2021) NEWS STRAIT TIMES 17/6/2014 - State govt mum on issue

Headline: State govt mum on issue

Publication: NST
Date of publication: Jun 17, 2014
Section heading: Main Section
Page number: 003
Byline / Author: By Nuradilla NoorazamSHAH ALAM: THE deafening silence by the Selangor government and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) following a hotly-anticipated closed-door meeting yesterday to discuss the seizure of 300 Malay and Iban-language Bibles has added even more intrigue to the issue.

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim yesterday chaired the meeting with Mais, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and state executive councillors, to discuss follow-up action to the decision by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to return the confiscated Bibles to its owner, the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

However, Khalid remained holed up in the meeting room and did not come out to meet reporters after the meeting ended.

It was reported that Khalid had earlier told the press of the meeting, scheduled to held at 4.30pm.

However, the media were left baffled when, at 6.30pm, the meeting room doors opened and officials, believed to be from Mais and Jais, stormed out and made a beeline for the elevators.

Mais chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa was seen leaving the meeting room but evaded the media by using another elevator.

Jais officials, when pressed by reporters at the lobby for details, refused to comment on the meeting.

Selangor exco member and Pas assemblyman Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, when asked on the state government's position on the issue, refused to disclose any details.

He simply repeated "no comment" to the flood of questions and proceeded to the elevators.

The press waited for Khalid to come down to the lobby, but after an hour, decided to disperse when there were no signs of the menteri besar. It was learnt that Mais officials had met the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris, earlier yesterday to discuss the issue.

However, Mais representatives declined to confirm the claim.

Khalid, meanwhile, is slated to meet the sultan tomorrow to discuss the matter. It was understood that the menteri besar would not be issuing any statement on the issue until then.

The issue began on Jan 2, when Jais, employing a state law which prohibits non-Muslims from using the word "Allah" to refer to God, raided BSM's premises in Damansara and seized more than 300 copies of the Malay and Iban language Bibles.

However, the A-G later cleared BSM of any wrongdoing and concluded that the seized Bibles be returned to BSM.

The decision was challenged on Saturday by Mais, which claimed that the A-G's decision could cause confusion among Muslims. Mais had also claimed that the Selangor government had no authority to instruct Jais to return the Bibles.

Mais also expressed its belief that there was a case to be made against BSM under the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

The A-G's decision was met with criticism by a group of non-governmental organisations, which comprised Gabungan Bela Hak Insan Pulau Pinang (Gabungan), Malay rights group Perkasa, Malaysia Muslim Consumer Association (PPIM) and Ikatan Kebajikan & Dakwah Selangor (IKDDAS).

Among others, they had accused the A-G of betraying the Muslim community through his inaction on the issue.

2008) NEWS STREATS TIMES 10/6/2014 - Consumer assoc chief activist claims trial to causing hurt

PUNITHA KUMAR

punithak@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan claimed trial at a magistrates' court here today for hurting a consumer activist in March.

According to the charge sheet, Nadzim,54, and PPIM member Tengku Faezah Raja Fuad, 32, had committed the offence upon one Adam Mikail, 43, at Villa Puteri condominium, Jalan Tun Ismail, here around noon on March 28.

During proceedings, Kuala Lumpur unit prosecution head Suhaimi Ibrahim said there was no need for bail as it was a summons served on both Nadzim and Faezah.

The duo were charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which if convicted, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to two thousand ringgit, or with both.

Magistrate Nur Azura Murah fixed June 26 for mention.

Counsel Hasnal Rezua Merican appeared for Nadzim and Faezah.

2007) NEWS STREATS TIME 11/6/2014 - Consumer bodies agree GST will result in fall in prices

Consumer bodies agree GST will result in fall in prices

KUALA LUMPUR: Consumer associations are in agreement that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will result in the fall of prices in goods and services.

They concurred with Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan, who had said that not all items and services would be more expensive after the introduction of the new tax system in April next year.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations deputy president Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said the fall in prices of goods and services was one of the reasons behind the introduction of the GST.

"The GST will benefit consumers. However, I'm not sure if the public is aware of this as there has been minimal awareness about the benefits of GST."

Shaani urged the authorities to explain the mechanisms of the GST to the public as they needed convincing on the finer points of the system.

"It is imperative to ensure that the public is given correct information about the benefits of GST, as they may be manipulated by irresponsible parties, who disseminate false facts, leading to the rejection of GST."

On Sunday, Ahmad said goods and services taxed at 10 per cent under the current Sales and Services Tax (SST) would find taxes levied dropped to six per cent, while some would see a slight increase to six per cent and some would go unchanged, as some items and services, such as food, transport, education and medicine, would be exempted from the tax.

Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the public was generally unaware that that the GST would result in the drop of prices.

"Price drops will undoubtedly catch the public's eye.

"Unfortunately, there is not enough exposure on the concept of GST, contributing to the rejection of the whole concept by certain groups."

Kedah Consumers Association president Datuk Yusoff Ismail echoed Nadzim's sentiments.

"But the focus must now shift to getting the public to trust that the GST is good for the economy. They also need to know how else the GST can benefit the public."

1991) NEWS STRAITS TIMES 3/6/2014 - Op Outlet clearing out nation of illicit ciggies

Headline: Op Outlet clearing out nation of illicit ciggies

Publication: NST
Date of publication: Jun 3, 2014
Section heading: Main Section
Page number: 021
KUALA LUMPUR: Retail associations are taking the initiative to support Op Outlet by visiting outlets and talking to retailers about the importance of the fight against the distribution of illicit cigarettes.

Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop Association (PJCA) and Association of Muslim Restaurant Operators Malaysia (Presma) have spent time engaging business owners and explaining to them why selling illicit cigarettes was not only against the law, but morally wrong, as the items were unregulated by the government.

PJCA president Cheah Poo Kuang said the association had pledged to support the Customs Department initiative, as it protected the interests of honest retailers in the community.

"Retailers must understand that selling illicit cigarettes is bad for all, as it affects the livelihood of those running legitimate businesses.

"Since (the initiative) began, we have seen that the number of consumers who purchase illicit cigarettes has dropped significantly, which proves that the authorities' enforcement is a success.

"We hope this awareness campaign will help association members be more aware of the consequences (of distributing illegal cigarettes) and convince them that it is not worth being jailed and fined over."

He said it was the association's duty to remind members that selling illicit cigarettes would not bring them profit.

Cheah said illicit cigarettes were also bad for consumers, as they contained unregulated substances that had been reported to be five times more dangerous than those contained in regulated cigarettes.

He said not only was the business transaction illegal, but retailers were providing consumers with dangerous products.

Presma vice-secretary Habeebur Rahman Shahul Hameed echoed Cheah's sentiment, saying the livelihoods of retailers who ran legitimate businesses were threatened by the sale of illicit cigarettes.

He said the sale of legal cigarettes had gradually increased among association members after the launch of Op Outlet.

Habeebur Rahman said those who thought that selling illicit cigarettes would earn them more profit, as they did not have to pay taxes, were fooling themselves.

"We want association members to abide by the law and we urge them to stop supporting the sale of illicit cigarettes.

"Violating the law can put them at risk of being jailed or fined."

On Thursday, a sundry shop owner in Tumpat, Kelantan, was fined RM1,000 by the magistrate's court for selling contraband cigarettes.

Mohamed Jahar Salleh, 53, was also fined another RM600 on a separate charge of possessing a box of fire crackers.

He pleaded guilty to both counts of possessing various brands of cigarettes and kretek, valued at RM53.41, and a box of firecrackers, valued at RM43.20, at the premises of MJS Resources in Kampung Chenderong Batu, Wakaf Bahru, at 2pm on April 28.

Magistrate Ahmad Adha Amir Yasser Amri ordered Jahar to pay a RM1,000 fine or serve 10 months' jail for the first offence, and a RM600 fine or six months' jail for the second charge.

Jahar paid the fines. During mitigation, he pleaded for a lighter sentence, telling the court that he had three children, who were still in school, under his care.

Jahar was unrepresented, while Customs Department prosecutor Karthy Gasedev Devarajoo prosecuted.

1975) NEWSTRAITSTIMES 31/05/2014 - Cadbury to address tainted chocs issue

Headline: Cadbury to address tainted chocs issue

Publication: NST
Date of publication: May 31, 2014
Section heading: Main Section
Page number: 019

KUALA LUMPUR: Cadbury Confectionery Malaysia Sdn Bhd yesterday assured consumers that it is doing its best to resolve the concern that led to the recall of two of its products after they were found to be tainted with porcine DNA.

Its corporate affairs head Raja Zalina Raja Safran said Cadbury would be meeting their stakeholders to reassure them of the company's commitment to address the issue.

"Our focus on the issue continues and we will be meeting with our stakeholders, including leaders of the Muslim community, to reassure them of our commitment to making quality products that meet the needs of Malaysian consumers," she said in a statement yesterday.

Raja Zalina said although the company had proactively and voluntarily recalled its Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond chocolates, they had no reason to believe that there was any porcine or pork-related ingredient in other chocolate products.

"We stand by our halal certification and we have the highest levels of product labelling standards," she said, adding that the company was confident that their products were halal and certified safe for Muslim consumption.

She said the company would also remain positive while awaiting the analysis results from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

"We also acknowledge the efforts by the National Fatwa Council to help build an understanding with consumers that our products are safe for consumption.

"We have always remained committed to Jakim's halal regulatory guidelines." Traces of the porcine DNA were found in Cadbur y Dairy Milk Hazelnut (batch number 200813M01H I2 that expires on Nov 13, 2014) and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond (batch number 221013N01R I1 that expires on Jan 15, 2015), triggering a public outcry.

The findings followed random tests carried out by the Health Ministry on products taken from shelves in Perlis and Kedah in February.

On Thursday, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association and Malaysian Muslim Wholesalers and Retailers Association had called for a boycott of all Cadbury products.

The two associations contended that Cadbury, as a company trusted by many for decades, had not only violated the Food Act, but also public trust after traces of porcine DNA were found in two of its products, adding that the company should have had prior knowledge since it had test mechanisms and facilities.

1974) NEWSTRAITSTIMES - Jakim never hides or manipulates facts in addressing issues

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has never hidden or manipulated facts in addressing issues and in carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to it.

Its directoor-general Datuk Othman Mustapha stressed this at a special meeting with representatives of eight Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to discuss the halal issue, here, today.

 

The NGOs are the Malaysia Ulama Association (PUM), Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs (ACCIN), Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), Malaysia Indian Muslim Youth Movement (GEPIMA), Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA), Malaysia Consumer Protection and Welfare Board (LPKPM), Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) and Malaysia Islamic Welfare Organisation (PERKIM).

 

"The meeting was aimed at hearing the views of the NGOs on the halal issue following the perception, opinions, complaints and suggestions which they have voiced out through various mediums," Othman said.

 

"Jakim also took the opportunity to explain the status of the discovery of two Cadbury chocolate products containing porcine (pork) DNA," he said in a statement today.

 

He said Jakim paid serious attention to issues raised and suggestions made by NGOs and thanked them for their concern over the halal issue.

 

-- BERNAMA

Read more: Jakim never hides or manipulates facts in addressing issues - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/jakim-never-hides-or-manipulates-facts-in-addressing-issues-1.608690#ixzz33RxBlesV