EIDUL FITRI OPEN HOUSE ORGANISED BY MUR

MUR successfully organized an “open -house”  function to celebrate Eidul Fitri on 25 September 2011 from 12 noon to 3 pm. The function was held in an open space outside the MUR office in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.  Some 300 guests attended the function, comprising not only members of the Rohingya community living in the environs of Setapak and Gombak but also Rohingya friends and leaders from other parts of the Klang Valley, Johor, Kedah and Penang. 

Among the guests of honour present were Dato’ Hasbullah Lebai Mat Isa (Assistant Secretary-General of PERKIM), Professor Azizah binti Kassim (Senior Researcher from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who is carrying out research on the socio-economic  status of the Rohingya community in Malaysia).  NGO leaders comprising Bro. Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman (Chairman, Future Global Network Foundation – FGN), Bro.  Tuan Haji Yaacob (Treasurer, Jemaah Islah Malaysia – JIM), Bro. Raimi Ab. Rahim (Secretary-General, Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement – ABIM), Bro. Ahmad Tajuddin (President, Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia) and Bro. Syed Abu Bakar (CEO, Tradisi Ilmu Cemerlang) were also present.  MUR leadership also invited the local mosques officials and community leaders in Setapak to join in the celebration.

Guests were entertained to Nasyid songs by a group of students from the Madrasah Al-Islahiyah Al-Islamiyah Tahfizul Quran from Meru, Klang under the guidance of Ustaz Al-Hafiz Abdul Jalil Dudumeah. The Chairman of MUR, Ustaz Muhammad Amin Muhammad Kassim, delivered his speech in Rohingya language and Ustaz Mohd. Karim Fazal Karim (Mufti MUR) addressed the guests in Malay.   Nur Muhammad (a student from the Meru Madrasah) narrated the plight of the Rohingyas in English.  

Apart from speeches by the Rohingya leaders, Dato’ Hasbullah from PERKIM and Bro. Ahmad Azam (Chairman of FGN) also addressed the guests at the invitation of MUR. The two NGO leaders reiterated their assurances of continued assistance through provision of quality education, both secular and religious, aimed at solving the socio-economic difficulties of the community. 

Ustazah Nabilah Yusof, a lecturer from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) was also invited to deliver a tazkirah to the Rohingya women on the practice and true meaning of Ramadan and Syawal according to the teachings of al-Quran and the way of life of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Professor Azizah who has been providing a lot of support to the Rohingyas in the country through her research work, expressed her understanding of the real problems facing the Rohingyas in the country.  MUR hopes that she would be able to make concrete and meaningful proposals on how government agencies could channel their assistance towards solving the manifold problems faced by the refugees in the country.

The Eid Fitr celebration was in fact able to forge ties of friendship and spirit of brotherhood between MUR leadership and the Rohingya community as a whole.  At the same time such function could also provide opportunities for MUR leaders to meet up with  NGO leaders and local philanthropists to explain issues and problems confronted by the Rohingya refugees in the country and inform them of the type of support and assistance they could provide.

Read more »

MUR LEADERSHIP VISITED ROHINGYA MADRASAHS IN SEBERANG PERAI TENGAH, PENANG

A delegation led by MUR Chairman, Ustaz Muhammad Amin Muhammad Kassim, visited 6 madrasahs run by the Rohingya community in the district of Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang from 10 – 12 September 2011 . The madrasahs involved are as follows:-

1)       Madrasatul Muhajirin, Taman Senangin, Perai

2)       Madrasatul Zinnurin, Bagan Dalam

3)       Madasah Rohingya, Bagan Ajam

4)       Madrasah Rohingya, Ujung Batu

5)       Madrasah Jalan Baru, Bukit Mertajam

6)       Madrasah Rohingya, Seberang Jaya

During the visit, MUR donated  a pair of school uniform to all student (boys and girls) studying at the above madrasahs.  The MUR leaders also  donated the Holy Quran and Muqaddam, as well as  RM200 cash to each of the madrasahs mentioned above.

On the last day of the visit, a reception to honour the presence of MUR leaders was organized by the Bagan Dalam Rohingya community, headed by Bro. Nurul Islam. During the gathering, Ustaz Mohd. Amin (MUR President) and Ustaz Mohd. Karim (Mufti) were invited to give tazkirah (talks) on the theme related to the significance and spirit of the month of Ramadan and Syawal as prescribed in the teachings of Islam.

Read more »

A WORD OF APPRECIATION TO JEMAAH ISLAH MALAYSIA (JIM)

On the 23^rd day of Ramadan, MUR, in collaboration with an Islamic based NGO, Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM),  organized an iftar (feast) at Madrasah Al-Islahiyah Al-Islamiyah  Maatahfizul Quran located in Jalan Meru, Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan.  Some 300 Rohingyas, living around the district of Meru, were present.  Before iftar, 45 families from the Rohingya community (who are less fortunate and unable to make ends meet)  received donations (Duit Raya) of RM100 each from JIM representatives – Bro. Wan Mohd. Zuhri Che Mat Zin and Bro. Md. Nasir Tampol.  MUR also received financial assistance of RM1,500 from JIM to be used for administrative expenses.

MUR leadership would like to take this opportunity to thank Bro. Haji Zaid Kamaruddin, President of JIM, for making the above program possible and hope that JIM (and also like-minded NGOs) will continue to support MUR, especially in their effort to provide secular as well as religious education to the children of our community who do not have the opportunity to enroll in government aided schools due to our status as ‘stateless people’.

Read more »

ROHINGYA COMMUNITY IN JALAN IPOH RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM MUR

On 21 August 2011, which coincides with the twenty first day of Ramadan,  a delegation from MUR comprising Ustaz Mohd. Ayob, Ustaz Mohd. Karim and Ustaz Rahimullah visited the Rohingya community living in the environs of Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.  During the visit, in the spirit of Ramadan, 30 families who are living under very tight income, received a copy of al-Quran and a bag of rice each as well as some other food items , like cocking oil, flour etc. from MUR representatives.  

Read more »

AN APPEAL FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF MAJLIS ULAMA ROHINGYA [ROHINGYA COUNCIL OF ULAMAS]

Dear Sir/Madam,

ZAKAT WELFARE ASSISTANCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Assalamualaikum wr. wb.  & Ramadhan Greetings!

                               

1.    The month of Ramadan al-Mubarak is a much awaited occasion for Muslims throughout the world.  In this blessed month, besides exercising self-restraint from the break of day to sunset, Muslims are also obliged to increase their works of charity as a means of attracting divine blessings. As for Muslims and the Faithful who have been blessed with prosperity and riches, Ramadan presents a golden opportunity for cleansing their earnings and purifying their wealth, besides also offering their gratitude and thanks to the Almighty Allah for having endowed them with the means of sustenance. To the destitute, Ramadan is the time for them to share in the blessings.

2.       The decision to redistribute zakat wealth in our country has seldom taken into account the welfare of the Rohingya community in our midst. Many of our fellow Muslims as well as welfare organizations in our land of plenty, as well as in other parts of the Muslim world are not aware of the sufferings and privations endured by the Rohingya community in Malaysia which is estimated at 20,000 – 30,000 people; some 650,000 refugees live under conditions of dire poverty in the refugee camps of the Cox Bazaar district in Bangladesh; while about 5 million refuges, mostly comprising women and the elderly, continue to live in Arakan, Myanmar. The military junta continues to persecute them in the land of their origin, and the pathetic story of their lives grips the heart of the Faithful amongst God’s servants.

3.    It is in the spirit of Ramadan al-Mubarak that the Rohingya Council of Ulamas (MUR) wishes to make this appeal to your sense of compassion. You are most fortunate to be born in this blessed land of plenty, and as a sign of your gratitude to God, we hope that you will consider extending the scope of your donations to also include members of the Rohingya community, both in Malaysia as well as other parts of Asia as mentioned above.   

4.   We hope to be able to use a part of your donations for the schooling of Rohingya children who have been denied formal education. The MUR leadership has taken upon itself the responsibility for educating these children who are found to be deprived physically, mentally and spiritually. They continue to remain ignorant of the ways of the world, and the contributions should help towards ensuring that these children would be adequately enlightened with such knowledge, faith and understanding as will enable them to be useful members of society, and independent of all else save Allah s.w.t.   

5.    We hope that the holy month of Ramadan will open the hearts of every true believer who has been given the means and blessings by God to contribute whole heartedly towards overcoming the evil of absolute poverty gripping the lives of the Rohingya community in Malaysia and other parts of Asia, including their native Arakan.

6.    May the outpourings of Allah’s boundless grace and beneficence be upon all those who would step forward to help bring relief and succor to the children, women and other deprived members of the Rohingya community.

7.       Contributions can be made via cheque/postal money order in the name of ' MAJLIS ULAMA ROHINGYA (MUR) 'and send to the following mailing address:

                                   MAJLIS ULAMA ROHINGYA (MUR)

                                   No. 16, 2A Jalan Suria Setapak,

                                   Taman Suria Setapak

                                   53000 Kuala Lumpur

                                   MALAYSIA

                                   Tel/Fax:  603-40223444             H/P:  017-354-9311

                                   Email:   majlisulamarohingya_mur@yahoo.com

       OR

       via telegraphic transfer to ‘MAJLIS ULAMA ROHINGYA (MUR)’ bank account – details

       are as follows:

                 Account No:      2007021000029939   

                  Bank Address:   AGRO BANK

                                              Ibu Pejabat Agro Bank

                                              Kuala Lumpur

                                              MALAYSIA

                  Tel. No :  603-27311600                  Fax No :  603-26914599

Ramadhan Greetings, and Happy Fasting.  Wassalam.

Yours In His Service,

USTAZ MUHAMMAD AMIN BIN MUHAMMAD KASSIM

Chairman

Majlis Ulama Rohingya (MUR)

[Rohingya Council of Ulamas]

Read more »

AN INTRODUCTION BY THE PRESIDENT

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!

Sebagai Pengerusi MUR yang baru, Ustaz Mohd. Jaber berikrar untuk meneruskan visi murni Ustaz Mohamad Amin untuk memantapkan lagi tahap pendidikan akademik dan pengajian Islam anak-anak yang kini sedang belajar di 10 buah madrasah di bawah naungan MUR - dibangunkan dengan dokongan pemimpin masyarakat Rohingya di kawasan-kawasan penempatan di sekitar Lembah Klang dan negeri Pulau Pinang.  Disamping itu, usaha dan ikhtiar perlu dilipatgandakan untuk mewujudkan beberapa buah lagi madrasah yang masih belum wujud secara formal di negeri-negeri lain seperti di Kedah, Johor dan negeri-negeri di Pantai Timur semenanjung, yang mana ramai terdapat masyarakat pelarian Rohingya bermastautin.

Menurut Ustaz Jaber lagi, pendidikan adalah menjadi agenda utama MUR memandangkan kanak-kanak pelarian Rohingya (yang jumlahnya dianggarkan 2,000 orang) tidak berpeluang mendaftar sebagai pelajar di sekolah bantuan kerajaan disebabkan status mereka sebagai masyarakat pelarian (yang tidak mempunyai sebarang identifikasi diri) terdapat kekangan dari segi undang-undang negara ini.  Untuk mendapat pendidikan di sekolah swasta adalah jauh dari kemampuan kami.

Ustaz Jaber menegaskan bahawa pendidikan adalah kunci kejayaan hidup. Hanya melalui pendidikan akan berupaya mentransformasikan anak-anak ini  menjadi insan yang berilmu, beriman dan bertaqwa kepada Allah Subhanahu Wataala.

Selain daripada itu, MUR juga akan melipatgandakan program dan aktiviti dakwah di kalangan masyarakat Rohingya dewasa yang dianggarkan sekitar 25,000 di Malaysia. Majoriti masyarakat Rohingya yang diusir dari Rakhine State (dahulunya Arakan), yang terpaksa menjadi masyarakat pelarian di Malaysia dan di negara-negara lain, amat rendah dalam pengetahuan agama Islam (termasuklah dalam bab Fardu Ain). Keadaan ini berlaku disebabkan ajaran dan aktiviti berbentuk keagamaan yang digerakkan oleh golongan ulamak sentiasa disekat dari berkembang dan tertakluk kepada pelbagai jenis diskriminasi oleh rejim junta Myanmar.

Oleh itu, Ustaz Mohd. Jaber amat berharap semoga Kerajaan Malaysia (melalui jabatan dan agensi agama Islam serta pelbagai NGO di negara ini) dapat membantu dan memberikan kerjasama sepenuhnya untuk memastikan gerakan pendidikan dan dakwah serta pengukuhan aqidah Islamiah di kalangan masyarakat Rohingya dapat diperhebatkan lagi – selari dengan semangat yang diberikan oleh kaum ansar terhadap golongan muhajirin pada zaman penghijrahan pimpinan Rasulullah a.s dari kota Mekah ke Madinah dahulu.

Wassalam.

USTAZ MOHD JABER BIN MOHD SUBAHAN

Presiden

Majlis Ulama Rohingya (MUR)

Surah Al-Kahf 18:46

Read more »