Kerdau state assemblyman, the late Datuk Zaharuddin Abu Kassim. NSTpix by Azmaidi Abidin.
TEMERLOH: Barisan Nasional's Kerdau assemblyman Datuk Zaharuddin Abu Kassim has died of heart attack after collapsing at his house Saturday.
He was rushed to the hospital here and was pronounced dead at 7.15pm.
With the death, the Election Commission will have to call for the 16th by-election since the March 2008 general election.
Zaharuddin, who remarried early last month, has been hospitalised for unstable blood pressure.
He was treated at Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital in Temerloh for two weeks.
The assemblyman’s poor health had prompted Pahang Umno to appoint Kuala Krau MP Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said as coordinator for Kerdau.
In May, Zaharuddin, 63, was warded for two months in the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur for a stroke after an operation for ulcers in the intestine.
Kerdau state assemblyman, Datuk Zaharuddin Abu Kassim (middle) at Datuk Shaifuddin Abdullah's open house (right) at Dataran Lanchang in Sept 2010
Re-post from TheStarOnline (for original link - click==> TheStar)
PETALING JAYA: Valentine’s Day is a secular observance that is not celebrated religiously by churches in Malaysia or worldwide, said the Council of Churches of Malaysia.
ts general secretary Reverend Dr Herman Shastri said the National Fatwa Council had erred when it referred to Valentine’s Day as a Christian observance and has hurt the feelings of Christians in Malaysia.
“To suggest that Valentine’s Day is observed by Christians is unfair and misleading.
“Although the word ‘Valentine’ draws some connection to St Valentine, the church’s authorities have not endorsed the connection, be it Roman Catholic or Protestant,” he said in a statement in reference to an article on Valentine's Day posted on the website of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
The website described Valentine's Day as: “The practice of celebrating the day of love (Valentine’s Day) has not been recommended by Islam. (The) spirit (of the) festival has elements of Christianity and the practice is mixed with immoral acts (and) are prohibited by Islam that clearly contradicts the belief, Sharia and Islamic morality. Therefore, Muslims are prohibited from engaging in celebrating the day.”
Dr Shastri said the council appealed to the authorities to repeal such hurting inferences that Christianity promotes sexual promiscuity because of Valentine’s Day observance, often made in the media and in the said Fatwa.
On Wednesday, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi was quoted as saying that the Kedah, Kelantan and Selangor governments had directed all local authorities to work closely with police and Rela in order to carry out operations to check immoral activities during Valentine’s Day.
On Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom said the National Fatwa Council had, in 2005, decreed that Muslims should refrain from celebrating Valentine’s Day, as it was not part of Islamic practices.
He added the Jakim would launch an anti-Valentine’s Day campaign on Friday.
Well-known motivator Siti Nor Bahyah Mahamood had also commented on Valentine's Day saying "immoral activities, partying and unmarried couples associating in private are traditions of the Christian community".
40,000 evacuated to relief centres as floods hit five states
JOHOR BARU: Floodwaters have cut off communications in several towns in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Pahang and Sabah while nearly 40,000 people were evacuated to relief centres.
So far three people were killed – two were swept away by strong currents while one fell into a pool. Another person is missing.
Thousands of commuters going back to their hometowns for the Chinese New Year holidays were disrupted by floods on trunk roads and a section of the North-South Expressway.
KTM Berhad was forced to cancel several intercity train services in Negri Sembilan and Johor.
Rohani Ismail, 51, was killed when the car she was driving was swept away by floodwaters from an oil palm plantation in Cha’ah, Johor at about 7pm.
Aw Yoke Lin, 53, from Taman Pelangi was killed when her four-wheel drive vehicle was swept into a river at Kampung Rahmat, Kulaijaya.
Some 1,426 people from 342 families have been evacuated from their homes in Kulai and have taken refuge at 11 relief centres.
“For the time being, there are sufficient supplies of food, medical aid and shelter for affected residents,” said Kulai MP Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, adding the situation there was under control.
In Malacca, rescuers recovered the body of security guard Yusry Mohd Yusof, 40, after he fell into a water treatment plant pool at 10am in Kampung Chinchin, Jasin.
In Sabah, farmer Meriting Andi, 52, went missing as he waded a swollen Sungai Samparita in Kota Marudu to rescue his stranded children on the other side of the river bank.
The Prime Minister is expected to visit the flood-prone areas in Johor today.
A total of 29,294 people were evacuated in Johor and were housed in 200 relief centres as at 4pm yesterday, in a repeat of major floods which occurred in 2006.
Segamat has become an “island” after it was cut off by floodwaters. Police said no one can get in or out of Segamat as the roads to Muar, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur are under water.
A Ledang flood operations centre spokesman said four roads – Jalan Sialang-Tangkak, Jalan Gementah-Segamat, Jalan Simpang Bekoh and a stretch of the North-South Expressway near Km173 are only accessible to heavy vehicles.
Flash floods were also reported in Lahad Datu, Beluran and certain areas of Pitas, while many rural roads including those in plantations have been cut off by floods, making it difficult for vegetable farmers to send their produce to the main towns.
MOVING OUT: Residents of Kampung Bukit Asahan near Jasin, Melaka, use boats to reach the flood evacuation centre after flood waters entered their homes today. Floods wreaked havoc in several states in the country, leaving three people dead, damaging properties and forcing the evacuations of thousands of people. Pix by Rasul Azli Samad Jan 31, 2011 10:28 pm
Floods have hit five states and the worst is yet to come. The main road into Segamat, Johor, was rendered impassable to vehicles yesterday, forcing people headed into town to walk along the railway tracks. Parts of the track itself, and many other parts in Negri Sembilan and Johor, were under water as well, causing Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd to stop train services to the east and south of the country. — NST picture by Mohd Yusni Ariffin
Floodwaters make roads impassable in Segamat town yesterday. — NST picture by Mohd Yusni Ariffin
Negri Sembilan Fire and Rescue personnel helping flood victims to evacuate in Gemas yesterday. — NST picture by Owee Ah Chun
Flood victim Zainudin Ahmid, 45, trying to salvage his fridge in Kampung Gadek, near Alor Gajah, yesterday. — NST picture by Mohd Jamah Nasri
There are one youtube link posted by thestaronline, which title name "Man-made preparation is no match to the force of nature when rain-driven floods rendered media personnel and residents becoming flood victims during and after the Tenang by-elections in Johor."
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