A special thanks to the organisers Ramli Ashari, Raja Fatimah and Mohamed Fadzil Mohamed Arifin.

Here some of the photos:

We thank all parties showing interest and support to this event.

Further, we appreciate assistance from fellow Salukis in organizing this special occasion especially on finance.

For those Salukis confirming to attend kindly deposit RM70 (valid at time of publish, but may be adjusted) to Raja Fatimah Zuhrah MAYBANK A/C 1643 4221 3422 on or before August 26th 2011.

Having credited the amount please sms your personal detail to Raja Fatimah Zuhrah 019 259 3861 or Mohamed Fadzil Ariffin 012 200 4985.

We welcome and appreciate contribution from fellow Salukis to part sponsor the event. Please do not hesitate to call us.

Dress Code: Santai Raya!

Please help us make this event a success. Thank you very much SALUKIS.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI 1 SHAWAL 1432 H

Still tentative though, but shall be as follows:

Date: 20th January 2011

Time: It shall be with dinner

Venue: Still looking a suitable location

Guest/s: We shall be having some SIUC administrators coming down.

PLEASE spread the words. Keep checking this site for further updates.

Please click here to register yourself to our alumni database.

Also please visit the following site http://siuc.wordpress.com/ to see stories of past alumni experience by Mr. Karim Omar

**** IMPORTANT UPDATE **********

We are in the process of setting up an Alumni Chapter in Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah. Please e-mail your name and contact information so we can be in touch with you on the progress of the Association.

Please contact the following people:

Peninsular Malaysia
A. Karim Omar
E-mail : akarimomar@yahoo.com
Telephone: +60193199788
Sabah and Sarawak
James Jaikoh Imbayan
E-Mail: jjaikoh@hotmail.com

http://msasiu.rso.siuc.edu/

Here is a piece from the About Us

Malaysian Student Association of Southern Illinois University Carbondale

There have been students in Southern Illinois University as far as 1972 and we will continue to be an integral part in SIUC. Why should you be part of the Malaysian Student Association (MSA) in SIUC?

The organization is one of the most active student organization in campus. We have many events in and out of campus. For new students, we are your family away from home and we help you settle down here in Carbondale.

The MSA is made up of students who strive for success and dedicated in promoting the Malaysian culture. The Malaysians here in Carbondale Illinois are one big family here in SIUC. We help new students settle in to their new home away from Malaysia. There are many things which need to be done when one person arrives from Malaysia. Some of our members have cars to help new members get around and we have a wealth of knowledge as some of our members have been here for a long time.

Secondly, we also have members from other countries in Southeast Asia. We have members from the Philippines, Laos, Indonesia and many more. We have a very good social network with other people around the world from Japan, Africa and Middle East. We regularly have gatherings and also host important festive events such as Eid Mubarak.

CARBONDALE – The dream of a new football stadium at SIUC may have seemed farfetched at one time, but fans including alumni Greg Cook have seen it is no longer just a dream.

“The first words or thoughts that come to mind for me are ‘Wow. We did it. We actually did it,” Cook said.

Cook was one of several speakers at the Saluki Stadium opening ceremony on Tuesday. Fans were able to see the completed stadium including the new high-tech turf, video scoreboard and new seating.

The event included a reception, a ribbon cutting and words from members of the SIU Board of Trustees, administrators, students and alumni. U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, State Sen. David Luechtefeld and State Rep. Mike Bost were also in attendance.

Before the speeches, the team and the band made what will be their new game-day trek from the SIU Arena and into stadium through south entrance.

Wide receiver Joe Allaria said the team is humbled by the stadium and proud to call it home. Head football coach Dale Lennon said the Saluki Way project is one of the main factors in him becoming a Saluki.

It truly has been impressive watching everything come together,” Lennon said.

He said he cannot wait to hear the fans support the team and hopes there is a sense of pride of what was accomplished.

Jeff Troutt of Christo-pher graduated from SIUC in 1961 and has been a football season ticket holder since 1970. He said he was impressed with the new stadium and is eager for the season to begin.

“So far, so good,” Troutt said. “I’m very pleased with it. I think it’s going to be an enjoyable place to watch football.”

Many thanks

The alumni, SIUC students, former head coach Jerry Kill, Lennon, Mayor Brad Cole and the Carbondale City Council and the construction workers were among those thanked by the speakers.

SIU President Glenn Poshard also thanked Board of Trustees Chair Roger Tedrick for be a leader in getting the project approved and for having the idea to build the stadium and renovate the SIU Arena at the same time.

“Because of that decision, this project has come on time and under budget,” Poshard said.

Athletic Director Mario Moccia also made special mention of Saluki Athletics, the architects and former Chancellor Sam Goldman for their commitment to the project. He said that there is still a lot of work to be done on Saluki Way but hopes that the fans will enjoy the result of a lot of hard work from a lot of people.

17 months

SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng said it is “remarkable to think that the groundbreaking for Saluki Way just 17 months ago” and stressed the important role athletics play at a university by bringing the campus and the region together. She also said first impressions for prospective students are important and the new stadium will do just that.

“The results are outstanding and I hope you are as proud of the accomplishment as we are,” Cheng said.

Marcus King, president of the SIUC Undergraduate Student Government, said the student athletes finally have a stadium that honors their hard work and dedication.

“Not only does SIU have the best athletes, but now it has the best sports venue,” King said.

Cook, like the other speakers, was mostly ready to see the Salukis bring in some more win-ning seasons and maybe a national championship or two.

“What a fitting place this will be to hang those banners,” Cook said.

Ramadan Mubarak to fellow Muslims to all SIU-Carbondale alumni. Almost 30 years has passed. And now that Ramadan is again been celebrated in the long summer days.

With the Eid mood coming, it is quite nostalgic to view the photos of the Eid celebrations – the Solatul Eid and the qurban that we did together. Thanks to Wan Burhan for sharing the photos.

Back row (L-R): ?, Megat Hisham, Mohd Ayub Amirdad, Abdul Rashid Hussien, Che Wahab Che Man, Haji Sulaiman Haji Osman, Wan Burhan Wan Ismail, Mohd Hussin Mohd Ali, A. Karim Omar, Adnan Alamasi Front (L-R): ?, Ghazali, Wan Ibrahim Wan Long, Abdul Rauff Sarail, Jani Majuni, Mohd Shukri Azam, Osman Mokhtar El-Mubarak, Tageldin As-Sanosi, Wan Abdul Azim Wan Abdullah

.

(L-R) Abdul Rashid Hussien, Che Wahab Che Man, Wan Burhan Wan Ismail, A. Karim Omar, Mohd Yazid Md Saman

.

Below; Qurban is almost a must and a new experience to some when it comes for the Eidul Adha (Raya Haji). Seen here are Wan Burhan dan Haji Sulaiman being helped by Mohd Saupi Pauzi. And does it look like Megat Hisham at the background? I wonder who is that shirtless brother.

I have still some missing names – please help me in identifying them.

• Camping at Ferne Clyffe State Park
• Camping at Ferne Clyffe State Park – 2

.

.

.

.

.

More photos from our camping at Ferne Clyffe Park in Southern Illinois.

As part of the activities, we would hike around the park early in morning after our Fajr prayer. (Standing L-R) Che Wahab, Karim (me), Rashid and TJ Jailani while Yazid and Burhan sitting. Yazid is now a Professor at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (former KUSTEM – transferred from UPM Serdang). Despite comiing from Negeri Sembilan he is now comfortable speaking his wife’s Trengganuspeak.

Slow flowing stream is just a few yards from our tents. (L-R) Rashid, Burhan (seated), TJ Jailani (standing), ?, Wahab (hat), Yazid.

Rashid is the only non-Malaysian that always joins us in usrah, various gatherings and outings. As the sole Malay from Singapore among the hundreds of Malays at Carbondale he mixed well among us. The last I spoke to him was in early 1990s while traveling to Singapore. Unfortunately, with my tight schedule then we only managed to spoke over the phone.

Posing on the log (L-R) – Rashid, TJ, myself (hidden) Burhan, Yazid and Wahab catching up. Che Wahab Che Man is now the Principal (Assistant?) of MRSM in Sarawak. I last met him after the last Raya Puasa prayer at Masjid Putih Kuala Terengganu.

Dinner time in front of our tent. Team work is always being tested and preparing for dinner is one of them.

Recently Wan Burhan shared his photos of our camping at the Ferne Clyffe State Park.

Sitting around the campfire enjoying our coffee – L-R Jailani (TJ), Che Wahab, Yazid, Rashid, Karim (me) and Burhan.

During the day we would be enjoying the beautiful scenery around the park – (L-R) Rashid, Wahab (with the hat), Burhan (sitting at the back), ? (front) and Karim (me).

(L-R) – ?, Rashid, Jailani, Burhan, Wahab and Yazid (standing)