'King' Ghaz dies...Al fatiha

Former Home Minister Tun Ghazali Shafie, popularly known as 'King' Ghaz, passed away at his residence in Subang Jaya, about 7.45pm Sunday, Bernama reports.

He was 88.

Tun Ghazali, who was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, leaves behind two sons, Bachtiaer and Sheriffudin.

His wife, Toh Puan Khatijah Abdul Majid, passed away in April 2008.

Semoga Allah SWT mengampuni Allahyarham. Amin.

DYMM Sultan Johor mangkat

Berita rasmi dari Bernama: Sat, January 23, 2010 01:51 AM

The Sultan of Johor is Dead

JOHOR BAHARU, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail, 77, died at the Puteri Specialist Hospital at 7.15pm after being admitted Friday night following an illness.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman in announcing the Sultan's demise said that his remains would be buried at the Bukit Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum at 2pm on Saturday.

"The Sultan of Johor was very much respected and loved," he said when reading the statement to announce the death of the Sultan at Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim, here Friday night.

He said the proclamation of the new Sultan of Johor would be made Saturday at Istana Besar before the funeral.

Earlier on Friday, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar was appointed the Regent of Johor in a ceremony at the Istana Besar.

-- BERNAMA

Earlier report:

DYMM Sultan Johor Tuanku Sultan Iskandar Al Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail Al Khalidi mangkat jam 7.08 malam hari ini (7.08pm today according to unofficial report). Baginda berusia 77 tahun. (Read here)

Baginda, telah dimasukkan ke Hospital Pakar Puteri Johor Bahru hari ini dan ekoran itu Jemaah Majlis Diraja Johor telah bersetuju melantik Duli Yang Amat Mulia, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Sultan Iskandar, Tengku Mahkota Johor sebagai Pemangku Raja. (read here )

Semoga Allah SWT. mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh Baginda.

Al fatiha.

Al Fatiha... Tun Fatimah Hashim

Malaysia's first woman minister, Tun Dr Fatimah Hashim, 85, died of old age at her residence at 11.35 Saturday night.

Her son, Abdul Karim Abdul Kadir, said she would be buried after the Zohor prayers today (Sunday) at the National Mosque beside the grave of her husband, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusoff, a former Attorney-General and former Minister of Law and National Development.

"Her remains will be buried at the National Mosque after receiving permission from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak," Abdul Karim told Bernama.

Fatimah, who is survived by six children, was born in Kampung Parit Kurma, Muar, Johor on Dec 25, 1924 and received her early education at the Sekolah Melayu Perempuan Mersing, Johor before becoming a teacher.

She was appointed Welfare Minister on May 20, 1969 until March 1, 1973.

Fatimah joined politics in 1947 and had held the post of Head of the Umno Kaum Ibu movement, which is now known as Wanita Umno, from September 1956 until June 1972.

On Aug 19 last year, she was chosen as one of the four outstanding Malaysians to receive the Merdeka Award for the Education and Community category.

The King: Remain Calm and Respect House of Worshps.

King Reminds People To Remain Calm, Respect Houses Of Worship

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin wants all Malaysians to remain calm in the wake of the High Court decision on the use of the word "Allah" and respect houses of worship irrespective of religion.

In a statement issued by Istana Negara today, Tuanku Mizan said he very much hoped that the spirit of unity and mutual respect which formed the backbone of the nation's strength would at all times be safeguarded.

His Majesty said he was expressing this hope in view of the government taking the necessary follow-up steps following the court decision and all quarters respecting the sanctity and position of Islam as the official religion of the federation.

"To ensure peace and harmony among the followers of different religions, the meaning and reference to "Allah" in the general context should conform to the description fixed by Islam because this practice has all this while been accepted by Malaysians of other faiths," said Tuanku Mizan.

On Dec 31, the High Court had ruled that the Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia could use the word "Allah" in its weekly publication, Herald.

On Wednesday, the same High Court allowed a stay of execution on the use of the word following and agreement between the Home Ministry and the church in the national interest.

Three churches around Kuala Lumpur, the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati; the Assumption Church and the Life Chapel in Petaling Jaya were subjected to attacks last night and early today. --- BERNAMA

Najib condems arson attack on churches

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has condemned the attack made on three churches.

But he wants the public not to point fingers as who may have been responsible for the attack.

He viewed the matter seriously, hesaid, as these actions could jeopardise harmony, adding that the Government would take all possible action to prevent such incident from recurring and has already instructed the IGP to beef up secrity and surveilance at places of worship.

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak slammed the action of some irresponsible people who attacked a church and directed the police to beef up security at all places of worship.

The Prime Minister said he viewed the incident very seriously, especially the two incidents - first an attempt to burn down a church and the second, sending out a threat to another.

Najib said such action can destroy the existing harmony of the country.

"I condemn such action by the irresponsible people because it can harm the cordial relationship and harmony that has been in existence. As a multi-racial community we must practice respect for one another...it cannot come under threat from anybody," he told reporters after witnessing an exchange of memorandum for Human Resource Development in the Northern Corridor Economic Region, here on Friday.

Najib added that the government would take whatever action needed to curb such incidents.

He added that he had directed Federal Police Chief Tan Sri Musa Hassan to beef up security at all places of worship.

Early this morning, two church arson incidents had taken place in Desa Melawati and Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya while another received a threat.

Najib said whatever problem or issue in the country must be resolved through the proper procedures or through the law.

"There should be no overzealous action that can harm the harmony of the country," he said.

The Prime Minister said fingers should not be pointed at Umno for such action.

"The matter must be handed to the authorities for proper investigation and action in accordance with the law," he said.

Asked of the planned protest rallies after the Friday prayers, Najib said he had already informed the police to monitor the situation.

"That's why they must nip it in the bud, hope with this statement and action by the police, people will not take the law into their hands," Najib said.

Najib added that he would receive information on such incidents from Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and the Federal Police Chief.

"When he gets the evidence, he will report to me," Najib said.

The Prime Minister also refuted a claim by a journalist from an online portal that Umno members were the ones responsible for starting the flames after the High Court had ruled that the word "Allah" can be used by Catholic Weekly-Herald.

"Don't point the finger at Umno or anybody. We have always been very responsible. Don't say that these attacks were motivated by Umno. That is a very scurrilous statement that you have just made. You are alluding to it. Please stop that," Najib told the journalist.

-- BERNAMA

Home Ministry gets stay order on use of "Allah"

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today granted a stay in favour of the Home Ministry to stop Catholic weekly magazine Herald, from using the word 'Allah' pending an appeal.

Lawyers acting for the magazine did not object to the application, citing the ground of national interest.

The application was heard in chambers by High Court judge Lau Bee Lan. Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail appeared for the ministry, while Derek Fernandez and Benjamin Dawson appeared for Herald.

Court Allows Stay of Earlier Order On Use of "Allah"

By M. Santhiran

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The High Court on Wednesday allowed a stay of an earlier order to allow the use of "Allah" by Catholic weekly, Herald, following consent by the Home Ministry and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malaysia on the grounds of national interest.

Justice Datuk Lau Bee Lan, who had issued the earlier order on Dec 31 last year, made the ruling in chambers after meeting Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and counsel Derek J. Fernandez for Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam for 30 minutes.

Fernandez told reporters that Lau agreed to record the stay by consent.

Abdul Gani was grateful that there was agreement for a stay.

"As far as I am concerned, it involves national interest, there is no necessity to get involved in an argument for a stay," he said.

"I am very grateful to my learned friend who has agreed for a stay and we will try to have this matter be heard as soon as possible in the Court of Appeal. I believe it can be very, very soon," said the attorney-general.

On Tuesday, the ministry filed an application for a stay of the earlier court ruling after lodging an appeal with the Court of Appeal, a day earlier.

Abdul Gani said the speediness of the process should not be misconstrued because the issue should be resolved as soon as possible.

"I should say this again, there should be no kind of perception on this matter since it is better this matter is being heard so fast. It doesn't mean that something is wrong, let's not have such perception.

"The important thing is that the matter should be settled as soon as possible. All of us should respect the court decision," he said.

Asked if there was pressure on this case, he replied: "You can't say there is pressure in this case since there is a pressure in all cases. I don't want to give any kind of perception now, let the matter settle."

Fernandez said his side had agreed to the attorney-general's request for a stay due to national interest, pending the next course at the Court of Appeal.

"We are concerned of the breach of subjudice rule by many parties who are showing disrespect to the court. Tan Sri assured us he would look into those matters," he said.

On Dec 31, Lau ruled that pursuant to Articles 11 and 12 of the Federal Constitution, the Herald had the constitutional right to use the word, in respect of instruction and education of the congregation in the Christian religion.

She also said that pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, it was an offence for non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to Muslims to propagate the religion but it was not an offence for non-Muslims to use the word to non-Muslims for the purpose of religion.

On Feb 16, the archbishop filed for a judicial review on the use of the word "Allah" in the church's publications for the period Jan 1 to Dec 31, last year, naming the ministry and the government as respondents and claiming that the word "Allah" was not exclusive to the religion of Islam.

The Herald, which is printed in four languages, has been using the word "Allah" as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section.

The word "Allah" is widely used among the indigenous Christian groups in Sabah and Sarawak, most of whom speak Bahasa Malaysia.

The minister had justified the ban on the grounds of national security and to avert misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims. -- BERNAMA

Al fatiha...

Former Information Minister and one-time Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat died in his sleep at his Damansara Height home this morning. He was 71.

Tok Mat, as he was affectionately known and the longest serving Umno and Barisan Nasional secretary-general, was buried after Asar prayers at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetry.

According to Tok Mat’s wife, Puan Sri Salbiah Abdul Hamid, her husband had passed away at about 8 am. She discovered his death when she tried to wake him up.

Tok Mat served as the information minister twice, from 1978 to 1982 under then prime minister, the late Tun Hussein Onn, and from 1987 to 1999 under then prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was also Malaysia's ambassador to Indonesia, with ministerial status, from 1982 to 1984.

He held the post of Umno secretary-general from 1988 to 1996 and as the BN secretary-general from 1988 to 1999.

Tok Mat Went Peacefully, Says His Wife

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- "I am thankful because he went away peacefully," said Puan Sri Salbiah Abdul Hamid, on the death of her husband, former Information Minister and former Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat on Friday.

Mohamed, better known as Tok Mat, died at his residence at Bukit Damansara, here at about 8.00 Friday morning.

Mohamed, who was to celebrate his 72nd birthday on Monday, was said to have died in his sleep.

Salbiah said she realised that her husband was no longer breathing at about 8am when she was about to switch of the dialysis machine which was attached to his body.

"Usually, at about 8.40 in the morning I would switch off the dialysis machine attached to his body, but this morning at about 8am, I noticed that the machine was 'hanging' and his chest showed that he was not breathing," she told Bernama at their residence.

Salbiah said that she immediately telephoned the doctor and their children to inform them about the situation.

"The doctor (who came) later confirmed that Tok Mat had breathed his last at 8 this morning," she said.

Mohamed had been suffering kidney ailment for the past 10 years and had to undergo dialysis treatment every day.

Salbiah said her late husband had also instructed the family driver to come for work this morning to take her out for a drive.

"Tok Mat instructed our driver to come for work today despite the public holiday. He had asked the driver to take me out for a drive...as if giving a premonition that he was going away," she said.

"Yesterday, he did not call me at all...usually, he would call me every night to help him to urinate and I would push the (dialysis) machine to the bathroom.

"I also did not hear anything except when he switched the TV on and off...he would watch the news for 24 hours. Probably, he did not feel any pain, Alhamdulillah, he went away peacefully," she said.

Salbiah was also thankful that before he died, Mohamed had time to meet Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

"He wanted very much to see Datuk Seri Rais and two days ago, Tok Mat was able to met the minister at the Information Communication and Culture Ministry," she said.

Salbiah also thanked everyone, including top government leaders who had come to pay their last respect to her late husband.

Mohamed would be buried at the Muslim Cemetery at Bukit Kiara, here after the 'Asar' prayer.

-- BERNAMA

Semoga rohnya dirahmati Allah SWT dan diletakkan di kalangan para solihin,