POMEGRANATE FRUIT

 

Pomegranate is a ruby-red fruit with juicy seeds - called arils - that can be added to salads, cocktails, and meat- or rice-based entrees. This versatile fruit provides important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and copper, along with a healthy dose of fibre. Like most fruits, pomegranate is very low in fat and sodium. While it can be labour-intensive to free the arils from the flesh of the pomegranate, it is worth it for their bright flavour and antioxidants.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate

Pomegranate seeds and juice contain compounds and nutrients with health-promoting qualities.

Helps Build Bones, Cartilage, and Muscle.

Pomegranates provide lots of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid). This vitamin is essential for good bone structure, cartilage, muscle and blood vessels. It also aids in the absorption of iron and promotes wound healing. Vitamin C must be consumed through the diet because our bodies are unable to make it.

Fights Oxidative Stress.

According to the National Institutes of Health, "Ongoing research is examining whether vitamin C, by limiting the damaging effects of free radicals through its antioxidant activity, might help prevent or delay the development of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and other diseases in which oxidative stress plays a causal role".

Pomegranates also contain other antioxidant compounds, such as quercetin and anthocyanins, which also repair cell damage caused by oxidative stress.

Helps Regulate Blood Sugar and Digestion.

You will get a healthy boost of fibre when you consume pomegranate arils (not juice). Most of us do not get enough fibre in our diet each day. Fibre helps boost satiety, improves digestive health and may help lower blood cholesterol. It also helps to slow the absorption of sugar, so your blood glucose does not spike after eating.

Lowers Blood Pressure.

A research review analyzing the effect of pomegranate juice on blood pressure suggests that drinking about one cup of the juice can help reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure and could benefit people with hypertension and people at risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Improves Exercise Performance.

The antioxidants in pomegranate juice can strengthen muscles and help them recover after exercise. They may also improve performance during athletic exercise.

Allergies.

Pomegranate allergies are not common but they are possible. Symptoms may include itching, swelling, runny nose and difficulty breathing. If you suspect that you may be allergic to pomegranate, see an allergy specialist to get a diagnosis.

Adverse Effects.

Certain medications for high cholesterol (commonly called statins) may interact with pomegranate juice. Both pomegranate juice and grapefruit juice have a similar effect on the body, so these and other medications that interact with grapefruit juice may also interact with the juice from pomegranates. If you are on medication, speak with your healthcare provider before including the fruit in your diet to stay safe. Since pomegranate is rich in vitamin K, it may interfere with the blood clotting medicine Coumadin (warfarin). But appropriate dietary levels of vitamin K vary, so discuss your diet with your doctor if you are taking this medicine.

As usual, we remind you to take your Memo Plus Gold daily. It will help to keep you alert and mentally sharp. For more information or to order for Memo Plus Gold, please visit : https://oze.my.

Global Ikhwan and the business of faith: Exploiting Islamic values for profit

 

AT THE intersection of religion and commerce, the Global Ikhwan group in Malaysia stands as a controversial example of how Islamic values can be manipulated for financial gain.

Emerging from the remnants of the Al-Arqam movement that was banned in 1994, Global Ikhwan presents itself as a socially responsible enterprise grounded in Islamic principles.

However, behind this facade lies a troubling reality: the exploitation of religious identity for commercial gain, with particular emphasis on coercive practices such as forced polygamy among young girls, neglecting the rights of children and labourers.

The mask of religion in business

Since 2012, Global Ikhwan has strategically positioned itself as a champion of Muslim businesses, operating across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, food services, and agriculture.

The group emphasises Islamic teachings of self-reliance, community solidarity, and spiritual purity to attract both Muslim consumers and followers.

However, this use of Islamic values is often superficial, serving primarily as a marketing tool to build trust and legitimacy within the Muslim community rather than genuinely upholding these values.

Former members and critics have revealed how the group’s true focus is not on social welfare or community building, but rather on profit maximisation and the consolidation of power among its leaders, all cloaked under the guise of religious piety.

By cloaking their business operations in Islamic rhetoric, the group successfully deceives the public, making it difficult for consumers, followers, and regulators to see through the religious image they project.

Forced polygamy: Exploiting religious identity

One of the most egregious practices linked to Global Ikhwan is the coercion of young girls into polygamous marriages, which they claim as a religious duty.

Personal testimonies shared on platforms like YouTube shed light on the group’s internal dynamics.

In a video titled “Life Inside Global Ikhwan”, a former follower recounts how girls as young as 16 were pressured into marrying much older men, with little regard for their consent or welfare.

This practice, justified by the group using religious doctrines, is a clear example of how Global Ikhwan exploits Islam for control and profit.

By manipulating religious teachings, the group maintains strict control over its members, particularly young women, who are coerced into following its version of Islamic piety.

This not only erodes their autonomy but also subjects them to economic and emotional dependency, as their livelihoods become tied to the success of the group’s business ventures.

Exploiting the vulnerability of followers

One of the most damaging aspects of Global Ikhwan’s business model is the exploitation of its followers, many of whom find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of dependency.

Through religious rhetoric, the group convinces members to work for little pay or even volunteer in its businesses, framing their contributions as acts of faith.

These members are often led to believe that by participating and donating their money, they are fulfilling religious obligations and contributing to the community’s spiritual welfare.

However, for many members, leaving the group or challenging its practices is nearly impossible.

They are financially, emotionally, and spiritually dependent on the organisation, which uses its religious authority to maintain control over their lives.

The coercion is particularly evident in the practice of forced polygamy, where young girls are trapped in marriages that benefit the group’s male leaders.

With limited autonomy and no clear way out, members of Global Ikhwan remain stuck in a cycle of exploitation, unable to escape the group’s grip without facing significant personal, social, and spiritual repercussions. This vicious cycle reinforces the group’s power and ensures the continued exploitation of its followers for labour and financial gain.

Public perception and government response

The public image of Global Ikhwan as a faith-driven social enterprise has shielded it from significant scrutiny. Many of its business ventures, such as providing accommodation for so-called orphans (who are not actually orphaned), are perceived as legitimate.

Its religious branding appeals to Muslim consumers who may be unaware of the group’s underlying motives.

However, revelations from former members and social media platforms like YouTube have begun to expose the truth about Global Ikhwan’s exploitation of Islamic values for financial gain.

The Malaysian government has long been wary of the group, particularly because of its ties to the banned Al-Arqam movement.

While the government has taken steps to monitor Global Ikhwan’s activities, the group’s ability to blend religious obligations with business operations makes it difficult to fully regulate.

The use of Islamic identity as a shield for its business practices allows the group to evade much of the scrutiny typically directed at religious or cult-like organisations.

Conclusion

To protect the integrity of Islamic business ethics and social enterprises, greater transparency and stronger regulatory oversight are urgently needed.

It is essential to ensure that those who claim to operate based on Islamic values are held accountable for their actions, especially when vulnerable individuals are exploited in the name of Islam.

Global Ikhwan’s exploitation of Islamic values through its business operations serves as a stark reminder of how religious identity can be manipulated for profit.

By presenting itself as a faith-driven enterprise, the group has built a facade of piety that hides its true motives of control and financial gain.

It is important to acknowledge the efforts of the Malaysian authorities, particularly the police, in taking decisive action against Global Ikhwan and its questionable practices.

Despite the group’s attempts to mask its true intentions under the guise of religious and social enterprises, the police and government agencies have remained vigilant, monitoring their activities closely.

Their work, alongside the contributions of former members and whistle-blowers who have bravely come forward, has helped expose the exploitation and abuse within the organisation.

By acting swiftly to dismantle harmful practices such as forced polygamy and labour exploitation, law enforcement has played a vital role in protecting vulnerable individuals and upholding justice.

Their ongoing commitment to ensuring that those who manipulate religion for profit are held accountable is commendable and critical in safeguarding the integrity of the community. 

Dr Azian Madun is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Syariah and Management, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.

Kerajaan dicadang isytihar cuti tambahan Deepavali

 

Deepavali yang juga dikenali sebagai festival cahaya disambut pada 31 Okt ini.

KUALA LUMPUR: 

Naib Presiden MIC T Murugiah mencadangkan kerajaan mengisytiharkan 1 Nov sebagai cuti umum tambahan bagi memberi peluang kepada rakyat menikmati tempoh sambutan Deepavali yang lebih panjang.

Menurutnya, cuti tambahan itu bukan sahaja bermanfaat kepada komuniti beragama Hindu dan memberikan kemudahan kepada mereka yang meraikannya tetapi juga memberi peluang kepada semua rakyat untuk turut serta dan menghormati kepelbagaian budaya di negara ini.

Deepavali merupakan perayaan yang penting bagi komuniti Hindu di Malaysia dan ia masa untuk keluarga, renungan diri serta perpaduan masyarakat,

 katanya dalam kenyataan.

Dengan mengisytiharkan cuti tambahan pada 1 Nov, kerajaan akan memberi peluang kepada rakyat Malaysia berkumpul dan meraikannya bersama dalam suasana aman serta harmoni,

 katanya dalam kenyataan.

Deepavali yang juga dikenali sebagai festival cahaya disambut pada 31 Okt ini.

Murugiah turut menyeru agar Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim dan kerajaan persekutuan mempertimbangkan permintaan itu demi kepentingan perpaduan nasional dan penghargaan terhadap kepelbagaian budaya negara. - FMT

Malaysian mothers cheer vote to fix ‘sexist’ constitution

 

Young Malaysian mothers and representatives from Family Frontiers outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court during a previous hearing.

LONDON: 

Malaysian mothers who have been engaged in a protracted legal battle with the government have welcomed the Parliament vote to change the constitution to allow women to pass their nationality to children born overseas.

This is a monumental victory. It’s fantastic,

 said Adlyn Teoh, who spent nearly a decade battling to get Malaysian citizenship for her son before deciding to take the government to court.

Although Malaysian men can automatically confer citizenship on children born abroad, women do not enjoy the same right because the constitution only refers to the 

father

 passing on his nationality.

The MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bill which would give both parents the same rights.

Campaigners said the long overdue amendment would transform lives and could spur other countries to scrap sexist citizenship laws, which break up families, render children stateless and leave women trapped in abusive relationships.

Teoh, president of grassroots organisation Family Frontiers, which campaigns on the issue, said Malaysia’s current law created 

horrendous

 problems for women with foreign spouses who give birth overseas and want to return home to raise their families.

Her son Reis ended up stateless for a while when he could not inherit his father’s nationality or hers.

Teoh, 46, a cybersecurity professional, said children like Reis do not have the same rights to free education, healthcare and social services as Malaysian children.

Visas have to be constantly renewed and children may have to leave the country after they become adults.

Teoh estimated the annual cost of school fees, health insurance and other charges could amount to RM50,000 per child.

‘Massive win’

Although Malaysian women can apply for citizenship for children born overseas, decisions often take years and rejections are common, with no reason given.

Family Frontiers said the reform could benefit thousands of binational families whose numbers are rising as more people spend time working abroad.

Malaysia is one of 24 countries that ban or limit women conferring their nationality on their children.

Catherine Harrington of the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights said the vote could drive change elsewhere.

This is a massive win for the Malaysian mothers, and a huge step for global efforts to end gender discrimination in nationality laws,

 she said.

We’re hopeful other countries will be inspired … and take action.

Harrington said Malaysia’s citizenship law had deterred professional women, who had gained valuable experience abroad, from returning home and contributing to the country.

Campaigners said some Malaysian women have also become trapped in toxic marriages abroad because they feared if they returned home they could not bring their children.

Legal fight

The mothers’ battle for equal citizenship rights made headlines in 2021 when Teoh, five other mothers and Family Frontiers took the government to court.

The High Court ruled in their favour and their children now have citizenship, but the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s decision in August 2022.

The mothers are challenging the ruling, with the case set to be heard in the Federal Court in December.

The bill passed on Thursday was drawn up after elections in late-2022 yielded a new government, which promised to fix the problem as a priority.

The legislation still needs to be approved by the upper house, but campaigners are hopeful it should go through.

However, the reform will not be retroactive, leaving many children born overseas before 2024 still in limbo.

Patricia Low’s two children, Ethan, 10, and Grace, eight, are among them. They were born in Ireland but have lived almost all their lives in Malaysia.

I’m disappointed this will not benefit my own children,

 said Low. 

But this fight is also for future Malaysian women so they never have to go through what we had to.

Human rights campaigners have also criticised several regressive amendments in the bill, including one that will scrap automatic citizenship for children born to stateless permanent residents who were born in the country.

These children will now have to apply for citizenship, which critics say will give rise to intergenerational statelessness.

The government could not immediately be reached for comment. - FMT