TIMELY FORUM: Shah Kirit Kakulal Govingji (third left) presenting his opening remarks during yesterday’s ‘Soul2Soul 1.0 – Fasting from Youth’s Perspective’ forum. The speakers include (from far left) Ustaz Mohammad Ilyas Mohammad Salleh (UiTM), Balachandran Annamalai (Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Sarawak Branch), Associate Professor Dr Jijar Singh (Sarawak Singh Temple Committee), Brandon Adwien (St Peter’s College, Kuching) and Douglas Tan (Tze Yin Orthodox Buddhist Association). — Photo by Mohd Rais Sanusi KUCHING: The very timely youth forum on why followers of different religions fast proved to be educational, entertaining and unexpectedly moving, thanks to well-selected speakers from five different religious groups. An initiative ...

SIBU: Sibu will play host to the state-level Nuzul Al-Quran celebration to be held at An-Nur mosque here on Aug 5. The annual celebration to celebrate the descent of the holy book is to be organised by the State Islamic Religious Department (Jais) in collaboration with the Sibu Resident’s Office. “The celebration this year is specially for the Sibu people and those living in the surrounding areas,” Jais director Abang Shamsudin Serui told a press conference yesterday. Abang Shamsudin said the celebration would begin with the breaking-of-fast with Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, their wives and other dignitaries. It will be followed by maghrib prayer and a talk related to ‘Nuzul ...

KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is now a life member of the Muslim World League (Rabitah). A membership certificate was presented to him at his office here yesterday by Rabitah director Dr Said Nuwaita Al-Azmi. “Muslim World League is a popular-based Islamic institution having no connections to any government. Rather it is independent and seeks to bring together all forces for good working in the Islamic world,” Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman told the media after the brief presentation ceremony yesterday. He added that membership was given to the chief minister as an honour for his contribution towards the development of Islam and for being president of Regional Islamic Da’wah ...

NEW LANDMARK: Daud (second right) with Shebli (right), Putit (left) and others examine the building plan in front of the complex. KUCHING: The State Islamic Complex at Jalan P Ramlee is expected for completion by October this year. As of yesterday it was 89 per cent complete, said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affair), Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman. Daud said the general structure of the RM100 million building was almost complete with contractors doing the final touchup. “Despite being behind schedule due to several design amendment, we are confident that tenants of the building can occupy it by February next year,” Daud said when met at the construction site yesterday. The delay, he said, had pushed the completion date ...

  Use Internet to spread Islamic teachings — CM by Saiful Bahari, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 9, 2012, Saturday OPENING THE ASSEMBLY: Taib sounds the beduk to officially open the assembly. Seen from left are Hikmah secretary-general Datu Misnu Taha and president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain. KUCHING: Muslims have been called on to use the Internet and social networks to spread Islamic teachings to those interested to learn and embrace the religion. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said conventional methods through books and classes were just theories, while the latest technologies could provide a bigger impact on the learning process. “There are various information sources available through the Internet and ...

KUCHING: Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has announced that all medical graduates from unrecognised overseas universities can now sit for the Medical Qualifying Examination (MQE) at all 16 medical schools in the country. The 16 universities are Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Penang Medical College, International Medical University, AIMST University, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Monash University Sunway Campus, UCSI University, Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Management and Science University. “The graduates previously ...

SARIKEI: This year’s state-level Tilawah Al-Quran competition will be hosted by Sarikei division. According to a statement issued by the organising committee, the competition will be held at the Civic Centre here from May 2 to 5. The committee is scheduled to hold its meeting at the Resident’s Office conference room here this Thursday to finalise preparations and the programme for the four-day competition. Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Abdul Rahman is expected to chair the meeting. (Source: Borneo Post Online, 16 Apr 2012)

SIBU: Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman disagreed that it was difficult and costly to apply for halal certification from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim). He said certain standards set by a local authority and Health Department required food premises to be renovated to have proper tiles and netting for the kitchen to maintain cleanliness. “It is not Jakim and Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) that demand all the renovation. “But in order for the premises to be operational, they must comply with the requirements of the relevant authorities,” he told reporters after he inspected the construction of Sarawak Islamic Complex at Awang Ramli Amit Road here yesterday. He ...

MUKAH: The Sarawak Islamic Council has been tasked to set up a school in Mukah which would not only focus on religious subject but also Science, Mathematics and English. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud announced this in his speech during a thanksgiving gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the elevation of Mukah as a Division, at Setia Raja Mosque here last night. He elaborated that the Laila Taib Foundation would initiate the establishment of the school with RM250,000 contribution. This move is to ensure that Mukah would not be left behind in the endeavour to uplift the socioeconomic status of Mukahans, he explained. In this regard, the Chief Minister advised all strata of society, from the top leadership to the grassroots leaders to constantly interact ...

  MIRI: Some 300 participants are expected to throng Pustaka Miri for the Education Carnival 2011 that is scheduled for Oct 9. The one-day event is jointly organised by Ikram Malaysia (Miri) Education Bureau, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), Baitulmal Sarawak (Miri) and Pustaka Miri. Organising spokesperson said the programmes are designed with parents and children in mind. “The carnival is aimed at identifying  the challenges faced by parents nowadays in bringing up their children as well as the roles parents have in educating their children in accordance with Islamic laws,” she said. She added the event would also provide a venue for parents to discuss suitable ideas on balanced education support system. Various programme ...