Category: Sosial

Kenapa Tidak Ada Kecaman Keatas Serangan di Istanbul Sama Seperti Kecaman Serangan di Eropah Barat?

After the senseless attacks in Turkey, i have been waiting for the usual suspects to issue their strong condemnations: either through the mainstream media or on their own social media platforms. Unfortunately, though unsurprisingly, i am still waiting.

I really wonder whether these people realize how this looks: are you really saying that the lives of non-White people don’t matter? Or is it Muslim lives specifically that have less or no value?

Do they have to issue condemnations and express public sadness when attacks occur in the West, because they need to ‘prove’ to others that they are ‘moderate’ Muslims, and such a need is not present when the victims are Muslims themselves?

More importantly, this is a good time to discuss the real motivations, issues and complexities surrounding terrorism. Since the victims are not white, talking about the causes of terrorism would definitely not attract the criticism we are familiar with, otherwise: that doing so would be ‘cheapening the lives of the victims’.

So we should not miss this opportunity. Yes, religious extremism is a problem. But let’s not be lazy and reduce the issue to ‘whoever does not wish Merry Christmas is an extremist’, and instead, deal with the issues of grievances about foreign policy, discrimination, lack of trust in authority (political and religious), the occupation of Iraq (which happened almost exactly 13 years ago to this day), the military-industrial complex, socio-economic disenfranchisement, and have an honest conversation about these matters. If we are really interested in solving the problem.

But if we are just interested in scoring points with others or in ‘proving’ ourselves, sure, let’s just continue to ‘condemn’ terrorism (selectively), blame religious extremism, and then lament when the problem still exists: basically, do the same things and then express surprise or outrage when the outcome is not different.

Source: Walid J Abdullah

March 21, 2016
Pekerja Lapangan Terbang Changi Jujur, Pulangkan $10,000

TUGAS beliau sebagai pegawai perkhidmatan troli di Lapangan Terbang Changi memerlukan Encik Wahid Said mengumpul dan meletakan semula troli bagasi ke tempat asal setelah digunakan penumpang.

Jarang sekali perkara luar biasa yang berlaku dalam beliau menjalankan tugas sehari-hari.

Namun, sedang beliau melakukan kerjanya pada suatu hari Januari tahun lalu, Encik Wahid, 71 tahun, terkejut melihat sebuah dompet di atas sebuah troli di luar ruang ketibaan di Terminal 1.

“Saya terkejut, gementar pun ada,” katanya.

Tanpa berlengah, beliau langsung bergegas ke Jabatan Lost and Found atau Hilang dan Tuntut semula.

Perasaan gementar Encik Wahid itu semakin bertambah apabila menyedari dompet itu mengandung wang tunai AUS$10,000 ($10,300).

Atas kejujurannya itu, Encik Wahid, yang telah bekerja selama dua tahun di Lapangan Terbang Changi, menerima Anugerah Kakitangan Jagaan Cemerlang (Emas).

Anugerah tersebut lazimnya diberikan kepada kakitangan lebih mapan, namun Encik Wahid, datuk seorang cucu itu, menerimanya atas kejujuran beliau selain sikap kerjanya yang baik.

Beliau antara 18 individu yang menerima anugerah dalam satu majlis baru-baru ini.

Majlis tersebut dihadiri Menteri Pengangkutan Encik Khaw Boon Wan.

Menurut Encik Wahid, beliau begitu gembira apabila diberitahu bahawa dompet itu dapat dikembalikan kepada pemiliknya, seorang warga Australia.

Warga Australia itu telah mengirimkan e-mel kepada Lapangan Terbang Changi meminta mereka menyampaikan ucapan terima kasihnya kepada Encik Wahid.

“Itu bukan barang saya dan memang salah jika saya mengambilnya. Saya memahami keadaan penumpang di sini yang kadangkala kelam kabut ataupun terlalu penat selepas menaiki penerbangan yang berjam-jam lamanya dan disebabkan itu, mereka jadi cuai,” ujar Encik Wahid.

Ditanya mengenai cabaran pekerjaan yang beliau lakukan, Encik Wahid berkata ia tidak semudah yang dianggap ramai.

Menurutnya, beliau harus mengumpul dan menolak troli yang berat dengan cepat bagi memenuhi keperluan penumpang di antara lapangan terbang paling sibuk di dunia itu.

“Dengan usia saya yang lanjut, kadangkala mencabar juga.

“Tapi saya tidak keberatan bertugas sebagai seorang pegawai khidmat troli dan berasa gembira dan bangga kerana masih boleh berkhidmat dan menyumbang.”

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

March 17, 2016
SAF – Integrating The Newcomers

How has National Service (NS) — which has been described as a social glue — brought new citizens and permanent residents closer to Singaporeans, and shaped their lives? PIONEER speaks to three to find out.

2LT Scott Alexander
Permanent Resident / Country of origin: United Kingdom

How come angmo (Hokkien for Caucasian) need to do NS? This is a question that 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Alexander often gets from taxi drivers.

The 20-year-old London-born is a second-generation Permanent Resident (PR) who came to Singapore as a toddler. His father and mother are PRs working here.

Despite growing up in Singapore, he did not interact much with the locals, having studied in an international school since Primary 3. Imagine the kind of culture shock he had when he enlisted for NS in 2014!

“Obviously I was very nervous,” he recalled. “It was a big culture shock, but in a good way. I’ve met people from all over Singapore, from all different walks of life.”

For 2LT Alexander, NS has helped to build his character. The most challenging experience for him so far was the nine-day Jungle Confidence Course where he had to survive on just two days’ worth of combat rations. “I’d never felt so hungry before,” he recalled. “But it helped to build my mental strength. I learnt that if I set my mind on something, I can do it.”

Now a staff officer in the Training and Development Branch, Officer Cadet School, he cherishes the special bonds and friendships that he has developed in the Army.

“I feel that NS has brought me closer to Singaporeans. It is a common ground for everyone. No matter if you are a junior college or polytechnic student, or from any background, everybody serves two years,” said 2LT Alexander, who hopes to get his citizenship in the near future.

“If you run out of conversation topics at a dinner table, you always have NS to fall back on — the times you had to crawl in the mud and dig trenches.”

CFC Anuraj Rajesh
New Citizen / Country of origin: India

When Corporal First Class (CFC) Anuraj enlisted for NS in 2014, he got to know a different world — one that was markedly different from the one he grew up in.

The 20-year-old comes from a well-off family, and studied in the United World College of Southeast Asia, an international school. In contrast, one of his section mates had to juggle work and studies in order to support his family. Another was already a father of a baby.

Living and training with them enabled him to understand the struggles of people of different backgrounds. “In NS, they put you right in the middle of it. You start to understand and appreciate the hardship that others go through,” said CFC Anuraj, who came to Singapore at the age of four, and became a citizen in 2013.

On one occasion, CFC Anuraj, an assistant investigation officer in the Military Police Command, escorted a drug offender for a house search.

Upon entering the house, the offender collapsed to his knees and apologised to his mother for what he had done. She was crestfallen to see him in handcuffs, but there was no scolding — just tears and hugs from mother and son. “I couldn’t show my emotions as I needed to remain professional, but I was tearing inside,” he recalled.

Part of his job requires him to assure the accused that they have a future if they learn from their mistakes. “My biggest takeaway from NS is having the chance to understand the different backgrounds that people come from, and being able to make an effort to help them in any way possible,” he said.

LTA Tee Chze Hao
New Citizen / Country of origin: Malaysia

During his Full-time NS, booking out from camp meant a long journey across the Causeway. Lieutenant (LTA) Tee was then a second-generation PR, but resided in Johor Bahru. His Malaysian parents are PRs who have been working in Singapore for decades.

“The journey didn’t bother me. I see meaning in NS. This country has given so much to me, it is only natural that I serve,” said the 26-year-old, who graduated from the National University of Singapore last year.

He came to Singapore to study when he was in Secondary 3. So when he enlisted in 2009, LTA Tee did not have any problem integrating with the locals. He was clueless about the Army though. “I was very focused on my studies and didn’t know much about what’s Basic Military Training or command school.”

However, the Army is where he found his calling. LTA Tee excelled in the School of Infantry Specialists (now Specialist Cadet School), and received the Silver Bayonet. He also received the NSF of the Year award in 2011 when he was a platoon sergeant in 4th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (4 SIR).

After getting his citizenship in 2012, he became a career soldier. He was commissioned earlier this January, and received the Sword of Honour for being the top officer cadet in the Infantry Formation.

One of his reasons for signing on was so that he could make an impact on the lives of others. He broke into a wide smile when he shared stories about how some of his former 4 SIR soldiers — delinquents with troubled pasts — went on to become better sons, and husbands, with successful careers.

“That’s what we, as commanders, want to see. These are examples that make us feel that we have done a good job,” said the Company 2nd-In-Command in 5 SIR.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg

March 17, 2016
Gaza Ibarat ‘Penjara Terbuka’, Dibelenggu Masalah Kemiskinan Dan Pengangguran

SEMENANJUNG GAZA: Tahun lalu, laporan PBB meramalkan bahawa Semenanjung Gaza akan menjadi ‘tidak boleh didiami” pada tahun 2020.

Ibarat ‘penjara terbuka’, Gaza dibelenggu dengan kemiskinan dan masalah pengangguran.

Bagi golongan muda di Gaza, akibat kekurangan peluang, satu-satunya penyelesaian adalah dengan meninggalkan tanah air mereka.

Dua tahun lalu, Mohammed Abu Hassira mengalami kecederaan di kakinya dalam pertempuran dengan Israel.

Walaupun peperangan berakhir dan kecederaannya semakin pulih, namun, luka dari segi psikologi masih nyata.

Kesannya- beliau mengambil keputusan untuk meninggalkan tanah air dan memulakan perjalanan yang berliku menuju ke Eropah.

Mohammed berkata ada rakan-rakannya yang sampai ke Sweden, Norway dan Belgium melalui jalan laut dan darat.

Tahun lalu, Mohammed memohon untuk mendapatkan visa untuk ke Turki.

Seperti kebanyakan warga Gaza, permohonannya gagal.

Untuk diluluskan, ia memerlukan pasport Palestin, bukti pekerjaan dan $500 dalam akaun bank.

Syarat-syarat itu adalah di luar jangkauan kebanyakan warga Gaza. Namun, Mohammed tidak putus asa dan mencuba satu lagi jalan.

Beliau terpaksa beratur di sebuah pejabat pelancongan memandangkan tiada kedutaan di Gaza.

Pejabat seperti itu menjadi pengantara antara mereka yang mahu meninggalkan Gaza dan mereka yang mahu mendapatkan visa untuk ke negara lain.

Menurut seorang penyelidik, separuh dari penduduk Gaza mahu berhijrah dan tidak hairanlah jumlah ini semakin meningkat.

Namun, seorang pegawai tinggi Hamas menolak kenyataan itu dan berkata penghijrahan bukan penyelesaian kepada perjuangan rakyat Palestin.

Ternyata, realitinya berbeza. Bagi kebanyakan warga Gaza, satu-satunya pilihan adalah untuk melarikan diri dari negeri sendiri.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

March 17, 2016
Al-Habib Syed Alwi Bin Muhammad Alhabshi Meninggal Dunia

Assalamualaikum. Dengan dukacita, saya sampaikan berita Al-Habib Syed Alwi bin Muhammad Alhabshi baru saja meninggal dunia. Moga dia ditempatkan dengan orang-orang yang beriman dan tergolong dalam golongan orang-orang yang soleh. Al-fatihah.

Jenazahnya akan dimandikan pukul 8 pagi di address berikut. Tempat di mana akan solat jenazah mungkin di rumah atau di masjid sultan. Solat Janazah will be at 10-1030am at Masjid Sultan

Address rumahnya:
Blk 143 lorong 2 Toa Payoh #03-186
Spore 310143

Source: Shafiq Bublé

March 17, 2016