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New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Police receive 188 reports over alleged LGBT event in PJ
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 188 police reports have been lodged concerning allegations of a programme related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues, said to have been organised by the youth wing of a political party in Petaling Jaya. Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the reports were filed by various parties nationwide after the issue went viral last week. He said that police would be summoning the event organisers to record their statements in due course. "As of now, the police have received 188 reports on the matter. We will be calling in the organisers for questioning," he said when contacted by Berita Harian today. Previously, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that police had launched an i nvestigation following a social media post regarding a planned programme, believed to be scheduled for June 21 at an undisclosed location in Petaling Jaya. According to police, the programme is believed to have provoked public sensitivity and violated national laws, which do not recognise any form of LGBT practice. The case is currently being investigated under Section 298A of the Penal Code, for actions likely to disturb public harmony by insulting or degrading religion, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, for the improper use of network services.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysian man drowns while diving in Aceh
The diver was said to have attempted to surface following the instructor's instructions but lost consciousness upon reaching the surface. (Freepik pic) PETALING JAYA : A 33-year-old Malaysian man drowned while diving in the waters off Iboih in Kota Sabang, Aceh, Indonesia, yesterday morning. Berita Harian reported that the victim was diving at the popular site with two other Malaysians and a dive instructor when the incident occurred at 9.30am. The daily quoted Berita Rakyat Aceh as saying Indonesian police rushed to the site after receiving a report. The group had been diving for about 20 minutes at a depth of 30m when they were caught in a strong underwater current. The victim was said to have attempted to surface following the instructor's orders but lost consciousness upon reaching the surface. He was immediately assisted by the others and taken to Pantai Iboih in a speedboat. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered by the instructor and fellow divers before he was taken to a nearby clinic. He was pronounced dead upon arrival an hour later at 10.30am. His body was taken to Sabang City Hospital for a post-mortem. The remains are expected to be repatriated to Malaysia once the post-mortem is completed.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
RM10,000 'backdoor' fee for couples married in Thailand to register marriage in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Marriage agents are allegedly charging up to RM10,000 to couples who want to legally register marriages conducted abroad in Malaysia using the 'selit' (backdoor) method. These agents claim to have insiders or contacts among religious office officials who can assist in registering overseas marriages without following the standard procedures set by the authorities. However, there is no guarantee that the marriage registration process will be completed quickly, as it also depends on the availability of the officer handling the process, which may take up to a year or more. This information was revealed by a marriage agent known as Abang Ismail, who has nearly 15 years of experience helping Malaysian couples get married in Thailand, particularly in the provinces of Songkhla, Satun, and Narathiwat. The agent told Berita Harian that most couples choose to marry in neighbouring countries because the process is easy, quick, and inexpensive. Additionally, many men do not want their polygamous marriages to a second or subsequent wife to be known to their first wife or family. "We help a lot of Malaysian couples, starting from Changlun (in Kedah) or Padang Besar (in Perlis), before taking them to marry in front of a qadi from the Southern Thailand Islamic Religious Council. "There are witnesses, and a dowry that the husband must provide to the wife. We follow all religious laws, and the marriage is valid. "Once the marriage is completed, we register it at the Malaysian Consulate in Songkhla. The fee isn't too expensive; I charge around RM2,500 or slightly more, depending on how many days they stay on holiday in Thailand." When asked about the process of registering the marriage in Malaysia, Abang Ismail said he initially advises couples married in Thailand to handle the registration themselves in their state of residence. He said this process is easier for the couple, as they only need to pay a fine imposed by the court for marrying outside the designated area or without the necessary permissions under Malaysian law. He also claimed that these marriage agents have some "good friends" who can help manage the marriage registration at religious offices in Malaysia, though there is no guarantee it can be done quickly, with most cases taking more than a year. "Those who marry in Thailand must register at the Malaysian Consulate in Songkhla, and after three days, they will receive a certified marriage letter. "This letter must be brought back to Malaysia to register the marriage at the religious office in their area of residence. "If they do not want to register at the counter (at the religious office), we can register through the 'backdoor,' but it will also take time to complete. "A small token (payment) is required for the 'friend' (agent) handling it, but no need to worry as they want to help Malaysians who marry in Thailand. "Marriage under Thai law is indeed valid, with the couple becoming husband and wife as usual, but as Malaysians, we have to follow the law and register the marriage in Malaysia. It is easier to register it themselves, but many are afraid, so we help as needed," he said. Unauthorised marriage agents operating along the northern border have been identified as a cause of corruption and abuse of power involving officers from the Islamic Religious Affairs Department in a northern state, as previously uncovered by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention), Datuk Azmi Kamaruzaman, said his department had detected several governance weaknesses in the management of Foreign Marriage Registration by the department. He added that the religious agency needs to act swiftly to close any gaps and opportunities for corruption, abuse of power, and misappropriation.
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Owner and buffalo Awang to part after five years
AFTER five years of caring for a 650kg buffalo named Awang, owner Muhammad Faris Aiman in Kuantan is selling it for RM12,000, Harian Metro reported. He explained that he was doing so not because of financial problems but that he had come to realise it was time to let go. 'I have had offers in the past but I wasn't ready to sell it then,' said Muhammad Faris, 25. He said Awang was gifted to him by his father when the buffalo was just one year old. The buyer, he said, wanted to donate Awang to a madrasah for a sacrificial ritual. For Hari Raya Haji this year, he said he had sold 300 cows so far. > Mila Mohsin, the daughter of the late actor Hani Mohsin, is all set to have an acting career, Harian Metro reported. She will appear in the movie Laknat, which premieres on June 5. 'My mother has given me her blessing to be involved in films,' said Mila, 31, referring to Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina. Mila, who is also a jujitsu trainee, said she was fortunate to have had the chance to learn from her parents. > The venue of the comeback concert by nasyid group Inteam has been switched to a bigger place in view of the overwhelming reception from their fans, Berita Harian reported. This came about after the tickets, which went on sale on May 23, were taken up within two hours. The venue was changed from Zepp Kuala Lumpur to Idea Live Arena in Petaling Jaya that could accommodate about 5,000 fans. Konsert Kasih Kekasih 25 Tahun Inteam, originally slated for Sept 27, was also pushed a day later. 'We decided to change the date and the location after hearing the feedback from our fans,' said Inteam member Mohd Syahril Abdul Khalid. The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Scorching days ahead: Monsoon heat to last until September, says MetMalaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The current spell of hot weather affecting the country is not unusual, but rather a typical occurrence during the annual Southwest Monsoon season. The monsoon, which began on May 10, is expected to persist until mid-September. Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the season was characterised by drier conditions, due to lower humidity and a more stable atmosphere. "Malaysia is currently experiencing the Southwest Monsoon phase, which naturally brings drier weather, reduced cloud cover, and less rainfall. "This results in increased solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, subsequently raising daily temperatures. "Rainfall will be significantly reduced during this period, with more dry days expected nationwide," he told Berita Harian. Nevertheless, Mohd Hisham said that isolated incidents of heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms might still occur in some areas. Among the affected regions are the western parts of Peninsular Malaysia, northern Sarawak and western Sabah during the early mornings, and the interior and eastern regions of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as inland Sarawak and Sabah during the afternoon and early evening. He said weather forecasts up to June 4 suggested continued hot and dry conditions in most parts of the country. "Wind convergence zones, which typically bring heavy rain, are currently concentrated in neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Myanmar. "So far, the maximum daily temperatures for May have ranged between 33°C and 36°C, and are expected to remain at this level in the coming week due to limited rainfall," he said. Mohd Hisham also advised the public to stay hydrated and reduce exposure to outdoor activities. "Open burning should be strictly avoided as it can contribute to haze and environmental pollution," he added.
