Category: Agama

Abd’ Al-Halim: The New Poor In Singapore Are Majority Malays

AsSalaam’alaikum!

This has happened before several years ago but when Al-Jazeera covered it, to hide their utter shame, the government banned the broadcast station in Singapore. At the time, there were several malay families who were kicked out of their HDB flats who had no alternative but to live in tents. The Malays were the most hard hit whenever there is any economic trouble. They are the first to be retrenched and the last to be employed. Now with the unbridled influx of foreign workers and the ongoing Islamophobia and general hatred for the Malays, even Malays with high qualification find it very very hard to get jobs. And when any Malay complain about their situation they will be told that they are too choosy or are simply not as well qualified because, this is after all, a meritocracy! This is the result of such macro-economic and socio-political mismanagement that further disadvantage the Malay-Muslims. It is a good thing that the Malays do not turn to crime as they still have not lost their faith in Islam. I worry that is a matter of time because desperate people do desperate things – Children need food shelter, proper sanitation and education.

There must be transparency in this. We need to know the racial breakdown of these people. It is also ironic to note that the PAP government had since the 60’s destroyed the kampung villages and appropriated the lands of the Malays via legislation of URA laws but now the Malays are returning to set up kampungs (villages) with a penghulu to boot. Another question is, where are the zakat (&/ waqaf) officials? Are they at ready only to collect but when there is such a clear need to disburse the funds they are not to be found?

In the early 90’s the opposition spoke about the rise of the “New Poor” in Singapore. Well, if we are not careful, the new poor will, by and large be the Malays.

Source: Ustaz Abd’ Al-Halim

October 10, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Trump-Supporting Bigots Living Among Us

How is it possible that there are people in Singapore who are rooting for Trump?

I don’t want to make excuses for Americans who support him, but at least you could attribute part of their support to 1) loyalty to the party, 2) growing socio-economic concerns and racism/misogyny/xenophobia become the manifestations of these fears, and 3) failure of the left to address their issues.

Apart from there being outright racists, misogynists and xenophobes amongst the Republican base, of course.

But why does he have support in Singapore? These people (arguably) have no direct stake in the election, and yet they support a clearly anti-Muslim, anti-Hispanic, anti-Black, male chauvinist, who cheated the system and bragged about not doing his fair bit for society, and who has zero experience in public office.

Yet he has a following???

That, is far more scary to me than Trump getting elected. Because whether Trump wins or not, evidently, there are bigots living amongst us.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

October 10, 2016
16 Lelaki, Termasuk Pelajar Universiti Ditahan Di Malaysia Kerana Terlibat Dengan Kumpulan Pengganas

Seorang pelajar universiti awam dan seorang warga asing adalah antara 16 lelaki ditahan kerana dipercayai terlibat dengan kegiatan kumpulan pengganas.

Ketua Polis Negara Malaysia Khalid Abu Bakar berkata kesemua mereka yang berusia antara 20 dan 38 tahun ditahan Bahagian Anti-Pengganasan Cawangan Khas Bukit Aman di sekitar Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, Pulau Pinang dan Sabah antara 21 September hingga 6 Oktober lalu.

“Mereka yang ditahan terdiri daripada (lima) peniaga; (empat) juruteknik; (dua) penganggur; seorang guru kaunseling di sekolah kerajaan; seorang kakitangan bank; seorang pengurus eksekutif; seorang pencari barangan antik dan
seorang pelajar,” katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini (9 Okt).

PELAJAR UNIVERSITI RANCANG SUSUP MASUK KE SYRIA

Encik Khalid berkata seorang pelajar berusia 20 tahun yang menuntut di sebuah universiti di Johor, ditahan ketika pulang ke tanah air di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) Sepang, pada 22 September lalu.

Menurutnya suspek berlepas ke Istanbul, Turki pada 7 September lalu dan ditahan pihak berkuasa Turki pada keesokan harinya kerana merancang untuk menyusup masuk ke Syria bagi menyertai kumpulan pengganas di negara itu.

“Tangkapan yang dibuat pihak berkuasa Turki itu adalah hasil maklumat Cawangan Khas Bukit Aman,” katanya.

BAI’AH DENGAN MUHAMMAD WANNDY MOHAMED JEDY

Menurut Encik Khalid, seramai 14 lagi suspek warga tempatan yang ditangkap disyaki
merupakan anggota pengganas ISIS daripada kumpulan yang diketuai Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedy.

Kesemua mereka disyaki berbai’ah secara online kepada Muhammad Wanndy dan menyalurkan dana kepadanya, katanya.

Beliau juga menambah, dalam operasi itu polis turut menahan seorang lelaki warga asing berumur 32 tahun yang dipercayai berasal dari Utara Afrika kerana disyaki menganggotai Kumpulan Jabhat Al Nusra di Syria.

“Lelaki itu ditangkap di Selangor pada 25 September lalu. Hasil siasatan juga mendapati suspek beberapa kali menyusup masuk ke Malaysia sejak Mei lalu. Semasa di Malaysia, suspek disyaki terlibat dalam sindiket pemalsuan dokumen perjalanan bagi kegunaan Kumpulan Jabhat Al Nusra,” katanya.

Source: Berita MediaCorp

October 10, 2016
Perikatan Tentera Pimpinan Arab Saudi Akan Siasat Serangan Udara Ke Atas Upacara Pengebumian

Perikatan tentera pimpinan Arab Saudi untuk menumpaskan pihak pemberontak Houthi di Yaman akan melakukan siasatan berhubung serangan udara ke atas satu upacara pengebumian, semalam (8 Okt).

Serangan berlaku ketika ratusan orang menghadiri upacara pengebumian ayah menteri ehwal dalam negeri dari pihak pemberontak di sebuah dewan di ibu kota Sanaa.

Lebih 140 orang terbunuh manakala 525 lagi cedera.

Kumpulan pemberontak Houthi menuduh pakatan tentera Arab itu melakukan serangan tersebut.

Pada mulanya pakatan tentera itu menafikan terbabit dalam kejadian tersebut.

Namun, ia kemudian menyatakan akan segera bekerjasama dengan pakar-pakar Amerika Syarikat untuk melakukan siasatan.

Ini selepas Washington mengumumkan ia akan segera mengkaji semula sokongannya kepada pakatan tersebut berikutan serangan berdarah itu.

Serangan tersebut antara yang terburuk sejak pasukan pakatan tentera Arab memperhebatkan serangan udara Mac lalu di Yaman.

Kumpulan pemberontak Houthi yang disokong Iran, menawan Sanaa pada September 2014, menyebabkan pemerintahan Presiden Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi terpaksa meninggalkan ibu kota itu.

Lebih 6,500 terbunuh sejak campur tangan pasukan tentera Arab untuk menumpaskan pemberontak Houthi.

Source: Berita MediaCorp

October 10, 2016
A Chinese-Muslim Convert’s Experience With Ignorance In Singapore

I need to get this off my chest.

I was seeing a new doctor yesterday (4th time this month, don’t ask) and she expressed surprise that my name sounded ‘Chinese’ when I’m wearing a hijab (and therefore look like a Muslim aka. Malay in Singapore). So I said I’m Chinese Muslim, yes, my family is Chinese, yes, I’m the only Muslim in my family, yes, I’m a convert to Islam, yes.

Then she asked me why I converted. Usual question.
Me: “I researched.” (Shortest answer, I’ve figured, that prevents unnecessary questions and only engages those who really want to know more, because, what bores people more than research?! hahaa)

And then she says this.
“Huh. You researched? Don’t research until become ISIS ah!”

WELL.
I’m not offended, no don’t get me wrong. I’ve had this said to me a few times before. But today I feel so strongly about it and am just appalled to know that it has come to the stage whereby learning and gaining knowledge in Islam can be viewed as a route to becoming ‘brainwashed to terrorism’.

Ever since my reversion close to 3 years ago (I turn 3 in 10 days time, yay!), I’ve met countless Muslims and Muslim converts in Singapore week after week, class after class. Muslims who are so knowledgeable in their field of work, AND in Islamic knowledge. Scientists, mathematicians, historians- and what they all have in common is the knowledge in Islam which sets the strongest foundation in whatever they do. And I’m learning from an ustaz who has no professional certification to his name, yet embodies the humility and disposition of people who have spent years of their lives gaining more and more knowledge. Such people are overflowing with wisdom, but they don’t ever stop learning. As my ustaz would say, “The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know.”

To all my friends out there, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of, because the epitome of a Muslim lies in gaining knowledge. And the more knowledge we gain, the less we ‘become ISIS’ (I cringe even writing this sentence). What they do/ claim to do in the name of Islam, they are no more than a bunch of terrorists. Got that? Just Terrorists. No “Islamic extremists” or “fundamentalists” or “Islamists”- just terms that the media has coined to make you believe that we Muslims have got anything to do with that bunch- when in fact we are as much related to them as you are.

Now let me go back to my jihad of trying to be as patient as I can and not have a sarcastic comeback everytime someone tries to link me to ISIS. Ugh.

—
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ- peace be upon him) said: “A servant of God will remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his time on earth and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what activities he spent it; and about his body and how he used it.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 148)

Source: Maryem Chin

October 9, 2016