Salaam,
This Korean stall at Mr Teh Tarek Tampines has only the MUIS Halal Logo but without the MUIS Halal Certificate. When asked, the staff said “Don’t know.”
Another stall selling laksa has no MUIS halal logo and cert. When asked, the staff said, “The whole place is halal.”
MUIS is now investigating.
A key learning point: DO NOT ASSUME that all stalls at Mr Teh Tarek are either MUIS Halal Certified or 100% Muslim-owned.
Not sure, ask.
Do keep our eyes open.
Wassalam
Describing the Malay language as a “beautiful and dynamic” one, Member of Parliament for Jurong Group Representation Constituency Rahayu Mahzam said on Saturday (Sept 3) that it was important to keep up efforts in preserving and bringing life to the language from a young age.
“This year, we lost literary giants and language experts Allahyarham Cikgu Muhammad Ariff Ahmad, Cikgu Aliman Hassan and Dr Liaw Yock Fang. With the passing of these culture and literary figures, the responsibility of ensuring the continued usage and love of the Malay language now falls squarely on the shoulders of the next generation.”
Ms Rahayu was speaking at the launch of the Bulan Bahasa 2016 (Malay Language Month 2016) at the National Museum of Singapore this afternoon.
Speaking to TODAY on the sidelines later, she explained that the Bulan Bahasa was initially something that was celebrated every two years, and “it was limited to the literati, those who are very savvy with the language”.
“Then there was the decision to bring in more people and once we started doing it every year, we also started looking at appropriate spaces where there’s a natural crowd and we can bring in families to enjoy and celebrate together,” she said.
They began to scope out locations in the heartlands, intending to focus on just one spot. But they soon realized that they could reach out to more people if activities were expanded to more communities, she added. “So we decided to do more in the heartland and neighbourhoods and it went down very well.”
Organized by the Malay Language Council, Singapore, this year’s festival, which runs from Aug 15 to Oct 15, showcases the dynamism of the Malay language through tours of exhibits and artifacts of significance to the Malay community, such as jewellery from Fort Canning as well as from well-known personalities such as the first President of Singapore Yusof Ishak.
There are also a diverse array of Malay language and cultural activities at the museum and beyond. Over at Nee Soon, Chua Chu Kang and Sembawang, where the festival will also be extended to, residents there get to partake in activities such as Malay handicraft and Traditional Malay games, and view exhibition displays by Malay dialect groups.
Ms Rahayu, who is a first-time chairperson of the Bulan Bahasa committee, said “more than 50 partners have come together to produce over 100 programmes so everyone can continue to enjoy Bahasa Melayu as a beautiful and dynamic language”. New partners this year include Islamic artwork design firm Haz Workz Design, concept creation and production house Big Tree Pictures and youth music group Nusantara Arts.
Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport, who was the guest-of-honour at the launch, said during his speech that the events and programmes in this year’s Bulan Bahasa “are varied, rich and representative of how dynamic and alive the Malay language is in Singapore today”.
“We are here today, because we share a common desire to preserve the Malay language and culture, and to pass on this love for the language and culture to our future generations. In diverse and multi-cultural Singapore, our Mother Tongues are pivotal in strengthening our ethnic roots, as well as our cultural and national identities.”
During the launch, Mr Ng also presented musician Megat Muhammad Firdaus Mohamad, actress Siti Khalijah Zainal and Jamiyah Ar-Rabitah Mosque education officer, Ustazah Nurul ‘Izzah Khamsani with certificates. The trio, who were appointed by the Malay Language Council, Singapore as its new language ambassadors, were chosen for their passion for the Malay language, culture and heritage.
Meanwhile, students will also be heavily involved in the festival. Some 118 students from 60 schools were appointed in May to participate in the preparations for the festival, under its initiative Rakan Bahasa, or friends of the language. The students will be providing special tours at the Singapore History Gallery, as part of a special effort to ensure the Malay language and culture is appreciated by non-Malay speakers as well.
Additionally, there is Rentak Kita!, a Malay Traditional Orchestra performance with sharing sessions in both English and Malay conducted by Orkestra Sri Temasak, which was founded by musicians Megat Muhammad Firdaus Mohamad and Afi Hanafi.
Ms Rahayu said the increased programmes in the heartlands align with the future direction of Bulan Bahasa. “It allows us to showcase the platform to non-Malays at the grassroots level and that allows Malay as a national language to reach out to the masses,” she said.
“I think (the future) direction is greater outreach, definitely, and a more impactful experience for those who participate in Bulan Bahasa as well as extending this spirit of preserving the Malay language culture over and beyond the two months of the festival,” she added.
Source: www.todayonline.com
This bachelor’s unusual method of saving money not only netted him $6,000, but also three marriage proposals.
Mr Muhammad Helmy Kamid, 26,saved more than 6,000 $1 coins in two years.
But what caught most people’s attention, after his story appeared in Malay daily Berita Harian, was him saying that though he has no girlfriend, he plans to use the money as part of his future wedding expenses.
When he first posted the article on his Facebook page, it got more than 1,000 likes and shares, more than 200 comments – and three marriage proposals.
Mr Helmy, an engineering associate, told The New Paper: “Two to three people from Malaysia messaged me, asking to marry them after seeing my post online.
“When I first read the messages, I thought people would really do anything for money.”
But he does not take the messages seriously and has politely rejected the women.
Mr Helmy started saving $1 coins in mid 2014, after he was inspired by his uncle, Mr Anuar Ahmad.
Mr Anuar, 45, began collecting $1 coins around 10 years ago, but amassed only about $1,000 after about a year of saving.
He told TNP: “It helped me when I wanted to get married, so I thought it would help him, too.
“I am glad he took my words seriously and that he is even more diligent than I was.”
Mr Anuar, a senior technician,stopped saving $1 coins after he got married 10 years ago, but he was glad to see his nephew determined to continue.
He said: “He has always been like that – when he sets his mind on doing something, he is determined to go all the way.”
Mr Helmy said it is a smart way to save.
“You don’t feel the pinch when you save small change,” he added.
“When you have to put aside $10 or $20 every day or a few hundred dollars every month, you’ll naturally feel the pinch.”
Mr Helmy started by keeping all his change and would exchange 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins with stall vendors for $1 coins.
He found that when he inserted the change into vending machines, he would get $1 coins when he pressed the return change button.
“In the beginning, my mother told me this plan was nonsense,” he said.
“She would not touch my coins and even laughed at me.”
But she was the one who ended up helping him instead.
Mr Helmy recounted how his mother would hand him $1 coins in exchange for notes.
“She would keep her loose change for me,” he said.
When he counted his savings last month, Mr Helmy could not believe how much he had saved.
“I started counting. From $1,000, it went to $2,000. When it reached $6,000, I though that I could use this money to get married,” he said.
SURPRISED
He surprised even his brother, Mr Suffian Sarmadi Kamid, who began his own $1 coin collection six months back.
Mr Suffian, a 29-year-old security supervisor, said: “It’s quite funny how my brother could save up $6,000 in his little, green piggybank.”
Although Mr Helmy does not have a girlfriend, he is planning ahead for his big day.
He said: “With this sum of money, I am prepared to pay dowry and settle marriage costs.
“It tells my prospective mother-in-law that I’m prepared and I’ve got what it takes to marry her daughter.”
Source: The New Paper
The Johor Health Department will take various measures to curb the spread of Zika infection, including requiring all vehicles leaving and entering Singapore to be sprayed with mosquito repellent.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ayub Rahmat said these measures were necessary in view of the sharp increase in Zika infections in the Republic, while Johor was frequented by Singaporeans.
“The vehicles we are referring to include lorries, public buses, school buses, private cars and trains. This is to ensure that no mosquitoes with the virus are brought into the country via the vehicles,” he said in a statement on Friday (Sep 2).
Mr Ayub said the local authorities and district officers had also been instructed to focus on cleanliness in the areas frequented by Singaporeans including open eating places or restaurants, open recreational and entertainment areas, farmers’ markets, wholesale markets and so on.
He said the cleaning works should involve government agencies, non-governmental or semi-government organisations like the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department, Rukun Tetangga, Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corp (SWCorp), Rotary Club and volunteers in the Communications for Behavioural Changes (Combi) programme.
Mr Ayub said the state Health Department had been asked to intensify enforcement operations on individual premises and construction sites in all areas near the entry points and housing areas with a high percentage of residents working in Singapore until the Zika epidemic there was under control.
“The state government will monitor all action plans and the special meeting will be held again on Sep 29 to review the effectiveness of these strategies,” he said.
Mr Ayub said the committee viewed the Zika viral infection among Singaporeans as serious as many frequented Johor while 200,000 to 300,000 locals travelled to the Republic each day to work.
He said, based on the number, the people of Johor were vulnerable to the viral infection if drastic steps were not taken to destroy the vector which transmits the Zika virus, the Aedes mosquito.
He said cleaning-up of the surroundings should also be intensified in the coming two to three months so that the Aedes Index could be kept at the lowest level of less than 1 per cent.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia
*when minorities ask for the hijab*
‘We must be mindful of the common space. It is a shared public sphere. We must not upset the balance.’
*when minorities ask for greater cabinet representation*
‘We are a meritocratic society. We promote based on merit.’
*when minorities ask about a minority Prime Minister*
‘Our society just is not ready yet.’
*when minorities ask for more prestigious positions in the military*
‘It can be a tricky situation.’
*when minorities ask about the navy*
‘It is a practical problem. There is just no halal food on board. What to do.’
*when minorities (apparently) ask for a minority President*
‘Great idea! Let’s implement it at the next available opportunity! We are basically doing this because that’s what the people want.’
Source: Walid J. Abdullah