Latest news with #non-Islamic
Spectator
4 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Striking Fordow will not solve the Iran problem
The world is watching Donald Trump to see if he will green light the use of one of America's most deadly weapons, the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (Mop), to destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities at Fordow. As a man with a seemingly inexhaustible need for attention, this is a gratifying position for him to be in. But a potentially dangerous one for the rest of us. 'Trump doesn't have a taste for war,' someone said to me recently. 'War's bad for business.' This appears to be true so far; we have certainly seen Trump try his hand at peace-making in Gaza, Ukraine and Iran with consistently poor results. But history is full of examples of far more principled men than Trump acquiring a taste for war through a thirst for power and money. And we all know what Donald thinks about power and money. If this war, and America's involvement in it, could be presented to Trump as a step towards peace and money and more power, then we should not be surprised in the slightest if he says, 'Ok. Go ahead.' We hear the 'no surrender' messages coming out of Tehran (notwithstanding rumours of Khamenei's death overnight). It seems then a question of when not if America joins in. But striking Fordow will not solve the problem that this war has created. Iran's threats to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (hidden among the news cycle) give us a glimpse of the real pariah state in Tehran that might follow; unmoored from global norms, driven by a strong sense of vengeance and injustice and still limping on somehow. And with not an IAEA weapons inspector in sight, very much like the situation we have in North Korea. A decisive defeat for the Islamic Republic is now the only option left for America and Israel, for anything less than this would almost certainly give the world yet another broken nation in a troubled region full of conflict. Does Trump's administration possess the strategic attention span or will require to construct a strategy to rebuild what he has destroyed? Not a chance. And especially not now that the USA doesn't have a civilian aid agency (previously USAID) through whom this essential work would be carried out. Israel has no appetite or expertise for that sort of thing, either. This scenario is what worries the Gulf countries, of whom Saudi Arabia is the most prosperous and diplomatically powerful. Had you asked Riyadh four years ago if they'd have liked to see a non-Islamic Republic Iran, they'd have said yes. There is no love lost between Tehran and Riyadh, placing to one side the petro-dollar fuelled hiatus when the Shah was in power. But from Riyadh to Ankara, to Bahrain and beyond, the fear now is that perhaps the price to pay for removing Khamenei (decades of instability and conflict) is simply too high, no matter sectarian fault lines. And so, they are caught between desiring a swift end to the conflict and knowing that swift ends to conflicts in this region are illusory goals that belong to the fevered imagination of people like Netanyahu and Trump. And these views are distorted by the fog of war and ego respectively.
Arab Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Hong Kong named ‘Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination' by GMTI 2025
HONG KONG, June 16: Hong Kong has been recognised as the third most Muslim-friendly travel destination among non-Islamic economies in the Mastercard-CrescentRating 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), marking an improvement of one position from the previous year. While the recognition is seen as a positive step, industry insiders believe there is still room to better attract Muslim visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced the ranking on Friday, along with news that the city was also awarded the title of 'Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year.' CrescentRating, a Singapore-based consultancy specialising in the Muslim travel market, was commissioned by the Tourism Board last year to assess and rate Hong Kong's facilities in terms of Muslim-friendliness. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed his satisfaction with the accolade on social media, stating that the recognition highlights Hong Kong's efforts to promote halal tourism. He noted that enhancing Muslim-friendly offerings was part of his policy agenda from the previous year. 'I am grateful for the active participation of various industries in promoting halal tourism, which has significantly enhanced our tourism offerings,' Lee said. 'The government will continue to strengthen promotional efforts to enhance Hong Kong's Muslim-friendly image and encourage more businesses to provide high-quality services.' Peter Lam Kin-ngok, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, also welcomed the recognition. He said the Board had worked closely with the government and industry partners to position the city as a Muslim-friendly destination through accreditation, education, and promotion. 'We have also helped build closer ties with the Middle East and ASEAN countries in recent years,' Lam added. The GMTI report highlighted Hong Kong's increasing efforts to attract Muslim tourists and diversify its visitor market. Since June last year, over 60 establishments have received Muslim-friendly accreditation from CrescentRating. So far, 61 hotels in Hong Kong have been rated for their Muslim-friendliness by CrescentRating, with nine achieving the highest score of five. These include the Island Shangri-La, Dorsett Tsuen Wan, and Kerry Hotel. Ratings range from one to seven, though scores of six and seven are reserved for accommodations that meet the full range of needs for 'halal-conscious' travellers. Globally, Singapore topped the list of non-Islamic destinations, followed by the United Kingdom. Taiwan ranked fourth and Thailand fifth. Among Islamic destinations, Malaysia ranked first, followed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia. Despite Hong Kong's progress, Sharifa Leung, founder of the halal food consultancy Hani Halal, pointed out challenges that still exist in truly understanding halal practices and Muslim culture. 'Many businesses, including hotels and restaurants, lack proper staff training,' said Leung, a third-generation Muslim Hongkonger. 'They're eager to obtain certification, but often before fully grasping the reasons behind the practices.' Leung highlighted issues such as shared ablution facilities that overlook the need for gender separation, or prayer rooms with large reflective windows that contradict Islamic norms of minimal distraction during prayer. She also noted confusion in some food outlets where non-halal dishes were assumed to become halal after prayers, or Urdu script was mistaken for Arabic. 'Expanding halal food options is essential, but enhancing the overall tourist experience matters just as much,' Leung said. 'We need greater involvement of the Muslim community, cultural connection-building, and targeted events for Muslim travellers.' She emphasized that investing in professional training would ensure hospitality staff are better equipped to cater to Muslim guests and that businesses owned or managed by Muslims tend to earn greater trust from Muslim travellers.
The Star
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Task force to assist non-Muslim groups
Ling says Johor government will address matters with a more systematic approach. A SPECIAL task force has been formed by Johor government to address matters affecting non-Islamic religious groups. Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the task force, co-chaired by himself and state unity, heritage and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar, was approved during a state executive council meeting in late April. 'The task force will focus on resolving long-standing issues faced by non-Islamic religious groups, especially in relation to reserve land status, land ownership transfers and property tax. 'Instead of addressing such matters on a case-by-case basis, as was previously done, the state government is now taking a more systematic approach through the task force,' he said in an interview. Ling, who is also MCA Youth chief, said the task force was gathering all relevant data and documents before convening in mid-June to discuss and resolve the issues. He added that the state government was open and willing to listen to the people's voices. 'Recently, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi helped iron out technical issues for the proposed SJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao. 'The construction of the school was put on hold and delayed for years due to land-related matters. 'With support from the Mentri Besar, a piece of land has been specifically marked for the school and handed over to the Federal Lands Commissioner,' he said. Ling said Onn Hafiz was open to assisting in matters related to the Chinese and Indian communities, especially regarding education, culture and religion. He said in recent years, the state granted exemptions for property tax involving Chinese independent schools including Foon Yew High School's Seri Alam campus, which was announced in January. 'The paperwork for the tax exemption has been completed and will be brought to the state executive council meeting for approval soon. 'We are committed to finding fair and practical solutions to these issues so that development and harmony can continue to flourish in the state,' he said.
The Star
08-06-2025
- General
- The Star
90-year-old home going strong
Chow greets one of the residents at the Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged. CM praises Penang folk, establishment committee for caring for the aged PENANG government has allocated RM50,000 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged in Sungai Dua. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is the home's board chairman, thanked the committee, donors, volunteers and supporters for their continued dedication, noting that their contributions had been vital to the well-being and relevance of the home in this modern era. 'This home has been a sanctuary for the abandoned, the lonely, the poor and the elderly with no family to turn to. 'And what makes it even more remarkable is that all of this care, from food and lodging to medical support, is provided completely free of charge. 'Penangites always have a strong spirit of looking out for one another, and this home is a living, breathing example of that,' he said, reports Buletin Mutiara. Some of the food stalls set up at the food fair at Sungai Dua. — Courtesy photos The celebration also featured a charity food fair, drawing hundreds of supporters with a wide variety of food and drinks. Residents enjoyed the lively atmosphere, sharing moments of happiness with the public. Chow said such events were important not only to raise funds but also to strengthen the home's connection with the community. 'It brings people together. It raises awareness. And it reminds us of the responsibility we all share to care for our seniors,' Chow said at the food fair held in Sungai Dua. Responding to growing public curiosity about the administration of the home, Chow said the state government did not operate the facility solely. He said the 90-year-old home, founded under the colonial government, has traditionally had the chief minister as chairman, a role focused on guidance rather than direct control. Also present at the event were home trustee Datuk Seri Chong Eng and state social development, welfare, and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim.
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Jakim may set global halal standard
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia will lead discussions for a consolidified halal logo under the World Halal Council. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said they are considering using the standards set by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) as the benchmark. "God willing, in November we will go to Riyadh and discuss the logo with the World Halal Council. "This means that we would not need different halal logos for different Islamic countries or non-Islamic countries that issue halal logos. Instead, we will use the standards set by Jakim as the benchmark," he said at the sidelines of the Fortune Asean-GCC Economic Forum today. Zahid is chairman of the Halal Industry Development Council of Malaysia.
