IKIM chairman's passing great loss to ummah in Malaysia, Singapore: Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore president
Chairman of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), Professor Datuk Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, died today at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang.
SINGAPORE: (Bernama) The passing of Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) chairman, Prof Datuk Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, on Thursday (June 26) is not only a great loss to the ummah in Malaysia but also in Singapore.
Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore (MCAS) President, Muhammad Imran Kuna, said Muhammad Nur was one of the pioneers who helped establish the association's education system and remained an important consultant to its work until his passing.
Muhammad Imran said that during a visit to Muhammad Nur's home last month when he was unwell, the former senator's parting words were a reminder to ensure that the Muslim ummah in Malaysia and Singapore remain united and continue working together.
"He wanted us to be the bridge, and for the ummah to strengthen and hold hands. Insha Allah, we will continue to uphold his niat (intention) and request,' he told Bernama.
Muhammad Imran added that the IKIM chairman was instrumental in fostering collaboration between MCAS and other Muslim associations and organisations in Malaysia.
"He was one of those who believed in what we wanted to do and had great ideas. He was a great inspiration and will always be remembered by us.
"He was supposed to be one of the pillars supporting the first Asia-Pacific Cross-Culture Conference, which we are planning to hold in Singapore in November, and also a major Quran-related project we intended to launch in Singapore,' he said, noting that he had known Muhammad Nur for 15 years.
In January, MCAS, which is also known as Darul Arqam, honoured Muhammad Nur with its highest accolade at the inaugural MCAS Academic Excellence Award ceremony, in recognition of his dedication, leadership, and transformative impact on the association.
As the MCAS' Islamic education consultant from 2000 to 2009, Muhammad Nur played a key role in refining the Islamic education curriculum and da'wah methodologies.
According to MCAS, he was central in developing specialised courses for new Muslim converts, covering subjects such as Aqidah, Fiqh, and Sirah.
His efforts also extended to revising textbooks, conducting seminars, and organising workshops aimed at enhancing the educational experiences of new Muslims from diverse backgrounds.
Muhammad Nur passed away at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang at 11.27 am on Thursday at the age of 76. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
JTKSM Upgrades Facilities At SK Seri Macap Under MADANI Adopted School Initiative
KLUANG, June 30 (Bernama) -- The Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) is committed to supporting the government's efforts to enhance national education and help nurture a quality future generation. Its director-general, Kamal Pardi, said that, through the MADANI Adopted School (Sekolah Angkat MADANI or SAM) initiative, a comprehensive, collaborative, and high-impact approach is being implemented to upgrade facilities at the department's adopted school, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Seri Macap, here, to create a more comfortable and conducive learning environment. He said SK Seri Macap was selected as JTKSM's adopted school due to its status as a rural school, with the aim of upgrading its facilities and infrastructure to be on par with urban schools. 'An allocation of RM100,000 has been approved for SK Seri Macap. 'This initiative reflects our commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive education ecosystem. At the same time, JTKSM will play its part in contributing to the development of the nation's human capital,' he told reporters after launching the JTKSM MADANI Adopted School 2025 at SK Seri Macap, here, today. Also present were Kluang district education officer Ayob Ibrahim and SK Seri Macap headmaster Sharudin Md Taib. Meanwhile, Kamal said that the success of the initiative at the school was made possible through collaboration with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and the school's Parent-Teacher Association. 'Five main components are being prioritised under the programme. These are improvements to physical facilities and infrastructure; academic programmes and student guidance; teacher training and professional development; financial aid for basic needs; and the development of students' character and soft skills. He added that, among the physical upgrades at SK Seri Macap are the construction of an open stage, a Zaaba pedestrian path, roof and staircase, meeting rooms, air-conditioning installations and smart television, as well as renovations to the library and screening room.
Barnama
11 hours ago
- Barnama
Emotionally Challenging But Duty Calls
M ohd Azizan Aziz was exhausted after driving back to Gerik, Perak, from Terengganu in the early hours of June 9. Still, the Gerik Fire and Rescue Station chief decided to stop at his workplace where he had been based since 2021. It was not unusual for him to go to work outside of his duty hours as he lived alone (his wife and children reside in Jerteh, Terengganu). As he neared the station, he sensed that something was amiss – the atmosphere hinted at an unfolding emergency. Coincidentally, it was at that very moment the station received the grim news of a horrific road accident on the East-West Highway (JRTB). 'Just as I arrived, a fire engine was leaving the station compound,' Mohd Azizan told Bernama, adding that what he was about to witness would turn out to be the most devastating and heartbreaking case he had encountered in his nine years of service as a rescue personnel. One of the deadliest crashes in the country in over a decade, the Gerik accident claimed the lives of 15 students from Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI). It involved a tour bus and a multipurpose vehicle and occurred near Tasik Banding, about 60 kilometres from the Gerik fire station, on the East-West Highway. The bus was chartered by a group of 42 UPSI students from Jerteh and the crash occurred while they were on their way back to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, after celebrating Hari Raya Aidiladha with their families back home. MENTAL STRENGTH ESSENTIAL Mohd Azizan said in any emergency, the head of rescue operations plays a critical role as all actions taken are based on the decisions and initial assessments made by that officer. He also emphasised the importance of strong mental resilience for all rescue team members during such operations. Mohd Azizan Aziz. 'Each member must learn to suppress their emotions in order to carry out rescue efforts effectively,' he said, adding the Gerik tragedy was the first time he had encountered an accident involving such a large number of casualties and fatalities. He said the June 9 crash was the second most challenging operation he and his team had carried out along the East-West Highway over the last four months. 'Indeed, many accident cases requiring complex operations occur along this stretch. On Feb 8, I was involved in a rescue operation to extricate a trailer driver and his assistant who were trapped… the trailer had skidded and overturned into a drain. One victim died at the scene while the other was injured,' he said. In the fatal bus crash, the fire and rescue team had to cut open the roof of the vehicle to extricate victims, some of whom were found piled on top of one another. CHAOS IN THE DARK Recalling the incident, rescue operations commander Senior Fire Officer II Kamarul Ariffin Abd Ghani said they received the report of the crash at 1.04 am on June 9. 'Before we got the call, we were all busy with administrative tasks, with some of us completing reports of previous cases to be entered into the system, and doing other routine work. Kamarul Ariffin Abd Ghani. '(Once we got the call) I and nine other personnel rushed to the scene. On the way, we tried to contact the caller who had reported the incident but were unsuccessful,' he told Bernama. He said the initial report did not convey the full extent of the crash but as a precaution, he contacted the Perak Fire and Rescue Department's operations centre to request additional support from the Jeli Fire and Rescue Station in Kelantan. 'We arrived at the scene at 2.05 am and only then did we see the true scale of the crash... it was massive and we clearly needed more assistance,' he said, adding the situation was chaotic – the area was dark and some members of the public could be seen trying to help the victims. The rescuers could also hear the cries of the injured echoing through the air. Admitting he was overcome with sorrow upon seeing the bodies of the deceased, with the food packed by their families scattered around them, Kamarul Ariffin said: 'It was heartbreaking… we're human too. But we had to set aside those feelings because we had work to do.' He said the first time he was involved in an emotionally challenging operation was during the search for victims of the 2004 tsunami. 'At that time, I was stationed in Penang. We were tasked with searching for victims in the sea and we found five bodies, all in incomplete condition.' HOSPITALS ON ALERT Meanwhile, at Hospital Gerik, located about an hour's drive from the June 9 crash site, its Emergency Department entered critical response mode as soon as news of the crash came in. Dr Muhammad Adam Muskhan, who led the emergency operations, said due to the scale of the accident, the hospital activated the Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) emergency code, with measures taken including adding beds in all three emergency zones – red, yellow and green. Dr Muhammad Adam Muskhan. 'Prior to that, we had also informed the Emergency Departments at Taiping Hospital and Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (Ipoh) so both could prepare to assist,' he told Bernama. According to Dr Muhammad Adam, they received initial information about the incident at around 1 am but the real challenge began at 3.18 am when the first casualty arrived. 'When the victims started arriving, we conducted triage before directing them to the appropriate treatment zones, with the red zone designated for critical cases,' he said, adding some victims were referred to nearby hospitals for further treatment. He also said although the accident occurred during a public holiday, when many staff members were on leave, all preparations were carried out swiftly and in an orderly manner. 'I was proud of our team's efficiency. I've dealt with several MCI situations with them before but this was the largest and most challenging as it required reinforcements and support from other agencies and external parties,' he added, noting that they were also assisted by personnel from Hospital Jeli and nearby government health clinics. Meanwhile, Civil Defence Force (APM) ambulance driver Corporal Mohd Zamri Taib, who was among those who ferried the Gerik crash casualties to the hospital, expressed gratitude for the training and simulation exercises he had undergone in the past. 'Although the conditions during training are never quite the same as a real-life situation, the knowledge and skills I gained during those sessions really helped me during the actual operation,' he said. He said on the way to the crash site, he had a feeling the accident was not an ordinary one as there were unusually few vehicles on the road. UPSI bus incident bring conscience to frontline staff. 'Usually, the East-West Highway is busy with traffic, especially during public holidays and festive seasons. But that early morning, hardly any vehicle passed by us. 'My three colleagues and I in the ambulance started wondering what the actual situation was at the scene. Even so, I was still taken aback when we arrived and saw the large number of victims,' he recalled. He and his team wasted no time and immediately began the task of extricating the injured from the scene and transporting them to the hospital after providing initial treatment. Making two trips from the crash site to Hospital Gerik, Mohd Zamri said in his 14 years of service with APM, this was the one incident that truly left a deep mark on him.
Borneo Post
14 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Muslims urged to continue supporting mosque-based programmes
Sharifah Hasidah (fifth right) hands over the official festival flag to LAKMNS honorary secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain in a symbolic gesture to mark the closing ceremony. – Photos by Jude Toyat KUCHING: Muslims, particularly in Sarawak, are urged to continue giving active support to programmes organised by mosques in efforts to strengthen the role of the institution as a hub of community empowerment. Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and MA63) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali made the call when officiating the closing ceremony of the Festival Maal Hijrah 1447H/2025M at Masjid Jamek Negeri Sarawak here today. 'I urge all Muslims, especially in Sarawak, to continue supporting mosque-organised programmes. 'Let us be part of the movement to enliven the House of Allah, making the mosque a point of reference for the community and a centre for welfare and dakwah (Islamic propagation),' she said in her speech. The closing ceremony marked the conclusion of the 10-day festival, organised by Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Masjid Negeri Sarawak (LAKMNS), which began on June 20. The ceremony was officiated with the symbolic lowering of the official festival flag. Representing the Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, who was away on official duty in Russia, Sharifah Hasidah conveyed his congratulations and appreciation to LAKMNS for the successful organisation of the festival. 'This festival not only highlights the role of mosques but also strengthens bonds among people from various walks of life through programmes blending information and entertainment,' she added. According to her, the festival is clear proof that LAKMNS is at the forefront in managing and modernising mosque institutions through dynamic and innovative approaches that are aligned with the evolving needs of the ummah. 'LAKMNS' continuous efforts to uplift the welfare of the ummah through various mosque and community development initiatives are commendable. 'This reflects a holistic approach encompassing spiritual, social, educational and welfare aspects, making the mosque a true institution for empowerment,' she said. Sharifah Hasidah (fourth left) presents the challenge trophy, accompanying cup, and RM5,000 cash prize to a representative of Masjid Nurul Khair, Kampung Samariang Batu, which emerged as the overall champion of the Mosque/Surau Competition held in conjunction with the Festival Maal Hijrah 1447H/2025M. Sharifah Hasidah said she was also informed that LAKMNS will undertake the construction of a new tower for Masjid Jamek Negeri Sarawak, which will be equipped with solar energy technology. 'This is a forward-looking step, not only in terms of modern Islamic architecture but also in supporting environmental sustainability and green energy initiatives,' she said, describing the initiative as positioning the mosque as a sustainable development agent. She said such efforts reflect the visionary leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also chairman of LAKMNS and continues to advocate for development rooted in universal Islamic values. She also reminded the audience of the importance of mosques beyond a place of worship. 'As we welcome the new Hijrah year, it is timely for us to reinforce the mosque's role not only as a place of prayer but also as a centre for knowledge, moral development, and unity among the ummah across all backgrounds,' she said. Citing the Prophet Muhammad SAW's actions upon arriving in Madinah, she noted that building a mosque was among his first steps, signifying the mosque's centrality in early Islamic civilisation. 'The mosque is the heart of ummah development, serving as a spiritual centre, a platform for the dissemination of knowledge, and a hub for strengthening brotherhood,' she said. She also expressed hope for LAKMNS to continue with its quality programmes that help shape the Muslim identity and strengthen the mosque's daily role. Among the highlights of the closing ceremony were prize presentations for winners of mosque/surau competitions and lucky draw giveaways for visitors. community mosques Muslims Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali
