Tag: Islam

Calvin Cheng Must Be Held Accountable For Irresponsible, Murderous Comments

One of my friends has started this initiative!

if you are equally as disgusted by Calvin Cheng’s latest murderous and ignorant comments (pictured), i strongly urge you to similarly:

(1) write in to the Media Literacy Council at [email protected], where, outrageously, Ca-Cheng is a board member, to protest, and

(2) boycott JUICE Singapore and all luminalooque companies, where he’s an executive director. inform them of your stance at [email protected] and [email protected].

please feel free to borrow my email templates below!

(1) Dear Prof Tan,

Hope this finds you well.
I write to bring to your attention the latest irresponsible online comment by one of your Media Literacy Council members, Calvin Cheng.
On 17 November 2015, at 11:54, he commented on Facebook regarding the Paris attacks, “They are a mortal enemy intent on killing and destroying. So you kill them before they kill you. And their children too in case they grow up to take revenge.” For your reference, I’ve attached a screenshot to this email.
Could you explain to me how this upholds the Council’s core values, please? In particular, the Council advocates against “uncivil behaviours online…that are anti-social, offensive, irresponsible or simply mean”.
As I’m sure you know, the Paris attacks are a highly complicated and divisive affair that no rational person supports. At the same time, how does Calvin’s simplistic endorsement and incitement of murder of terrorists and worse still, children, work towards the Council’s aim of “creat[ing] a safe, conducive and fun online environment for work and play”?
Would appreciate your and the Council’s clarification on this, please.
Looking forward to your reply.

(2) Dear Juice,

For quite a while now, I’ve enjoyed reading your magazine as I’ve seen it go from strength to strength.
However, I regret to inform you that due to the recent repugnant online comment by your executive director, Calvin Cheng, I’ll be boycotting your magazine and all its related events and content.
In case you’re not aware, on 17 November 2015, at 11:54, your executive director commented on Facebook regarding the Paris attackers, “They are a mortal enemy intent on killing and destroying. So you kill them before they kill you. And their children too in case they grow up to take revenge.” For your easy reference, I’ve attached a screenshot to this email.
As I’m sure you know, the Paris attacks are a highly complicated and divisive affair that no rational person would ever support in the least. At the same time, your executive director’s simplistic endorsement and irresponsible incitement of murder of terrorists and worse still, children, goes beyond the pale. While Juice is not a political magazine, I cannot find it in me to support a business whose leader encourages such violence.
I’m not an influential person, nor do I have deep pockets to support your advertisers, so I simply wish to register my deep disappointment as a long-time and now, former reader.
Thank you.

Source: Ng Yi-Sheng

November 24, 2015
Non-Muslim: Ignorant Islamophobes Should Read The Quran Before Judging Islam

What a hateful book this is. For those of you who don’t know this is the Quran, the book you probably think is guiding ISIS based on my newsfeed. Although I don’t think most of you have ever read a single passage from this book there sure are a lot of experts in my Facebook list.

Some interesting facts about this book you might not know:

1. It is a religion of Abraham, just like the Bible and Torah.
2. Jesus is a big part of this book, although there is discrepancy on if he is the son of God he is still a pretty kick ass prophet who teaches love and peace.
3. All of the shitty, angry, hateful things you probably think are in this book are all taken out of context from the early part of the religions of Abraham and those same hateful rules are in the Bible and Torah as well.
4. Islam is the only religion that has mandatory giving to those who are less fortunate.

For the sake of this post length I will stop there. I am so tired of being told how hateful the Islamic religion is from ignorant people who really have no idea. Any time you see something that you think is true about the Islamic religion I urge you to find those facts in the book and not from someone who has never read it.

In the book of Genesis Eve brought on sin for all generations to come because she listened to the words of a snake who deceived her. Before you pass judgment based on something you heard, you should look for yourself.

[17:26-29] You shall give the due alms to the relatives, the needy, the poor, and the travelling alien, but do not be excessive, extravagant.

The extravagant are brethren of the devils, and the devil is unappreciative of his Lord. Even if you have to turn away from them, as you pursue the mercy of your Lord, you shall treat them in the nicest manner. You shall not keep your hand stingily tied to your neck, nor shall you foolishly open it up, lest you end up blamed and sorry.

[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.

It will be interesting to see how many Facebook friends I lose.

Source: Colin Ripley

November 24, 2015
Osman Sulaiman: Open-Minded Approach To Sensitive Issues Required To Build Social Trust And Resilience Between Different Communities In Singapore

The recent terror attack in Paris unfolded a few incidents around the world victimizing innocent Muslims.

– A girl being harassed by a bunch on men. They pulled her headscarf trying to dislodge it from her head. They continue to bully her.

– A man shoved a Muslim woman into oncoming train at London underground.

– Closer to home, a Singaporean woman has alleged that she was shouted at with anti-Islam comments at Tanah Merah MRT station.

This beg a few questions. IF terror attacks were to happen in Singapore, how would the non-Muslim community react towards the Muslims in Singapore?

1. Are we as cohesive as we would like to think as a community?

2. Would the terror attack instil fear amongst Singaporeans to view the Muslims in Singapore with a stroke of the pen?

3. Will we see more frequent hate speech against Islam here in Singapore? The hate speeches are already happening even now among my Fb friends.

4. Will the gov indiscriminately target the Muslim population here for ‘extra’ vigilance?

5. There are among Muslims, women who wear the Burqa. The one that covers their entire face except their eyes. How will the terror attack affect them?

Our racial integration is somewhat successful although there are still deep fault lines not addressed and discussed openly.

A terror attack in Singapore can either open a can of worms or it may just unite Singaporeans together in Solidarity.

Of cause the latter will be the most ideal. But for that to happen, Singaporeans need to be prepared and take an open minded approach to sensitive issues

Source: Osman Sulaiman

November 24, 2015
Nizam Ismail: Malay Students Performing Poorer Compared To Others,Widening Gap Needs To Be Addressed

MOE’s release of educational performance of students from 2005-2014 reveal some alarming trends for Malay students, especially at PSLE level.

The gaps between Malay students and other communities at PSLE is *widening*, for Science, Maths and English. There is a discernible trend of *worsening* performance year on year. And this is despite at least 3 decades of intervention through Mendaki.

Only 60% of Malay students pass Maths (compared to 85.3% for the national benchmark). In other words, we have not progressed since 2005 (59.7%)

And for Science, only 70% of Malay students pass, compared to 90% for the national benchmark). This figure of 70% is worse than 2005 (76.8%)

What’s worrying are the trend lines of worsening performance, especially in Science.

I had raised this point 3 years ago. Our community-based educational intervention program to Mendaki does NOT work. The results speak for themselves.

We need to take a national approach towards addressing educational gaps. A holistic and aggressive approach target at lower socio-economic income groups (where Malay families are over-represented). We want all communities to do well.

Why perpetuate a model that has clearly not yielded results – despite millions of dollars of community funding through MBMF?

We simply cannot afford to let the slide continue or worsen.

Lest we become more marginalized.

Sampai bila?

Source: Nizam Ismail in Suara Melayu Singapura.

November 22, 2015
Some Singaporean Muslims Worried Over Anti-Islam Backlash

After the terrorist attacks in Paris made headlines around the world, SIM Global Education student Ms Nur Elyana Amir, 20, found herself having to fend off insensitive remarks from her schoolmates.

“People in school were looking at me (differently) just because I was wearing a tudung. Everything (to do) with ISIS, they would associate with me … they would ask ‘Eh why Muslim all like that, why Muslim do it’… They don’t know that this doesn’t represent Islam,” she said.

Ms Elyana was among the respondents in a TODAY straw poll to find out Singaporeans’ attitudes towards terrorism. Discussing their concerns about the impact of a terrorist attack should it occur in Singapore, a few Muslim respondents cited their worries that the community could be scrutinised and face a possible backlash. Others, however, expressed confidence that Singaporeans from various communities will stay united.

Ms Erin, 30, a sales and marketing executive, said that some people were quick to associate Muslims here with the actions of the terrorist group Islamic State.

“We don’t go around trying to destroy your homes or have intentions to do suicide bombings,” she said. “(Some) Singaporeans are quite narrow-minded, they are not very informed or they don’t really understand what our religion is about.”

Nevertheless, teacher Syafiq Rafid, 26, said that while he would be concerned about his “social standing as a Malay and Muslim” in the event of an attack, he was confident that non-Muslims would not point fingers at the community. “I’d like to have faith in my fellow countrymen and (believe) we are able to pick up the pieces,” he said.

Executive Noraini Hussin, 30, also said that she was confident that Singaporeans would recognise that “terrorism” has nothing to do with Islam.

Citing her own experience of being taught in both a Christian school and the madrasah, she said, “I’m pretty confident that Singapore will be able to recover quickly and that everyone is able to band together. After enjoying social and racial harmony for so long, we are that close.”

Terrorism experts, including Mr Joseph Franco, an associate research fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, felt that Singapore’s multiculturalism built up over the decades would stand it in good stead should a terrorist attack occur here. “If it was something contrived, (Singapore) would have collapsed a long time ago,” Mr Franco said.

Even so, community and religious leaders said more can be done to strengthen social cohesion. Mr Alla’udin Bin Mohamed, vice-chairman of Geylang Serai Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCC), said that more discussions within the Muslim community should be encouraged. More activities should be organised for people of various races to mingle and forge friendships, he added.

Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, interfaith activist and founding member of Leftwrite Center, said there are pockets of Singaporeans who hold stereotypes and prejudices, which could flare up during conflicts.

Opportunities should be created for people to discuss complex issues such as religious extremism openly and frankly, with a facilitator to moderate such discussions, he said.

“Such intercultural communication can clarify and correct presumptions and prejudices while creating bonds of friendship,” he added.

Mr Zainal Sapari, a Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said that people of all races need to be more pro-active in speaking out against hateful comments on social media, while teachers and school counsellors should use the Paris attacks as a “learning opportunity” to teach young minds about terrorism and address wrong perceptions.

“If not, it could create real fault lines in society and start off the blame game… As a society, everyone needs to own the problem,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

November 21, 2015