Category: Politik

Shanmugam: Trust The Govt To Be Efficient With Its Use Of Money

As the Government spends more in areas such as healthcare, it also needs more revenue, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam at a dialogue with residents on Sunday (March 5).

“Money is not going to come from the sky… We have to pay for what we use, and we just have to trust the Government to be efficient with its use of the money,” he said.

He was responding to a resident’s question about what would happen if the Government received less net investment income than what was projected.

The resident was one of about 160 women who attended a health talk organised by Nee Soon GRC, in collaboration with the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, to mark International Women’s Day on Wednesday (March 8).

Mr Shanmugam and Nee Soon GRC MP Lee Bee Wah spoke about the Budget 2017 announcements before the health talk.

Mr Shanmugam added: “As a family, you have to spend less than what you earn. As a country, we have to learn to spend less than what we have. With all the rising costs and rising expenditure, we need to look at where the extra money (needed) is going to come from.”

He also explained the need for the 30 per cent increase in water tariffs – the first in 17 years – which was announced last month.

He pointed out that one- and two-room HDB households will not see any nett increase at all, while for most other HDB flats, the nett increase will only be between $2 and $11 per month.

During the health talk, residents learnt how to manage their food intake and exercise, to stay healthy even as they age. Ms Lee said: “Women are the centres of many workplaces, families and communities, but they can only do so if they stay healthy. I hope this talk (provides) our female residents the information to protect themselves against diseases, and live a happy and long life.”

Source: ST

March 6, 2017
Shanmugam: I Find That Very Saddening – Kurang Ajar

I gave the following statement to Berita Harian, in response to questions from them:

======================
I am very heartened that MUIS and Muslim leaders have come out clearly to state their position. The statements show clearly that the Muslim community strongly values our commitment to religious harmony in Singapore. This shows the spirit of multi-racial, multi-religious harmony in Singapore. It is a very heart-warming move, and majority of Singaporeans will both be reassured, and also welcome these statements.

MUIS and the office of the Mufti are important institutions, which play a critical role in contributing to the maintenance of religious harmony, as well as building inter-faith relations with other religious groups. Regrettably some people have been attacking them – both now and previously .

The Mufti himself has been attacked, in rude and unacceptable language.

Just because these people may not agree with the Mufti, or the Islamic authorities, does not mean they should use rude and abusive language against them. I find that very saddening – kurang ajar. We are keeping a close watch on people who do these things. If the conduct crosses over and becomes criminal, action will be taken.

On the matter relating to the Imam, police will investigate the case thoroughly and interview all parties involved. This includes the persons who filmed and publicised the video. Whether there is a case for further action against any of the parties, will depend on the outcome of investigations. I made this clear in Parliament.

The Government does not take sides in this issue – if anyone is found to have committed an offence, action will be taken.

I have been specifically asked whether it was alright for the video of the Imam’s preaching to have been uploaded on social media. I know today many take it as a norm to post – the more sensational, the more it’s likely to multiply its reach.

The right thing to do though, is that when a matter like this is encountered, it should be reported to the Police, and not put out on social media. That will allow police to focus their investigations on the subject of the complaint.

If instead, the matter is publicly posted, it could lead to a ground swell of feelings, in this case, both from Muslims as well as non-Muslims. It could cause confusion about religion, and increase tensions and so on. We don’t want that in Singapore.

Source: K Shanmugam Sc

March 6, 2017
Shanmugam: Religious Preachers Who Attack Other Religions Won’t Be Tolerated

Religious preaching that encourages violence or pits one religion against another will not be tolerated in Singapore, said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam in Parliament on Friday (Mar 3).

Referring to a video posted on social media which purportedly shows an imam saying “God grant us victory over Jews and Christians”, Mr Shanmugam said the context of what the imam said will be clear once investigations are completed.

“If the imam had referred to the phrase, to say, for example, that such phrases can promote ill will, hatred, enmity or violence against other communities, and that this is not acceptable in a multi-religious society, then there can be no objection.

“But if he had said that Jews and Christians should be defeated, and for God to grant Muslim brothers victory over them – to make that very point – then that is completely unacceptable.

“The Government has taken a strict position when Muslims have been attacked. People have been charged and sent to jail,” he said. “The same applies to any attack on any other religions.”

He cited the example of a Christian couple sentenced to eight weeks’ jail in 2009 for distributing material that cast Islam in a negative light.

Mr Shanmugam said the Government’s position has to be made clear because “matters like this have the potential to escalate, with people jumping in, opinions being formed, hardened, along religious lines”.

If the imam did not make any inflammatory suggestion, no action will be taken and the authorities will issue a public statement, Mr Shanmugam said. But if the imam had engaged in such preaching, “some appropriate action” will be taken.

“We have to be fair to the imam,” he said.

Mr Shanmugam also criticised NUS academic Khairudin Aljunied for encouraging vilification of the individual who posted the video online.

“Looking at what Mr Khairudin has said, he seems to suggest that it is okay for the imam to say that Jews and Christians should be defeated. He assumes that the imam intended to mean that, and Mr Khairudin sees nothing wrong with that.

“Mr Khairudin’s position and actions are quite unacceptable. He has jumped into this, without verifying the facts and without checking the context. And supports a position that is quite contrary to the norms, values and laws in Singapore.

“The police will look into the issues, and the conduct of all involved – quite thoroughly,” Mr Shanmugam said.

Source: CNA

March 3, 2017
Indonesia And Saudi Arabia Agreed To Promote A Moderate Version Of Islam

For decades Wahhabism, the strict strain of Islam that promotes a literal interpretation of the Quran, has been Saudi Arabia’s predominant faith, and since the 1970s the oil-rich kingdom has been generous in sending funds to other Muslim countries to promote this conservative version of Islam.

Now that Wahhabism has been linked with radicalism and even terrorism, the Saudi government has stepped up its campaign to counter that perception and the state visit of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Indonesia, where religious conservatism has gained ground alongside frequent terrorist attacks, was part of the public relations campaign. After dealing with business on the first day of his visit, King Salman on Thursday kicked off his charm offensive in a speech during a 30-minute special session at the House of Representatives, calling for a united front to deal with what he termed “a clash of civilizations” and terrorism.

“The challenges that the Muslim community and the world in general faces, like terrorism and the clash of civilizations and the lack of respect for a country’s sovereignty, require us to unite in dealing with these challenges,” the monarch said in his two-minute speech, which was interrupted by rounds of applause from members of the House and guests, including former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former vice president Try Sutrisno.

Later in his meetings with leaders of the country’s major Islamic organizations, the octogenarian king promoted a tolerant version of Islam as the key in the fight against terrorism and radicalism.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifudin, who had organized the meeting, said Indonesia and Saudi Arabia agreed to promote a moderate version of Islam.

“The two countries have come to an understanding that we would prioritize the promotion of Islam as rahmatan lil alamin [blessing for the universe]. What is needed to maintain the stability of global civilization is the moderation of Islam,” said Lukman, who joined the 30-minute session at the State Palace on Wednesday. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo attended.

During the session, three Muslim scholars were given the chance to speak directly to the monarch, including Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Maruf Amin, who issued an edict last year calling for the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahja Purnama for allegedly insulting the Quran.

Earlier on Wednesday, King Salman and President Jokowi witnessed the signing of 11 agreements, including one addressing the issue of transnational crimes and global extremism, radicalism and terrorism.

To further bolster its counterterrorism campaign, the Saudi government offered free haj trips for family members of personnel of the National Police’s counterterrorism squad Densus 88 who were killed while on duty.

To further burnish his credentials as a promoter of moderate Islam, King Salman is expected to hold an interfaith forum on Friday, shortly before departing for Brunei Darussalam.

Despite the visiting monarch’s pledge to join efforts to counter radicalism, the Saudi government continues to promote its conservative brand of Islam.

Saudi Arabia is likely to step up its campaign to spread its version of Islam as it plans to open new campuses of the Saudi-funded Islamic and Arabic College of Indonesia (LIPIA) in Makassar, Surabaya and Medan.

Currently, LIPIA only has a campus in Jakarta.

Students studying at LIPIA will pay no tuition fees, as they receive Saudi-funded scholarships. Students will also receive a monthly stipend while studying at the institute.

The college is known for graduating students ingrained with the conservative strain of Islam, including convicted terrorist Aman Abdurrahman, who has been known for his efforts to spread Islamic State (IS) movement propaganda.

Alongside the Indonesian Society for the Propagation of Islam (DDII), LIPIA has been the primary beneficiary of Saudi funding in the country.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns that conservative clerics in the country are promoting an agenda that conforms with the ideals of Wahabbism, including the call for the persecution of minority Muslim groups like Shiites and Ahmadiyah members.

In Malaysia, where the visiting Saudi monarch agreed to invest US$7 billion in an oil refinery, the daughter of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, Marina Mohamad, lashed out against what she called Arab colonialism.

Source: JakartaPost

March 3, 2017
Watergate: MIW Caught With Pants Down

PAPpies and their running dogs in the constructive, nation-building media and academia and on social media say that the price of water hasn’t been changed for years, so we shouldn’t be getting worked up about the 30% hike (peanuts, really).

But 18 months ago, Vivian B said (see below) there was no need to change the price because PUB has improvements in membrane tech and productivity and that the water tariff and WCT reflect the scarcity of water.

So what has changed in 18 months?

Either in 2015 (before GE) the PAP administration didn’t do their homework leading a minster to mislead S’poreans and parly, or in 2017 the cabinet didn’t read what the then minister said in 2015 when making the decision to raise prices.

But then maybe before GE 2015, PAP wanted to get rid of its “Pay and Pay” tag?

Kudos to whoever originally dug this up. I think it is Chen Jiaxi Bernard, a WP man. Well done.

Source: https://atans1.wordpress.com

March 2, 2017