The Penang state government intends to make its mark on the map of the Islamic world through providing an all-encompassing halal solution – from Islamic manufacturing to Islamic financing, in all sectors like food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and even banking.
Today, Penang successfully launched her 3-day “2nd International Halal Exposition” at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA). The ‘Halal Conference’ will take place the following day.
Spearheading the bold initiative of the ‘Halal Penang’ is Haji Abdul Malik Kassim, the State Minister for Religious Affairs and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
‘Halal Penang’, the State’s facilitation agency was awarded ‘Best Halal Facility Provider’ in a recent excellence award presentation held in conjunction with the International Islamic Tourism & Halal Week (IISTHAL) 2009 in Kuala Lumpur. Today, ‘Halal Penang’ is recipient to the prestigious ‘HALMAS’ status, an acclaimed and privileged status by the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC).
“This represents a huge leap for ‘Halal Penang’ in terms of domestic and international recognition,” proudly declared Haji Abdul Malik.
Although fairly a new kid on the block, established just 18 months ago, the ambitious ‘Halal Penang’ has been actively participating on a global scale; a move that has attracted many prospective investors from as far as India, Yemen, Wales, Iran, Pakistan, China and even Russia.
Located within the Bukit Minyak Industrial zone, in Seberang Perai, some 50 acres of land has been designated to host the Penang International Halal Park. Talks of collaboration with research institutes and universities in the region are underway in a bid to realize an International R & D Halal Centre here.
As Malaysia has long been associated with quality and trusted halal certification due to Islam being its official religion, it is only natural that Penang – the second largest city in the country engage in adopting all available resources to further enhance the country’s capacity in offering such services.
The International Penang Halal Hub caters to a largely untapped global halal market that is estimated to be a US$3 trillion industry. Halal certification is a quality control that validates a product’s compliance according to Islamic guidelines.
“Penang wants a share of it,” confessed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, in conclusion that Penang has the infrastructure and amenities to facilitate a world standard halal hub; especially so with a government that adopts and implements the CAT principles – Competency, Accountability and Transparency.
Lim Guan Eng also revealed that to date, Penang has RM215 million in investments with regards to the ‘Halal Penang’ initiative and a total of 331 certified halal companies. These include ‘green’ businesses that manufacture bio-degradable and eco-packaging items.
“Special incentives and tax rebates are among the features of the halal hub,” assured Haji Abdul Malik, adding that non-muslims are also able to partake in such investments.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
CM Lim explains FOI bill
A Select Committee was set up by the Penang State Government to look into matters pertaining to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill comprising of 6 members including three from UMNO.
However, the State’s effort in mediating middle ground to get public feedback was thwarted as all three members from UMNO failed to attend the two full-day meetings with the various organizations from all around Penang; citing reasons like having other meetings and falling sick. The meetings were slated for 14th and 21st of February.
The Penang FOI Bill was copied en bloc from the current Selangor FOI Bill.
According to Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, this was because the State Legal Advisor had initially opposed the proposal of an FOI Bill claiming that it was unconstitutional. Regardless, Penang followed suit soon after the Selangor FOI was passed and tabled the bill for first reading at the State Assembly.
Lim said that the State Legal Advisor had claimed that information is a federal jurisdiction and not under the purview of the State.
“When it is unconstitutional it cannot be tabled at the state assembly,” Lim pointed out.
“…the tabling of the bill must also have the concurrence of the State Legal Advisor. When Selangor passed the bill, we asked the State Legal Advisor that ‘if Selangor can do it, why can’t we?’”
“It was only then that she agreed and it was only then that in order to avoid the bill not being tabled at the State Assembly; we adopted in total the Selangor FOI bill,” he continued, contending that this was a window of opportunity to get the co-operation of the State Legal Advisor.
Lim agrees that the Selangor FOI bill has its shortcoming and needs some improvement. He explained that that was the reason why the State set up a Select Committee to get feedback from the public – so that the State Assembly is able to make the necessary amendments thereafter.
He also reiterated the State’s reason for not first getting public feedback before tabling the bill at the State Assembly as such a move would only be met with disapproval, since it would still ‘seem’ unconstitutional at such a time.
“That is also why we adopted the Selangor FOI bill 100%, to avoid being unconstitutional,” he added.
Lim questions the sincerity of BN with regards to the FOI bill saying that if they were sincere they would have presented it in parliament.
Members from the state opposition party had expressed dissatisfaction over certain clauses in the Penang FOI bill, claiming that it curbed information rather than allowing it.
“We are sincere in pushing this (FOI) through. That is why we are getting public feedback instead of just passing the bill,” Lim emphasized, asserting that the State Government practices ‘participatory democracy’ as promised, yet they were being criticized.
In closing, Lim reprimanded the opposition for confusing the public and for being a hypocrite. He also challenges them to pass the FOI act in parliament.
“Beranikah? Beranikah?” Lim poses the question to Gerakan and MCA. (“Do you dare to? Do you dare to?”)
However, the State’s effort in mediating middle ground to get public feedback was thwarted as all three members from UMNO failed to attend the two full-day meetings with the various organizations from all around Penang; citing reasons like having other meetings and falling sick. The meetings were slated for 14th and 21st of February.
The Penang FOI Bill was copied en bloc from the current Selangor FOI Bill.
According to Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, this was because the State Legal Advisor had initially opposed the proposal of an FOI Bill claiming that it was unconstitutional. Regardless, Penang followed suit soon after the Selangor FOI was passed and tabled the bill for first reading at the State Assembly.
Lim said that the State Legal Advisor had claimed that information is a federal jurisdiction and not under the purview of the State.
“When it is unconstitutional it cannot be tabled at the state assembly,” Lim pointed out.
“…the tabling of the bill must also have the concurrence of the State Legal Advisor. When Selangor passed the bill, we asked the State Legal Advisor that ‘if Selangor can do it, why can’t we?’”
“It was only then that she agreed and it was only then that in order to avoid the bill not being tabled at the State Assembly; we adopted in total the Selangor FOI bill,” he continued, contending that this was a window of opportunity to get the co-operation of the State Legal Advisor.
Lim agrees that the Selangor FOI bill has its shortcoming and needs some improvement. He explained that that was the reason why the State set up a Select Committee to get feedback from the public – so that the State Assembly is able to make the necessary amendments thereafter.
He also reiterated the State’s reason for not first getting public feedback before tabling the bill at the State Assembly as such a move would only be met with disapproval, since it would still ‘seem’ unconstitutional at such a time.
“That is also why we adopted the Selangor FOI bill 100%, to avoid being unconstitutional,” he added.
Lim questions the sincerity of BN with regards to the FOI bill saying that if they were sincere they would have presented it in parliament.
Members from the state opposition party had expressed dissatisfaction over certain clauses in the Penang FOI bill, claiming that it curbed information rather than allowing it.
“We are sincere in pushing this (FOI) through. That is why we are getting public feedback instead of just passing the bill,” Lim emphasized, asserting that the State Government practices ‘participatory democracy’ as promised, yet they were being criticized.
In closing, Lim reprimanded the opposition for confusing the public and for being a hypocrite. He also challenges them to pass the FOI act in parliament.
“Beranikah? Beranikah?” Lim poses the question to Gerakan and MCA. (“Do you dare to? Do you dare to?”)
Silat Lincah unites
Unity was the central theme in an event sponsored by the Bayan Baru Independent Member of Parliament, Zahrain Mohamed Hashim.
Happily unaware of the blazing sun, 200 ‘Silat Lincah’ martial artists demonstrated their skills in the presense of the founder of the Silat Lincah Association (PSSLM), Haji Omardin Mauju, some VIPs and the public last week at the football field opposite PISA, in Sungai Ara, Penang.
Although the association was registered only in 1969, it was already active in 1963; and has 22 branches all over the world with about 1.2 million members worldwide; of which 30,000 are foreign. Among the countries that PSSLM has laid foot on are England, Belgium, New Zealand, Holland, France, Madagascar and South Korea.
Megat Zulkarnian, son of its founder said: In Penang, its branch started in 1972 at the Custom’s Village in Bukit Gelugor. Presently the Penang branch boasts of 210,000 members.
Its founder, Haji Omardin was awarded the ‘Living Legend of Silat’ by the International Association of Educators World Peace in 2008.
“Why go for taekwondo or karate when we have ‘Silat Lincah’?,” Zahrain reminded the crowd of spectators.
“This Malay tradition must be kept alive,” he continued, urging the Malays to regain the Malay pride through the martial art.
PSSLM opens its membership to all races.
Happily unaware of the blazing sun, 200 ‘Silat Lincah’ martial artists demonstrated their skills in the presense of the founder of the Silat Lincah Association (PSSLM), Haji Omardin Mauju, some VIPs and the public last week at the football field opposite PISA, in Sungai Ara, Penang.
Although the association was registered only in 1969, it was already active in 1963; and has 22 branches all over the world with about 1.2 million members worldwide; of which 30,000 are foreign. Among the countries that PSSLM has laid foot on are England, Belgium, New Zealand, Holland, France, Madagascar and South Korea.
Megat Zulkarnian, son of its founder said: In Penang, its branch started in 1972 at the Custom’s Village in Bukit Gelugor. Presently the Penang branch boasts of 210,000 members.
Its founder, Haji Omardin was awarded the ‘Living Legend of Silat’ by the International Association of Educators World Peace in 2008.
“Why go for taekwondo or karate when we have ‘Silat Lincah’?,” Zahrain reminded the crowd of spectators.
“This Malay tradition must be kept alive,” he continued, urging the Malays to regain the Malay pride through the martial art.
PSSLM opens its membership to all races.
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