Rilek1Corner

Blog

  • Najib Razak: Although My Father Or Grandfather Isn’t From Kerala, I Am Known As The Father Of Indian Development

    Najib Razak: Although My Father Or Grandfather Isn’t From Kerala, I Am Known As The Father Of Indian Development

    In what may be another attempt to court ethnic minority voters, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has declared himself a champion of development for the Indian community. He highlighted that he insisted on appointing a senior civil servant to head the Customs Department, despite objections to the candidate’s ethnicity.

    Addressing the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) general assembly yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “Although my father or grandfather isn’t from Kerala, I am known as the father of Indian development.”

    It was a sarcastic broadside against his mentor turned critic Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now chairman of the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition. The former premier’s lineage includes ancestors from the southern Indian state.

    Mr Najib told the 2,000 MIC delegates that the opposition is merely trying to confuse people by labelling Malaysia a failed state.

    “The question is, what have they (the opposition) done for the Indians compared with what BN (Barisan Nasional) has done, more so after I took over the leadership of the country from Abdullah Badawi,” he said.

    “With his (Mr Abdullah’s) permission, I initiated (a) Cabinet committee on Indian affairs to further develop the Indian community because I realised that without intervention and political will, Indians would be neglected, marginalised and left behind.” The MIC is a component party of the ruling BN coalition.

    Mr Najib said he also prioritised Indians in the selection of the new director-general of Customs. “I do not mind telling you, even the appointment of the new director-general of Customs was difficult. I received petitions not to pick an Indian for the post,” he recounted.

    “I said no, he (Mr T Subromaniam) deserves the post because he is the most senior. I stood my ground.”

    In March, Mr Subromaniam was appointed to head the department. His appointment came despite grassroots efforts to petition for the post to go to a Malay candidate.

    However, some Indian community leaders were sceptical about Mr Najib’s comments. “When he held many important posts in the government prior to becoming the prime minister, what has he done for the Indians? Basically nothing,” said Mr A Rajaretinam, president of Malaysian Indian group Rapat.

    The Premier is believed to have been wooing the Chinese and Indian minorities, fuelling speculation that the general election could be held later this year.

    In July, Mr Najib said the government will study a request from the Indian-Muslim community to be recognised as Bumiputera. Earlier this month, he said he wanted to see a “stronger Chinese representation in the BN government”.

     

    Source: http://www.todayonline.com

  • Commentary: I Think Halimah Has What It Takes To Be People’s President

    Commentary: I Think Halimah Has What It Takes To Be People’s President

    I can understand the unhappiness expressed by some Singaporeans with the Presidential Election, as they felt that they had been deprived of a choice (Hundreds protest against reserved Presidential Election; Sept 16, online).

    A contest would have been good, as it would have given Singaporeans the opportunity to vote for someone they believe in, who can represent them on the world stage.

    With the decision made, however, perhaps we can now give Mdm Halimah Yacob a chance to prove herself.

    A dynamic politician or leader is one who shows empathy and is willing to speak out on an issue, no matter how thorny it is. To the best of my knowledge, Mdm Halimah is one such person.

    During her tenure as a union leader, Minister of State and Member of Parliament, she often spoke up for workers’ welfare and supported the marginalised in our society.

    While I was a volunteer for six months with Club Heal, a voluntary welfare organisation helping Muslims and other Singaporeans with mental health issues, I could see that she felt for those facing adversities in life.

    Despite her busy schedule, she found time to attend Club Heal’s events and mingle with patients and their family members.

    She is a people person, as she is humble and mixes with Singaporeans from all walks of life.

    I am confident that with her positive energy, she will also become the people’s President.

    The two other applicants had mentioned that they wanted to serve all Singaporeans, but were disappointed not to have been able to contest the election. They can still serve Singapore by considering setting up a charity each to help the needy.

     

    Source: Raymond Anthony Fernando from http://www.todayonline.com

     

  • Masagos Zulkifli: Nothing Natural About Our Racial Harmony; It’s There BECAUSE We Keep An Eye All The Time

    Masagos Zulkifli: Nothing Natural About Our Racial Harmony; It’s There BECAUSE We Keep An Eye All The Time

    #masagos been reflecting PM sharing on Saturday as he recalled why he pushed for a reserved election for the minority communities although he knew it was going to be extremely difficult to carry the ground with it. PM could have kicked the can down the road for his successor to deal with it but he’s clear there’s no certainty the next PM is able to do it in time before a crisis makes it necessary.

    I acknowledge our race relations is good where Singapore is today and that it’s heartening how as a society, we are all on the same page in looking forward towards a future where we won’t need a reserved election. Some have concluded since it’s all good we need not make a special effort and unnecessarily raise our race issues to the fore.

    In truth, there’s nothing natural about our racial harmony – it’s there BECAUSE we keep an eye on it all the time and make many adjustments along the way – formation of MUIS, EIP for housing, GRC and now a reserved presidency. Even for MUIS, it was originally set up as requested by the community to help administer family laws for Muslims – now we’re glad there’s a MUIS to lead in our guard against extremism in our community and is a great asset against terrorism. We cannot take our harmony for granted and have a short term view of policies that seek to guard it.

    I think the whole of Saturday was simply PM pointing out examples from other countries of what could go wrong if we are not careful about sensitivities around race. Myanmar is facing an immediate issue. Even in Singapore, in our more progressive state, we still have instances where our Muslim youth had been labelled as terrorist unfairly.

    A friend told me that while in Pahang his family members there praised the courage of PM to get a Malay to the Presidency in a country where he has to handle the sensitivities of tbe Chinese majority. Thats why i always feel fortunate that i live in a country where the majority puts in so much hard work to make everyone feel they belong and the minorities make adjustments so that everybody integrates with one another. #OnlyInSingapore

     

    Source: Masagos Zulkifli

  • Jemaah Haji Yang Terkandas Di KLIA Tetapi Dalam Keadaan Tenang

    Jemaah Haji Yang Terkandas Di KLIA Tetapi Dalam Keadaan Tenang

    Sekumpulan jemaah haji Singapura yang dalam perjalanan pulang dari Arab Saudi ke tanah air terkandas di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) semalam setelah pesawat mereka dipercayai mengalami masalah teknikal.

    Namun begitu, syarikat penerbangan pesawat itu, Saudia Airlines, telah menguruskan penumpang yang terjejas dan menempatkan mereka di The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur, memberikan para jemaah peluang berehat selepas menunaikan ibadah haji.

    Antara penumpang pesawat itu ialah Pengasas TM Fouzy Travels & Tours, Ustaz Tengku Mohd Fouzy Tengku Mahid Jumat, yang berkata terdapat sekitar 270 jemaah haji Singapura yang terjejas.

    “Alhamdulillah, pihak syarikat penerbangan menguruskan kami dengan baik. Mereka menempatkan kami di hotel ini. Jemaah semuanya gembira. Pemandangannya cantik, cuacanya baik.

    “Mereka ada beri maklumat terkini sekitar 12 tengah hari tadi dan menyuruh kita bersabar dan tunggu di hotel buat masa ini,” kata beliau.

    Pesawat itu telah berlepas dari Jeddah pada hari Jumaat dan tiba di KLIA semalam pada sekitar 1 petang. Pesawat itu sepatutnya berangkat ke Singapura sejam kemudian.

     

    Source: http://www.beritaharian.sg/

  • Ibu Rayu Maklumat Orang Ramai: Kemalangan Boon Lay Ragut Nyawa Haziq; Separuh Badan Danish Pula Tersiat

    Ibu Rayu Maklumat Orang Ramai: Kemalangan Boon Lay Ragut Nyawa Haziq; Separuh Badan Danish Pula Tersiat

    Memang, berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul. Kemalangan jalan raya yang berlaku pada petang Khamis lalu (14 Sep) di simpang trafik Jalan Boon Lay dan Jurong West Avenue 2, mengubah nasib Cik Norazah Adam sekeluarga.

    Segala keriangan dan ketawa senda mereka sekeluarga bagai dirampas, malah hati mereka seakan-akan dirobek bertalu-talu.

    Tidak dapat dibayangkan betapa hancur luluhnya hati Cik Norazah sekeluarga yang terpaksa menerima hakikat bahawa dua orang anaknya ‘diragut’ dalam sekelip mata – seorang meninggal dunia, dan seorang lagi sedang menderita kesakitan akibat cedera parah.

    Muhammad Haziq Juraimi, 20 tahun, meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian dan adiknya Muhammad Danish Juraimi, 17 tahun, mengalami pelbagai kecederaan teruk setelah motosikal yang mereka naiki terlibat dalam kemalangan dengan sebuah lori pembawa kontena.

    ISI MUKA, BAHU & TANGAN BAHAGIAN KANAN TERSIAT HINGGA…

    BERITAMediacorp diberitahu bahawa arwah Muhammad Haziq sedang dalam perjalanan menghantar adiknya, Muhammad Danish ke sekolah. Mereka baru sahaja sekitar lima minit bergerak dari rumah apabila nahas itu berlaku.

    Muhammad Haziq meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian sementara adiknya Danish dan motosikal yang dinaikinya, diseret lori berkenaan sehingga terperangkap di bawah lori kontena itu. Pasukan Pertahanan Awam Singapura (SCDF) yang bergegas ke tapak kemalangan kemudian, terpaksa menggunakan alat-alat hidraulik untuk mengeluarkan Danish.

    (Gambar: Watson Wong)

    Luka parah yang dialami Danish mengerikan. Segala isi di tubuh sebelah kiri muka, bahu dan tangannya tersiat keluar. Ini sehinggakan tulang bahagian kirinya jelas kelihatan.

    Dahi sebelah kirinya pula berlubang. Lebih menyayat hati, dia juga kehilangan kelopak matanya akibat kemalangan itu. Bukan itu sahaja, kedua-dua kakinya patah dan beberapa bahagian tulang belakangnya turut retak.

    DOKTOR BERUSAHA CEGAH MUKA DARIPADA JADI BUSUK

    BERITAMediacorp difahamkan bahawa para doktor di Hospital Universiti Nasional Singapura (NUH) sedang berkejar dengan masa untuk mencegah luka terbuka di bahagian wajah dan bahu Danish, daripada menjadi busuk.

    Oleh itu, pakar bedah melakukan graf kulit daripada paha Danish itu untuk ditampalkan kepada bahagian-bahagian tersebut.

    “Hanya tiga daripada 40 lebih saraf tangan yang berfungsi sekarang. Doktor akan cuba ‘curi’ saraf daripada bahagian lain di tubuhnya. Tetapi itu pun, peluang Danish menggunakan tangan kirinya amat tipis. Kecederaan di bahagian tangannya terlalu parah sekali,” luah Cik Norazah kepada BERITAMediacorp, mengenai keadaan tubuh anaknya itu.

    Meskipun mata ibu berusia 45 tahun itu bergenang dengan air mata dan suaranya tersekat-sekat dalam wawancara dengan pihak kami, beliau menggagahkan dirinya untuk menggambarkan segala kecederaan yang dialami oleh anak kesayangannya itu.

    IBU MINTA SAKSI KEMALANGAN TAMPIL KE DEPAN

    Cik Norazah sebenarnya bersedia membuka cerita kepada BERITAMediacorp demi satu tujuan. Beliau merayu supaya sesiapa sahaja yang menyaksikan kemalangan itu supaya tampil ke hadapan dan berkongsi dan memberi keterangan.

    Beliau mahu tahu, apa yang sebenarnya berlaku pada hari malang itu.

    “Saya merayu sangat kepada sesiapa, tolonglah sekiranya anda berada di tempat kejadian itu ataupun mempunyai rakaman video kamera pada kenderaan anda ketika kemalangan itu berlaku, tolonglah berikannya kepada pihak polis.”

    “Saya merayu sangat sangat… Anak sulung saya sudah meninggal dunia dan Danish sekarang pula di ICU. Saya ingin tahu perkara sebenar yang berlaku kepada anak-anak saya dan kemudian ambil tindakan seterusnya,” luah Cik Norazah kepada BERITAMediacorp.

    Cik Norazah bersama tiga orang anaknya – (dari kiri) Muhammad Danish, Muhammad Haziq dan Muhammad Baqir.

    DANISH MASIH TIDAK TAHU, ABANGNYA SUDAH TIADA

    Cik Norazah dan bekas suaminya Encik Juraimi Kamis tidak sanggup melihat anak mereka dalam keadaan menyayat hati itu. Lubuk jiwa mereka hancur luluh setiap kali anaknya itu meraung kesakitan di katil hospital.

    Namun, mereka kuatkan diri mereka kerana melihat azam Danish untuk terus hidup “amat kuat”.

    Sebagai ayah, Encik Juraimi terpaksa membuat keputusan berat untuk merahsiakan daripada Danish hakikat bahawa Haziq sudah meninggal dunia.

    “Allah sahajalah yang tahu betapa sakitnya Danish sekarang. Meskipun dia sekarang tidak boleh bercakap kerana tiub dijolok ke dalam mulutnya untuk membantunya bernafas, dia berkomunikasi dengan kami dengan menulis pada kertas. Dia beritahu bahawa dia ingin cepat sembuh dan bertemu dengan abangnya,” cerita Encik Juraimi kepada pihak kami.

    “Kami tidak sampai hati untuk memberitahunya bahawa muka dan tangannya akan cacat. Apalagi, memberitahunya bahawa abangnya sudah tiada,” tambah Encik Juraimi lagi.

    Buat masa ini, Encik Juraimi, Cik Norazah dan anak bongsu mereka, Muhammad Baqir yang berusia 16 tahun, sekadar mampu memanjatkan doa bahawa segala pembedahan yang harus Danish jalani akan berjalan dengan lancar.

    Mereka berharap sangat agar para saksi tampil ke hadapan. Itu sahaja yang mereka inginkan sebagai ibu bapa. Itu sahaja yang mereka mampu buat untuk anak kesayangan mereka itu buat masa ini.

    BERITAMediacorp cuba mendapatkan maklumat lanjut daripada pihak polis dan diberitahu bahawa siasatan masih dijalankan.

     

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg