Tag: Islam

Syed Omar Aljunied – The Race-Blind, Muslim Philantropher

Names such as Tan Tock Seng are well known in Singapura’s history. He was a philanthropist and best known for founding the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

But Tan was not the only person involved in setting up TTSH.

Syed Omar Aljunied was another major contributor in establishing TTSH.

Due to funding problems from the 1820s onwards, the British colonialists were unable to properly fund a hospital.

They sought support from the rich in Singapura to help out.

Apart from Tan Tock Seng…

Syed Omar Aljunied also donated some land to build the hospital.

The Hospital was initially named Chinese Pauper’s Hospital. It was subsequently changed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

A few years later, Syed Omar’s nephew, Syed Ali Aljunied contributed a further $1,000 to help the hospital function and another plot of land for the hospital.

Syed Omar Aljunied also contributed land for other causes.

Apart from the hospital and Masjid Omar Kampung Melaka,

St Andrews Cathedral (opposite City Hall MRT) was also build on land he donated.

References:
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_847_2004-12-29.html

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_70_2004-12-24.html

Source: Almakhazin SG

January 29, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Kudos To Rahayu Mahzam For Raising Tudung Issue But Time Will Tell If She Deserves Community’s Trust

There have been a couple of contrasting reactions towards MP Rahayu Mahzam’s maiden speech in Parliament, in which she urged the government to reconsider its policy on the hijab.

(On a side note, it is interesting to note that MP Faisal Manap has mentioned the same thing before, but rarely gets the same media coverage, and of course, if he did bring up such issues, he would be ‘politicizing religion’, but let’s leave that aside for now.)

The first reaction was to celebrate her courage and bold attitude, raising the issue in her very first speech. Indeed, it is perhaps unprecedented for a Muslim MP to do so.

The second, however, was a more cynical one. Some question whether this was a political show that would amount to no real change.

To be sure, one can definitely understand why the second reaction surfaced: the issue has been raised numerous times before under various conditions. And it always seemed like there was always an excuse to dismiss the requests (‘you were too loud’, ‘you were not loud enough’, ‘there are other important issues’, ‘we must not disrupt harmony’ etc etc etc.) Even senior members of the community like Cikgu Maarof Salleh expressed cynicism at the speech.

For me personally, i prefer to see it in a more positive light. I believe each MP should be judged based on what he/she has said/done, and not merely on the party he/she belongs to. And no one MP will always be flawless or completely hopeless (well, i hope not!): they will have good moments that should be celebrated, and lesser ones that we as citizens can and should call them out for.

As for MP Rahayu herself, she is new and has done nothing so far that warrants our mistrust, so I believe her words should be commended.

Time will tell how much the new MPs truly represent the people and voice their concerns – not just the individual MP’s thoughts – in Parliament. For now, i say, kudos to her.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

January 29, 2016
Yaacob Ibrahim: Informal Religious Groups Formed By Foreign Workers Should Work With Mosques, MUIS

Informal religious groups formed by foreign workers here should step forward to engage with mosques and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) so that they could better tap the resources available, said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, yesterday.

In light of the arrests of 27 radicalised Bangladeshi workers in Singapore, the spotlight has turned on radicalised teachings that could easily be spread through informal religious study groups conducted by the foreign workers themselves, as mosques here lack the resources and manpower to reach out to them.

TODAY had earlier reported that mosques in the Little India and Bugis areas that are frequently visited by the foreign workers do not have religious classes that specifically catered to them.

“We know that some of the foreign groups in Singapore do have their own members of their community who are actually guiding them,” said Dr Yaacob, who is also the Minister for Communications and Information.

“The most important thing is that whoever is playing that role, please engage MUIS, because we want to make sure that whatever they are teaching is aligned with our teachings, with the way we practise Islam here in Singapore,” he said on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony for students from Egypt’s Al-Azhar University at the Muis Academy.

Dr Yaacob said there is a need for some graduates to stand up and publicly rebut the radical ideologies which some members of the community may have. “(What) is needed (is) for someone to come out specifically to break down someone’s radical arguments and why they are wrong and (in) which areas they are wrong and then hope that they can also find the errors of the radical ideologies, not (only) from a religious perspective, but (also) from a humanistic sociological analysis,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking in Parliament yesterday, Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade GRC) asked if the Government is able to do more in terms of educational publicity in reaching out to religious groups which may not be formally organised.

“Some of them may inadvertently not realise that they’re being taught some of (these) variants of the (religion),” she added.

In response, Dr Yaacob said the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) — which was set up to enhance the standing of religious teachers here and serves as a reliable source of reference for the Singapore Muslim Community — is in place for religious teachers.

He urged members of the community to refer to the list on the MUIS website to find the appropriate religious teachers for their classes.

“So, we are not against informal groups … but the most important thing is they select the teachers from the ARS and if they can do that, I think it would be good.”

Meanwhile, Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) asked if there is a protocol or standard operating procedure for the approval of visit passes for overseas religious leaders.

He cited a recent incident where a visit by a “particular preacher”, which he did not name, was denied by the authorities here.

Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said the protocol is “very straightforward and transparent”. For example, if the preacher’s teachings are “contrary to our values”, he will be denied entry to Singapore, Mr Shanmugam added.

Dr Yaacob, speaking to the media at the Muis Academy, said he believes more could be done to integrate the foreign workers into the fabric of society here. “We must continue to engage the foreign community here to make sure the resources within the Malay-Muslim community are also available to them,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 29, 2016
Rahayu Mahzam: Pemerintah Harus Memberi Kelonggaran Bagi Muslimah Bertudung, Luaskan Ruang Berbicara Tentang Hal-Hal Agama

Masyarakat tempatan perlu mengadakan perbincangan-perbincangan “sangat berterus terang” tentang isu-isu nyata.

Usaha menggalakkan keharmonian kaum dan agama tidak lagi boleh dijalankan di peringkat luaran sahaja dengan setakat menghadiri majlis-majlis budaya satu sama lain.

Sebaliknya, Singapura harus “mengadakan ruang untuk bercakap tentang identiti kita, amalan keagamaan seperti membakar kertas sembahyang, pemakaian tudung, memainkan muzik semasa Thaipusam misalnya.”

Demikian seruan Anggota Parlimen GRC Jurong, semasa menyampaikan ucapan sulung beliau dalam perbahasan di Parlimen petang tadi (28 Jan).

Cik Rahayu menambah, seharusnya ada dialog-dialog terbuka kerana perbincangan sedemikian akan menghasilkan kefahaman tentang keprihatinan satu sama lain.

Mengulas mengenai debat tentang isu pengganasan, beliau menekankan, masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura menolak fahaman sedemikian.

Lantaran itu Cik Rahayu menekankan, masyarakat Melayu/Islam tidak boleh dipersalahkan dan taat setia masyarakat tersebut “tidak patut dipersoalkan”.

HARAP ISU TUDUNG DISEMAK LAGI

“Saya rasakan penting untuk Pemerintah mengambil langkah untuk menggalakkan perbincangan terbuka tentang hal-hal sebegini agar segala prasangka atau rasa salah faham dapat dilenyapkan dengan segera. Juga perlu sentiasa ada peringatan yang tegas untuk mengutuk dan mengekang tindakan yang berbaur Islamofobia.

“Satu lagi hal yang berada di benak fikiran masyarakat kita adalah isu tudung. Saya harap hal ini dapat disemak lagi oleh Pemerintah dan kelonggaran diberi agar wanita bertudung tidak terbatas untuk bekerja dalam mana-mana kerjaya pilihannya,” ujar Cik Rahayu.

Namun beliau juga menekankan, dalam pada masyarakat mengharapkan sesuatu daripada Pemerintah, ia juga perlu bersikap matang dan berbincang secara hormat.

Masyarakat Melayu kata beliau perlu menggunakan peluang yang ada untuk terus menjalin hubungan dengan kaum lain agar ada pemahaman yang mendalam tentang budaya dan agama Melayu/Islam dapat terjalin.

Masyarakat Melayu/Islam kata beliau, sebahagian daripada masyarakat majmuk Singapura dan perlu sentiasa prihatin untuk menjaga keharmonian kaum dan agama.

SOKONG NCMP, KRITIK KOMEN KETUA PARTI PEKERJA

Dalam ucapan beliau itu, Cik Rahayu juga mengalu-alukan peningkatan dan perubahan kepada skim Anggota Parlimen Tanpa Kawasan Undi (NCMP) yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong semalam.

Beliau melahirkan harapan untuk melihat lebih ramai anggota politik pembangkang seperti Encik Leon Perera dan Encik Dennis Tan, bagi menghasilkan perdebatan yang lasak demi menggubal dasar negara.

Cik Rahayu bagaimanapun membidas ketua pembangkang Low Thia Khiang dengan berkata, beliau “agak terkejut” para NCMP itu disamakan dengan kiambang.

“Tiada apa yang boleh menghalang NCMP daripada bergerak di akar umbi, melakukan lawatan rumah ke rumah dan menganjurkan sesi-sesi untuk mengumpulkan keprihatinan penduduk. Hakikatnya, saya teringat Encik Perera menyebut bahawa beliau melakukan kerja-kerja akar umbi di East Coast dan Aljunied. Peningkatan-peningkatan tersebut mengukuhkan kedudukan NCMP dan saya rasa sukar untuk berhujah sebaliknya,” ujar Cik Rahayu lagi.

AMALKAN KELONGGARAN BERI BANTUAN

Menyentuh tentang golongan yang berisiko dan kurang bernasib baik, beliau menyeru supaya lebih banyak kelonggaran diamalkan dalam membantu mereka.

Sebahagian bantuan kata beliau dibelenggu oleh pelbagai peraturan yang menyukarkan.

Cik Rahayu berkata: “Kita tidak harus berkompromi dalam sokongan sosial yang perlu diberikan kepada individu-individu dan keluarga-keluarga yang memerlukan bantuan. Malah, pada masa-masa sukarlah, kita perlu bersikap lebih ihsan.”

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

January 29, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Singapore Must Foster A Culture Of Intolerance Towards Intolerance

Of the recent speeches by our politicians, two in particular stood out for me.

First was the one given by Minister Yaacob Ibrahim, in which he said Singaporeans must be tolerant, and the only thing we should be intolerant towards is intolerance.

This is most definitely a welcomed speech; the idea of accepting and tolerating different viewpoints is wonderful. (of course, intolerance needs to be defined properly first.)

In this spirit, i hope more politically diverse opinions will be tolerated. I hope the media will give more coverage to different viewpoints. I hope serious discussions will take place on important issues: for example, the discourse on terrorism has been heavily skewed towards religious ideologies. While religious ideology is undoubtedly a factor, almost every major and serious research on terrorism states that other factors (foreign policy, socio-political conditions, loss of trust in authority etc) matter in radicalization too. Therefore, we must be tolerant of different viewpoints and discuss these issues openly and honestly. I further hope those with different standpoints will be met with reasoned argumentation, rather than the full force of the law.

I truly hope, that we are indeed intolerant towards intolerance; whether it is religious or political.

The second was by WP’s Leon Perrera, where he argued for a culture of diversity of opinions. Again, this would be a fantastic thing to have in our society. I hope WP will put its money where its mouth is: in the last parliament, there were occasions in which WP refused to take a stand on some issues or just ignored discourses that were going on in society, perhaps to not offend anyone and reach out to the median voter. I fail to see how keeping silent in important moments contributes to creating this culture.

Hopefully, WP will truly exemplify the culture of diversity, not only by taking a stance on important matters, but by allowing its own members to take different positions on issues.

If one is familiar with parliamentary speeches throughout the world, one would notice that they are often filled with grandiose plans and bombastic words, but unfortunately, with little outcome. One can only hope, that is not the case with these two promising speeches.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

January 28, 2016