Latest news with #AbdulWahid
Arab News
08-06-2025
- Arab News
Novice UK sailors arrive in Jeddah after surviving epic Hajj voyage
MINA: A group of six pilgrims with no previous sailing experience who set off from London on a 59-day maritime adventure have praised Saudi authorities for the welcome they received after finally completing their Hajj voyage. The UK-based group, aged between 27 and 47, set sail on April 1 and arrived in Jeddah on May 27, just one week before the start of Hajj. Each member brought a unique set of skills, from IT professionals to community organizers, but none had formal maritime training. Together, they learned to navigate, maintain their vessel, and endure weeks at sea, often facing unpredictable weather and challenging conditions. The six pilgrims — Abdul Wahid, Tauseef Ahmed, Jody McIntyre, Dobbir Uddin, Taher Akhtar, and Ayaz Khan — made several stops across Europe and North Africa during their journey, sharing the highs and lows of life at sea with a growing community of followers on social media. Speaking to Arab News at Mina during Hajj, Wahid, the captain, said that the voyage had been a memorable and life-changing experience. His favorite moment came after setting off from the Gulf of Suez on the final leg of the journey. Seeing mountains in the distance — the first sign of Saudi Arabia after days of storms and rough seas — brought pure joy. In that moment, he knew they had made it. Reflecting on their arrival and experience of Hajj, Wahid praised the exceptional care and organization. He said the pilgrimage itself felt calm and manageable compared with the challenges of the sea voyage. Wahid said the Saudi authorities treated pilgrims like honored guests, with ambulances stationed throughout, volunteers offering water and ice packs, and a clear sense that everyone was committed to making the experience spiritual and memorable. 'They're (Saudi authorities) looking after them (pilgrims), and they're trying to make sure that there's nothing you need. You're walking down the street, the Boy Scout is there handing you an ice pack to put on your hot head... The policeman passes you a bottle of water... The fire station isn't just a fire station, they're standing outside spraying people down with water to cool them off,' he said. 'Every single person here is engaged in trying to make sure that Hajj is an enjoyable, spiritual, wonderful experience.' Another crew member, Ayaz Khan, said that the challenge of sailing to Hajj was 'about pushing himself beyond limits and embracing the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage.' Khan also spoke of the profound welcome awaiting them onshore, saying that the reception was beyond anything he imagined — a dream come true. His family had never been to Hajj before. When he told his mother he was sailing, she was worried, but he told her that this was bigger than him — it was the chance to complete a sacred journey. The adventure route led the group through the English Channel and on to Marseille before passing the Mediterranean islands of Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Crete. They sailed through the Suez Canal and finally the Red Sea before arriving in Jeddah. The seafaring pilgrims spent almost two months off-grid and battling storms on the 1978 Westerly 33 ketch. Khan said that the maritime pilgrimage has reminded the crew members that the path to spiritual fulfillment often requires navigating uncharted waters — both literally and metaphorically. But with perseverance, humility, and trust, even the most turbulent seas can lead to sacred destinations.
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Rohingya man arrested in Tripura's Unakoti district: police
A Rohingya man was arrested at Kailashahar in Tripura's Unakoti district along with a man in whose house he was found, police said on Thursday. The Rohingya man has been identified as Noor Mustafa and the other arrested man as Abdul Wahid. 'We got secret information last night that a Myanmar national is hiding at Dhaliarkandi. A team of police conducted a raid at Wahid's house and arrested Noor Mustafa and the house owner. Some touts helped him. We are trying to trace them. We forwarded them to court today,' said a senior police officer. The police have found out that Mustafa and his family left Myanmar for Bangladesh in 2012. In 2019, he came to India and worked in Hyderabad. He was planning to go back to Bangladesh with the help of a tout. Arrests of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have been common in Tripura, more so since the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government's fall in Dhaka last year following an uprising. Vigil has since been tightened along the 856-km-long border with Bangladesh, parts of which are still unfenced owing to local disputes. As per the police, 816 Bangladeshis, 79 Rohingya persons, and two Nigerians were arrested from January 1, 2024, to February 28 this year. As many as 483 of these arrests were made after August 5, 2024, when the Hasina government fell.
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
British pilgrims sailing from London to Saudi Arabia for Hajj
JEDDAH: A group of British adventurers are taking part in an extraordinary sailboat journey from the UK to Makkah to perform Hajj. The group of five from London, aged between 27 and 47, set off on the inspiring 7,400 km adventure from the English Channel on April 1 and expect to reach Saudi Arabia later this week. Sailors Abdul Wahid, Tauseef Ahmed, Jody McIntyre, Dobbir Uddin and Taher Akhtar have made several stops across Europe and North Africa, sharing the highs and lows of sea life with their growing community of followers on social media. Experiencing moments of faith, joy and frustration, and facing winds and storms in their sails, the 55-day adventure is also raising funds for orphan care charity Global Helping Hands. The group recently docked in Ismailia city in northeastern Egypt, and plan on making their way to towards the sacred lands of Saudi Arabia later this week. Speaking to Arab News from Ismailia, 38-year-old Wahid said the inspiration for the journey came from the mixed influences of his Muslim faith and the maritime history of the UK. 'It is kind of merging our religion Islam with the country we are residing, and reviving this long-forgotten way to Hajj,' he said. According to Wahid, none of the group's members had sailing experience before the trip. 'We undertook this journey with no prior experience, therefore, we went through a very intensive training for 6 months,' he said. 'We had to go into the sea for a week in order to get the training we needed and we managed to get to a very completive level internationally.' The adventure route led the group to go through the English Channel; the Port of Marseille in France; the Mediterranean islands Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Crete; the Strait of Messina; the Suez Canal in Egypt and finally the Red Sea leading to Jeddah. The group has spent almost two months being completely disconnected, off-grid and facing storms on the 1978 Westerly 33 Ketch. 'One of the weirdest highlights is the fact that we are here in the sea because we dreamed of a journey at sea — and made it a reality,' said Wahid. 'Imagine, this time last year we had no sailing experience just a rough plan and here we are about to end our journey.' He added: 'It was terrifying challenge for us but at the end of the day, alhamdulillah, we had a great reward and we are safe.' Ahmed said: 'One of the challenges we faced was in the French Canal where there was a blockage of 24 km and we had to lift the boat to the truck despite our delay which took about four days.' He added: 'Another serious challenge we faced, when we woke up in the morning and we were sinking because of a leak in the boat. Alhamdulillah, we were able to fix it and went on as per our schedule.' Surrounded by blue water, picturesque scenes, and the sporadic sight of marine life, Wahid described the most unforgettable moments of their journey: 'We encountered dolphins three times during our journey. 'We caught a glimpse of unusual shapes in the water. Soon, we realized that what we were seeing was a small pod of dolphins, playing and swimming in front of us. That was really an amazing scene.' Through the journey, the group aims to raise funds to support orphans in various countries, including Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Uganda, and for Syrian refugees, offering much-needed assistance to the most vulnerable. The group has received more than £200,000 ($266,000) so far. 'This amount will support orphans in many places,' Wahid said. 'The second goal of this journey is for Da'wah purposes. 'We want to showcase to the world the beauty of pilgrimage in Islam in its original essence, in ancient ways it was performed weather it was walking, horse-riding or in this case sailing.' The expedition is set to complete its final sea passage, lasting up to a week, from Port Suez, Egypt to Jeddah in coordination with BWA Yachting Club KSA, the Red Sea Authority and with the support of JYC facilities.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Abdul Wahid's tenure as Bursa Malaysia chairman defined by reform, innovation and resilience
PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar concluded his five-year tenure as chairman of Bursa Malaysia on April 30, bringing to a close a period defined by reform, innovation and resilience. Among the milestones that were achieved during his chaimanship of the exchange operator were the launch of Malaysia's first syariah-compliant carbon market and a digital gold trading platform, besides overseeing a record-breaking year for initial public offerings (IPO). 'I must say it has been an honour, privilege and pleasure to serve Bursa Malaysia as chairman for the past five years,' Abdul Wahid, reflecting on the impact and legacy of his time at the helm, told SunBiz in an exclusive written interview. His departure, first announced on March 27, took effect at the close of business on April 30. He previously served on Bursa's board as an independent director from 2004 to 2011. Abdul Wahid guided the exchange through the Covid-19 pandemic Movement Control Order period, when Malaysia's economy came to a near standstill. During that period, Bursa Malaysia maintained uninterrupted market operations. The exchange's resilience during that time helped preserve investor confidence and ensured companies could still raise funds through the capital markets. The pandemic led to a spike in new Central Depository System account openings, with many first-time investors entering the market. Bursa also experienced historic high daily trading volumes during the pandemic. It reported a 62.2% increase in operating revenue in 2020 compared to 2019 driven by high retail participation and market volatility. 'The team at Bursa Malaysia (Warga Bursa) have certainly gone through a lot together navigating through the Covid-19 movement control order period and ensuring the market continues to operate in a fair and orderly manner notwithstanding the volatility and surge in trading volume,' Abdul Wahid said in the interview. Just weeks before his departure, Abdul Wahid was honoured with the Saleh Kamel Award for Islamic Economy in Madinah, a recognition he dedicated to Bursa staff and the broader Malaysian Islamic finance community. 'I am indeed honoured to have received the Saleh Kamel Award for Islamic Economy from HRH the Governor of Madinah two weeks ago on April 16, 2025. The award is indeed a recognition for the people in various organisations I have worked with including our Warga Bursa and the Malaysian Islamic finance fraternity,' he remarked. Other notable achievements during his tenure include the launch of the PLC Transformation Programme to boost corporate performance, the introduction of waqf -featured exchange traded funds, and the establishment of Bursa RAM Capital for debt market fundraising. In 2024, Bursa Malaysia emerged as the most vibrant IPO market in Southeast Asia, with 55 new listings raising RM7.4 billion and contributing RM31.4 billion in market capitalisation. This followed a joint initiative with the Securities Commission Malaysia to reduce listing application processing time to under three months. Abdul Wahid also oversaw the exchange's transition towards a more independent regulatory structure with the formation of the Regulatory and Conflicts Committee, and initiated the payment of business zakat starting from the 2020 financial year. Abdul Wahid signed off with a personal, light-hearted yet pointed reminder: 'No cryptos please.' 'As I sign off, I urge the board and management team to continue doing their best for Bursa Malaysia, their families and the nation. And to continue fulfilling our mission of Creating Opportunities, Growing Value towards achieving our vision of becoming Asean's leading, sustainable and globally connected marketplace,' he said. It is worth noting that Bursa Malaysia under Abdul Wahid's leadership has maintained a firm and cautious stance towards cryptocurrencies, a position he voiced publicly on several occasions. At the 63rd World Federation of Exchanges general assembly and annual meeting on Nov 20, 2024, Abdul Wahid made an unscheduled intervention during a panel session on cryptocurrencies. Abdul Wahid, who was not listed as a speaker, stood up to express his opposition to supporting crypto assets. 'At Bursa Malaysia, although we are moving to become a multi-asset exchange ... we choose which assets will be traded,' he said. 'At the end of the day, we are clear about our purpose ... to serve as a marketplace where businesses come to raise capital to grow. 'For other asset classes, there is this concept of creating opportunities and growing value. But we fail to see that in cryptocurrencies.' Abdul Wahid said cryptocurrencies lack any underlying value, and backed up his concern with internal data. An internal analysis made earlier in 2024 showed that while gold had a one-year volatility rate of 15% and bonds 11%, cryptocurrencies recorded a staggering 72.9%. 'That's gambling. Bursa Malaysia will not be supporting it, even if it means missing out on revenue because it causes more harm than good,' he said bluntly. Abdul Wahid also cited a case in Malaysia where a company was targeted by a ransomware attack, with the ransom specifically demanded in Bitcoin. 'I'm just amazed that we spend so much time and effort on anti-money laundering, Amla, and all those in the real world. But yet, in cryptocurrency world, there's that complexity that we overlooked.'
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Uncertainty and distress for Pakistan nationals at Attari border after exit deadline
Attari: A day after the April 29 deadline for Pakistani nationals residing in India on short-term visas to exit via the Attari-Wagah border , scenes of distress and uncertainty unfolded at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) here. Unconfirmed reports suggest that immigration authorities might be permitting the return of Pakistani women from Jammu and Kashmir, some accompanied by infants, as the situation continued to evolve with no official statement from the authorities. According to sources, at least five Pakistani women, accompanied by infants just a few days to a few months old, were brought to the ICP from Jammu and Kashmir and pleaded with immigration officials not to be separated from their children. While it was claimed that the infants also held valid emergency permits to cross the border, so they were allowed to cross over to Pakistan with their mothers. At approximately 6 pm, a few burqa-clad women were seen exiting the ICP, but they declined to speak to the media. "These women lacked any valid travel documents, so they were not permitted to cross into Pakistan and were sent back," said sources. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Official confirmation of these events could not be obtained, as no immigration authority was willing to comment on record. In another tragic development, sources informed that a 68-year-old Pakistani national Abdul Wahid who also arrived from Jammu and Kashmir for crossing over to Pakistan collapsed due to a medical condition and was taken to a hospital, where he later passed away. Meanwhile, several families continue to be caught in the uncertainty following the April 29 directive. Muhammad Ibrahim, a Delhi resident, arrived at Attari to receive his two children who returned from Pakistan. His wife, Saima, a Pakistani national from Lahore, travelled to Pakistan on a three-month visa and overstayed due to the sudden death of her brother. As per the govt order issued after the Pahalgam attack, their children, holding Indian passports, were instructed to return, but Saima now needs to reapply for a visa due to her expired documentation. "We've been married for 18 years, and this situation was completely unexpected," said Ibrahim, echoing the emotional strain felt by many cross-border families. Samreen, another Pakistani national, also shared her ordeal. Having arrived in India in Sept 2024 on a 45-day visa, she later married an Indian national and applied for a long-term visa (LTV), which remains under process. "I applied for an LTV, but after the Pahalgam incident, I was suddenly asked to return. What is my fault? Why are we being punished?" she asked tearfully. In Baramulla, Ghulam Masood, who has been married for four decades, recounted how, on April 28 police visited his home and instructed both his wife and daughter-in-law —Pakistani nationals — to return to Pakistan. "This has never happened before. It feels like our lives have been turned upside down overnight," he said. Clearance of Pakistani nationals at the ICP Attari was still ongoing at the time of filing this report, as uncertainty and anguish loomed over the families affected by the sudden enforcement of exit orders. MSID:: 120766991 413 |
