Category: Agama

  • YouTube Star Hirzi Zulkiflie And First Ever Pink Dot Muslim Ambassador Takes A Bow

    YouTube Star Hirzi Zulkiflie And First Ever Pink Dot Muslim Ambassador Takes A Bow

    In a few hours, comedy duo Munah & Hirzi will stage a farewell show at the Capitol Theatre, dubbed “Munah & Hirzi Live: Curtain Call”. The one night only, two-hour show –in their own words– celebrates “the end of an era”. The twosome has always said that they would leave the scene after 10 years.

    Amidst his busy schedule in preparation for the show, Hirzi Zulkiflie visited the ZYRUP office for this interview, which, more than anything, turned out to be an hour-long career retrospective.

    It all started in 2007, where the then-polytechnic friends paired up and participated in a video competition. Thankfully, it wasn’t a one-off partnership. Recognizing the potential they possessed, the pair continued to make regular videos (“with our bags as tripods!”) on YouTube under the mantle “Munah & Hirzi”.

    “When we were ending [our time in polytechnic], one of my biggest worries was that I was going to end this ‘era’ with her. The YouTube channel became something to sort of ‘sustain’ that friendship.”

    “There’s something honest and earnest [about the early days] that I miss a lot,” he added.

    “It was beautiful. It was just us. We had no pressure, no qualms. I think that was the magic of ‘Munah & Hirzi’. It was just two friends who captured themselves in the most honest and raw form; no filters.”

    It was this authentic, organic brand of content that allowed the pair to connect with viewers online, and as the years went by, they garnered thousands of fans not just in Singapore, but also across the causeway, striking a chord with the Malay-speaking audience.

    By 2012, which he refers to as their “peak year”, they had their own talk-show (Munah & Hirzi: Action!) that was broadcasted on national television, as well as starring in comedy production Happy Ever Laughter, alongside veterans like Gurmit Singh and Kumar.

    Meanwhile, their YouTube channel, with music video parodies and the now-iconic series like ‘10 Dares’ and ‘Sex Appeal and Jokes’, catapulted them to top status among YouTubers. Fan-favourite characters played by Hirzi, like Leticiacia and Corporal Hassan, also featured prominently in their videos. No other YouTuber balanced slapstick humour and social issues like they did.

    The immense growth meant reaching a wider audience – and not everyone approved.

    “Some in the Malay community were up in arms against us having our own TV show,” he explained.

    “The conservative Malays felt that ‘Munah and Hirzi’ [do not] deserve their own show because they were not exemplary to Malay millennials, and by that virtue, they should never, ever get [access to] all these platforms and exposure.”

    “[But] we knew who were our die-hards. And we knew that was the direction we needed to go. We knew who were our detractors too,” he added.

    “The challenge was to bridge these voices together, or to consistently progress the Malay community towards the concept of pluralism, which is something that is so hard to impart onto our society.”

    However, it was when the duo decided to take on the roles as ambassadors for 2015’s Pink Dot event that proved to be the hardest thing they would have to go through.

    They were the first ever Muslim ambassadors of the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) event.

    “When Pink Dot happened, even our tribe had to be divided. Here were our die-hards, conflicted between religious convictions and a fanbase connection they had with us.”

    Following the announcement of their ambassadorship, they received a slew of online attacks, and advertisers shunned them.

    However, Hirzi admitted that it was the reaction from family members was the “hardest thing” to deal with.

    Devastated from the backlash they received, the two would meet in Munah’s car every night for a month, crying, with only each other to lean on.

    “We didn’t realize how big of a news it would be. It was hard for us.”

    I feel bad that I put Munah through it. All she did was stand up for something she believed in, and what her best friend told her should be done. I have never seen her break down. By then I’ve known her for 9 years – never have I seen her like that, so broken.”

    I note that he must have at least been aware of the kind of responses they would receive by taking on the roles, even if he was not able to grasp the magnitude of the situation. Why then, still take the risk?

    He took a moment to collect his thoughts.

    “Until today, I remember this story. Until today, I remember their faces. I still get goosebumps telling this story.”

    It was at the 2015 YouTube FanFest meet and greet session. With some time to spare, the pair opened the floor to fans. While he expected silly, light-hearted banter, things took a surprising, sombre turn.

    A 14-year-old Muslim girl had come forward, and asked him how she would be able to overcome her self-mutilation. The girl revealed that she was conflicted with who she was – on one hand, having an attraction to other girls, and on the other, trying to be an exemplary Muslim girl she was raised to be.

    “I said to her: ‘For legal reasons, I cannot give you the answer I want to give you. But my best answer to you is to find a support system.’”

    “Surprisingly, it was such heavy topic, but the kids in the room were all singular in their thoughts. There was no judgement.”

    One by one, other kids in the room started coming out with their issues and problems. It was then that Hirzi realized the impact that the characters he played had on the viewers, beyond being mere entertaining caricatures.

    “I didn’t see that what these kids saw was, for the first time, a physical embodiment of gender questioning characters. You see, I had Kumar. You know of Kumar if you’re an adult. But I guess for the kids, to be on YouTube, I was a role-model for them.”

    He recalled another incident where a stranger splashed coffee on him on Orchard Road following the news of his Pink Dot ambassadorship. Furious, he posted what had happened on his personal Facebook account, which in turn attracted the attention of his journalist friends.

    “[The press] wanted to ride on that story, but [I realized] this is not a time about me,” he said.

    “My participation in Pink Dot was for the kids who were waiting for a Malay voice. [Having the story released back then] would feel like one step forward, five steps back.”

    In a few hours, Hirzi will revisit said “gender questioning characters” for one last time. While fans can expect their signature no holds barred brand of comedy, it won’t be a surprise to find the show tackling or making nods at deep-seated issues as well.

    As the characters who we’ve grown up with over the past decade take a final bow, they leave behind a legacy that Hirzi hopes will inspire the next generation to further progress the conversation.

    “What we hope will start after we step down is that others step up to the plate.”

    Credit: Zyrup

     

    Rilek1Corner

  • Anak Melayu Hanyut Bila Tinggal Luar Negara, Kahwin Sesama Jenis. Astaghfirullahalazim..

    Anak Melayu Hanyut Bila Tinggal Luar Negara, Kahwin Sesama Jenis. Astaghfirullahalazim..

    Namaknya masyarakat dunia seakan berlumba-lumba ingin ‘menghalalkan’ perkahwinan sesama jenis sama ada membabitkan golongan lesbian, gay biseksual dan trasgender (LGBT).

    Namun apa yang lebih mengejutkan apabila salah satu daripada perkhawinan LGBT ini turut ‘disertai’ oleh seorang pemuda Melayu dari Malaysia.

    Terbaharu, seorang pengguna Twitter berkongsikan beberapa keping gambar memaparkan seorang jejaka dari Malaysia yang dikenali sebagai Afham Janil, menikahi seorang lelaki warga asing yang mana ia disertakan dengan kapsyen berbunyi;

    “Buat teladang masing-masing jelah eh, Anak Melayu ni bro, tapi last-last hanyut bila dah stay oversea. Sayang betul,” tulis pengguna akaun @mirulhafez pada Rabu.

    Gambar perkongsian itu memaparkan Afham yang dahulunya merupakan seorang yang agak berakhlak dan beragama namun kini berubah 360 darjah menjadi seorang pengamal budaya songsang.

    Malah, entry berkenaan turut mengundang pelbagai reaksi negatif masyarakat sehingga menerima kicauan semula hampir 9,000 kali.

    Sementara itu memetik portal Northen Territoru News, pasangan terbabit, Afham Janil dan Keith Edwards dilaporkan sebagai pasangan pertama meraikan perkahwinan LGBT di Australia.

    Pasangan sejenis itu dilapor melangsungkan majlis mereka pada Isnin(15 Januari 2018) di Darwin dengan bertemakan ala ‘Cowboy’  menggenakan sut lengkap seperti topi dan boot hitam.

    Perkahwinan mereka turut dikatakan berjalan lancar kerana Australia merupakan negara yang membenarkan perkahwinan sejenis, malah majlis berkenaan turut dihadiri beberapa kenalan terdekat mereka.

    “Masyarakat tidak memandang negatif terhadap kami walaupun kami berpegangan tangan, berpelukan,” kata Keith Edward seperti yang dipetik portal berkenaan.

    Sementara itu, seorang penggguna Twitter yang menggunakan akaun nama @ikaz_maza turut mendakwa mengenali Afham dan dia merupakan jirannya di Malaysia.

    Bagaimanapun Afham menurutnya sudah memutuskan hubungan secara maya dengan rakan dan kenalan-kenalannya di laman Facebook.

    “Yep, serius. Baru berjiran setahun lebih dengan dia. Memang kenal dan perkara ini menjadi gempar di taman (perumahan) semalam.

    “Tak tahu apa yang terjadi, lagipun dia (Afham) masih di sana. Tetapi semua orang taman dah kena unfriend di Facebook,” kata @Ikaz_maza.

    Dalam pada itu, usaha untuk menjejak media sosial milik Afham gagal kerana pemuda itu telah menyahaktifkan kesemua akaun media sosial miliknya.

     

    Rilek1Corner

  • Not Welcomed, U.N. Investigator To Assess Human Rights Across Myanmar Barred Before Visit

    Not Welcomed, U.N. Investigator To Assess Human Rights Across Myanmar Barred Before Visit

    GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. independent investigator into human rights in Myanmar called on Wednesday for stronger international pressure to be exerted on Myanmar’s military commanders after being barred from visiting the country for the rest of her tenure.

    Yanghee Lee, U.N. special rapporteur, had been due to visit in January to assess human rights across Myanmar, including alleged abuses against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.

    But Myanmar had told her she was no longer welcome, she said, adding in a statement that this suggested something “terribly awful” was happening in the country.

    “From what I see right now I’m not sure if they are feeling pressured. I’m not sure if there is the right kind of pressure placed on the military commanders and the generals,” she later told Reuters by phone from Seoul.

    She said it was alarming that Myanmar was strongly supported by China, which has a veto at the U.N.’s top table in New York. Other countries including the United States and human groups were advocating targeted sanctions on the military, she said.

    “It has to work. And I’m sure the world has to find a way to make it work. And I think the United Nations and its member states should really try to persuade China to really act towards the protection of human rights,” she said.

    More than 650,000 Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when attacks by Muslim insurgents on the Myanmar security forces triggered a response by the army and Buddhist vigilantes.

    Surveys of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh by aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres have shown at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine state in the month after violence flared up on Aug 25, MSF said last week.

    The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra‘ad al-Hussein has called the violence “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing” and said he would not be surprised if a court eventually ruled that genocide had taken place.

    Lee had planned to use her visit to find out procedures for the return of Rohingya refugees, and to investigate increased fighting in the Kachin and northern Shan areas of Myanmar.

    Lee, in an earlier statement, said Myanmar’s refusal to cooperate with her was a strong indication that there must be “something terribly awful happening” throughout the country, although the government had repeatedly denied any violations of human rights.

    “They have said that they have nothing to hide, but their lack of cooperation with my mandate and the fact-finding mission suggests otherwise,” she said.

    She was “puzzled and disappointed”, since Myanmar’s Ambassador in Geneva Htin Lynn had told the U.N. Human Rights Council only two weeks ago that it would continue to cooperate.

    “Now I am being told that this decision to no longer cooperate with me is based on the statement I made after I visited the country in July,” she said.

    Lynn did not respond to a request for comment. Neither Zaw Htay, spokesman for Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, nor Kyaw Moe Tun, a spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs that Suu Kyi heads, were immediately available.

     

    Source: uk.reuters.com

  • 5 Soalan Bersama Mufti Singapura Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram

    5 Soalan Bersama Mufti Singapura Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram

    Sebagai Mufti Negara apakah agaknya satu perkara yang mahu Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram ubah mengenai masyarakat Islam, khususnya yang di Singapura?

    Apakah pula cabaran yang perlu ditangani Dr Fatris sehingga sering tidak tidur malam lantaran beratnya isu-isu tersebut? Sudahlah berat tanggungjawab yang perlu dipikul kadangkala terpaksa pula berdepan dengan salah tanggapan, cercaan dan komen-komen negatif masyarakat.

    Kata orang, tak kenal maka tak cinta. Oleh itu, dalam segmen 5 Soalan Bersama minggu ini, wartawan Nurulkhasanah Agost mengajak anda menyelami isi hati Mufti Singapura ini tentang beberapa isu, sekaligus cuba mengenali penghulu masyarakat Islam tempatan itu dengan lebih dekat lagi.

    SOALAN 1

    Khasanah: Apa antara isu-isu yang buat Ustaz tidak tidur malam lantaran beratnya isu itu? Berikan contoh, Ustaz?

    Mufti: Dalam pengalaman lebih daripada enam tahun sejak saya memegang jawatan sebagai Mufti Singapura saya rasa agak sukar untuk menumpukan hanya kepada satu isu yang ingin kita katakan sebagai isu yang membuat saya tak tidur malam.

    Isunya banyak yang perlu ditangani. Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) sebagai satu badan berkanun yang bertanggungjawab bagi pelbagai urusan dan hal ehwal agama bagi masyarakat Islam Singapura sebenarnya mengendalikan pelbagai isu. Isu madrasah, masjid, dakwah, pendidikan, zakat, haji, korban. Jadi boleh dikatakan ‘everything that is under the sun‘ (segala-galanya).

    Kadang-kadang ada isu yang datang secara mendadak tanpa kita jangkakan. Sebagai contoh apabila terdapat insiden penangkapan individu tertentu yang didapati terpengaruh dengan pemikiran ekstrim, punya rancangan untuk melakukan tindakan di luar batasan undang-undang. Itu suatu yang bila timbul kita tangani dan itu juga termasuk antara isu yang mengganggu fikiran, mengganggu ketenangan.

    Jadi boleh dikatakan nak cari satu isu yang buat saya tak tidur malam itu saya rasa tak boleh sebab ia pelbagai isu. Keadaan tidak tidur malam itu banyak berlaku. Sering berlaku dalam kehidupan sebagai seorang Mufti.

    SOALAN 2

    Khasanah: Ini soalan senario. Katakanlah, kalau Ustaz boleh mengubah satu perkara tentang umat Islam (atau umat Islam Singapura), apa yang mahu Ustaz ubah?

    Mufti: Yang melihat agama itu sebagai satu perkara yang terpisah daripada kehidupan. Melihat agama itu sebagai satu yang berkaitan dengan skop kehidupan yang sangat bersifat peribadi.

    Padahal di sebalik keadaan separa sedar kita sebagai seorang Muslim, kita tahu dan kita sebenarnya sedar dia dua perkara yang tidak boleh dipisahkan; antara kehidupan dunia dengan motivasi dan dorongan serta nilai-nilai agama. Masih lagi terdapat sebahagian masyarakat yang merasa tidak selesa apabila kita menjadikan perjalanan agama kita ini sesuatu yang perlu disesuaikan dengan realiti kehidupan. Ada sebahagian orang mengatakan agama adalah agama dan dia tidak boleh berubah.

    Kita perlu jadi masyarakat yang bijak melihat. Yang mana asas agama yang perlu, itu tetap. Tetapi banyak aspek agama yang perlu (juga) disesuaikan kerana agama itu adalah sesuatu yang Allah atur untuk keperluan hidup kita. Apabila kita gagal melihat ada aspek agama yang perlu disesuaikan – bukan untuk dibuang prinsip asasnya tetapi sesuatu yang disesuaikan pelaksanaannya dengan mengekalkan agama seperti mana cara tradisinya – itu yang akan menyebabkan agama itu semakin lama semakin tidak dapat serasi dan sesuai dengan keperluan hidup.

    (Gambar: MUIS)

    SOALAN 3

    Khasanah: Di media sosial, begitu mudah warga siber mengeluarkan kata-kata kesat, penghinaan, berita yang tidak benar dan sebagainya. Apa kebimbangan utama Ustaz tentang fenomena ini terhadap generasi muda sekarang dan generasi masa depan?

    Mufti: Sikap dan watak sebagai masyarakat yang penuh dengan cercaan, yang penuh dengan tohmahan, masyarakat yang berbicara tanpa berfikir terlebih dahulu, masyarakat yang memberi komentar, kadang-kadang dalam bentuk yang sangat pedas. Sedangkan faktanya tidak diselidik terlebih dahulu dan juga dipastikan kebenarannya. Saya rasa itu budaya yang sedang terbentuk daripada fenomena media sosial yang ada sekarang.

    Kita kena sedarkan diri kita. Kalau kita membiarkan itu sebagai arus yang berterusan dan kita biarkan diri kita terbawa oleh arus tadi, akan timbul masalah yang besar dalam kehidupan kita bersama. Saya mengharapkan masyarakat akan lebih bijak.

    Saya melihat terdapat tanda-tanda yang positif. Dari satu sudut generasi muda, sudah banyak interaksi saya dalam media sosial, juga di luar, saya rasa ramai daripada golongan muda yang sebenarnya punya kesedaran merasa, rasa ‘sick’ dengan budaya yang begitu negatif.

    Saya rasa generasi muda generasi yang ingin lebih banyak membuat perubahan. Generasi muda sekarang ini lebih punya kesedaran untuk berfikir dahulu sebelum berbicara. Saya rasa kita perlu terus membangun kesedaran itu menjadi satu ciri yang boleh kita banggakan dalam masyarakat kita.

    SOALAN 4

    Khasanah: Boleh Ustaz jelaskan sedikit tentang adab-adab bersosial di media sosial?

    Mufti: Kita diajar dalam Islam ini, bahawa dalam apa pun keadaan, sama ada kita bersendiri ataupun bersama dengan orang lain, untuk senantiasa membasahkan lidah kita – dan lidah itu sebagai cerminan apa yang ada dalam hati kita – dengan doa. Kita doakan orang terbaik, kita nak buat apa-apa, kita doa yang terbaik untuk diri kita. Satu keyakinan dalam latihan kami (sebagai asatizah) ialah bila kita mendoakan sesuatu yang baik kepada orang lain maka Tuhan pasti akan pulangkan juga kebaikan itu kepada kita. Jadi orang lain akan dapat kebaikan hasil doa kita, dan kita juga akan dipelihara oleh Tuhan.

    Maka tak mungkin berlaku seorang itu, (jika) lidahnya penuh dengan doa, kalau lidahnya juga pada masa yang sama, dipenuhi dengan cercaan. Dia dua perkara yang tidak boleh berada pada satu tempat, dua yang bertentangan. Kalau ada doa, tidak mungkin ada cercaan. Kalau banyak cercaan, tidak mungkin dia seorang yang banyak berdoa.

    Ke mana kita nak bawa masyarakat kita ini? Dalam masa kita menghadapi pelbagai isu yang sekarang ini boleh dibincangkan secara mudah, secara terbuka, tidak perlu duduk di kedai kopi berjumpa, kadang-kadang sebelum tidur setengah jam baring di katil pun kita boleh bincang macam ahli Parlimen, beri pandangan sebagai pengkritik sosial kadang-kadang. Bagaimana kita menghasratkan kebaikan untuk semua? Apakah kita ini ingin membentuk satu budaya yang akan meluas dalam masyarakat yang kemudiannya menjadi legasi yang kita wariskan kepada generasi seterusnya?

    (Gambar: TODAY)

    SOALAN 5

    Khasanah: Saya difahamkan ustaz gemar menulis puisi. Boleh ustaz kongsi sedikit mengenai puisi-puisi tulisan ustaz?

    Mufti: Minat itu memang ada sejak saya sekolah menengah lagi.

    Saya mencurahkan emosi saya, saya mencurahkan perasaan saya dalam bentuk penulisan. Sampai sekarang. Cuma, sebenarnya apa yang saya hasilkan yang kadang-kadang saya lampirkan dalam ruang FB saya, itu sedikit sebenarnya. Bukan sedikit dalam erti kata banyak (yang) saya sudah hasilkan (dan) saya keluarkan sedikit. Tetapi memang saya jaga diri saya untuk tidak meluangkan terlalu banyak masa menulis puisi.

    Mungkin kerana saya jenis orang yang mula membangunkan kemahiran menulis puisi hasil kerana suasana emosi yang mengganggu. Sampai sekarang kalau saya hendak menulis puisi atau sajak, saya kena duduk dan layankan perasaan. Kalau saya ada puisi, katakanlah, ia berunsur sentimental tentang kenangan masyarakat lalu, hidup suasana kampung. Saya nak tulis itu, memang saya kena betul-betul merasakan suasana sentimental yang mempengaruhi pemikiran saya.

    Kalau ada puisi yang bercorak mengkritik dan ada unsur kemarahan, saya agak rasa betul-betul marah baru saya boleh buat puisi itu. Jadi kalau saya tak jaga-jaga, saya nak menghasilkan puisi yang banyak, saya kena mewujudkan suasana itu. Sebab (itu) saya perlu seimbangkan dengan keperluan tugas, realiti kehidupan, perkara-perkara yang perlu ditangani. Saya minat menulis, tapi saya tidak minat menjadikan penulisan itu sebagai sesuatu yang utama dalam kehidupan saya.

     

    Source: BERITAMediacorp

  • Malaysian MPs Say AirAsia, Firefly Stewardesses’ Uniforms Too Sexy, Malindo Air More ‘Acceptable’

    Malaysian MPs Say AirAsia, Firefly Stewardesses’ Uniforms Too Sexy, Malindo Air More ‘Acceptable’

    Two Malaysian ruling party lawmakers have chided homegrown low-cost airlines AirAsia and Firefly for dressing their stewardesses in uniforms that are “too revealing”.

    Senator Abdullah Mat Yasim, a division chief of the ruling Umno party, said in parliament the fitted attire of AirAsia’s and Firefly’s female flight attendants can “arouse passengers”, the New Straits Times reported.

    The “eye-catching outfits” also do not reflect the status of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia, Abdullah added according to the newspaper.

    Photo: AirAsia Airlines

    “The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) must really look into this,” Abdullah said when debating the MAVCOM (Amendment) Bill 2017 in Parliament on Monday (Dec 18).

    His view was supported by Senator Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, who suggested that the airlines redesign the uniforms.

    “My wife is worried whenever I fly alone on Malindo or AirAsia,” Megat, who is also general-secretary of the Malaysian National Silat Federation, quipped.

    “This is a real hassle for me,” he said, drawing laughter from other members of the Dewan Negara or parliament.

    Photo: Firefly Airlines

    Abdullah said the flight attendant uniforms of Malindo Air, another Malaysian budget carrier, were “acceptable”, NST reported.

    The uniforms are also body hugging but at least the “sensitive areas” are covered, he was quoted as saying, without specifying which areas he deemed to be “sensitive”.

    Photo: Malindo Air

    Abdullah was praised by Dewan Negara deputy president Abdul Halim Abd Samad for highlighting the issue.

    “This is a good topic that many people can relate to as they always take flights,” he said.

    It was the second time in two weeks that flight attendant uniforms have come under the spotlight at Malaysia’s parliament.

    Last week, Senator Hanafi Mamat, who is secretary of the Kelantan Umno branch, said attendants should wear “syariah-compliant” uniforms as Malaysia is an Islamic country.

    Tourists might get the wrong impression of Malaysia if flight stewardesses dress up “sexily and disrespectfully”, he said.

     

    Source: ST