JULY 26TH, 2010
By WEBMASTER
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – 6THJUNE 2010: The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) organized a one-day Baitulmal workshop at a local hotel. Hj. Abang Mohd. Shibli Abg. Naili, the General Manager of Baitulmal Sarawak, Malaysia was the key speaker of the day assisted by his Deputy, Mr. Bolhassan Taibi. Hj. Abg. Shibli spoke key areas and challenges in setting up Baitulmal. The setting up of Baitulmal Australia and New Zealand was inspired and proposed by YAB Pehin Dr. Taib Mahmud, the President of RISEAP during its biennial General Assembly in Auckland in December 2009. It was unanimously adopted by the assembly.
In his opening note, he briefed the audience the history of Baitulmal Sarawak before and after the state’s independence through Malaysia. He took reference the collection and distribution system of zakat, sadaqatul jariah and wakaf of Baitulmal Sarawak. He also shared his views on the service delivery and technology system and processes of Baitulmal Sarawak. Abg. Hj. Shibli articulated about property development, fund management and the strategy of continuous wealth creation to ensure that Baitulmal will not just survive but thrives under any environment and circumstance. He reiterated that the success of Baitulmal hinges on quality manangement, system and personnel.
He recognized the fact that local legal, social, political and ethnic factors need to be stringently observed and extra care need to be exercised to ensure that Baitulmal New Zealand will be implemented successfully in tandem with New Zealand local requirements, values and norms. Corollary to the technical briefing, FIANZ would do the follow-up briefing sessions with the local Muslims community. Baring any unforeseen circumstances, FIANZ will be instrumental and acts as the key vehicle in setting and launching Baitulmal New Zealand in December 2010.
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RISEAP Secretariat – Kuala Lumpur, A group of 25 Muslim youths from The All Ceylon YMMA Conference of Sri Lanka, one of the active Islamic body in the country, made a courtesy visit to RISEAP on 21 June 2010 as a part of their study tour and goodwill mission to Malaysia.
The visit was jointly organized and hosted by Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) and Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) with the aim to gain first hand knowledge of Malaysia and its vision to be a developed country by the year 2020 and also to study the Malaysian model of peaceful co-existence within multicultural and ethnic groups in the country.
Besides RISEAP, the group visited several places and Islamic institutions including International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), Selangor Industrial University, Muslim Chamber of Commerce Malaysia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The group was impressed with the development and peaceful co-existence in Malaysia despite of its multicultural and religious background of the population.
At RISEAP, they were briefed about the background of RISEAP and its current da’wah activities by Br Aree Mamat, Editor of Al-Nahdah. The group comprised mainly of high school students both male and female. During a brief meeting several questions were raised about RISEAP roles in preaching Islam in this region. They were impressed that RISEAP have conducted youth camp, Islamic course and Muslimah courses from time to time. They had lunch at RISEAP before leaving to visit Federal Mosque and IKIM. Br M Zubair Hassen, former President of All Ceylon YMMAC, thanked RISEAP on behalf of the group for the reception.
The visit to Malaysia is an annual programme conducted by All Ceylon YMMA Conference, Sri Lanka which was led by Br Khalid Farouk, ex-president of YMMA and currently is an advisor to the association. Its main objectives are to study about Malaysian model of social and political development which is based on mutual respect and peaceful co-existence among the population of various cultural and religious diversity. The visit was also to study the management of youth organizations and their activities in Malaysia. They arrived in Malaysia on 19 June 2010 and departed to Colombo on 27 June 2010, after 2 days’ visit to Malacca.
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JUNE 10TH, 2010
By WEBMASTER
KANNONZAKI YOUTH CAMP, TOKYO - On 22nd May 2010, like any other participants of the Japanese Muslim camp, Miss Yuko Oda introduced herself nonchalantly. It was part of the administrative ritual of the annual camp. She shared her experience about the journey of her life. The places she visited and the people she met. She likes to travel. More than that, she likes to travel to the middle- east. Thousands of people visited these countries because of their historical past and the civilizations that they have achieved and left behind. She was just one of them. What was not apparent to her then, it was not just any visit or any vacation.
Ten years ago, she had her vacation in Cairo, Egypt. She did not tour one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Rather, she spent most of her time at Al-Azhar mosque. She found peace and tranquility in the mosques witnessing the Muslims performing their solat and engrossed in reading al-Koran. She was enlightened about Islam by the friendly people whom she met there. She started to study Arabic language which would make her future trips more enjoyable when she would be able to command the language fluently.
She confessed that while on vacation in Croatia (a few years ago), her tour schedule took a different route because of bad weather. While most of other tourists in the bus with her showed some kind of nervousness and uneasiness, she felt safe and at peace with herself.
Over the years she gets acquainted with the basic philosophy of Islam that summons each and everyone to communicate direct with his/her creator, ALLAH. Perhaps it was preordained. Perhaps it was her spiritual desire. She woke up and something awakens her heart that she must wait no longer and could not hold her patience in abeyance anymore. Alhamdulillah, on the evening of the first day at Kannonzaki Youth village, Tokyo, after solat magrib she pledged her allegiance to ALLAH, one and only God. She became a Muslim. It was a simple ceremony witnessed by friends and fellow campers. It was Hidayah – a present or gift, guidance and leadership by Allah bestowed upon Sister YUKO OTA .
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