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Tag: allegations

  • (Banned) Haslin Baharim: ‘Why I Am Being Treated Similar To Zakir Naik? I Want To Meet Them’

    (Banned) Haslin Baharim: ‘Why I Am Being Treated Similar To Zakir Naik? I Want To Meet Them’

    Muslim preacher Haslin Baharim has denied spreading divisive messages and is requesting to meet Singaporean authorities over the republic’s move to bar him from entering the country.

    The preacher said allegations his talks were a threat to social harmony and bred intolerance towards non-Muslims were untrue.

    “The reason for the ban was shocking. I don’t know who their sources are to say my sermons are a threat to harmony and non-Muslims,” Haslin told The Malaysian Insight today.

    Haslin and grand mufti of Zimbabwe Ismail Menk, were singled out by Singapore’s Home Affairs ministry in a statement yesterday as threatening the country’s social harmony with their divisive messages.

    “Such divisive views breed intolerance and exclusivist practices that will damage social harmony and cause communities to drift apart,” the statement said.

    “They are unacceptable in the context of Singapore’s multiracial and multi-religious society.”

    Haslin, 48, said he has travelled often to Singapore to give sermons and preach.

    “When I was contacted by the religious authorities about the ban, I was shocked. I understand if they don’t want to let me preach, but why must they ban me from entering Singapore?

    “I am being treated similar to Zakir Naik,” he said.

    Naik is a controversial Muslim preacher from India who is wanted in his home country over money-laundering and terrorism-related charges.

    Haslin claims in all of his sermons in Singapore, he had never spoken on sensitive issues as he was aware of the guidelines issued by the country’s religious council.

    “We were informed and given guidelines on what can be touched on in our sermons. I adhered to all the guidelines.

    “Perhaps they saw a video of my sermon in Malaysia where I may have spoken on race and religion, but even then, I was speaking on Islamic syariah law.”

    Haslin said he was willing to apologise to Singapore authorities if it was proven he had caused the people to be divided, adding the allegations were “serious and tarnished my name”.

    “That’s why I want to meet them and give an explanation.

    “I have never met them. I have never questioned their laws, I just want to see the evidence, so I can also explain if it’s a misunderstanding,” he said.

    The two preachers were scheduled to speak on board an Islamic-themed cruise from November 25 to 26.

     

    Source: http://www.themalaysianinsight.com

  • Malaysia’s Ministry Of Health Prompt Response In Debunking Fallacies; The Independent Singapore Retracts Its Inflammatory Post

    Malaysia’s Ministry Of Health Prompt Response In Debunking Fallacies; The Independent Singapore Retracts Its Inflammatory Post

    Local socio-political news site The Independent Singapore on Sunday (Sept 3) took down an article claiming that a Singaporean had died after a Malaysian hospital demanded payment before treating him, and apologised “for the anguish and distress this incident has caused”.

    Thanking all Malaysians who “supported and (stood) tall” with his ministry in a Facebook post on Sunday, director-general of Malaysia’s Ministry of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah said “our prompt response debunking fallacies (has) resulted in an otherwise arrogant Singaporean portal” retracting its post. He also said The Independent had initially defended its article and had blocked Malaysian IPs from accessing it.

    Asked by TODAY about the incident, site publisher Kumaran Pillai said the article was taken down at 8.30am on Sunday to “defuse the situation”.

    He added that “a wave of netizens from Malaysia” had flooded the site’s Facebook page last Saturday at around 10pm calling for the article to be taken down, which led the team to geo-block Malaysians.

    Then, a “series of attacks” brought its site down, which could only be restored Sunday morning. The netizens also left comments, some of which were “inflammatory and racially explosive”.

    Last Saturday, the Malaysian Health Ministry had said it would lodge a formal complaint with Singapore over allegations made in online reports on the death of 25-year-old Singaporean Justinian Tan which had hurt the country’s image as well as the reputation of its healthcare workers.

    Tan and a friend, who were in Johor Baru for supper with four others, were injured in a hit-and-run accident on Aug 25. Mr Joshua De Rozario, one of those in the group, had told media that the ambulance took 30 minutes to arrive.

    When they arrived at Johor’s largest hospital, the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, he said they were asked to pay RM2,700 (S$860) before the medical crew would conduct scans on the two men. The hospital then requested another RM1,350 for Tan’s operation, but the family asked for him to be transferred to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) after learning the brain operation would be conducted by a “medical officer” instead of a surgeon.

    Tan was pronounced brain dead at SGH last Monday, and taken off life support early on Wednesday.

    Malaysia had refuted the allegations, with Dr Hisham issuing a statement last Friday that a team at the hospital’s emergency department initiated the necessary X-rays and scans, as well as treatment such as intubation, “in a very timely and professional manner, without asking for any deposit since this is an emergency case”.

    He also said the ambulance had responded in a “very timely” manner, with a “despatch time of two minutes and response time of 13 minutes”.

     

    Source: http://www.todayonline.com

  • PM Lee Hsien Loong ‘Saddened’ By Statement From Siblings Lee Wei Ling And Lee Hsien Yang

    PM Lee Hsien Loong ‘Saddened’ By Statement From Siblings Lee Wei Ling And Lee Hsien Yang

    Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has expressed his disappointment and sadness over a statement issued by his siblings “publicising private family matters”.

    “I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate allegations that they have made. Ho Ching and I deny these allegations, especially the absurd claim that I have political ambitions for my son,” said Mr Lee, in response to a six-page public statement issued by his siblings on Wednesday (June 14).

    Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang had said in their statement that they had lost confidence in their brother, PM Lee.

    In response, PM Lee said: “While siblings may have differences, I believe that any such differences should stay in the family. Since my father’s passing in March 2015, as the eldest son I have tried my best to resolve the issues among us within the family, out of respect for our parents. My siblings’ statement has hurt our father’s legacy. ”

    In their statement, which they publicised on their Facebook pages around 2am, the two siblings said they felt closely monitored and fear the use of organs of state against them and Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s wife, Suet Fern.

    They also said the situation is such that Mr Lee Hsien Yang felt compelled to leave Singapore “for the foreseeable future”.

    The two siblings allege, among others, that since their father Lee Kuan Yew’s death on March 23, 2015, there have been changes in Singapore that do not reflect what the late Mr Lee stood for.

    At the centre of their statement, titled ‘What has happened to Lee Kuan Yew’s values?’, is the long-running dispute over the demolition of their father’s house at 38 Oxley Road.

    The two siblings are joint executors and trustees of the estate of the late Mr Lee.

    In their statement, they reiterated their father’s wish that the house be demolished upon his passing, and said their brother and his wife Ho Ching had opposed this wish as “the preservation of the house would enhance his political capital”.

    The two siblings also alleged that preserving the house would allow their brother “and his family to inherit a tangible monument to Lee Kuan Yew’s authority”.

    Prime Minister Lee responded to this by saying: “I will do my utmost to continue to do right by my parents. At the same time, I will continue serving Singaporeans honestly and to the best of my ability. In particular that means upholding meritocracy, which is a fundamental value of our society.”

    The statement from the siblings came 1 1/2 years after Dr Lee, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, and PM Lee issued a joint statement in Dec 2015 saying the brothers had each agreed to donate half the value of 38 Oxley Road to charities named in their father’s obituary notice.

    Dr Lee and Mr Lee Hsien Yang had said they would like to honour their father’s wish for the house to be demolished after Dr Lee ceases to live in it.

    PM Lee had said he had recused himself from all government decisions involving the house and, in his personal capacity, would also like to see this wish honoured.

    This morning, he ended his response by saying: “As my siblings know, I am presently overseas on leave with my family. I will consider this matter further after I return this weekend.”

     

    Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/