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  • Saudi Arabia: Demands To Internationalise Holy Sites ‘A Declaration Of War’

    Saudi Arabia: Demands To Internationalise Holy Sites ‘A Declaration Of War’

    Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister called what he said was Qatar’s demand for an internationalization of the Muslim hajj pilgrimage a declaration of war against the kingdom, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said on Sunday, but Qatar said it never made such a call.

    “Qatar’s demands to internationalize the holy sites is aggressive and a declaration of war against the kingdom,” Adel al-Jubeir was quoted saying on Al Arabiya’s website.

    “We reserve the right to respond to anyone who is working on the internationalization of the holy sites,” he said.

    Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said no official from his country had made such a call.

    “We are tired of responding to false information and stories invented from nothing,” Sheikh Mohammed told Al Jazeera TV.

    Qatar did accuse the Saudis of politicizing hajj and addressed the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion on Saturday, expressing concern about obstacles facing Qataris who want to attend hajj this year.

    Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain previously issued a list of 13 demands for Qatar, which included curtailing its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, shutting down the Doha-based Al Jazeera channel, closing a Turkish military base and downgrading its relations with Gulf enemy Iran.

    On Sunday, foreign ministers of the four countries said they were ready for dialogue with Qatar if it showed willingness to tackle their demands.

    Source: www.reuters.com

  • Promote Racial Harmony, Encourage Learning Of Each Other’s Mother Tongues

    Promote Racial Harmony, Encourage Learning Of Each Other’s Mother Tongues

    While agreeing with the letter “Spark interest in Mandarin with fun, creative lessons” (July 27), I must add that the teaching process should be simplified.

    People lose enthusiasm when they find the lessons difficult to understand, and many give up learning halfway.

    The learning of mother tongues or other languages is an asset, regardless of one’s reasons for doing so.

    In a multiracial society, the importance of promoting social cohesion cannot be overemphasised, and this can be achieved by being able to communicate effectively with one another.

    There have been cases of conflict and suspicion owing to miscommunication or a lack of communication, as people of different races have different perceptions of the issues they face. Hence, the ability to put messages across to others is paramount.

    One way is to learn more of our own mother tongue and that of others.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Abang Certis Cisco Supervisor Returns $30,000 Cash Found At Changi Airport

    Abang Certis Cisco Supervisor Returns $30,000 Cash Found At Changi Airport

    As a Certis Cisco aviation security supervisor, Mr Nur Hamzah Rahmat and his team have come across all kinds of things that are left behind, from bottles of perfumes to a bag full of new clothes.

    But on May 24, he came across something different – a Louis Vuitton pouch containing more than $30,000.

    The pouch had been left on a trolley at the boarding area at Terminal 2 of Changi Airport.

    Said Mr Hamzah: “When I initially saw the red notes, I thought they were Indonesian rupiah, but later I realised it was actually $1,000 dollar notes in Singapore currency.”

    Without hesitation, the 39-year-old handed it to the information counter. Within three days, the black pouch, which also contained a name card and a mobile phone, was returned to its owner.

    Mr Hamzah used to work in the logistics industry and went on to Certis Cisco eight years ago. The assistant chief executive at Terminal 2 supervises 140 officers.

     

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

     

  • Abdul Salim Harun: Why Minority Candidates Need To Be Certified By Committee But Not Majority Candidates?

    Abdul Salim Harun: Why Minority Candidates Need To Be Certified By Committee But Not Majority Candidates?

    Food for thought:

    This coming Reserved Presidential Election has open up a can of worms. Race issues is being hotly debated on what it means to be a Malay, what defines a Malay.

    For me, I can consider myself lucky. After being born as a Malay (my IC indicates that I’m a Malay), and now turning to 36, I have been twice certified and approved (2006, 2011) by the Malay community committee set up by the Government that indeed, i am a Malay and is a member of the Malay community.

    I am deeply saddened though, for my fellow brothers and sisters who has not been certified yet as a Malay (even though their IC indicates so), as the committee has not certified them to be as one.

    Which brought me to ask the following question. Why do the minority candidates in every election, have to go and get themselves certified by the various minority community committees, before they can stand as a candidate?

    And why, the Chinese candidates, do not have to go through the same process and get themselves to be certified first as a Chinese before they are allowed to stand?

    And why is there this nonsensical policy at the first place?

    Isn’t this a discriminatory practice towards the minorities? Aren’t we what we are based on the IC? Why the certification to be approve of the race that you are born into and belongs to?

    Regardless of race, language or religion, this unhealthy practices has to be stop for once and for all.

    The PAP Government is preaching about racial harmony and unity but they aren’t walking the talk when what they do is basically racist and discriminatory in nature!

    What say you?

     

    Source: Abdul Salim Harun

  • Judgment Reserved For Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s Appeal Against Reserved EP

    Judgment Reserved For Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s Appeal Against Reserved EP

    The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement on the appeal by former presidential hopeful Tan Cheng Bock against the basis and timing of the coming reserved Presidential Election, after a panel of five judges heard the case on Monday (July 31).

    The court gave no date as to when the judgement by the five judges, among them Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, would be delivered. The other four judges hearing the case are Judges of Appeal Judith Prakash and Steven Chong, as well as Justices Chua Lee Ming and Kannan Ramesh.

    Dr Tan told reporters: “Singaporeans must fully understand the issue, not just accept (it). If in the end, we are found to be wrong, then we accept it. That’s what democracy is about.”

    He filed the appeal to the apex court after his earlier legal challenge was dismissed on July 7.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com