Latest news with #Muslim
New Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Nestle Malaysia rolls out maiden state-level Halal@School initiative in Melaka
KUALA LUMPUR: Nestlé (M) Bhd has launched the first state-level rollout of its Halal@School programme in Melaka to promote greater understanding of halal values and healthy eating among young Malaysians. Held at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kerubong, the event gathered over 500 students from six participating schools for a series of engaging, hands-on activities focused on halal principles, food safety and balanced nutrition. Designed to make learning fun and accessible, the programme featured sharing sessions, quizzes and a specially curated Halal Explore Race, all aimed at helping students understand halal as a way of life rooted in integrity, well-being and respect for others. Launched in 2018 in partnership with the Institute of Fatwa and Halal (iFFAH) at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Halal @ School is part of Nestlé Malaysia's broader commitment to uplifting local communities and spreading nutritional knowledge. Nestlé Malaysia head of halal affairs Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor said the programme engaged students in a practical, inclusive and meaningful way, fostering greater awareness of halal values while encouraging healthier lifestyle choices among the younger generation. "As Nestlé's global Halal Centre of Excellence, we see it as our responsibility to contribute not only through the high-quality products we produce, but also through meaningful engagement with the communities we serve," he said in a statement. The programme has steadily expanded, reaching more than 5,400 students across 166 schools nationwide since its inception. In 2024 alone, three Halal @ School series were held across 23 schools in Putrajaya, Johor and Kedah, engaging over 1,100 students. The expansion into Melaka represents the next chapter for the programme, as it scales beyond individual districts to a wider, state-level audience. Additional state-wide rollouts are planned for the East coast and Northern regions later in 2025. A hallmark of Halal@School this year is its inclusive approach, welcoming participation from both Muslim and non-Muslim students. By encouraging shared learning in a multicultural setting, the programme helps nurture understanding and empathy, while reinforcing core values of ethical consumption. SK Kerubong headmistress Rahayu Mohd Thith said the programme was met with great enthusiasm from the moment it was introduced, with many students eager to participate and parents expressing hopes for all their children to be involved. "Educating our students about halal practices and healthy eating goes far beyond religious understanding, it is about nurturing a way of life that supports physical well-being, mental clarity and moral values. "We believe that through this initiative, we are nurturing a generation of students who are not only smart and modern, but also responsible and mindful of what they consume," she said.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Siddaramaiah plays minority card, hikes housing quota to 15 per cent
BENGALURU: The State Cabinet on Thursday approved an increase in quota for religious minorities from 10 per cent to 15 per cent in various housing schemes implemented by the housing department of the government in urban and rural areas across the state. Soon after the decision, the BJP accused the government of continuing with appeasement of the Muslim community. 'The Centre has given instructions to note the shortage of housing for minorities. Our government has increased the reservation keeping in mind the homeless people of this community and social justice. I need not reply to those who smell politics in providing houses to the needy poor', Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil hit back while briefing the press after the Cabinet meeting. He claimed the decision has been taken since houseless families are more among the minorities. DCM DK Shivakumar defended the move saying the houses built by the Housing Department in urban areas are mostly vacant, and minorities have shown interest in occupying them. 'In some urban areas, 20 to 30 percent of the minority community is poor. Therefore, a proposal has been made to increase reservation for them. Money should be paid for these houses. Others have not shown much interest. In Bengaluru too, houses are vacant in many residential buildings. The central government's subsidy for the construction of houses is very less. After the construction of these houses, they have fallen vacant. To whom should these be given?' he questioned. He pointed out that the buildings in Mandya have fallen vacant. Cabinet meeting likely at Nandi Hills on July 17 'What should we do when no one has applied for these houses? Should the house be left empty?', he hit back at BJP. However, the BJP termed reservation on the basis of religion as unconstitutional. 'In Karnataka, Congress has converted welfare into a market place for vote-bank politics. First, 4% quota in government contracts. Now, 15% quota in housing schemes. Where does this appeasement end?', questioned BJP state president B Y Vijayendra. He said that the Congress government is re-establishing the Bahmani Sultan's rule in Karnataka.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kerala woman''s death: Police say suicide note led to arrests as family defends accused
Kannur , The suicide of a 40-year-old woman allegedly due to a mob trial in Kerala has triggered controversy, with police arresting three men based on clues from her suicide note, while her family has come forward to defend the arrested men and instead accused her male friend of financially exploiting her. Raseena, a mother of three, was found dead at her home in Pinarayi village on Tuesday. According to police, her suicide note suggested she faced public humiliation and distress caused by certain individuals, leading to the arrest of three people. However, Raseena's mother, Fathima, said on Friday that the arrested persons are relatives who had no role in her daughter's death. "They are innocent. The real issue is that my daughter was cheated out of her gold and money," she told reporters, adding that the family plans to lodge a complaint against the young man from Mayyil village who used to visit Raseena regularly. "She had around 40 sovereigns of gold when she got married, but now there's nothing left. She had also borrowed money from many people. We believe that man took everything. Her husband is a respectable man and knew nothing about it," Fathima said. Meanwhile, police confirmed that the suicide note suggested a state of emotional breakdown. They allege that some people intimidated and defamed Raseena, even forcibly taking devices, including a mobile phone, from her friend. "She wrote that she was in a situation where she could no longer live," a police officer told reporters. Devices were recovered from those who had a role that allegedly led to her suicide, police said. All those involved in the alleged mob trial were questioned in detail, they said. Police added that Raseena's friend, identified as Rahees, will also be questioned to understand the full picture. Following a note recovered from the scene, police had arrested three workers of the Social Democratic Party of India , a political offshoot of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India , in connection with the case. The arrested were identified as V C Mubsheer , K A Faisal , and V K Rafnas all residents of the same area. Police said the group allegedly questioned Raseena and her friend near a mosque, later assaulting the man and detaining him for several hours. They allegedly took away his mobile phone and tablet and summoned family members to an SDPI office before releasing him late at night. Responding to the suicide of the woman, a mother of three, following the alleged moral policing incident, senior CPI leader and All India Democratic Women's Association national president P K Sreemathi said what happened in that village was "Talibanism." "It is the mindset of certain people who believe that a Muslim woman should not speak to a man who is not her husband, and it was this Taliban-like mentality that led to the young woman's suicide," Sreemathi told a news channel. "This is not just extremism it is beyond extremism, it is sheer terror. Such terrifying acts and extremist activities must be ended," she said. Sreemathi said this cannot be allowed to continue on Kerala's soil. "The people of Kerala will face this head-on. This must be uprooted. We must confront this with full strength," she said.
Al Manar
an hour ago
- Politics
- Al Manar
Hezbollah Pledges Unwavering Allegiance to Imam Khamenei, Blasts Foolish Assassination Threat
Hezbollah pledged on Thursday unwavering allegiance to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, as it blasted as 'foolish and reckless' assassination threats made by the US and the Zionist entity against the Leader. In a statement, Hezbollah said: 'It seems that some regional actors fail to comprehend the great stature of the senior religious reference and Grand Ayatollah Imam Khamenei (may his shadow endure), a leader revered by Iran, Muslim Ummah (nation), the world, and all free nations.' The Lebanese resistance party described threats against Imam Khamenei's life as 'foolish and reckless act that has grave consequences.' 'Despite its absurdity and the low level of those threatening, such rhetoric insults hundreds of millions of faithful, lovers, and those are connected to Islam and the path of authenticity, resistance, and dignity. It is denounced and condemned in the most eloquent terms.' Hezbollah voiced unwavering allegiance to Imam Khamenei and his path. 'Today, we stand more determined behind the great leader, Imam Khamenei. We are keener to adhere by his great path and heroic stances in confronting, along with the Iranian nation, the Israel-US aggression.' In this context, it warned that the US will soon find out that it has fallen into 'a deep abyss over its tyrannical support for the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the resistance in the region and the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Hezbollah affirmed, meanwhile, that 'no force can defeat millions who are united under Imam Khamenei's leadership, even if the world's infidels and criminals gathered.' 'The coming days will prove the resistance victorious,' Hezbollah concluded the statement. Senior Israeli officials, along with US President Donald Trump have been since last week threatening, Implicitly or explicitly, to assassinate Imam Khamenei.
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Selangor Vows To Monitor Religious Liberalism, Pluralism To Safeguard Sanctity Of Islam
SHAH ALAM, June 20 (Bernama) -- The Selangor government will continue its efforts to monitor, detect, and enforce laws against any individual involved in promoting religious liberalism and pluralism, to safeguard the sanctity of Islam in the state. State Islamic Religious Affairs and Cultural Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah said the public is also encouraged to report to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) if there is evidence of any individual practising or spreading such beliefs. "Muslims in Selangor cherish their religion and will continue to defend its purity. The majority of Muslims in the state will not tolerate any individual, group, or institution attempting to undermine, distort, or confuse the beliefs, faith, understanding, and practices of the Muslim community in Selangor. "Islamic religious administration and management institutions in the state, such as the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), JAIS, State Fatwa Committee and the State Executive Council, will continue to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that the teachings of Islam remain strong, protected, and upheld in the state," he said in a statement today. The statement was issued in response to the Federal Court's decision yesterday in allowing an appeal by SIS Forum Malaysia and its co-founder Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar in their legal challenge against a fatwa issued in 2014 by the Selangor Fatwa Committee declaring the organisation to have deviated from Islamic teachings. A four-judge panel led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat in a 3-1 majority decision set aside the fatwa, insofar as it applied to companies and institutions Mohammad Fahmi also emphasised that, according to the fatwa, any individual who subscribes to the ideology of liberalism and religious pluralism is considered deviant and strays from the teachings of Islam. He agreed with the stance and concerns of MAIS that the Federal Court's decision could potentially open the door for certain parties to promote such ideologies among Muslims in Selangor through organisations, associations, companies, or other institutions. "These individuals should not be allowed to continue practising and spreading such ideology either openly or privately using the label 'Islam' to legitimise their activities and gain acceptance,' he said.
