Tag: Islam

Masagos Zulkifli: Sifat Toleransi Antara 3 Isu Yang Harus Ditekankan Pemimpin Melayu/Islam

Menteri di Pejabat Perdana Menteri merangkap Menteri Kedua Ehwal Luar dan Dalam Negeri, Masagos Zulkifli berkata beliau akan terus memberi tumpuan untuk memenuhi kepentingan budaya dan agama para penduduk.

Beliau juga yakin para penduduk Melayu/Islam akan memilih kepimpinan yang dapat menyatukan serta memajukan masyarakat dengan negara.

Semasa sidang media bagi mengumumkan barisan calon PAP untuk GRC Tampines hari ini (22 Ogos), Encik Masagos turut berkongsi tiga isu yang perlu diberi penekanan oleh para pemimpin Melayu/Islam.

KEKALKAN SIFAT TOLERANSI DI KALANGAN MASYARAKAT MELAYU/ISLAM

Pertama – bagaimana untuk mengekalkan sifat toleransi di kalangan masyarakat Melayu/Islam supaya tidak mudah terhasut dengan anasir yang boleh menggoyahkan perpaduan masyarakat setempat.

Menurutnya, konteks kehidupan di Singapura begitu unik di mana kepentingan kaum minoriti tidak diketepikan.

Maka itu, beliau menggesa agar sifat toleransi dan kesederhanaan terus diwujudkan dalam masyarakat Melayu/Islam supaya kepentingan bersama dapat dijaga.

“Kita harus terus mewujudkan sifat toleransi, moderat dalam menghadapi segala isu yang cuba ditimbulkan untuk menghairahkan masyarakat kita supaya menekankan lagi keistimewaan mereka dari segi agama atau bangsa. Itu baik tapi kita harus ambil kira juga bahawa kita hidup dengan warga yang lain dan perlu menjaga kepentingan negara bersama,” katanya.

Dua isu lain yang diutarakan adalah – usaha memastikan golongan Melayu/Islam yang sudah berjaya terus menyumbang kepada masyarakat, serta mengurangkan lagi kadar jenayah atau masalah dadah di kalangan masyarakat tersebut.

PENDUDUK MELAYU/ISLAM TAMPINES BERI SAMBUTAN BAIK KEPADA PAP

Bila ditanya pula oleh BERITAMediaCorp mengenai sentimen para penduduk Melayu/Islam di Tampines, yang membentuk sekitar 25% bilangan pengundi di GRC Tampines terhadap PAP, Encik Masagos menjawab, sambutan yang diterimanya setakat ini agak memberangsangkan.

“Orang Melayu, mereka selalu mesra. Kalau bertemu dengan pemimpin, siapa saja, mereka membuka pagar dan sering mengajak kami masuk untuk bukan hanya menyampaikan isu-isu perumahan, tapi kadang-kadang, hanya untuk beramah tamah,” katanya.

Mengulas pula mengenai usaha menarik sokongan para penduduk Melayu/Islam di Tampines, Encik Masagos menyuarakan keyakinan terhadap kemampuan masyarakat itu dalam menilai dan memilih barisan pemimpin mereka.

“Saya yakin orang Melayu/Islam itu, mereka tahu kepentingan mereka supaya kepimpinan yang mereka pilih itu dapat menyatukan kami terus progresif bersama negara, tidak melupakan agama dan bangsa,” kata Encik Masagos.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

August 23, 2015
What Drives People To Join Extremist Groups?

Militant groups such as the Islamic State (IS) can offer direction and a certain meaning in life that some people crave, said Professor Andrew Silke from the University of East London, where he is programme director for Terrorism Studies. Prof Silke, who serves as a counterterrorism consultant to government agencies in Britain and America, is in Singapore to give a lecture at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. In this interview with TODAY, he examines the appeal of IS and suggests ways to deal with returning fighters.

What is the draw of the Islamic State? In particular, why does it appeal to young people even from developed countries?

The appeal is based on a range of factors. For some, it is a sense of adventure and excitement. For others, it provides a strong sense of identity and belonging. To the people attracted, IS can offer a powerful sense that you are doing something meaningful and that you matter. The reality, of course, when people get there can be much harsher and very different. But for young people looking for meaning and direction in their lives, IS can appear to offer answers and certainty.

There have been many instances of young women in their teens being radicalised by the Islamic State and travelling to the conflict areas for marriage. What drives them?

The Islamic State offers clarity, certainty and a clear sense of belonging and meaning. That can be very, very attractive to young people, who are often searching for a clear sense of identity and a quest for significance and acceptance. In its propaganda, IS offers all these and more.

What is the typical psychological state of a jihadist who has returned after fighting? Is it euphoria and a sense of accomplishment or emptiness as the “mission” has ended?

Most are tired and have no intention of trying to continue the conflict elsewhere. Probably fewer than 10 per cent have a serious interest in further violence. Some are disillusioned by their experiences. The conflict was not the noble, heroic adventure they expected. The group they were fighting for also failed to live up to expectations. Some suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems as a result of what they have seen or done. Many are anxious about their future and what will happen if they are identified by the authorities as a returning fighter.

How should countries rehabilitate jihadist returnees? How do we strike a balance between the carrot (counselling, making them feel less marginalised) and the stick (stronger legislation to “punish” them)?

This is a very tough question and one that the United Kingdom, for example, is really struggling with today. About 600 UK citizens have travelled to fight with the Islamic State. Many have already returned and some of those have been imprisoned. Others have tried to travel and have been stopped and imprisoned too.

I think we need a balanced approach. We should offer a route out for people who have changed their minds and are desperate to leave IS. Some people remain in Syria mainly because they think they will be imprisoned if they try to return home. There are disengagement and counter-radicalisation programmes these people can do which can help them leave without having to face years in prison. But we also need to recognise that there will be highly radicalised individuals who are extremely committed to the IS cause, and prison is a legitimate and sensible option for them.

From the macro policy perspective, what are the most vital measures governments should take to prevent the radicalisation of individuals?

First, I think we need to accept that you cannot have a society that is completely free of extremism and if your focus is to try to eliminate all extremism, you are setting yourself up for failure. Only totalitarian regimes can have such ambitions and who would want to live in that type of society?

Second, we need to be careful about claiming radicalisation is the result of one factor. The UK government, for example, is pushing the view that extreme ideology is the primary cause of radicalisation. It is convenient to blame ideology because the role of other factors such as discrimination, marginalisation and foreign policy get pushed to the side.

The counterterrorism effort starts to focus increasingly on only countering the ideology and expecting that that will be the solution.

Research shows us that a range of factors drives radicalisation and that identity issues, for example, are more important than ideology in explaining how and why young people become radicalised.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 22, 2015
When It Comes To Role Models, Race Is Irrelevant

Earlier this month, there was a media article on how a toy-plane lover and former television child star was now a high-flying colonel in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

The article began by saying that Col Zakir Hamid, 46, had become the RSAF’s first Malay pilot in 1992 and was now the highest-ranked Malay officer there.

I wondered why there was an emphasis on Colonel Zakir’s race, alongside his achievements. This emphasis seems to occur in instances when Malays rise to high positions in society.

In April, when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Masagos Zulkifli was promoted to a full minister, all news reports said this was the first time that Singapore had two Malay full ministers. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his Facebook post announcing the appointment, said this reflected the progress of the Malay community.

I agree that stories of success serve to motivate and inspire younger Singaporeans. In the case of Malays who have done well, the Malay community celebrates their achievements, and younger Malays see these figures as good role models.

Their success stories exemplify the meritocratic system in Singapore. They also help to convince the Malays that, even though we are a minority — the community forms 13.4 per cent of the citizen population — we can, like anyone else, and with effort and determination, succeed.

However, in mentioning race when highlighting the achievements of Malays, might it not create a sense of inferiority, that we are not as capable and so any success attained by a Malay needs to be tied back to their race?

It does not reflect Singapore’s meritocratic value of seeing ourselves as a united people regardless of race, language or religion.

Academic Hussin Mutalib, in his book Singapore Malays — Being Ethnic Minority And Muslim In A Global City-State, wrote about the Malay “marginality” that some Malays felt as Singapore progressed. Could such mentions of race-based achievements be an attempt to remove those perceptions?

It is a fact that the Malay community falls behind the Chinese and Indian communities in terms of educational qualifications and other socioeconomic attributes. But the gap is narrowing.

The Malay community is moving forward and we want to continue doing so. According to the Education Statistics Digest published by the Ministry of Education, close to eight in 10 of Malay students in the 2003 cohort received admission to post-secondary education institutions.

In 2012, almost nine in 10 achieved this — the biggest improvement seen among the races.

Another positive trend by the Ministry of Social and Family Development data also showed that the home ownership rate among Malay residents is highest among the other races at 93.2 per cent.

DO NOT LET RACE GET IN THE WAY

I believe that members of the Malay community want to be seen as being as capable as other Singaporeans, and able to achieve similar success to their friends in school and at work.

It will be even more encouraging if Malays who have benefited from the system in Singapore are willing to guide and mentor young Malays. Self-help groups such as Mendaki have programmes that require volunteers and mentors to lead them, and this will be a great opportunity to engage and empower future generations of the community.

This will go a long way in dispelling perceptions of inferiority or discrimination that these young Malays may have internalised.

The media can also play a part. They are instrumental in telling the stories of Singaporeans and also in moulding perceptions of the different communities and groups.

While it is perfectly fine to showcase celebrations of racial cultures or cultural events, I believe there is no need to emphasise race, especially when articles are accompanied by photos of the people mentioned.

This special mention for Malays in stories of success may unintentionally cause Singaporeans of other races to see Malays as less capable. This can affect how they relate to and communicate with their Malay friends.

As we progress, I hope to see less emphasis put on a person’s race when highlighting his or her achievements.

In my opinion, Singapore will never be a race-blind country because race, for good reasons, will continue to be a huge part of a person’s identity.

Based on a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies on race, religion and language, 70.7 per cent of the respondents indicated that race is important to their overall sense of identity.

Race should be less of a social marker and more of a cultural marker. We can be proud of our individual ethnicities and share our unique cultures, while still having a strong national identity. But we should not let race shape our interactions or perceptions of others.

Stories of success should be read as they are — the achievements of fellow Singaporeans. I, for one, am sure that members of the Malay community can find any successful Singaporean, regardless of race, a worthy role model.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Muhammad Syakir Bin Kamal is a second-year student at Imperial College London, where he is reading aeronautical engineering. He is currently interning at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 22, 2015
Amalina Ridzuan Dan Ahmad Abdurrahman Hanifah Marican Ditabal Sebagai Jauhari Harapan

MEREKA mencipta sejarah beberapa bulan lalu sebagai dua pelajar madrasah pertama yang berjaya melangkah ke Sekolah Perubatan Yong Loo Lin, Universiti Nasional Singapura (NUS), menerusi laluan politeknik.

Semalam, Cik Amalina Ridzuan, 22 tahun, dan Encik Ahmad Abdurrahman Hanifah Marican, 20 tahun, ditabal sebagai Jauhari Harapan masyarakat Melayu/Islam – kali pertama anugerah yang diperkenalkan Berita Harian pada 2013 itu diberi kepada dua penerima.

Sedang masyarakat memuji dan menjadikan kisah kejayaan mereka sebagai contoh dan harapan, kededua anak muda itu terus berpijak pada bumi nyata.

Mereka sedar, banyak mata tertumpu pada mereka dan ingin melihat mereka berjaya.

“Kami tiba-tiba menjadi contoh kepada pelajar lain, jadi kami perlu berkelakuan dan menunjukkan contoh yang baik. Kami perlu belajar dengan gigih dan kami harus berjaya. Kami perlu menjaga reputasi madrasah dan politeknik kami,” kata Encik Ahmad, bekas pelajar Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah dan Politeknik Singapura.

Beliau, yang lulus Diploma Sains Bioperubatan dengan Mata Gred Purata (GPA) 3.94 daripada gred penuh 4, berharap lebih ramai pelajar madrasah dan sekolah kejiranan kini lebih terdorong mencapai cita-cita mereka.

“Kita boleh menjadi siapa sahaja yang kita mahu asalkan kita bekerja keras,” kata Encik Ahmad yang sedang menjalani perkhidmatan negara (NS) dan akan memulakan kursus perubatannya pada Ogos tahun depan.

Bagi Cik Amalina pula, Anugerah Jauhari Harapan yang mengiktiraf pencapaian dan potensi individu Melayu/Islam bawah 30 tahun menjadi pendorong baginya agar terus melakukan yang terbaik di menara gading.

Beliau, yang sudah memulakan pengajian minggu lalu, berkata ada banyak yang perlu dihafal dan pengajian lima tahun akan datang dijangka ‘berat’ dan mencabar.

“Namun setelah mengikuti kuliah selama seminggu, saya semakin yakin bahawa inilah bidang yang ingin saya ceburi,” kata Cik Amalina, bekas pelajar Madrasah Al-Ma’arif Al-Islamiah dan kemudian lulus Diploma Sains Bioperubatan di Politeknik Temasek dengan GPA 3.98.

Tekanan tidak dapat dielakkan, katanya, lebih-lebih lagi apabila melihat beliau perlu bersaing dengan pelajar lain yang merupakan bekas pelajar sekolah elit.

Namun beliau mempunyai strategi – kekal konsisten sepanjang tempoh pengajian dan usaha lebih kuat jika mendapati dirinya ketinggalan di dalam kelas.

“Bagi saya, jika kita mempunyai minat terhadap sesuatu, kita harus berusaha sedaya upaya untuk mencapainya. Usah biarkan halangan mematahkan semangat kita dan membuat kita fikir kita tidak mampu melakukannya,” kata Cik Amalina.

Beliau dan Encik Ahmad masing-masing menerima trofi dan cek $5,000 sumbangan Institut Pembangunan Pengurusan Singapura (MDIS) di majlis penyampaian anugerah, semalam.

Ini tahun ketiga MDIS menaja sumbangan wang tunai kepada penerima Anugerah Jauhari Harapan bagi meraikan pencapaian cemerlang individu dalam masyarakat Melayu/Islam.

“Di MDIS, kami percaya dalam mengiktiraf pencapai muda (young achievers) dan mendorong mereka agar berjaya dalam kehidupan. Anugerah Jauhari Harapan adalah satu cara memberi pengiktirafan kepada individu muda yang layak yang mempunyai bakat luar biasa untuk mencapai kecemerlangan dalam bidang pilihan mereka,” kata Setiausaha Agung MDIS, Dr R. Theyvendran.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

August 20, 2015
MINDEF: Allegations Of Discriminatory Behaviour Are Taken Seriously, Investigations Ongoing

It has come to our attention that there are social media posts spreading allegations of discriminatory practices in the SAF.

MINDEF/SAF takes such allegations seriously as it impacts public trust and undermines the strong public support for National Service (NS) and the SAF.

MINDEF/SAF does not tolerate any discriminatory behaviour and is investigating to determine the facts of the case. We take a serious view of the conduct of our servicemen.

If any service personnel is found to have breached our Code of Conduct, disciplinary proceedings will be convened and the necessary actions will be taken.

Source: Cyberpioneer

August 19, 2015