Category: Singapuraku

Yaacob Ibrahim: Allowing Hijab At Workplace ‘Very Problematic’ For Professions That Require Staff To Be In Uniform

Wearing a Muslim headscarf at the workplace would be “very problematic” for some professions that require their staff to be in uniform, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday.

Weighing in on the issue for the first time since a debate began in September, Dr Yaacob said in a note on his Facebook page that many employers here have exercised flexibility on the practice. However, he pointed out that police officers and Singapore Armed Forces servicemen are not allowed to wear or display religious symbols on their uniforms or faces.

“Nor do we allow Muslim police women officers to wear the hijab on duty,” Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for Communications and Information, wrote. “But when they are out of uniform, they are free to wear the hijab, as indeed many do going to and from work.”

He added: “Muslim women enjoy many freedoms in Singapore. They don the hijab in many situations, including in Parliament, the highest elected chamber in the land.”

The issue was first raised at a forum on race in September, when a polytechnic lecturer asked why nurses were barred from wearing the Muslim headscarf and sparked a debate on whether front-line officers should be allowed to.

An online petition championing the cause then began on Oct 12, with the aim of garnering 20,000 signatures. It was taken down last week, with only 12,405 signatures.

Former Mufti Shaikh Syed Isa Semait was then embroiled in the controversy after he told the Berita Harian that the petition could breed misunderstanding, and that one question to ask was whether all Muslim women working at the front line as nurses want to wear a hijab. This led Mufti Mohamed Fatris Bakaram to weigh in on Monday, as he criticised netizens who had used abusive and disrespectful language in the debate.

Dr Yaacob, who noted the issue has garnered “renewed attention” in mainstream and social media, said Malay Members of Parliament from the People’s Action Party had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Cabinet ministers.

While the issue is important to many Muslim Singaporeans, Dr Yaacob said the attacks on the former and current Muftis are “completely uncalled for”. He added: “They will not bring the discussions forward, much less solve any problems. Such behaviour reflects badly on those who engage in it. Let us always treat each other with due respect, whether in our own Muslim community or when engaging those belonging to other faiths.”

While everyone has the right to practise his or her respective faiths, Dr Yaacob said this also entails a responsibility to promote mutual respect and understanding among different religious groups and to preserve the common space that all groups share.

Urging the Malay-Muslim community to remain patient, he said he and his colleagues will continue discussions with the community.

“Negotiating our common space in a way that all are comfortable with is a continuing work in progress. Muslims have to do this, as do people of other faiths.

“We have come a long way together as a society, and we should approach the adjustments that will be needed from time to time with the same spirit of tolerance and mutual respect,” he added.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 27, 2015
Analysts: Multi-Cornered Fights Unlikely

Although several opposition parties have staked their claims to the same constituencies, the political analysts TODAY spoke to said multi-cornered fights are likely to prevail only in constituencies the Workers’ Party (WP) does not gun for. Multi-cornered fights, they said, hold “grave consequences” for other opposition parties that do not have a branding as strong as the WP’s.

Singapore Management University law don, associate professor Eugene Tan, said the WP is in a “healthy bargaining position”, and unlikely to concede the places it staked a claim to.

“In a case where there is nothing much to differentiate between the two or more opposition parties, voters may not know where or on whom to pool their votes. And this is where we are likely to see votes being split,” he said.

WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang on Sunday (Jul 26) announced his party’s intention to contest in Marine Parade GRC and MacPherson SMC — the former being a ward contested by the National Solidarity Party (NSP) in the 2011 polls and the latter, a part of it until electoral boundaries were redrawn last Friday.

The NSP has called for a meeting this Friday among opposition parties to hammer out deals and avoid multi-way fights.

MULTI-CORNERED FIGHTS MORE LIKELY IN WEST, CENTRAL PARTS

With the WP’s plans to expand eastwards, Assoc Prof Tan and former Nominated Member of Parliament Siew Kum Hong felt multi-cornered fights are more likely to happen in the western and central parts of Singapore. Said Mr Siew: “I think most other opposition parties will be hesitant to challenge the WP.”

Added political analyst Derek da Cunha: “The other opposition parties have yet to concretely demonstrate that they are on the same level as the WP in terms of voter appeal.”

The analysts also cited the Punggol East by-election in 2013 as an example of why opposition camps should avoid multi-cornered fights that involve the WP. Ms Lee Li Lian from the WP won the single seat with 54.52 per cent of votes, while the PAP’s Dr Koh Poh Koon garnered 43.73 per cent.

The Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam and Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim raked in 1.2 and 0.57 per cent, respectively, and both lost their election deposits.

National University of Singapore (NUS) sociologist Tan Ern Ser said the prospect of multi-cornered fights means opposition parties have to work harder. “They would have to try hard to differentiate themselves from one another, such as with more well-thought-out criticism of the ruling party and better ideas, better programmes that resonate with voters. Maybe even better candidates.”

NUS political science associate professor Bilveer Singh suggested that fighting in single-member constituencies would be “more economical” for opposition parties, especially “the new ones that have no ground record”.

CROSSOVER OF CANDIDATES

An issue that may muddy the parties’ claims to contest for various seats is the crossover of candidates between parties since the last GE.

For instance, Ms Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, who contested for the Mountbatten seat in the last election as part of the NSP, has announced her intention to fight for the same seat again, now under the Singapore People’s Party umbrella. She left the NSP earlier this year.

“Many a time, they move because of bad blood, unhappiness. So, that makes the ability to make concessions, to give and take, somewhat more challenging,” said SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan.

“We do not know if the trust and confidence among the opposition parties is strong enough for them to come up with a deal, where everyone would feel they have not been shortchanged.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

July 27, 2015
Marine Parade Likely The First GRC To Go To Opposition

The redrawing of electoral boundaries makes Marine Parade a ward with the most changes, with a cut and a paste. Presumably the changes are meant to favour the PAP in Marine Parade. The weakest link in the team, Tin Pei Ling, has been hived out to front a single seat in MacPherson. Many political observers see her as a liability and her absence in a way should strengthen Marine Parade some what. But this is off set by the inclusion of Joo Chiat. The marginal win at Joo Chiat must be scary for the PAP and it must be hoping to retain Joo Chiat by making it part of the firmer Marine Parade GRC. How would this work out is yet to be seen as the voters in Joo Chiat seem to be swinging towards the WP camp.

The incumbents in Marine Parade are no guarantees for a win. Chok Tong, the strongest candidate due to his Premiership status is likely to be retired. Tan Chuan Jin has not much to show during his term in MOM and would not be the persuasive factor to carry Marine Parade. The rest of the team are just so so.

Now comes the checkmate move by Low Thai Khiang. He has announced that WP would contest Marine Parade. Low Thia Khiang has a very good track record in winning elections. He broke ground by winning Hougang. Again he broke the records by winning a GRC, once seen as near impossibility. For Low Thia Khiang to make his move in Marine Parade and East Coast, he must have read his cards well. He must have sense the moment has come.

PAP’s performance against NSP in the last election was nothing to crow about. NSP was a very weak team and the Nicole Seah effect was enough to rattle the PAP team and nearly knocked them over. The WP is no NSP, and has a more respectable track record and seen as a real challenger to the PAP in times to come. A so so team in Marine Parade is going to be a tough call and the chances of it falling to the WP is quite expectable. Would the PAP boost up the team with more ministers and take a big gamble to lose big?

Just a few days after the electoral boundaries have been changed and confirmed, and with some comments and indications of intent from the opposition parties, Marine Parade is now hanging by a very thin thread. And the bonus that could come along would be MacPherson. If top notch candidates like Dr Koh Poh Soon can lose to Ah Lian, Tin Pei Ling would need to a miraculous act to stand a chance against an opposition candidate on her own. Very likely she would be retired on medical ground from this GE.

It is looking like 1 GRC and 1 SMC down before the GE even started. My God, if this is the case, Tan Chuan Jin would be no more a minister.

Source: http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.com.au

July 27, 2015
SDP: Authorities Must Investigate Illegal Political Campaigning By PAP At Durian Party

Good morning friends, this is probably not the best way to start you on your week but its something you should know. Over the weekend there was a durian party organised by some grassroots organisations at the park just outside the SDP office at Jalan Gelenggang.

We heard the some people at the party shouting: “Vote PAP!” This took place at Kebun Baru, part of Lee Hsien Loong’s AMK GRC.

This is wrong for two reasons. The campaign period has not yet begun and it is illegal to canvas for voters. Two, this is a grassroots event presumably paid for by public funds. Why was it turned into a vote-PAP affair?

We hope authorities will look into this.

Source: Singapore Democratic Party

July 27, 2015
Singapore Refutes Claims That It Blocked Cloud-Seeding Operations In Johor

The Consulate-General of Singapore in Johor Baru has refuted claims that the Republic had refused to allow cloud seeding over two dams in the southern Malaysia state which are experiencing critical water levels.

Malaysian media reports on Thursday cited Johor state public works, rural and regional development chairman Hasni Mohammad as saying that Singapore had refused to allow cloud-seeding operations at Sungai Lebam dam in Kota Tinggi and the Layang dam in Pasir Gudang as the activities would purportedly encroach into Singapore’s territory.

He added that Johor would have to find other alternatives to top up the dams’ water levels following Singapore’s alleged refusal. Both dams supply water to some 760,000 people.

In a statement issued on Friday evening (July 24), the Consulate-General said that Singapore has not been approached recently on cloud-seeding operations.

“Singapore fully supports cloud-seeding efforts in Johor, especially during this dry spell.

“We are surprised by Johor State Exco member Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni bin Haji Mohammad’s claims,” said the Consulate-General in its statement.

“Such claims, including his assertion that this is because such activities are deemed to encroach into Singapore’s territory, are baseless.”

The Consulate-General added that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has always coordinated closely with Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to facilitate various flight activities.

“Both sides have also been working together on projects such as the Johor River Barrage to increase water resources in Johor.

“Singapore has not been approached recently on cloud-seeding operations, whether by DCA or any other Malaysian agencies. If Datuk Hasni has information indicating otherwise, he should share it with Singapore so that we can look into the matter.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 26, 2015