Category: Politik

Damanhuri Abas: Singapore Government Should Take The Opportunity To Highlight To Israel That Some Of Its Policies Are In Contravention Of United Nations Resolutions And International Law

The Israel-Palestine issue is an emotional one, especially for Muslims, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who reiterated on Monday (20 February) Singapore’s support for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Speaking on the occasion of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s first official visit to the Republic, Lee said, “I explained (to Netanyahu) why while the Middle East is far away from Southeast Asia, it has an impact on us and it’s of considerable concern for us.

“We ourselves have a significant Muslim population who are an important part of our harmonious multi-racial society,” Lee said at a press briefing held at the Istana.

Lee added that the two-state solution, however hard to achieve, is the only way to bring peace and security to the Israeli and Palestinian people.

During his visit to Israel last year, Lee expressed Singapore’s views on the issue to Netanyahu, he added. Last April, Lee made an official week-long trip to the Middle East, which also included visits to Jordan and the Palestinian Territories.

“Today, the Prime Minister (Netanyahu) updated me on the developments and I explained Singapore’s position again, and expressed my hope for peace between Israel and Palestine, which will contribute to a stabler Middle East and indeed a stabler world,” Lee said.

Reactions from Singaporean Muslim professionals

Speaking in his personal capacity, Damanhuri Abas, a businessman and a member of the Singapore Democratic Party, said the Singapore government should take the opportunity to highlight to Israel that some of its policies are in contravention of United Nations resolutions and international law, such as the continuous construction of new settlements in the West Bank.

“By doing so, Singapore would truly be a worthy friend who is ready to use its friendship and diplomatic channels to remind and correct (Israel) where it is needed,” Damanhuri said.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said that despite the close bilateral ties, Singapore’s position on the two-state solution is guided by UN resolutions and the views of the international community.

He added that Singapore’s position is also informed by domestic considerations of its “sizeable, largely pro-Palestinian, Malay/Muslim community” and the concerns of Malaysia and Indonesia, which are Muslim-majority neighbouring countries.

“As far as the peace process goes, there will neither be peace nor will there be any meaningful process should there continue to be a right-wing government running the country of Israel, and the continuing increase in settlement activity which has rendered the two-state solution more or less dead in the water,” he said.

Israel is Singapore’s “old friend”

Calling Israel “an old friend”, Lee said that the relationship between the two countries started with defence cooperation when Singapore unexpectedly became independent in 1965.

Israel responded to the Republic’s request to help build the Singapore Armed Forces and since then, bilateral ties have expanded beyond defence and security, Lee said.

Netanyahu, who is on a two-day visit, said that he is amazed by Singapore’s growth and that the Republic and Israel are global partners in many areas.

“I believe that our cooperation will make us even more successful and I think that the opportunities (between the two countries) are vast.

“The future belongs to those who innovate. Singapore and Israel are innovation nations and together we can bring more prosperity and more hope and a better life for our people,” said Netanyahu.

February 21, 2017
More Malays Suffering From Kidney Failure

Kidney failure rates are shooting up among Malays here, with their risk – already higher than the other races – going up by 50 per cent over the past decade.

Ten years ago, Malays had twice the risk of getting kidney failure, requiring either a transplant or dialysis, compared to Chinese, and 1.5 times compared to Indians.

Today, their risk has grown to almost triple that of Chinese and more than twice that of Indians.

The latest figures are from 2014 since it takes two years to confirm a diagnosis. They show that the age standardised rate, which takes into consideration the age at which kidney failure hits, was 643 per million people for Malays, compared to 224 for Chinese and 274 for Indians.

Dr Marjorie Foo, head of renal medicine at the Singapore General Hospital, said the high rates of kidney failure among Malays could be because more of them suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure – both risk factors – compared to the other races.

Professor A. Vathsala, a senior nephrologist at the National University Hospital, added: “We believe that late diagnosis of diabetes, perhaps a higher proportion of smokers among Malays and obesity contribute to the increased risk of kidney disease among Malays in Singapore.”

In absolute numbers for 2014, kidneys failed in 1,109 Chinese, 408 Malays and 118 Indians.

A study of 58,000 diabetic patients at the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics from 2006 to 2009 found that among the three major ethnic groups here, Malays had the highest incidence of diabetic kidney failure while Indians, in spite of poorer control of diabetes than the other races, fared best.

The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nephrology, suggested this could be caused by delayed diagnosis in Malays resulting in more advanced complications, coupled with Malays having low levels of exercise and the highest incidence of smoking.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, Malays make up 30 per cent of patients undergoing dialysis at its centres.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

February 20, 2017
Couple Suing JAWI For Wrongful Khalwat Arrest

KUALA LUMPUR: A married couple is suing Jawi and six others for allegedly wrongfully arresting them for khalwat.

Self-employed Mohd Ridhuan Giman, 34, and his wife Siti Sarah Maulad Abdullah, 26, filed the claim at the High Court civil registry on Friday.

The couple say they were wrongfully detained during a Jawi raid on a budget hotel on January 8, despite showing proof of marriage.

They are suing for wrongful confinement, trespass, violation of privacy, abuse of office and violation of fundamental liberties under the Federal Constitution.

Source: www.thestar.com.my

February 20, 2017
Ismail Kassim: World Cannot Remain Neutral On Israel Oppression Of Palestine

With the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu today for an overnight visit, let’s give him a warm welcome and also take the opportunity to look at the ME conflict in perspective and set the record straight.

By now, it has become clear – to those who want to see – that the Israelis prefer to seize captured land rather than peace and have no compunction of oppressing the Palestinians and treating them as a conquered people.

Under the circumstances, to stay on the side lines and to insist on being neutral is tantamount to supporting the aggressor.

Let’s look at the record:

1. By now, the Israelis have killed more innocent Palestinians than IS, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups have killed non-Muslims.

2. More Muslims have died at the hands of IS and gang than non-Muslims.

3. The main beneficiary of IS bloody rampage is Israel.

4. The biggest losers everywhere are Muslims.

5. I cannot rule out the possibility that this so-called IS Caliph is actually a Mossad and CIA agent.

6. IS suicide volunteers have blown themselves up in vain.

7. The Caliph and his followers can do the world no better favour than to blow themselves up.

8. Hitler oppressed the Jews for about7 years but Israel have ill-treated and lorded over the Palestinians for more than 50 years.

Should the world continue to stay on the side lines and remain neutral, satisfy only in making empty appeals, to both parties to resolve their conflict peacefully?

Source: Ismail Kassim

February 20, 2017
Mohamed Jufrie Mahmood: Singapore Must Walk The Talk, Insist Israel Respect International Law

LHL DOES NOT CARE AND IS NOT SENSITIVE TO THE FEELINGS OF A SIZEABLE SECTION OF OUR POPULATION.
THIS IS HOW POTENT THE ISRAELI POISON HAS BEEN. THERE IS A WIDE AND DISTINCT DIVIDE BETWEEN MALAY MUSLIMS AND OTHER SINGAPOREANS ON HOW THE ISRAELI/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT IS LOOKED AT.

TO MANY IT IS PERFECTLY ALRIGHT TO CLOSE BOTH THEIR EYES TO THE LAND GRABS AND ATROCITIES PERPETRATED BY ISRAEL FOR THE PAST FIVE DECADES JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD SUPPOSEDLY HELPED US BUILD UP OUR ARMED FORCES.

PAP LEADERS HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT AS A SMALL STATE SINGAPORE MUST ALWAYS INSIST THAT COUNTRIES ALWAYS ABIDE BY THE RULE OF LAW.

ISRAEL HAS DEFIED THIS PRINCIPLE ALL THE WAY. AND THE PAP IS OK WITH THAT. DOUBLE STANDARDS, NO?
THEY TALK ABOUT BEING UNITED, THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY AMONG THE RACES. HOW CAN THERE BE UNITY IF THEIR ATTITUDE IS SO MANIFESTLY DIVISIVE?

Source: Mohamed Jufrie Mahmood

February 20, 2017