Blog

  • Dr Tan Cheng Bock: By-Election Result Is Victory For Multiculturalism

    Dr Tan Cheng Bock: By-Election Result Is Victory For Multiculturalism

    A victory for Multiracialism.

    The results of the Bukit Batok by-election clearly show that a minority candidate can win an election on his own.

    This win by Murali is significant because he won his seat as a member of a minority race in a predominantly (75%) Chinese constituency. And the win is even more telling because it was won in a by-election. Recent past by-election results have not been in favour of the ruling party eg Ponggol East by-election.

    Apart from the many other factors that contributed to his win, an important observation was that, race did not affect his performance of 62%. It is a victory for multiracialism and a sign that voters are more discerning and colour blind.

    The fear that a minority candidate cannot win on his own, resulted in the creation of Group Representation Constituency (GRC) after GE1988. The setting up of this GRC was to address this early concern that minority races may not be represented in Parliament if Singaporeans vote along racial lines.

    This victory by Murali has put paid to this fear and should pave the way for the removal of any race-based politics in future.

     

    Source: Dr Tan Cheng Bock

  • ACCIRD – Madrasah Students More Confident And Critical

    ACCIRD – Madrasah Students More Confident And Critical

    “Madrasah students have definitely changed…” is what crossed my mind as I sat through the talk given by Mr Gerald Kong from the ACCIRD about Christianity and Catholicism to students at Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah this morning. Unlike madrasah students of the past, these students are unafraid and unapologetic about asking the difficult questions and are much more critical of what is presented to them.

    Harmony Centre 2

    Some questions include what is the nature of the Pope in Christianity andthe problem of papal succession, another student asked if Jesus truly is God then why does he need to sacrifice himself as the Son to bring about salvation and why was it done in such a violent manner. Aside from theological questions there were some who were curious about how Christians and Muslims can work together to combat extremism and bigotry, in short it was a riveting Q&A session.

    Harmony Centre 3

    Hopefully the Madrasahs and schools will continue to engage us in bringing such talks to their students in the future, looks like we can expect more exciting times ahead…

     

    Source: Harmony Centre

  • Masjid Al Ansar Raih Anugerah Emas Dalam Usaha Terapkan Mesra Pengguna

    Masjid Al Ansar Raih Anugerah Emas Dalam Usaha Terapkan Mesra Pengguna

    Buat pertama kalinya, sebuah institusi masjid berjaya merangkul anugerah emas atas usahanya menerapkan unsur mesra pengguna.

    Masjid Al Ansar juga menerima pujian atas penggunaan ruang yang bijak dalam reka bentuk masjid.

    Anugerah tersebut diberikan kepada masjid Al Ansar bagi pensijilan Tanda Reka Bentuk Universal Penguasa Bangunan dan Binaan (BCA). Ia adalah satu-satunya tempat ibadah daripada 25 projek yang menerima pengiktirafan tahun ini.

    Apakah ciri-ciri masjid Al Ansar yang melayakkannya merangkul anugerah emas?

    KONSEP TERBUKA

    Apabila anda melangkah masuk ke masjid Al Ansar, apa yang akan anda rasakan ialah keluasan masjid yang terletak di Bedok North itu. Berbeza dengan masjid Al Ansar yang lama, masjid yang berwajah baru itu menerapkan konsep terbuka dari segi rekaannya.

    Pengerusi Masjid Al Ansar, Zahid Ahmad, berkata: “Salah satu keunikan Al Ansar ialah mungkin dari seni bina, rekaannya, agak terbuka. Yang tidak ada fungsi dinding luar atau pagar. Ia konsep terbuka. Kerana saya dan jawatankuasa, semasa kami membuat reka bentuk itu, dari peringkat rekaan lagi, kami rasakan Islam itu agama terbuka, jadi ia tidak semestinya tertutup.”

    PENGGUNAAN RUANG YANG INOVATIF

    Penggunaan ruang yang inovatif dan bijak juga turut diserap dalam rekaan masjid Al Ansar.

    Encik Zahid menambah: “Kita juga ada kawasan legar atau The Plaza di depan, agak terbuka. Saya kira ini adalah salah satu kawasan legar yang terbesar di masjid.

    “Ia mempunyai pelbagai guna, ia bukan sahaja untuk dewan solat pada hari Jumaat tetapi digunakan bagi aktiviti-aktiviti lain seperti untuk kelas-kelas agama kita, kanak-kanak berkumpul, sebagai tempat mereka beriadah dan bermain dan juga aktiviti-aktiviti masjid yang lain. Kalau masjid lama, kurang kita ada aktiviti sedemikian.”

    Bagi memaksimakan ruang yang diberi, menara masjid, iaitu satu-satunya bahagian yang kekal dari bangunan masjid yang lama, kini dijadikan terowong lif.

    MESRA KELUARGA, WARGA TUA

    Bukan itu sahaja, ciri-ciri Masjid Al Ansar yang mesra keluarga dan warga tua turut mendapat perhatian.

    Memandangkan kebanyakan jemaah warga emas datang dari kawasan Chai Chee Street, sebuah pintu masuk khas sudahpun disediakan bagi mereka.

    Mereka yang berkerusi roda pula boleh mengggunakan tanjakan yang disediakan. Tempat mengambil wudhu dan ruang solat utama juga berada berhampiran dengan pintu masuk khas itu.

    Ciri-ciri mesra warga tua itulah antara faktor yang membuat Masjid Al Ansar mendapat emas bagi Tanda Reka Bentuk Universal BCA.

    Sebelum ini, masjid Al Mawaddah dan Kampung Siglap menerima gangsa dalam kategori yang sama. Masjid Al Ansar merupakan antara sembilan projek yang menerima emas.

    Secara keseluruhannya, 25 projek mendapat Tanda Reka Bentuk Universal BCA tahun ini, berbanding 37 projek pada tahun lalu.

    Selain Masjid Al Ansar, masjid baru, Al Islah, baru-baru ini turut mendapat sorotan apabila reka bentuk bangunannya diulas dalam majalah seni bina antarabangsa The Architectural Review yang berpangkalan di London.

    Antara lai, majalah tersebut menyebut tentang reka bentuk Al Islah yang mengikut arus kemodenan namun masih lagi mengekalkan ciri-ciri keislaman dalam sebuah masjid.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Alfred Dodwell: Amos Yee Re-Arrested

    Alfred Dodwell: Amos Yee Re-Arrested

    Blogger Amos Yee has been arrested again.

    News website TODAY reported that Yee’s former lawyer, Mr Alfred Dodwell, confirmed that Yee was arrested on Wednesday (May 11). Mr Dodwell was contacted by Yee’s mother for help.

    Yee was being probed in December for making religiously offensive remarks online in November.

    According to TODAY, Yee did not report to a police station when instructed to do so then. Police said that Yee left Singapore “and remained overseas for a prolonged period until his return in April”. The blogger was last spotted attending Bukit Batok by-election rallies held by the Singapore Democratic Party early this month.

    When served a Warrant of Attendance upon his return to report, he failed to do so again.

    TODAY also said that Yee uploaded a video last week of the police presenting him a warrant to appear before the police for investigation on Tuesday.

    Yee was found guilty on May 12, 2015, of uploading an obscene image and making remarks intending to hurt the feelings of Christians in a video. He was sentenced to 4 weeks jail on July 7, with his sentence backdated after spending nearly 50 days in remand.

     

    Source: http://news.asiaone.com

  • Public Office Holders See Heng Swee Keat As Invaluable, Hardworking

    Public Office Holders See Heng Swee Keat As Invaluable, Hardworking

    WELL-WISHES for the hospitalised Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat poured in from his colleagues, as they portrayed an invaluable minister who toiled at fulfilling his responsibilities.

    Mr Heng, 54, suffered a stroke and collapsed at a weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon. He is now undergoing treatment at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

    Here are some comments from public figures:

    Dr Tony Tan, President:
    Hope he has a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time.

    Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister:
    Hope Swee Keat will be alright – he is a valuable member of my team.

    Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister:
    Let’s hope and pray for Heng Swee Keat, who is being treated in hospital after suffering a stroke during Cabinet meeting late this afternoon. He is one of Singapore’s finest sons, and a leader with much promise.

    K Shanmugam, Home Affairs and Law Minister:
    Have been working closely with Swee Keat on a number of things. I could see that he was very tired. I have been telling him that he was overworking so much that it will affect his health. He was carrying an incredible load, handling the Finance Ministry, various important projects, including SG50, and the Committee for Future Economy – this Committee has the crucial task of charting our economic future. Praying for him.

    Ng Eng Hen, Defence Minister:
    Cabinet colleagues are expectedly shaken because Swee Keat collapsed suddenly during our meeting this afternoon. We managed to resuscitate him but he and his family will now need all our prayers and support as he undergoes critical procedures and treatment for the stroke. Let us together hope earnestly for his recovery.

    Lee Yi Shyan, Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC:
    I am saddened to learn that Swee Keat has suffered a stroke. A year ago, after learning I suffered a TIA (transient ischemic attack or mini stroke), Swee Keat advised me to go slow and doing “less is more”. Yet Swee Keat works ever so hard himself. I really wish he would recover soon and completely. Please pray for him.

     

    Source: www.businesstimes.com.sg

deneme bonusu