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Should Dr Chee Give Up His Candidacy Just To Prove to PAP That The GRC System Is Flawed?

It is amusing to see supporters of the ruling party start campaigning for their party before the actual candidate does so. As expected, they have brought up the bogeyman of a poorly-run town council if Dr Chee Soon Juan becomes the Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok. Of course, these claims do not have to be rational, but they are spouted anyway. The assumption that a ward would suddenly become a slum – especially a Single Member Constituency, which is much easier to manage than a GRC – when an opposition member takes over is, to be honest, quite laughable. Moreover, they (purposely) ignore other factors that could, if not should, be considered by voters: such as alternative representation in Parliament, having more checks against the ruling party, quality of candidate (which can be measured in many ways), and so on.

But i digress.

SDP has said that Dr Chee will be contesting in the by-election. Many observers have said that they would rather see A/Prof Paul Tambyah as the candidate instead, and i have to agree. For a very simple reason: the party has always opposed the GRC, and this is an opportunity to show that the GRC system is not needed, as minority candidates would be elected regardless (i do not necessarily subscribe to this view though).

I remember watching a video of a debate between Mr Chiam See Tong and Encik Jufrie Mahmood, against senior PAP members including former Prime Ministers Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Goh Chok Tong, on the GRC. Encik Jufrie basically asserted that the system is not necessary, and that the ruling party should have the prerogative to place minority candidates in SMCs. Opposition parties would then have to field minority candidates in those wards as well. This obviously does not have to be entrenched in law, but could take the form of some sort of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between the ruling and opposition parties.

Now that PAP has announced it will field an Indian candidate, to bolster SDP’s calls for the abolition of the GRC system, i think it is only right that they too field a minority candidate. This would show that the party indeed believes in minority representation, without the aid of a GRC. Whatever the results of the by-election, the party could then truly boast that it was true to its democratic principles of both electoral fairness and representation. Otherwise, its calls would ring hollow, and the party would actually demonstrate that it just as opportunistic as any other political entity.

The way i see it, the ball is really in SDP’s court.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

March 28, 2016
Former Law Professor: Arab Culture Integral To Islam, Johor Sultan Advised

The Johor sultan should realise that Arabic culture and norms are an integral part of Islam, said constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari.

“I think the sultan of Johor should consult the menteri besar or the mufti before shooting from the hip, or else he would embarrass everybody including himself.

“He needs to realise that he is the head of Islamic religion for the state, apart from being the state head.

“There is no question of turning the society into an Arab one; the fact remains that Arabic culture and norms have become an integral part of Islam,” the former law professor said in a statement today.

He was responding to the Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar who had called on Malays to be proud of the Malay culture and not try to emulate Arabic culture.

Abdul Aziz pointed out that the term sultan itself is Arabic and rooted in the Quran.

“Perhaps the sultan of Johor ought now to be thinking of coining a new term to replace the term sultan,” he said.

Arabic term

Noting that Johor was the only state to use the term ‘ahlul hal wal aqdi’ to denote the members of succession council in the Johor Constitution, he also pointed out that it is an Arabic term and that the sultan should also consider replacing it.

Jawi is also an aspect of Arabic culture which the sultan should think about, he said, adding that jawi is very much the culture of Johor as well.

Abdul Aziz also responded to the crown prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who had recalled the incidents during the 1992 constitutional crisis and reminded the government not to repeat such greed-driven episodes.

It was the prince’s grandfather who presented then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad with the opportunity to “whack the rulers”, Abdul Aziz remarked.

“Some of the rulers, in fact, complained that they have been embarrassed by the incident provoked by the late Sultan Iskandar, which started with the alleged beating of the Johor state hockey coach,” he said.

Source: www.malaysiakini.com

March 26, 2016
Police: NSF Who Leaked Photo Of Dead SMRT Worker Investigated Under Official Secrets Act

A photograph of the body of one of the two workers killed in the SMRT accident that made its rounds online was a screenshot of a police computer terminal.

It was allegedly leaked by a full-time police national serviceman, the police said yesterday.

The picture, which showed a close-up of Mr Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari’s body lying on the MRT track, was circulated on social media websites, forums and messaging app WhatsApp earlier this week.

It was even seen by some of Mr Asyraf’s family members before they received news that he had died, The New Paper reported on Thursday.

The picture, which also revealed the 24-year-old’s full name and IC number, appeared to have been taken off a screen.

Yesterday, in response to media queries, a police spokesman told TNP that investigations revealed that the picture was a screenshot of a police computer terminal.

A police NSF is believed to have shared the photograph with his family and friends.

The officer is being investigated for an offence under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), the spokesman said.

The police are also investigating how the photograph was uploaded online.

“The police deeply regret the insensitive and illegal action of the officer and met with the family today to explain the circumstances surrounding the leakage,” the spokesman said.

“The police have strict rules on the management of official information and take a very serious view of any breach. Officers who commit any wrongdoing will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

SERIOUS OFFENCE

Criminal lawyer Rajan Supramaniam from Hilborne Law said an offence under the OSA is a serious one, particularly so in this case when the sensitive photograph was allegedly leaked while Mr Asyraf’s family was still grieving.

He said that such photographs are taken and strictly used for investigation purposes, and are not meant for public viewing.

“If leaked, they could cause a public outcry, distort the impact of the case and affect the post-mortem findings by authorities,” he said.

Mr Asyraf’s cousin, Mr Muhd Kamal, 24, an undergraduate, told TNP last night upon hearing the news: “It was a very sensitive picture and we wanted to find out who did it. And now we know.

“But we would now leave it to the police to best handle it.”

He had earlier urged people not to circulate the picture, saying it was disrespectful to the deceased.

Mr Asyraf’s father, Mr Ahmad Buhari, 61, had told TNP that he saw the photograph when he was in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. ”I was very sad when I saw the picture,” he had said.

The maximum punishment for wrongful communication of information under the OSA is a two-year jail term and a $2,000 fine.

The police deeply regret the insensitive and illegal action of the officer and met with the family today to explain the circumstances surrounding the leakage.

– A police spokesman

Source: www.tnp.sg

March 26, 2016
Medical Costs in Singapore Means Dying Is a Cheaper Option

A fellow friend who has just moved to Malaysia told me that he went for a medical check-up at a public hospital in the state that he now calls home. After some hours of check-up and an assortment of medication, he was surprised when he was informed that he only needed to pay RM1.00 (about SGD 0.35).

Another friend from a city in China revealed that the daily bill for a hospital stay was about SGD 20.00. I asked if it included 3 square meals and the answer was affirmative.

And here I am, not wanting to seek any medical help in view of the nonsensical amount that could be imposed unto me even after my death, perhaps.

To just die seems like a better option.

Source: Syafarin Sarif

March 26, 2016
Almakhazin: Did MUIS really want to praise LKY during khutbah Jumaat?

Last year, after Lee Kuan Yew’s death on 23rd March, a lot of Muslims in Singapura were shocked and disgusted by MUIS.

Prior to his death, we saw how mass grieving was “encouraged” by the government and the media.

Muslims spoke of making doa for him and referred to him as their father or grandpa.

When he died, some Muslims prayed that he would be placed with the solihin.

Muslim organisations fell over themselves singing his praises and declaring their sadness.

And MUIS, as the authority for the Muslim community, led the way. They used the khutbah Jumaat to praise Lee Kuan Yew:

“Saudara-saudara sidang Jumaah yang dirahmati Allah,

Pemergian Perdana Menteri Pertama, mendiang Encik Lee Kuan Yew, telah menyentuh setiap rakyat Singapura, termasuk kita para anggota masyarakat Islam. Amat besar sekali kesan yang beliau tinggalkan kepada kehidupan berbilang agama dan bangsa negara ini. Di peringkat antarabangsa, beliau telah memimpin sebuah pemerintah yang membangunkan Singapura menjadi negara maju yang dikagumi dan dicemburui dunia. Ini tercapai, antaranya melalui kesungguhan beliau memastikan keharmonian hubungan antara kaum, kemajuan ekonomi dan kecemerlangan pendidikan.

Marilah kita merenung dan mengambil iktibar daripada kehidupannya. Beliau telah pergi meninggalkan warisannya.”

A lot of Muslims felt that for MUIS to use the masjid, the mimbar to praise someone who has discriminated and oppressed Muslims for decades was not only in poor taste, but an abuse of their management powers.

Especially when they do not show such love and admiration when our ulama passed away.

But after the khutbah, some information came to light.

According to sources inside MUIS, the khutbah praising Lee Kuan Yew was not part of their plan.

Instead, they were told to say it. And we believe that this situation will happen happen again whether this year or in the coming years.

From the information we received, MUIS was told to do three things for Kuan Yew during solat Jumaat:

1. A minute silence during khutbah to honour his death

2. Make a congregational doa for Lee Kuan Yew

3. Praise him during the khutbah.

MUIS tried to reject the demands but was not able to. They needed to show their loyalty to the government.

But the first two demands were too much. They compromised and agreed to praise him during khutbah Jumaat.

These are the information that were relayed to us and we welcome MUIS clarifying it.

If these information are true, then it shows that while there are a lot of systemic problems in MUIS, the abuse of the mimbar, of the masjid to praise Lee Kuan Yew may not be due to them.

They were powerless to reject the demand.

But that they are powerless is also the very problem we need to resolve.

They are powerless because MUIS staff, their leaders, are government servants.

They are compelled to support government policies and demands, even when it goes against Islam.

Whether it is the denial of hijab, the destruction of masjid, the taking of wakaf land or the use of khutbah to praise a politician, MUIS is unable to stand up against the government.

Because they have to listen and follow government demands, they not only affect their organisation…

But also how we practice our religion.

Source: Almakhazin SG

March 25, 2016