Category: Uncategorized

Walid J. Abdullah: Religious Conservatism Does Not Equate Extremism

Do not conflate religious conservatism with extremism.

As is always the case, once a terrorist attack occurs (which again seems to be the exclusive domain of Muslims, as the media has shown from its reluctance to use the word ‘terrorist’ to describe the murderer of Jo Cox), experts rush to dissect what is wrong with Islam.

Almost inevitably, there will be a group of analysts who suggest that Islam itself is the problem, and that Islam needs a ‘reformation’. They would then proceed to conflate expressions of religious conservatism with extremism.

Which is not only mistaken, in my opinion, but extremely dangerous. Suddenly, conservative Muslims are viewed with much suspicion. How many times have we heard – whether in jest or otherwise – people making remarks such as ‘eh why your beard so long? Like terrorist/osama/al-qaeda/isis.’

What these people do is essentially equate conservatism with extremism.

Personally, i do shake hands with members of the opposite gender, i do wish non-Muslims on their festive occasions, and so on, but i know many Muslims who do not, but utterly despise extremism and extremists.

And if we start saying that conservative expressions are signs of extremism, as was recently done when it was suggested that not wishing ‘Merry Christmas’ was a step toward/an indication of extremism, where do we draw the line? What about those who do not shake hands with those of the opposite gender? What about someone who dons the hijab? Or someone who only eats halal? Or someone with a beard?

We must be more careful in using terms such as ‘moderate Muslim’, ‘extremist’, ‘radical’ inter alia, as words do have meanings, and they may shape perceptions. Otherwise, we may end up creating unnecessary frontiers in the fight against extremism.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

June 17, 2016
Study: Kids From Rich Families More Likely To Attend IP And GEP

Children from higher socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to attend Integrated Programme (IP) secondary schools and their affiliated primary schools, as well as those that offer the Gifted Education Programme (GEP).

This was a key finding of a recent study that examined class stratification in schools and if students from different schools had different levels of educational aspirations.

The study was done by Ms Ong Xiang Ling, its principal investigator who is a Singapore Children’s Society research officer, and Dr Cheung Hoi Shan, a post-doctoral fellow at the National University of Singapore.

Their work pointed to a disproportionate number of students from affluent backgrounds in IP and GEP schools.

In the study, schools were divided into three groups and about 200 students from each group were polled. Type 1 were IP schools, their affiliated primary schools, as well as primary schools which offered the GEP. Type 2 were government-aided schools and autonomous schools which did not offer the IP, and Type 3 were government schools.

Data showed that nearly 41 per cent of Type 1 secondary school students came from families with a monthly household income that exceeded $10,000, compared to 7 per cent in Type 3 schools. About 31 per cent of Type 1 students lived in private homes, compared to 2 per cent in Type 3. About 54 per cent of Type 1 students had at least one parent with university education, compared to 17 per cent in Type 3.

The fact that there is a significant disparity in secondary schools, where entry is supposed to be by merit, points to a possible perpetuation of class differences in schools, said the researchers. Dr Cheung said: “The observation from many news reports… does point to some form of social stratification in our schools; so in elite schools you tend to have families represented by higher socio-economic status (SES) and in other neighbourhood schools you tend to have the reverse.”

She added: “We see SES differences also in secondary schools, where entry is supposed to be determined in large part by the children’s results in the PSLE. Entry is not about distance or alumni associations, yet we also see marked SES differences in elite secondary schools. So it may point to a perpetuation – if you started off with high SES, chances are because you have more resources, you are better prepared for PSLE, so you are more likely to get into good secondary schools.”

Said Ms Ong: “Higher SES children are more likely to be in Type 1 schools, and being in Type 1 schools makes them more likely to have high confidence in attaining at least a university degree. Then it would mean that there could be a perpetuation of class differences, because research has shown that if you have high confidence of attaining a university degree, you are more likely to actually get a university degree.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

June 2, 2016
Customer: Riven Sports Unprofessional & Irresponsible – Threatened Poor Service When Already Not Delivering On Pr

So a company by the name of Riven Sports were given the task of doing jerseys for our team. Turns out shitty and the owner has an even shittier attitude.

Took my friend days to be replied via whatsapp when he asked for enquiries and all but within minutes a bad review by us on his page is instantly replied on the spot. Even had the cheek to threaten my friend when reviews are given.

When the jerseys came the socks are not there, one set is not done. Didnt even have the responsibility to check before the goods came.

Oh well bro, it might be a joke and has less importance to u but imagine a team of 20 guys can bring your page ratings down in a few hours, imagine how bad it can be when words start spreading around.

Here’s my shitty review to a shitty boss like you.. U can see his replies to our review on his page.

Cheers

Source: Ismail Hisham

May 24, 2016
Malaysian School Hit By ‘Mass Hysteria’ Still Closed, But Journalists Hear Screams From The Classrooms

The gates of a school in Malaysia’s state of Kelantan, where students have been plauged by “mass hysteria”, were closed to reporters on Sunday (April 17) – the day the school was set to reopen – but screams were heard coming from the classrooms.

SMK Pengkalan Chepa 2 was shut down for three days last Thursday to allow bomohs, ustaz and Islamic traditional practitioners to rid the place of bad spirits.

It does not seem to be working.

Pressmen and photographers, who were stationed in front of the school, were shocked to hear the screaming and shouts emanating from the school compounds.

The school administration has conducted a two-hour recital of Quranic verses and held prayers together with the students.It is learnt that a Chinese bomoh from Perak and his team entered the school compounds to assist in the situation.

At about 11.30am, more screams and shouts were heard, and attempts by the media to enter the school were unsuccessful.

Last Monday to Wednesday, more than 100 female and male students and teachers were allegedly struck by mass hysteria to the extent that the school was forced to shut down on Thursday to avoid more students from being possessed.

School principal Siti Hawa Mat and district education officials could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

At a press conference in Kelantan state capital Kota Baru on Thursday, Ms Siti said the closure of the school in Pengkalan Chepa was necessary to enable the bomoh and ustaz to perform prayers before the school was set to reopen on Sunday.

She said the studies of students of SMK Pengkalan Chepa 2 were disrupted, and her administration was at their wits’ end to find a way to rid the school of “bad spirits”.

Students and teachers have claimed to have seen paranormal beings like black spectres, pontianak and pochong.

Source: Straits Times

April 17, 2016
20,000 Lebah Serang Masjid Arizona, Jemaah Bertempiaran Lari

Para jemaah lari bertempiaran apabila sehingga 20,000 lebah berbisa keluar daripada sarangnya dan menyerang sebuah masjid di Phoenix, Arizona.

Menurut laporan The Independent, lebah jenis amat berbisa itu menyengat 15 orang, dan salah seorang daripada mereka, lelaki berusia 24 tahun, dimasukkan ke hospital setelah diserang.

Beberapa lagi orang dipindahkan daripada masjid itu dengan ambulans, sambil menutup kepala mereka dengan selimut, menurut laporan itu.

Menurut ABC15, semua yang terjejas kini dalam keadaan stabil, namun pihak berkuasa mungkin boleh menjangkakan lebih banyak serangan kerana bulan April ialah permulaaan musim lebah.

The Independent melaporkan bahawa pihak berkuasa menutup sebuah jalan raya yang sibuk dengan kenderaan berhampiran tempat itu, dan memberitahu orang ramai supaya duduk di rumah kerana lebah masih terus berkeliaran ke sana sini, bahkan sesetengah lebah itu masih hinggap kepada sarang lebah madu.

DISENGAT 2,000 KALI

Masalah lebah di Arizona merupakan masalah yang berlarutan, menurut laporan tersebut. Pada Jun tahun lalu, seorang lelaki berusia 84 tahun disengat lebih 2,000 kali di tamannya.

Tiga ekor anjing dilaporkan disengat hingga mati pada musim panas yang sama.

Lebah-lebah tersebut, menurut The Independent, merupakan hibrid lebah madu Eropah dan Afrika, iaitu hasil satu eksperimen baka kacukan di Brazil. Lebah-lebah itu membiak di iklim lebih panas dan berleluasa di negeri seperti Arizona, New Mexico dan Texas.

Jika salah sebuah sarang lebahnya diganggu, lebah berkenaan boleh menjadi amat agresif.

“Mereka bencikan sebarang pergerakan, bunyi, atau getaran. Mereka bencikan segala-galanya,” kata Encik Reed Booth, pemilik sebuah perniagaan penghapus lebah di Arizona kepada Associated Press.

Source: Berita Mediacorp

April 6, 2016