SNAPSHOT | Ministry funding spat 'resolved'; department looking into Sungai Perak fish deaths

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

9pm

Politics

• The inter-ministerial funding spat between the Finance Ministry and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry has been “resolved”, Bernama quoted deputy treasury secretary-general (Policy) Zamzuri Abdul Aziz saying.
  
  The report did not mention how the issue was resolved.
  
  His comments followed Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii’s urging for Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican to explain the alleged overspending by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, which the ministry has denied.

READ MORE: Funding spat brews between Zahid's and Anwar's ministries

Environment

• The Perak Fisheries Department has taken water samples from Sungai Perak for laboratory testing after the deaths of several fish species on Sept 27.
  
  Department director Ghazali A Manap told Bernama that the department dispatched five officers to inspect and collect samples after receiving reports of various dead fish sighted in the river.

  

  “At present, the department’s preliminary findings indicate that the fish deaths are believed to have been caused by low dissolved oxygen levels in several affected areas,” he said.
  
  He thanked those who lodged complaints about the incident as it enabled the department to take swift follow-up action.

READ MORE: PBM urges Putrajaya intervention over alleged Perak river pollution

Religious Affairs

• Deputy religious affairs minister Marhamah Rosli has rejected calls to resign over content she published in 2019 that had been linked to New Age teachings.
  
  “I will only resign if it is proven that I have led people astray, that people have been led astray. Prove it in court,” she was quoted by Free Malaysia Today in Petaling Jaya today.
  
  Marhamah recently faced calls from Amanah and PAS to resign or be suspended over allegations linked to a resurfaced 2019 Facebook post.
  
  She denied promoting New Age teachings, witchcraft, magic or charms, and threatened legal action against those spreading the claims.

  

  The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) later summoned her for an explanation, and then issued several reprimands, advisories and guidelines regarding the content and approach of programmes linked to the controversy.

• Umno’s ulama council has urged Jakim to take firm action against teachings linked to the New Age Movement, amid renewed controversy over alleged promotion of such beliefs by individuals in government.
  
  Council chairperson Dusuki Ahmad said Muslims should be wary of concepts affiliated with the movement such as the “Law of Attraction”, which he claimed contradicted Islamic teachings on tauhid and faith.
  
  He also rejected arguments that such teachings were compatible with maqasid syariah, saying religious principles should not be cited out of context to justify what he described as false teachings.

  

  Dusuki called for Jakim and a panel of religious experts to investigate the matter and urged that it be referred to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs and the Conference of Rulers.
  
  The statement did not name anyone, but it comes amid scrutiny of  Marhamah’s alleged links, despite her denial.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | What is the New Age Movement linked to the deputy religious minister?

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KINIGUIDE | What is the New Age Movement linked to the deputy religious minister?

Deputy religious minister denies New Age Movement link