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Syed Omar Aljunied – The Race-Blind, Muslim Philantropher

Names such as Tan Tock Seng are well known in Singapura’s history. He was a philanthropist and best known for founding the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

But Tan was not the only person involved in setting up TTSH.

Syed Omar Aljunied was another major contributor in establishing TTSH.

Due to funding problems from the 1820s onwards, the British colonialists were unable to properly fund a hospital.

They sought support from the rich in Singapura to help out.

Apart from Tan Tock Seng…

Syed Omar Aljunied also donated some land to build the hospital.

The Hospital was initially named Chinese Pauper’s Hospital. It was subsequently changed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

A few years later, Syed Omar’s nephew, Syed Ali Aljunied contributed a further $1,000 to help the hospital function and another plot of land for the hospital.

Syed Omar Aljunied also contributed land for other causes.

Apart from the hospital and Masjid Omar Kampung Melaka,

St Andrews Cathedral (opposite City Hall MRT) was also build on land he donated.

References:
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_847_2004-12-29.html

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_70_2004-12-24.html

Source: Almakhazin SG

January 29, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Kudos To Rahayu Mahzam For Raising Tudung Issue But Time Will Tell If She Deserves Community’s Trust

There have been a couple of contrasting reactions towards MP Rahayu Mahzam’s maiden speech in Parliament, in which she urged the government to reconsider its policy on the hijab.

(On a side note, it is interesting to note that MP Faisal Manap has mentioned the same thing before, but rarely gets the same media coverage, and of course, if he did bring up such issues, he would be ‘politicizing religion’, but let’s leave that aside for now.)

The first reaction was to celebrate her courage and bold attitude, raising the issue in her very first speech. Indeed, it is perhaps unprecedented for a Muslim MP to do so.

The second, however, was a more cynical one. Some question whether this was a political show that would amount to no real change.

To be sure, one can definitely understand why the second reaction surfaced: the issue has been raised numerous times before under various conditions. And it always seemed like there was always an excuse to dismiss the requests (‘you were too loud’, ‘you were not loud enough’, ‘there are other important issues’, ‘we must not disrupt harmony’ etc etc etc.) Even senior members of the community like Cikgu Maarof Salleh expressed cynicism at the speech.

For me personally, i prefer to see it in a more positive light. I believe each MP should be judged based on what he/she has said/done, and not merely on the party he/she belongs to. And no one MP will always be flawless or completely hopeless (well, i hope not!): they will have good moments that should be celebrated, and lesser ones that we as citizens can and should call them out for.

As for MP Rahayu herself, she is new and has done nothing so far that warrants our mistrust, so I believe her words should be commended.

Time will tell how much the new MPs truly represent the people and voice their concerns – not just the individual MP’s thoughts – in Parliament. For now, i say, kudos to her.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

January 29, 2016
Rahayu Mahzam: Pemerintah Harus Memberi Kelonggaran Bagi Muslimah Bertudung, Luaskan Ruang Berbicara Tentang Hal-Hal Agama

Masyarakat tempatan perlu mengadakan perbincangan-perbincangan “sangat berterus terang” tentang isu-isu nyata.

Usaha menggalakkan keharmonian kaum dan agama tidak lagi boleh dijalankan di peringkat luaran sahaja dengan setakat menghadiri majlis-majlis budaya satu sama lain.

Sebaliknya, Singapura harus “mengadakan ruang untuk bercakap tentang identiti kita, amalan keagamaan seperti membakar kertas sembahyang, pemakaian tudung, memainkan muzik semasa Thaipusam misalnya.”

Demikian seruan Anggota Parlimen GRC Jurong, semasa menyampaikan ucapan sulung beliau dalam perbahasan di Parlimen petang tadi (28 Jan).

Cik Rahayu menambah, seharusnya ada dialog-dialog terbuka kerana perbincangan sedemikian akan menghasilkan kefahaman tentang keprihatinan satu sama lain.

Mengulas mengenai debat tentang isu pengganasan, beliau menekankan, masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura menolak fahaman sedemikian.

Lantaran itu Cik Rahayu menekankan, masyarakat Melayu/Islam tidak boleh dipersalahkan dan taat setia masyarakat tersebut “tidak patut dipersoalkan”.

HARAP ISU TUDUNG DISEMAK LAGI

“Saya rasakan penting untuk Pemerintah mengambil langkah untuk menggalakkan perbincangan terbuka tentang hal-hal sebegini agar segala prasangka atau rasa salah faham dapat dilenyapkan dengan segera. Juga perlu sentiasa ada peringatan yang tegas untuk mengutuk dan mengekang tindakan yang berbaur Islamofobia.

“Satu lagi hal yang berada di benak fikiran masyarakat kita adalah isu tudung. Saya harap hal ini dapat disemak lagi oleh Pemerintah dan kelonggaran diberi agar wanita bertudung tidak terbatas untuk bekerja dalam mana-mana kerjaya pilihannya,” ujar Cik Rahayu.

Namun beliau juga menekankan, dalam pada masyarakat mengharapkan sesuatu daripada Pemerintah, ia juga perlu bersikap matang dan berbincang secara hormat.

Masyarakat Melayu kata beliau perlu menggunakan peluang yang ada untuk terus menjalin hubungan dengan kaum lain agar ada pemahaman yang mendalam tentang budaya dan agama Melayu/Islam dapat terjalin.

Masyarakat Melayu/Islam kata beliau, sebahagian daripada masyarakat majmuk Singapura dan perlu sentiasa prihatin untuk menjaga keharmonian kaum dan agama.

SOKONG NCMP, KRITIK KOMEN KETUA PARTI PEKERJA

Dalam ucapan beliau itu, Cik Rahayu juga mengalu-alukan peningkatan dan perubahan kepada skim Anggota Parlimen Tanpa Kawasan Undi (NCMP) yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong semalam.

Beliau melahirkan harapan untuk melihat lebih ramai anggota politik pembangkang seperti Encik Leon Perera dan Encik Dennis Tan, bagi menghasilkan perdebatan yang lasak demi menggubal dasar negara.

Cik Rahayu bagaimanapun membidas ketua pembangkang Low Thia Khiang dengan berkata, beliau “agak terkejut” para NCMP itu disamakan dengan kiambang.

“Tiada apa yang boleh menghalang NCMP daripada bergerak di akar umbi, melakukan lawatan rumah ke rumah dan menganjurkan sesi-sesi untuk mengumpulkan keprihatinan penduduk. Hakikatnya, saya teringat Encik Perera menyebut bahawa beliau melakukan kerja-kerja akar umbi di East Coast dan Aljunied. Peningkatan-peningkatan tersebut mengukuhkan kedudukan NCMP dan saya rasa sukar untuk berhujah sebaliknya,” ujar Cik Rahayu lagi.

AMALKAN KELONGGARAN BERI BANTUAN

Menyentuh tentang golongan yang berisiko dan kurang bernasib baik, beliau menyeru supaya lebih banyak kelonggaran diamalkan dalam membantu mereka.

Sebahagian bantuan kata beliau dibelenggu oleh pelbagai peraturan yang menyukarkan.

Cik Rahayu berkata: “Kita tidak harus berkompromi dalam sokongan sosial yang perlu diberikan kepada individu-individu dan keluarga-keluarga yang memerlukan bantuan. Malah, pada masa-masa sukarlah, kita perlu bersikap lebih ihsan.”

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

January 29, 2016
Tan Jee Say: Singaporeans Will Elect Minority Candidate As President Based On Merit

My comments on PM’s proposed changes to the Elected President, GRC and NCMP schemes, are as follows:

1. Elected President-

a) Existing eligibility criteria are sufficiently tight and yet flexible to permit candidates from a broad background to come forth and contest, so no need to change criteria;

b) CPA (Council of Presidential Advisers) is not elected by the people and has no mandate or moral authority to have more powers vis-a-vis an elected President, it should remain an advisory body and not empowered to dilute the authority of an elected President;

c) the Government cannot force a minorities President on the people as it is the people who decide; a President imposed on the people rather than truly elected by the people has no moral authority to check the Government; there are many minorities who satisfy criteria to be candidates and Singaporeans will elect them if they are adjudged to be better than others.

2. GRC’s –

a) GRC’s should be scrapped and Parliament reverts to SMC’s for all seats;

b) minority representation, the purported objective of the GRC scheme, can be secured through a modified NCMP scheme for a minimum number of minorities MPs.

3. NCMP’s –

a) no impact with only minimum 12 opposition MPs including NCMP’s,

b) will only make a difference if number of NCMP’s is increased to ensure minimum of over one-third opposition MPs that can effectively check government with a veto.

Source: Tan Jee Say

January 28, 2016
PPP: More Extensive Reform Of Elected Presidency Required

Response to PAP’s change of political rules

The Prime Minister has announced a few changes to our political system, basically centered around NCMP scheme, down sizing GRC, increasing number of SMCs and rules regarding the Elected Presidency.

People’s Power Party is founded on the principles of political reform based on Separation (and Independence) of Five Powers, namely Legislative, Executive, Judiciary, Selection/appointment and Impeachment Powers.

The Elected Presidency

One important advocacy of our founding beliefs is to entrench and enhance the Elected Presidency so much so that, certain powers or government institutions should fall under the charge of the Presidential Office. We are advocating the institutions of Impeachment powers, Selection/appointment powers to come under the purview of the Elected Presidency. Namely, the Elected President should take charge of the following institutions and functions:

1) CPIB
2) Election Department
3) Public Service Commission (PSC)
4) Appointment of judges
5) Ombudsman Commission
6) Equal Opportunity Commission
7) Appointment of key office holders in Temasek Holdings and GIC

On top of that, the President should have the veto powers to block any legislation which he deems detrimental to the nation’s interests. Such veto can only be overturned by subsequent two-third approval of parliamentary votes.

Thus, the reform for the Elected Presidency could be more extensive than what the Prime Minister has proposed.

Although we welcome the proposal of putting the racial balance into consideration for the Elected Presidency, but we object to the proposed increase of power given to the Presidential Advisory Council. The appointment of the members of this Council should not be decided by the ruling party or Cabinet. It should be the sole prerogative of the Elected President to appoint his own Council. Furthermore, the Elected President is elected and empowered by Singaporeans and he should have the full power to make decisions in the interests of the Nation He should be the one who will answer to the Singaporeans who voted him, not the Advisory Council. Thus, the Advisory Council cannot overshadow the powers of the Elected Presidency.

GRC, NCMP and Proportional Representation.

We welcome the announcement of downsizing the GRC. We feel that the correct size for the GRC system should be 3 to 4 seats per GRC.

However, we do not see the necessity of having any SMC nor NCMP if our proposal of Proportional Representation is implemented.

No matter how PAP tries to package it, NCMP has little legitimacy under the current setting. They will always be considered as second class members of parliament or just simply “backdoor MPs”.

The advantages of Proportional Representation system coupled with the full GRC system will truly give Singapore’s Parliament Plural Voices while prevent the loss of Ministerial caliber members of any political party which would become the ruling party or part of a ruling coalition.

Proportional Representation system guarantees intense contest and competition of ideas and ideals whereby multi-corner fights would not be frown upon or “avoided”. It will enhance political competition and consensus building based on plural voice and representation in parliament.

The current system has tremendous flaws. Beside discouraging healthy competition and contests, it also post a danger of instability. If the ruling party lost a GRC, it may risk losing one or two of its good Ministers altogether. This will not provide the kind of political stability and continuity which we need.

The Proportional Representation system also mitigates the problem of the Tyranny of Majority Rule. It would allow individuals or groups with specific focus to contest and chance of getting into parliament to contribute to the plurality of debates. Example, if a group of Nature lovers or Green activists were to be elected into parliament, they will provide a diversity in the debates in various development plans, providing the Green Views instead of subjecting our Nation and future generations to the ills of a monolithic discourse pushed by the ruling party.

Thus, we urge the ruling party to reconsider their plans to change the political landscape to take a serious long term view on the Nation’s political stability by adopting a more comprehensive and bold stance of political reform, which is beyond party politics, to ensure that our Nation adopts the best democratic system based on the fundamentals of Separation of 5 Powers.

Goh Meng Seng
Secretary General
People’s Power Party

Source: Goh Meng Seng

January 28, 2016