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  • Halal Subway Outlets In The UK Are ‘Way Ahead’ Of Singapore By 10,000 Years

    Halal Subway Outlets In The UK Are ‘Way Ahead’ Of Singapore By 10,000 Years

    Not trying to “potong stim” here but the UK has Halal Subway since long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, time ago already.

    “The HalalNews SG understands that the Subway delegation has held a formal meeting with MUIS officials at the end of 2017 to explain and clarify the aspirations and efforts they have made to meet all Halal MUIS certification requirements for all Subway branches in Singapore.”

    This piece of news has been well received by the Muslim community in Singapore as previous attempts by the Singapore’s Muslim community to seek Subway’s consideration in making its stores Halal have failed

    There was a petition titled “Make Subway Singapore Halal” by Shaik Syasya made about 2 years ago which garnered 130 signatures. “I love eating sandwiches esp subway. Its a hassle to commute to Johor just when u crave for Subway. So please make Subway Singapore halal,” someone said.

    However it is not known why Subway Singapore took so long to start halal-certifying its stores. In United Kingdom (UK) where only 5.4% of its population is made up of Muslims (compared to Singapore’s 14.3% Muslim population), there’s about 10% of Subway outlets in the UK that are halal (202 out of 2000 Subway stores across UK). All Halal meats catered to Subway in the UK was certified by The Islamic Foundation of Ireland and surprisingly, the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand.

    In 2010, Subway Singapore replied to its customers on Facebook:

    “Dear fans,

    We would love to be able to go Halal and we have looked into it very seriously. As we grow, more and more of our suppliers are giving us Halal options but unfortunately not all of them. To go Halal would increase our operational costs significantly as we will not be able to participate in SUBWAY restaurants’ huge global supply chain. And we do not want to hurt any of our customers by increasing prices. We know many of our competitors are Halal, but our menu is a lot more diversified with a lot more ingredients making the shift a more difficult task. So – we hear you. We’ll keep working on it and will review the situation periodically, and hopefully be able to satisfy all our customers eventually.

    Subway Team”

    Then again, there are currently around 2,000 Subway stores in the UK and Ireland, 202 of which are Halal stores selling only certified Halal meats. To be fair, the meats served at halal Subway stores have been produced to meet Subway stores high standards in taste, look and quality. The objective was to ensure the taste of the Halal products matched the taste of the Subway stores “Gold Standard” meats.

    So why have Singaporeans been deprived of Halal Subway stores and who should the good people put the blame on? Consider the following:

    1) Subway Singapore giving lame excuses. 2) Inaction of local Muslim body MUIS. 3) Bad luck Singapore.

     

    Rilek1Corner

  • YouTube Star Hirzi Zulkiflie And First Ever Pink Dot Muslim Ambassador Takes A Bow

    YouTube Star Hirzi Zulkiflie And First Ever Pink Dot Muslim Ambassador Takes A Bow

    In a few hours, comedy duo Munah & Hirzi will stage a farewell show at the Capitol Theatre, dubbed “Munah & Hirzi Live: Curtain Call”. The one night only, two-hour show –in their own words– celebrates “the end of an era”. The twosome has always said that they would leave the scene after 10 years.

    Amidst his busy schedule in preparation for the show, Hirzi Zulkiflie visited the ZYRUP office for this interview, which, more than anything, turned out to be an hour-long career retrospective.

    It all started in 2007, where the then-polytechnic friends paired up and participated in a video competition. Thankfully, it wasn’t a one-off partnership. Recognizing the potential they possessed, the pair continued to make regular videos (“with our bags as tripods!”) on YouTube under the mantle “Munah & Hirzi”.

    “When we were ending [our time in polytechnic], one of my biggest worries was that I was going to end this ‘era’ with her. The YouTube channel became something to sort of ‘sustain’ that friendship.”

    “There’s something honest and earnest [about the early days] that I miss a lot,” he added.

    “It was beautiful. It was just us. We had no pressure, no qualms. I think that was the magic of ‘Munah & Hirzi’. It was just two friends who captured themselves in the most honest and raw form; no filters.”

    It was this authentic, organic brand of content that allowed the pair to connect with viewers online, and as the years went by, they garnered thousands of fans not just in Singapore, but also across the causeway, striking a chord with the Malay-speaking audience.

    By 2012, which he refers to as their “peak year”, they had their own talk-show (Munah & Hirzi: Action!) that was broadcasted on national television, as well as starring in comedy production Happy Ever Laughter, alongside veterans like Gurmit Singh and Kumar.

    Meanwhile, their YouTube channel, with music video parodies and the now-iconic series like ‘10 Dares’ and ‘Sex Appeal and Jokes’, catapulted them to top status among YouTubers. Fan-favourite characters played by Hirzi, like Leticiacia and Corporal Hassan, also featured prominently in their videos. No other YouTuber balanced slapstick humour and social issues like they did.

    The immense growth meant reaching a wider audience – and not everyone approved.

    “Some in the Malay community were up in arms against us having our own TV show,” he explained.

    “The conservative Malays felt that ‘Munah and Hirzi’ [do not] deserve their own show because they were not exemplary to Malay millennials, and by that virtue, they should never, ever get [access to] all these platforms and exposure.”

    “[But] we knew who were our die-hards. And we knew that was the direction we needed to go. We knew who were our detractors too,” he added.

    “The challenge was to bridge these voices together, or to consistently progress the Malay community towards the concept of pluralism, which is something that is so hard to impart onto our society.”

    However, it was when the duo decided to take on the roles as ambassadors for 2015’s Pink Dot event that proved to be the hardest thing they would have to go through.

    They were the first ever Muslim ambassadors of the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) event.

    “When Pink Dot happened, even our tribe had to be divided. Here were our die-hards, conflicted between religious convictions and a fanbase connection they had with us.”

    Following the announcement of their ambassadorship, they received a slew of online attacks, and advertisers shunned them.

    However, Hirzi admitted that it was the reaction from family members was the “hardest thing” to deal with.

    Devastated from the backlash they received, the two would meet in Munah’s car every night for a month, crying, with only each other to lean on.

    “We didn’t realize how big of a news it would be. It was hard for us.”

    “I feel bad that I put Munah through it. All she did was stand up for something she believed in, and what her best friend told her should be done. I have never seen her break down. By then I’ve known her for 9 years – never have I seen her like that, so broken.”

    I note that he must have at least been aware of the kind of responses they would receive by taking on the roles, even if he was not able to grasp the magnitude of the situation. Why then, still take the risk?

    He took a moment to collect his thoughts.

    “Until today, I remember this story. Until today, I remember their faces. I still get goosebumps telling this story.”

    It was at the 2015 YouTube FanFest meet and greet session. With some time to spare, the pair opened the floor to fans. While he expected silly, light-hearted banter, things took a surprising, sombre turn.

    A 14-year-old Muslim girl had come forward, and asked him how she would be able to overcome her self-mutilation. The girl revealed that she was conflicted with who she was – on one hand, having an attraction to other girls, and on the other, trying to be an exemplary Muslim girl she was raised to be.

    “I said to her: ‘For legal reasons, I cannot give you the answer I want to give you. But my best answer to you is to find a support system.’”

    “Surprisingly, it was such heavy topic, but the kids in the room were all singular in their thoughts. There was no judgement.”

    One by one, other kids in the room started coming out with their issues and problems. It was then that Hirzi realized the impact that the characters he played had on the viewers, beyond being mere entertaining caricatures.

    “I didn’t see that what these kids saw was, for the first time, a physical embodiment of gender questioning characters. You see, I had Kumar. You know of Kumar if you’re an adult. But I guess for the kids, to be on YouTube, I was a role-model for them.”

    He recalled another incident where a stranger splashed coffee on him on Orchard Road following the news of his Pink Dot ambassadorship. Furious, he posted what had happened on his personal Facebook account, which in turn attracted the attention of his journalist friends.

    “[The press] wanted to ride on that story, but [I realized] this is not a time about me,” he said.

    “My participation in Pink Dot was for the kids who were waiting for a Malay voice. [Having the story released back then] would feel like one step forward, five steps back.”

    In a few hours, Hirzi will revisit said “gender questioning characters” for one last time. While fans can expect their signature no holds barred brand of comedy, it won’t be a surprise to find the show tackling or making nods at deep-seated issues as well.

    As the characters who we’ve grown up with over the past decade take a final bow, they leave behind a legacy that Hirzi hopes will inspire the next generation to further progress the conversation.

    “What we hope will start after we step down is that others step up to the plate.”

    Credit: Zyrup

     

    Rilek1Corner

  • Interview With A Malay Singaporean Who Moved To Brunei And Is Not Coming Back

    Interview With A Malay Singaporean Who Moved To Brunei And Is Not Coming Back

    What do you think of this?

    ***

    “My name is J. I’m 55 years old now. I’m not highly educated but only managed to complete GCE ‘O’ Level with 3 credits. Started working at the age of 18 in a big and rich company in Singapore. I studied bookkeeping and accounting while working and managed to work in the Accounts Dept in this company for 16 years and earned quite good salary.

    I am now living in Brunei Darussalam with my wife. Brunei is a peaceful country governed by a caring King, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the people of Brunei are very nice. Its a little bit back dated though, with kampong style of environment.

    There’s not much adjustment actually because the people in Brunei are just like the people in Singapore. The main occupants are Malays and Chinese and there are other immigrants like the Indian, Indonesian and Filipino. I can say there’s less stress in Brunei.

    My wife and I loved staying here so much. We intend to stay here permanently. By living abroad we learned to appreciate other peoples’ customs, beliefs and practices. We have no difficulties finding job here because I set up a company and employs the locals. We move out of Singapore to find a cheaper place to stay. Living in Singapore is very expensive, with new rules in every now and then, especially that CPF thing.

    For those who want to migrate, please do a study in every aspect. Even if you hate Singapore, please do not give up your citizenship easily. Think over and over again. Be a PR is just as good. So if have any problem at least you can turn back to be “mama” son.”

    Source: FB

     

    Rilek1Corner

  • Anak Melayu Hanyut Bila Tinggal Luar Negara, Kahwin Sesama Jenis. Astaghfirullahalazim..

    Anak Melayu Hanyut Bila Tinggal Luar Negara, Kahwin Sesama Jenis. Astaghfirullahalazim..

    Namaknya masyarakat dunia seakan berlumba-lumba ingin ‘menghalalkan’ perkahwinan sesama jenis sama ada membabitkan golongan lesbian, gay biseksual dan trasgender (LGBT).

    Namun apa yang lebih mengejutkan apabila salah satu daripada perkhawinan LGBT ini turut ‘disertai’ oleh seorang pemuda Melayu dari Malaysia.

    Terbaharu, seorang pengguna Twitter berkongsikan beberapa keping gambar memaparkan seorang jejaka dari Malaysia yang dikenali sebagai Afham Janil, menikahi seorang lelaki warga asing yang mana ia disertakan dengan kapsyen berbunyi;

    “Buat teladang masing-masing jelah eh, Anak Melayu ni bro, tapi last-last hanyut bila dah stay oversea. Sayang betul,” tulis pengguna akaun @mirulhafez pada Rabu.

    Gambar perkongsian itu memaparkan Afham yang dahulunya merupakan seorang yang agak berakhlak dan beragama namun kini berubah 360 darjah menjadi seorang pengamal budaya songsang.

    Malah, entry berkenaan turut mengundang pelbagai reaksi negatif masyarakat sehingga menerima kicauan semula hampir 9,000 kali.

    Sementara itu memetik portal Northen Territoru News, pasangan terbabit, Afham Janil dan Keith Edwards dilaporkan sebagai pasangan pertama meraikan perkahwinan LGBT di Australia.

    Pasangan sejenis itu dilapor melangsungkan majlis mereka pada Isnin(15 Januari 2018) di Darwin dengan bertemakan ala ‘Cowboy’  menggenakan sut lengkap seperti topi dan boot hitam.

    Perkahwinan mereka turut dikatakan berjalan lancar kerana Australia merupakan negara yang membenarkan perkahwinan sejenis, malah majlis berkenaan turut dihadiri beberapa kenalan terdekat mereka.

    “Masyarakat tidak memandang negatif terhadap kami walaupun kami berpegangan tangan, berpelukan,” kata Keith Edward seperti yang dipetik portal berkenaan.

    Sementara itu, seorang penggguna Twitter yang menggunakan akaun nama @ikaz_maza turut mendakwa mengenali Afham dan dia merupakan jirannya di Malaysia.

    Bagaimanapun Afham menurutnya sudah memutuskan hubungan secara maya dengan rakan dan kenalan-kenalannya di laman Facebook.

    “Yep, serius. Baru berjiran setahun lebih dengan dia. Memang kenal dan perkara ini menjadi gempar di taman (perumahan) semalam.

    “Tak tahu apa yang terjadi, lagipun dia (Afham) masih di sana. Tetapi semua orang taman dah kena unfriend di Facebook,” kata @Ikaz_maza.

    Dalam pada itu, usaha untuk menjejak media sosial milik Afham gagal kerana pemuda itu telah menyahaktifkan kesemua akaun media sosial miliknya.

     

    Rilek1Corner

  • Not Welcomed, U.N. Investigator To Assess Human Rights Across Myanmar Barred Before Visit

    Not Welcomed, U.N. Investigator To Assess Human Rights Across Myanmar Barred Before Visit

    GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. independent investigator into human rights in Myanmar called on Wednesday for stronger international pressure to be exerted on Myanmar’s military commanders after being barred from visiting the country for the rest of her tenure.

    Yanghee Lee, U.N. special rapporteur, had been due to visit in January to assess human rights across Myanmar, including alleged abuses against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.

    But Myanmar had told her she was no longer welcome, she said, adding in a statement that this suggested something “terribly awful” was happening in the country.

    “From what I see right now I’m not sure if they are feeling pressured. I’m not sure if there is the right kind of pressure placed on the military commanders and the generals,” she later told Reuters by phone from Seoul.

    She said it was alarming that Myanmar was strongly supported by China, which has a veto at the U.N.’s top table in New York. Other countries including the United States and human groups were advocating targeted sanctions on the military, she said.

    “It has to work. And I’m sure the world has to find a way to make it work. And I think the United Nations and its member states should really try to persuade China to really act towards the protection of human rights,” she said.

    More than 650,000 Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when attacks by Muslim insurgents on the Myanmar security forces triggered a response by the army and Buddhist vigilantes.

    Surveys of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh by aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres have shown at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine state in the month after violence flared up on Aug 25, MSF said last week.

    The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra‘ad al-Hussein has called the violence “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing” and said he would not be surprised if a court eventually ruled that genocide had taken place.

    Lee had planned to use her visit to find out procedures for the return of Rohingya refugees, and to investigate increased fighting in the Kachin and northern Shan areas of Myanmar.

    Lee, in an earlier statement, said Myanmar’s refusal to cooperate with her was a strong indication that there must be “something terribly awful happening” throughout the country, although the government had repeatedly denied any violations of human rights.

    “They have said that they have nothing to hide, but their lack of cooperation with my mandate and the fact-finding mission suggests otherwise,” she said.

    She was “puzzled and disappointed”, since Myanmar’s Ambassador in Geneva Htin Lynn had told the U.N. Human Rights Council only two weeks ago that it would continue to cooperate.

    “Now I am being told that this decision to no longer cooperate with me is based on the statement I made after I visited the country in July,” she said.

    Lynn did not respond to a request for comment. Neither Zaw Htay, spokesman for Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, nor Kyaw Moe Tun, a spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs that Suu Kyi heads, were immediately available.

     

    Source: uk.reuters.com