Academic: Redirect anger over preacher pair, not at AGC
'I have heard these two personalities speak, and it is difficult to charge them with 3R (race, religion, and royalty) when what they say stems from simplistic and uncontextualized religious interpretations of the Quran and Hadith,' he told Malaysiakini.
The professor of architecture explained that a key issue lies in how clerics are...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
US' request gets Malaysian nod for zero rate on nearly 7,000 tariff lines
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia agrees to reduce tariff rates to zero for 6,911 out of 11,260 tariff lines or products requested by the US, representing 61 per cent, as part of reciprocal negotiations with the country. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the move is part of efforts to strengthen market access and promote a more open flow of bilateral trade between the two nations. "This is a systematic and orderly approach to determining Malaysia's final offer to the US. "We have submitted a comprehensive offer covering 98 per cent of all tariff lines, but only agreed to liberalise 61 per cent of them," he said in a media briefing today. Tengku Zafrul also shared several red lines that Malaysia successfully defended during the tariff negotiations with the United States, which led to the 19 per cent tariff rate being announced for Malaysia. He said these included the imposition of excise duties, the removal of import licenses for United States products, liberalisation of equity ownership in strategic sectors, and Bumiputera privileges. "They asked us to eliminate excise duties, which as you know, are imposed on three items: cars, tobacco, and alcohol. "The automotive industry is important to the US, but we also have our own automotive industry, employing 700,000 workers. "We have a national car project and a broad supply chain. In other industries, we do not impose excise duties. "They see this as unfair, but other exporting countries face similar situations. "We have our own policies to ensure we remain competitive. "For now, I think we are not ready to remove these barriers, including equity ownership in strategic sectors, and some of their requests to review laws concerning digital platforms," he added. On matters concerning economic and national security, Tengku Zafrul said several measures have been put in place. He said these include the tightening of the issuance of Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin to address transshipment and false declarations of origin. He also added that the ministry is the sole issuer of the certificate for exports to the United States effective May 6. Tengku Zafrul said Malaysia has also strengthened control on exports of artificial intelligence chips originating from the United States by invoking Section 12 of the Strategic Trade Act 2010 under catch-all control provisions. At the same time, he said the country has committed to not imposing any export restrictions on rare earth elements or other critical minerals. Overall, Tengku Zafrul said the government hopes that the announcement of the tariff rates will provide certainty to exporters and industry players. "The ministry also urges industry players to fully leverage Malaysia's 18 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to diversify and expand their export markets," he said.
Malaysiakini
15 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Multicultural Malaysia's race agenda in 13MP
COMMENT | No other country on earth can be more multicultural, multifaith, multiethnic and muhibbah than Malaysia, and yet, when it comes to Malaysia Plans, our leaders suffer from moral cowardice. Will it break the bank to accord equal status to the non-Malays, irrespective of their socio-economic status, in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP)? The 13MP has not shed its race-based agenda. Were the formerly "Malaysian Malaysia" DAP politicians ambushed by pro-bumiputera cabinet members into accepting another recycled version of a bumiputera agenda? I cannot be the only one who is troubled by living in a 'two-tiered' nation where one race is treated preferentially over all others.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Qunut Nazilah prayers for ummah well-being, not politics
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The public is advised to use Qunut Nazilah prayers to seek blessings for the Muslim ummah and national well-being, not for political purposes. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan emphasised that religious authorities, including state muftis and scholars, have provided clear guidance on the proper conduct of such supplications. 'Previously, Qunut Nazilah was recited at gatherings due to political differences. We have advised against this, as Islam teaches etiquette in prayer. Supplications should focus on the welfare of the ummah, our nation, and those oppressed, such as Palestinians facing Israeli aggression,' he told reporters after attending the 2025 Penang Maqasid Syariah Seminar. Zulkifli noted that the ministry is aware of proposals to discuss politically motivated Qunut Nazilah recitations at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia (MKI) level. 'We are monitoring the situation after issuing advisories. If needed, we will bring this matter to MKI for an official stance,' he added. - Bernama
