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Gerhana Bulan Separa Kelihatan Di Makkah; Solat Khusuf Didirikan Di Masjidil Haram

Fenomena gerhana bulan separa mula kelihatan di Tanah Suci pada 6.50 petang waktu tempatan Isnin (11.50 malam Isnin waktu Singapura).

Jemaah yang berada di kawasan Masjidil Haram dan penduduk di sekitar kota suci Makkah dapat menyaksikan fenomena berkenaan dengan jelas selama kira-kira lima jam, dengan kemuncaknya pada 9.21 malam waktu Arab Saudi (2.21 pagi Selasa waktu Singapura).

Fenomena yang djangka berlaku sekali lagi pada Julai 2019 itu, berakhir pada 11.30 malam (4.30 pagi waktu Singapura)

Berikutan fenomena itu, solat sunat khusuf (gerhana bulan) diadakan di Masjidil Haram, dan diikuti bacaan khutbah kira-kira 15 minit yang disampaikan imam masjid itu.

Menurut portal astronomi amatur Malaysia falakonline, gerhana bulan separa berlaku apabila sebahagian daripada cahaya matahari yang jatuh pada permukaan bulan, terlindung oleh jasad bumi.

Secara amnya, gerhana ini berlaku apabila bumi berada antara matahari dan bulan.

Walaupun ia nampak seperti sebaris, jika dilihat dari permukaan yang rata, bulan berada sedikit ke atas daripada garisan matahari dan bumi. Ini akan menyebabkan ia tidak akan dilindungi sepenuhnya oleh bayang-bayang bumi.

Daripada sudut pandangan Islam, berikutan fenomena itu, semua umat Islam disarankan menunaikan solat sunat khusuf di masjid atau surau berdekatan, bersedekah dan memperbanyakkan doa.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

August 8, 2017
Singapore Teen Ben Davis Chasing EPL Dream Hopeful Of NS Deferment

Davis has been made rapid progress since signing with second-tier Fulham on a two-year scholarship in July, getting involved in a few pre-season friendlies for their academy and scoring two goals in the process.

Fulham’s academy is rated as one of the 24 Category One academies in England and compete in the Premier League Under-18 South League along with other London clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

While it may be exciting times for Davis, a shadow looms large over his development as he is expected to serve National Service (NS) for two years between the age of 18 to 21.

The midfielder flew back to Singapore specially to undergo his pre-NS enlistment medical check-up on Monday afternoon before returning to England on the same night.

With that process completed, Davis will be now able to apply for NS deferment.

FourFourTwo understands that the Football Association of Singapore will render help for his application, where it will be assessed by Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) before reaching the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

It looks like a long road ahead as no Singapore footballer has ever been able to defer NS, however talented they might be.

Nonetheless Davis’ father, Harvey Davis hopes that a precedent can be set for his talented son so that his career does not get disrupted at this crucial juncture.

“Ben’s now at the stage and level where he can go on to achieve his dream, hopefully the authorities can set in place some procedure or criteria for football or team (for NS deferment),” said Harvey, who is the managing director for JSSL Singapore.

“I hope that Ben’s case will be the right case to push it forward. We’re keeping our hopes up and are remaining positive for Ben’s application, because we have faith that the system will eventually come through for our talented sportsmen and women.”

As for Davis himself, he is trying to put all those distractions and uncertainties aside as he focuses his effort on flying the Singapore flag high in England.

“It was difficult at the start for me, but I got used to it and improved a lot in a short time,” said the 16-year-old, who turns 17 in November. “It’s quite different how they use physicality to win the ball and that takes some getting used to. I’m spending more time at the gym to build muscles.

“The training’s much more intense in Fulham as compared to Singapore (in the Sports School). I want to improve further, maybe by shooting more, scoring more goals and taking more risks.

“No one looks down on me just because I’m Singaporean, but I’m really motivated to be better than the people in my age group because I know they won’t slow down. The goal for me now is to earn a pro contract for next season.

“In five years’ time, I hope to be representing Singapore and playing in one of the English Championship clubs, or in the Under-23 teams of the Premier League clubs.”

Source: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/

August 8, 2017
Sultan Johor: Curved Design Of Proposed Rail Track Impractical

The Sultan of Johor has spoken against the design of the proposed rail track linking Woodlands in Singapore and Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru, and questioned the involvement of government-owned firm Prasarana Malaysia Bhd in the project.

“Why must it be Prasarana? Why not the Johor government?” asked Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in an interview with New Straits Times today.

“The project is entirely in Johor; so why should Prasarana be involved? Let the Johor government and Singapore have a joint-venture and I can raise funds if need be.”

The rail track which includes a 30m-high bridge comes under the Rapid Transit System (RTS), the latest link to serve travellers who use the Causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore.

Both Prasarana and Singapore’s SMRT Corp are currently negotiating the joint venture.

Sultan Ibrahim said the design of the bridge was impractical, costly and would disrupt the state capital Johor Bahru’s skyline.

“The design matters to us and by ‘us’, I mean Johor,” he said.

He urged for a review of the whole design, saying the current curve-shaped design was not only costly but also impractical.

“Go back to the drawing board and review the overall plan.”

Sultan Ibrahim said he should be consulted for any project involving his state.

“Whatever (new plan) is presented to me, it will have to be logical, economical and sustainable for the benefit of not only Johoreans but all Malaysians and Singaporeans.”

During the interview, the ruler sketched a design, saying a straighter track which is closer to the Causeway was more practical.

“Why do they need an elevated bridge with up to 30m air draft (clearance height from water to a vessel’s height) unless there are plans to remove the Causeway?” he asked.

Source: www.freemalaysiatoday.com

August 8, 2017
No By-Elections; Strong Indication Of PAP’s Inability To Honour Championing Of Minority Representation

Halimah Yacob resigned today from her seat of Marsiling (red) and as the 7th Speaker of Parliament.

Thanks to a question raised by WP MP Pritam Singh in Parliament, we now know that the Prime Minister will not call for a by-election in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC (shaded below).

This is very worrying on two fronts.

Firstly, this 4-member GRC is, by law, one of the GRCs reserved for Malay minority candidates presumably because of its higher Malay population. With Halimah’s departure, the GRC will have no minority MPs at all. Many of us may not agree with the mechanics or even the basis of the GRC system and may wish to see it reformed. Nonetheless, not calling for a by-election to reinstate a minority Member would speak volumes about the PAP’s commitment to playing by its own rules in its own game that is the much-vaunted GRC system.

Secondly, the PM’s intention to appoint a Grassroots Advisor in Marsiling ward, instead of calling for a by-election, raises very unsettling questions about how the Government recognises the legitimacy and authority of elected MPs. Does this mean that Government agencies will now accord Grassroots Advisors with as much recognition as elected MPs when residents attend Meet-the-People Sessions seeking help? Does this mean that these unelected Grassroots Advisors can take on other roles that presumably only MPs can undertake? If the answer to these questions is no, then without a by-election, Marsiling-Yew Tee residents are being short-changed. If the answer is yes, it would be even worse, for this would be an admission that the Government can appoint a PAP member to be the Grassroots Advisor for Marsiling with inordinate power and authority, without a single vote having been cast for that person by Singaporeans living there. This would be unsurprising given that PAP candidates who lose in Opposition wards are immediately appointed as the Grassroots Advisors for these wards after each General Election.

Unsurprising, but inherently unfair to voters.

Given that we are less than half-way through the term of the present Parliament, not calling for a by-election in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC would be an affront to parliamentary democracy in Singapore, and would be a strong indication of the PAP’s inability to honour its own supposed status of being a champion of minority representation.

Instead, we are faced with a reserved Presidential Election which harms our social fabric more than it purports to help it, because it may just entrench the idea in people’s minds that minorities are unelectable by way of their own merits alone. How does this advance our progress as a nation?

(To find out more about how the ward-level layer was made, visit my blog at: https://mappedmusings.wordpress.com/…/mapping-our-home-mapp…. Designed with Map Box.)

Source: Yudhishthra Nathan

August 8, 2017
Makcik Homeless After Fire Gutted Home, Kind Neighbour Took Her In

A kind resident took in her neighbour after a fire in the latter’s flat, allowing the family of three to lodge in her home temporarily.

The fire had broken out in the second-storey flat at Block 372, Jurong East Street 32 on Friday morning (Aug 4).

Stomp earlier reported on the incident in which seven people were conveyed to hospitals for treatment after inhaling smoke.

A 62-year-old woman and her two daughters were the occupants of the affected flat.

After the incident, one of her daughters revealed that she had been using a hair curler, and had placed it on a mattress, after turning off the electricity.

Later on, there was smoke and the smell of something burning, before the mattress finally caught fire.

Said the 62-year-old mother: “I was at the market that morning when I received a call from my daughter telling me that there was a strong burning smell.

“I immediately rushed home, and my daughters wanted to move the mattress out of the unit. However, it suddenly caught fire.”

The fire spread fast and a neighbour, living in the unit beside theirs, was trapped in her home.

The 58-year-old neighbour recalled: “I was on medical leave that day. I smelt something burning in the morning, but I was groggy from my fever.

“Later I heard my husband shouting that something was burning. We opened our door and found a fire in the corridor.

“There was nowhere we could run to. We were trapped. I started crying and screaming for help. Then I recalled that my neighbour could not move well, and I called her.”

She said that fortunately, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived in time, and the couple climbed down to safety using a ladder.

According to her, this was not the first time a fire had broken out in the block.

She told Shin Min Daily News: “Two years ago, a unit on the left had caught fire at around 3a, in the morning, so this is the second time already.”

Although the affected flat’s owner has since received keys to a rental flat, her neighbour still insisted that the family stay with her for the time being.

The neighbour added: “We’re neighbours, so it’s only right that we help each other out.”

Source: http://stomp.straitstimes.com

August 8, 2017