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NUS professor acknowledges ‘poor judgment’ in posts on sexuality
SINGAPORE — The National University of Singapore professor at the centre of an online controversy has acknowledged that his recent Facebook posts discussing his views on homosexuality caused offence, said NUS provost Tan Eng Chye.

In a circular sent out this morning (Mar 5), Prof Tan said that Associate Professor Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied’s comments on his views of lesbianism “contained provocative, inappropriate and offensive language”.

NUS Professor Syed Khairudin Aljunied

“I have counselled Associate Professor Khairudin, who has acknowledged that whilst his only intention had been to convey his point of view, his original posts reflected poor judgment in the tone and choice of words. He has since amended or removed these posts,” said Prof Tan.

Two alumni and a current student had earlier lodged a complaint to NUS over Professor Khairudin’s Facebook posts, claiming that Professor Khairudin had described “alternative modes of sexual orientation” as “wayward”, and as “cancers” and “social diseases” to be “cleansed”.

The circular emphasised NUS’ commitment to diversity, regardless of “gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, political beliefs or sexual orientation”, and highlighted the need to respect this diversity when communicating with others.

Both staff and students were reminded to “show restraint, due care and respect with their words and actions, particularly when communicating online.”

Source: TODAYonline

Read the ENTIRE chronology of saga in category ‘AGAMA’:
March 5, 2014
An inclusive society – LGBTQ & Straight

Bill B. – The American gay who wrote to The Real Singapore

I was quite horrified to read this open letter to TRS from two tourists who were recently in Singapore for a holiday. I was horrified for two reasons: first, over their terrible experience in Singapore, and second, that they’d choose TRS to air unhappiness over a very serious issue. I’ll only be discussing the first reason here (there is subtext, in case you are wondering).

I was quite shocked to learn that there are still Singaporeans who think it’s okay to publicly and openly discriminate against a minority group. I know this isn’t surprising to many out there, but I’ve been extremely sheltered for most of my life — I went to a convent school and the culture was incredibly inclusive. In fact, almost all my friends are from different races/religions/sexual orientations. Festive celebrations in my home might as well be a successful and happy initiative for a racial harmony campaign.

So, to learn that a mother would openly (and clearly, loud enough for the two men to hear) tell her son to avert his eyes because being gay is abnormal seems just horrendous to me. Please note that the operative words here are “openly” and “loud enough”.

There is a world of difference between keeping opinions and beliefs that might hurt others to yourself and blatantly airing them for the world to see

I get it: we all have (and are entitled) to our own opinions. I dislike corn, peas, pork and a multitude of other harmless items. I also have less harmless opinions about this country, Singaporeans, various ethnic groups, and so on. But I know these opinions might end up causing more dissension than peace, so I am careful what I say and to whom (those who know me will know that I am not so good on volume control, so I am extra careful at times).

Openly airing our beliefs, especially if it may be hateful towards certain groups in society is not, and will never be, helpful. There is nothing to gain; nothing to achieve. The mother may have been caught unaware by her child’s curiosity in that moment, but the way she chose to handle the situation — trying to pass on sensitive values and beliefs loudly and in public – reflected a lack of wisdom and social awareness.

Be aware of what values we pass on to our children, when and where it happens

We’ve established that we’re all entitled to our own opinions. We were also raised with certain beliefs that we’ve assumed as our own. However, we should be mindful of the situation in which we attempt to convey these sensitive values and beliefs to the younger generations.

We should always do so with an awareness that the child will have to grow up (live and function) in a society where each individual has a different set of values and beliefs. In other words, we should teach them inclusion instead of exclusion.

We should do so behind closed doors (especially religious values that may be sensitive to a changing society), not with the intention of “hiding” our opinions, but simply being mindful that these values and beliefs we’ve cultivated may be hurtful to other members of society… and we don’t want our children, who might not have social awareness at a young age, slipping up and saying something harmful.

What that mother did publicly — covering her son’s eyes and telling him that the couple was “abnormal” — could have been done in a different way. I can’t fault the mother for her personal beliefs, but I can fault how she had expressed it, and the way she attempted to pass it on to a future generation.

Let me elaborate.

Alisa Chopard

I am Christian. I grew up in a Christian family, which had a strong belief in the heterosexual family unit, according to the Bible. However, my parents never instilled hate along with the values and beliefs they passed on to me, instead, they made sure I understood humility. This was to ensure that I would be able to recognize fellow sinners and feel compassion before hate. In doing so, they passed on bigger and more important values of love. This also meant that in the face of a society with varying values and beliefs, I would not judge, instead, I’d attempt to understand first.

I would like to add that the children we mold today will grow up to be teenagers and adults of tomorrow, some of whom would think that it is perfectly okay to scream “f*cking faggots” to strangers and teach their children loudly and in public that being gay is “abnormal”.

The cycle continues. It’s time we break it.

Source: http://alisawrites.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/an-inclusive-society/

March 5, 2014
American Gay Couple Felt Discriminated in Singapore

This is a complaint over the ridiculous treatment me and my boyfriend Walter endured during our visit to Singapore. I am an American tourist who holiday-ed in Singapore last month together with my boyfriend of 5 years. We planned for this holiday for ages and finally booked our tickets to this world renown Garden City. After arrival, we took in the beautiful sights and was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness, diverse cultures and food until something happened.

All that initial positivity went out of the window when me and my boyfriend were taking a leisurely stroll at the botanic gardens. Out of the blue, a young local boy accompanied by his mother pointed at us and shouted, “mummy… why are the two boys holding hands?” What came next shocked us beyond words. The lady knelt beside her son, hurriedly covered his eyes and exclaimed at the top of her voice “don’t look at them, they are abnormal”. After which she dragged the puzzled boy away as though we had the plague!

We were both dumbfounded at this shockingly bigoted behavior. Apart from the Christian belt in the South, we would never be subject to such blatant discrimination in the USA. Even President Obama , the most influential man in the world has repeatedly called for universal love and equality. It is thus disappointing that despite being a democracy, Singaporeans are still backward in their mindsets and deny minorities the freedom to love.

I write in now because our brush with Singaporean’s narrow mindedness happened not only once but twice. Shortly after that episode, while Walter and I were cuddling by the riverside at Clarke Quay enjoying the river breeze, a group of rowdy brown skinned goons ran up to us and screamed “fucking faggots” and ran off laughing like hyenas.

What’s with this trashy behavior Singapore? Why are we being bullied and insulted for our sexuality? We are paying tourists in your country and this is how you treat your guests? For all your beautiful buildings and wonderful infrastructure, the people of Singapore are sorely lacking in common decency and woefully antagonistic towards us. Where is the love Singapore? How can you proclaim yourself a first world nation when such blatant discrimination against sexual minorities still exists?

Bill B.

Source: Bill B., Shaul Hamid, TRS

March 5, 2014
Wanita Berniqab Harus Tunjuk Adab, Akhlak Baik

Mana2 wanita sama ada niqabi, tudung labuh, tudung pendek, free hair, yg bersilat begini tetap tiada menghalalkan perbuatan berlatih/pertunjukan bersama lelaki walau bersarung tangan. Niat sudah tidak halalkan cara. Wanita patutnya sesama wanita sahaja, dilakukan di tempat tertutup. Lelaki sesama lelaki. Antara mereka bila bersama ada nafsu, ada syaitan mencucuk. Jika halal saja dengan lapik, maka halal la wanita diraba setelah berpakaian, halal la zina apabila kondom diguna, halal la sentuh menyentuh asal ada lapik saja.

Jika mereka adik beradik, maka tidak pula layak aksi ditunjukkan di khalayak ramai kerana wanita perlu ditutup dari sebarang pintu fitnah yang banyak kini. Dengan lenggok badan, dengan menjadi tontonan, ia bukan ciri niqabi apatah lagi muslimah sejati. Dan tertanya juga, adik beradik buat show, pakai sarung tangan? Untuk apa ya? Tak apa la, hal mereka.

Wanita berniqab di sisi islam adalah contoh terbaik bagi menunjukkan cara berpakaian mengikut sunnah dan harus belajar adab dan akhlak isteri2 Nabi. Dan jika berniqab tapi tidak mengenakan sarung kaki dan menampakkan kaki, ia fitnah kepada islam.

-muiz-

Source: Kami Sayang Ulama

March 5, 2014
Penghinaan Terhadap Islam, Quran Di Sumbat Dalam Jamban Masjid

Penghinaan terhadap agama Islam dan kitab suci Al-Quran kalam Allah SWT sudah sampai ke kemuncaknya. Semalam, di Masjid Limbongan, Terengganu kira-kira pukul 1 pagi tadi, perbuatan manusia yang tidak bertanggungjawab ini tidak boleh dipandang ringan dan mereka yang bertanggungjawab mesti dicari dan dihukum.

Kejadian berlaku jam 1 pagi tadi. Pintu masjid dipecahkan, Al-Quran diselerakkan dan ada yang dibuang di dalam tandas masjid. Tok Imam yang melihat kejadian itu menangis kerana tidak sampai hati melihat Al-Quran diperlakukan sedemikian rupa. Laporan polis juga telah dibuat oleh Adun Kota Putera, YB Mohd Mahdi Musa sebentar tadi.

Satu tindakan dan siasatan segera perlu dilakukan demi menjaga maruah dan kesucian Rumah Allah dan Al-quran.

Insiden tersebut sudah pun dilaporkan kepada polis.

Ringkasan kes:

Pada 4/3/2014 jam lebih 1.30 pagi semasa pengadu sedang buat rondaan KRT/SRS di kawasan Kg Limbongan Kg Raja Besut Trg telah singgah di Masjid Kg Limbongan dapati dalam keadaan baik. Seterusnya pengadu buat rondaan dan singgah di rumah kediaman YB Mahadi Bin Musa yang terletak berhampiran. Pada 4/3/2014 jam l/kurang 2.30 pagi pengadu pergi semula ke kawasan Masjid Kg Limbongan Kg Raja telah dimaklumkan oleh anggota SRS yang membuat rondaan bermotorsikal mengatakan bahawa telah menjumpai Al-Quran dalam keadaan berselerak di depan tangga pintu masuk masjid, di dalam mangkuk tandas,dan di tempat solat. Terdapat juga barang-barang lain seperti kipas dinding dan pintu sliding tempat solat telah dirosakkan dan di pecahkan. Pengadu syaki perbuatan tersebut dikhianati oleh orang yang tidak dikenalpasti.

Sumber: Dewan pemuda PAS Negeri Trengganu

March 4, 2014