Category: Sosial

Thai Woman Charged With Royal Slur After Mob Action

Thai police on Sunday (Oct 16) charged a woman with royal defamation after a mob demanded action over a Facebook post allegedly smearing the “heir and regent”, as the country mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Thailand has one of the world’s harshest lese majeste laws, with jail terms of up to 15 years for each count of defaming or insulting the king, queen, heir or regent.

The woman, who has not been named, was accused of posting a derogatory statement on Facebook on Friday, according to Thewes Pleumsud of Bo Pud police in the southeastern island of Koh Samui.

“She did not post against the late King — it involved the heir and the regent,” he said, referring to Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, and the 96-year-old Prem Tinsulanonda who in a surprise move became temporary regent on Friday.

He declined to give further details since doing so could violate the catch-all law.

Mr Prem, a former prime minister and Bhumibol’s Privy Council head, will act as regent until the Crown Prince formally ascends the throne.

An angry mob descended on Bo Pud police station on Sunday demanding the woman be charged.

The crowd hurled insults at the woman, according to videos widely shared on Facebook.

Police said she was charged and then publicly prostrated herself in apology before a portrait of the king, who died on Thursday aged 88 — prompting a wave of grief across the nation.

Two other similar cases since the king’s death — in which angry crowds urged punishment for alleged royal defamation on social media — have raised fears of mob action.

Domestic and foreign media outlets based in the country routinely self-censor to avoid falling foul of the broadly worded law, while social opprobrium follows those perceived to have overstepped the mark.

Critics say the law — known as ‘112’ after its criminal code — has encouraged witch hunts by the public, with police and courts obliged to investigate all accusations.

The law prevents all but the most cursory public discussion of Thailand’s monarchy, or reporting or debate on the issue.

Cases have surged since royalist generals ousted a civilian government from power in 2014.

The generals have vowed to defend the monarchy from criticism. But analysts say the law has overwhelmingly been used to skewer their political rivals.

A number of people with mental health problems have also been prosecuted.

Cyber patrol teams trawl the internet for royal insults, while self-appointed ultra-royalist civilian groups also monitor the web and report violations.

Source: TODAY Online

October 17, 2016
Kebakaran Jurong West: Kerja Robohkan Pasar Bermula Seawal Minggu Depan

Kerja-kerja merobohkan pasar Jurong West yang baru-baru ini hangus dijilat api, akan bermula seawal minggu depan.

Ini menyusuli dapatan profesional yang menunjukkan pasar tersebut tidak boleh dibaiki semula. Usaha juga sedang dipertingkat bagi membantu para pegerai terjejas.

Buat pertama kali berikutan kebakaran pada Selasa lalu (11 Okt), para pegerai terjejas dibenarkan melihat sendiri keadaan gerai-gerai mereka. Menurut laporan Profesional Jurutera, kebakaran itu meninggalkan kesan amat teruk.

Salah satu pilihan disediakan bagi para pegerai adalah berpindah kepada gerai kosong, namun hanya seperempat daripada mereka menyuarakan keiinginan untuk berbuat demikian.

Bagi mereka yang tidak mahu berpindah, satu pameran pekerjaan juga akan dianjurkan pada penghujung bulan ini.

Satu lagi masalah yang dialami para penduduk berdekatan adalah bau busuk dari makanan yang tertinggal di pasar tersebut. Ini meskipun Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan (HDB) dan Agensi Sekitaran Kebangsaan (NEA) menjalankan kerja-kerja pembersihan setiap hari bagi menghilangkan bau.

Seorang pegerai yang terjejas, Johari Dali, berkata: “Saya sudah berkecimpung dalam perniagaan ini sudah lebih 22 tahun. Jadi, walaupun rasa sedih, satu saya cuma berharap ada badan-badan atau pihak-pihak yang dapat membantu kami, seperti saya, saya terpaksa hendak tanggung anak saya, isteri saya, dan orang tua yang sedang sakit.

“Jadi, saya berharap sangat pihak tertentu dapat selesaikan perkara ini lebih cepat untuk saya teruskan hidup.”

Source: Berita MediaCorp

October 17, 2016
Bahas: Masyarakat Islam Tidak Proaktif Tentang Radikalisme

Masyarakat Islam di Singapura tidak proaktif dalam menentang radikalisme.

Inilah mauduk peringkat akhir satu pertandingan bahas yang dianjurkan siang tadi (15 Okt).

Pertandingan tahunan itu dianjurkan oleh cabang belia Persatuan Darul Arqam.

Ia bertujuan untuk menyediakan satu wadah bagi perbincangan secara mendalam di kalangan belia.

Para mahasiswa dari Universiti Nasional Singapura (NUS) membentuk pasukan pencadang.

Mereka membentangkan hujah bahawa masyarakat Islam bersikap reaktif dan bukan proaktif dalam menangani radikalisme.

Satu sebab utama adalah, masyarakat tidak melibatkan diri dalam perbincangan secara mendalam tentang isu tersebut.

Oleh itu, mereka tidak mempunyai pemahaman yang baik mengenainya.

Namun pasukan pembangkang dari Politeknik Ngee Ann menyangkal hujah-hujah tersebut.

Menurut mereka, masyarakat Islam sudah melaksanakan pelbagai inisiatif untuk menangani radikalisme.

Satu contoh adalah semakan ke atas Skim Pengiktirafan Asatizah, untuk memastikan masyarakat Islam menerima pendidikan Islam yang betul.

Di akhir pertandingan, pasukan NUS muncul sebagai juara.

“Saya rasa kami mungkin akan berbincang tentang topik ini dalam kumpulan masing-masing, di setiap institusi masing-masing tetapi tidak ada satu wadah yang kami boleh gunakan untuk berbincang di antara kumpulan-kumpulan dan institusi masing-masing,” pembahas NUS, Aaeshah Ng memberitahu BERITAMediacorp.

Sejajar dengan itu, tetamu terhormat Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Dalam Negeri Amrin Amin berkata meskipun bahas sudah berakhir, para belia patut terus membincangkan tentang isu radikalisme.

“Saya menjemput anak-anak muda kita untuk menyahut cabaran ini dan sama-sama berbual dan memikirkan apakah langkah-langkah yang boleh diambil, apakah kegiatan yang boleh dianjurkan untuk kita sama-sama menangani masalah ini,” kata Encik Amrin.

Beliau juga menekankan bukan setakat perbahasan idea, masyarakat Islam juga katanya perlu menunjukkan apa yang mereka maksudkan melalui perbuatan dan tindakan.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

October 16, 2016
Owners Of T Bob’s Corner Donating Some Earnings To Help Autistic 11 Year Old Boy

The owners of a Western food restaurant are donating part of its proceeds to help an 11-year-old boy who has autism.

Miss Nurul Jannah Saharuddin, 23, and Miss Indah Nabielah Zulkarnain, 24, who run T Bob’s Corner in Bedok, are giving up 30 per cent of the eatery’s takings from Oct 18 to 23 to help the boy, Akid, after hearing about his plight from a musician who performed at their restaurant recently.

Earlier this year, The New Paper reported on how Akid had become more aggressive and violent because of his condition. (See report below.)

The women bought over the business at Block 527, Bedok North Street 3, two months ago with the help of their fathers.

Miss Indah said that donating a sizeable chunk of their week-long revenue would hit their take-home income, but both of them shrugged it off.

Miss Jannah told The New Paper: “We thought 30 per cent was a good number. If you want to help, it has to be a substantial amount, even if it hurts a little.”

Miss Indah said: “Well, businesses come with risks, right?”

Miss Indah Nabielah Zulkarnain TNP PHOTOS: AHMAD FARUQ ROZALI

Only their income will be affected as their staff of two chefs and three part-time waiters will continue to draw their full wages.

Miss Jannah, an RMIT University business management graduate, said: “It would demoralise them otherwise. So we both decided we would make the sacrifice so Akid can benefit from it.”

They estimate that they will lose about 15 to 20 per cent of their take-home income for that week.

It’s their way of giving back, they said.

VOLUNTEER WORK

Miss Indah, a life sciences graduate, became involved in fund-raising activities while studying at the National University of Singapore.

Her experience in volunteering at an orphanage in Indonesia five years ago also played a part in making her want to help Akid.

“Five years later, the children (at the orphanage) are still messaging me on Facebook, asking me when I’m returning to visit. The fact that these kids remember us means that they treasure every little bit we do, even if we didn’t do much,” she said.

Agreeing, Miss Jannah said: “My parents told me, ‘You don’t need money to be nice’.

“(Indah) didn’t have to fork out a million dollars to have the kids remember her. It’s just the things we do that matter.”

Miss Jannah’s path to volunteering was more personal.

A decade ago, she was a beneficiary of a South East Community Development Programme financial aid programme.

Her mother, who has fought thyroid cancer for close to two decades, was also a source of inspiration.

“She never saw her condition as something to hold her back. She still gave back by volunteering on weekends,” Miss Jannah said.

She plans to ask her musician father, Mr Saharuddin Jalil, to invite some bands to perform at the restaurant next week in the hope of attracting more customers.

Asked if they are worried about coping with the expected crowd, Miss Indah said with a smile: “That will be a good problem.”

Source: www.tnp.sg

October 16, 2016
PERGAS Suarakan Keprihatian Berkenaan Perjudian Online

Persatuan Ulama dan Guru-Guru Agama Singapura (Pergas) menyuarakan keprihatinan ke atas perjudian online yang diluluskan pemerintah baru-baru ini dan kesan-kesan negatif kegiatan tersebut terhadap rakyat Singapura, tidak mengira latar-belakang agama mereka.

Pergas bagaimanapun menyatakan, ia memahami, langkah pemerintah meluluskan perjudian online adalah untuk mengawal kegiatan itu dan juga perjudian secara haram.

Pergas menyuarakan demikian dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini (15 Okt), menyusuli laporan-laporan media pada 30 September 2016, berhubung langkah Kementerian Ehwal Dalam Negeri (MHA) meluluskan permohonan oleh Singapore Pools dan Singapore Turf Club (STC) untuk mengecualikan perjudian online daripada Akta Perjudian Terpencil (RGA).

Laporan-laporan tersebut juga menyatakan bahawa jika dua pengendali perjudian didapati melanggar syarat-syarat tertentu, ia boleh didenda sehingga $1 juta bagi setiap syarat yang tidak dipatuhi.

Pergas menyatakan, sebagai sebuah pertubuhan yang bertanggungjawab membentuk kepimpinan agama, menjadi tugas Pergas untuk menyediakan panduan dari sudut agama buat masyarakat Islam.

Oleh itu, Pergas bertegas bahawa tidak ada tolak ansur dalam hal-hal berkaitan perjudian dan kegiatan itu jelas mendatangkan kesan-kesan negatif terhadap individu yang terlibat serta masyarakat.

Memandang ke hadapan, Pergas mengingatkan masyarakat Islam supaya menjauhkan diri daripada terlibat dengan sebarang kegiatan perjudian, yang dilarang agama Islam.

Mereka juga perlu menahan diri daripada mengambil bahagian dalam sebarang kegiatan sedemikian kerana ia menjadi lebih mudah setelah perjudian online diluluskan.

Pergas menambah, menerusi semangat menasihati antara satu sama lain untuk melakukan amalan-amalan yang baik serta menyebarkan kebenaran, ia dapat membantu mengingatkan masyarakat supaya menjauhi perjudian dan juga pengaruh-pengaruh negatif lain.

Semalam (14 Okt), menerusi khutbah Jumaat di masjid-masjid Singapura, masyarakat Islam turut diingatkan supaya menjauhi tabiat berjudi serta kesan-kesan buruk yang bukan sahaja menjejas individu yang terlibat secara langsung, malah anggota keluarga mereka.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

October 16, 2016