Category: Singapuraku

Allah, The Most Gracious And Most Merciful, Can Forgive Your Sins With Him But Not The Sins You Commit To Others: Zainal Bin Sapari

I am glad the investigation over this issue is over and MHA had sought the views of MUIS and PERGAS. It is not an easy issue to find an outcome that satisfies everyone. I feel sad that the Imam of mosque, where I do my Friday prayers regularly, is being send back but, as a multiracial community, a strong signal must be given that there is no place for any statement (intended or otherwise) that can sow seeds of doubt in other communities. No doubt this case had evoked strong emotive reaction from many fellow muslims because the complainant is a muslim convert that many disagree (or even hate?) for his controversial views of Islam in the past and there are calls for stronger action to be taken against him for being ‘kurang ajar’ at our revered and beloved Mufti. Despite what he said about the Mufti or MUIS, personally I do not think it is necessary for further action against that person because in this age of social media, anyone can be condemned or ridiculed (just ask any politicians). I think we all can distinguish the truth and let Allah be the judge for his actions and thoughts. I recalled what I was taught that Allah, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful, can forgive your sins with him but not the sins you commit to others. We also have a well-meaning professor who expresses his unhappiness with the convert but unfortunately, not knowing the full context, made some postings which can also be intrepreted as supporting the iman’s view. All involved have apologised and I wish there is closure for all especially for their families that may have been under a lot of stress and for our community that has been partly torn apart. Let’s us heal from this episode.

Source: Zainal Bin Sapari

April 4, 2017
Yaacob Ibrahim: There Cannot Be Double Standards When Dealing With Issues That Touch On Race And Religious Harmony

This incident involving Imam Nalla of Jamae Chulia mosque has been a trying one for the community. Imam Nalla has realised that he is in the wrong and that his words have caused tension and disquiet. His apology over the weekend was a meaningful gesture to reconcile with friends from other faiths. I thank our non-Muslim friends for accepting the apology. Their willingness to forgive reflects the Singapore way, where we uphold mutual respect and harmony for our common good.

Earlier, I mentioned that there cannot be double standards when we deal with issues that touch on race and religious harmony. Our laws preserve the freedom to practise one’s faith, and protect all communities, regardless of race or religion, from being denigrated. The authorities have done the right thing by applying the law firmly and fairly, as this is in the best interest of all communities.

As Muslims, we are called to radiate rahmah (compassion) and spread peace. Words matter and words that cause mistrust and apprehension among the various communities have no place in Singapore. Similarly, a case such as this should always be directed to the relevant authorities as and when they arise. It would be irresponsible and reckless to sensationalise such issues on social media.

This has been a difficult episode. But it is also a timely reminder of how words uttered insensitively can undermine our social cohesion. Let us learn and reflect from this episode, unite as one people and focus on the future we hope to build as a society. Wherever we are, including spaces like our places of worship, we must safeguard the values we hold and cherish as Singaporeans – mutual respect, unity and social harmony. The unity of our nation depends on this.

#yaacobibrahim

Source: Yaacob Ibrahim

April 4, 2017
Dr Khairudin Aljunied: I Wish To Apologise Unreservedly To Singaporeans And NUS

Dear Friends,

1. I refer to my posts on social media which were made on 1-2 March 2017, titled “The Imam and the Silly Convert” and “The Imam and the Wised up Convert Reloaded”.

2. I wish to acknowledge that I had made the posts without a full understanding of the facts on the ground, and I wish to say that I disagree with the Imam making such supplications during his sermon, and I did not know that the supplications were not an extract of the Quran. I do note that the Imam has since apologised earlier yesterday for the recent incident.

3. I also wish to say that whilst my posts could be seen as being supportive of the Imam, and I was wrong to have put them up.

4. I had meant it as a fictional account and not in support of anyone in particular. My posts were meant to show how Muslims can settle differences between them in a peaceful and amicable way.

5. I now wish to apologise unreservedly to Singaporeans and NUS, since my posts were supportive of what the Imam had said. I undertake not to repeat my conduct.

Best Regards,

Khairudin Aljunied

Source: Khairudin Aljunied

April 4, 2017
Government ‘Seriously Considering’ How To Deal With Fake News: Shanmugam

The Government is “seriously considering” how to address the fake news issue and will announce its position upon completion of a review, said Minister of Law K Shanmugam in Parliament on Monday (Apr 3).

“Under our current law, there are limited remedies to deal with these falsehoods,” he acknowledged. “For example, it is an offence under the Telecommunications Act to transmit messages knowing it is false. But these remedies are ineffective. They were really looking at a time before this new age. The circulation of falsehoods can grow viral today very quickly, and so we need to do more.”

Mr Shanmugam said fake news was a problem in Singapore, albeit not yet at a level seen globally where it has expressly interfered with both domestic political and international affairs.

“We see the phenomenon hasn’t had that much impact yet, but you can predict the same sequence of actors – foreign countries, foreign agencies, people sitting outside of Singapore using it to either destabilise our society or… doing it to make money. Both are problematic,” he stated.

He pointed to the defunct The Real Singapore (TRS) as a website that regularly generated fake news for profit, citing examples such as a 2015 piece which claimed a commotion between Thaipusam participants and police was sparked by complaints from a Filipino family.

One of the co-founders of TRS has since set up the States Times Review website, which continues in a similar vein of publishing fake news from outside Singapore, said Mr Shanmugam.

“Last August, the States Times Review claimed a near-zero turnout for former president SR Nathan’s funeral, and that kindergarten kids were forced to attend, in an attempt to paint him as an unpopular president,” said Mr Shanmugam.

The whole purpose is to purvey falsehoods, mislead the public and render truth completely irrelevant, he said.

Referring to the All Singapore Stuff website as another instance, Mr Shanmugam pointed to a fake story in November last year on how the rooftop of Punggol Waterway Terraces had collapsed.

“The police, civil defence, all had to be mobilised and deployed to investigate the claim. Taxpayers pay the cost for all of this,” he explained. “Another post widely circulated on social media falsely claimed a childcare centre in River Valley made children sleep on the floor, eat rotten fruit… There was public outcry, but can you imagine the impact on the childcare operator?”

“Hoaxes like these can have real world consequences,” Mr Shanmugam said. “If not quickly corrected, they can cause harm to Singaporeans, alarm to public, emergency resources will have to be diverted, and reputations of businesses and people can be completely, unreasonably, unfairly damaged. All because some nasty people seek to profit from this.”

“There is a much more serious dimension to all of this,” he added. “Fake news today, we must assume can be used as an offensive weapon by foreign agencies and foreign governments… to get into the public mind, to destabilise the public, to psychologically weaken them.

“That’s a very serious threat and it will be naive for us to believe that governments or state agencies don’t engage in this. There is enough evidence that they do.”

Source: CNA

April 3, 2017
Imam Nalla Charged, May Be Punished With Up To Three Years In jail, A Fine Or Both

An imam who made controversial remarks against Christians and Jews during his Friday sermon at a mosque was charged in court on Monday (Apr 3) with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race.

In January and February 2017, Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel had made supplications at Friday prayers where he recited an old Arabic text which originated from his village in India. The text read: “God help us against Jews and Christians”, which is not an extract from the Quran.

The incident came under police investigation after a video of the sermon was posted on Facebook. It sparked heated debate, prompting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim to call for peace and unity in the Muslim community.

Nalla subsequently apologised in front of Christian, Sikh, Taoist, Buddhist and Hindu representatives, as well as members of the Federation of Indian Muslims, saying that he was “filled with great remorse” for the inconvenience, tension and trauma caused by his remarks.

Lawyers Channel NewsAsia spoke to said that the imam’s apology could be a strong mitigation factor if the case is brought before a court.

After the police concluded investigations into the case, Nalla also visited Rabbi Moderchai Abergel at the Maghain Aboth Synagogue on Sunday to extend his apology to the Jewish community in Singapore – which the rabbi accepted.

For promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion or race, the imam may be punished with up to three years in jail, a fine or both.

Source: CNA

April 3, 2017