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  • Condom-Maker Set To Launch Limited-Edition Nasi Lemak-Flavoured Condom Aimed At Local Malaysian Market

    Condom-Maker Set To Launch Limited-Edition Nasi Lemak-Flavoured Condom Aimed At Local Malaysian Market

    Goh Miah Kiat is the CEO of the world’s biggest condom-maker which churned out approximately 15% of the world market last year, but despite his international success, Malaysian interests still play a big role in his business.

    “The next thing I am trying to work out is a nasi lemak-flavoured condom.

    “In Malaysia, the first thing we wake up in the morning, we talk about our nasi lemak. So I suppose it is something that will unite us all,” he said in a recent interview with Channel NewsAsia.

    “We Malaysians are divided across our political ideas, religion and race,” Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat told AFP from his office in Port Klang, outside the capital Kuala Lumpur.

    “I felt one thing that unites us all (is), ‘Where’s the best nasi lemak place you’ve been?’” Malaysia has been beset over the years by tensions between its Muslim Malay majority and its substantial ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, with critics accusing the government of introducing policies that favour the Malays.

    Karex – which sells condoms under the brand name Carex – spent six months carrying out tests before coming up with its nasi lemak prophylactic, which smells faintly of coconut and is coated with a warming lubricant.

    The company is working on packaging and the limited-edition condom should hit shops in November or December.

    Mr Goh insisted the range of wacky condoms were more than just a marketing gimmick, and were about trying to encourage contraceptive use in the Muslim-majority country.

    “For me, it’s about public health, and I want to get the message across to people,” Mr Goh said.

    Conservative attitudes are still common in parts of Malaysia and some people frown on the use of contraceptives in the belief they encourage pre-marital sex.

     

    Source: freemalaysiatoday/ST/AFP

  • DPM Teo: Important For Chinese Community To Supports These Provisions, So That Minority Communities Always Feel Assured..

    DPM Teo: Important For Chinese Community To Supports These Provisions, So That Minority Communities Always Feel Assured..

    Singaporeans have questioned the need for the reserved election, as well as for the group representation constituencies (GRCs) and ethnic integration rules in Housing Board estates, since the country already enjoys racial and religious peace and harmony.

    But the reason Singapore enjoys such harmony “is because we have been far-sighted enough to put in place these provisions”, said DPM Teo at the 100th anniversary dinner of Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple in Paya Lebar.

    He added: “It is particularly important that the Chinese community supports these provisions, so that our minority communities will always feel assured.”

    In 1988, the GRC system was introduced to ensure Parliament will always have minority MPs. A year later, the Government put in place the Ethnic Integration Policy which mandates a quota for all communities in HDB estates, to prevent racial enclaves from forming.

    Most recently, changes were made to the Constitution to reserve presidential elections for a racial group not represented for five continuous terms.

    In making the various changes, DPM Teo said, Singapore has avoided situations in which HDB estates are segregated by race, or where minority communities worry about representation in Parliament or the presidency.

    “These provisions have helped us achieve the precious harmony that we have.

    “We all hope that one day we will not need them,” he added.

    But not right now, he indicated.

    “In the face of growing racial and religious strife in our region and the world, it is wiser to have these provisions in place to maintain our harmony,” he said, reiterating a point he spoke about earlier in the day at the National Security Conference.

    DPM Teo urged Singaporeans from all communities to give their support to Madam Halimah Yacob, Singapore’s first Malay President in 47 years since President Yusof Ishak, who died in office in 1970.

    She was declared President in a walkover in the country’s first reserved election this month.

    DPM Teo noted that Madam Halimah was a strong unifying figure. “All communities have supported her nomination. Let us give her our full support.”

    He said Singapore’s pioneer leaders had laid the foundation for promoting racial harmony and urged all Singaporeans to continue with the work.

    “We must continue to reach out to each other, adopt inclusive practices and social norms that allow all Singaporeans to interact freely, and enlarge our common space,” he said.

     

    Source: http://www.tnp.sg

  • Sultan Johor Response To Muar’s Muslim-Only Laundrette: ‘Nonsense, This Is Not A Taliban State’

    Sultan Johor Response To Muar’s Muslim-Only Laundrette: ‘Nonsense, This Is Not A Taliban State’

    Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has ordered the Muslim-only laundrette in Muar to stop its controversial policy or risk being shut down.

    “I cannot accept this nonsense. This is Johor, which belongs to Bangsa Johor and it belongs to all races and faiths. This is a progressive, modern and moderate state.

    “This is not a Taliban state and as the head of Islam in Johor, I find this action to be totally unacceptable as this is extremist in nature,” the visibly upset Johor ruler said, as quoted by The Star.

    He has since ordered the state Islamic religious affairs committee chairperson Abdul Mutalip Abd Rahim, the religious council and the district council to investigate the matter.

    The ruler also confirmed that he had spoken to the state’s mufti, Mohd Tahrir Samsudin, as well as state executive councillor for religion Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim over the matter.

    “I want the owner to apologise to me and the people of Johor. He has made Johoreans very angry and embarrassed because this is not the Johor we want.

    “The owner has gone against the vision of a united, harmonious, moderate and tolerant Johor. If he still insists on carrying on the Muslim-only practice, he can leave Johor.

    “I suggest he set up shop in Afghanistan. His thinking is sick and goes against everything that Johor stands for.”

    Confirming that he and his family members were “deeply appalled” by the action of the laundrette owner, the Johor ruler said it would lead to more narrow-minded actions in the name of Islam if such actions were not stopped.

    On the owner who, in the wake of the controversy, has since put up a new sign to say it was “Muslim-friendly”, the sultan said: “Don’t try to be clever. It’s still the same. The owner needs to have his brains cleaned up.

    “I want to put a stop to such extremism. Extremism has no place in my state. We take pride in being Bangsa Johor and I want to know where the owner of this launderette learn his Islam?

    “Islam teaches the faithful to be tolerant and respect other people and faiths,” he said at Istana Bukit Serene yesterday.

    Pointing out how mosques in Johor were open to non-Muslims as long as they were properly dressed, the sultan said he could not imagine non-Muslims being banned from entering mosques, saying he was concerned over rising religious extremism.

    “I wonder where this launderette owner washes his clothes when he is overseas? Is he saying only the clothes of Muslims are clean and those of non-Muslims are unclean? That’s what he means, I believe.

    “From now on, I am directing the state executive council and all the councils to insist that any business owners who carry out such blatant discriminatory practices should have their licences revoked. Don’t mess around with your narrow-minded religious prejudices.”

    He said he could not keep quiet on the issue, as if this was allowed to go unnoticed, “then next we will have taxis for only Muslims or non-Muslims”.

    He added that he also did not want other races to carry out similar actions.

    Pictures of the Muar laundrette went viral last week, when it was reported that a sign on the premises reminded customers that only Muslims were allowed to use its laundry machines.

    Johor prince Tunku Idris Sultan Ibrahim had expressed shock over the laundrette’s policy while several others, including Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and prominent banker Nazir Razak, criticised the move.

    The operator of the laundrette, however, denied being a racist and insisted that he only wants to ensure that cleanliness be maintained at all times

     

    Source: www.malaysiakini.com

  • Commentary: Are Authorities Taking The ‘Mystery Smell Haze’ Incident Seriously With Terror Attacks Rampant Around The World?

    Commentary: Are Authorities Taking The ‘Mystery Smell Haze’ Incident Seriously With Terror Attacks Rampant Around The World?

    It was disappointing to hear the authorities here say that they were not able to establish what the mystery smell, which was detected in several parts of Singapore on Monday.

    Singaporeans were left to speculate as to where it might have originated from.

    The noxious “vapour cloud” was widespread, observable to the naked eye, persistent and, reportedly, carried slowly across the island without significant dissipation in strength or coverage.

    Breathing in the polluted air produced discomfort, including dryness in the throat, eye irritation and headache. I can personally attest to this.

    Many others must share my disappointment that the teams sent by the Singapore Civil Defence Force to investigate could only declare that they “have not detected the presence of toxic industrial chemicals in the air”.

    National Environment Agency officers presumably found nothing either, given the agency’s statement that “air quality levels during the period were found to be well within safety limits”.

    This is despite thousands of people seeing the smoke, being adversely affected and becoming more than a little alarmed.

    Something is wrong either with our senses or the agencies’ test equipment and investigation protocols.

    Surely, with all the talk on terror attacks, incidents like this should be viewed more seriously.

     

    Source: Chia Ping Kheong (http://www.straitstimes.com)

  • Muslim Man Faced Fine By Kelantan Religious Authorities For Wearing Shorts (Exposing Knees) To Play Futsal

    Muslim Man Faced Fine By Kelantan Religious Authorities For Wearing Shorts (Exposing Knees) To Play Futsal

    Wan Khairul Hayyee Wali, 30, said he had no idea that he could not even wear shorts to play futsal.

    He said he has been wearing shorts to play futsal for many years, ever since he was in school.

    “Therefore it came as a shock to me when a religious department enforcement officer gave me a notice saying I have flouted the Syariah Criminal Enactment for exposing my knees,” he said.

    “Seriously, they can’t expect me to wear a sarong to play futsal,” added Wan Khairul, a general worker at a wholesale store.

    Khairul was slapped with the notice at 10.45pm on Monday.

    He was ordered to attend a counselling session next month, failing which he would be called to appear before the Syariah court where he risks being fined RM1,000 if found guilty.

    Khairul had tried explaining to the officer that he was on his way to play futsal and that he had got down from his car for a short while to buy a burger for his wife.

    “If I did not stop to buy a burger, I would never have known that it is an offence to wear shorts even when we are on the way to play sports,” he said.

    Khairul said he would attend the counselling session.

    “If it is an offence, they have to make it clear to the public. How are we supposed to know that it is an offence because even football players wear shorts,” he said.

    A Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department officer said the dress code was strictly applicable to Muslims only.

    “We do not take action against non-Muslims. We do not even take action if a female non-Muslim wears shorts in public,” said the officer.

    The officer also said Wan Khairul would not have to pay any fines if he attended the counseling session.

    “We just want Muslims to dress decently when in public spaces, in keeping with our religious teachings,” said the officer.

     

    Source: http://www.thestar.com.my