Category: Singapuraku

Zulfikar Shariff: PAP Perpetuating Racism In Singapore

Inevitably, the discussion about PAP’s racist policies bring in those who defend these policies.

But what I noticed is that the divide is not between the different races.

These policies that discriminated against the Malays were not implemented by Chinese or Indians or Eurasians or any other race or nationality in Singapura.

It was created and implemented by the PAP.

Those who came to defend and seek to perpetuate this racism….appears to be mainly if not solely..

PAP members or supporters.

The Malays, Indians, Chinese, Jews, Armenians etc do not really have much of an issue with each other.

The racists who defend these policies do so because it implicates their party.

We can see how the different nations in Singapura, when left to their own, will support each other.

As can be seen during the Tradegy Natra (Maria Hertogh) in 1950, Chinese in Singapura, supported the Malays.

And they persuaded the British to help the Malay community.

According to Assoc Prof Khairudin:

“The largest Chinese daily newspaper, the Nanyang Siang Pao, urged the British to ‘think thrice’ before making a legal decision in the upcoming appeal trial. The move to restore Maria Hertogh to her foster mother and husband would be of no great loss to Britain’s diplomatic ally; the Dutch.

On the other hand, the Malays were an important and integral part of the British Empire. The British should therefore ensure the repatriation of Maria Hertogh back to Singapore to avoid the violation of the religious rights of the Muslims, which could potentially lead to further bloodshed and violence.

The Kuomintang newspaper, Sin Chew Jit Poh, called upon the British, the Dutch and the Muslims to allow Maria Hertogh to decide for herself whether she wished to reside in the Netherlands or Malaya.

The paper stressed that Dutch diplomatic relations with other Muslim countries, such as Indonesia and Pakistan, would most certainly be jeopardized if custody of Maria Hertogh were to be awarded to her natural parents.

Another observer who identified himself as a ‘Straits Chinese’ expressed his regrets that the ‘very good name of the Singapore Malays and Muslims, who are regarded as a most law-abiding community in the colony has been besmirched (Straits Times, 17 December 1950).”

If any such events are ever to happen again, I have no doubt the ordinary Chinese, Indian, Eurasian etc in Singapura will once again defend the Malays.

And I have no doubt…the PAP Internet Brigade will lead the charge against the Malays.

Reference:

Aljunied, Khairudin. Heng, “Beyond the Rhetoric of Communalism:
Violence and the Process of Reconciliation in 1950s Singapore” Derek Thiam Soon, and Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied, eds. Reframing Singapore: Memory, Identity, Trans-regionalism. Vol. 6. Amsterdam University Press, 2009. p. 73

Source: Zulfikar Shariff

January 18, 2016
Teo Chee Hean: Fate Of Racial Harmony Lies With Singaporeans

Whether Singapore gives in to “exclusivity and sectarianism”, or builds on the decision of the nation’s forefathers to live together in racial and religious harmony, is in the hands of Singaporeans, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean today (Jan 17).

In a speech that came after the Jakarta attack and news of a foiled terror plot in Malaysia last week, Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, reminded his audience that it was not by chance that Singapore is the most religiously diverse country in the world, yet enjoys racial and religious harmony. The peace in Singapore, he said, is a result of the “deliberate choice that we made”.

“We could have chosen differently, we could have chosen to live separately, each community insisting on its own practices, wanting to carve as much exclusive space for itself as possible from the common space. This would have resulted in a very different Singapore. One marked by differences, rather than the broad common humanity that we all share,” said Mr Teo, who spoke at a fund raising dinner for the upcoming Church of the Transfiguration.

But Singapore’s pioneers had lived through racial and religious strife, and did not want to see it happen again. Instead, various communities and leaders committed to work together to strengthen social harmony.

“Each community did not insist on the primacy of its race, language or practices. Instead, each of our communities is prepared to practise its own culture and religion in the context of a multi-racial, multi-religious society, making adaptations to accommodate others where necessary,” said Mr Teo.

Singapore has also been careful about teachings and practices from overseas, especially those that are disrespectful to other religions, or encourage communities to live apart from each other. “And even as we allow each community its own space, we have continually deepened the trust between communities, and expanded our common space where all communities can come together as Singaporeans. These are the precious lessons and experience from our 50 years of independence,” said Mr Teo.

In the next 50 years, “it is up to us and our children to decide what kind of society we want to be”. “We can succumb to exclusivity and sectarianism and drift apart into separate communities This can be by the choices of leaders, or by the individual choices we make every day, whether to live in harmony, try and integrate with others or whether we choose to live separately. So we can make those choices ourselves…Or we can reinforce the choice that our forefathers made to live together, and continue to celebrate and strengthen our racial and religious harmony,” said Mr Teo.

Last Thursday, a gun and bomb attack in central Jakarta left eight dead and over 20 wounded, including four civilians. A day later, Malaysian authorities arrested a suspected militant arrested in a train station in Kuala Lumpur, who confessed to planning a suicide attack in the country.

In his speech, Mr Teo said all religious groups in Singapore reject extremism, radicalism and violence regardless of the source

“This is important because if an attack were to take place in Singapore, the actions of the perpetrators would be condemned by every religious group in Singapore. Rather than allowing an attack to strike fear and splinter our society, we must unite against any such attack, stand together as one people, and emerge stronger,” he said.

He also noted that religious institutions “play a very important role in our society.” For example, organisations such as the Catholic Church have worked “hand in hand” with the Government in nation building over the last 50 years. This includes areas such as character formation, education, health-care and charity, said Mr Teo.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 18, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Stop Looking At Madrasahs And Students As Second-Class

It is wonderful indeed to see madrasah students – such as Nur Masyitah Borhan and Murshidah Albakri – performing so well in their O-Levels. Lest we forget, for many of these madrasah students, their O-levels are not their bread-and-butter, and we must not judge them by how well they do in it. Hence, for those who do brilliantly despite the fact that they have many other subjects to study for (yes, they do not stop reading other subjects just because it is O-level year), it is a phenomenal feat.

Unfortunately, I have met many people – even Muslims – who do not really know too much about the madrasahs, but somehow ‘know’ enough (usually from their ‘own experience’, which actually involves encountering one or two madrasah students) to believe that madrasah students/graduates are somehow less able than students/graduates of national schools. It is almost like modern-day orientalism.

From my own limited experience, I believe madrasah students are just like students of other schools: on average all of them are just as smart. Then you have some hardworking ones, and some less-hardworking ones. Some are naturally more gifted, others, less so. There is nothing ‘special’ or ‘inferior’ about their abilities.

Two things, however, I believe are different:

1) The workload of these students far outweigh their national schools counterparts, so naturally, the amount of work required is more as well.

2) On average, these students are far more well-behaved, and well-mannered. I can understand why many choose to dedicate their entire lives serving the madrasahs, because the students – more often than not – make it worth the sacrifices.

I am not at all saying that the madrasah system is perfect; no system is, after all. I am sure many could list some problems the madrasahs face, just as many could do the same for national schools. All i am saying is that we should always consider and reconsider our preconceived notions and possible biases before making sweeping statements about things that many consider integral to their communities, such as the madrasahs.

Source: Walid J.Abdullah

January 16, 2016
Pemerintah Singapura Harus Mengambil Langkah Untuk Membasmi Diskriminasi Terhadap Kaum Muslimah

Alhamdulillah, telah berlalu hampir 4 bulan sejak saya diizinkan Ilahi waktu berkempen di pilihanraya yang lalu untuk menyuarakan isu-isu diskriminasi terhadap penduduk Singapura yang berbangsa Melayu dan beragama Islam seperti hak kebebasan beragama dalam memakai tudung untuk wanita Melayu dan kaum lain yang beragama Islam sewaktu menjalankan tugas sebagai seorang jururawat. Malangnya masih belum terdengar apa-apapun perubahan dasar yang akan dibuat untuk membetulkan ketidak-adilan ini. Isu ini menjadi sesuatu keaiban kepada maruah kita sebagai orang Melayu dan orang Islam yang tidak mampu membela hak segolongan wanita kita yang ingin bertudung sambil berkerjaya sebagai seorang jururawat. Diskriminasi ini adalah suatu perkara yang di luar kefahaman rasional kerana tidak ada sebab yang munasabah samada daripada aspek kebersihan mahupun dari aspek sosial yang boleh mempertahankan suatu dasar yang begitu kuno di zaman moden ini.

Kebelakangan ini, pemerintah Singapura telah menunjukkan teladan yang sangat mengalakkan dengan penerimaan AP Melayu wanita PAP yang bertudung untuk menerajui sebahagian kepimpinan Negara. Namun pada masa yang sama menjadi suatu keanehan apabila wanita lain yang berbangsa Melayu ataupun kaum lain yang beragama Islam, masih lagi tidak dibenarkan bertudung semasa bertugas sebagai seorang jururawat mengikut dasar yang masih wujud oleh pihak-pihak yang berkewajiban. Alasan pakaian seragam jururawat sebagai halangan adalah suatu yang kurang peka dan sangat memperbodohkan kita yang berfikiran rasional kerana negera-negara yang lebih maju di barat telahpun menerima pemakaian tudung sebagai seragam seorang jururawat tanpa halangan kepada tugas profesionalnya. Alasan lain seperti kekuatiran ianya akan menimbulkan sifat kurang senang oleh para pesakit langsung tidak logik memandangkan betapa biasanya seorang wanita Islam yang bertudung boleh kelihatan di masyarakat umum. Malahan Dokter wanita Islam yang ingin bertudung dibenarkan tanpa masalah di hospital-hospital Singapura sekarang ini. Tiada bukti langsung untuk alasan keberadaan jururawat wanita Melayu atau dari kaum lain yang bertudung akan menimbulkan keresahan dan tidak senang oleh kaum lain. Malah alasan ini seolah-olah beranggapan kaum lain sekarang merasa kurang senang apabila melihat wanita Melayu Islam secara umumnya bertudung yang berlaku dalam banyak lagi kerjaya lain seperti guru-guru di sekolah pemerintah dan sebagainya.

Baru-baru ini pemerintah Singapura telah menanda-tangani Konvensyen bagi Membasmikan Semua Jenis Diskriminasi Kaum (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) pada 19 Oktober 2015. Sebagai rakyat Singapura yang berbangsa Melayu dan beragama Islam saya mengalu-alukan tindakan ini, kerana ia membuka peluang untuk kita mengubah dasar-dasar pekerjaan dan lain-lain yang bersikap diskriminasi kepada orang Melayu Singapura. Sekarang telah tiba masanya untuk tindakan dalam bentuk perlaksanaan dengan membasmikan dasar-dasar pekerjaan yang terang-terang besifat diskriminasi terhadap wanita Melayu dan wanita kaum lain yang beragama Islam dari bertudung sebagai seorang jururawat.

Kali ini, Rakyat Melayu Singapura tidak mahu lagi menerima alasan yang tidak munasabah dari pihak-pihak yang berkewajiban termasuk Pemerintah sendiri kerana alasan-alasan itu bercanggah langsung dengan apa yang telah ditanda-tangani oleh Pemerintah Singapura dalam Konvensyen tersebut. Rakyat Singapura yang berbangsa Melayu dan beragama Islam sudah hilang keyakinan dengan ketelusan pemimpin Melayu Islam pemerintah dan pihak-pihak lain yang berkewajiban kerana kegagalan mereka dalam bertindak adil dan jujur untuk menamatkan terusnya berlaku diskriminasi terhadap wanita Melayu dan kaum lain yang beragama Islam untuk bertudung sebagai seorang jururawat. Rakyat Melayu Islam Singapura khususnya dan semua Rakyat umumnya berhak bersuara apabila berlakunya ketidak-adilan dalam melaksanakan dasar yang jelas mendiskriminasikan wanita Melayu dan kaum lain yang ingin bertudung sebagai seorang jururawat.

Saya secara peribadi kedepan dalam usaha ini melalui wadah lelaman FB ini dengan usaha semampu saya untuk mendesak campur tangan dan kebijaksanaan Pemerintah supaya menghentikan diskriminasi terhadap wanita Melayu dan kaum lain yang ingin bertudung sebagai seorang jururawat. Usaha ini adalah lanjutan daripada usaha-usaha lain yang telah saban tahun berlaku di mana orang Melayu Islam hanya mampu merayu dengan penuh adab dan sopan melalui wadah-wadah yang sedia ada ataupun diadakan. Tiap kali jawapan pihak berkewajiban dan juga Pemerintah sama sahaja malah telah menimbulkan kemarahan rakyat Melayu Islam Singapura yang menganggap ini sebagai mencabar dan memperlekehkan maruah wanita bangsa Melayu dan wanita kaum lain yang beragama Islam dan juga maruah orang Islam umumnya. Namun kita masih bersabar, berusaha terus dan berharap.

Melalui wadah ini mudah-mudahan ia akan menjadi tempat menyuarakan dengan jelas dan lantang kepada semua Rakyat Singapura bahawa orang Melayu Islam memang merasa didiskriminasikan oleh dasar-dasar pihak-pihak berkewajiban yang menghalang wanita-wanita Islam tak kira bangsa yang ingin bertudung dari bertudung semasa menjalankan tugas sebagai seorang jururawat. Wadah ini juga akan menjadi sumber maklumat untuk usaha-usaha lain yang akan dijalankan seperti rapat-rapat umum untuk menjelaskan isu ini jika tindakan itu diperlukan memandangkan jawapan yang bakal diterima dari pihak yang berkewajiban dan Pemerintah sendiri. Rakyat Melayu dan kaum lain yang beragama Islam juga harus mempertimbangkan untuk membawa isu diskriminasi ini langsung ke makhamah untuk mendapat pengadilan berdasarkan undang-undang Negara dan undang-undang antarabangsa demi membela hak kebebasan kaum Hawa kita yang ingin bertudung dan bekerjaya sebagai seorang jururawat.

Jika pemerintah melihat usaha ini sebagai suatu yang ingin menimbulkan huru-hara dan kekecohan di masyarakat, itu adalah silap kerana ini adalah usaha murni seorang rakyat yang menggunakan wadah yang ada dan dengan penuh tanggungjawab dan pertimbangan rasional. Tiada apapun muslihat memecah belahkan rakyat malah sebaliknya ia adalah usaha menjalinkan jembatan kepada semua Rakyat Singapura tidak kira apapun bangsa dan agama, terhadap isu diskriminasi yang telah bertahun-tahun berlaku kepada wanita Melayu dan bukan Melayu yang beragama Islam kita dalam isu bertudung sebagai seorang jururawat.

Pemerintah juga harus bersikap terbuka selari dengan kemajuan baik mereka untuk mendengar keluhan Rakyat yang kurang senang terhadap isu-isu semasa. Ia juga boleh jujur mempertimbangkan tujuan usaha ini dan usaha-usaha lain dengan tujuan yang sama yang telah bertahun-tahun berlaku di mana rayuan dan desakan dilaksanakan secara aman, jelas dan rasional melalui hujah-hujah yang munasabah, hanya untuk diketepikan tanpa penghujung dan tidak tahu berapa lama lagi penyelesaiannya. Adalah kesilapan besar untuk Pemerintah terus mengenepikan dan mempelekehkan isu maruah wanita Melayu Islam yang telah lama menjadi pekung yang menyakiti rakyat Melayu Islam Singapura. Semoga Pemerintah benar-benar mengkotakan nilai keadilan yang termaktub dalam ikrar Negara yang kita saling pegang sesama rakyat.

Sebenarnya isu ini adalah isu yang seharusnya sudah lama diselesaikan dengan cara perbincangan dengan penuh kejujuran, berhikmah dan adil. Hakikatnya ialah isu ini masih lagi membelenggu kita dan ia hanya mencerminkan kelemahan kuasa menyuara pemimpin Melayu Islam kita dan pada masa yang sama kurang keprihatinan oleh Pemerintah yang mungkin belum benar-benar mendengar keluhan perasaan orang Melayu terhadap isu ini yang jelas berupa isu diskiriminasi yang mengguris hati kita semua. Semoga usaha ini mendapat sokongan sewajarnya oleh semua pihak yang berkewajiban dan Pemerintah juga dengan bertindak mengakhiri diskriminasi terhadap segolongan Rakyat kita. Ini akan menunjukkan kematangan kita sebagai sebuah masyarakat Singapura yang rasional, beretika, waras dan bersikap adil terhadap semua rakyat.

Majulah Singapura!!!

Source: Singaporeans For Ending Discriminatory Practices Towards Muslim Women

January 16, 2016
Zulfikar Shariff: Don’t Dilute Role Of Malays In Building Singapore

Growing up, I read and heard about Lim Boh Seng, Tan Kah Kee, Tan Tock Seng, Elizabeth Choy.

And I wondered, apart from Lt Adnan and a few other rarely mentioned names, where are the Melayu, Indian, Eurasian personalities?

Surely Singapura was not built solely on the back of Chinese migrants.

It was later that I realised how Singapura’s history is Sinicised.

And why we need to make sure we magnify the history of the other communities. Insha Allah in this post, I will briefly discuss a little bit of the colonial history of the Indians in Singapura.

There were more than 100 Indians who arrived with Raffles in 1819, including Sepoys, clerks and the famous trader Naraina Pillai.

Naraina Pillai was a trader and philanthropist who gave out substantial amounts of his wealth to build temples and other social causes.

By 1873, there were about 12,000 Indians resident in Singapura. They were mainly labourers, financiers, traders, administrative workers and shopkeepers.

But the British also brought a substantial number of Indian convicts. When the British left Bencoolen in 1825, they brought 600 Indian convicts with them. By 1860, there were 2,275 convicts residing in Singapura.

However, British residents were not happy with the arrangement and by 1873, the remaining convicts were sent to the Andamans islands.

Skilled Indian convict labourers contributed substantially to the city’s development.

As Governor of the Straits Settlements, Colonel Blundell noted

“The whole of the existing roads throughout the Islands… every bridge in both town and country, all the existing canals, sea wall, jetties, piers, etc., have been constructed by convict labour. But not only is the community indebted for these essential works to the mere manual labour of convicts, but by the introduction among them of a system of skilled labour, Singapore is indebted for works which could not otherwise have been sanctioned from the State funds.”

The next time we walk pass St Andrew’s cathedral or the Istana….take note…

They were built by Indian convict labourers.

Reference:
Sandhu, Kernial Singh. “Some Aspects of Indian Settlement in Singapore, 1819–1969.” Journal of Southeast Asian History 10.02 (1969): 193-201.

Picture: Construction of the Government House (Istana)

Source: Zulfikar Shariff

January 16, 2016