To Ahmad Patria Abdullah

Saudara Ahmad Patria should know how much your writing has affected many of us, your fans. I love your writing, very much! I came across your book in a local bookstore back in 1990, the title Permata Aurorius caught my attention. Read the synopsis and immediately bought it. Since I was a primary student and on monthly allowance, I was only able to buy the second book the following week. Until finally, I managed to collect and own DBP's production of all the 6 books. I am also glad to introduce and share Saga Artakusiad with my friends, some of which are also really hooked on the books as well while some would say that I wasn't making any sense when mentioning the names of the places and characters of the series. I just shrugged it off. They don't know what they are missing.

Later on in my teen years, I couldn't find any of Saga Artakusiad installments anymore. There were no internet at the time and I did not have any source to search for any news on the series. A local science magazine was introduced on the news stands rack, I began to follow your short science fiction stories in it, thus I know you were still around.

Tho' it has been 17 years since I first started on Permata Aurorius, I have re-read all the 6 books many times, anytime I feel like reminiscing the good old days of living in the fantasy world of Aurora, the lands, the people, the tribes, the warriors, the dragons, the wizardry and witchcraft and the love story nonetheless. I was restless, intrigued, on the edge, anxious with the storyline, and the romance is rather sweet, I could hardly put the books down.

After the end of the last book, Pedang Aurora, I was always been left with sadness and frustration. The war descends on the fragile allied troops, trapped within the valleys....but the story stalled at the 6th book.

Nevertheless, I have neither lost my interest nor faith. I hope you will keep the faith with the series as well. Looking forward to the new printing of Book 7 and Book 8 by DBP in May 2009. Until then, time for me to begin rereading the Saga Artakusiad once again.

Saga Artakusiad series :
1. Permata Aurorius
2. Kota Arialun
3. Kembar Artakus
4. Petua Azkram
5. Puteri Alindalia
6. Pedang Aurora
7. Lagenda Numerius
8. Putera Tamarodun

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Website : http://www.artakus.my/

Ponder On - viva la vida

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Good one - Nizar Memalukan orang Melayu

Nizar memalukan orang Melayu

Oleh DR. SHARIFUDIN LUBIS

PENDERHAKAAN Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin merupakan satu lagi episod yang amat memalukan orang Melayu. Pengisytiharan "mohon derhaka" secara terbuka, tidak pernah tercatat dalam sejarah Melayu. Sejak perjanjian antara Sang Sapurba dan Demang Lebar Daun di Bukit Siguntang, tidak pernah orang Melayu memohon untuk derhaka.

Menurut beberapa kitab historiografi Melayu, sepanjang zaman feudal, hanya dua kali orang Melayu derhaka. Itu pun tanpa bongkak membuat pengisytiharan terbuka. Sekali oleh Sang Rajuna Tapa di Singapura dan sekali lagi penderhakaan Hang Jebat di Melaka.

Apa pun sebab yang membawa kepada penderhakaan itu, kesannya membawa kepada keruntuhan empayar Melayu. Tindakan Sang Rajuna bersubahat dengan Majapahit menyebabkan kerajaan Temasik runtuh. Sehingga kini, Singapura terus terlepas ke tangan bukan Melayu. Tindakan Hang Jebat pula membawa kepada perpecahan orang Melayu di Melaka sehingga menyebabkan kerajaan menjadi lemah dan akhirnya dijajah Portugis. Peristiwa itu membuka kepada episod penjajahan Barat. Sehingga kini, Melaka kehilangan sultan.

Kini, wujud satu lagi penderhakaan oleh orang Melayu. Alasannya bukan sahaja sangat memalukan, malahan memperlihatkan kerakusan dan ketamakan serta membuktikan Nizar tidak sedar diri. Beliau lupa parti yang diwakilinya menang jumlah kerusi paling sedikit tetapi beliau melaung-laungkan bahawa dirinya mendapat mandat majoriti rakyat?

Jika tidak kerana ehsan Sultan Azlan Shah serta Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri, Nizar tidak akan merasa menjadi Menteri Besar. Sikap Nizar kononnya Pas mendapat sokongan majoriti sangatlah memalukan. Sultan berkuasa untuk melantik Menteri Besar. Jika kabur bahasa undang-undang sekalipun, daripada segi adab, Nizar memberi gambaran betapa biadapnya orang Melayu terhadap Sultan.

Saya yakin, insiden Nizar menderhaka akan terpahat sebagai sesuatu yang sangat memalukan dalam sejarah orang Melayu. Segala ciri kesantunan, kerendahan hati dan tatasusila Melayu yang menjadi kebanggaan bangsa sudah dipalit arang.

Alasan penderhakaan Sang Rajuna dan Hang Jebat kini telah dirasionalkan oleh orang Melayu. Tetapi penderhakaan Nizar tetap tidak akan diterima oleh orang Melayu sehingga akhir zaman.

Sedarlah Nizar, Allah telah mentakdirkan sedemikian. Apabila Allah menarik balik rezeki itu, anggaplah Dia memberi kesempatan untuk bermuhasabah dan jika perlu, bertaubat. Sepanjang 11 bulan berkuasa, Nizar banyak melukakan hati Sultan dan orang Melayu. Beliau terikut-ikut dengan rentak biadab sahabat-sahabat yang tidak berkenaan dengan perjanjian Bukit Siguntang itu.

PENULIS ialah Pensyarah Kanan Fakulti Bahasa Moden dan Komunikasi, UPM

my Sanük

mcm kewl tak? :p
tgk betul2...ada circuit design tu...IC, diode, resistor, transistor sumer ader... hehehe

Becareful what you wish for

Many a time I have always thought of how (super) nice it would be if we have always had a 3-day weekend instead of two. Being a typical human being, nothing is ever enough.

Much ado about the rule of attraction. Your interests will project a wave for the universe to pull the things of your interests towards you.

But I have also thought of how (super) nice it would be to suddenly have a 1mil pound sterling. More than a lifetime to live. I don't understand what those super rich people do with multiple millions or billions of pound sterling.

Anyways, back to the top most point, with regard to the world economic downturn which is seriously affecting the electronic industries in the whole world, the company I'm working in has decided to take some cost savings steps and strategies to survive during this economic crisis. Also, with regard to my wish as stated in the top most statement, yes, I will finally have some 3-day weekends in the months of April, May and June with a compulsory 10-day leave measure from the management (not spoken in a joyous tone).

No companies are exempted from the wave of the economic crisis. Tho seems to be quite a drastic measure to implement an unpaid leave 'scheme', contrary to other companies where retrenchment and pay cut seem to be the popular version, I am blessed with the options within the scheme.

While 2 weeks shutdown is not an option as the costs and effort to bring the fab production back up is costlier than the shutdown itself, we are granted with the option of using our gained annual leave for the quarter of April, May and June. That makes up to, 4days of annual leave and 6days of unpaid leave. And instead of having the unpaid leaves within a month, we are given the option of taking the 10days off at our own schedule within the three months. The management felt that the flexibility given to everyone will be a better option.

To leverage on the impact of unpaid leaves on the pockets of my cargo pants, I have decided to average the 6days within the three months' time. That way, the air won't be so thin to breathe in. This is also when I will finally have a 3-day weekend wish on every weekend, in the month of May.