Category: Sosial

Only PAP-Approved Version Of Islam Allowed In Singapore?

When PAP Minister Masagos Zulkifli made his comment about the hijab ban and gay sex, there was another issue that he mentioned that probably has a much larger repercussion..

Masagos stated that Islam in Singapura should be practiced according to local context.

On the surface, it does not look that harmful.

It supposes differences in context for Muslims living in different parts of the world and at different times..

Many assume he simply meant that Muslims should take our local context into account.

But that was not all he said.

Masagos’ comment was in relation to the PAP government’s decision on the type of Muslim speakers they allow into Singapura..

It is about the type of Islam the PAP allows to be practiced.

In discussing the ban on Muslim scholars who believe Muslims should not wish others on their religious holidays..

Masagos argued that these scholars did not take “into account the teachings of our religious scholars that allows it, and they reject our religious scholars – this is very dangerous.”.

But his assertion that we should take into account the teachings of local scholars (as though all our local scholars allows it)…

betrays the fact that there is a difference of opinions among the local scholars.

PERGAS wrote in their irsyad that the difference of opinion is valid and that this difference should be respected.

How can he accuse the Ulama as though they are behind the decision to ban these speakers when these Ulama stated they accept the difference of opinions?

And the ulama do not have the ability to deny anyone entry.

That ability rests with the PAP government.

The decision to deny entry was not made by the Ulama.

That decision was made by the PAP government.

The PAP government decides on the types of Muslim scholars allowed to enter Singapura based on the type of Islam they allow.

The “Islam according to local context”…has nothing to do with referring to our local scholars.

It is about referring to the PAP.

Masagos’ statement is about creating a version of Islam…

Created and approved by the PAP.

Source: Almakhazin SG

February 15, 2016
MOE: SDP’s Request To Conduct Socio-Political Talks In School Rejected

The Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) request to conduct talks in schools to engage youth on socio-political issues has been has been turned down by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Responding to TODAY’s queries, an MOE spokesperson said today (Feb 12): “We cannot allow it because schools are neutral places for learning and not platforms for partisan politics.”

On Feb 2, the SDP had said in a press statement that the party will “approach our schools and educational institutions to initiate a conversation with our youth on national issues that concern them and their future”.

Titled “Foster, Forge, Future: Conversations With Our Youth”, the initiative was “aimed at bringing politics and policy-making closer to our students, challenging them to engage in thoughtful analysis on issues facing Singapore”.

In the statement, the party said that “exposure to alternative points of view is essential”, if the “goal is to cultivate independent thinking” among students”.

“And if the objective is to foster creative thought, injecting open-minded enquiry into the educational system is necessary,” they added. The party said they would write to the MOE as well as secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics and universities with the request.

Two days later, the party said in a post on its website it had been rejected by the MOE, and that the ministry had said schools are neutral places for learning. While the party was “gratified” by this, it said it was puzzled that “history textbooks approved by the MOE for secondary school students are so partisan”.

According to the SDP, one textbook stated that the late David Marshall, Singapore’s first Chief Minister and founder of the Workers’ Party, was a “weak and indecisive leader”, and that opposition politician Lim Chin Siong “adopted violent strategies through riots and street demonstrations”, among other things.

It also cited some questions and answers from a self-study revision book for Secondary 2 students “based on the new syllabus by Ministry of Education”, to highlight its point about history textbooks being partisan.

In its reply, the MOE said that the textbook segments quoted by the SDP in its post “are not from a MOE history textbook”, while the self-study revision book in question is not endorsed by them.

Source: www.todayonline.com

February 13, 2016
Mohd Khair: S377A Not Appropriate Bargaining Chip For Tudung Issue

By the way, the gay or lgbt issue in Singapore is a concern NOT only of the Muslim community. It is also a matter of concern among Christians, Catholics and other groups.

In fact, way before Muslims in Singapore made their concerns more public, the Christians and Catholics have been more vocal on the issue. So, as a Muslim, I’m not sure how the tudung issue has now become part of the bargaining chip to ward off lgbt pressures to scrap Section 377A of the Penal Code in Singapore.

I can’t understand the logic of the argument that by allowing Muslim women to don the tudung, the government will also be obliged to scrap Section 377A of the Penal Code.

All the while I thought the reason as to why the Government is not willing to do away with Section 377A is due to the fact that the MAJORITY of Singaporeans are still very conservative. Hence, it is surprising that tudung is now implicated.

Source: Mohd Khair

February 12, 2016
Meet Sharifah Nadirah Syed Ali – A SportCares ChangeMaker

If Sharifah Nadirah Syed Ali was nervous being interviewed onstage at the President’s Challenge 2015 Appreciation Night at Istana, the feisty 19 year-old didn’t blink an eye.

Sharifah, a SportCares ChangeMaker, issued a poignant call to action to the audience. “Not everyone is as lucky as we are,” said the final-year student from Republic Polytechnic. “Everyone can do your part to make a difference, and you can start by donating your time,” Sharifah implored the sponsors, partners, charities and volunteers in the room.

Sharifah and Laura Reid, Deputy Director of the SportCares Foundation, were onstage to thank the President’s Challenge for selecting SportCares ChangeMakers programme as one of the beneficiaries of the Challenge this year. Sharifah has been a mentor in our ChangeMaker social integration programme, which deploys students from tertiary school to work with younger children from hardship backgrounds.

As a volunteer with the SportCares Love Singapore tennis programme for girls, Sharifah has seen first-hand the impact that a good volunteer can have on children and youth. “I try to inculcate good values to the youth and children I’m helping because they get discouraged easily, especially so when they are unable to complete a task well. I encourage and advise them to stay strong and never give up,” said Sharifah. She also highlights the importance of education. Sharifah has just completed a Diploma in Sports Coaching and is finishing her internship with ITE College East and applying for university.

During the post-ceremony cocktails, Sharifah and Laura spoke candidly with President and Mrs Mary Tan about the work being done with children, youth and their families, in partnership with great partners like Beyond Social Services. Although Sharifah easily demonstrated the composure of an older woman, she also had her moments of pure teen spirit. She didn’t hesitate to snap a we-fie with President and Mrs Mary Tan.

‪#‎LiveBetterThroughSport‬‪#‎SportWithoutBoundaries‬‪#‎FutureReadyThroughSport‬‪#‎PresidentsChallenge2015‬‪#‎ProudVolunteer‬‪#‎TeamNila‬‪#‎SoFun‬‪#‎SoProud‬‪#‎LoveSingapore‬‪#‎SportCaresChangeMaker‬‪#‎SportCaresSG‬

Source: SportCares

February 12, 2016
Lee Hsien Loong Writes To Appeals For Increased Haj Quota From Saudi King

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written a letter to the Saudi King, appealing for Singapore’s official haj quota to be increased.

The letter was presented to a Saudi minister by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, on Thursday.

Dr Yaacob is in Saudi Arabia till Friday (Feb 12) with chief executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Haji Abdul Razak Maricar, and other officials for the annual Haj ministerial meeting to discuss the haj quota and operations, as well as the welfare of Singaporean pilgrims.

In the letter, PM Lee said that he is seeking King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud’s consideration in changing the quota from 680 to 800, in line with Singapore’s growing Muslim population.

He said that Singapore’s current quota of 680 was based on the formula decided by the Organisation of Islamic Conference in 1987, which determined that the haj quota will be set at 0.1 per cent of the Muslim population.

“Since then, Singapore’s Muslim population has grown by about 20 per cent but our quota has remained unchanged,” he wrote. About 15 per cent, or 800,000 of Singapore’s current population, are Muslims, he said.

He also made a personal appeal to the King to grant an additional 200 places on top of the revised quota this year.

PM Lee also conveyed his appreciation for King Salman’s generous hospitality accorded to Singaporean pilgrims over the years.

“I appreciate the heavy responsibility and complexity of the Haj operations undertaken by the Kingdom,” he wrote.

PM Lee added that ongoing efforts to enhance the infrastructure and the Haj management system have benefitted the welfare and safety of pilgrims.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

February 12, 2016