Category: Entertainment

Veteran actress Mek Habsah, whose real name is Habshah Bakar, died at the Institute of Respiratory Medicine Kuala Lumpur at 2.45 am today. She was 67.

Her grandson, Huraimi Hilman, who confirmed the news to Bernama, said Mek Habsah had suffered from lung disease for the past 20 years.

“Even before that, my grandmother needed to breathe with the aid of a ventilator. When she went out, she needed to carry portable oxygen with her,” he said.

Huraimi said that Habsah’s remains are currently at the Bilal Bin Rabah mosque at Taman Koperasi Polis Fasa 1 for funeral prayers and for family and friends to pay their last respects.

She will be laid to rest at the Raudathul Sakinah Muslim Cemetery after Zuhur prayers.

Apart from various television drama series, Mek Habsah also starred in a film titled Litar Kasih in 1996.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) is targeting 3.2 million Muslim tourist arrivals in the country this year compared to 2.1 million last year.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the number is 20 per cent of the 16.1 million foreign tourists targeted this year with total tourism income amounting to RM49.2 billion from RM5.37 billion the previous year.

He said the ambition could be achieved if players in the Muslim tourism industry played their roles collectively and holistically to complement the role of the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC).

“Although this year we are targeting 16 million foreign tourist arrivals, we are confident that it will exceed that and Muslim tourists will also increase because our advantage is being a pioneer in Muslim Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) in addition to the majority of the population being Muslims.

“Muslim tourists are a growing market in the tourism industry and that is why we emphasise on MFTH so that local players can further expand their offering as one of the added values of the Islamic tourism industry in the country,” he said at a media conference after the launch of the 2023 Islamic Tourism Month (ITM) here today.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad officiated the programme which was also attended by State Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee and ITC director-general Nizran Noordin.

Khairul Firdaus said the country is indeed famous as a Muslim tourist destination, but the government sees facilities and services that need to be improved to attract more foreign tourists.

“We need to understand the needs and preferences of Muslim tourists and how to adapt them and harmonise products other than services to meet those needs and the effort still hasn’t reached its maximum level yet but we will try again through ITC.

“Similarly, we often overlook promoting Muslim tourism in Muslim-minority countries because these segment actually also wants to experience what MFTH’s approach is and we will work towards that in due time,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Cambodian people throughout the country are going to celebrate Chol Vossa (enter rainy season) or Rainy Retreat, one of annual religious festivals, next week.

This year, the festival will fall on Aug. 2 and last until Oct. 29, in the pagodas across Cambodia.

During this three-month-long festival, the monks do not leave their pagodas to collect alms as usual. They must remain within the temple compound. Anyway, they can accept the invitation of devotees and travel out at day time, but they cannot stay out of the pagoda overnight.

Generally, Buddhist followers offer Tean Vossa (Vossa candle), a large candle that has to be lighted the whole days and nights during the festival, as well as oil, robes and other food supplies to the monks.

Tean Vossa is considered as the light for life, in which the dark part of life would be lightened, guiding a way out toward nirvana.

The end of the Rainy Retreat or Chegn Vossa Festival will be also celebrated.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

The Negeri Sembilan government is organising the Perpatih Fest, with the aim of strengthening the Adat Perpatih and promoting its uniqueness among the younger generation and those from other states.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, said that the unique customary practices of Adat Perpatih could be promoted as the state tourism’s main products.

Themed ‘Seadat Tidak Seresam’, the festival, held for the first time, with an allocation of RM500,000, will offer visitors a gastronomic experience through its scrumptious food promotion.

“I am sure that those who participate in this festival will feel the importance of this unique customary practice to be maintained, as it is only practised in Negeri Sembilan,” he told reporters after officiating the three-day festival, which began today.

Aminuddin said that the festival will also provide an understanding of the custom and culture to outsiders through seeing, listening and discussing.

He said the festival, held in collaboration with the Negeri Sembilan Museum Board, will also involve Luak Berundang, Wilayah Tunku Besar Tampin and Luak Tanah 10 Mengandung, and is expected to attract 10,000 visitors.

“Insya Allah, it will become an annual event. Perhaps, it will be held in other districts to create interest among the younger generation to preserve Adat Perpatih,” he said.

He added that most of the Adat Perpatih practitioners in the state are from the Malay community, which is based on the matrilineal pattern, which takes tribal lineage from the maternal side, unlike Adat Temengung which emphasises the paternal side.

Aminuddin said in Adat Perpatih, there are 12 clans, namely Biduanda, Batu Hampar, Mungkal, Seri Lemak, Paya Kumboh, Tiga Nenek, Seri Melenggang, Batu Belang, Tanah Datar, Anak Acheh, Anak Melaka and Tiga Batu.

Also at the event, Aminuddin launched the ‘Identiti Negeri Sembilan’ (Negeri Sembilan’s identity), comprising customs, architecture and traditional cuisine.

The festival also includes demonstrations of traditional games, including batu seremban; Luak-Luak exhibition; sale of products from local entrepreneurs; a concert and Forum Perdana.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today received a gold category Media Certification Card from the Malaysian Information Department, at the culmination of the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2023 celebration here today.

Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil presented the media card to the prime minister in appreciation of his efforts to raise the dignity of continued media freedom in Malaysia.

Also present at the presentation during the Information Department’s meeting were Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Teo Nie Ching and the National News Agency of Malaysia (Bernama) Chief Executive Officer Roslan Ariffin.

The Media Certification Card is an identity document issued to media practitioners from media agencies and companies that have been officially registered and certified by the government through the Malaysian Information Department for a fixed period.

There are five card colour categories issued which are: green representing the government’s official media, blue for local media (print and electronic), gray for digital media, red for international media and gold for media coordinating officers.

The average annual production of new applications and renewal of Media Certification Cards by media practitioners in Malaysia is 3,000 pieces per year.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency