Day: March 23, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, A total of 35,000 local and foreign visitors are expected to participate in the six-day Iftar@KL programme, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), which began at Dataran Merdeka here today.

The programme, to be held in collaboration with the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Islamic Tourism Centre and Persatuan Seni Budaya Putra, would provide 35 trays of breaking of fast meals for visitors.

JKKN director-general Mohd Amran Mohd Haris said the participation of visitors this year is more encouraging compared to only 30,875 last year.

“This programme, in its 12th edition since its introduction in 2012, will be held for six days this year, namely on March 23, 24, 30, 31, and April 6 and 7.

“This programme aims to illuminate and enrich the month of Ramadan as a month of worship besides fostering ties among communities through spiritual programmes and activities,” he told reporters at the event, which was also attended by Dep
uty Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan.

Meanwhile, Khairul Firdaus said the ministry is planning to expand such programmes to all states.

“Cultural tourism needs to be further emphasised on how unique our culture is during this holy month besides strengthening social ties.

“This year we have been informed that similar programmes will be held in Sabah and Pahang, while next year it may be expanded to other states,” he said.

A visitor from Australia, Alice Darrick, 35, shared her excitement upon participating, arriving as early as 4:30 pm with her husband.

‘It’s my first time joining this programme and it was fascinating. There’s a lot of people come with their families to have iftar together,’ she told Bernama.

A student, Maisarah Batrisyiah Mazlan, 17, said she and her friends never miss the opportunity to join the iftar programme every year.

“I always come to this programme because there are various types of food and iftar dishes available. Moreover, being able to break
fast with friends in tourist attraction areas, it feels very enjoyable to break fast together,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KULAI, DAP has not engaged in any formal discussions with any political parties, including UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN), regarding the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

Wanita DAP chief Teo Nie Ching, said the party is currently focusing on the funeral arrangements for the late Lee Kee Hiong as a tribute to the former Kuala Kubu Baharu state assemblyman.

‘Our focus is on the funeral ceremony to pay respects to the late Lee Kee Hiong’s family. We thank UMNO and BN for allowing DAP this space,” she told reporters after the Water Tank Donation Programme in Kampung Sri Muar here today.

Yesterday, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition would not contest in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election out of respect for the cooperation among political parties within the Unity Government.

Lee, aged 58, who held the seat for three consecutive terms from 2013, died last Thursday reportedly after battling cancer for several years.

On the donation programme, Teo, who is Deputy Minister of Communicati
ons, said the contribution of 121 water tanks aimed to provide a temporary solution to the water disruption issue affecting 350 residents of Kampung Sri Muar over the past three weeks.

The Kulai member of Parliament said the water supply interruption to 135 households resulted from a delay in the 1.7-kilometre-long pipe replacement project.

‘I urge Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd, the state water operator, to promptly resolve this issue before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, An American non-Muslim postgraduate student, who is passionate and observant towards different beliefs and religions, spent more than five hours at Masjid Putra here today for the Iftar (breaking of fast) programme.

Hailing from North Carolina, 24-year-old Olivia Price, who is also a Universiti Malaya student, said that having been in Malaysia for more than a year, she has learned so much about the multi-ethnic society and different cultures that exist here.

‘I am doing my Masters in counselling, which is another reason I really care about what people believe om because what you believe in influences what you do.

‘… and I am very passionate about different beliefs and religions. I think this programme is really informative and I learned a lot about Islam. I felt it was a good space to ask questions as I found it helpful because I want to understand different views,’ she said when met here today.

Price was among more than 300 non-Muslims who joined the “Iftar Ramadan Bersama Pelancong Bukan Mus
lim’ (Ramadan Iftar with Non-Muslim Tourists) programme organised by Masjid Putra and the Islamic Outreach Centre Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM).

Twenty-four-year-old Del Zook, also from North Carolina, concurred, saying that this was her first time in a mosque and she was excited to join the Iftar with Muslims.

‘It is really cool to be with Malaysians and interesting to learn about the religion and the mosque itself,’ said the third-semester postgraduate student of Universiti Malaya.

Masjid Putra public relations officer Ahmad Najib Aris said the annual programme began with a briefing regarding Islam, followed by a question-and-answer session about fasting by an ABIM Outreach staff before culminating with a mass breaking of fast session.

“This significant event aims to strengthen relations between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities and promote the beauty of the Masjid Putra to tourists,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended his highest congratulations to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in conjunction with the Sultan of Johor’s official birthday today.

The Prime Minister, in his Facebook post, said that he and the people of Malaysia will continue to give unwavering obedience and loyalty to Sultan Ibrahim.

“Pray that Sultan Ibrahim and the entire royal family will always be blessed with His grace and be granted good health, prosperity and sovereignty. May Allah protect the Sultan,’ he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SIBU, The Ministry of National Unity distributed 600,000 packets of bubur lambuk – 200,000 more than last year – nationwide today in conjunction with the Gerak RAHMAH Programme 2024: Jom Masak Bubur Lambuk, which was simultaneously.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Aaron Ago Dagang said they distributed the bubur lambuk in 4,000 Neighborhood Watch Areas (KRTs).

“In Sarawak, we distributed 12,000 packets of bubur lambuk and at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang, we distributed 5,000 packets,’ he told reporters after officiating the launch of the Gerak RAHMAH and Sungkei Perdana 2024 at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang today.

He said the programme was held to showcase the unity in the country as it involved the participation of multi-racial and religious communities.

Also present at the ceremony was Sarawak Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, who is also the Nangka assemblyman.

Annuar told reporters that the organisation of the Sungkei (breaking of fast) programme was importan
t to showcase unity in Sibu and Sarawak.

“This is how we live together and I think others are following this activity in areas near Sibu and Kuching,” he said.

He also hoped that such programmes could be organised in other places.

With better road networks these days, Annuar said people are more prepared to join the Sungkei Perdana programme.

“Many came today from other areas to join the Sungkei Perdana programme and not only is that good for unity, but also for the traders at the Ramadan Bazaar,’ he said.

An estimated 20,000 people of various races and religions took part in the Sungkei programme at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency