Latest news with #HariRayaAidiladha
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Cheaper, faster weddings: Malaysians say 'I do' in Songkhla
KOTA BARU: More Malaysian couples, including those entering polygamous marriages, are choosing to wed in Songkhla, Thailand, citing faster processing and convenience. Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council deputy president Abdul Aziz Che Mamat said fewer Malaysians are now choosing to marry in the southern Thai provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani, as the Islamic authorities there only issue marriage certificates without processing the full set of documents required for registration in Malaysia. "Malaysians are now choosing to marry at mosques in Songkhla due to the convenience and cost-saving benefits," he said. "When they get married in Songkhla, they can immediately go to the Malaysian Consulate General's office — also located in the province — to process their marriage documents. The process is quick and can usually be completed within the same day. "Although Songkhla is farther away, it saves time and money as everything can be settled in a single trip." By contrast, Abdul Aziz said couples who marry in Narathiwat, Yala or Pattani only receive a certificate from the local Islamic council and must still travel to Songkhla for document processing at the Malaysian Consulate General's office before the marriage can be registered in Malaysia. "This additional step has led to a sharp decline in Malaysian couples registering their marriages through the Islamic councils in these three provinces," he added. With the upcoming school holidays and Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations, Abdul Aziz expects a surge in Malaysian couples heading to Thailand to get married. "However, our offices in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani are no longer the preferred choice. Most couples go straight to Songkhla and take the opportunity to spend the holidays with their families there," he said. Despite the decline, he assured that the religious councils in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani would continue to operate as usual. It is understood that Malaysian couples marrying in Thailand must obtain verification from the Malaysian Consulate General's office in Songkhla before their union can be officially registered with religious authorities in Malaysia. The consulate reportedly handles between 250 and 300 marriage cases involving Malaysian couples each month, with most weddings held at mosques in and around Songkhla.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Cheap imports, aimless programmes hurting farmers
The right help: With proper policies, incentives and technological help, local farmers will be able to produce bountiful crops to match major food producers like China, Japan and India, say agriculture and food security experts. PETALING JAYA: Vegetable farmers and livestock breeders say that cheap imports and unfocused programmes are why their industries are 'in a crisis' despite all the attention given to agriculture for the past two decades. Local growers are unable to compete with cheap vegetables brought in from China, Vietnam and Thailand, which is why some farms are leaving their crops to rot instead of harvesting them. Cattle breeders say that government programmes encouraging farmers to breed cows for meat have failed to produce more beef for local consumption because the initiatives did not go to the right people. 'I do not know if our vegetable farmers can survive for the next two years because cheap imports are driving the prices down and we cannot compete,' said Cameron Highlands Malay Farmers Association chairman Datuk Syed Abd Rahman Syed Abd Rashid. For instance, with the cost of producing cabbages being 80sen, farmers have to sell their produce at more than RM1 per kilo in order to make a profit, he said. 'But cabbages from China are sold in supermarkets at 60sen per kilo. So, how can we compete with these prices? 'Wholesalers and importers are bringing in tonnes of these vegetables every day, so how is our local produce going to compete?' he asked. The vegetable glut in the market is currently nearly all year-round, added Syed Abd Rahman, making it hard for farmers to earn an income. 'In the last two years, I have not made a profit at all from growing vegetables. This is something I am sure farmers all over the country have experienced. Our industry is in a crisis,' he noted. The Statistics Department's (DOSM) Agriculture Census 2024 showed that Malaysia continued to depend on imports to meet local demand for beef, mutton and milk. In 2024, 84%, 89.% and 56.6% of these items, respectively, were from other countries. Cattle breeder Jamal Abdul Karim said that according to DOSM's past data, the country had higher levels of self-sufficiency for beef in the years before the Covid-19 pandemic, but this has declined and the nation has increased its imports. 'In my own experience, when we were sourcing cattle for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidiladha, we could not find enough animals in Peninsular Malaysia. We had to source from Thailand', said Jamal, who is the chief executive officer of Colla Niaga Sdn Bhd. Despite seeing years of government programmes to encourage the growth of local breeders, Jamal said the results have been lacklustre because the initiatives lack focus. 'The problem is that we don't choose the right people who want to be breeders. For instance, we give out cows to oil palm planters so they can breed them in their plantations. 'But the problem is these people are focused on oil palm and not cattle-breeding. To make the industry viable, we need the government to work with the right breeders,' Jamal added.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Powerful storm damages 78 houses in Larut
LARUT: A powerful storm swept through Taman Kamunting Perdana and Kampung Jelai, Batu Kurau here, this afternoon, damaging a total of 78 houses. One of the victims, Nor Azahar Mohamed Noor, 56, recalled the terrifying moment when the storm struck around 4.15pm as he was inside his home in Taman Kamunting Perdana. "I suddenly heard an incredibly loud roaring sound from the wind. "I immediately rushed outside and realised that a powerful gust was sweeping through the neighbourhood," he said when met tonight. He added that the wind intensified just moments after he recited the azan. "I had never seen or heard anything like it. The windstorm was so strong that I was stunned as I watched the main roof of my house get ripped off. "My wife and children, who were inside, screamed in shock when they saw the roof over the living room completely blown away," he added. Another victim, Mahamat Sopian Mat Hussin, 52, said he was shocked to find that the front section of the roof of his house carried away by the storm for over 500m. "It's hard to describe the force of the wind. Imagine, my roof was lifted and blown more than 500m away from my home. "My iron swing, weighing almost 100kg, was also lifted from outside the house and carried 100m to a neighbour's house, while the car garage was also completely destroyed by the storm," he said. Mahamat, who has lived in the area for 13 years since retiring from the military, described this as the most severe storm he has ever experienced. "Despite losing my house, I'm grateful that my wife and children are safe," he added He urged government agencies and the relevant authorities to help repair the damaged homes quickly, especially with Hari Raya Aidiladha just around the corner. Meanwhile, Larut Umno division secretary Mohd Amran Abdul Rahman said his team has stepped in to gather information and provide immediate assistance to affected residents. He added that contractors would be appointed to repair all the damaged houses before the upcoming celebration. However, he advised all victims to file police reports to facilitate the repair process.
Barnama
2 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Respect Family Institution, Avoid Public Exposure
TUMPAT, May 31 (Bernama) -- The institution of marriage and family must be respected and protected without exposing a spouse's faults in public or on social media, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan. He said matters involving religious rulings should be referred to the relevant authorities to ensure the advice provided is accurate and does not mislead the public. 'Treat the family institution as a noble one that must be protected. Conflicts should be resolved privately and not shared publicly or online, in order to preserve the dignity and harmony of the household,' he told reporters. He was met after officiating the closing ceremony of the Panglima Gayong Cross-Cultural Gathering with Pendekar Kelantan-Kedah at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pengkalan Kubor (1) here today. Zulkifli said the government has introduced several initiatives to strengthen the Islamic family institution, including pre- and post-marriage courses. 'Although post-marriage courses are voluntary, we have received an encouraging response, as the modules and syllabus incorporate views from experts in various fields. 'What we need now is not only to enforce laws to address family-related issues, but to equip the public with knowledge and guidance so they can manage their families more effectively,' he said, commenting on the trend of couples using social media to pronounce divorce in public, either directly or indirectly. On a separate matter, Zulkifli advised the public not to purchase smuggled cattle for sacrificial rituals in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha. He said the qurban ritual should be conducted lawfully and respectfully to ensure the sacrifice is accepted by Allah.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Terengganu JPV seizes 28 smuggled goats ahead of Aidiladha
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu Department of Veterinary Services (JPV) seized 28 goats suspected to have been smuggled from a neighbouring country following the interception of a white Toyota Hiace van in Kampung Teris, Hulu Terengganu, at around 10am today. Its director Dr Anun Man said the operation was the result of several days of surveillance by enforcement officers who had tracked the vehicle from Kampung Gong Manok in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. The suspects were caught after a brief chase. 'The smugglers used a van to avoid detection, and its closed structure made it difficult for authorities to identify any suspicious activity,' he told a press conference here today, adding that the seized goats and van are estimated to be worth RM86,000. Two male suspects in their 50s were arrested and are being investigated under Section 36(1) of the Animals Act 1953, which carries a fine of up to RM15,000. Dr Anun said the goats were likely intended for the Terengganu or national market, given the high demand for livestock ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha next week. He expressed concern that some of the animals showed signs of illness such as coughing, runny noses, and foaming at the mouth, raising fears of contagious diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD). 'We want to ensure animals used for korban are healthy and safe, not diseased. 'Terengganu JPV will step up enforcement to prevent illegal livestock movement into the state, especially in the lead-up to Aidiladha,' he added. So far this year, 13 such cases have been foiled, involving 78 cows, 46 sheep, and seven goats.
