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  • Walimah Ringkas, Lagi Jimat

    Walimah Ringkas, Lagi Jimat

    Isu pembaziran di majlis perkahwinan memang sudah lama diperkatakan.

    Namun, tidak banyak pakej pilihan yang diperkenalkan bagi mengatasinya.

    Ini mendorong Encik Aydarus Ahmad, pengasas Relite Events Management, memperkenalkan majlis walimah yang mudah, ringkas, dan paling penting, tidak membazir.

    “Banyak anak muda yang menangguhkan perkahwinan kerana masalah kewangan.

    “Seperti yang kita maklum, melangsungkan walimah menggunakan banyak wang – daripada katering, dekorasi dan andaman.

    “Ini belum termasuk wang hantaran dan barang hantaran yang ditukar kededua pihak lelaki dan perempuan lagi,” ujarnya.

    Mungkin ada yang menganggapnya agak janggal menghadiri majlis walimah yang tiada kerusi meja.

    Tetapi inilah perbezaan pakej walimah Relite Events Management.

    Tiada kerusi yang perlu disarung dengan sarung kerusi berwarna-warni, diikat dengan tali reben khas ataupun penggunaan kerusi khas putih. Setiap tetamu yang datang juga akan menjamu selera dengan makanan hidang yang dikongsi empat orang sedulang. Setiap dulang akan disaji dengan nasi beriani dam kambing, ayam masak merah serta kuah dalca.

    Tuan rumah juga boleh memilih pakej yang menyediakan nasi mandi, salad dan sambal Hadramaut.

    Dulang itu kemudian akan diletakkan di atas sebuah meja bulat kecil bagi memudahkan tetamu menikmati jamuan yang disediakan.

    “Kami menggalak pasangan mengadakan majlis walimah di dewan serbaguna yang mempunyai tempat terbuka dan tidak diadang tembok.

    “Kemudian kami akan membentangkan permaidani besar bagi tetamu duduk,” ujar Encik Aydarus yang menambah bahawa beberapa kerusi akan disediakan khas bagi warga emas dan mereka yang memerlukannya.

    Sejak memperkenalkan pakej ini Julai lalu, Relite Events Management sendiri tidak menyangka terdapat banyak permintaan daripada pasangan muda yang memilih mahu bersederhana.

    Sejak Julai tahun lalu, syarikat itu telah mengendalikan 10 majlis.

    “Usah fikir corak majlis begini tidak diminati pasangan muda.

    “Kesemua walimah yang kami kendalikan merupakan pasangan muda yang rata-rata sudah agak penat dengan majlis perkahwinan besar-besaran yang membebankan mereka,” ujarnya yang merujuk kepada majlis perkahwinan kini yang boleh mencecah sehingga $30,000.

    Majlis sederhana yang dimaksudkan menelan belanja separuh daripada jumlah itu iaitu sekitar $14,000.

    Kalau majlis mewah banyak memberi tumpuan kepada kecantikan visual, majlis sederhana menitikberatkan soal makanan dan layanan terhadap tetamu.

    Menurut Encik Aydarus, 41 tahun, beliau mempunyai sehingga 20 kendarat – 10 lelaki dan 10 perempuan – yang telah dilatih cara melayan tetamu.

    Mereka bergerak daripada seorang tetamu ke seorang tetamu yang lain dengan membawa bekas pembasuh tangan, siap dengan sabun bagi memudahkan tetamu mencuci tangan selepas makan.

    Dari segi dekorasi pula, ia ringkas, tiada balutan kain pada tembok.

    Pelamin juga tidak sarat dengan bunga-bunga – cukup bagi mempelai bergambar bersama keluarga dan sahabat handai sahaja.

    “Kami juga galakkan mempelai berinteraksi dengan tetamu yang hadir. Ada kalanya pengantin sendiri tidak tahu siapa yang datang untuk menyerikan majlis mereka,” tambahnya.

    Bagi jemputan 1,000 orang, Relite Events Management mengenakan bayaran sekitar $14,000 termasuk makanan, kendarat, pelamin, sistem bunyi serta persembahan qasidah.

    “Yang penting, kami mahu menggalakkan mempelai melakukan apa yang wajib sahaja dalam majlis persandingan mereka,” ujar Encik Aydarus.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

  • PAS Will Never Get Back Non-Muslim Support

    PAS Will Never Get Back Non-Muslim Support

    Mohamad Sabu is one of PAS’s most popular leaders, outside his party and among non-Muslims, that is. Internally, the party booted him out at the recent elections where he failed to defend the deputy president’s post. In the first of a two-part interview, Mat Sabu, as he is popularly known, mourns the passing of an Islamist party that enjoyed the support of non-Muslims for a period and fears it may never regain that trust.

    Even if he is voted back into the PAS leadership, the Islamist party will never regain its non-Muslim support, said former deputy president Mohamad Sabu.

    Better known as Mat Sabu and popular with the non-Muslim crowd, he also told of how hard he had to work to persuade PAS grassroots members to go out and rally with non-Muslims in earlier demonstrations led by electoral reform group Bersih.

    Mat Sabu painted a bleak future for the only opposition party with a religious ideology that had contributed to the death of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

    He said there was now no remedy which could fix the situation for PAS to get back its non-Muslim support.

    “Non-Muslims are disappointed and broken-hearted by the whole situation.

    “Furthermore, PAS is now led by personalities from the east coast who rarely come into contact with Malaysians of other races and faiths,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

    Mat Sabu said the east coast leaders from Kelantan and Terengganu might think they do not need non-Muslim support since they only interacted with Malays daily.

    “They won’t feel it like we do here in Penang and Selangor. The Kelantan leaders had even said it is okay to do without PR because they were making assessments based on their own locations.

    “They can win in their areas but what about Selangor, Malacca and Johor? In Kedah, there are also parliamentary constituencies where non-Muslim votes make up some 40%.”

    He said the PAS leaders were not realistic if they thought the party could make it in general elections on its own.

    “In an election, you must have a coalition, unless you just want to be a regional party in Kelantan and Terengganu.

    “This is all going backwards.”

    He said when the first Bersih rally was being planned in 2007, it took him almost a year to go around asking PAS members to take part and join those from other races in the demonstration.

    The success of the rally, he said, contributed to PR’s victory in five states – Penang, Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan – in the 2008 general election.

    “Now, that multiracial image we built is gone. I do feel sad. Let PAS with its present leadership try to gather a crowd with all the different races now.

    “The ulamas in PAS organised an anti-GST (goods and services tax) rally first but the event was only attended by their own people. GST affects all Malaysians. You have got to include everyone.

    “This is what we are seeing. If PAS goes back to being a regional party, it will become stronger. But when election comes, it will be another matter.”

    Mat Sabu said even with PR now dead, the ruling Barisan Nasional would still fall, with or without PAS in the picture, because the people, especially the younger generation, were rejecting the ruling coalition.

    He said PAS should take care about trying to get close to Umno because this would only spell its own ruin.

    “If PAS wants to work with Umno, it, too, will suffer a hit. People just don’t want BN or Umno.

    “Take the Permatang Pauh by-election last month. In all streams, the percentage of votes for PKR by youth went up. It was not because they were PKR members. They just didn’t support Umno.”

    The PR pact “officially died” on Wednesday after PKR agreed with DAP that it no longer existed.

    The end of PR came after the PAS leadership, now dominated by the conservative ulama faction led by party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, accepted a motion to sever ties with DAP without debate.

    The relationship between DAP and PAS had been rocky since last year over the Selangor menteri besar imbroglio, and worsened after the Islamist party tabled and passed the hudud bill in the Kelantan assembly to implement the Islamic penal code in the state.

    Things appeared to reach the point of no return when PAS adopted a motion without debate at its recent general assembly to cut ties with DAP.

     

    Source:www.themalaysianinsider.com

  • Implications Of The Pakatan Rakyat Split

    Implications Of The Pakatan Rakyat Split

    Malaysia’s three-party opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has split up over a series of policy disputes, including calls for the implementation of the Islamic penal code, or hudud, in Kelantan.

    The Democratic Action Party (DAP) announced on Tuesday (June 16) that the alliance was dead, blaming it on Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS). But more significantly, the collapse left the third component party – Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) – in a potentially dire situation.

    Here’s what you should know about the break up of PR and what may happen next:

    What is Pakatan Rakyat?

    The opposition bloc was formed in April 2008, uniting opposition parties that had long been pushed around by the governing Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN). Experts said PR was always a fragile alliance, given that it brought together bedfellows who were opposed ideologically, particularly the Islamist PAS and the secular DAP.

    The bloc won 52 per cent of the popular vote in the 2013 elections, tapping into growing resentment of Umno’s rule and corruption scandals. It failed to take power due to Umno gerrymandering, but its stunning performance under leader Anwar Ibrahim – jailed earlier this year on sodomy charges widely seen as trumped up by the government – had raised the possibility of a historic change of power in Malaysia.

    The PR currently controls three states: Kelantan (PAS-led), Penang (DAP-led) and Selangor (PKR-led). The DAP holds 37 of 222 seats in Malaysia’s parliament, the PKR 29, and PAS 21.

    What happened?

    When PAS saw its share of seats shrink in the 2013 election, it started to reassert its Islamic agenda and push for hudud in Kelantan state. Its president Abdul Hadi Awang was criticised for pushing a bill on hudud without consulting his opposition partners. This led to the DAP announcing in March that it would no longer work with the PAS leader.

    The rift worsened this month after the PAS leadership was captured by conservatives and the party accepted a motion by its conservative ulama (clerics) wing to sever ties with the DAP.

    In response, DAP’s Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said in a statement on Tuesday (June 16) that the PR no longer exist. Mr Lim, who is also Penang’s Chief Minister, said it was the PAS president’s unilateral decision to push for hudud and his party’s decision to sever ties with DAP that led to the PR’s collapse. He added that the DAP would continue to work with PKR and other parties that want to end BN’s rule “to reshape and realign Malaysian politics with the aim of winning Putrajaya for the people”.

    Dismissing the DAP’s statement, PAS Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said the opposition alliance was still intact. “DAP’s decision will not dissolve the coalition,” he stressed.

    PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said on Wednesday (June 17) that PKR will not cut its ties with the DAP and PAS, blaming neither but chiding both for precipitating a crisis. “PR no longer functions formally,” she said in a statement, emphasising that PKR would continue to support the DAP-led Penang state government and the PAS-led Kelantan state government.

    What are the implications?

    Analysts are divided over how Umno and the ruling BN, as well as Prime Minister Najib Razak could benefit from the break up of the PR.

    “Opposition in disarray is certainly helpful for Najib’s survival. He is now actively courting Sabah and Sarawak for support even within Umno and BN. As long as he can convince the party he can still deliver, the party members will stick with him. Corruption is not a cardinal sin for Umno leaders. Mahathir had his own shares of financial scandals but he ruled for 23 years. Najib, and certainly Rosmah, see no reason why they can’t learn from Mahathir,” said Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat, referring to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and wife of Mr Najib, Rosmah Mansor.

    But analyst Tan Seng Keat from the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research said the impact is difficult to predict. Umno and its coalition are racked by infighting of their own, as concerns over the economy and damaging financial scandals have further raised the possibility of defeat in the next polls, due by 2018.

    On the opposition side, the DAP has asked PAS representatives to resign from their posts in the Penang state government and its agencies. PAS does not hold any influence in the state assembly as it has only one lawmaker while DAP dominates the 40-seat state legislature with 29 assemblymen.

    PAS, on the other hand, controls the Kelantan state assembly with 32 out of 45 seats. DAP has no representatives while PKR has only one.

    PKR, however, could find itself in potentially dire straits. It cannot sustain a majority in the 57-seat Selangor state assembly without the support of both PAS and DAP. The party had wanted to mediate between the two feuding partners but DAP turned down its offer.

    PAS strategist Zuhdi Marzuki has called for the formation of a new political pact involving only Malay-Muslim parties, similar to one that PAS joined and was led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the 1990s. It was disbanded after Tengku Razaleigh rejoined Umno in 1996.

    “Now it is up to PKR which leads Selangor to decide whether it wants to continue with a coalition with PAS in PR or not,” Dr Zuhdi said. “If PKR also withdraws from PR, then it is not impossible that the Selangor state government will become shaky.”

    What could happen next?

    The opposition parties and even the ruling BN may seek new realignments, including:

    A new opposition pact

    Analaysts believe the DAP and PKR will try to link up with a new partner to form a new opposition pact before the next general election because this remains their only realistic path to defeating BN. Along with PAS, PR has 87 seats in Parliament against BN’s 134. A possible partner is a new party mooted by PasMa, a PAS splinter group formed last year. Following the conservative sweep in PAS’ party elections earlier this month and the collapse of PR, PasMa said it was in discussion with several leaders and parties to set up a new moderate Islamic party that could cooperate with both PKR and DAP.

    “It is back to square one until they find a replacement vehicle for PAS. May or may not be PasMa. PR needs a party for Islamists and rural areas, something PKR is not good at,” said Professor James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania.

    PAS and Umno coalition

    The possibility of a unity government of PAS and Umno – the key, Malay-based party in BN – has been talked about since before the 2013 General Election. With the conservatives now dominating PAS, it is increasingly likely that the two parties may be tempted to work together.

    However, it is unclear if Umno is willing to risk breaking up its own multiracial coalition to embrace the Islamist PAS. Although Umno supported the PAS-run Kelantan government’s plans to adopt hudud in March this year, Mr Najib has yet to make his stand on hudud.

    “It is most unlikely that Umno will accept PAS in a Malay/Muslim-only unity government as this will mean the effective breakup of the Barisan as a multiracial, multi-religious coalition,” said Centre for Policy Initiatives director Lim Teck Ghee.

    However, Mr Wong, the Penang Institute fellow, said Umno might compromise, allowing PAS safe seats in Kelantan and Terengganu in the next general election.

    “What will likely happen is a covert pact between the two, with PAS attacking DAP, PKR and the PAS pragmatists if they leave the party.

    “Since it is in the interest of Umno to keep PAS floating, Umno will not put up a full fight in some seats in Kelantan and Terengganu so that PAS will survive with 10 seats or so. A complete collapse of hardliners within PAS will drive the Islamist voters to the splinter party, PKR or even DAP.”

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • NTU Cancels Orientation Camp

    NTU Cancels Orientation Camp

    One of the largest freshmen orientation camps at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been cancelled.

    Plans to hold NTU’s union orientation camp this year were axed after safety measures were found to be “lacking”.

    A statement from the NTU Student Union says “the organisers were found not to have adequately planned for the camp”.

    “Measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our freshmen and students, in accordance with the university’s guidelines, were lacking,” it adds.

    An NTU spokesman told The Straits Times that this is the only camp out of 50 others that did not get approval.

    “The student union executive committee is exercising their responsibility as student leaders to ensure the safety and well-being of participants,” he said.

    It comes after four students were rushed to hospital after suffering seizures during a Nanyang Business School orientation camp last year.

    Since the statement was posted on the union’s Facebook page on Wednesday morning, it has attracted several angry comments from students, with some questioning the decision to cancel the camp.

    One comment, which garnered over 70 likes in seven hours, said that it seems “daft” to suggest the organisers would overlook safety given the camp has been running safely for 18 years.

    NTU student union president Wu GuoYi told The Straits Times that the decision to cancel was made in consultation with the university’s management. “I think it was the right decision… We did not want to risk the safety of the freshmen.”

    Such camps are normally organised by ad hoc student committees. In previous years, they attracted close to 200 students. They are normally held in July. Calls for students to register for the camp went out on June 1.

    However, registrations have since been put on hold.

    The camp’s website and the online application form have been taken down.

    Incoming freshman Ng Lan Ying, 19, was disappointed to hear about the cancellation.

    “I was looking forward to attending as I heard that unlike other camps, you can meet students from other faculties and seniors as well,” she said.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • 72 Year Old Man Jailed One Year For Molesting Maid

    72 Year Old Man Jailed One Year For Molesting Maid

    A 72-year-old man claimed that he was a doctor and instructed a maid to strip for health examination.

    Chia Fook Kun later molested the 23-year-old maid, who was in his care as she was being investigated for stealing from her previous employer.

    He was given one year in jail on Friday on one count of outrage of modesty, while two other charges were taken into consideration.

    The court heard that Chia works part-time for a maid agency and would send domestic helpers from one location to another. He would also put up maids in his Jalan Minyak flat as and when required. On Nov 13 last year, the victim – who cannot be named because of a gag order – was arrested because she was caught stealing. Her agency had arranged for Chia to bail her out and to take custody of her during investigations.

    The victim later asked Chia to help her as she did not want to go to jail.

    Three days later, Chia lied to the victim that he was a doctor and showed her some photos and certificates on his computer to trick her into believing him.

    After “examining” her with a blood pressure device and a stethoscope, he told her she was in poor health and he wanted to apply some cream on her chest.

    Chia then made her go to the bedroom and remove her shirt and bra, before applying the cream on her breasts. He later unbuttoned her jeans but was interrupted by a phone call. While he was answering the phone, the victim dressed herself and left the room. She later made a police report.

    Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) James Low called for a sentence of a year. He noted that Chia was also convicted of outrage of modesty in 2001 and was jailed for 15 months then. DPP Low added that the victim was vulnerable and Chia took advantage of her fear.

    Another aggravating factor was the “significant degree of deception and premeditation” as Chia claimed he was a doctor and even produced documents to trick the victim though he was not medically trained, said DPP Low. “If not for his age, the prosecution would have sought a stiffer sentence.”

    Chia’s lawyer Louis Joseph said that his client is in poor health and regretted his actions. He asked for a lighter sentence.

    District Judge Liew Thiam Leng sentenced Chia to a year in jail, after considering the two other charges and his previous conviction. Chia asked to defer his sentence for two weeks and the judge raised his bail from $5,000 to $15,000.

    He could have been jailed up to two years and fined.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com