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Australian Female Finds Beauty In Islam And Eventually Converts

Coming from the country side in Australia, I was never exposed to Islam. I knew nothing about it. I thought of it as an oppressive religion, whenever I heard about it. It wasn’t until I went to Malaysia, that God guided me in ways I never expected, Subhan’Allah.

I learned that Muslim women also have rights, which were legally given even before the West did. Meeting impressive women like Sisters in Islam and Marina Mahathir, also inspired me to divulge into Islam more. I found that I could have a career and be a Muslim. However, it wasn’t until a year later, I reverted, Alhamdulillah.

Islam is a beautiful way of life to praise and worship Allah as One God every single day. While it is not easy to explain to friends and family, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I did a lot of research and interviewed many Muslim and even non-Muslim women on why women choose to cover up. I also learned a lot from my Imam and his wife, who taught me it is for women to be recognized more for their intelligence, not be as exposed, to this sometimes, overly sexual world and to keep your beauty for your husband.

I’ve met many wonderful, intelligent women who chose to wear Hijab, which is her right. Dressing more modestly came naturally after reverting. I hope to one day wear Hijab every single day, In’sha’Allah. God truly is the Turner of Hearts – I never in my wildest dreams thought I would become a Muslim, yet, He opened my heart and has blessed me in more ways than I could ever imagine or repay Him for.

That’s why I know Allah is Love and Mercy, and I want to worship Him better every day for as long as He gives me life. My favorite quote is ‘فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا’ – ‘So endure patiently, with a beautiful patience.’

Source: http://worldhijabday.com

January 20, 2015
LTA: We Are Incompetent And Our Employees Don’t Talk To Each Other

Residents in Yishun were confused when they found out that a brand new bicycle path in front of NorthPoint Shopping mall was demolished literally the day after it was completed.

One resident, Mr Edward Lim Yew Sih, wrote in to ST forums about his observations back in December and his letter was published on Dec 31^st.

Mr Lim explained that he was a cycling enthusiast and so he had been happy to hear of a new bike path and had been following its development.

He explained that residents were forced to make detours for about 3 to 4 months at the section of road in front of North Point for the construction works but were pleased to see that the works were completed a few weeks early and the barricades came down in December.

Mr Lim explained that his excitement was short-lived as the very next day, new barricades were put up and the newly completed bicycle path was demolished again to make way for a bus stop.

Both these issues should be under LTA as they are transport issues and yet Mr Lim pointed out that resources were wasted due to the lack of coordination.

IT seems that LTA’s lack of coordination runs even deeper than this too as it took them about three weeks to even be able to respond to Mr Lim’s letter.

In response, LTA admitted that they have a lack of coordination and this had resulted in a waste of resources and time:

We thank Mr Edward Lim Yew Sih for his feedback (“New bicycle path demolished before being open to public”; Forum Online, Dec 31).

We admit to an error in coordination on our part.

The Land Transport Authority works to coordinate infrastructure works in an estate to minimise disruption to residents. This is very important as we are in the midst of a substantial expansion of many commuter, pedestrian and cycling initiatives.

In the case of the stretch of new cycling path along Yishun Central, we should have ensured more effective coordination internally, to have identified early the eventual necessity for a new bus stop at the same stretch.

This is an isolated incident. Nevertheless, we have used it as an example to further improve coordination between different projects to prevent inconvenience and disruption.

Helen Lim (Ms)
Director, Media Relations
Land Transport Authority

LTA also justified its incompetence saying that it is currently doing many “sizable” expansion projects and coordination is difficult.

“We should have better internal coordination for this new bicycle path along Yishun Central, to discover earlier the need of a new bus-stop along the same stretch of road,” it said.

LTA also insisted that this was an “isolated incident”.

Source: www.therealsingapore.com

January 20, 2015
Proud To Be A Failure Like Chee Soon Juan

Hi Chan Chun Sing, let me tell you ‪#‎IAmAFailure‬ by your standards. Now I don’t have a problem with you having a problem with Chee Soon Juan because he is your political opponent. I do however, have a problem with your definition of success because that affects the rest of us.

I am not an army general. I am not well liked by my peers, certainly not enough to be elected into a central executive committee of any kind. I can’t speak my dialect because of you-know-whose-policy so I can’t eloquently ask my fellow hokkienpengs to ‪#‎keechiu‬. I am an entrepreneur running a business that seems like it’s stuck in startup mode, that won best website in Asia, in a competition that is not run by SPH or MediaCorp awarding prizes to itself. But oh well, since local media never picked up this story (since I beat all of them), I guess that is deemed a failure by you too.

I am not an engineer, doctor or lawyer paying high taxes that this government loves. I did not study abroad as a government scholar so that effectively means I am out of the system.

But guess what, the reality of Singapore today is this: Most of us are not IN THE SYSTEM and that includes 2nd, 3rd generation Singaporeans as well as new citizens. This coveted system of yours. Most of us are stuck in this rat race that we don’t want to be in. We don’t want shopping malls in every housing estate, raising rents high so local businesses are squeezed out of existence. Give me the Tiong Bahru before the hipsters took over. Most of us don’t ascribe to the milestones that an older generation thought was necessary to propel us to 1st world status. Most of us want to manage our own savings ourselves into old age — even if it is to splurge on a tour around the world in 80 days, then come home to starve to death. So be it, that is our choice, not one decided by someone else more “successful” than us.

Anyways, long story short: You’re lucky I don’t live in Tanjong Pagar. I would still vote for Lee Kuan Yew but I certainly wouldn’t vote for you.

You need to learn what it feels like to fail, before you know how to lead the people.

Kien Lee

Source: www.therealsingapore.com

January 20, 2015
Calls To #BanAmericanSniper For Promoting Islamophobia

‘American Sniper’ will be released in Singapore cinemas on 22nd Jan 2015.

Directed by Clint Eastwood. The story of the late Chris Kyle a former Navy SEAL and the most successful sniper in US military history with 160 confirmed kills. The movie was released on 16th Jan in USA.

The movie has radicalized men and women and make them hate a particular race and religion.

Censorship board of Singapore, via the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, must re-look at the repercussions in view of the current attack against ISLAM.

It will not be a surprise if more self-radicalised Singapore non-muslims born and bred here to terrorize Muslims.

Retaliation in defence is a calling.

‪#‎BanAmericanSniper‬

#Rilek1Corner Contributor

January 20, 2015
Doa Antara Agama Dianjurkan Pertubuhan Antara Agama Singapura Semalam

PERTUBUHAN Antara Agama (IRO) Singapura menganjurkan doa antara agama di pejabat pertubuhan itu di Palmer House semalam, bagi mendoakan kedamaian, keharmonian, dan kemakmuran perpaduan umat manusia.

Wakil agama, duta dan pesuruhjaya tinggi daripada misi diplomatik Indonesia, Malaysia, dan Perancis turut hadir bagi mengenang dan berdoa bagi mangsa bencana alam dan konflik.

Dalam ucapannya di majlis itu, Presiden IRO, Encik Gurmit Singh, menyatakan bagaimana tragedi telah menyatukan manusia tidak kira agama, bangsa dan kerakyatan.

“Walaupun mangsa tragedi ini berada jauh beribu batu, kita dapat rasakan kesedihan mereka,” kata beliau.

“Masyarakat antara agama Singapura ingin mainkan peranannya secara rohani dengan memanjatkan doa dan peringatan ikhlas kami kepada mangsa bencana dalam memaparkan perpaduan kepada rakan-rakan serantau dan antarabangsa kita,” kata Encik Singh.

Tetamu terhormat, Setiausaha Parlimen (Kementerian Pembangunan Sosial dan Keluarga (MSF) merangkap Kementerian Kebudayaan, Masyarakat dan Belia (MCCY)), Cik Low Yen Ling, menekankan perlunya rakyat Singapura terus mengeratkan dan memperkukuh keharmonian antara kaum dan agama, dan menunjukkan ihsan kepada mangsa tragedi dan bencana alam.

“Rakyat kita mesti bersatu dalam usaha kolektif. Kita boleh mainkan peranan,” ujar Cik Low.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

January 20, 2015