Rilek1Corner

Blog

  • Calvin Cheng: Bringing Up Tudung Issue In Parliament Is Divisive Because We Do Not Practice Communal Politics

    Calvin Cheng: Bringing Up Tudung Issue In Parliament Is Divisive Because We Do Not Practice Communal Politics

    Some people have been arguing that Parliament should be the right place to bring up the tudung issue.

    I would like to remind readers about the political history of Singapore: unfortunately, this would also entail a comparison to the Federation of Malaysia, from where we were ejected in 1965.

    Malaysia’s political system consists of political parties that purport to represent a certain race, who then come together to form an alliance. The ruling coalition, the BN, consists of UMNO which represents the Malays, the MCA which represents the Chinese, and the MIC which represents the Indians. There are also smaller political political parties in the ruling coalition, but most of them purport to represent a race, or a religion. The opposition coalition is also broadly the same, but with the exit of PAS, the alliance is broken.

    Malaysia thus practices communal politics.

    Singapore is precisely the opposite.

    The PAP is a multi-racial, multi-religious political party that represents the diverse interests of all Singaporeans. Our major opposition political parties are also the same. The GRC system is set up to ensure minority representation, but all MPs were elected by a diverse electorate.

    We thus do not have Malay MPs championing Malay causes, Chinese MPs championing Chinese causes and so on. Unlike the Malaysian Parliament, our Parliament is not structured this way. Bringing up narrow communal causes in Parliament is thus divisive precisely because our political system, and our Parliament, was designed to ensure that we do not practice communal politics. We elected our MPs to represent us, regardless of our race or religion, not because of it.

    Workers Party MP Faisal Manap was elected by the multi-racial electorate of Aljunied GRC. He was not elected only by the Malays or Muslims. He represents people of all races and all religions in Aljunied GRC.

    He should remember that.

     

    Source: Calvin Cheng

  • Muhammad Ridhwan Creates History As Singapore’s First WBA Champion

    Muhammad Ridhwan Creates History As Singapore’s First WBA Champion

    Three-time SEA Games bronze medalist Muhammad Ridhwan became Singapore’s first-ever World Boxing Association (WBA) champion when he captured the Asia Super Featherweight title at the Singapore Fighting Championships (SFC) 5: Combat Redefined event at the Singapore Foochow Association on Saturday.

    In the main event of the night, the 29-year-old defeated Indonesia’s top-ranked featherweright Waldo Sabu via a technical knockout (TKO) two and a half minutes into the second round of the 10-round fight. The fight started brightly with both fighters exchanging a flurry of blows but in the end, it was Sabu succumbed to a non-stop barrage of hits from Ridhwan, with the Singaporean’s final punch bringing him to his knees.

    A proud Ridhwan, who is the head coach and co-founder of local boxing gym Legends Fight Sport, said after the fight: “I am honoured by this win and I’m happy I had the opportunity to go up against such an experienced fighter like Waldo.

    “He did not back down during the two rounds, but I did not want to leave the ring without that belt. I will continue to bring pride to my gym and to Singapore.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Garbage Truck Dangles Precariously On 3rd Floor Of Incineration Complex, SCDF To The Rescue

    Garbage Truck Dangles Precariously On 3rd Floor Of Incineration Complex, SCDF To The Rescue

    A driver was trapped in a garbage truck, dangling precariously over a third-floor railing of an incineration complex in the Senoko area on Monday (April 10) night.

    A photo circulating on WhatsApp showed a man in the front of a Sembcorp truck dangling over a railing. A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer is shown at the site, along with what appears to be an SCDF vehicle on the paved road below.

    SCDF received a call for help at about 7.20pm for a driver who was trapped in a garbage truck on the third-level ramp of an incineration complex at 30 Attap Valley.

    He was rescued and sent to KTP Hospital for observation.

     

    Source: ROADS.sg

  • Netizens Angry Over NTU’s Elitist Email

    Netizens Angry Over NTU’s Elitist Email

    An e-mail sent out by Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) to its final-year students has raised the ire of a number of undergraduates and netizens.

    Last Wednesday, Mr Joel Chong, a final-year student at the HSS, uploaded a screen-shot of the e-mail, which asked for inspirational stories from its undergraduates.

    Besides stories from prodigies, outstanding undergraduates with multiple job offers awaiting them, and those who have overcome great odds, the school also asked for stories from “graduating VIP students from an important or well-known family, sons or daughters of politicians, professors, celebrities etc”.

    That line has angered a number of netizens, and Mr Chong’s post has since garnered more than 400 likes and over 700 shares.

    Speaking to The New Paper yesterday, Mr Jonathan Ang, 23, a third-year student at HSS, said: “Why does it even matter what your surname is? That group shouldn’t even be there at all, it’s not about phrasing but the subject matter itself that is wrong.”

    Miss Emi Morihata, 21, a third-year student at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information, was also disappointed with the HSS.

    “Their view of ‘inspirational stories’ is so superficial.

    “The fact that they are setting these narrow-minded measurements as indicators of an eligible candidate already shows that they are just doing it for the sake of publicity to showcase the school.

    “Graduation is a celebration of the students who have worked hard through the years. If they really want to highlight these hardworking people who overcame challenges during their academic life, such indicators won’t be on the e-mail in the first place.”

    Responding to Mr Chong’s Facebook post last week, a spokesman for NTU felt he had been unfair in singling out the particular line, causing “the spirit and meaning of our open request for nominations” to be “misinterpreted and distorted”.

    Responding to queries from TNP yesterday, an NTU spokesman said: “We understand the concerns raised and it was never our intention to focus on only individuals of certain backgrounds.

    “The highlighted line could have been better phrased.

    “Convocation is a celebration of our students’ achievements and knowledge, and as always, we will be as inclusive as possible and portray this by featuring stories of students from all walks of life.”

    Sociologist Tan Ern Ser felt the line in the e-mail suggested elitism.

    “In a meritocratic society, we celebrate achieved status – that is, achieved through individual merit, ability and diligence – rather than social background, which is not within our control.

    “Highlighting a person’s social background is not only elitist but also contrary to our core values.

    “Perhaps, the ones who penned those requirements have good reasons for doing so, and I am sure many would like to know what those reasons are,” he said.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

     

     

  • Malaysia Foreign Ministry Notes Apology, Why Zed Zaidi Still Barking?

    Malaysia Foreign Ministry Notes Apology, Why Zed Zaidi Still Barking?

    The common perception is that people from you can trust people from your own race and religion more than you can trust others of different background. Seems like Zed Zaidi is on a one-man mission to dispel this notion. He is really trying his darndest to make life difficult for Singaporean Malay artistes in Malaysia, to limit their working opportunities there. Bangsa, bahasa, budaya, agama dan karya taruk tepi….

    I think what everyone wants to know, Malaysians and Singaporeans alike, is, what’s wrong with him????

    He doesn’t accept the apology. So what? Zed Zaidi thinks he is more powerful and influential than he actually is. Najip Ali and other Singaporean artistes can continue to earn a living because they have the talent and the dedication.

    Even Malaysia Foreign Ministry also noted the apology already and stated its wish that something like that do not re-occur, to preserve the good ties between the two countries?

    Zed Zaidi thinks he is more important that the foreign ministry?

    Empty vessels make the most noise.

     

    Seniman Seniwati

    Reader Contribution