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Activist: Malaysian Malays Still Cannot Accept Non-Muslim PM

PETALING JAYA: The majority of those who responded to a survey conducted by social activist Fahmi Reza rejected the possibility of Malaysia having a non-Muslim prime minister some day.

According to a Malay Mail Online report, out of 1,344 respondents, 39% said they could accept such a situation, while 31% said that as long as the prime minister was a Muslim, they would be agreeable to it.

The other 30%, however, completely rejected the possibility of having a non-Malay premier.

The one-day survey conducted on Fahmi’s Twitter account revealed the prevalence of mistrust among the Malays towards those of other ethnicities which he said portrayed Malaysians’ failure as a society.

Speaking to the English news portal, he said the country’s education and political systems, which had increasingly become polarised based on race, were not helping the situation.

“But at the same time, this problem exists because there is a lack of interaction and sharing among races and an in-depth understanding among ourselves in society.”

Targeted only at Malays, Fahmi said he conducted the survey because he was interested in finding out their views over such a possibility.

The graphic designer acknowledged that the results of his survey may be flawed as anyone could have responded to it, but said that was a trivial matter as the survey’s primary aim was to get the public speaking on the issue.

It was also a follow-up to a previous question he posed on Facebook, asking his followers if they were prepared to openly discuss matters related to racial discrimination and racism, with those of a different ethnicity.

“I posted this question because I wished there were more spaces and opportunities where these exchanges could really happen in real life, and not just on social media,” he said, adding that the poll was merely a starting point for open talks on the rarely discussed topic of racism.

“I am actually planning to hold a few series of workshops about the issue of racial discrimination and racism that is intended to create a space and opportunity for this issue to be discussed openly by workshop participants from different ethnic backgrounds.”

Public policy advocacy group Centre for a Better Tomorrow had on March 17, released the results of a survey it conducted last year where 60% of the 1,056 Peninsular Malaysians polled claimed they were not racist.

Out of the 60%, half however said they would not vote for a candidate coming from a different race, while another 34% felt race-based politics was still relevant.

Source: www.freemalaysiatoday.com

June 6, 2016
Faisal Manap: Ramadan Is Opportunity To Become Better Individuals

Assalamualaikum Wr. Wb.
May Peace Be Upon You

Ramadan Kareem to my fellow Muslims.

Please allow me to do a brief sharing regarding the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar (a total of 12 months). During this month, fasting is made obligatory to all Muslims who have reached the age of puberty.

Now you may ask why do Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan?

The feeling of hunger and thirst that one experience during fasting will help one to develop compassion for those who are less fortunate and underprivileged. It also allow one to build up a sense of self-control and willpower.

The holy month of Ramadan is also a period for Muslims to enhance or ‘recharge’ our spirituality through inner reflection and devotion to God which leads to a greater sense of humility.

With better self-control, willpower, compassion and humility, one will then be able to become an individual who will benefit his community and nation.

Source: Muhammad Faisal Abdul Manap

June 6, 2016
Indonesia Activists Apologise For Planning Demonstration At Singapore Embassy

The group supporting Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on Sunday (Jun 5) apologised for planning to stage a demonstration in front of the Singapore embassy in Jakarta.

Singgih Widiyastono, one of the founders of Teman Ahok, or “Friends of Ahok”, said he regretted that the group reacted in a provocative manner when two of its members, Amalia Ayuningtyas and Richard Saerang, were questioned by Singapore officials on Saturday.

“We issued a statement saying that we will deploy a mass movement. We were just being emotional because (Amalia and Richard) were supposed to return home at 10pm, but they didn’t,” said Mr Singgih during a news conference held at the Friends of Ahok secretariat in Jakarta on Sunday (Jun 5).

Teman Ahok is a volunteer-run group campaigning for Mr Basuki’s attempt to contest as an independent candidate in Jakarta’s gubernatorial election next year.

On Saturday, the group said that if Amalia and Richard were not released immediately, it would go to the Singapore embassy in Jakarta with its “entire strength that the Friends of Ahok possesses.”

Their threat went viral on social media. Numerous social media posts in Indonesia had alleged that the two Indonesian activists were detained at Changi Airport.

The Singapore Embassy in Jakarta on Sunday denied claims that they were detained, saying the pair were denied entry into Singapore as they were intending to carry out political activities in the city-state.

“Two members of ‘Teman Ahok’ were not detained while they were in Singapore,” said the statement issued by the embassy. “They arrived in Singapore on Jun 4, 2016, and were interviewed by Singapore officials.

“They informed immigration authorities that they were in Singapore to conduct political activities including raising campaign funds. They were therefore denied entry into Singapore and arrangements were made for them to return to Indonesia,” it said.

The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore also issued a statement saying that the pair were “not detained” in Singapore, and reiterated that “Singapore law forbids political activities from being conducted in Singapore, and this law should be respected”.

The statement added: “The embassy had been in communication with Singapore authorities to facilitate their return to Jakarta on Jun 4, 2016. However, because of technical difficulties in the field, the two activists could not return on the last Garuda flight departing Singapore and would depart on the first Garuda flight out of Singapore on Jun 5, 2016, instead.

“Singapore immigration authorities had provided accommodation and sufficient services to the two activists,” the statement said.

The two Indonesians arrived back in Jakarta at 11am on Sunday.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

June 6, 2016
Harga Barangan Makanan Diturunkan Hampir 70% Di UAE

ABU DHABI: Harga bagi 5,000 barangan makanan akan dikurangkan sehingga 70 peratus di pasar-pasar raya di serata Amiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) sepanjang Ramadan ini.

Perkara itu diumumkan oleh Kementerian Ekonomi UAE, menurut laporan akhbar tempatan, The National.

Langkah-langkah lain bagi memastikan harga barangan makanan terus rendah pada bulan puasa termasuk lebih banyak import, perjanjian dengan para pembekal dan ratusan pemeriksaan yang akan dijalankan, kata pengarah jabatan perlindungan pengguna kementerian itu, Dr Hashem Al Nuaimi.

Potongan harga dan subsidi bagi 5,000 barangan makanan itu bernilai Dh250 juta (S$92 juta), kata Dr Al Nuaimi.

Menurut The National, Dr Al Nuaimi berkata, pihaknya mengadakan mesyuarat dengan 55 pembekal barangan makanan asas, seperti beras, tepung, minyak, jus dan susu, serta dengan 540 pasar raya dan cawangan lain untuk menggesa mereka menaikkan jumlah import.

Ini, katanya, agar keperluan yang meningkat semasa Ramadan dapat dipenuhi namun pada masa yang sama, memastikan harga barangan makanan kekal rendah.

Pihaknya juga merancang untuk menjalankan lebih 400 pemeriksaan terhadap pasar-pasar di UAE untuk memastikan para peruncit memberikan diskaun tersebut.

Potongan harga pada barangan makanan pada Ramadan kali ini, adalah lebih tinggi berbanding Ramadan lalu, kata ketua pegawai operasi Almaya Supermarkets, Bejoy Thomas.

Encik Thomas ditukil The National sebagai berkata, pihaknya mengurangkan harga beberapa barangan makanan asas seperti beras, minyak, produk susu dan ayam beku sebanyak 50 hingga 70 peratus menjelang Ramadan.

Ini katanya, hasil harga komoditi yang lebih rendah, pengurangan kos pengedar dan usaha secara bersama oleh para peruncit.

Menurut The National, warga UAE, Mohammed Al Dhaheri, 73 tahun, memuji langkah pemerintah namun katanya, jarang melihat harga makanan dikurangkan semasa bulan Ramadan.

“Setiap tahun kita dengar harga akan dikurangkan, tetapi sebenarnya, harga tidak pernah turun,” katanya.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

June 6, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Be Honest – Why Are We Selectively Indignant To Racism?

-When people who disagree with the government are harassed-

*silence*

-When politicians one likes spout racist comments-

*silence*

-When fences for foreign workers are mooted-

*silence*

-When Donald Trump suggests a wall to be built on the border, Muslims to be monitored, and that Mexicans are rapists-

‘This is absolutely outrageous. No human being who believes in the values of liberty and democracy, and basic human rights, should tolerate this. This is an attack on all of us. I really hope Americans do not vote for this demagogue. He is a threat to the entire world.’

——

Selective outrage sure is not limited to Fox News.

If we are inconsistent in our indignation toward similar events/actions, it is then perhaps timely to touch our hearts and ask ourselves what we are actually disgusted with or angry about. Our selective outrage could reveal more about ourselves than about people like Trump.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

June 5, 2016