Category: Singapuraku

Bad Experience With MKM Car Leasing

Kindly avoid renting cars from MKM Car Rentals. Luckily, I was stuck with them for only 2 months. Here’s how my experience went and why you wouldn’t rent from them.

First, I met this Danial, marketing himself as DA Car Rentals but under UberGrab Mentor Group (UGM). Tried to hard sell the stream at $490 with MKM as there’ll be a $150 rebate which will bring down the price to $340. I was too lazy to scout for others as most Streams are priced at $450 and none (the ones that I came across) were GrabRental partners. So I decided to settle with him which I regretted later on.

Please blacklist.
https://carousell.com/dacar_rental/

and MKM Car Rentals

Honestly, their excess would have scared most drivers but I used to rent from LCR, so I’m used to having a high excess. Btw, MKM’s Excess is $5000. Deposit was $500. Remember, their rental was $490** per week. (Way above market rate)

During collection, I remember telling the bugger, I don’t want a fucked up Stream with mounting or gear problems. But no.

Problems with the stream

1. Excuse given – Mechanical problem. NNB, your mechanic don’t know how to check and repair before giving car ah?!

2. EMPTY tank.

3. Aircon problem. I only found out on my 2nd day of driving as the account was activated on the 2nd day.

4. Car will have a big jerk when changing gears from drive to reverse, vice versa, UNLESS car comes to a COMPLETE STOP.

5. Whole car will vibrate at traffic lights and damn sensitive on rough roads.

6. Leak on co-driver seat. If it’s raining or when i wash the car, water will leak in.

Best part is they only fix the aircon. The rest, forget it.
Servicing also can take up to 3 hours. Have a small pool of staff, but even my deposit cock up, took at least 3 weeks till I finally got it back. If you are unhappy with your car, you can change, but, you think their other cars got no problem? When I usually go there, there’s always another driver screaming at them because of their poor and unsatisfactory service. So, please avoid renting from MKM Car Rentals and be careful when engaging with UGM. And make sure do a background check before you rent with a car rental company.

Source: Ian Sedek

November 7, 2017
Station Inspector Adam – A Dedicated 41-Year Old Police Veteran

For Station Inspector (SI) Adam Bin Abdul Rashid who joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on 18 July 1975, this year marks 41 years of service with the SPF.

Becoming a part of the pioneer batch of the Police Coast Guard’s elite Special Task Squadron that was formed in 1994 was a proud moment for SI Adam, who would never forget the numerous high-speed pursuits as well as intercepting hostile vessels that had intruded into Singapore’s territorial waters.

As a member of the SPF’s United Nations Peacekeeping Force, SI Adam has served in two United Nations peacekeeping missions. He first went to Cambodia in 1992 and then to East Timor in 2000.

SI Adam is now a trainer with Police Coast Guard (PCG) Training Centre, where he shares his wealth of knowledge and experience with new PCG officers.

For his 41 years of dedicated service to the Singapore Police Force, SI Adam was awarded the Police Service Medal on 3 November 2017 at the Home Team Academy.

The SPF Service Medals Presentation Ceremony is held annually to recognise the long and exemplary service, as well as good conduct of our officers. This year, 583 officers were awarded with the SPF Service Medals.

Source: Singapore Police Force

November 7, 2017
Komentar: Isu Banning Mufti Menk

I have told myself to avoid commenting on specifics with regards to Islam in my posting but the recent resurfacing of the ban on Mufti Menk made me decide to do otherwise.

Firstly, Mufti Menk comes from Zimbabwe, a majority (87%) Christian country where he is the chosen Muslim leader recognized by the Government of the country and the majority Christian masses. Surely, if he is intolerant towards Christians as the ban seems to imply, he would not have continued as the Mufti of that majority Christian country.

I have personally met Mufti Menk when he visited and spoke in Singapore before. Personally i have never heard him prior to that chanced meeting although i have heard about him from others. He paid an unplanned visit to Irsyad while i was still working there. He was all praise for Singapore then. In fact he gave some advice to us to be grateful for having our Government. In his opinion the Government is just and have the people’s interest in mind. He was most impressed liked many visitors do of our physical landscape, its upkeep and cleanliness. These things he commented are more reflective of the real Islamic values being lived by collectively here and that most Muslim countries sadly failed miserably from doing likewise.

I was told by friends that his banning was supposedly driven by some minority Muslim groups who seemed more interested to demonise him for their own personal sectarian interest rather than about the issue of wishing Christians Merry Christmas during Christmas. That was just a convenient alibi.

It is really sad the the Government resorted to banning a well known popular Islamic preacher like Mufti Menk that i can confidently say majority Muslims in Singapore admired with his beautiful eloquent English language and respectful tolerant preaching, which many non-Muslim too who attended his talks can testify. By the way, his event here in Singapore was very well attended.

From what i heard, his advised to Muslims is misunderstood, as we may not want to only wish our Christian friends, neighbours, colleagues, etc., using the words Merry Christmas. This is because the celebration of Christmas for believing Christians is closely associated to the concept of the birth of the Christian deity (God) in the person of Christ which unfortunately goes against the way we Muslim accepts Jesus, only as one of the mightiest Prophets of God.

Having said this, we are most certainly encouraged to shower best wishes, gifts, etc., of all other kinds and in many more other acceptable ways on that Day to Christians if we chose to do so. I believe any Christian would fully understand, appreciate and not demand of Muslims to only wish them Merry Christmas just as it would be wrong of Muslims to demand non-Muslims to recite the supplication we do for one another invoking the name of Allah on Hari Raya.

Finally, we must learn to understand and tolerate differences as ultimately fundamental differences between religions do exist just as there are similarities that we would rather talk about. All these are done in the true spirit of respect towards each others freedom and choice of religion. This respect towards other religion is fundamental for Muslims as in Islam there is no compulsion in religion and religious diversity is recognized and we are demanded not to say or act towards other believes disrespectfully.

With regards to the matter of wishing one another on our own religious holy day, we should be more understanding and tolerant towards those who chooses to just wish us well or the best of health and spirit on that day or even those who chooses to remain silent, and able to live and let live rather than demand of one another to wish only as a believing devotee would.

May our Government reconsider the ban on Mufti Menk after seeking clearer informations and insights or even having a dialogue with him. May wisdom and reason prevail over shallow thinking and misguided parochial advise.

Source: Damanhuri Abas

November 1, 2017
Isu Ucap Selamat Perayaan Agama Lain

Negara Brunei Darussalam berpegang teguh kepada Mazhab Syafie dan juga berpendirian anti-wahabi. Pelita Brunei, penerbitan rasmi Kementerian Penerangan Kerajaan Negara Brunei Darussalam, ada mengeluarkan Irsyad atau Panduan mengenai “Hukum memberi ucapan tahniah sempena perayaan agama lain”. Pada Disember 2015, Sultan Brunei juga pernah bertitah melarang umat Islam di Brunei daripada merayakan perayaan agama lain dan juga mengucap tahniah atau selamat sempena perayaan Krismas, misalnya. Sebab-musabab yang diberikan Kerajaan Brunei Darussalam serupa dengan apa yang diberikan Mufti Menk. (Sila baca perincian yg terdapat pada pautan Pelita Brunei)

Di Malaysia, Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan mengeluarkan panduan terperinci mengenai hukum ucap selamat perayaan agama lain. Dr MAZA (Mufti Perlis) dan Dr Zulkifli Al Bakri (Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan) masing-masing berpendapat ianya harus dilakukan oleh umat Islam. (Sila baca perincian pada pautan-pautan yang disertakan.)

Di Indonesia, MUI tidak pernah mengeluarkan fatwa melarang umat Islam dari mengucap selamat kepada penganut agama lain sewaktu perayaan mereka, tetapi melarang mereka daripada sama-sama merayakannya, serupa dengan pendirian Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan Malaysia. (Sila baca perincian pautan-pautan yang disertakan.)

Di antara persoalan yang timbul adalah, apakah pihak-pihak yang melarang, seperti Kerajaan Brunei Darussalam dan Mufti Menk, boleh dianggap sebagai bersikap melampau?

Dr Zulkifli Al Bakri (Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan Malaysia) berikan kupasan terperinci terhadap isu ini dengan mengemukakan dalil-dalil terperinci dari kedua-dua pihak yang mengharuskan dan juga yang melarangnya. Setelah membentangkan dalil-dalil dari kedua-dua belah pihak, Dr Zulkifli membuat tarjih untuk mengharuskan seseorang Muslim untuk melakukannya.

Dalam perbezaan pendapat seperti ini dan juga dalam perkara-perkara lain, apakah pihak yang berlainan pandangan boleh dianggap sebagai berpendirian melampau atau ekstrim?

Secara peribadi, mengambil pendekatan wasatiyyah lebih selamat rasanya.

WaLlahua’lam bissowab.

Source: Mohd Khair

October 31, 2017
2 Foreign Islamic Preachers Barred From Entering Singapore For Religious Cruise Due To Their Hardline Teachings

Two foreign Islamic preachers, whose hardline teachings run counter to Singapore’s multi-cultural and multi-religious values, have been barred from entering the country.

One of them, Zimbabwean Ismail Menk, has asserted it is blasphemous for Muslims to greet believers of other faiths during festivals such as Christmas or Deepavali.

The other, Malaysian Haslin Baharim, has advocated that in multi-cultural and multi-religious societies, non-Muslims should be made subservient to Muslims.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said on Monday (Oct 30) that both men had been engaged to preach on a religious-themed cruise departing Singapore on Nov 25 and returning on Nov 29 but will not be allowed to enter Singapore.

It added that the decision was made in consultation with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Singapore Tourism Board and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“Ismail Menk and Haslin Baharim had previously had their Miscellaneous Work Pass applications to preach in Singapore rejected. They will not be allowed to get around the ban by preaching instead on cruise ships which operate to and from Singapore,” said the MHA in its statement.

MUIS, announcing in a separate statement that it had not supported their applications to preach in Singapore, said their teachings “run counter to the values Singaporean Muslims uphold dearly that can contribute to a progressive and thriving religious life in Singapore”.

The barring of both men comes a month after two Christian preachers were denied entry by the MHA for having made denigrating and inflammatory comments of other religions. They had applied for short-term work passes to speak in Singapore.

Government leaders have cautioned against foreign preachers whose extremist teachings can spread ill will among people of different religions and threaten social harmony and cohesion.

Mr Menk and Mr Haslin have both preached in the region and have built a following online.

The MHA said Mr Menk is known to preach “segregationist and divisive teachings”, citing his assertion that it is “the biggest sin and crime” for a Muslim to wish a non-Muslim “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Deepavali”, while Mr Haslin has expressed views that promote disharmony between Muslims and non-Muslims, whom he describes as “deviant”.

“Such divisive views breed intolerance and exclusivist practices that will damage social harmony, and cause communities to drift apart. They are unacceptable in the context of Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society,” the MHA said.

It added: “The Government has a responsibility to safeguard social cohesion and religious harmony in Singapore. Singaporeans too need to play their part, to unequivocally reject and guard against divisive doctrines and preachers who propagate such doctrines, regardless of the faith they represent. They are detrimental to our society and way of life, and will undermine the fundamentals of Singapore’s peace and progress.”

MUIS said a review of both men’s background and past teachings found that their views contravened the code of ethics of Singapore’s Asatizah Recognition Scheme.

Under the scheme, all Islamic religious teachers have to be registered before they can teach in Singapore. The schools where they teach also have to be registered.

MUIS administers the scheme and is also tasked with assessing applications of foreign preachers who want to speak in Singapore.

It said in its statement that it does not support applications of preachers whose views contravene the scheme’s code of ethics, and “whose ideas are deeply problematic and very unsuited to a multi-religious context in Singapore. This includes teachings with absolutist leanings”.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com

October 30, 2017