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Tag: Islam

  • Bangladeshi Workers Here Condemn Countrymen, Fear For Future

    Bangladeshi Workers Here Condemn Countrymen, Fear For Future

    Bangladeshi migrant workers who spoke to TODAY condemned the actions of their countrymen who are suspected terrorists, with some worrying that this may affect their standing here in Singapore.

    Eight Bangladeshi nationals were detained last month under the Internal Security Act after they were found to have been planning to return to their home country to carry out terror attacks and establish an Islamic state branch, while working here in Singapore. This is the second reported incident in five months involving Bangladeshis — last November to December, 27 Bangladeshi workers were detained and repatriated on similar charges.

    When TODAY approached the Bangladeshi community here, some expressed their concerns, or said they would flag suspicious activities.

    Construction worker Robel Miah, 27, is “scared” that it would not be so easy to re-enter Singapore for work if this keeps up. “If people come here to make problems, then the next time, it’ll be difficult for me to come back here and work,” he said.

    Another view is that with these developments, the community has to be more pro-active to protect their livelihoods. Mr Majedur Kamrul Hasan, 21, an office administrator at a construction firm, said: “If (the suspects) had managed to do what they wanted to do, it would have harmed so many people. If I see something like this happen… I will definitely inform the police… If not, the police may think that I am one of them… and I will also be punished.”

    Construction worker Ali Mohd Yasin, 44, who has worked in Singapore for more than seven years, said those who align themselves with terror groups make Bangladesh “look bad”.

    “We are lucky to be here in Singapore … You should just work, makan (eat), sleep and sembahyang (pray) … Terrorism is no good. Islam also doesn’t support any terrorism,” he said, adding that he would inform the police if he knows of any suspicious acts.

    Construction worker Mohammad Assad, who arrived here just a week ago, was surprised by the news. “They have already caused some trouble in Bangladesh and now they are here, too,” the 25-year-old said.

    Mr Majedur, who stays at a temporary dormitory in Tai Seng, believes that integration will be a challenge. “I don’t know how Singaporeans see us, since we work all the time and don’t meet them. There is no time to go out. I will only go to the market (here in Little India), and even if we go out, we will be with our Bangladeshi friends,” he said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Walid J. Abdullah: Racism Only Occurs When The Commentary Fits

    Walid J. Abdullah: Racism Only Occurs When The Commentary Fits

    *When small Muslim children are called terrorists*

    ‘Oh this is a one-off incident. There is not much racism in Singapore.’

    *When girls in hijabs are attacked*

    ‘Let’s not make a mountain of a molehill. This is just one person.’

    *When a person is denied employment because of her race and religion*

    ‘This is bad judgment by an individual. Racism is not rampant.’

    *When a politician suggests fencing off foreign workers*

    ‘This is one misquoted statement. She gets along well with foreign workers in her ward. Let’s not make a big deal out of this.’

    *When a person is adjudged to be lazy solely because of his/her race*

    ‘Oh this is not widespread. People are generally racially tolerant.’

    *When a lady who calls out racists is attacked for the colour of her skin*

    ‘Oh those are just social media trolls. People are in actuality race-blind.’

    *When people are denied opportunities because of their faith*

    ‘Oh this is just pragmatism. Minorities shouldn’t complain too much. Racism is not a major issue.’

    *When clear-cut, indefensible racist incidents take place*

    ‘Racism exists everywhere.’

    —–

    *When a couple of teenagers express support for terrorist groups*

    ‘This shows that terrorism is a major problem. We need to ensure that our entire social fabric is intact, and is not affected by self-radicalized individuals. This is a clear and present danger to the harmony of our country, and we must spare no effort to tackle this issue. If left unchecked, this scourge could destroy everything that we have ever achieved.’

     

    Source: Walid J. Abdullah

  • PrimaDeli Incident Highlights Insidiousness Of Institutional Racism

    PrimaDeli Incident Highlights Insidiousness Of Institutional Racism

    PrimaDeli’s sacking of an employee should not be seen as a resolution to what seems to be an unfortunate one-off incident of racism (“PrimaDeli sacks staff for making racist remarks during job interview”; April 29). Rather, the incident should spur deeper thinking of the insidious ways of institutional racism.

    In this incident, the racist remarks were not made by any employee, but the head of the baking department who is in a position of power to hire, dismiss and promote employees in the department. It is troubling when the few people in power who execute or have influence on company policies are prejudiced.

    This raises certain questions on the company’s internal practices and management.

    Does PrimaDeli send its people managers for training in setting up inclusive practices and preventing racial discrimination in the workplace? Is Mandarin the dominant language used in the workplace, which can potentially alienate other racial minorities? Is there proper racial representation in senior positions, and are there specific avenues for racial minorities to provide feedback on certain racial blind spots in the running of the company?

    To be sure, institutional racism does not only come from prejudices held by people in power, but also from the dynamics of global capitalism.

    The job applicant in this case, Ms Sarah Carmariah, said she was also asked if she could speak Mandarin because that is the language that most of the workers speak.

    As a way of keeping costs low, many companies produce bread and cakes in central kitchens staffed by foreign nationals from China or Malaysia who speak mainly in Mandarin.

    This is not the fault of any company; it is what many companies must do in order to survive in a competitive, saturated food industry.

    But it does not change the fact that many racial minorities are institutionally disadvantaged in getting a job because they cannot speak in the dominant language that most of the foreign staff speak in.

    Even if they are hired, it can be difficult for them to get promoted to management positions considering how the language barrier may hamper them from forming meaningful relationships with fellow workers.

    It is time we begin the uncomfortable conversation on the various modes of implicit racism that exist within our industries, instead of dismissing this as yet another incident about the moral failings of an individual person.

     

    Source: TODAY Online

  • Projek #GreenUmmah Teknik Baru Sampaikan Dakwah

    Projek #GreenUmmah Teknik Baru Sampaikan Dakwah

    Menggunakan teknik baru dan terkini dalam menyampaikan dakwah.

    Demikian pendekatan Masjid Mujahidin menerusi projek terbarunya, #GreenUmmah.

    Penerbitan sebuah video cara berwuduk yang mesra alam akan dilancarkannya sempena Ramadan nanti.

    Laporan tentang paras air di kolam simpanan Linggiu yang semakin susut, mencetuskan ilham Jabatan Dakwah Masjid Mujahidin untuk mencernakan projek #GreenUmmah.

    Matlamatnya untuk meningkatkan kesedaran bukan sahaja jemaah masjid tetapi umat Islam secara umumnya supaya melindungi alam sekitar.

    “Dapat membuat masjid memainkan peranan yang lebih, bukan sahaja sebagai tempat mencari ketenangan, meningkatkan kerohanian dan sebagai pusat pengajian Islam, malah ia juga satu pusat pembangunan sosial, pendidikan dan juga tempat untuk menyokong dan berkongsi nilai positif, seperti kesedaran dalam penjagaan alam sekitar,” Pengurus Khidmat dan Hubungan Korporat Masjid Mujahidin, Rohainizah Adnan memberitahu BERITAMediacorp.

    SUTRADARA FILEM SUMBANG KREATIVITI SECARA SUKARELA

    Sutradara yang pernah memenangi beberapa anugerah, Sanif Olek secara sukarela menyumbang kepakaran dan kreativiti dalam menghasilkan video pendek untuk menggalak penjimatan air sewaktu berwuduk.

    “Saya rasa apa yang buat video ini menarik adalah pertama mesejnya dan yang kedua sekali adalah cara penggambarannya yang berbeza daripada apa yang kita lihat sebelum ini,” kata Encik Sanif.

    Menurut kajian Masjid Mujahidin, jika seorang Muslim mengubah kebiasaan dan membuka air paip dengan tidak begitu deras, beliau dapat menjimatkan sekurang-kurangnya 10 liter air setiap kali berwuduk.

    Ini bermakna, 50 liter air dapat dijimatkan dalam sehari, bagi solat lima waktu.

    “Mengambil kira kita mempunyai sekitar 5,000 hingga 7,000 jemaah dalam seminggu, ini bermakna jika kita dapat kerjasama semua pihak, ia dapat membantu kami menjimatkan sekitar 250,000 liter air, hanya dalam jangka masa seminggu sahaja,” ujar Cik Rohainizah.

    MELENTUR BULUH BIAR DARI REBUNGNYA

    Usaha mengurangkan pembuangan sampah juga menjadi sebahagian usaha kempen #GreenUmmah.

    Pada tahun 2014, seorang penduduk sahaja membuang purata 1,370 kilogram sampah, dengan kertas dan plastik dicatat sebagai lima sampah yang terbanyak dibuang.

    Lantaran itu, Masjid Mujahidin menggalak usaha kitar semula dengan menyediakan tong tersebut di kawasan masjid.

    “Melentur buluh, biar dari rebungnya”, maka itu, usaha mesra alam di masjid ini melibatkan juga murid-murid prasekolahnya serta golongan belia.

    “Menggunakan lelaman sosial seperti Facebook, Instagram dan juga Twitter. Di sini, para belia dapat informasi yang terkini tentang projek ini dan juga boleh menggunakan #GreenUmmah sekiranya mereka ada idea yang baik seperti bagaimana cara untuk menjimat air atau elektrik,” kata Eksekutif Pendidikan Madrasah dan Belia Masjid Mujahidin Hafiz Jabbar kepada BERITAMediacorp.

    Walaupun akan dilancarkan sempena Ramadan, Masjid Mujahidin sudah mula membangkitkan kesedaran seawal mungkin tentang Projek #GreenUmmah.

    Source: Berita Mediacorp

  • Zulfikar Shariff: Racism Against Malay Community Finally Getting Attention

    Zulfikar Shariff: Racism Against Malay Community Finally Getting Attention

    For the last 17 years…. PAP Malay MPs have blamed me for discussing how Malays are discriminated in Singapura.

    I have been threatened, abused, attacked…

    They said I should not raise these issues.

    That we should compromise.

    Give and take.

    That I should encourage the community to support them so their party would see them as being relevant and they can do more.

    That discrimination is isolated.

    And now….we are starting to hear regular cases of discrimination.

    These cases are becoming common not because society is becoming more racist.

    But because the Malays used to accept being discriminated and kept quiet.

    We did not have any avenue to raise it.

    The media would not publish anything beyond government narrative.

    The Malay MPs would reject, ignore and give platitudes when told of racism.

    Malay organisations are powerless and (still) do not want to affect their standing.

    But now with social media…we are beginning to see how Malays are actually treated.

    And it is when we start to speak up, when we reject these discriminatory practices…

    When we resist…

    That we will finally be able to change the situation Insha Allah.

    Racism has been ingrained in Singapuran society and institutions for years…

    It finally is getting the attention it deserves.

     

    Source: Zulfikar Shariff

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