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Change to propel Islam to
greater glory, Muslims urged
ed
by Tim Leonard
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: Muslims in the country are
urged to institute changes that can propel
Islam to greater heights and glory.
Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku
Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who is also
Kedah’s Sultan, said this in his royal address
at this year’s Ma’al Hijrah celebration
themed “Generating a Glorious Muslim
Community” at the Putrajaya International
Convention Centre yesterday.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife
Datuk Seri Jeanne Abdullah, and Minister in
the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri
Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Tuanku Abdul Halim called on Muslims
nationwide to discard elements which could
impede their progress.
He identified these elements as
disrespect for the ulama (religious elders),
an inclination to take the easy way out by
Ma’al Hijrah celebrated
on solemn note
KUALA LUMPUR: The year 1430 of
the Hijrah calendar was ushered in on
a solemn note yesterday in the wake
of the demise of Negri Sembilan ruler
Tuanku Ja’afar Almarhum Tuanku
Abdul Rahman and the Israeli air raids
in Gaza which claimed the lives of 300
Palestinians.
Negri Sembilan did not hold the Ma’al
Hijrah celebration, the state having
cancelled or postponed all scheduled
official government functions for a week
after the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Tuanku
Ja’afar, passed away on Saturday.
Israel has carried out air strikes on the
Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip over the last three
days.
The national-level Ma’al Hijrah
celebration was held in Putrajaya
and was attended by 2,500 people
comprising government and private
sector staff and members of religious
organisations.
In Kuantan, Sultan Ahmad Shah of
Pahang was represented by Pahang Mentri
Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob at the
state-level celebration.
Special Affairs Department director-
general Datuk Mohamed Amin Salih, 62,
neglecting religious teachings, laziness,
hostility to fellow Muslims, and priority to
selfish interests without care for the “rights
and wrongs” in Islam.
He called on Muslims to understand and
practise the vision entrusted by Allah in
the Quran and Hadith whereby Islam and
its followers have to shine as bearers of
blessings for the whole world.
Tuanku Abdul Halim said Muslims, who
make up almost a quarter of the world’s
population, could enrich their civilisation if
they used their capabilities and wealth in the
proper way as decreed by Allah.
He added that the vision for all Muslims
was to foster a spirit of solidarity among the
ummah and non-Muslims in order to estab-
lish a strong social network in the country.
He said it was most appropriate for
Muslims in Malaysia to subject themselves to
self-evaluation, reflecting on the development
and changes they have undergone.
“I believe that by way of self-evaluation,
we can gauge our strengths and weaknesses,
was named Tokoh Ma’al Hijrah for Pahang.
In Kangar, the Raja Muda of Perlis
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail,
officiated at a celebration attended by some
2,000 people.
Former Selangor education department
director Abdul Aziz Abbas and missionary
Hassan Ismail Batu Bara were named
Tokoh Ma’al Hijrah for Perlis.
In Ipoh, Perak’s state-level celebration
was held in the evening at the An-Nur Batu
8 Mosque in Ulu Kinta. A lecture entitled
Aman Palestin (Palestinian Peace) was also
held at the Banquet Hall of the Perak Darul
Ridzuan building.
The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr
Nazrin Shah, the Raja Puan Besar of Perak
Tuanku Zara and Raja Puan Muda of
Perak Raja Normahani Raja Shahar Shah
attended the event.
Raja Nazrin presented the Tokoh Ma’al
Hijrah award to missionary Muhammad
Rivai Batubara. Chairman of the board
of directors of Universiti Teknologi Mara
Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Nordin
received a special award.
Similar gatherings were held in other
states including Sabah and Sarawak.
– Bernama
and move on towards the anticipated greater
glory.
“I am confident that the theme for this
year’s Ma’al Hijrah celebration can drive
Muslims to ponder and organise their
future path and their capacity to handle
the challenging global competition,”
he said, urging Muslims to be united in
enhancing their capability, and discharge
their responsibility with sincerity, as glory
Ministry condemns Israeli air raids
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk
Abdul Rahim Bakri yesterday condemned Israeli
air raids on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip over the
last three days which have resulted in the deaths
of about 300 Palestinians.
He said Israel’s action was tantamount to geno-
cide and should be given serious attention by the
international community, particularly major powers
which are strong supporters of Israel.
“The United Nations should adopt a firm stand
and restore the peace process by according the
Palestinian people their rights as contained in the
commitment of the Annapolis Conference and the
road map,” Abdul Rahim said, adding that the Israeli
Don’t question Malay rights: Muslim NGOs
GEORGE TOWN: Muslim NGOs have called on
various parties not to dispute the special rights of
Malays as provided in the Federal Constitution.
The NGOs under Yayasan Aminul Ummah
Malaysia said several quarters including political
leaders and the Bar Council should neither ques-
tion nor sensationalise the issue of these rights as
it would cause unease among the public.
“We want all (Malaysians) to respect and
understand the Malays and their rights and vice
versa, in order to establish Malaysia as a peace-
ful and harmonious country,” the foundation’s
president Mohd Radzi Daud said.
| TUESDAY DECEMBER 30 2008
ZULKIFLI ERSAL/THESUN
Tokoh Maal
Hijrah recipients
Wahbah (right)
and Harussani
congratulate
each other.
can only be achieved with some degree of
determination and sacrifice.
Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Harussani
Zakaria and Syrian Islamic scholar Prof Dr
Wahbah Al Zuhayli were the recipients of
this year’s Tokoh Ma’al Hijrah award.
Both recipients, who have contributed
extensively to the development of Islam
regionally, were each presented with
RM100,000, a medal and a plaque.
offensive was the latest challenge to US foreign
policy under incoming president Barack Obama.
The Annapolis accord was reached between
Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Annapolis, Mary-
land in the United States on Nov 27 last year in
an effort to establish peace between Palestine
and Israel.
Abdul Rahim said the fundamental rights of the
Palestinian people should be restored, adding that
the Palestinian issue was one of crimes against
mankind and an act of state terrorism. – Bernama
» More reports Pages 14 & 15
He was speaking at a press conference after
submitting a memorandum to the secretary of
Penang’s Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rah-
man Abbas at the governor’s official residence in
conjunction with the Ma’al Hijrah celebration.
Earlier, about 4,000 members of the founda-
tion had assembled at the Polo field to hold a
peaceful gathering. The group dispersed about
two hours later and some 200 proceeded to
the governor’s residence where they sang the
national anthem.
About 200 police personnel were deployed to
monitor the situation.