The Modernization of Makkah

Makkah’s brand new clock tower, located atop the Royal Clock Tower Hotel, in the Abraj Al Bait Complex, was unveiled on the first day of Ramadhan this year. The clock, believed to be the world’s largest today, has surpassed other world famous clock towers like the Big Ben in London, the Palace of Culture and Science Tower in Warsaw, the Rajabai Tower in Mumbai and the Allen-Bradley Clock Tower in Milwaukee, USA. The unveiling of the clock signalled the start of Arab Standard Time (AST) which is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

When completed, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower will be 600 meters high, making it the second highest structure in the world, replacing the 101 Tower in Taiwan, which is 59 meters lower. The highest structure would be the Burj Khalifa Tower (828 meters) in Dubai.

The four faces of the clock are decorated with floral/fauna motives made from 90 million pieces of gold-colored mosaic. Another unique feature is that the clock face is lit by 2 million LED lights, and during the call for prayer, 21,000 of these lights, colored green and white, will light the tower and this light can be seen from a distance of 28 kilometers. The total cost of developing the Abraj Al Bait Complex is a staggering USD3 billion.

In a country awash with petro dollars where a majority of the wealth is owned by a minority of the population, dissenting voices are now heard about the wisdom of such extravagance and opulence in the Holy City. Some also fear that the modernization of Makkah detracts from the raison d’etre of pilgrims converging into Makkah – to worship in front of the House of Allah - the Kaabah. For most people, the sight of the gigantic structure dwarfing the Kaabah would be a distraction.

Artist's Impression of the lights during the call for prayer

Personally, I feel the Saudi Government should give priority to upgrading facilities that dot the landscape in the 475 km stretch between Makkah and Madinah, the two holy cities visited by pilgrims during the Haj. The rest stops and some mosques between these two cities, visited by millions of pilgrims year in and year out, are generally in less-than-desirable conditions. Since Islam is a religion that requires cleanliness in everything we do, something must be done quickly about these facilities.

I also hope that in modernizing Makkah, the Saudi authorities would strike the right balance between modernization and affordability so that the future cost of the pilgrimage may not escalate beyond the reach of the average Muslim. Even with current costs, there are people who sell everything they have just to make that once-in-a-lifetime trip - although Islam requires Muslims to perform the obligatory Haj only if they are physically and financially able.

Responsible Media

“The pen is mightier than the sword”, so the saying goes. After all, wasn’t it Karl Marx’s DAS KAPITAL that initially sowed the seeds of communism in people’s mind until it became a reality resulting in the oppression of millions all over the world? The media can shape people’s opinion, twist the truth or uncover lies, whichever it chooses. With the advent of online media, print media is finding it harder to retain readership and revenue. However, whilst print media needs to increase readership for profit, it also must play it’s social responsibility role and consider the impact of its news on the people.

Karl Marx

There is a worrying trend that today’s print media reports are geared towards sensational reporting to attract readership. A case in point is the reports on centenarian, Mek Wook, whose 23rd marriage to a man 6 decades younger had made national (and, perhaps, international) news. The media has painted her as a forlorn, desperate, centenarian trying to hold on to her marriage to a young husband.

Mek Wook and Hubby

When he went into rehab for substance abuse, there were frequent interviews in which she openly declared her love for him, how she missed him and other mushy stuff that would be close to the legendary love story of Romeo and Juliet. Then, when he was released, she mushed about how she would love to hear the patter of tiny feet and how she kept him by her side by giving massages in “sensitive” areas. Now that he has been re-arrested for drug abuse, she is portrayed again as the forlorn lady pining for her lover.

The poor lady probably enjoyed the attention that she suddenly received from these interviews but, alas, little did she realise that she was being made a laughing stock. I, for one, find these reports demeaning for her and all other women, including myself. I even wrote to one particular newspaper to share my views but the reports continue.

Personally, when my late husband was killed in a skydiving accident 21 years ago, I was also a victim of sensational reporting by a local Chinese media. He fell to his death at the former Bulatan Merdeka in front of Dewan Bahasa, next to the Merdeka Stadium. It was a Sunday afternoon and the reporter happened to be caught in a traffic jam at the very spot. He snapped bloody pictures of the deceased and came to my house to meet me. When I refused to meet him, he showed the bloody pictures to my family, including my 4-year old son, causing him to suffer nightmares for months and I had to seek psychiatric help for him.

The media should be more socially responsible and use it’s influence to help resolve social ills amongst the young, such as baby dumping, instead of resorting to tabloid-style reporting to capture readership.