Morning Irony

From English CLub Blog

This morning I came to office at 6.00 a.m as usual. But today is special because I want to have a jog around Monas, the national monument. It's been around 6 months I have never run there for exercise. I used to do it in every evening about 3 years ago and it was very nice, before I was stuck into hectic works.

It is very nice to have fresh air in the morning, among the very big open space such as in Monas. The air waves through greenage providing cool ambience for those who walk around. When came to the area which is the center of monument there was already stage for people to assemble. I was told by the officer that there will be a ceremony to commemorate the birth of Indonesian Employee Association (Korpri). (....still exists?) 

Tape-Uli (not Tart or Martabak) for My Birthday

It  is a traditional food made of a special rice called "ketan" (Malay "pulut"). To make "tape" people should cook the rice half-baked firstly with water and mix them with certain ingredients. Then the cooked rice should be put for fermentation . (It is the fermentation that generate a little bit alcohol which leads to controversies among the people, as to whether the "tape" is unlawful for being similar to liquor for its alcohol contain.

Walid....are you going again?

I just returned from mosque after completing my Fajr praying when I saw my youngest daughter sitting on the prayer mat. She was still using her mini mukena when I came, a sign that she just completed her Fajar prayer too. She was looking at me curiously as I prepared myself for another trip. "Walid, this is Sunday. Are you going to work too?" she asked. "Well....yes honey" I answer reluctantly. "Then...I have to cycle alone.." she said. Suddenly I felt a disappointment in her voice. I kissed her cheek and said "Next week, Insha Allah we will be cycling again, together with A-a (our call name for my son, her elder brother)....". She replied my kiss with a very big hug and said " Don't forget to buy gifts for me, okay..?" (I smiled, cause her last sentence reminded me of my buddies in office...). A grain of tears dropped from my eyes, unconciously. "Sure my princess, I will..."

Quality Time

Friday night. I just arrived at home when my youngest daughter said to me, "Walid, do you go to work tomorrow?"
I said. "No honey, why?"
"If I you are not busy, I want you to go with me to traditional dance contest " she said.
"She will perform Gelantek dance" said Ummi.

A Short , but Beautiful Moment

It was already evening and I was about to go home after participating in a meeting with our Employees Welfare Foundation at the foundation office. The meeting was very fruitful and conducted in a very friendly manner, although it consists of "demand" from us to insert Islamic scheme for our pension loan, for employees who do not want to take an interest-based loan. Then a lady, standing in the lobby, called me by my name. She wore white-green dress with white veil (kerudung in our language). I was quite surprised, that in this office there is people who knows me, let alone by name! The lady -I remember later on- is an employee in this office, and formerly worked in the same institution with me, in an Islamic bank. 

A Morning in Emaar Boulevard

From a coast village full with sands and wind
Becomes supercity with its ambitious dreams



Moon and the skycrapers

Diversion from Sharia, a Natural Tendency?

There was a concern raised up by participant in Ijtima Sanawi (Annual Meeting) of National Sharia Board last year (2010). Islamic banks, like other banks, tend to do their business different with rules and norms dictated by Sharia. If those operations are found by Sharia Supervisory Board and made as a finding written in audit report, then the management will do something to set the sharia supervisors aside.

Disputes between Islamic bank and their sharia supervisory board seem cannot be avoided. After batches of sharia supervisory trainees certified by National Sharia Board and returned to their own Islamic bank, to do "the real" supervisory function, the problem started. Those certified supervisor now understand how to supervise, and examine- operations and documents from sharia perspective. It is very often that they found many things related to sharia matter in the bank under their supervision, that are never found before. Either they did not know how to find, or they found but do not know how to manage them.

Continue...

Misperception...the root of all problem

This morning I was called personally by a boss, head of bureau. I never think what will be discussed but I guess it would be a chatting about my recent failure to be poromoted to a senior researcher position in our department. And my guess is damned correct.

He apologized for not choosing me for the position. Nor did he mention about the result of our interview (we were 3 candidates against one position). He just told me that he is preparing a certain team consisting of sharia people, where I and other sharia friends can join, although it is not a binding promise. He ask me not to blame old people in this organization because they had recruited me from and for sharia specialties.

Thanks God, for this trust

February has nearly come to end, but until now there is no sign of invitation, news or even saying hello from Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation, a liquidity management company set up by Islamic Financial Service Board (IFSB). They announce in December that I am among the ones recruited to become member of Sharia Board together with other highly respected scholars. News about the establishment of the institution is wordwide, and I was congratulated by everyone. I just want to use this chance to thanks Allah for the trust He bestows upon me. This is the heaviest task I ever have so far, heavier than when I was member of Sharia Advisory Council of Securities Commission Malaysia.