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Kelantan stage agencies #fundie thestar.com.my

Kelantan: Underage marriage is necessary

A ROUNDTABLE by state agencies in Kelantan has determined that underage marriage is a necessity and in accordance with Islamic laws, reported Utusan Malaysia.

This was part of the seven resolutions tabled during the discussions on Nov 28.

The roundtable rejected two United Nations conventions on children and women, which did not allow for children under 18 to be married.

Stakeholders at the roundtable contended that the two conventions were not suitable for Muslims in Kelantan as there were social ills.

The state, they said, also had strict laws before agreeing to child marriages and there was no need to amend these.

The current Islamic Family Law Enactment of Kelantan sets the mini­mum marriageable age at 18 for boys and 16 for girls.

> The daily also reported that local singer Ella was contented to be the Rock Queen of Malaysia for now.

However, she said she would not turn down a Datukship.

“I won’t say no if there is someone who wants to bestow me a Datukship but for now, what is bestowed upon me by my fans is the best recognition,” said the 52-year-old.

> Metro Harian reported that a rape suspect in Beijing, China, who used his pet snake to scare his victim, died after he was bitten by the reptile.

The suspect was believed to have been playing with the snake in the bathtub when it bit him.

A CCTV recording showed the poisonous snake slithering out of the room. It was later caught by firemen.

Police had been trying to arrest the man ever since a woman reported that she was raped by the suspect who threatened her with the snake.

Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki #fundie thestar.com.my

Atheism is unconstitutional, says deputy minister

Atheism should not be allowed in Malaysia for any citizen as it contradicts both the Federal Constitution and the Rukunegara, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (pix).

He said atheist ideologies were dangerous as they were being propagated to not only Muslims but to the non-Muslims in Malaysia.

“Atheism contradicts the first principle of the Rukunegara, which is a belief in God.

“We need to understand, that in the Malaysian context, our Federal Constitution states that freedom of religion is not freedom from religion.


Dr Asyraf said for Muslims, Article 11(1) which allows for freedom of religion, should be read together with Article 11(4) that prohibits the spreading of other religious beliefs and doctrines among Muslims.

“The Government can draw up any legal provisions necessary to prevent such beliefs and doctrines, which is deemed to be a threat to the sanctity of Islam.

“As for the non-Muslims, it (atheism) also goes against the laws of public order and morality.

“For instance, anyone who tries to spread ideologies and doctrines that promote atheism and similar beliefs, which tarnish the sanctity of other religions, can be charged under the Sedition Act,” he said.

Shahul Hamid Seeni Muhammad #fundie thestar.com.my

Ustaz Shahul Hamid Seeni Muhammad (pic), who found himself in controversy for asking Muslims not to patronise hair salons run by non-Muslims, is denying that he used the word haram (prohibited) despite being recorded saying so in a video clip.

Shahul said that in the footage released a few years ago, he was answering a question about hairdressing for a Muslim man in a kafir (infidel) woman’s salon.

“If you watch the video carefully, I only said that while there is no dalil (Quranic and Hadith verses) that prohi­bits a man to hold the hair of another man, it is better to find a shop operated by Muslims to help them in the economy.”

He said he had lodged a police report against an online portal for claiming that he used the word haram.


In his videos, Shahul had told Muslims not to patronise non-Muslim hairdressers, discouraged parents from sending their children to “non-Muslim” schools, prohibited them from wishing “happy birthday” or even saying “hello”.

He was also heard saying that Muslim women should not go to a non-Muslim salon as a woman’s hair, which is aurat, should not be exposed to non-Muslims, even if they are women.

Shahul claimed that some people were only taking advantage of the recent Muslims-only launderette issue to create an issue out of his statements made a few years ago.

However, State Islamic Religious Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said that Sha­hul’s statements were absurd, nonsensical and uncalled for.

“It’s in very bad taste, especially coming from a learned person like him,” he said, calling on the people of Penang to disregard the remarks and work together to forge greater unity for peace, harmony and success.

“The state government will not tolerate this kind of nonsense and will act accordingly to enhance and inculcate the wisdom and true teaching of Islam that promotes love, respect and harmony,” he said.

Penang Mufti Datuk Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor reminded ustaz and Islamic preachers in the state to be careful in choosing the terms they used.

“Words like orang kafir or others which may hurt the feelings of people of other races and religions should be avoided.

“This is to avoid people from ha­­ving a bad impression of Islam or makes it hard for them to accept Islamic teaching,” he said.

A launderette in Muar, Mohd Tahrir Samsudin #fundie thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: A self-service launderette in Muar, Johor is limiting its clientele to Muslim customers only.

The matter first came to light when a photo, believed to have been taken at the launderette, showing an 'Only For Muslims' sign went viral on social media.

The sign also asked customers to remove their shoes before entering the premises.

The 40-year-old operator, who was interviewed by a Chinese daily on Saturday, said he was just carrying out his duty as a Muslim.

He said he welcomed Chinese and Indian Muslims to his launderette and that non-Muslims could visit other nearby launderettes.

He, however, declined to comment on whether he had imposed the rules as he worried that there might be "unclean" elements such as dog fur on the clothes non-Muslims brought to his launderette.

The operator also did not allow the Chinese daily reporter to take his photo.

Meanwhile, a Malay daily reported Johor mufti Datuk Mohd Tahrir Samsudin as saying that the launderette's move was commendable as cleanliness is a priority for Muslims.

"This should not be turned into an issue as it only encourages negative perception from non-Muslims towards Muslims.

"I think it is a good move as Muslims will no longer be doubtful when using the self-service launderette," the daily quoted him as saying.

The launderette's move has received mixed reactions from netizens, with some praising the move and others questioning the motive for segregating customers based on their religious backgrounds.

A school in Hulu Langat #fundie thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: A school in Hulu Langat has come under fire from parents and netizens for allegedly segregating drinking cups for Muslim and non-Muslim students.

The primary school in Selangor has cups labelled “murid Islam" (Muslim students) and “murid bukan Islam" (non-Muslim students) placed next to a water dispenser.

In response to the public outcry Thursday, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon stressed that “national schools are for all Malaysians and should not separate our children based on religion.”

He said he would direct the Selangor Education Department to check on the matter.

Earlier, Seberang Perai Municipal Council member Satees Muniandy took to Facebook to slam the policy at the school.

“This is what will happen in single stream schools. Non-Muslims would be taught that they are different and not fit to share a cup with Muslim students,” the Opposition politician said.

Rohani Abdul Karim #fundie thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The 12-year-old girl who married the man convicted of raping her in Sabah is doing fine, Dewan Rakyat was told.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (pic) said the girl currently lives with her parents in Kota Kinabalu.

She said the girl, now 16, is still married to Riduan Masmud, 44, who is serving his 12-year jail term after being convicted of raping her in 2015.

"We visited the girl at her family home on April 18 and she was in good health while the husband is serving his time,” she told Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai) in a written reply.

Rohani said the girl also visited Riduan, a former restaurant manager, in Kepayan prison in Kota Kinabalu early this year.

However, she said, based on a visit by a welfare officer in 2014, the girl said she had no interest in going back to school as she felt embarrassed due to the wide media coverage on her case.

She said the girl told the officer she was comfortable living with her parents as she could help take care of her siblings.

“The girl had also voiced her intention to work so she could be self-sufficient.

“The parents also informed us that they had no problem in taking care of her,” said Rohani.

Riduan, a father of four children aged between two and 17 at the time of the offence, was charged with raping the schoolgirl in a vehicle on a road near Kionsom Waterfall in Inanam between 9am and 10am on Feb 18, 2013.

He married the girl in May that year in a bid to escape conviction and was charged with bribing the girl’s father with RM10,000 to withdraw the police report the girl made against him.

Ridhuan went to jail after the Kota Kinabalu High Court dismissed the appeal pertaining to his statutory rape case in 2015.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/08/07/rohani-girl-who-married-rapist-is-fine/#cSbtqZQJr5SyshI6.99

National Scholastic Chess Championship 2017 tournament director #sexist thestar.com.my

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PETALING JAYA: A 12-year-old’s dress was deemed “seductive” and “a temptation from a certain angle far, far away”, and so she was forced to withdraw from a chess championship in Putrajaya.

Malaysian chess player and coach Kaushal Khandhar said the incident happened at the National Scholastic Chess Championship 2017 on April 14, when his student was told that her dress was “improper”.

Kaushal said the tournament director would not allow the girl to wear a similar dress for the next round.

The girl’s mother, Chin Wai Ling, said the director’s pronouncement was only made around 10pm when shops were closing, so she did not have time to buy long slacks for the following day’s 9am start time.

“This situation led to the inevitable decision of withdrawing from the tournament,” Kaushal said in a statement on his Facebook page.

When contacted, the tournament director said an investigation is underway. However, he declined to comment further.

“We are absolutely disgusted by the treatment of the tournament director of a 12-year-old girl and her mother,” Kaushal said.

“This incident has resulted in a loss of time and money invested before, during and after the tournament in coaching, registration fees, travel, accommodation and other incurred costs,” he said.

His student, whom he called “a bright young girl”, was the Kuala Lumpur district chess champion and showed tremendous potential in the game.

Kaushal said the girl felt “harassed and humiliated” by the actions of the tournament director and chief arbiter.

“This incident has left her extremely disturbed and embarrassed,” he said.

The girl was informed of her “improper” dressing in the middle of the second round of the tournament, without stopping the clock.

“My daughter was shocked after her game was interrupted by the chief arbiter,” said Chin.

“From that point onwards, she said all she could think of was whether anyone was peeping (at her) throughout the game,” she said.

When Chin was told about her daughter’s dress code violation, she said she was appalled.

“I tried to explain to the chief arbiter that I only brought three dresses of similar length for the three-day event, and the fact that she had tights on. So nothing was revealed. I tried to reason,” said Chin.

But despite the explanation, Chin said she was asked to find her daughter something else to wear for the next round in the morning.

“The tournament director told him (the chief arbiter) that the school will not allow the children to use the hall if we were to turn up in a dress,” she said.

Chin said she called the tournament director regarding the matter before the next round, and that he promised to call back after discussing the issue with the chief arbiter.

“He promised to return our call, but he did not. He did not answer our call. He did not reply our e-mail until I forwarded it to every member of the Malaysian Chess Federation,” she said.

Chin said the dress code for the tournament is based on the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Laws of Chess requiring participants to have a “dignified appearance”, but no illustrative dress code guidelines were given out to participants before the tournament.

She said her daughter withdrew from the competition under duress and asked for a formal apology from the tournament director.

Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi #fundie thestar.com.my

‘Scanty dressing, concerts lead to immoral behaviour’

A PAS lawmaker blamed scanty dressing, provocative music and dancing, and music concerts where male and female patrons mingled freely as the chief causes of the rampant immoral behaviour in the country.

“There is also very little emphasis on religious studies in our education curriculum. This has led to immoral behaviour like adultery and pre-marital sex,” Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi (PAS-Temerloh) said when debating the motion on the Royal Address.

Nasruddin, who is the PAS Information head, is known for his controversial views and opposition to concerts by international artistes and also couples observing Valentine’s Day.

During his days as PAS Youth chief, Nasruddin had campaigned against several foreign performers and in 2007 threatened protests which forced Beyonce to scrap a planned concert in Malaysia.

He said yesterday that these music concerts promoted loose behaviour which contributed to the high number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and babies being abandoned by young girls.

“Based on the National Registration Department’s data, there were 159,725 babies born out of wedlock,” he added.

He said introducing sex education in school and promoting the use of condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancies would not resolve the problem.

“I was previously drawn to an advertisement at a Mara outlet in Kuala Lumpur,” he pointed out.

“It showed a man leading a woman into a room but the woman stopped and said ‘No condom, no way’. This will not help prevent adultery or pre-marital sex,” he said, drawing laughter from those present.

Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (BN-Tanah Merah) said he would support PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill to amend Syariah law.

He hit out at those who likened Hadi’s Bill as an attempt to introduce hudud.

“If the RUU355 is tabled, I will not hesitate to vote in support of the Bill. Don’t politicise it by linking it to hudud. It is not hudud,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.

Ikmal Hisham chided the lawmakers who opposed the Bill.

“Let the Muslims resolve it. If you want to oppose, oppose with facts. Don’t do it for political popularity,” he added.

Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna) said he would not support Hadi’s Bill.

Ibrahim Mat Zin "Raja Bomoh" #fundie thestar.com.my

Raja Bomoh 'protects' Malaysia from North Korea

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s “Raja Bomoh Sedunia” has volunteered his services to assist the country in yet another time of need – this time to protect us from a North Korean nuclear attack.

A three-minute 18-second video of Ibrahim Mat Zin, who calls himself Raja Bomoh Sedunia Nujum VIP with the title of Datuk Mahaguru, conducting a ritual on a beach has gone viral.

The video features Ibrahim and three assistants ankle-deep in water with two coconuts, a pair of sticks used as binoculars, five bamboo cannons, a carpet, and a bowl of seawater.

Ibrahim, who is wearing a business suit, recites prayers throughout the ritual and then vehemently throws the coconuts into the water as it ends.

A cameraman can be seen in the background recording the entire session.

There is also a disclaimer in the video, saying that you are forbidden to conduct the ritual at home.

“This time, the ritual is to protect Malaysia from any threat or attack from other countries especially North Korea,” Ibrahim was quoted as saying in a Malay portal.

“Besides that, the ritual is also to soften the North Korean Supreme Leader’s heart so he will release the 11 Malaysians immediately and resolve this (Kim Jong-nam assassination) situation,” he added.

Explaining that the bamboo cannon is symbolic, he said the ritual is not to provoke any party but is a cautionary measure to ensure that the conflict will be resolved soon.

North Korea barred all Malaysians from leaving the hermit kingdom on March 7, after Malaysia expelled North Korean ambassador Kang Chol as a result of souring diplomatic ties after the assassination of Jong-nam.

Two Malaysians who are employees of the United Nations World Food Programme were allowed to leave the country on Thursday, leaving nine others still stranded there.

A controversial figure, Ibrahim first made headlines in March 2014 when he conducted two rituals at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to supposedly locate the missing Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight.

Malaysia's Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry #fundie thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry seized 2,003 paint brushes made from pig bristles worth RM10,988.94 in a crackdown nationwide, said its minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

He said the goods were confiscated because of violations of the Trade Description (Goods made from any part of pig or dog) Order 2013, which stipulates that such products must be labelled and kept separated.

So far, he said, 37 such cases had been recorded out of the 157 inspections conducted nationwide.

“The ministry will continue with the inspections (nationwide) if there are complaints from consumers,” he said after launching the 1Malaysia Smart Consumer Cam­paign here yesterday.

Hamzah said the seizures were within the scope of the ministry’s power because the dealers had failed to comply with regulations.

“We will not seize the goods if they are labelled and separated according to the rules.”

He said the traders should be aware of the sensitivity of Muslims on halal matters.

In Klang, 109 paint brushes of various types believed to be made from pig bristles were seized from a hardware shop and a store belonging to a supplier here. The items were not labelled or separated.

The ministry’s enforcement chief for Selangor, Abdul Rosik Yakub, said the seized items did not bear the “A913” and “A950” codes.

According to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, brushes with the A913 and A950 codes state that they are made from pig bristles.

“We also found that 101 of the paint brushes were also labelled with expired halal certification,” he said, adding that they would be sent for tests.

He added that the owners told the officers the paint brushes were imported from China.

Abdul Rosik said paintbrushes made from pig bristles usually have split ends and different thicknesses compared with those made from other materials.

“Shops can sell this kind of brushes, but they must be properly labelled and kept separately,” he added.

Under the Trade Descriptions Act, traders are required to separate non-halal items from halal products.

Offenders who fail to adhere to the ruling face a fine of RM100,000 or three years’ jail or both.

In Johor Baru, enforcement officers raided two hardware shops suspected of selling paintbrushes made of pig bristles in Jalan Persiaran Larkin Perdana, Larkin here.

The officers confiscated about 150 items to send for tests.

The ministry’s deputy enforcement chief for Johor, Rizq Fazliana Abd Hamid, said the brushes from both shops were not separated and labelled according to the type of bristles used.

“The second shop also displayed a fake halal certificate,” she added.

Business owners can be charged under the Trade Descriptions Act 2013 for failing to label paint brushes made from pig or dog bristles.

The raids were made after paintbrushes sent for laboratory tests at Universiti Putra Malaysia Halal Products Research Institute were found to be made from pig bristles.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/08/more-paint-brushes-suspected-to-have-pig-bristles-seized/#g3meoYgRoHjJwpYg.99

Zurina Zakaria #racist thestar.com.my

A PUTERI delegate left the crowd in stitches with her call to parents to prevent their daughters from eloping with “handsome foreigners”.

Kedah delegate Zurina Zakaria said parents should check their daughters’ chat on social media.

“Check if they are online with a Bangla [a derogatory word for Bangladeshis] carpet seller on Facebook or WhatsApp,” she said when debating the motion of thanks on the movement’s chief policy speech at the Puteri Umno general assembly yesterday.

Zurina said the authorities should be concerned with the increasing cases of young Malay girls falling for the “good looks and charms” of foreign men.

“Some lost their senses when they fell for these handsome-looking foreigners to the point of running away from their homes.

“The high number of foreign workers in the country is a cause for alarm as it has both social and economic impact,” she said.

Zurina also blamed foreigners for the rising crimes and bringing in infectious diseases and taking away jobs from Malaysians.