Alhamdulillah, this morning we visited the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, commonly known as the Bright Hill Temple, located at Bright Hill Road.
It’s a huge complex, possibly the largest buddhist temple in Singapore.
We were greeted by the Abbot Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng, a highly accomplished individual who is also the President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation and Founder of Buddhist College of Singapore.
The Kong Meng San temple gave a donation to the Aid 2 Syrian Refugees in Turkey project.
Ven Sik Kwang Sheng expressed his concerns about the situation in Gaza, and was deeply saddened after reading numerous reports on the indiscriminate killing of children there.
I briefed him on the Syrian refugee situation, after having returned from Southeast Turkey very recently.
Ven Sik urged that we should pray together for peace as we are living on the same earth.
He’s also praying that all the parties involved in the various conflicts around the world find in their hearts a way to forgive each other, and return to peace.
Like many Muslim Singaporeans, my colleagues and I are disturbed and saddened about the conditions in Gaza.
Over the past weekend, I have also shared views on the matter:
“With the unrest in Gaza still going on, there are two things that we can do at this point – firstly help those affected through humanitarian effort and secondly, keep praying for peace. I am happy that we are able to organize a donation drive and collect a lot of money which can be channeled to those in need. I think there is a strong desire in the Muslim community to see an end to all hostilities and hopefully with all the efforts by the world leaders, together with what we can do here in Singapore, peace can come to the region as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we can continue to pray and use the blessings of the month of Ramadan, to do the best that we can through the means that we have here in Singapore.”
It is heart wrenching to see innocent victims of this deadly episode dying and suffering.
Let us continue to do our part to bring peace to the region.
TAHUN lalu, Leftenan Muda (2Lt) Muhammad Iqbal Abdul Rahim dengan berat hati melepaskan peluang bermain bagi kelab ragbi di Jepun kerana sudah dipanggil menjalani Perkhidmatan Negara (NS).
Beliau menjalani Latihan Asas Ketenteraan (BMT) seperti anggota NS lain, namun hatinya tetap pada sukan yang diceburinya dari menengah satu lagi. Anak ketiga dalam keluarga empat beradik itu telah lama menanam cita-cita menjadi pemain ragbi profesional apabila dewasa kelak.
Namun, kini 2Lt Muhammad Iqbal, 21 tahun, tidak pasti adakah impian itu masih ingin dicapainya.
Ini kerana selepas beberapa bulan menjalani NS, beliau mula menimbangkan kemungkinan meneruskan khidmat sebagai pegawai sepenuh masa bersama Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura (SAF).
Anugerah Pedang Merit (Bayonet Perak) yang diterimanya semalam kerana muncul sebagai kadet kedua terbaik dalam kohort infantrinya seakan-akan mendorong anak muda ini memilih kerjaya bersama SAF seperti yang digalakkan ibu bapanya. 2Lt Muhammad Iqbal antara 553 kadet pegawai yang ditauliahkan sebagai pegawai SAF dalam upacara pentauliahan di Institut Tentera Safti (Safti MI) itu.
Seramai 456 daripadanya dari divisyen tentera darat, 50 daripada Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura (RSAF) dan 47 daripada Angkatan Laut Republik Singapura (RSN). Menurut 2Lt Muhammad Iqbal, sebelum menjalani NS, beliau banyak memberi perhatian pada “kerjayanya” sebagai pemain dan kapten pasukan Bawah 20 Tahun Singapura.
“Tiga bulan sebelum saya memulakan NS, saya diberi kontrak profesional untuk bermain bersama kelab Toyota Verblitz di Jepun selama setahun. Saya ke sana untuk menjalani percubaan namun apabila mendapat tahu tentang NS dan kecederaan buku lali yang saya alami pada waktu itu, mereka tidak menerima saya bermain,” kata lulusan Politeknik Republic itu.
Beliau berasa agak hampa kerana terpaksa melepaskan peluang yang akan menjadikannya pemain ragbi Singapura pertama diberi kontrak profesional bermain dengan kelab luar negara. Namun, selepas memasuki OCS, 2Lt Muhammad Iqbal, yang mendapat tawaran mewakili Singapura dalam Sukan SEA tahun depan, mula berminat menceburi kerjaya bersama SAF.
“Saya melihatnya sebagai satu kerjaya yang memuaskan. Saya mahu membantu mereka yang tidak bersemangat menjalani NS agar mempunyai perspektif berbeza terhadap latihan, pertahanan negara dan kehidupan mereka,” katanya yang akan meneruskan perkhidmatan di Rejimen Infantri Singapura Ketiga (3SIR) di Kem Selarang.
Dalam ucapannya, tetamu terhormat, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Encik Tharman Shanmugaratnam, berkata landskap keselamatan Singapura semakin rumit sejak beberapa tahun lalu disebabkan ketegangan di rantau dan cabaran keselamatan transnasional seperti keganasan, bencana alam, wabak biologi dan ancaman siber.
“Sebagai penjamin muktamad keselamatan Singapura, SAF harus kekal sebagai angkatan yang kuat dan boleh dipercayai menentang semua ancaman keselamatan, demi memberi Singapura dan warga Singapura keyakinan menghadapi dunia yang tidak menentu dan bergelora,” kata Encik Tharman.
Under the National Emblems (Control of Display) Act, it is an offense for any person to display in public a national emblem which include a flag of any state other than Singapore.
Previously, a Muslim brother Gulam Yusuf who is a freelance worker in the oil trade industry, had hung a Palestinian flag — which was emblazoned with the word “free” — to spread awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, notably the “mass killing of innocent civilians”. Gulam who stays in Sims Drive, took the flag down after he was advised by the police.
We welcome the decision by the National Library Board (NLB) not to pulp the two children’s books, “And Tango Makes Three” and “The White Swan Express.” These books are published in the U.S. and written by U.S. authors.
The U.S. is strongly committed to upholding universal values of human rights and fundamental freedoms. These include freedom of access to knowledge, which lies at the heart of a successful democracy, and is key in creating an informed and dynamic citizenry.
We also believe in promoting tolerance and mutual respect, which are critical to an inclusive society that celebrates diversity. – KW
