Tag: Faisal Abdul Manap

Pritam Singh Back Out as GOH For Gaza Charity Concert

Dear Pritam,

I happened to look at the flyer about the charity concert, in aid of humanity or was it Palestine? I was shocked that you were listed as the guest of honour in the earlier flier.

I don’t know what you were thinking of when you agreed. I see it as a populist move to get more votes but I think you have erred in this case. I will come to that later.

You came across as being cut from a different piece of cloth but alas, you have proven that you are no different from the others of your ilk. Therein lies a lesson for us, the common people: When politics come into play, the public suffer. In the game of one-upmanship and votes, thousands of Palestinians and Israelis died unnecessarily in the armed conflict and the images from the conflict has been utterly shocking. The Israelis and Palestinians are both at fault for allowing this carnage.

I trawled our parliament pages to find Singapore’s stand and I agree with it. A tiny country’s words do not carry far but nonetheless, we have registered our point and we are correct to call upon Israel and Hamas to stop their death games. That’s what we did and I was surprised that we did make the call. Israel has been one of the first countries in the world to recognise our status as a new country and it was the first to respond to our call to help build up our defence force. But it was also revealing when Shanmugam said: “Our relationship with Israel is not any deeper than with many other countries. In fact, several other countries have much more leverage over Israel. We are a small country, far removed from Israel, and we have a good relationship with Israel as we have with the Palestinian National Authority and several other Arab countries, and many others.”

However, to stand up and voice our condemnation to an ally takes a lot of guts.

As for the Palestinians, I read that we have been giving them aid. Let me quote Foreign Minister Shanmugam’s response in parliament on 5 August 2014:
“We have maintained good relationships with the Palestinian National Authority. Mr Goh Chok Tong, when he was Senior Minister, had visited Palestine. And we have been supportive of the two-state solution and consistent with that, we have tried to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.
“Last year, at the UN General Assembly, Singapore voted for all Palestinian-related resolutions. That is as public a support as you can get.
“I personally met the Palestinian National Authority’s Foreign Minister last year, and we had a good exchange of views. We have also supported visits from the Ministers of the Palestinian National Authority to Singapore. Indeed, we financially support that.

“Since 2013, we have been participating in the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD). During CEAPAD I in Tokyo last year, we announced Singapore’s enhanced Technical Assistance Package for the Palestinian National Authority, worth at $5 million over five years, which is more than several of our regional countries have pledged. Under this package, we have received several delegations and study visits. The Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli met with the Palestinian National Authority’s Prime Minister during CEAPAD II in Jakarta earlier this year. Mr Masagos encouraged the Prime Minister to send more Palestinians to Singapore under this package. We hope that they do so.

“So, politically, materially and philosophically, we have been supportive of the Palestinian cause and we have made that very public.”
Hamas is the thorn in this case and they are using the people to further their militant viewpoint. As Shanmugam said, “The international community can make statements, and can try and bring some sense, but ultimately, it is going to require that the actors themselves to also want peace.

“At the end of the day, the fact is, the Israelis and Hamas – and I say Hamas because there was not a single rocket from the West Bank which is under the control of the Palestinian National Authority, and there have been no attacks by Israel on West Bank – are responsible for what is happening in Gaza, and they have to exercise political will, and take concrete steps to bring an end to the conflict.”

Now coming back to my statement that you have erred. The charity concert event that you are willing to grace will definitely polarise Singaporeans. In a multi-cultural and secular society like ours, this issue will definitely pull religion, by its collar, into the picture. This is an explosive issue and will you be able to handle it. I say, you will not. Then who will be left with the mess created by this one inconsiderate act of yours: Us, we, the people of Singapore.

During the same debate in parliament, you talked about the impact of the images including the possibility of self-radicalisation.
I share the same view as Shanmugam, which is, there is nothing much we can do.

The images and the news from Gaza has already created rifts in friendships. Strong views have caused many carefully nurtured friendships to fray. I personally, have kept away from some friends who supported either Israel or Palestine, not just because of their extreme and unforgiving comments but because they wanted me take sides with them in this conflict. It was either I am with them or against them.

Do you think the charity concert will just be a fund-raising platform? Did you ask the organisers for their agenda? Is this your individual stand or the Workers’ Party’s stand? Are you a willing party to this concert which will definitely radicalise Singaporeans in their thoughts and actions? Are you and your party willing to be responsible for the aftermath? Will you and the Workers’ Party be responsible for us, Singaporeans?

Sadly, I don’t think so. All you, the Workers’ Party and other opposition parties, think about is yourself. Let us come to power and we’ll prove it to you, you said in the last elections. But what did you do? Nothing at all. Bereft of views, ideas and suggestions, you and your party are taking us for a ride. We Singaporeans are waking up to you and your kind.

But what is intolerable is you trying to drive a wedge between us, Singaporeans, by endorsing such events. For the political survival of you and the Workers’ Party, please don’t use us. It is not fair to us.

Authored by Robert De Souza

Source: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/dear-pritam-singh-4797710.html

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September 8, 2014
WP Faisal Abdul Manap Apologized in Parliament After Making Allegation Against HDB

Credit: Asiaone

There was a sharp exchange yesterday between Minister of State (National Development) Maliki Osman and Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, which even saw Parliament Speaker Halimah Yacob stepping in to remind MPs of the importance of providing details when they cite incidents involving government agencies and public servants.

During the debate on the Family Justice Bill, Mr Faisal had alleged that when he was a counsellor, he came across a couple who were having housing issues and advised to file for a divorce by the Housing and Development Board — so that the wife would be eligible to buy a house under the Singles Scheme and she could subsequently remarry her husband. Mr Faisal, however, could not provide the details. Here are excerpts of the exchange:

Dr Maliki (left): It is very important for Members of the House to understand that if we highlight cases in this House, we have to be prepared to disclose all information … Because I don’t think allegations of such a nature can be allowed to go past without verification. I hope Mr Faisal will be able to get back to the (client) and ask … for permission for us to clarify this situation. If not, I hope the case that was highlighted here should not be considered seriously in this Chamber.

Mr Faisal (right): I don’t have (the) contacts since I am no longer a counsellor. But again, I used that as one example of many cases I have encountered of such difficulties … I don’t have the details of my client.

Mdm Halimah: It is quite different to say that HDB rejected the appeal (compared) to saying that it is because of the advice of the HDB officer that the couple should divorce … So since you cited the person and you said you got her approval to raise the issue, the question asked by the Minister of State is whether you can provide particulars so he can verify and prevent (the situation) from repeating if (it) is indeed … as you have said.

Dr Maliki: These are very serious statements that are being made against our civil servants … If such allegations are made, we must give them a chance to clarify …

Mr Faisal: I have no intention of disregarding the good work that has been done by civil servants in our public services. I just wanted to feedback the experiences that I had encountered …

Dr Maliki: It is very important for us to uphold the integrity of this Chamber and … that of our Civil Service. The Member highlighted a case and made very serious allegations that a HDB officer actually asked the couple to divorce … For such allegations to be made in this Chamber, it is very serious.

Mdm Halimah: Although Members are covered by parliamentary privilege, it is important when incidents are cited, particularly involving government agencies and public servants, the particulars can be provided … to verify … the facts. That will really help to improve the debate in the House, it adds credibility to the whole process … as well.

(After Law and Foreign Minister K Shanmugam had wrapped up the debate)

Mr Faisal: It is not my intention to give a negative impression of any of the public services or government offices. I will be more careful in future and I apologise.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/faisal-apologises-after-making-allegation-against-hdb

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August 5, 2014
WP Malay-Muslim MP Supports Wear White

https://www.facebook.com/wearwhitesg

The Wear White campaign got a ringing endorsement from Workers Party MP Faisal Abdul Manap!

His photo was uploaded on the Wear White Facebook page with him standing beside another Wear White supporter.

https://www.facebook.com/wearwhitesg/photos/pb.639032632854739.-2207520000.1403974152./650882588336410/?type=1&theater

MP Faisal’s support for Wear White is a refreshing change, as WP previously remained silent on LGBT issues. It is commendable that he is speaking out against the LGBT threat and leading his party on this issue.

Unlike the PAP MPs and Ministers who shied away from confronting the LGBT threat, it is good that WP MP Faisal is bravely taking a moral position against homosexuality.

Authored by Hazrul Hamzah

READ PREVIOUS POSTING BY GAY PETER HU WHO CALLS COMMUNITY “F**KING MUSLIM TERRORIST”

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June 30, 2014
Time for Muslim MPs To Take a Stand on Malay and Muslim Issues

Photo Credit: Yahoo SG

WP MP Faisal Manap raises some concerns of Muslims, as expressed in the Suara Musyawarah Report, in Parliament.

Instead of addressing the issue head-on, PAP Muslim MPs tries to corner Faisal into taking a stand on the issue (which he didn’t, and i think he should have). Later, the MPs were either silent on the issue or tried to skirt it, or even deny it.

Now i have a few questions for the Muslim MPs:

1) Is the Suara Musyawarah Report not commissioned by the government? If so, what is the follow-up?

2) What is the attitude of the Muslim MPs towards the report? Take what you like from it, and ignore what you don’t?

3) If the latter is the case, why have the report in the first place?

4) Even IF those things stated are not true, those are indeed the perceptions of many Muslims. Will you address those perceptions with facts and figures, and reasoned argumentation? Or will those just be dismissed or ignored?

I call upon them to take a stand on these issues/questions, in the name of constructive politics.

Authored by Walid Jumblatt Abdullah

Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, a public-spirited individual, is an ongoing Political Science student of the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is a three-times award recipient of the Graduate Student Teaching (GSTA) Award Honour Roll in 2012. In the recent NUS Commencement Week, he was also selected as the Valedictorian of his cohort.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Seems like both parties cranked up their engines harder this time round with fancy new measures and proposals. The announcement on setting up of WP Malay/Muslim committee to oversee concerns faced by the community should have been done way much earlier. Nevertheless, it’s better late than never. We applaud WP to help the community alongside PAP. Having two different approaches and perspectives to issues will definitely result in expedited progress, only if sole focus is on the community, and not about the respective parties and what’s important to them.

We are glad that more and more Muslims are speaking up for what’s good for their community. This is our country and in a significant way, we have the right to decide our future. As long that discussions are not baseless and no vulgarities involved, someday somehow someone will hear us.

May 30, 2014
Workers’ Party: Set Up Committee to Address Malay-Muslim Concerns

SINGAPORE – Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap of the Workers’ Party yesterday called for the formation of a committee to address concerns of Malay-Muslims over how their loyalty to the nation is viewed.

But in a swift rebuttal, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower Hawazi Daipi deemed his suggestion unnecessary as this was an issue that could be overcome by strengthening inter-racial ties.

The exchange began with Mr Faisal saying that more needed to be done to “address and find solutions” to community concerns highlighted in a recent report. He quoted the findings of the Suara Musyawarah committee, which said Malay-Muslim participants felt left out in certain policies and practices which “question the loyalty of Malays to the country”.

The committee was formed in 2012 to gather feedback on the thoughts, concerns and aspirations of Malay-Muslims. Its report highlighted personal accounts of employers expressing a preference for non-Malay workers and surfaced concerns over exclusion from certain parts of the Singapore Armed Forces.

Mr Faisal acknowledged that progress has been made in terms of opportunities afforded to Malay-Muslims in education and national service, but said the committee’s formation could offer a “quick solution” to achieving a “more inclusive and open Singapore society”.

Responding to his speech, Mr Hawazi and Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) later asked Mr Faisal if the latter had ever felt that his loyalty to the country was questioned, and what his own views on the issue were.

“I’m concerned (that) if we highlight the differences, we will be widening (them) not only among one community but all communities,” said Mr Hawazi, adding that schools and community activities are means to forge greater social cohesion.

In response, Mr Faisal stressed that the issue of loyalty among Malays was surfaced by the Suara Musyawarah report, and not him.

Mr Hawazi then suggested that Mr Faisal had cherry-picked portions of the report, failing to highlight, for example, that Malay-Muslim participants also said they were “very committed” to Singapore on issues that include defence and security.

Maintaining that he was reflecting concerns on the ground, Mr Faisal said: “I have said in my view that I am aware and agree there is progress made, but because there are still many people who say that this issue is present, I, as a voice of the people, would like to voice it out.”

Source: The Straits Times

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May 29, 2014