Category: Singapuraku

Syed Omar Aljunied – The Race-Blind, Muslim Philantropher

Names such as Tan Tock Seng are well known in Singapura’s history. He was a philanthropist and best known for founding the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

But Tan was not the only person involved in setting up TTSH.

Syed Omar Aljunied was another major contributor in establishing TTSH.

Due to funding problems from the 1820s onwards, the British colonialists were unable to properly fund a hospital.

They sought support from the rich in Singapura to help out.

Apart from Tan Tock Seng…

Syed Omar Aljunied also donated some land to build the hospital.

The Hospital was initially named Chinese Pauper’s Hospital. It was subsequently changed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

A few years later, Syed Omar’s nephew, Syed Ali Aljunied contributed a further $1,000 to help the hospital function and another plot of land for the hospital.

Syed Omar Aljunied also contributed land for other causes.

Apart from the hospital and Masjid Omar Kampung Melaka,

St Andrews Cathedral (opposite City Hall MRT) was also build on land he donated.

References:
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_847_2004-12-29.html

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_70_2004-12-24.html

Source: Almakhazin SG

January 29, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Kudos To Rahayu Mahzam For Raising Tudung Issue But Time Will Tell If She Deserves Community’s Trust

There have been a couple of contrasting reactions towards MP Rahayu Mahzam’s maiden speech in Parliament, in which she urged the government to reconsider its policy on the hijab.

(On a side note, it is interesting to note that MP Faisal Manap has mentioned the same thing before, but rarely gets the same media coverage, and of course, if he did bring up such issues, he would be ‘politicizing religion’, but let’s leave that aside for now.)

The first reaction was to celebrate her courage and bold attitude, raising the issue in her very first speech. Indeed, it is perhaps unprecedented for a Muslim MP to do so.

The second, however, was a more cynical one. Some question whether this was a political show that would amount to no real change.

To be sure, one can definitely understand why the second reaction surfaced: the issue has been raised numerous times before under various conditions. And it always seemed like there was always an excuse to dismiss the requests (‘you were too loud’, ‘you were not loud enough’, ‘there are other important issues’, ‘we must not disrupt harmony’ etc etc etc.) Even senior members of the community like Cikgu Maarof Salleh expressed cynicism at the speech.

For me personally, i prefer to see it in a more positive light. I believe each MP should be judged based on what he/she has said/done, and not merely on the party he/she belongs to. And no one MP will always be flawless or completely hopeless (well, i hope not!): they will have good moments that should be celebrated, and lesser ones that we as citizens can and should call them out for.

As for MP Rahayu herself, she is new and has done nothing so far that warrants our mistrust, so I believe her words should be commended.

Time will tell how much the new MPs truly represent the people and voice their concerns – not just the individual MP’s thoughts – in Parliament. For now, i say, kudos to her.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

January 29, 2016
Yaacob Ibrahim: Informal Religious Groups Formed By Foreign Workers Should Work With Mosques, MUIS

Informal religious groups formed by foreign workers here should step forward to engage with mosques and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) so that they could better tap the resources available, said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, yesterday.

In light of the arrests of 27 radicalised Bangladeshi workers in Singapore, the spotlight has turned on radicalised teachings that could easily be spread through informal religious study groups conducted by the foreign workers themselves, as mosques here lack the resources and manpower to reach out to them.

TODAY had earlier reported that mosques in the Little India and Bugis areas that are frequently visited by the foreign workers do not have religious classes that specifically catered to them.

“We know that some of the foreign groups in Singapore do have their own members of their community who are actually guiding them,” said Dr Yaacob, who is also the Minister for Communications and Information.

“The most important thing is that whoever is playing that role, please engage MUIS, because we want to make sure that whatever they are teaching is aligned with our teachings, with the way we practise Islam here in Singapore,” he said on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony for students from Egypt’s Al-Azhar University at the Muis Academy.

Dr Yaacob said there is a need for some graduates to stand up and publicly rebut the radical ideologies which some members of the community may have. “(What) is needed (is) for someone to come out specifically to break down someone’s radical arguments and why they are wrong and (in) which areas they are wrong and then hope that they can also find the errors of the radical ideologies, not (only) from a religious perspective, but (also) from a humanistic sociological analysis,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking in Parliament yesterday, Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade GRC) asked if the Government is able to do more in terms of educational publicity in reaching out to religious groups which may not be formally organised.

“Some of them may inadvertently not realise that they’re being taught some of (these) variants of the (religion),” she added.

In response, Dr Yaacob said the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) — which was set up to enhance the standing of religious teachers here and serves as a reliable source of reference for the Singapore Muslim Community — is in place for religious teachers.

He urged members of the community to refer to the list on the MUIS website to find the appropriate religious teachers for their classes.

“So, we are not against informal groups … but the most important thing is they select the teachers from the ARS and if they can do that, I think it would be good.”

Meanwhile, Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) asked if there is a protocol or standard operating procedure for the approval of visit passes for overseas religious leaders.

He cited a recent incident where a visit by a “particular preacher”, which he did not name, was denied by the authorities here.

Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said the protocol is “very straightforward and transparent”. For example, if the preacher’s teachings are “contrary to our values”, he will be denied entry to Singapore, Mr Shanmugam added.

Dr Yaacob, speaking to the media at the Muis Academy, said he believes more could be done to integrate the foreign workers into the fabric of society here. “We must continue to engage the foreign community here to make sure the resources within the Malay-Muslim community are also available to them,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 29, 2016
Rahayu Mahzam: Pemerintah Harus Memberi Kelonggaran Bagi Muslimah Bertudung, Luaskan Ruang Berbicara Tentang Hal-Hal Agama

Masyarakat tempatan perlu mengadakan perbincangan-perbincangan “sangat berterus terang” tentang isu-isu nyata.

Usaha menggalakkan keharmonian kaum dan agama tidak lagi boleh dijalankan di peringkat luaran sahaja dengan setakat menghadiri majlis-majlis budaya satu sama lain.

Sebaliknya, Singapura harus “mengadakan ruang untuk bercakap tentang identiti kita, amalan keagamaan seperti membakar kertas sembahyang, pemakaian tudung, memainkan muzik semasa Thaipusam misalnya.”

Demikian seruan Anggota Parlimen GRC Jurong, semasa menyampaikan ucapan sulung beliau dalam perbahasan di Parlimen petang tadi (28 Jan).

Cik Rahayu menambah, seharusnya ada dialog-dialog terbuka kerana perbincangan sedemikian akan menghasilkan kefahaman tentang keprihatinan satu sama lain.

Mengulas mengenai debat tentang isu pengganasan, beliau menekankan, masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura menolak fahaman sedemikian.

Lantaran itu Cik Rahayu menekankan, masyarakat Melayu/Islam tidak boleh dipersalahkan dan taat setia masyarakat tersebut “tidak patut dipersoalkan”.

HARAP ISU TUDUNG DISEMAK LAGI

“Saya rasakan penting untuk Pemerintah mengambil langkah untuk menggalakkan perbincangan terbuka tentang hal-hal sebegini agar segala prasangka atau rasa salah faham dapat dilenyapkan dengan segera. Juga perlu sentiasa ada peringatan yang tegas untuk mengutuk dan mengekang tindakan yang berbaur Islamofobia.

“Satu lagi hal yang berada di benak fikiran masyarakat kita adalah isu tudung. Saya harap hal ini dapat disemak lagi oleh Pemerintah dan kelonggaran diberi agar wanita bertudung tidak terbatas untuk bekerja dalam mana-mana kerjaya pilihannya,” ujar Cik Rahayu.

Namun beliau juga menekankan, dalam pada masyarakat mengharapkan sesuatu daripada Pemerintah, ia juga perlu bersikap matang dan berbincang secara hormat.

Masyarakat Melayu kata beliau perlu menggunakan peluang yang ada untuk terus menjalin hubungan dengan kaum lain agar ada pemahaman yang mendalam tentang budaya dan agama Melayu/Islam dapat terjalin.

Masyarakat Melayu/Islam kata beliau, sebahagian daripada masyarakat majmuk Singapura dan perlu sentiasa prihatin untuk menjaga keharmonian kaum dan agama.

SOKONG NCMP, KRITIK KOMEN KETUA PARTI PEKERJA

Dalam ucapan beliau itu, Cik Rahayu juga mengalu-alukan peningkatan dan perubahan kepada skim Anggota Parlimen Tanpa Kawasan Undi (NCMP) yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong semalam.

Beliau melahirkan harapan untuk melihat lebih ramai anggota politik pembangkang seperti Encik Leon Perera dan Encik Dennis Tan, bagi menghasilkan perdebatan yang lasak demi menggubal dasar negara.

Cik Rahayu bagaimanapun membidas ketua pembangkang Low Thia Khiang dengan berkata, beliau “agak terkejut” para NCMP itu disamakan dengan kiambang.

“Tiada apa yang boleh menghalang NCMP daripada bergerak di akar umbi, melakukan lawatan rumah ke rumah dan menganjurkan sesi-sesi untuk mengumpulkan keprihatinan penduduk. Hakikatnya, saya teringat Encik Perera menyebut bahawa beliau melakukan kerja-kerja akar umbi di East Coast dan Aljunied. Peningkatan-peningkatan tersebut mengukuhkan kedudukan NCMP dan saya rasa sukar untuk berhujah sebaliknya,” ujar Cik Rahayu lagi.

AMALKAN KELONGGARAN BERI BANTUAN

Menyentuh tentang golongan yang berisiko dan kurang bernasib baik, beliau menyeru supaya lebih banyak kelonggaran diamalkan dalam membantu mereka.

Sebahagian bantuan kata beliau dibelenggu oleh pelbagai peraturan yang menyukarkan.

Cik Rahayu berkata: “Kita tidak harus berkompromi dalam sokongan sosial yang perlu diberikan kepada individu-individu dan keluarga-keluarga yang memerlukan bantuan. Malah, pada masa-masa sukarlah, kita perlu bersikap lebih ihsan.”

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

January 29, 2016
DTL2 Woes: Bukit Timah Residents’ Pleas Fall Through Cracks

Cracked and slanted walls, burst water pipes and front gates that are unable to properly shut.

These are some of the issues that residents at a stretch of terrace houses in Duchess Road in Bukit Timah have had to live with for the last five years.

And for the most part, their repeated attempts at seeking redress have still left them in limbo.

At least six residents who spoke to AsiaOne claimed that the damage to their homes was due to the construction of the Tan Kah Kee MRT station, which is part of the Downtown Line 2.

The station, which sits about 70m from their homes, opened on Dec 27 last year.

Two residents, who only wanted to be known as Mr and Mrs Lim, serve as spokesmen for the affected residents.

The Lims, who are in the 50s, told AsiaOne that despite repeated attempts over the years to rectify the issues, they were told that neither the Land Transport Authority (LTA) nor its contractors were responsible for them.

In September 2011, the Lims noticed that a number of cracks started to appear on the walls of their house. A year later, they claimed more cracks surfaced on their car porch roof, allowing rainwater to seep through and dislodge a shoe cabinet. Several tiles in the porch had also cracked and become dislodged.

Following their complaint, LTA surveyed the defects and installed devices to track any widening of cracks. Instruments were also fixed outside a few houses to stabilise the ground.

LTA’s Austrian contractor, Alpine Bau, also did some interim repairs on the couple’s home in both 2011 and 2012, assuring them that full repairs will be conducted after the completion of the station.

However, Alpine Bau went bust in 2013 – before full repairs could be done – and a South Korean contractor, SK E&C, was appointed to take over construction works.

The Lims were left helpless after that.

In June 2014, the Lims and their immediate neighbour, who only wanted to be known as Mr Yang, discovered that they could not fully close the front gates as the wall supporting them had tilted to one side.

Mrs Lim said: “This was too much. My family’s safety was compromised and I couldn’t sleep properly knowing that we had a security issue.”

At Mr Lim’s request, SK E&C installed a temporary metal bar to prevent the wall from tilting further. Mr Yang claims that a similar request made by him was rejected and he had to chisel away certain parts of the wall himself to allow his front gate to fully close.

He told AsiaOne that the new contractor claimed that the cracks were due to a palm tree right outside his house.

“This is extremely illogical and utterly unreasonable as the palm tree wouldn’t be able to cause damages to the internal areas of my house,” said Mr Yang in a telephone interview.

The Lims’ also said that LTA attributed the damage to nearby construction works of a new condominium next to their house as well as that of Hwa Chong Institution. However they noted that these projects only commenced after the cracks appeared.

When AsiaOne visited the Lim residence, the cracks on the wall were large enough to snugly slot in a number of credit cards and hold them in place.

Some cracks were so deep that the wall was nearly split in two. There was also a 10m-wide crack across the floor in the Lims’ backyard. Some of the bedroom doors in Mr Yang’s three-storey home could not be shut properly.

Damage to the Lim’s house is estimated to be about $78,000, while that to Mr Yang’s house is said to be about $70,000, according to a private contractor both households engaged.

Another resident nearby who only wants to be known as Mrs Tan, claims the construction works caused her underground water pipes to burst twice – first in 2012 and then in 2014. She only discovered the leakage after her monthly water bills hit $800 on average.

Besides settling the water bill, Mrs Tan told AsiaOne that she also spent a total of $3,450 to repair the water pipes.

Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Mr Christopher de Souza made two home visits over the last couple of years.

Mr de Souza told AsiaOne that his main priority is to ensure the safety of the residents and their homes.

He added: “I have requested a compensation board to be convened to address the families’ concerns in an impartial way to resolve the difference in views.”

This is not the first time residents living along the Bukit Timah stretch have complained of damages caused by construction.

In 2012, residents living in nearby Watten Estate, reported damage to their homes after construction works to build the same MRT station began.

In this case, LTA carried out the necessary repair works.

In a letter addressed to Mr Lim in November 2012, LTA said that the damage “could possibly be caused” by the station’s construction.

When asked for a response, LTA explained that a survey carried out in 2009 found that some houses had pre-existing cracks. Independent experts also later assessed that the construction works did not cause damage to the Duchess Road houses, added LTA.

The LTA spokesman said: “Residents who do not agree with the assessment made by the independent experts may refer their claims to an independent Compensation Board, which is headed by a District Judge.”

The Compensation Board requires the residents to engage a lawyer – a move they have not been keen on as it would incur additional costs.

But while the residents are grateful for the convenience of a nearby MRT station, they are still considering what to do next.

“We have invested $1 million of our life savings into building our dream house,” Mrs Lim said with tears welling up in her eyes. “To be dealing with unaccounted damages like these for over five years now is really, very tiring. ”

Source: http://news.asiaone.com

January 28, 2016