SHALWATI IS MY AUNT AND PROUD OF IT...

Waking up in the middle of the night due to having a confusing dream in the form of a slide show regarding news articles of Miss Shal's case  gave me a pang of insomniac moment. 

I saw flashes of memory clips in my dream of growing up with her that made me realise how much I miss her. Seeing what people have been saying and writing about Miss Shal and her family gave birth to this mixed feeling of sadness and longing.

Before this, the distance had never taken a toll on our relationship for the family and her we can always communicate using multiple mediums. But now, it had left an empty space in our hearts that only can be filled after all this mayhem is settled. And we wished and pray hard for the day to come soonest. 

Tonight, in my dream I’ve seen a few flashbacks of Miss Shal. How she was always so independent with her little red car that she had used for so many years. That is Miss Shal, with her tagline of “ tok soh nyusoh...(no need to trouble anyone)” doing mostly everything on her own and excellent with it had always been so inspiring.   

 How I remember when I was young, waiting at my grandma’s door for the little red car to reach our kampung for Eidul Fitri had always been exciting. Reminiscing as a little kid, she combed my hair into a perfect ponytail and cute buns while giving me tips how to take good photos, saying that we the family have photogenic genes. That is Miss Shal, always known for her wits, filling the family’s kitchen with her cheeky smile and laughter while always being the wise head among other siblings in a family quarrel. 

Miss Shal might be portrait as a strict person on some cases but you can always expect her to see things from a different angle during  discussions and always so understanding and very comforting to be around with. Those traits of her make her an excellent school teacher. I can bet that there have been so many girls came and sought her advise and guidance in life abd I am one of them.

I remember my childhood days where I spent my holidays staying at her place even before she had her own family, where we talked about mostly everything, how she perfected my tajwid for my daily prayers, reading the Quran after prayers and free English lessons at night before we settle for our sleep. That had been the ritual slumber party for the nieces. Yes, she is my aunt and I am proud of her. 

She is a great mom and raised her kids well. How do I know this? Her kids are the most pleasant bunch of kids you have ever met. They conversed well, polite and ever so humble. Her 1^st born, Aisyah, inherit her mom’s wits and matured way beyond her age. The other 3 boys were a normal bunch of generation Y kids where they loved their gadgets and video games and yet still squeak and gush over babies and baby animals.

 They were always so helpful and fun to be with and if you were driving them around, their mom will ask them to recite the  Ayatul Qursi and few more Quranic verses to ease the journey. These kids were fun, loving and passionate kids as they were raised well by their parents.

Now, the situation had taken away their smile and put them in a very dark moment in their life and I am sure that they had been traumatised by what is happening and I wonder if it will leave an ugly scar and will it ever heal. Praying for the best and praying hard for it. I am sure that Miss Shal and her family would do the same if we were in their shoes.

--AKQMIE

Swedish Authorities Interview Several Malaysian Muslim Families

BERNAMA/23JAN2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) - Swedish authorities have interviewed several Malaysian Muslim families to accommodate four siblings, currently under the care of a non-Muslim family after their parents were detained.

"The choice of which Malaysian Muslim family is qualified to care for the four siblings will be made soon," said a Foreign Ministry officer when contacted by Bernama Thursday.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Volunteer Lawyers Association (SukaGuam) chairman Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahman said the transfer of the four siblings to a new foster family is expected to be completed within a week.

"The Swedish authorities have given undertaking that the four siblings will be handed over to a Muslim foster family to care for their welfare," he added.

Khairul Anwar is serving as mediator to help the transfer of the four siblings aged 7, 11, 12 and 14 years from a non-Muslim family to a Muslim family.

Their parents, Azizul Raheem Awalludin and Shalwati Nurshal were detained by Swedish police on December 18 last year for allegedly beating them for not praying.

Azizul is the Director of Tourism Malaysia based in Stockholm while his wife Shalwati is a teacher on unpaid leave in Sweden.

No charges have been brought against Azizul and Shalwati and their remand period has been extended two weeks.

Khairul Anwar said SukaGuam would monitor the situation and if nothing happened, he would leave for Sweden with Umno Youth next week.

Earlier, media reports said SukaGuam and Umno Youth would leave for Sweden soon to assist in the tranfer of the four siblings to a Muslim family so that they can live as Muslims.

DEAR CHILDREN OF AZIZUL AND SHALWATI

AISYAH, Ammar, Adam and Arif,

  Please accept the deepest love from your Grandparents, Uncles, Aunties and Cousins in Malaysia. All of us are sad as to what had happened to all of you. 

  In our prayers, we appealed to Allah The All Mighty and His Messenger to quickly end your predicament. All four of you are innocent and should not be made to endure such a painful experience. 

  Indeed, the unusual strength and patience shown by the four of you in managing the situation put some of us to shame.  all of you put up a brave front in public but we know how you all truly feel.

  Rest assured children that you are not alone. Your family here, Malaysians from all walks of life, international communities share your pain too. We will continue to galvanise support to the whole world if it need be to unite the four of you with your parents once more.

  No nation can go against the will of the world community. And no nation should be allowed to destroy the joy and happiness of a family. After all "To err is human and to forgive divine". Mistakes do happen but bigger mistakes should not be allowed to happen. Separating parents from their children is a bigger mistake.

  We want you to enjoy the gifts we bought for you. They will arrive in Stockholm soon. We hope the gifts would soften the pain. Hopefully they would be delivered to all of you soon. To our friends thank you for the prayers and kind words. We are totally indebted to all who assisted and share our pains.

for Ariff

For Aisyah

For kids -- Aisyah, Ammar, Adam, Ariff

Diplomatic Efforts Sufficient To Help Malaysian Couple - Anifah

BERNAMA/22JAN2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Embassy in Sweden has taken sufficient diplomatic efforts to assist a Malaysian couple detained by Swedish authorities for allegedly hitting one of their four children on the hand for not praying. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said: 

"We respect Swedish laws and do not want to make matters worse...rest assured, we are doing everything we can to help the family."Officers from the Malaysian Embassy have met with the children and their parents. We are doing everything we can to help solve the matter. 

"The main priority is the wellbeing of the children involved. "He said this after meeting with Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations here today.The couple, Azizul Raheem Awalludin and his wife, Shalwati Norshal, a teacher on unpaid leave, have been remanded since Dec 18, to facilitate investigations for allegedly hitting their child on the hand for not praying.

The four children are currently staying with a foster family provided by Sweden's state social service.

Tak Tinggal solat Lima Waktu

HARIAN METRO 23/1/2014

Kuala Lumpur: “Kami semua sihat, tidak sakit. Saya baca Yasin dan dengar surah lain menerusi YouTube,” kata Aisyah, 14, anak kepada pasangan Azizul Raheem Awalludin dan Shalwati Norshal yang ditahan pihak berkuasa Sweden sejak 18 Disember lalu.

Menerusi perbualan media sosial bersama saudara terdekatnya, di sini, awal pagi semalam, anak sulung daripada empat beradik itu turut memaklumkan mereka masih menunaikan solat lima waktu biarpun berjauhan dengan ibu bapanya.

Menurut ahli keluarga yang enggan dikenali itu, Aisyah memaklumkan, adik lelakinya itu turut menyatakan rasa menyesal atas apa yang berlaku selepas ibu dan bapa mereka ditahan atas tuduhan mendera.

“Walaupun tidak menunjukkan reaksi rasa kesal di hadapan rakannya, tetapi dari perbualan kami dia memang menyesal apa yang berlaku,” katanya dalam perbualan itu.

Kenyataan itu menjawab persoalan banyak pihak yang bimbang jika keempat-empat mereka tidak dapat menjalankan kewajipan sebagai seorang Islam selepas dijaga keluarga angkat bukan Islam di negara itu.

Kisah pasangan suami isteri dan empat anak berkenaan mendapat perhatian banyak pihak di negara ini yang meminta agar inisiatif tertentu diambil untuk membawa pulang mereka ke negara ini atau dibenarkan untuk tinggal bersama keluarga Muslim di sana.

Kelmarin, Duta Besar Malaysia ke Sweden Datuk Badruddin Ab Rahman menerusi perbualan bersama Pengerusi Biro Aduan Komuniti Pemuda UMNO memaklumkan pihaknya sedang berusaha untuk membela nasib keluarga itu, namun pada masa sama berharap semua pihak di Malaysia bertenang.

Ia susulan beberapa badan bukan kerajaan termasuk Gabungan NGO Melayu/Islam yang menghantar memorandum kepada Kedutaan Sweden di ibu negara meminta mereka dijaga keluarga Muslim.

Sementara itu, EXCO Pemuda UMNO Sheikh Nafiq Alfirdaous berkata, pihaknya akan memantau perkembangan kes berkenaan secara dekat dan memaklumkan kepada masyarakat sekiranya ada perkembangan terbaru.

“Kami mahu ia ditangani tanpa implikasi perundangan. Setakat ini, kita yakin ia boleh diselesaikan kerana ia bukan kes jenayah," katanya. 

Akhbar ini melaporkan ahli keluarga terdekat menyerahkan kes berkenaan kepada kerajaan untuk membantu biarpun mendapat pelawaan pelbagai pihak yang ingin membantu termasuk daripada beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO).