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Category: Agama

  • Singapore Needs ‘Deeper, More Personal Multiracial Compact’

    Singapore Needs ‘Deeper, More Personal Multiracial Compact’

    Building a multiracial compact is never-ending, as Singapore can never be satisfied with what it has achieved, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who called for a “deeper, more personal multiracialism” here.

    At a dialogue yesterday with youth, he observed that peaceful accommodation was possible in British and French societies when it came to the first-generation immigrants despite cultural and religious differences.

    Interestingly, he said, it was the second generation that grew up in both countries who felt alienated and were vulnerable to outside influences.

    “(So) however little we’ve achieved, it can tumble down quickly. Building a multiracial compact is a never-ending game, not just because of what we’re like as a people, but because of what’s happening around the world,” he said.

    Noting that ethical and religious consciousness is rising, leading to global conflict, he added that Singapore must put even more effort into deepening its multiracial compact now.

    “We start from young, with friendships, interactions, being in the same netball team, the same hockey team, meeting three or four times a week, being on Facebook together, being on WhatsApp together, growing up as Singaporeans together. It has to be a deeper, more personal multiracialism,” he stressed.

    Mr Tharman was speaking after some race-related questions from students. One had observed that the older generation still harboured “racial sentiments”, and worried that it might cause a divide like the one in the United States.

    Another participant felt that what the President of Singapore does — his actions — rather than his race is the main factor in how people related to the office. He suggested that more be done to allow Singaporeans to know what the President is doing.

    To that, Senior Minister of State and MP (Jurong GRC) Desmond Lee, who was part of the panel, said that, in the first place, the candidate must meet certain criteria and have a lengthy background in the private or public sector. They should be able to explain how they can carry out the roles of the President, he noted.

    As for the issue of race, he said: “When you say race doesn’t matter, we want to be there, we want to work constantly towards being truly multiracial, multicultural Singapore (but) I think we all accept that race still is a factor.”

    The race issue had surfaced recently, with impending changes to the Elected Presidency that would ensure minorities get elected as President from time to time.

     

    Source: TODAY Online

     

  • Malays Welcome Minority EP Proposal But Stress ‘Meritocracy Must Be Preserved’

    Malays Welcome Minority EP Proposal But Stress ‘Meritocracy Must Be Preserved’

    Malay/Muslim union leaders at a dialogue session with Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday welcomed the Government’s proposal to ensure minority representation in the office of the President.

    However, they expressed concerns that the more stringent criteria could shrink the pool of eligible Malay private sector candidates further.

    The closed-door dialogue session on the Elected Presidency (EP) and the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) was jointly hosted by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Yayasan Mendaki.

    Also present at the event, which attracted about 60 participants and was held at Wisma Mendaki, was Mr Zainal Sapari, Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and NTUC’s assistant secretary-general.

    Speaking to reporters after the session, Dr Yaacob said: “What is heartening tonight is that when we ask them (participants), by and large, I think they want to see a Malay President as we have not had (one) in a long time. Yet, at the same time, they recognise that whoever the person is, must meet the eligibility criteria and I think that’s very important. The issue of meritocracy continues to be preserved.”

    Responding to fears that the proposed changes to the EP scheme will result in a smaller pool of eligible candidates, Dr Yaacob noted that apart from those in private sector, people holding positions in the public sector can also qualify.

    “At the same time, (the participants) recognise that the role of the President is a unifying role. And as one person mentioned when he reflected on the elections in 2011, all this talk about the (unifying) role had totally disappeared. Nobody was talking about what the President was supposed to do,” he added.

    The ARS, which has been around for a decade, recognises teachers and scholars who meet the minimum standards of qualification to preach and teach Islamic religious knowledge, and is run by the Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association (Pergas).

    The Government plans to make the accreditation scheme compulsory from Jan 1, with a transition period of around one year. Regarding the ARS, many participants were concerned with issues of implementation and the speed of the accreditation process.

    “We would be as inclusive as possible. Even though (religious teachers) 80 per cent have registered, for the remaining 20 per cent, if there are specific problems, we will work with them. Most important thing is that we want to try and get everyone to be registered,” said Dr Yaacob.

    However, he added: “There are specific instances we have to clarify. If you are having a religious ceremony, and you get somebody to run the religious ceremony that’s not a religious class … we don’t need an ARS-registered asatizah to do so.”

     

    Source: TODAY Online

  • In NY, Netanyahu Goes To The Bathroom With 20 Guards

    In NY, Netanyahu Goes To The Bathroom With 20 Guards

    New York got a glimpse on Tuesday of Benjamin Netanyahu’s massive security detail, when the prime minister answered the call of nature accompanied by 20 guards.

    Netanyahu went out for dinner with his wife, Sara, at the Harry Cipriani restaurant, one of the city’s swankiest. Before his arrival, the joint was scoped out by 20 security guards, and then when the prime minister himself arrived he was accompanied by another 20 agents, the New York Post reported.

    The restaurant only seats about 100, so Netanyahu’s entourage took up a lot of space — not to mention the other guards placed discreetly and not so discreetly around the venue, both inside and out.

    Sara and Bibi’s quiet dinner was interrupted when the premier needed to take a bathroom break. The toilet was a few feet away in the adjacent Sherry-Netherland Hotel, and, aware of the risks of peeing alone, his-ever vigilant security detail knew the drill.

    “Around 20 security guards got up with Bibi and a few went into the bathroom with him. One watched the door, and the rest lined up with their arms up to form a human barricade, so nobody could enter the bathroom or even get close,” a bystander told the Post. “He must be the most protected man in the world right now.”

    Celebrity diners treated to the routine included Charlie Rose, billionaire Ronald Perelman, Barbara Winston, ­Jason Binn and Iris Apfel.

    Netanyahu is in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday — his eighth speech at the annual plenary session.

     

    Source: The Times Of Israel

  • 5% Jemaah Umrah Singapura Lakukan Umrah 2 Kali Setahun

    5% Jemaah Umrah Singapura Lakukan Umrah 2 Kali Setahun

    Para jemaah Singapura lega peraturan baru itu dikenakan ke atas mereka yang menunaikan umrah kali kedua dan seterusnya dalam masa tahun Hijrah yang sama bukan tempoh lima atau 10 tahun seperti yang dikhuatiri sebelum ini.

    Namun terdapat hanya 5 peratus jemaah umrah Singapura yang sering melakukan umrah lebih daripada sekali dalam masa setahun.

    Semalam (21 September), Kedutaan Arab Saudi di Singapura memaklumkan GSA-GSA tempatan, visa umrah dan haji akan dinaikkan kepada 2,000 Riyal Saudi (S$700) bagi mereka yang melakukannya buat kali kedua atau lebih.

    Encik Mahfudz suami isteri merancang untuk menunaikan ibadah umrah beberapa bulan lalu tanpa menduga akan peraturan baru yang bakal diperkenalkan pihak berkuasa Saudi mulai 2 Oktober depan.

    Tetapi kini, lebih kurang sebulan sebelum berangkat ke tanah suci, mereka redha akan peraturan visa itu.

    “Saya tak terperanjat kerana ini secara kebetulan saja sebab apa di mana-mana di dunia ini keadaan naik tiada yang turun lagi jadi kita kena terima hakikatnya. Niat kita nak belanja jadi kita pergi saja. Kalau kita fikir nak itu nak ini, jangan bergeraklah jawapannya.

    “Tiada siapa yang paksa kerana itu kehendak anda. Kalau rasa tak boleh, berhenti. Kalau rasa boleh teruskan saja jadi perjuangan, itu saja,” kata beliau, seorang bakal jemaah umrah pada November nanti.

    Ramai melihatnya sebagai satu dugaan yang perlu diatasi jika benar-benar ikhlas.

    “Bagi saya tak ada masalah, kalau ada rezeki pergi sajalah, bayar sajalah, sebab kalau tawar menawar seperti tawar menawar dengan Allah. Kalau kita benar-benar nak pergi bayar saja. Kalau kita banyak soal dengan sendiri ibadah kita pun terjejas. Yang penting ikhlas, bayar, jalan,” ujar seorang jemaah haji tahun ii Abdul Hashim Minhan.

    Namun majoriti yang ditinjau akur akan perlunya pihak berkuasa Saudi melakukan sesuatu untuk memastikan jumlah jemaah yang menuju ke tanah suci masih boleh dikawal.

    Pengarah Urusan Jalaluddin Travel Ustaz Jalaluddin Hasan berkata: “Saya melihat peraturan-peraturan yang baru yang dikeluarkan Arab Saudi ini pasti mempunyai kepentingan-kepentingan mereka yang khusus, sebab-sebab peribadi mereka.

    “Saya melihat mungkin atas dasar keselamatan. Dan kami berharap jemaah Singapura dapatlah juga memahami dan mematuhi kerana untuk keselamatan peribadi dengan jumlah jemaah yang ramai sekarang di tanah suci.”

    Dengan hampir siapnya kerja-kerja peningkatan Masjidil Haram, apa yang pasti lebih ramai jemaah boleh ditampung dan kemudahan yang lebih luas dan baru terus menjadi tarikan para jemaah merata dunia.

    “Ada tambahan penerbangan baru Scoot, misalnya, tiga kali seminggu, Saudia Airlines tambahan penerbangan lima kali seminggu dan banyak lagi penerbangan yang berikan pilihan kepada para jemaah dan berbagai lagi perkhidmatan. Sambutan kali ini amat baik sejauh ini kita ada 800 jemaah umrah,” kata Pengarah Urusan Shahidah Travel Ayob Angullia.

    Walaupun musim umrah kali ini dijangka bermula bulan depan, majoriti jemaah Singapura akan berangkat umrah mulai bulan November apabila musim cuti sekolah bermula.

    Source: Berita MediaCorp

  • Sinar Harian: Ruangan Ridhuan Tee Dihenti Bukan Kerana Tekanan Mana-Mana Pihak

    Sinar Harian: Ruangan Ridhuan Tee Dihenti Bukan Kerana Tekanan Mana-Mana Pihak

    KUALA LUMPUR: Ruangan di akhbar Sinar Harian tulisan penceramah bebas Malaysia, Profesor Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, dihentikan bukan kerana didesak mana-mana parti politik.

    Ini ditegaskan oleh Penasihat Eksekutif Editorial Sinar Harian, Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali kepada laman Malaysiakini.

    “Tak ada kaitan dengan desakan MCA (Persatuan Cina Malaysia), desakan UMNO atau apa-apa.

    “Yang tak boleh drop saya punya kolum saja,” guraunya sambil ketawa kepada Malaysiakini.

    Menjelaskan lanjut, Datuk Abdul Jalil memberitahu Malaysiakini bahawa pendakwah kontroversi itu, yang juga mesra dipanggil Ustaz Ridhuan, sebenarnya sudah tiga tahun menjadi kolumnis di akhbar tersebut iaitu tempoh paling lama di kalangan kolumnis lain.

    Justeru, beliau mahu memberi peluang kepada individu lain pula menjadi kolumnis di Sinar Harian.

    Malah katanya, perkara yang sama turut berlaku kepada kolumnis lain sebelum ini seperti bekas pensyarah undang-undang Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) Dr Aziz Bari.

    “Dia tak kena drop tapi tiap-tiap kolumnis itu ada tempoh dia. Saya ingat Riduan yang paling lama. Dia sampai tiga tahun (jadi kolumnis).

    “Yang lain itu dua tahun setengah dan kita beri (ruang itu) pada orang lain,” katanya ketika ditemui Malaysiakini di sebuah forum berkaitan kebebasan media di Shah Alam semalam (20 Sep).

    PERNAH DAKWA DISEKAT MASUK S’PURA

    Dr Ridhuan, yang mengajar di Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, pada Mac lalu mendakwa dalam tulisan di Sinar Harian bahawa beliau disekat daripada memasuki Singapura, dan juga mendakwa dilayan seperti “pengganas.”

    “Sampai di Imigresen Woodlands, saya diminta turun. Pemeriksaan dilakukan.

    “Saya dilayan seperti pengganas. Gambar dan cap jari saya diambil. Setelah lebih dua jam bersoal jawab, datang surat mengatakan, saya tidak dibenarkan masuk ke sana,” kata beliau dalam tulisan di akhbar Sinar Harian bertajuk “Kenali musuh Islam sebenar”.

    Beliau mendakwa langkah tersebut merupakan hasil “pakatan” antara golongan “ultra kiasu” di Malaysia dan Singapura, dan menambah beliau “tidak rugi satu sen pun tidak ke Singapura. “

    ISMAWEB: DILARANG PIHAK ATASAN UNIVERSITI DARI TULIS ARTIKEL

    Portal berita Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA) sementara itu mendakwa pihaknya dimaklumkan bahawa Dr Ridhuan tidak lagi dibenarkan menulis artikel dalam Sinar Harian kerana dilarang pihak atasan universiti tempat beliau mengajar.

    Ismaweb juga mendakwa Dr Ridhuan dilarang menulis dalam sebarang akhbar atau portal dan juga tidak dibenarkan memberi sebarang komen.

    Dr Ridhuan pada Mei lalu mengumumkan membuat keputusan nekad untuk keluar daripada Persatuan Cina Malaysia (MCA) sebagai membantah tindakan parti itu yang terus-menerus menentang hukum hudud.

    Menurut Malaysiakini, Ismaweb membuat spekulasi bahawa Dr Ridhuan ‘diharamkan’ menulis setelah mempersoalkan mengenai semangat kemerdekaan dan patriotisme para atlit sukan yang dikatakan lebih banyak mengejar wang dan ganjaran.

    Portal itu seterusnya mendakwa ada “tangan-tangan ghaib” dan “usaha jahat” yang memberi tekanan kepada pihak pengurusan universiti tersebut.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

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