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Singapore Bans ISIS-Linked Newspaper Al Fatihin

A newspaper linked to the Islamic State Group has been gazetted a prohibited publication under the Undesirable Publications Act.

Al Fatihin, which is published by Furat Media, an ISIS affiliated media agency, has been circulated across South-east Asia including in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, southern Thailand, as well as southern Philippines, according to reports.

It will be an offence to distribute or possess the newspaper, or come into possession of the newspaper, but fail to deliver the copy to the Police. Those convicted of an offence may be liable to a fine, imprisonment or both.

“The Singapore Government has zero tolerance for terrorist propaganda and has therefore decided to prohibit Al Fatihin in Singapore,” said the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said on Friday (July 22).

“ISIS’ intention to use the newspaper, Al Fatihin, to spread extremist ideology in the region is deplorable. The contents of Al Fatihin and the fact that it is published in Bahasa Indonesia, which is used by many in this region, confirm the objectives behind the publication to influence the people in this region and to cause disharmony,” said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

“Extremism has no place in Singapore – it cannot and must not take root here,” said Dr Yaacob. “We take a very strong stance against terrorist propaganda and we will take decisive action as necessary. Hence, I have instructed for the publication to be prohibited in Singapore.”

Source: TODAY Online

July 23, 2016
Identity Theft By Own Elder Brother Lands Singaporean In Trouble

In the last five years, he has been wrongfully arrested while trying to leave Singapore, summoned to court to pay a $15,000 bail he did not put up, and had his identity fraudulently used to apply for jobs.

Mr Mohammad Rizal Mohd Sabri, 27, a delivery rider, has had to explain himself time and again to the authorities – because his older brother had been impersonating him.

While his sibling Muhammad Redzuan Mohd Sabri, 28, had been sentenced to jail last year for the impersonation offences, it did not spell the end of trouble for Mr Rizal.

On Wednesday, Redzuan pleaded guilty in court to three new charges, with three others taken into consideration. The charges include impersonating Mr Rizal to change his SingPass password, and applying for duplicate driving licences.

Redzuan, who was on the same day sentenced to eight months’ jail, was also found to have misappropriated $700 from a courier company he worked for – a crime which resulted in Mr Rizal being arrested at the Woodlands checkpoint in January. He was transferred to the Bedok Police Division and questioned before being let off.

Mr Naresh Kumar Maryapan, the director of the courier firm, Saiwah Enterprise, said he verified through police photographs that they had arrested the wrong person. He added: “The man who took the $700 had applied for a job using a photocopy of Mr Rizal’s NRIC and a driving licence made in Mr Rizal’s name.”

While Redzuan will go to jail again – he has already served a 17-month sentence and been fined $700 for various offences – the mix-ups over the years have caused Mr Rizal much grief.

Redzuan has impersonated his younger sibling on over a dozen occasions over four years.

“My reputation was tarnished,” said Mr Rizal.

Redzuan began impersonating his younger brother in 2011, lodging a police report to say that he lost a wallet, NRIC and driving licence. Redzuan used this report to identify himself as his brother, to further his “impersonation exploits”, court documents read. A year later, he took Mr Rizal’s driving licence. Mr Rizal told police that his military identity card and a photocopy of his NRIC also went missing.

Redzuan found employment in 2013 as a delivery driver in two different companies and registered a mobile phone line in Mr Rizal’s name – racking up a bill of over $1,300. In 2014, Redzuan used a photocopy of Mr Rizal’s NRIC to post a $15,000 bail for an accused person. Mr Rizal said he was shocked to be summoned to court when the accused person, whom he does not know, jumped bail. That year, Redzuan also made his brother take the rap after he was caught driving a lorry without a licence.

The incidents have soured their relationship. Mr Rizal said with a sigh: “We don’t talk any more. He has caused me a lot of trouble.”

He cannot change his identification number, but Mr Rizal plans to change his name in September to stop his identity from being misused.

Security experts said Mr Rizal’s case illustrates the need for individuals to safeguard their personal information, like NRIC numbers and identity cards, which can be misused if they fall into the wrong hands.

Mr T. Mogan, managing director of Dragnet Private Investigation and Security Consultants, said: “If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, immediately go to the police and let them know to whom and when you divulged your personal information .”

Mr David Ng, director of DP Quest Investigation Consultancy, said that as a driving licence bears the same identification number as an IC, many banks and authorities accept it as a valid form of identification. “Checks by service providers may not be stringent enough.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 22, 2016
Help! My Neighbour Is Camping Along The Corridor

Stomper Anonymous’ neighbours have set up a tent along the corridor of the Jalan Bukit Merah block he lives in and camped outside for more than a week.

According to the Stomper, his 12th-storey neighbours at Block 105 Jalan Bukit Merah even installed their own lights and fans.

In the photos he said are taken by his neighbours, a purple tent and a mattress can be seen. The wiring of the block had also been tampered with, presumably during their light and fan installation.

The Stomper said:

“They have been there for more than a week. They are always sleeping outside their house.

“Neighbours walk past but they cannot do anything.”

When asked if they had been confronted for setting up camp in the common walkway, the Stomper said it was ‘no use’.

Source: www.stomp.com.sg

July 22, 2016
Singapura Tidak Boleh Biarkan Serangan Pengganas Pecah Belahkan Negara

Keharmonian kaum antara kaum dan agama berbeza adalah prinsip asas bagi Singapura.

Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong berkata demikian sempena Hari Keharmonian Kaum hari ini (21 Jul).

Dalam satu catatan Facebook, PM Lee menulis rakyat Singapura harus merai kepelbagaian mereka dan berkongsi adat dan budaya satu sama lain.

Beliau berkata di banyak negara ada lebih banyak kes orang menolak kepelbagaian.

PM Lee merujuk kepada serangan pengganas baru-baru ini di Orlando, Amerika Syarikat, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nice di Perancis dan Puchong di Malaysia.

Setiap kejadian itu kata beliau sifatkan sebagai menakutkan, didorong kebencian dan menyayat hati.

Beliau menambah bahawa Singapura harus sentiasa bersatu sebagai satu bangsa, dan tidak membenarkan keadaan sedemikian memisah atau memecahbelahkan negara.

Sekolah di Singapura memperingati Hari Keharmonian Kaum bagi mengingati rusuhan kaum di Singapura pada 1964.

Dua rusuhan kaum selama lima hari itu mengakibatkan lebih 30 orang terbunuh dan sekurang-kurangnya 500 cedera.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

July 22, 2016
Musings Of A Chinese Muslim Convert: Muslims Must Reach Out

I consider myself well-educated, well-read and well-travelled. But that all don’t mean anything when I drive to the mosque in my luxury car, my $28,000 Rolex on my wrist with my tattoos showing. Some would wonder why a contractor is here – is there any work to be done?

The stares don’t stop when I perform my wudu and walk into the prayer hall. And yes, I’ve been shouted at and talked down to, a few times as well. As much as born-Muslims hate to admit it, they judge on physical appearance. They don’t care if I’ve donated thousands of dollars to the mosque or other charities, or if I’ve helped some hard-up people get a job. They only wish to see what they want to see.

If this is how I am being perceived, what about the other born-Muslim brothers who have more tattoos than me, who dress more lavishly or are publicly recognised in the papers for any crimes that they may have committed? What then? Would the stares stop? Or would the tongues stop wagging? Will people like us, who have chosen a different lifestyle be shown the same welcome?

The 2015 Central Narcotics Bureau statistics on drug abuse (http://www.cnb.gov.sg/Libraries/CNB_Newsroom_Files/CNB_2015_full_year_stats_final.sflb.ashx) show that there is an increase of Malay drug abusers of 7% from 2104 to 2105. Although that 7% translate to 114 persons, it’s still 1 person too many.

How many good Muslims have we lost to drugs, to anger, to violence, to arrogance? No doubt, for the most part is our own DNA. But we have been saying that their weak family ties, poor morals, or be it their social or economic structure is to blamed. But as a community, how often do WE blame ourselves? At some point or another in time, we would’ve passed judgement – leading to disrespect, not giving them the charity of a kind word or action. ALL of us are guilty of that. Instead of expecting them to change, why can’t we see that change needs to come from us?

I remember the very first time I visited Masjid Salim Mattar – 2 elderly men – the Imam and the Bilai, welcomed me with their warm smiles!!! Subahan Allah! The Bilai speaks good Hokkien too! How wonderful is that? I’ve not been there for a long time now because parking can be quite challenging, and I also prefer to go to the Masjid nearer my place. I still get calls and text messages saying that they miss me over there. Such is the community in Salim Mattar! May Allah bless all of them for their kindness and sincerity!

On the other hand, I got told off by one elderly man in a Masjid in Bukit Merah (I’m not too good with roads – so I may be mistaken), so unless I’m in a hurry and I know I won’t be able to perform my solat on time, I’ll not go there. Even if I may be closer geographically, I’ll skip that Masjid and drive further down. Not because I’m afraid of confrontations – oh no, not that. My close friends will tell you otherwise. But I see no need to have ill-feelings, especially when I want to perform my solat.

I used to give salam to the person on my left and on my right during congregational prayers. But I’ve been met with indifference and annoyance that I stopped. Not because I gave up – but I just don’t wish to disturb anyone. Maybe it’s just the culture. But I read somewhere that we should greet one another with at least a smile. In Malaysia, it is very different. Most people with give or return salams with both hands.

We, as a community need to do more. Opening our doors is not good enough. We don’t need to drag those who lost faith and hope in the religion to the Masjid. We can go to them. We can reach them through how we display our faith. If social or mainstream education on the evils of drug abuse, on hate and arrogance fails – as it has on them, then surely our faith must follow-up.

Do not gossip or back-talk on someone who has messed up. Instead, offer a prayer.

Source: http://chineseconvert.com/straying-from-religion

July 22, 2016