Tabung Haji honours 385 Sahabat Maktab volunteers
MAKKAH: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has extended its appreciation to the 385 Sahabat Maktab volunteers, for their dedicated service in assisting 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims, during the 1446H/2025M haj season.
Comprising Malaysian pilgrims from seven residential buildings or maktabs, the volunteers were honoured at a ceremony held at TH's headquarters at the Abraj Janadriyah Hotel, here, today.
Head of the Haj Delegation Mohd Hisham Harun, said that TH deeply appreciated the contributions of the Sahabat Maktab volunteers, who came from diverse backgrounds, in supporting the work of approximately 632 TH personnel to ensure the smooth implementation of haj operations for Malaysian pilgrims, especially during the critical Masyair phase.
'The service and dedication shown by Sahabat Maktab volunteers are deeply meaningful to Tabung Haji, as they are closer to the pilgrims and better understand their needs and aspirations.
'Today, we honour and appreciate their sacrifices. TH is truly proud and thankful for their sincere contributions throughout this haj season,' he told reporters, here, today.
Established in 2006, the Sahabat Maktab is divided into three categories - Sahabat Ibadat TH, Sahabat Medik TH, and Sahabat TH - and provides a platform for skilled pilgrims to assist fellow Malaysians, in need of support during haj pilgrimage season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
![NGO duo guide fathers toward more engaged parenting [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2F14nt10imat_1749952920.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![NGO duo guide fathers toward more engaged parenting [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
39 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
NGO duo guide fathers toward more engaged parenting [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Fatherhood can be a daunting journey, especially without guidance. But two men are working to change that by providing crucial support for struggling fathers, helping them thrive in their roles. Jason Leong and Joshua Hong, chairmen and co-founders of Better Dads Malaysia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering fathers, described their mission not as a "men's club", but as a national movement. "It's a national movement because we want to shift the narrative of men becoming more responsible fathers in our society. "And since many don't know where to begin, we provide modules and workshops to help guide them," Leong said. As fathers themselves, Leong and Hong realised the glaring lack of resources available for men navigating the responsibilities of fatherhood. "I started working with Jason after uncovering data about paternal absence while I was a youth worker. "I believe most fathers love their families. But many don't realise how important their presence truly is," Hong said. Since launching Better Dads Malaysia six years ago on International Men's Day (Nov 19), the duo had identified deep-rooted stereotypes in Asian culture that view fathers primarily as breadwinners and disciplinarians. "Many fathers can be physically present but emotionally absent at home. "Which is why a father's presence is equally important as well in a household," Leong said. To combat this, they aimed to dismantle these outdated beliefs by promoting a more emotionally engaged, communicative and supportive version of fatherhood through their organisation. "For example, we teach dads to say three simple things to their kids every day: 'I love you', 'You're good at what you do' and 'I'm proud of you'. "These small affirmations can have a powerful impact on a child's self-worth and development," said Leong. Beyond direct support, Better Dads Malaysia has also been a key player in advocating policy changes for Malaysian fathers. The organisation played a central role in pushing for the country's paternity leave policy — securing a seven-day leave despite initial proposals for 30 days. They are currently lobbying for tax incentives to be given to companies that support certified fathering programmes. But of all their work, the initiative that had resonated most deeply was their engagement with prison inmates. In February, they finally received the green light from authorities to begin conducting fatherhood workshops in prisons nationwide. It was there that they discovered that many inmates, often neglected by their fathers, yearned for emotional validation. "When we started the workshop, I would often tell them we're all good men who made some bad choices, which establishes a sense of equality among us, and we are all the same. "These affirmations are important as we don't judge and condemn them, and instead accept them as they are," Leong said. After completing the workshop, certificates of achievement were given to the inmates, and their reaction to this small gesture caught Leong and Hong by surprise. "Some cried when receiving their first certificate of achievement, saying they had never been recognised before. A standout moment for Leong came when a simple hug offered during a prison workshop sparked a chain reaction. "Everyone lined up for a hug after I hugged one of the inmates. "They told us they had never received a hug from their fathers. That kind of human connection — acceptance without judgment — is what they've been missing," he said. The duo plan to compile data from the workshops with inmates, with plans to publish research that could guide future policy and programme development of their organisation. "To all the fathers out there — you are not alone. We are part of a movement. "There are many other fathers who can be your support system, your community. "Come and join us. Be part of this larger community of fathers — learning, growing, and striving to become better every day," Leong said.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
RM16 'nasi kukus' arrives without chicken, sparks outrage
WHAT happens when you politely remind a restaurant to double-check your order? According to one Malaysian woman, you get served the most expensive rice and cucumber meal of your life – and the internet is absolutely furious about it. A Pahang woman's Facebook post has gone viral after she shared photos of her shocking RM16 'nasi kukus' delivery that arrived with everything except the main ingredient – the chicken. The betrayal stings even more because she had simply added a polite reminder asking staff to be more careful with orders after they forgot her salted egg in a previous purchase. 'I paid RM20.74 in total, but this is what I get for adding a reminder. Are the staff in the eatery pulling some sort of prank here?' she wrote, perfectly capturing the disbelief that thousands of Malaysians are now sharing. The photos tell the whole infuriating story: a container with plain rice, some cucumber slices, one whole salted egg (costing RM2.50), curry gravy, and sambal – but absolutely no trace of the chicken that should have been the star of this RM16.25 meal. With delivery fees bringing her total to RM20.74, she essentially paid premium prices for what looks like a sad, deconstructed meal prep gone wrong. Her original message to the restaurant was nothing but courteous: 'The other day I ordered nasi kukus with a salted egg, but there was no salted egg included. Please read the order properly. Thank you.' Yet somehow, this reasonable request for basic service seemed to trigger what many online users are calling 'petty revenge' from the kitchen staff. The post has unleashed a flood of sympathy and outrage from fellow Malaysians who've experienced similar food delivery disasters. But what's really struck a chord is the deeper conversation about restaurant accountability that's emerged from this seemingly simple mix-up. 'The eatery owner has entrusted the staff to do their jobs properly, but instead they've provided poor service. Pity the owner. Just contact the owner directly and let them take action as well,' wrote one user, highlighting how staff mistakes can destroy businesses that owners work years to build. Another commenter captured the harsh reality: 'The staff can quit their jobs, but the ones who suffer are the boss and the business. No boss would want to sabotage their own livelihood, especially after working hard to build the business and attract customers.' The overwhelming response forced the restaurant to issue a public apology, admitting they were short-staffed during the Hari Raya Aidiladha season – though many netizens aren't buying this excuse for what appears to be deliberate omission. The eatery claims they've personally contacted affected customers and provided 'improved replacements' as compensation. While the restaurant's apology attempts damage control, the incident has sparked a much larger conversation about customer service standards in Malaysia's booming food delivery industry. The woman's experience serves as a cautionary tale: sometimes being a polite, reasonable customer can backfire spectacularly, leaving you with a RM16 lesson in why some people are afraid to complain about bad service. The viral post continues to rack up comments and shares, with many users advising others to screenshot their orders and report problematic restaurants directly to delivery platforms. Because apparently, asking for basic service accuracy is now considered controversial – and your chicken might just disappear in retaliation.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Customer gets nasi kukus minus chicken for RM16 after politely asking restaurant to 'read orders properly'
WHAT happens when you politely remind a restaurant to double-check your order? According to one Malaysian woman, you get served the most expensive rice and cucumber meal of your life – and the internet is absolutely furious about it. A Pahang woman's Facebook post has gone viral after she shared photos of her shocking RM16 'nasi kukus' delivery that arrived with everything except the main ingredient – the chicken. The betrayal stings even more because she had simply added a polite reminder asking staff to be more careful with orders after they forgot her salted egg in a previous purchase. 'I paid RM20.74 in total, but this is what I get for adding a reminder. Are the staff in the eatery pulling some sort of prank here?' she wrote, perfectly capturing the disbelief that thousands of Malaysians are now sharing. The photos tell the whole infuriating story: a container with plain rice, some cucumber slices, one whole salted egg (costing RM2.50), curry gravy, and sambal – but absolutely no trace of the chicken that should have been the star of this RM16.25 meal. With delivery fees bringing her total to RM20.74, she essentially paid premium prices for what looks like a sad, deconstructed meal prep gone wrong. Her original message to the restaurant was nothing but courteous: 'The other day I ordered nasi kukus with a salted egg, but there was no salted egg included. Please read the order properly. Thank you.' Yet somehow, this reasonable request for basic service seemed to trigger what many online users are calling 'petty revenge' from the kitchen staff. The post has unleashed a flood of sympathy and outrage from fellow Malaysians who've experienced similar food delivery disasters. But what's really struck a chord is the deeper conversation about restaurant accountability that's emerged from this seemingly simple mix-up. 'The eatery owner has entrusted the staff to do their jobs properly, but instead they've provided poor service. Pity the owner. Just contact the owner directly and let them take action as well,' wrote one user, highlighting how staff mistakes can destroy businesses that owners work years to build. Another commenter captured the harsh reality: 'The staff can quit their jobs, but the ones who suffer are the boss and the business. No boss would want to sabotage their own livelihood, especially after working hard to build the business and attract customers.' The overwhelming response forced the restaurant to issue a public apology, admitting they were short-staffed during the Hari Raya Aidiladha season – though many netizens aren't buying this excuse for what appears to be deliberate omission. The eatery claims they've personally contacted affected customers and provided 'improved replacements' as compensation. While the restaurant's apology attempts damage control, the incident has sparked a much larger conversation about customer service standards in Malaysia's booming food delivery industry. The woman's experience serves as a cautionary tale: sometimes being a polite, reasonable customer can backfire spectacularly, leaving you with a RM16 lesson in why some people are afraid to complain about bad service. The viral post continues to rack up comments and shares, with many users advising others to screenshot their orders and report problematic restaurants directly to delivery platforms. Because apparently, asking for basic service accuracy is now considered controversial – and your chicken might just disappear in retaliation.
