Latest news with #Non-Islamic


The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Perhentian boat tragedy victims to be repatriated for final rites
KUALA TERENGGANU: The remains of three victims from the Pulau Perhentian boat tragedy will be transported to their hometowns for final rites. The victims, identified as S. Arumugam, 40, his three-year-old daughter A. Sarrvihka, and their relative V. Vennpani, 10, drowned when their boat capsized on Saturday night. Post-mortem examinations were completed at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) by 4.30 pm today. Dr K. Balachandran, Special Officer (Non-Islamic Affairs) to the Terengganu Menteri Besar, confirmed that the father and daughter will be sent to Butterworth, Penang, while Vennpani will be taken to Sungai Petani, Kedah. The group of 15 passengers, from four related families, had arrived for a holiday last Friday and were scheduled to return home on Sunday. The tragedy struck as they were traveling from Pulau Perhentian Kecil to Pulau Perhentian Besar after dinner. Strong waves overturned the boat, leading to the fatalities. Balachandran stated that the survivors and grieving families remain deeply traumatised and have requested privacy. They expressed gratitude to rescue teams and volunteers but are not yet ready to speak publicly. The incident occurred around 10.30 pm on Saturday. One passenger remains in critical condition in HSNZ's Intensive Care Unit.


New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
Bodies of Perhentian boat tragedy victims to be sent home for final rites
KUALA TERENGGANU: The remains of three family members who drowned when their boat capsized off Pulau Perhentian, Besut, on Saturday night will be taken home to Butterworth, Penang, and Sungai Petani, Kedah, for their final rites. Special Officer (Non-Islamic Affairs) to the Terengganu Menteri Besar, Dr K. Balachandran, said post-mortem examinations and other formalities for S. Arumugam (40), his daughter A. Sarrvihka (three) and their relative V. Vennpani (10) were completed at about 4.30pm today. "The bodies of the father and daughter will be sent to Butterworth, while the third victim will be taken to Sungai Petani. "A family member informed us that the 15 passengers, from four related families, had arrived for a holiday last Friday and were due to travel back to Sungai Petani and Butterworth today," he said when met at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) Forensic Unit. According to Balachandran, the family had finished dinner on Pulau Perhentian Kecil and were heading to Pulau Perhentian Besar when their boat was hit by strong waves and overturned, claiming three lives. Balachandran said surviving passengers and the families of the deceased are still traumatised and have requested privacy. "They are not ready to speak to anyone, including the media, but they have expressed gratitude to all agencies and volunteers who assisted," he added. The incident occurred at about 10.30pm on Saturday. The boat was carrying 15 passengers aged between three and 40. Three people died, while one passenger remains in critical condition in HSNZ's Intensive Care Unit.


The Sun
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Kedah monitoring construction of illegal non-Islamic houses of worship
ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government is monitoring and taking action against the construction of illegal non-Islamic houses of worship (RIBI). State Human Resources, Chinese, Indian and Siamese Communities and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman Wong Chia Zhen said this needed to be done carefully as it involved racial sensitivities and existing laws. 'Non-Islamic houses of worship built without approval are being monitored by the local authorities in Kedah. 'Among the districts with the highest number of applications for non-Islamic houses of worship are Kuala Muda and Kulim. There is no denying that there are several illegal non-Islamic houses of worship in these two districts,' he told the Kedah State Legislative Assembly sitting today. He said the state government, in addressing issues related to existing non-Islamic houses of worship, does not directly take stern actions but, instead, offers space for negotiations and solutions in a good and orderly manner. He said the state government also emphasises the construction of new non-Islamic houses of worship which fully comply with the stipulated guidelines and regulations to ensure a balance between physical development and social harmony in the state. Wong said that as proof of its commitment, the state government approved five applications for government land sites for non-Islamic houses of worship in the Kuala Muda district at the RIBI committee meeting on April 13. Meanwhile, on the issue regarding the Sri Veerama Kaliaman Temple at the Tongkang Yard JKR Quarters here, Wong said the temple would be relocated to a more suitable site. This, he said, was to ensure comfort and safety as well as meet the needs of more structured land planning. 'Several proposed locations have been presented by the temple committee and the Kota Setar District land administrator is evaluating them in terms of suitability.


Malay Mail
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Kedah takes watchful approach on unapproved non-Islamic houses of worship, state assembly told
ALOR SETAR, April 22 — The Kedah government is monitoring and taking action against the construction of illegal non-Islamic houses of worship (RIBI). State Human Resources, Chinese, Indian and Siamese Communities and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman Wong Chia Zhen said this needed to be done carefully as it involved racial sensitivities and existing laws. 'Non-Islamic houses of worship built without approval are being monitored by the local authorities in Kedah. 'Among the districts with the highest number of applications for non-Islamic houses of worship are Kuala Muda and Kulim. There is no denying that there are several illegal non-Islamic houses of worship in these two districts,' he told the Kedah State Legislative Assembly sitting today. He said the state government, in addressing issues related to existing non-Islamic houses of worship, does not directly take stern actions but, instead, offers space for negotiations and solutions in a good and orderly manner. He said the state government also emphasises the construction of new non-Islamic houses of worship which fully comply with the stipulated guidelines and regulations to ensure a balance between physical development and social harmony in the state. Wong said that as proof of its commitment, the state government approved five applications for government land sites for non-Islamic houses of worship in the Kuala Muda district at the RIBI committee meeting on April 13. Meanwhile, on the issue regarding the Sri Veerama Kaliaman Temple at the Tongkang Yard JKR Quarters here, Wong said the temple would be relocated to a more suitable site. This, he said, was to ensure comfort and safety as well as meet the needs of more structured land planning. 'Several proposed locations have been presented by the temple committee and the Kota Setar District land administrator is evaluating them in terms of suitability. — Bernama

Barnama
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Kedah Monitoring Construction Of Illegal Non-islamic Houses Of Worship
ALOR SETAR, April 22 (Bernama) -- The Kedah government is monitoring and taking action against the construction of illegal non-Islamic houses of worship (RIBI). State Human Resources, Chinese, Indian and Siamese Communities and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman Wong Chia Zhen said this needed to be done carefully as it involved racial sensitivities and existing laws. "Non-Islamic houses of worship built without approval are being monitored by the local authorities in Kedah. "Among the districts with the highest number of applications for non-Islamic houses of worship are Kuala Muda and Kulim. There is no denying that there are several illegal non-Islamic houses of worship in these two districts,' he told the Kedah State Legislative Assembly sitting today. He said the state government, in addressing issues related to existing non-Islamic houses of worship, does not directly take stern actions but, instead, offers space for negotiations and solutions in a good and orderly manner. He said the state government also emphasises the construction of new non-Islamic houses of worship which fully comply with the stipulated guidelines and regulations to ensure a balance between physical development and social harmony in the state. Wong said that as proof of its commitment, the state government approved five applications for government land sites for non-Islamic houses of worship in the Kuala Muda district at the RIBI committee meeting on April 13. Meanwhile, on the issue regarding the Sri Veerama Kaliaman Temple at the Tongkang Yard JKR Quarters here, Wong said the temple would be relocated to a more suitable site. This, he said, was to ensure comfort and safety as well as meet the needs of more structured land planning.