Category: Singapuraku

Singapore’s New Malay President Will Only Be Known In September

If contested, the next Presidential Election, which has been reserved for Malay candidates, will be held in September rather than in August, which is when voting typically takes place. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Chan Chun Sing, announced this in Parliament during the second reading of the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill. The date revision does not require changes to the law. The Government is announcing changes early for transparency and so that prospective candidates can be aware of the changes.

In his speech, Mr Chan provided the reason for the shift in timing. He said voting for a new president has typically been held in the last week of August, to ensure the process falls within the term of the sitting President, which ends on Aug 31.

In 2011 for example, the Writ of Election was issued in the first week of August. Mr Chan said campaigning began shortly after National Day, and coincided with the month-long National Day celebrations. The revised timing would ensure the election is not held during the celebrations.

For the upcoming election, Mr Chan said the government will issue a Writ in the later part of August, before President Tony Tan’s term expires. The shift of the election from August to September will also “reset the clock” so that future elections will take place outside the National Day period.

Mr Chan said the Constitution allows for an acting President to assume office from the end of the incumbent President’s term until a new President assumes office.

“If a new President is not elected by the time President Tony Tan’s term expires on Aug 31… the Constitution provides for the Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers or, if he is unavailable, the Speaker, to be the acting President. The acting President cannot exercise the functions of the President indefinitely,” he said.

Mr Chan said current laws allow for changes to the timing of the polls to be made in time for this year’s Presidential election.

The shift in timing will also cater to the longer time period required to assess prospective candidates as part of legislative changes.

Under proposed changes to the Act, the deadline for prospective candidates to apply for a certificate of eligibility (COE) will be extended to five days after the Writ is issued. This is up from the current three days. This will give candidates more time to prepare their applications.

Another change being proposed is that nomination day be held at least 10 days after the day the Writ is issued, up from the current five days.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

February 6, 2017
We, Muslims Are Proud Singaporeans!

“We, Muslims are proud Singaporeans”, were the flinty words a Singapore national servicemen reportedly told The Diplomat magazine in 2014.

He complained that Muslims serving in the Singapore military [were] routinely kept away from critical roles in air and naval units.

His comments to The Diplomat magazine was prefaced by what had happened in Singapore in February 1915. Inexplicably the history books in the city-state have excluded the explosively, seismic event from its curriculum even as it had paralleled the Maria Hertogh riots of 1952.

Still if there is something largely forgotten in Singapore, is the Sepoy Mutiny of 1915 when bands of Indian soldiers, namely Muslims, roamed the streets in the weeks of February 1915 hunting down and killing Europeans. The disgruntled troops were outraged when they learned – though falsely – that they would be sent to fight their co-religionists in Turkey during World War I. After breaking out of their barrack lines in what is today’s Dempsey Road, the mutineers began an orgy of rampage and killings. They even had the help of some Germans interred in Singapore.

The outbreak occurred during Chinese New Year that year. But thanks to some Japanese, French and Russian reinforcements which the British summoned, the mutiny was quickly suppressed.

All the mutineers were then court-martialled and tried and found guilty of the probable crime of treason.

They were all executed in broad daylight at where now stands the Outram Park MRT to the perverted delight of onlookers who cheered when British marksmen began taking aim to shoot and kill the men standing blindfolded before them.

It was something that British would never dare want to do in their own home turf.

As how The Diplomat pointed, for some South Asian historians, the Singapore Mutiny is a sequel to the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny and an important milestone in the struggle for independence. The 5th Light infantry would be disbanded shortly after World War I after serving with the British Army in East Africa. Yet, Singapore would again be the site of another important rebellion involving colonial Indian troops. In 1942, the fall of Singapore, placed 40,000 Indian troops of whom nearly 30,000 would join the anti-British First Indian National Army (INA) under nationalist leader Mohan Singh. That army collapsed but, a second INA under Subas Chandra Bose joined Japanese forces during the Burmese campaign. During World War II, similar but smaller units of Indian soldiers were raised by both Germany and Italy from among Indian POWS. (http://thediplomat.com/2015/02/singapore-a-mutiny-like-no-other)

Next week marks the 102nd anniversary of that uprising and what has been sobering is that has never received any mention in Singapore’s history books.

Source: www.theindependent.sg

February 6, 2017
Love Thy Neighbour – Neighbour’s Altar Offerings Blown Away, Muslim Bro Puts Them Back In Place

Love Thy Neighbour
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Our neighbour’s altar offerings blown by the wind so my bro pick and arranged them back. We have been neighbours for more than 10 years they have always been so respectful to my mom and late dad
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Faith is a conviction of heart that need to be respected while humanity is a shared value that needs to be cherished
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#zahidzin #ustazceo

Source: Zahid Zin

February 6, 2017
Cat Abuser In Ubi Wraps Cat’s Body With Masking Tape

This story gets progressively worse as more information is gathered on what happened to the cat.

On Feb. 1, Facebook page Yishun 326 Tabby, a group consisting of 5 volunteers who rescue and treat community cats, put up this post.

The post basically called for volunteers to help rescue a cat, later to be named Jon Snow, who had apparently gotten caught in a glue trap.

The rescue

They eventually managed to rescue and send the cat to Mount Pleasant Veterinary Group.

Here’s what it looked like.

Far worse than a glue trap

Now this is where the story gets even more horrifying.

While glue traps are horrible in it’s own way, the vets at Mount Pleasant came up with an alternate theory.

Initially, rescuers thought Jon Snow might have stepped onto a glue trap. But actually this seems worse. Because the cat could have stood there, trustingly, while its abusers taped it up.

In fact, the cat was so stressed out that they had to place it under general anaesthetic to remove the full body tape.

Here is the video detailing how they ultimately helped the cat out of its predicament.

Top image: screenshot from video

Source: http://mothership.sg

February 6, 2017
SIA Refutes Netizen’s Claims On MC Rules

When the death of Singapore Airlines air stewardess, Vanessa Yeap, 38, was reported, tributes began pouring in for her.

She was found dead in a San Francisco hotel room on Feb 1 (Singapore time) by her colleagues after she failed to turn up at the lobby for the return flight to Singapore.

She was reportedly ill two days before the incident.

The cause of death is still under investigation by the authorities there.

A Facebook user, Philip Lim, on Thursday claimed SIA crew avoid taking sick leave even when ill because it would affect their chances of a promotion.

He also claimed SIA rewards its flight crew if they maintain an MC-free year.

He did not reply to queries from The New Paper yesterday.

SIA refuted his claims.

An SIA spokesman told TNP yesterday that there is no reward for maintaining an MC-free record.

She said an MC-free record is a reflection of personal pride and an indication of an employee who manages his health well.

TNP spoke to two air stewardesses who said there are two categories of medical certificates – casual and non-casual.

Both of them declined to be named.

They said when a cabin crew member takes an MC because of a flu or minor ailments such as stomach ache and fever, it is considered a casual MC.

One of them, who has been with the company for several years, said when they take a casual MC, it can affect their promotion prospects and renewal of contract.

FEAR

She claimed she has not taken a casual MC for the past eight years for fear it would affect her record.

She said: “It prevents people from abusing MCs, but if you’re sick it is a whole different thing.

“It is easy to spread the flu especially when you are in an enclosed area and the air doesn’t circulate.”

They said more serious conditions, such as conjunctivitis or torn muscles, are considered non-casual MCs and they will not be penalised for taking them.

The SIA spokesman added: “Crew members who are given medical leave are encouraged to rest and recuperate at home.

“Operating with an MC is a disciplinary lapse.

“Crew members are granted up to 28 days of paid medical leave and six months of paid hospitalisation (non-casual) leave due to chronic or prolonged illness.

“Crew members diagnosed with tuberculosis or cancer are given additional paid leave.”

Mr Lim had also claimed points are deducted from crew members’ annual service performance for every MC they take.

In response to this, the spokesman said: “As with all other businesses, employee productivity and attendance at work is important for a successful airline operation.

“Although crew attendance is a component in the performance management process, we would like to emphasise that crew performance is nonetheless still measured across many other factors.”

The second air stewardess said the MC practice should be reviewed.

She said: “We face issues such as jet lag, adjusting to different temperatures and meal times that could potentially affect our health.

“A flu can lead to severe consequences. So can that be considered casual?”

Source: www.tnp.sg

February 6, 2017