Tag: Malaysia

Jackie Chan Conferred Title Of Datuk By Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan surprised many when he turned up to receive his Datukship from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah in conjunction with Federal Territory Day.

When the name Chan Song Kang was announced, many among the audience and recipients were startled to see the star, who was seated in front, beside popular preacher Ustaz Kazim Elias, walk up to the dais to meet the King.

The 60-year-old actor-director’s birth name is actually Chan Kong-sang while his stage name is Seng Lung (Cantonese) or Chen Long (Mandarin).

Some of the surprised guests were heard murmuring: “Is that Jackie Chan?”

Chan did not turn up for the rehearsal of the investiture ceremony on Saturday.

After receiving his award, Chan, who was smartly attired in a songkok and black suit and wearing black-rimmed glasses, walked back to his seat before he was whisked away by a palace official after a while.

A smiling Chan later posed for pictures on the palace stairs with his award.

He also took pictures with several people, including Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin who uploaded the shot on his Twitter account.

Chan, who is known for movies such as Rush Hour, Police Story and Drunken Master in a remarkable career spanning five decades, was among the 68 recipients who were conferred the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah, which carries the title Datuk.

In his Twitter account, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Chan was an actor with many fans in the country and “can promote Malaysia especially Kuala Lumpur and is deserving (of the award)”.

“We should be proud that he received the Datuk award,” he wrote, posting pictures of Chan filming Police Story in Kuala Lumpur.

Adnan also thanked Chan for receiving the award, writing “don’t forget Kuala Lumpur”.

Source: www.thestar.com.my

February 2, 2015
MH370 Disappearance Declared An Accident By Malaysian Authorities

Malaysia has declared Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 an “accident”, meaning all 239 on board the ill-fated aircraft are presumed dead, but insisted the search for the plane last seen on March 8 last year “remains a priority”.

Nearly 11 months and up to S$130 million were spent on an unsuccessful search for the plane which mysteriously disappeared without a trace enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Malaysia’s civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said that after 327 days “and based on all available data”, “survivability is highly unlikely” for those on the plane that is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia.

The area is far from any landing site and has “adverse sea conditions with known depths of more than 6,000 metres,” he said.

“It is therefore with heaviest heart and deepest sorrow, that on behalf of the government of Malaysia, we officially declare MH370 an accident in accordance with standards… and that all 239 of the passengers and crew onboard MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives,” the Department of Civil Aviation director general said in a pre-recorded statement broadcast live on national television at 6pm.

Mr Azharuddin added that the search for the Boeing 777 remains a priority for the government but today’s announcement means the process of compensation “whether it is pursued through consultation or through litigation” can begin.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday also called on “the Malaysian side” to fully investigate and settle claims with passengers over a missing Malaysia Airlines jet, Reuters reported. Mr Li made the remarks to reporters, according to a statement on the government’s website.

Australia is leading the efforts to locate debris of MH370 in some of the remotest and deepest parts of the Indian Ocean in the world’s longest search for a jet in modern aviation era.

The aircraft’s disappearance on March 8, 2014, on a routine flight to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur has puzzled authorities as no distress signal came from the Boeing 777-200 plane before it went off radar screens.

Malaysia’s government and the ailing national flag carrier – which also saw a flight on its way home from Amsterdam being shot down over Ukraine on July 17, 2014 – were widely criticised for a disorganised and secretive response to MH370’s disappearance, especially from Chinese citizens, whose countrymen made up the bulk of those onboard.

A press conference was scheduled earlier in the evening but relatives of those lost had turned up unannounced, forcing authorities to cancel the event as “it was not appropriate to continue”, the department said in a statement, adding that separate arrangements had been made to brief the next-of-kin.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

January 30, 2015
Muslim Groups In Malaysia Say No To Hooters

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 ― Several Muslim groups here have vowed to foil any attempt by Hooters to open an outlet in Malaysia, accusing the American restaurant chain of an “evil” ploy to create discord and destroy the conservative local culture.

The groups said, however, that they were confident that Hooters would likely never open its doors in Malaysia due to strict regulation here against obscene entertainment.

“This is a step that can bring chaos to the country’s harmony. It is meant to create a continuous clash,” Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, president of Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), told Malay Mail Online in a text message.

“I believe there is an evil hand behind the move. They are deliberately trying to stir anger,” he added referring to Hooters, and urged the authorities to act swiftly on the matter.

Abdullah predicted that should Hooters formally attempt to open a Malaysian outlet, Muslims who protest the move would inevitably be labelled fanatics and extremists.

Echoing the sentiment, Pembela chairman Mohamed Hafiz Mohd Nordin said “crazy people” were behind Hooters’ expansion plan.

“This is the work of ‘crazy people’… Hooters will become ‘haunted’ if they try to plant roots in this Muslim country… Don’t ever dream about it!!” he told Malay Mail Online.

The Pembela chairman did not explain what he meant by “haunted”, however, though he later said that he was merely being sarcastic.

Malay Mail Online reported yesterday plans by Hooters of America LLC to open up 30 outlets over the next six years in Southeast Asian locations like Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The move, according to the firm’s statement on Business Wire, is part of Hooters’ development agreement with international franchisee Destination Resorts Co Ltd.

Hooters’ first foray into Asia was in Singapore in December 1996.

Weighing in on the news, Datuk Nadzim Johan of Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) labelled the plan “illogical” due to the sexual nature of Hooters’ dining concept.

“Their plan does not gel, because we have moral guidelines… We will hold demonstrations in front of the outlet,” he added, when asked of PPIM’s plan should an outlet opens.

“I am confident that the government will not allow Hooters in Malaysia… We are strongly against its existence in Malaysia and will act strictly if there are parties working towards it,” said Mohamed Hafiz.

The Hooters name is a double entendre that refers to women’s breasts, as well as the company’s logo of an owl, a bird known for making “hooting” sounds.

Its wait staff, who are primarily young, voluptuous girls in revealing outfits, are referred to as “Hooter girls”.

The restaurant serves typical all-American grub including hamburgers, steaks, sandwiches, seafood platters and a variety of appetisers, and is famous for its specialty, the “Hooters buffalo-style chicken wings”.

According to the restaurant’s website, the chain currently has 430 outlets in 28 countries. Almost all Hooters restaurants have alcoholic beverage licenses.

In January last year, several leaders in Muslim-majority Malaysia lodged protests over reports that world-famous Hard Rock Cafe was planning to open an outlet in Putrajaya, the country’s administrative capital.

Responding to objections by Malay-rights group Perkasa, authorities here said should the franchise, which is known as a live music venue that serves alcohol, ever open its doors in Putrajaya, it would have to abide by regulations set by the local council .

The council’s guidelines includes, among others, a ban on the sale of alcohol and obscene entertainment.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

January 25, 2015
Chinese Nationals Using Malaysia As Transit Point To Join Islamic State

PUTRAJAYA — More than 300 Chinese nationals have used Malaysia as a transit point on their way to join the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria and Iraq, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed today.

They had moved on to a third country from Malaysia prior to entering Syria and Iraq, he said, adding that this was disclosed to him by China’s Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei at a meeting at his office here today.

Ahmad Zahid said Kuala Lumpur and Beijing viewed seriously this security threat and were committed to curbing it in a more comprehensive manner.

“Although there exists an arrangement between Malaysia and China to combat terrorism through counter-terrorism measures, this problem is serious.

“This is because ties exist at the international level between terrorists in China and those in other countries in the Southeast Asian region,” he told reporters after Meng had called on him.

Asked about the possibility of these Chinese nationals having ties with Malaysians, Ahmad Zahid said no information had been received on that.

On another matter, the minister said there had been no proposal or discussion yet on the issuing of visas free to tourists from other countries besides China.

When announcing measures to strengthen Malaysia’s economic resilience yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said visas would be issued free to tourists, including from China.

Ahmad Zahid said tourists from China visiting Malaysia still had to apply for a visa but they were exempted from having to pay the fee of 80 yuan (RM46.45).

He said the Cabinet decided that an official announcement on the free-visa measure would be made after all rules and conditions had been refined by the Malaysian Immigration Department.

“We will make an official announcement at the Malaysian embassy and consulates general in China,” he said.

Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

January 22, 2015
Malaysia’s Catholic Church Loses Final Bid To Use “Allah” In Its Publication

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Catholic Church yesterday lost its final bid to be allowed to use the word “Allah” in its weekly newspaper printed in Bahasa Malaysia, drawing to a close a five-year battle.

With no more legal avenues to pursue for the right to use the word “Allah” in the weekly Herald, its editor, Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew, expressed disappointment that the Federal Court’s dismissal of the appeal would further undermine the rights of minorities.

Rev Andrew said it was an important constitutional case on the right to profess one’s faith and said he hoped that the rights of minorities, including the poor and the underprivileged, would not be trampled upon.

However, the Malay rights group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) said the Catholic Church should lay down arms and accept defeat as it lauded the Federal Court’s decision.

Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman lauded the Federal Court’s decision, saying it was in accordance with the Federal Constitution and was made to preserve national harmony in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

“The ‘Allah’ polemic should end now with the court’s ruling. I hope the church abides by the decision for the sake of the country’s harmony,” he said. “Stubbornness will not benefit anyone,” Mr Abdullah said, adding that any failure by the church to accept the court’s decision would result in prolonging the standoff between Christians and Muslims in Malaysia over use of the Arabic word.

“We will continue to be in crisis if we do not accept the decision from the country’s judiciary,” the Isma leader added.

During the case, however, Rev Andrew was asked if allowing the use of the word would “open up old wounds and cause public unrest”.

He said he did not understand how trouble could arise as “Allah” had been used for a long time by Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Christians.

“Malay has been the language in the church in Malaya for centuries and I have shown evidence than BM was already a language of worship for hundreds of years in devotional booklets. And during this period, there was no trouble whatsoever, so I don’t see an possibility of evoking trouble,” the priest said.

Despite appearing to be at the end of the road, the church’s lead counsel, Dr Cyrus Das, said the issue was not necessarily over.

It could be raised through other cases, Dr Das said, adding that the matter of constitutional rights of minorities could still be taken up. The merits of the church’s case in the dispute over the use of the word “Allah” need to be raised in the courts in other cases on the same topic, especially on the Home Minister’s powers to ban words and the scope of prohibitions. “There are other constitutional issues that have not been addressed and this can be taken up in other cases,” he said.

Mr Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, president of the Muslim Lawyers Association, appeared to agree.

“Muslims are unhappy because the word ‘Allah’ was used to refer to a non-Muslim God, but it is not a blanket ruling that non-Muslims cannot use the word,” he added.

MCA politician Gan Peng Sieu, who is also a lawyer, described the Federal Court’s decision as a great injustice.

“The Federal Court is skirting away from answering constitutional issues which are left hanging. The people were expecting the Federal Court to do more as this is beyond politics. The duty of the Federal Court is to preserve and defend the Federal Constitution and the current state of the ‘Allah’ issue will not do any good for the country,” said Mr Gan, whose party, MCA, is a component member of the ruling Barisan Nasional government.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 22, 2015