The Only Game

IKPM stands for Ikatan Keluarga Pondok Modern. It’s the organization for the people who ever studied in Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor at least one year. We can found it in every state in Indonesia and some foreign countries. We are like a family; we have senior and junior members. And Now I am talking about IKPM in Malaysia. We have on average 130 members in Malaysia. They come from different places; mostly the members are coming from Indonesia that currently studying and working in Malaysia. But, we have also the members from the Malaysia but it was not too many, may be around 25 people of them. And we have rules and regulations to run this organization annually. That is the reason why we also have a general election to elect a new leader for every year.

One day, one of my friends came to visit my home (Rumah Peradaban) and asked me to be a candidate for the next chief of IKPM. So, I didn’t accept his proposal and I floored my reasons. II didn’t accept my friend’s proposal because there are so many friends that more suitable and recommendable than me.. According to the status of my study, it’s less than one year left and it’s out of the regulation listed in the requirements of the organization.

Even so, he pushed me up through SMS and after several days he posted through mailing list of IKPM by sending my CV includes my characters and contributions that I have done, Oh my God!! Certainly, I don’t like those ways since he didn’t let me know to do so and I wouldn’t allow him if he acknowledged me.. Sure, I really could not accept these ways but I just keep quiet and never comment it. After several days, the committee listed my name was the most popular candidate in the mailing list because some of people also commented to draw on it. When I read it, honestly, I felt unhappy.

During the election day, it was like the Day of Judgment for me. I could say from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to be elected by my friends. I heard words saying spontaneously in front of me “ owh, too many people are coming from Segambut”. The leader looks like so worry of it. Do you know why? because it was unpredictable by the committees. And I could say that all committee were worried of it because all the voices shouted my name to be elected especially from the Segambut’s Genk. Hu hu..

I just want to inform that all people from Segambut are my closed friends when we were in Gontor. They looked like willing to elect me. Ho ho ho… really don’t wish it and never encourage them to elect me. When the judge accounted the voters’ voice, it was unbelievable result, because there were not so many differences, I got 12 and In’am got 15 voices.. Unlike most of the people in the conference’s room when he shouted my name yet, I really sad when the judge called my name which indicated the voters had elected me. Certainly, my palpitation was uncontrollable because of that.

However, my name was decreased after several times. Finally, my voice was elected by 18 people and In’am was elected by 35 people. I really wondered of it and the winner was In’amul Wafi. I cannot say anything except that I was really happy. After that, I just recognized that was the only game from the committee to make the election interesting. I do believe that all committees were leaned their voices to In'am and the number of Segambut's genk was not as much as committees members.

Formally, the candidate that has been registered and ready for the next leader is only one (from master students) and he was the most popular one (In’amul Wafi) because he asserted to be. Yet, the committee didn’t satisfy on it because it would no competition on the election. However, it was like a drama that I never knew before, my friend who pushed me up that I sad earlier was one of the committees who responsible to seek one of the most popular candidate to make the election more interesting and attractive even so, there are some candidate from the master students except me and In’amul Wafi but my friend said he didn’t satisfy on those candidates. That’s why they delegate an agent to approach me to be an underdog in the election. Unfortunately, they never informed me on that and seriously, it made me so scared..

I just want to congratulate for the new leader of IKPM 2010, their names are In’amul Wafi (Gresik), Romi Hamfrisa (Kalimantan) and Aishah (Malaysia). Hopefully, you can perform this Amanah wisely. Amin…

IKPM is not political organization but we are like family organization. The competition is the only game that could make our organization dynamic and alive. Really I am so happy right now

So many targets in my head that should be accomplished, hopefully I can do my best. Bismillah..:)

I Am a Student

Currently, my status is as a student in International Islamic University Malaysia. After graduating from my degree, I never expected to continue my studies into higher level and never dreamed to study overseas. My parents also never forced me to study after graduating from my degree. But, they never block me away to continue my study. I said to my parents “I would like to try to be an independent student”. And my parents answered “Yes, that's what we want you to be because you are still young, we are getting old and you will be our next generation”.

When I went back to my home, my father always asked me “what were you doing besides your studies?." Because I am getting fat and at that time I'm in my home town for holidays. He also asked me "what were you thinking of your life? Did you never fasting?," I understood what the messages are all about... I couldn’t tell it here. It would be so many explanations.


As you know earlier that my status is a student. But my activity after studying in the class is a part-timer’s teacher. I am happy to teach. I could share my knowledge with my students. Even I felt tired but I didn’t feel tired during teaching. I opined that a teacher is only the status in front of the student. Honestly, I learned so many things indirectly from them. Formally, I am a part-timer’s teacher. Certainly, I acknowledge myself as a student in front of them and they are my teachers informally. So, you can imagine who is the teacher actually..?

Normally, to be a teacher is to be paid for his prosperity. I don’t know, I never thought of this matter. When the head master asking me “How much should I paid you?”. I answered “I don’t know and it’s up to you?”. It sounds like an unprofessional teacher. For me, it doesn't matter, I would be happy to say that, because whenever I had been asked about the amount of salary from him, it wouldn’t make me to be a rich man and it doesn't fit my feeling to teach. I just want to share of what I knew and I want to know of what they knew. It makes me happy...:)

When I decided to be a teacher, then I never expected to have so much money from this profession. Because a teacher is not a seller who has weekly or monthly income expectation, a teacher is not a money investor that could doubled his own money. And I'm still remember that I am a student and my status in Malaysia is as a student and want to be a student forever. I know who I am..please remind me if I forget and do not study.


Thank you..

Who should be blamed?

Today is Monday, 11 July 2010. It’s my time to be home and relax with my home’s task such as creasing my clothes, having correction of my students’ homework and etc. even its relax day ,yet, I listed many tasks to do home. Of course it’s part of my duty as long as I single he he he…

A motorbike sounds louder to my ear and the sound ceasing suddenly in front of my house. I looked at him that was my friend coming into my house and needs a help to pick up her motorbike from motor’s repairer. By then, I have to company him to bring his motorbike to the Mahallah. When I reached in the parking park in front of Utsman’s Hostel, I met another friend and got chatting with him.

A Friend of my mine is a ustaz or we can say a teacher in Islamic studies. Incidentally, he has students from foreign country. Fortunately, they want to know how to read Holy Qur’an. His students come from England which consists of the father and his sons. No doubt that the lesson should be floored in their language.

“Where did you come from?” I asked him when he was coming over to me by his motorbike.
He answered “I just finished my teaching in damansara”
“Owh..Great then” I replied.
“hey Zakki..I bewildered with my students?!” He looked like griping on his face.
“What are you confusing?” I tried to help his problem
“Yeah.. My students are weak enough. They couldn’t understand my explanation even I used my English as best I can. Sure, their English is really bad because they couldn’t understand what I am saying” he said

Some teachers realized that teacher can do no wrong he he

Amazed German's Teacher

Three weeks ago, I had weekly classes with one of my lecturers; his name is DR. Syamsudin Arif. It was not the first class I had with him. I have been studying with him in many subjects such as Latin language, Aqidah, philosophy as well as German language. I was thinking it just normal class as I thought before or such a class that I got in my formal studies. However, it was not, the class beyond my prediction. He teaches us differently and intensively. It’s beyond one semester I had.

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years. ~Jacques Barzun

The subject that we learned from him was not too much explored in every lesson, so that we can understand it easily and again, the way he taught us was really serious. I still remember before we ended the class especially in German Language class, he always brings the loudspeaker for listening to a video or a song in Deutch. One day he ever bought many foods and beverages such us chicken, chicken rice, tea, coffee, and etc. see, how hard is he. SubhanaAllah..

KH. Hasan Abdullah Sahal (left) and DR. Syamsudin Arif (right)

DR. Syamsudin Arif just came from America for some conferences so that we just continue the class after a week of his absent due to his agenda. By then, 2 days after he arrived, if I am not mistaken i had class with him on Wednesday, 30 July 2010. Luckily, I was there because at the same time I had another agenda in Putra Jaya but I canceled it because I really wanted to learn this language even its still a mystery for me what is the benefits to me. Even so, now, I am dreaming to be in German.. I don’t know what to do there..to study is OK, to work is OK.. hu hu

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Brooks Adams

2 booklets

One thing that I remember most with DR. Syamsudin Arif was the last class we had in last week. He gave 2 booklets to each student which both are in English and German language. Even it’s just a booklet (Airport Guide) but I didn’t look at that thing. What I really amazed was the way he treated us as his students. I was thinking, maybe he still remember us when he was in some airports and then picked up the booklet spontaneously for a gift to his students or he still realize that he missed the class during his conference in America, so that he wanted to give us a joy. Subhanallah..

I want you to know that his class is free of charge and at the beginning of these classes was suggested from the students not from him. Yet, he just gave us the knowledge for free and seriously. JazakaAllah Khairan…

Special thank to the editor. your time to read and revise my blog is uncountable reward... :)

Event and Lessons

In this week, I am attending International Conference about Pacific RIM Objective Measurement Symposium 2010 Constructive Measurement for Greater Accountability. The conference held from 29 June – 1 July 2010 at Cultural Activity Centre (CAC), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Normally, the fee for this conference is RM 250. Luckily, I could participate 3 days conference for free and have trips to Putra Jaya, Malacca. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go for the trips due to some reasons.

Special thank to Dr. Suhaila who has been allowed us to participate it and I don’t forget to thank to Sis. Nazliati for calling me for the rest of the free seats. Honestly, I was the last person of ten students in the free seats listed. Hu hu hu

The keynote speaker was Professor Trevor G. Bond. He looks like a senior researcher, by then, I try to find out about his book through IIUM’s library online. Ehmm, he is one of the researchers who really concerned on the Rasch Model. Do you know about his works? Just search through Cikgu google..he he

In the midst of his first presentation, he advised us how to be scholarly researcher and what to be done as a researcher, the points are:

1. If we want to get ahead, get a theory.

2. Some long-term, iterative projects.

3. Review the books, articles and journals dispassionately, but supportively.

4. Cite other work in the field, it means collaborators not competitors.

5. Mutuality and reciprocity.

As I showed the presenters, to present a paper was not difficult as long as we understood properly on what we are going to present and share. I thought, the point was in the process of understanding and preparing on it. Consciously, it needs processes to be done and keep doing on what we concerned continuously and never give up. Waallahu’alam..