرَى قَالُواْ سَلاَماً قَالَ سَلاَمٌ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاء بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ

Dan sesungguhnya utusan-utusan Kami (malaikat-malaikat) telah datang kepada lbrahim dengan membawa kabar gembira, mereka mengucapkan: "Selamat." Ibrahim menjawab: "Selamatlah," maka tidak lama kemudian Ibrahim menyuguhkan daging anak sapi yang dipanggang.

Hasil daripada pencarian ana, ayat-ayat Al-Quran menggunakan "Salaam" untuk membawa maksud "kesejahteran, dan keselamatan"..

Justeru, bagi ana menggunakan "Salaam" adalah sama sekali tidak salah!~

Yang salah, jika menggunakan kalimah "As-saam", sebagaimana datangnya dalam satu hadis yg mana orang Yahudi pada zaman Nabi s.a.w apabila memberi salam menyebut as-samu ‘alaikum yang bermaksud: maut atau kemusnahan ke atas kamu. Mereka cuma mengelirukan pendengaran orang Islam. Justeru itulah Nabi s.a.w menyuruh dijawab dengan ungkapan ‘wa alaikum’ sahaja.

“Sesungguhnya Yahudi apabila memberi salam kepada kamu, sebenarnya dia menyebut: as-samu ‘alaika (maut atau kemusnahan). Maka kamu jawablah wa ‘alaika (ke atas kamu). (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim).

TAMBAHAN INFO:

Merujuk kepada Lisanul 'Arab (Salam):

والسُّنَّة لا تختلف في تحية الأَموات والأَحْياء ويشهد له الحديث الصحيح أَنه كان إِذا دخل القبور قال: ((سَلامٌ عليكم دارَ قَومٍ مُؤْمِنِين))

Dan sunnah tidak ada ikhtilaf dalam tahiyyah kpd org2 mati atau org2 hidup, dan berdalilkan hadis sahih: Sesghnya apabila dia (Rasulullah) masuk ke perkarangan kubur (melaluinya), maka baginda menyebut: "Salamun 'alaikum daara qawmin mu'minin (Keselamatan dan kesejahteraan kepada kamu semua, wahai kediaman kaum-kaum mukninin (penghuninya)"

ويقال السَّلامُ عليكم، سَلامٌ عليكم، سَلامٌ بحذف عليكم،

ولم يرد في القرآن غالباً إِلاَّ مُنَكَّراً

Dan disebut: Assalamu'alaikum, Salamun 'Alaikum, Salaam tanpa "alaikum, kebiasaannya (kebanyakannyan) tidak disebut dalam Al-Quran kecuali dalam bentuk nakirah..

Namun, jika disebut As-Salaam yg dimaksudkan dengannya satu Nama/sifat daripada Nama-nama/Sifat-sifat Allah yg Maha Mulia, maka mesti disebut dalam bentuk Ma'rifah..

(Rujukan Lisanul 'Arab)

Wallahu'alam..

One of The Many Faces of Famine in Somalia

2011-07-28T10:20:00.000+08:00

Famine Seven month old Mihag Gedi Farah is held by his mother in a field hospital of the International Rescue Committee, IRC, in Dadaab, Kenya, July 26, 2011.

Schalk van Zuydam/The Associated Press

Look at the photo above. It makes me so sad that tears were streaming on my face last night after reading the news. It is so cruel to let this poor baby dying of starvation when we can easily eat anything and EVEN WASTE any food! I am looking forward towards Ramadhan, the month of fasting, next week because besides being one of the things that we should do in our Rukun Islam, it indoctrinates man in patience and selflessness, as through fasting, he feels the pains of deprivation but he endures them patiently. You can read more on fasting here. Lots of people sigh when they know that Ramadhan is coming and they tend to eat many foods before Ramadhan comes. I hate this kind of people because if they know what the children in Somalia (and other ill fated countries) are enduring, they should be grateful with everything that Allah had given them.

The news of the photo above:

DADAAB, KENYA Seven-month-old Mihag Gedi Farah is the frail face of famine in the Horn of Africa. He stares out wide-eyed almost in alarm, his skin pulled taut over his ribs and twiglike arms.

At only 3.2 kilograms, he weighs as much as a newborn but has the weathered look of an elderly man.

Mihag is just one of 800,000 children who officials warn could die across the region. Aid workers are rushing to bring help to dangerous and previously unreached regions of drought-ravaged Somalia.

Famine victims like Mihag bring new urgency to their efforts, raising concerns about how many hungry children still remain in Somalia, far away from the feeding tubes and doctors in the field hospital at this Kenyan refugee camp.

Mihag’s fragile skin crumples like thin leather under the pressure of his mother’s hands, as she touches the hollows where a baby’s chubby cheeks should be.

Sirat Amine, a nurse-nutritionist with the International Rescue Committee, puts Mihag’s odds for survival at only 50-50. A baby Mihag’s age should weigh about three times what he does.

His mother, Asiah Dagane, fans Mihag with the edge of her headscarf to keep flies away. He cries weakly, and when he does, she bounces him gently to try to soothe him and murmurs softly.

“In my mind, I’m not well,” she says softly. “My baby is sick. In my head, I am also sick.”

Mihag is the youngest of seven children in his family. Dagane told The Associated Press through a hospital translator that she brought him and four siblings from Kismayo to Kenya after all their sheep and cattle died.

Like the tens of thousands of other Somalis fleeing starvation, the family travelled sometimes by foot, other times catching rides with passing trucks, cars or buses.

Dagane keeps vigil for her son in the ward, which is painted with cheerful pictures of balloons and fruit, lit with fluorescent bulbs. Other mothers huddle on beds next to babies with IV tubes snaking from their heads or hands.

Some infants cry, others are listless. In the middle of the room hangs a woven basket from a scale — but it’s not needed to tell that many of the babies are dangerously malnourished.

Abdi Ibrahim Yara arrived 20 days ago with his four children, including 1-year-old twins. They are unable to drink the fortified milk and must be nourished by an IV.

He and his wife were on the road for 25 days, but she became sick from malnutrition and died. She was four months pregnant.

“We had a comfortable life there, but now there is no one left,” Yara says.

Nurse Abukar Abdule says all of those arriving at the field hospital complain of “severe malnutrition.” Most have walked from the middle of Somalia, between Kismayo and the capital of Mogadishu.

“We have to treat them for at least a week,” Abdule says. “They have no food, shelter or water. Some have diseases. Some died on the road and some were lost. Many mothers who come here have lost children.”

The United Nations estimates that more than 11 million people in East Africa are affected by the drought, with 3.7 million in Somalia among the worst-hit because of the ongoing civil war in the country.

Somalia’s prolonged drought became a famine in part because neither the Somali government nor many aid agencies can fully operate in areas controlled by al-Qaeda-linked militants, and the United Nations is set to declare all of southern Somalia a famine zone as of Aug. 1.

Aid organizations including the UN World Food Program have not been able to access areas under the control of the al-Shabab militants, who have killed humanitarian workers and banned the WFP.

The UN has said it will airlift emergency rations later this week to try to reach at least 175,000 of the 2.2 million Somalis who have not been helped yet.

The new feeding efforts in the four districts of southern Somalia near the border with Kenya and Ethiopia could begin by Thursday, slowing the flow of tens of thousands of people who have fled their homes in hope of reaching aid.

But the WFP hasn’t operated there for more than two years and must find and rehire former employees to help with distribution. Transportation is also a substantial obstacle because landmines have severed key roads and a landing strip has fallen into disrepair.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said a co-ordination conference would be held Wednesday in the Kenyan capital.

Donations are also desperately needed to sustain the aid effort in the Horn of Africa: The UN wants to gather $1.6 billion in the next 12 months, with $300 million of that coming in the next three months.

At the Kenyan refugee camp, Mihag’s nurse takes his measurements and describes him as “severely, severely malnourished.”

“We never tell the mother, of course, that their baby might not make it,” the nurse says. “We try to give them hope.”

The Associated Press

Diva Popia Nestum

2011-07-24T17:57:00.000+08:00

I made this for my kids while they play inside the inflatable pool. This is my first time making it and the outcome is awesome! I decide to make it for this coming Hari Raya. Enjoy!

Diva Popia Nestum

1 packet of popia pastry, big size (the best brand is FIGO - give it a try and you will know why)
1 egg - beaten and set aside
2 cups nestum - blend
1/2 cup horlicks or milk powder
1/2 castor sugar
A straw
A pair of scissors

1. Mix blended nestum, horlicks or milk powder and sugar inside a bowl and put aside.
2. Take one piece of popia pastry. Then, put a straw at the first end of the popia pastry. Make sure to leave the straw a little bit outside of the popia pastry.
3. Roll until it's about 5 cm of the end of the pastry. Use a pastry brush to brush egg at the end before you finish the roll of the pastry. Then take out the straw. Put aside.
4. Roll all of the sheets until finish. Then, use a pair of scissors to cut all of the pastry roll slanting.

5. Fry them just like you fry normal popia but be careful not to burn them.
6. Drain the oil with kitchen tissue paper.
7. Put the fried popia inside an air tight container (I use tupperware) and pour the mix of nestum, horlicks/milk powder and sugar on the popia.
8. Close the container and give it a shake but then shake them vigorously or you will break the popia.
9. Ready to be eaten. Yummy!!!

Children's Famine In Somalia: AN EYE OPENER!

2011-07-23T23:59:00.000+08:00

I was reading the online news when my eyes caught the headline that read : Children Famine in Somalia. I cried looking at the pictures of small children, who where so malnourished that they don't look like a human at all. For photos, you can go to the UNICEF page. This is a message from UNICEF Executive Director, David Bull:

Dear Supporter,

I am writing to ask for your support in moving the news agenda on.

The story about phone hacking does matter, but there’s another, far bigger and vital story that’s going under-reported.

This morning, the United Nations formally declared a famine in parts of southern Somalia.

Right now, today, children in East Africa are facing a desperate crisis caused by prolonged drought, soaring food prices and conflict.

This is the story that matters most. This crisis is getting worse and we need to act now, to save lives.

Children and women are the most vulnerable.

More than 2 million children under five in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are acutely malnourished, including almost 500,000 children who are suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition.

UNICEF is the main provider of ready to use therapeutic food in all three countries, but we desperately need more funds in order to help us reach every child.

If you agree that this is the story, help UNICEF to do more, right now. Please donate by visiting this page or clicking on the red donate icon on the top-right of this page.

Whatever you do, please make saving children’s lives the story.

Thank you.

David Bull is the Executive Director of UNICEF UK.

Feed the needy

As a mother, it hurts to see these children in Somalia, dying from hunger where as we are so lucky to eat at anytime we want. I couldn't imagine if my children had to go through this situation and I pray to Allah that nothing bad will ever happen to my children and I aslo pray for those children in Somalia. I hope that anyone who read this post will do anything that they can do to help those children in Somalia. Just like the tagline in UNICEF page : Denying child rights is wrong. Put it right.

Cencaru Bakar with Sambal Diva

2011-07-22T16:57:00.000+08:00

This is what we had for our lunch today. It's so yummy and delicious! This is my first attempt on making this kind of sambal for the grilled fish and it tasted superb!

Cencaru Bakar with Sambal Diva

4 ikan cencaru - cleaned then mix with a little bit of turmeric powder and grill with a little bit of oil

For the sambal:
2 stalk of serai - blend
1 bombay onion - blend
5 cm ginger - blend
1/2 tbsp turmeric powder
1/2 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 cup water
Salt and sugar to taste

1. Cook everything in a pan.
2. Add more water if you want it to be more liquid-y.

To assemble:
1. Pour the sambal on the grilled fish.
2. Serve hot with rice.

Kuah Kacang Diva

2011-07-22T16:47:00.000+08:00

I made this kuah kacang last night to be eaten with Nona's Ketupat Palas for our breakfast today. This is my very own version that is very simple yet so delicious you wouldn't even notice that it doesn't need any fancy ingredients! All of my kids really love to eat it and it's always been a hit to my hubby's palate! Enjoy!

Kuah kacang

Ingredients:

1 packet of Nona's Ketupat Palas - can be bought at any supermarket and cook as instructed at the packet
500gm peanuts - buy the peanuts that had been de-shell and bake it in the ovenn til brown at 190 degrees celsius then blend it coarsely
1 tbsp of chili powder
3 stalk of serai - cut into small pieces then blend it finely
1 bombay onion (big red onion) - blend finely
Salt, sugar - to taste (I use Maggi Cukup Rasa to substitue the salt and it's easier to get the exact taste that I want)
2 - 3 cups water

1. Saute blended onion and serai til fragrant. Add in chili powder and stir again.
2. Add in peanuts and stir. Never leave the peanuts unattended or it will burn!
3. Add in water. Stir it continuously.
4. When it's boiled, add in salt and sugar to taste.
5. Stir it until it's thicken to your liking and turn the heat off.
6. Serve with ketupat palas or even bread.

Serve with ketupat palas

Kuih Mengkuang Diva

2011-07-22T16:28:00.001+08:00

I love to eat this kuih though I don't know what's the exact name of it and my mom had taught me how to do it. My mom is a Chinese and I found out that I love Chinese's food more than Malay's food. This kuih is really nice but you have to be patient to make it but the taste really make all effort worth it! I made it yesterday for our tea time although I injured my knee after being knocked by my 4th daughter, Delisha. Enjoy!

The kuih

Kuih Mengkuang Diva

For the pastry / kulit:
2 cups flour
2 eggs - beaten
4 cups water or more

The pancake-like-batter

1. Mix all the together to form a pancake-like-batter.
2. Cook it just like you're making pancakes. Make sure it's thin.

The filling

For the filling / inti:
1 medium size mengkuang - shredded and drain the water out of the mengkuang using a muslin cloth or any kitchen towel
2 carrots - shredded
1/2 cup dried shrimp - blended
4 cloves garlic - blended
Salt, sugar and pepper to taste

1. Cook everything in a pan.

To assemble:
1. Roll the filling inside the pancake pastry just like you're doing normal popia.
2. Enjoy it at any time of the day. The best comforting food for me which reminds me so much of my mom.

Our First Date Shirts

2011-07-22T16:11:00.000+08:00

I was folding the clothes that had just came out from the dryer when I stumbled upon these 2 shirts that made some flashbacks to my hubby and I first date in KL. These were the two shirts that we wore for our first date. My hubby still uses his shirt while I have passed my shirt to my eldest daughter because she likes the cartoon on the shirt. I had been treasuring every thing that I've got from the very first up until now and every time I get angry with my hubby especially during our stupid fights, I will soothe myself by looking at those memories or anything that my hubby had ever wrote to me (I will write an entry on this). It's been 8 years and 2 months since we met on our first date and this coming October will be our 8 years wedding anniversary. To the love of my love, my beloved hubby, I will always love you and I hope our love will stay stronger, in this life and after. Amin.

Hubby's

Mine

Humanitarian Pledge

2011-07-22T11:19:00.000+08:00

Last 2 nights, we went to MCMC's Accident and Emergency at 7 pm because Danish told us that his left eye is stinging and very painful. I saw that he kept on closing the left eye and complaining non stop about the eye. At first, I put some ice on the eye and it relieved him for a while before it started to ache again. Then, the eye became teary but it's not red.
The young doctor (I can't remember his name) was very kind and he told us that there's some kind of infection on the eye but not serious because we brought him to the doctor early. He gave an antibiotic eye drop and asked Danish not to go to school for a few days. The eye drop works very well because after 15 minutes, Danish eye's had stop tearing and he can open his eyes like usual, though he occasionally complaint that the eyeball hurts a little.
While waiting for the nurse to call us, I took this picture and I hope somebody out there in Miri will do their noble part to help those who really need it. Please look at the photo to know about what I'm talking about.

Blood supply needed

P.S: I would like to convey a very important message from the doctor. Anytime your child complains about he is in pain, please take note and if you're not sure what's happening with him, bring him to see a doctor immediately even though it doesn't look like it's serious because they had been so much cases that turns out to be very serious but can't be treated because of the ignorance of the parents. If you love your children very much, TAKE EXTRA CARE OF THEM and BE CAUTIOUS!

Disgusting Old Town Kopitiam Miri

2011-07-20T15:49:00.000+08:00

It's beens a few weeks since Old Town Kopitiam first open its business here in Miri I was quite excited as to have a new established franchise in my beloved city, Miri. So, yesterday, after picking up hubby from work, we went to Oldtown. We chose to sit indoor because there were many people smoking at the outdoor side. There were about 4 empty tables left and the other customers on the other tables had already eaten their meal. I was thinking that we won't have to wait for long for the food but my thoughts were wrong.

The first thing that I noticed as soon as we sit at our table was there were so many flies and even mosquitoes! How can this be because we were eating inside not outside of Boulevard Shopping Complex building! I mentioned it to one of the waitress and she simply acknowledged and answered that they don't know what to do about the flies. I asked them why don't they use the electric insect trap but she just shrugged her shoulders. Then, the second thing that I notice was a strand of hair inside the bamboo steamer of my hubby's steamed bread. The third thing was how they leave cooked meal unattended on the counter at the back, waiting to be served by the waiters and waitresses. Nobody cares about the unattended meals even though every time a meal was ready, the cook will ring the bell. And guess what? The last thing that pissed me off was having to wait for our order for more than half an hour! I constantly have to urge the waitress to go and check for our food and the answer was always,"Wait for a second". I was so angry waiting for my daughter's Nasi Lemak for 40 minutes that I followed the waitress to the cook and I asked the cook about the nasi lemak.

He told me to wait for another 5 minutes and I asked them to just cancelled the order. Suddenly the cook said,"Ah, here's the nasi lemak. It's done!". What kind of bullshit are they playing with the customers. If it's not for my daughter, I would surely just leave the nasi lemak and refuse to pay it.

A strand of hair on the bamboo steamer

While waiting for the meal, I tried to asked the help from the supervisor but he looks like he's blur about everything and he just call any waiter or waitress to attend me. I wonder how he can fill the post as a supervisor. Besides that, whenever the waitress sent the wrong order to any table, they themselves will look angrily at the customer even though we said it nicely that the food are wrong. I don't know what their problem. If they can't handle serving people, they might as well try to find other job that doesn't require them to serve people! Such low mentalities doesn't deserve working at an established franchise!

One of the flies

At last, I bought fish burger at Sugarbun to cure my disappointment. I don't know what else to say about Oldtown but the management should look further and take this matter seriously before they have any problems concerning to customers's health (the flies and the unattended meal) and I hope that Majlis Bandaraya Miri will have a look at the premise's cleanliness.

Disgusting Incest News

2011-07-19T13:24:00.000+08:00

I was reading online newspaper and I was kind of shocked to see two news of incest (sumbang mahram) today just in one newspaper. It seems like incest is getting common in our society especially in Muslim society itself. According to Wikipedia:

Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives^[1]^[2] that is illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and is conventionally considered a taboo. The type of sexual activity and the nature of the relationship between people that constitutes a breach of law or social taboo vary with culture and jurisdiction. Some societies consider incest to include only those who live in the same household, or who belong to the same clan or lineage; other societies consider it to include "blood relatives"; other societies further include those related by adoption or marriage.^[3]

Incest is illegal in many jurisdictions. The exact legal definition of "incest," including the nature of the relationship between persons, and the types sexual activity, varies by country, and by even individual states or provinces within a country. These laws can also extend to marriage between subject individuals.

Islamic

The Quran gives specific rules regarding incest, which prohibit a man from marrying or having sexual relationships with:

his father's wife (his mother,^[74] or stepmother^[75]), his mother-in-law, a woman from whom he has nursed,^[74]
either parent's sister (aunt),^[75]
his sister, his half sister, a woman who has nursed from the same woman as he, his sister-in-law (while still married to her sister),^[74]
his niece (child of sibling),^[74]
his daughter, his stepdaughter (if the marriage to her mother had been consummated), his daughter-in-law.^[74]

The main differences (apart from relationships between a man and his daughter) are:

a woman from whom he has nursed a woman who has nursed from the same woman as he niece

A Hadith also prohibits marriage to a woman and her parent's sister at the same time.^[76] The same applies for a woman with the male counterparts to the aforementioned.

This is a serious matter because a lot of incest cases are usually a form of child abuse because most of the victims are children . This is saddening because the crime is committed by their own paternal father, though there are cases committed by the stepfather. A father is suppose to be the keeper and the leader of his family not someone who ruins the future of his family especially the children. I'm very disgusted by the incest news that I don't think I can respect men without them showing their true colors.

So, to all mum and wives out there, take care of your children. This doesn't mean that you should accuse your husband of doing something illegal but know your husband inside and outside. And to those who are not yet married, discover the real man out of your soon-to-be-partner before moving on to marriage. May Allah bless us all with good spouses and happy family. Amin.

2 years old : The toughest age of a toddler!

2011-07-19T10:31:00.000+08:00

Having to raise 5 kids (and no.6 on tow) by ourselves (hubby and me), I found out that 2 years old are the most toughest age to conquer! Why do I say that? Just try my no.4, Delisha. She is 2 1/2 years old. She can be the sweetest girl you've ever met and yet she can be such a monster when she's temper! I have to remind myself that she's an innocent little girl every now and then, especially when she's in a bad mood. She'll cry, screaming non stop until her tears dried when she quarreled with her siblings. When she's bored, she will disturbs her other siblings especially my no.3 child, Darwisyah who is 4 years old. They constantly fight with each other and they end up crying together, louder and louder til even the my baby Darwish (1 year old) can fall asleep watching them fight!

Every time Delisha saw her father (my hubby of course), she will bully him by non stop nagging and crying saying that she wants this and that or she's hurt here and there or simply by saying that she wants to be pick up! She's 13 kg and you can imagine how tiring it is to bring her here and there! But, when she's with me, without my hubby's presence, she's definitely OK and doesn't give any problem at all! I can't leave her playing with her siblings without my presence around or I will have to hear her screaming and shouting and crying and every time I asked her siblings about what's the problem, they will answer that Delisha herself are creating the problem.

She will stop if I scold her but she doesn't care at all if her father says anything! So, my hubby always have to ask me to stop her from doing anything that's improper. This really stresses me but she only gives problem when I'm not around. It's not that I leave her to go somewhere, it's just that sometimes they play together in the living room or playroom while I'm doing some other chores like having to dry the clothes or cooking.

The funny thing is, she always offer herself to help me when I'm folding the clothes. When she's doing it, I always look at her and wonder to myself, is she the same person who always give tantrum? I don't know where to turn to for advices about a 2 years old, so, I'm so glad to come across www.babycenter.com because this website has been helping me understand much much better about raising kids along with their stages of age.

Source: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-2-year-old-big-emotions_5934.bc

Your 2-year-old now

A child this age wears her heart on her sleeve — and in her voice, her fists, her stamping feet, and her crocodile tears. You seldom have to guess about a 2-year-old's emotional state. Expressing emotions is healthy, even when they aren't happy ones. So don't feel you have to rush in to placate your child at the first pout or sad sniffle.

Let your child know that it's okay to be unhappy sometimes — it's simply part of life. Swooping in to vanquish the unhappiness sends the wrong message — that it's not okay to feel sad or mad. Solving every problem for your child also robs her of the opportunity to work through her feelings on her own.

What you can do: Label her feelings for her. "You're so mad at Mommy because she said no park today!" Let her know you have the same feelings, too, sometimes: "It makes you feel sad when we say bye-bye to Grandma. It makes me feel sad, too." If your child screams or hits when she's angry or upset, show her acceptable ways to vent her emotion, like punching a pillow or stamping her feet.

Two-year-olds do test limits and disagree with parents, of course, but they're also developing more of a desire to please you. They want to be good! They want to help! Routines and consistency in your responses help your child learn the ropes and keep everyday life running smoothly.

Matters of the Heart

2011-07-18T10:22:00.000+08:00

I bought this book last March and didn't get a chance to read it. It was written by Danielle Steel, my most favorite author, next to Judith McNaught, Nicholas Spark and Sophie Kinsella. It only took me 2 days to finish it because the story was so great that I only read it at night, so that I won't be disturbed by the kids whilst reading the book. It felt like I was watching a movie, every time I read a great book.

The story was about a woman falling deeply and madly in love with a sociopath. She didn't know that he was a sociopath until she discovered the lies that he had told her, one by one. I won't give anymore details as I don't want to ruin other people's reading this book.

After finishing the book last night, I quickly googled about sociopath criminals and I was shocked to find out that there are so many sociopath criminals in this world particularly in the U.S! I gave a deep thought on some crime cases in Malaysia, especially those on kidnapping, sexual abusing and murdering children, and I can see the pattern of a sociopath killer in these cases. Not that I'm some kind of a detective but, if you read this book and make more research on sociopath criminals, you can see what I meant.

According to wikipedia:
A sociopath is somebody who exhibits sociopathy, who behaves in a way that suggests a lack of conscience. Unlike the average human, a sociopath does not feel any sense of guilt or remorse when committing morally wrong actions or actions that their society deems unacceptable. Because of this utter lack of fear for the sanctions of society, sociopaths take advantage of the social system and use manipulation and amoral behaviors to obtain their goals. The types of behaviors they exhibit are those that would make someone with a conscience uncomfortable.

The target of a sociopath is usually those people who are lonely and easily trusting other people, no question asked. And with modern technologies like internet and social networking, there are more and more victim of sociopath, due to the excitement of meeting new people especially from other countries. My best advice is, please be careful when meeting new friend, especially virtually because a sociopath is not someone to be mess around and they are usually undetectable!

Immoral attitude!

2011-07-18T09:57:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, we went to Bintang Megamall to buy some toys for the kids. After finish shopping at Toys'R Us, I told my hubby that I needed to go to the toilet at level 3, Parkson. As I was checking out which toilet that I want to us, I was surprised to see a used diaper was being left on the floor next to a squatting toilet bowl! If I'm not mistaken, it is a Mami Poko Pull Up Diaper Disney version and it is quite pricey. Judging from that, the diaper must have been left by someone who is quite rich because the price of that brand of diaper is not reasonable for ordinary people like me. In my opinion, this case shouldn't be happening because rich people have some kind of high mentality. Or maybe the helper (amah) done it. But still, it is not appropriate and very much disgusting. Never in my entire life of being a mom had done that kind of thing. If worse come to the worse, I would simply put used diaper in a plastic bag and try to find the nearest dustbin or I just dispose it at home.

While I was washing my hand, there were several Parkson staffs gossiping about the diaper. It seems like they also have the very same opinion with me about that immoral attitude. A few minutes later, a cleaner came in and the staffs told her about the diaper and even the cleaner was mumbling about her dissatisfaction about that kind of bad behavior. It's not that there's no dustbin inside the toilet!

So, moral of the story, everything you do reflects on what kind of parent you are. If you want to be a good role model to your kids and even to your society, THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!