The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Johor Ruler hopes to make programme an annual do after a huge turnout
- Ministry must stress on historical aspects of constitution
- Owner worried about status of his house
| Johor Ruler hopes to make programme an annual do after a huge turnout Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:49 PM PST MUAR: Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar hopes to make the grand Santai di Jambatan Sultan Ismail programme an annual event following the success of the first event held on Sunday night. The event, where the bridge spanning Sungai Muar between Bandar Maharani and Tanjung Agas was turned into a park-like venue, attracted more than 40,000 people. It was part of a five-day five-night celebration organised in conjunction with the ruler's 54th birthday who also declared Bandar Maharani as Bandar DiRaja (Royal town). The bridge and all roads leading to it, which were closed between 3pm on Sunday and 5am on Monday, were filled with people who wanted to watch boat processions and huge fireworks that night. Residents from all walks of life started to fill the bridge, the Laman Maharani recreational spot along Jalan Maharani and along river bank on both sides as early as 7pm. By 8pm the roads leading to the town from Jalan Salleh, Jalan Bakri and Jalan Temenggong Ahmad were congested as people were looking for spots to park their cars. The Muar municipal council had also turned parts of the stretch on the bridge into a night market area with 140 stalls selling drinks, food and even toys for the children. Council president Zulkiflee Abbas said the Santai bersama Tuanku programme on the bridge was a very special event to allow the Ruler to meet his subjects without observing protocol. Sultan Ibrahim, who was accompanied by Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and Johor Police Chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff arrived at the bridge at about 8.40pm. The ruler decided to walk to the middle of the more than one kilometre bridge to watch floats of beautifully decorated vessels passing under the bridge. He joined the thousands of residents watching the floats standing up while talking with villagers who were near him and shaking hands with them. He was very happy to see the huge crowd of people from all races filling not only the bridge but along both riverbanks and roads along both sides of the river. "I think we should close the bridge once a year and organise this event annually," he said. The Ruler then asked the crowd around him whether they like to see similar event and the bridge closed once a year and the crowd shouted 'Yes, Tuanku!' The Ruler repeated the question twice and was happy that the people of Muar wanted the event to be made an annual event. After spending about 30 minutes on the bridge Sultan Ibrahim and other leaders, including UDA Holdings Berhad chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed left the bridge. However, the crowd continued to remain on the bridge and in several parts of the town and at Tanjung Agas waiting for the big firework show. And all were thrilled, including old folks and children, when at 10.30pm, fireworks started to brighten the night sky over the river fired from a vessel berthed near the estuary. Many regarded the special 'santai di jambatan' programme very memorable as the people can walk, eat, drink and even meet up with the Ruler on the Sultan Ismail Bridge which is always busy with traffics. |
| Ministry must stress on historical aspects of constitution Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:01 PM PST KUANTAN: Freedom of religion and freedom to change religion are two separate subjects, said Malaysia Islamic University Council head of management Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Monir Yaacob. He said freedom of religion is enshrined under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution but the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among Muslims is still subject to control or restriction by state and federal law. "Freedom of religion is a unique practice in Malaysia which is in line with Islam as it states that nobody should be forced to embrace any religion. However, there is no way for Muslims to convert as it is apostasy, which is a serious crime in Islam," he said recently. Dr Abdul Monir, who is the IKIP Education Sdn Bhd chairman, was speaking at the IKIP Group of Colleges convocation ceremony when he suddenly deviated from his speech to address the current uproar surrounding the freedom of religion. He said it had been proven in a lot of civil cases that Muslims were not free to change their religion. "An example is the Lina Joy case where the court ruled that under Article 160 of the Federal Constitution, Malay means a person who professes the religion of Islam. This stops Malays from converting, as they can never be separated from Islam," he said. Dr Abdul Monir also urged the Higher Education Ministry to stress on the historical aspects of the Federal Constitution and its main Islamic elements. "Youths nowadays do not really understand the important elements in the constitution and what the social contract means in the struggle to achieve independence," he said. Also present at the convocation was Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. |
| Owner worried about status of his house Posted: 29 Nov 2012 02:52 PM PST KUANTAN: A homeowner here has finally settled the payment for his house after 20 years, only to find out it now belongs to someone else. Chong Iek, 54, and his family had been living in the single-storey terrace house in Taman Tas, which he bought from a Fong Choon Ying in 1989. He took out a RM27,000 bank loan to finance the house and finished paying it in April this year. "When I asked my lawyer to request the grant release from the bank, I was shocked to discover the ownership has been changed to Fong's son," said Chong recently. He was told a court order had been issued last year for the ownership transfer as inheritance after Fong passed away. Chong sought assistance from Kuantan PKR service centre executive director Sim Chon Siang who then made an enquiry at the district land and mines office. "In the office's records, the house is still in Chong and his wife's name. Something must have gone wrong somewhere. The office should explain how this thing could have happened," said Sim. Chong is now worried his family might get evicted anytime should the new owner claim the house. "I do not even know how to contact Fong's son. The office promised to look into the matter but there has been no response after two weeks. "I really want this matter solved so I can finally feel at ease in my own home," he said. |
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