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Category: Sosial

  • Muslim Group Wants Body To Be Set Up To Handle Discrimination Cases

    Muslim Group Wants Body To Be Set Up To Handle Discrimination Cases

    Expressing concern over what seems to be an increase in the number of discriminatory practices against minority races and foreign communities in Singapore, the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) has called for a central body to be formed to resolve, mediate and prevent such incidents.

    The AMP’s board of directors issued a statement on this suggestion on Wednesday (May 4) noting that there is currently no publicly available data tracking such cases or how they are resolved eventually.

    Incidents of discrimination can cause “irreparable tears to our social fabric”, not least when anecdotal reports of cases get circulated on social media, which can “quickly elicit views and reactions that may polarise various segments of our society”, it added.

    AMP’s statement came after a Malay woman said last week she was discriminated against when she applied for a job at PrimaDeli bakery. According to the woman, an employee of the bakery had made racist remarks about Malay people. She added that the employee also asked her if she could speak Chinese because it was how most of the workers communicated.

    The company subsequently sacked the employee responsible for the discriminatory act.

    In response to queries, the AMP said its suggestion was not a direct response to that incident, nor was it only concerned with job-related incidents or cases involving the Malay community here. Rather, it felt that collecting data on such incidents and the consequent reparative actions taken are important for coming up with ways to reduce or eliminate similar incidents.

    Otherwise, when informal accounts of such incidents, which can be outside of job-related matters, such as in education or social interactions, are circulated widely on social media, people may sensationalise the issues and cause polarisation of views, it added.

    AMP suggested that its proposed central body to deal with discrimination matters can comprise stakeholders from the Government, private and independent bodies.

    In the meantime, the Government could also give existing organisations such as the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP), Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) and OnePeople.sg more powers to deal with discriminatory practices and actions.

    “It is critical for the issue of discrimination to be swiftly managed and for preventive strategies to be developed,” AMP said. “This will ensure that the racial and religious harmony we have so carefully preserved over the last five decades will not be disrupted, which may otherwise cause long-term concerns for our society.”

    Responding to TODAY’s queries, TAFEP said the AMP’s proposal stems from a desire to create a more inclusive society, which is “aligned with TAFEP’s mission to promote the adoption of fair, responsible and progressive employment practices”. It said besides educating employers on how to have fair employment practices, it also advises and helps individuals who have encountered workplace discrimination.

     

    Source: TODAY Online

  • Dari ITE, Kini Cemerlang Di Politeknik

    Dari ITE, Kini Cemerlang Di Politeknik

    Beliau pernah menuntut di Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE). Encik Hasbi Basman memberitahu BERITAMediacorp beliau pernah melalui fasa hidup di mana beliau hilang motivasi dalam bidang akademik, kurang keyakinan diri dan pernah gagal sebanyak dua kali.

    Namun hari ini (3 Mei), belia berusia 27 tahun itu, boleh berbangga kerana berjaya dalam pendidikan dan menerima sijil Diploma dalam jurusan Sains Bahan di majlis konvokesyen Politeknik Republik.

    Encik Hasbi Basman bersama ibunya. (Gambar: Hasbi Basman)

    Cerita Encik Hasbi membuktikan bahawa walau apapun permulaan seseorang, dengan sikap yang betul, seseorang boleh menuju ke arah kejayaan.

    Oleh itu, setelah menerima keputusan peperiksaan GCE ‘N’, beliau membuat keputusan untuk meneruskan pengajian ke Nitec Tinggi di ITE Kolej Timur.

    ITE – TITIK PERMULAAN UNTUK TIDAK SIA-SIAKAN PELUANG

    “Saya rasa ITE adalah pilihan terbaik buat saya, untuk saya keluar dari sekolah menengah dan bertukar angin dalam sebuah sekitaran yang baru di ITE,” kata anak kelima daripada enam orang adik beradik itu.

    Encik Hasbi Basman bersama kakak (kiri) dan ibunya (kanan). (Gambar: Hasbi Basman)

    “Keluarga saya juga tidak pernah melarang saya membuat pilihan, kerana saya masih terus melakukan sesuatu dan membuat keputusan untuk masa depan saya. ITE juga seperti batu loncatan buat diri saya,” kongsi Encik Hasbi kepada BERITAMediacorp.

    Malah, ITE merupakan titik permulaan di mana Encik Hasbi benar-benar menanam keinginan untuk tidak mensia-siakan setiap peluang yang ada.

    SUMBER INSPIRASI

    Beliau menambah: “Semasa di ITE, ada seorang teman memberi nasihat kepada saya. Beliau memberitahu saya, jika kita mahu melakukan sesuatu, biarlah ia dilakukan dengan bersungguh-sungguh, supaya apabila kita melihat hasilnya nanti, kita tidak akan ada rasa menyesal dan tahu bahawa kita sudah melakukan yang terbaik.”

    “Beliau juga mengingatkan saya supaya hidup tanpa ada rasa penyesalan dan nasihat itulah yang saya pegang sehingga kini,” tambah Encik Hasbi.

    Bermula saat itu, Encik Hasbi berkata beliau sentiasa melakukan yang terbaik dan akhirnya berjaya diterima masuk ke politeknik.

    Encik Hasbi Basman (berbaju ungu) bersama rakan-rakannya. (Gambar: Politeknik Republik)

    Di politeknik, beliau bukan sahaja berjaya menjulang Diploma Sains Bahan malah segulung sijil pentauliahan industri yang diperolehinya semasa menjalani latihan amali.

    Menurut seorang jurucakap Politeknik Republik Encik Hasbi juga sudahpun menerima tawaran bekerja dengan syarikat Kulicke & Soffa sebagai seorang jurutera bersekutu.

    DARI POLITEKNIK KE DOKTOR PERUBATAN

    Bagi Encik Raziq Ikhmal Abdul Latif pula, setelah menggenggam segulung diploma, beliau kini bercita-cita menjadi seorang doktor perubatan pula.

    Laluan beliau bagaimanapun tidaklah licin.

    Beliau pada awalnya memilih ke maktab rendah. Namun, setelah dua tahun bersekolah di Maktab Rendah Pioneer di Choa Chu Kang, Encik Raziq berasa seolah-olah hilang arah dan tidak serasi dengan cara penyampaian pelajaran di sana.

    Encik Raziq (kiri) bersama profesor dan rakannya. (Gambar: Politeknik Republik)

    “Setelah dua tahun, saya mula sedar bahawa maktab rendah bukan untuk saya. Setiap kali berada dalam kuliah, saya akan berasa mengantuk!” cerita Encik Raziq kepada BERITAMediacorp.

    Dengan prestasi pelajaran yang semakin merosot, guru Encik Raziq menasihatinya supaya mengubah aliran pendidikannya daripada aliran sains kepada aliran sastera.

    “Apabila guru saya sarankan supaya saya bertukar aliran. Dengan tegas saya katakan tidak. Sasaran saya adalah untuk memasuki bidang perubatan, malah saya juga menanam aspirasi untuk menjadi seorang ahli sains. Jadi, tidak kira apa yang berlaku, saya tetap dengan pendirian saya,” tegas Encik Raziq.

    YAKIN DENGAN KEPUTUSAN YANG DIBUAT

    Setelah mendapat tahu daripada rakan-rakannya bahawa beliau boleh meneruskan minat dalam bidang perubatan di politeknik, Encik Raziq memutuskan untuk berpindah ke politeknik.

    Apabila ditanya wartawan sama ada keputusannya itu diterima oleh ibu bapanya, beliau berkata: “Ibu saya serahkan keputusan kepada saya, beliau hanya mahu saya pasti dengan keputusan yang saya buat.”

    Encik Raziq bersama ibu bapa (kiri) dan mentornta (kanan). (Gambar: Raziq Ikhmal)

    Ternyata keputusan yang dibuat Encik Raziq tidak sia-sia kerana beliau cemerlang di politeknik dan mendapat Purata Mata Gred (GPA) sempurna iaitu 4.0! Beliau juga berada dalam Senarai Cemerlang Pengarah dan menerima hadiah pada tahun 2013 dan 2014.

    Encik Raziq Ikhmal. (Gambar: Raziq Ikhmal)

    Encik Raziq kini menanti keputusan permohonannya untuk meneruskan pengajian di Fakulti Perubatan di Universiti Nasional Singapura.

    LEBIH 4,700 LULUSAN RP TERIMA SIJIL

    Encik Hasbi dan Encik Raziq ialah antara 4,726 lulusan Politeknik Republik yang menerima sijil tamat pengajian mereka hari ini.

    4,614 daripada mereka adalah penuntut Latihan Pra Pekerjaan (PET) dan lagi 112 merupakan penuntut dewasa yang mengikuti Latihan Pendidikan Berterusan (CET) sejak ia mula diperkenalkan pada tahun 2002.

    Mereka adalah kohort lulusan Politeknik Republik paling besar sejauh ini.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • CPF Board’s Inconsistency On Naming Convention Unnecessarily Penalises Public

    CPF Board’s Inconsistency On Naming Convention Unnecessarily Penalises Public

    Dear CPF Board

    When my late Dad passed away in 2014, u sent me a notification on the arrangements of his $$$.

    My online claim was rejected and delayed by months just because i submitted my name wf a BINTE instead of BTE as in NRIC. When i made the necessary call to explain that BINTE is also BTE, yr officer insisted that all legal issues shd be as in NRIC. Ok fine….

    My eldest girl who has just started teaching, earned her 1st CPF recently. I am asking you now. Why on earth is her name spelt just as “S Aniqah Bt Z Ariffin”? Shouldnt her name be “Syafiah Aniqah Binte Zainal Ariffin” as in her LEGAL SINGAPORE NRIC???

    What made u right to change her name?? I believe most Sporeans know Bte=Binte BUT nobody will know what that S meant for my girl’s name!!
    S=Siti? S=Sharifah? S=Sexy?
    Her BT= Bukit Timah?
    Z=Zorro?

    Pls do not gv a template reply that my girl’s name is too long. I have checked wf a Chinese fren bfr i put this up. Her name is “H******** A*** K*** W**** and u have it perfectly fine.

    Do u change a “Tan Ah Teck” into a “T Ah Teck” ??? T=T-rex? T=Transformers?

    I am verrrrrry upset that the Board is doing this cos i painfully rmmbr how it was when you all made me apply all over again fr my late Dad’s CPF thingy.

    What will my girl go thru in future if i choose to keep mum abt this now?? Wouldn she face a prob to claim $$$ when im gone??

    Who are you all to change her name as in NRIC when it comes to legal issues?? We are NOT talking abt a nickname in FB or what.. we are talking abt HER MONEY deducted fm her salary !! It is HER rights !!

    If you think this is a petty issue, look back into yr files on how you rejected my name when BINTE was written instead of BTE… NOW, my girl’s name is TOTALLY changed..

    See you when i step in your office. You’re wasting anthr day of my leave just like when you all did last year..

    Siti Norsheila BTE Mohamed
    (As in NRIC)

     

    Source: Sheila Zack

  • Dear Nit-Picking Auntie At Masjid…

    Dear Nit-Picking Auntie At Masjid…

     

     

    Dear Nit-Picking Auntie at the Masjid,

    You look so polished and put together in your simple, neutral-colored abaya, huge beige hijab, and thick socks, with your makeup-free fresh face. You are a perfect Muslim woman, I get it. What I don’t get is how you nit-pick and shame Muslim girls, your sisters.

    I saw you telling Joanna how her prayer wasn’t accepted because she was wearing skinny jeans. Mind you, she just reverted last month, and your comment made her cry, and wonder if this was the religion for her.

    I overheard you telling Halimah how God will not accept her supplications because she had nail polish on. Did you ever think that maybe today was the day Halimah decided she would start praying again, and that comment would discourage her from her prayers again?

    I saw you eyeing Kareema’s turban hijab, and giving her a nasty look. Did you perhaps know that Kareema has been struggling to keep the hijab on and decided she will not de-veil, but rather wear a turban style instead?

    I saw you giggling with your other perfect auntie best friend about how Kawthar always wears second-hand clothing, often with holes in her socks and stains on her pants. Did you know Kawthar is a single mother struggling to make ends meet and care for her three kids?

    I overheard you telling Suha how it’s absolutely haraam (forbidden) to show her feet, and how she should wear socks not only while praying, but also when going out. You probably didn’t know that for Suha, keeping her prayers is a daily struggle, and she has been skipping prayers often.

    THAT TYPE OF NEGATIVITY DOESN’T HELP HER–OR ANYONE ELSE–BECOME A BETTER MUSLIM.

    I heard you scolding at Tanya about how she must pray her sunnah, and how it’s incorrect to place her elbows on the ground while making sujood. Tanya grew up in a non-practicing Muslim household, and all she needs is a kind, gentle Muslim mentor to help her rediscover her religion.

    THE QURAN EVEN SAYS, “GOD DESIRES EASE FOR YOU, AND DESIRES NOT HARDSHIP.”  (2:185)  IN THE QURAN, THE PROPHET HIMSELF (PBUH) WAS ADVISED BY GOD TO MAKE THINGS EASY FOR PEOPLE:  “IT IS PART OF THE MERCY OF ALLAH THAT YOU DEAL GENTLY WITH THEM IF YOU WERE SEVERE OR HARDHEARTED, THEY WOULD HAVE BROKEN AWAY FROM YOU.” (3: 159)  MANY TIMES, THE PROPHET HAS COMMENTED ON THE FACT RELIGION SHOULD BE EASY, SAYING “FACILITATE [RELIGIOUS MATTERS TO PEOPLE] AND DO NOT MAKE [THINGS] DIFFICULT. OBEY EACH OTHER AND DO NOT DIFFER [AMONGST YOURSELVES],” AND “RELIGION IS EASY.”

    Dear Auntie, maybe your intentions are good sometimes. Maybe you feel obliged to correct something you see that’s wrong, or maybe you think that since you have studied Islam for for a while that you are above some people, or have more knowledge than them.  And maybe you do! But what you don’t know are the struggles these ladies face on a daily basis. You don’t know what’s going on in their lives, spiritually or personally. Maybe that one negative comment will make that sweet girl not want to come to the masjid again. Maybe it will make her think “Wow this religion has way too many rules, and I can’t keep up.”

    I’m all for giving well-intentioned advice, but it helps if:

    1) You know the person, and you have actually talked with her before.

    2) Nobody else is around you two when you give the advice, so that you don’t embarrass her.

    3) That it’s actually correct advice, and not just a cultural interpretation of religion.

    4) That you have given that sister 70 excuses.  As one of the great early Muslims, Hamdun al-Qassar said, “If a friend among your friends errs, make seventy excuses for them. If your hearts are unable to do this, then know that the shortcoming is in your own selves.” [Imam Bayhaqi, Shu`ab al-Iman, 7.522]

    5) You are being kind and gentle; not condescending with your tone.

    6) You understand that the masjid should be an inclusive place for all people, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, spiritual level, culture, and race.

    Dear Auntie, instead of all the nit-picking, why not focus on your own relationship with God, and make duaa for yourself and for others around you?

    Thank you for understanding, Auntie.

    Love and peace,

    a Muslim Girl

     

    Source: http://muslimgirl.com

  • Bangladeshi Workers Here Condemn Countrymen, Fear For Future

    Bangladeshi Workers Here Condemn Countrymen, Fear For Future

    Bangladeshi migrant workers who spoke to TODAY condemned the actions of their countrymen who are suspected terrorists, with some worrying that this may affect their standing here in Singapore.

    Eight Bangladeshi nationals were detained last month under the Internal Security Act after they were found to have been planning to return to their home country to carry out terror attacks and establish an Islamic state branch, while working here in Singapore. This is the second reported incident in five months involving Bangladeshis — last November to December, 27 Bangladeshi workers were detained and repatriated on similar charges.

    When TODAY approached the Bangladeshi community here, some expressed their concerns, or said they would flag suspicious activities.

    Construction worker Robel Miah, 27, is “scared” that it would not be so easy to re-enter Singapore for work if this keeps up. “If people come here to make problems, then the next time, it’ll be difficult for me to come back here and work,” he said.

    Another view is that with these developments, the community has to be more pro-active to protect their livelihoods. Mr Majedur Kamrul Hasan, 21, an office administrator at a construction firm, said: “If (the suspects) had managed to do what they wanted to do, it would have harmed so many people. If I see something like this happen… I will definitely inform the police… If not, the police may think that I am one of them… and I will also be punished.”

    Construction worker Ali Mohd Yasin, 44, who has worked in Singapore for more than seven years, said those who align themselves with terror groups make Bangladesh “look bad”.

    “We are lucky to be here in Singapore … You should just work, makan (eat), sleep and sembahyang (pray) … Terrorism is no good. Islam also doesn’t support any terrorism,” he said, adding that he would inform the police if he knows of any suspicious acts.

    Construction worker Mohammad Assad, who arrived here just a week ago, was surprised by the news. “They have already caused some trouble in Bangladesh and now they are here, too,” the 25-year-old said.

    Mr Majedur, who stays at a temporary dormitory in Tai Seng, believes that integration will be a challenge. “I don’t know how Singaporeans see us, since we work all the time and don’t meet them. There is no time to go out. I will only go to the market (here in Little India), and even if we go out, we will be with our Bangladeshi friends,” he said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com