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Tag: Malay Muslim

  • PAP Malay MPs Fail to Speak Up for Community

    Credit: Osman Sulaiman
    Credit: Osman Sulaiman

    It is high time that our Malay community ask what’s the contribution of the Malay PAP MPs so far.

    We know they failed to speak up for the Malay Muslim community about the hijab issue. They placed the sole burden of responsibility on the shoulder of our Mufti. In fact, they went underground and agree with the gov’s position contrary to the very people that they are supposed to represent.

    They have also fail to persuade the gov to stop the discriminatory practices against the malays in RSAF from the time the PAP swept into power. Many PAP Malay MPs have come and gone. 49 years long. It’s a slap on our faces to be supporting such incorrigible practices and then propose to be given fair chances.

    When the opposition MPs, Faisal Manaf and Pritam Singh raised these issues in parliament recently, it was quickly shot down by the “eager-to-please-our-master” Zainal Sapari and Zainnudin Nordin as though discrimination was non-existent.

    Its unbelievable that while our community has heard, seen, felt and gone through the dreaded discriminatory policies of the ruling government, our elected ‘salary-paid-by-tax-payer’ Malay PAP MPs continue to be oblivious to the situation.

    Why were they elected in the first place if they are much divorced from the reality on the ground? It is time we scrutinized and take these under performing Malay PAP MPs to account. Until the thorn is removed from the flesh, we will continue to feel the pain mentally and emotionally. Our votes for them have been betrayed.

    Authored by Osman Sulaiman

     

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  • Workers’ Party: Set Up Committee to Address Malay-Muslim Concerns

    faisalmanapWP

    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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  • Chinese Convert Don’t Want to be Labeled as Malay

    Google Images
    Google Images

    Dear R1C

    I am a muallaf. Chinese guy who embraced Christianity when I was in Sec Two. Met the love of my life who is a beautiful Malay woman when I was 28. Embraced Islam wholeheartedly when I was 30 and married my lovely wife. Proud to be a Muslim and appreciate the beauty of Malay culture.

    I often come across many Singaporeans who now calls me a Malay. In reality I am still a Chinese. I speak fluent Mandarin. Before I take up Islam, I used to eat pork, I drank alcohol. I gambled like crazy during CNY. Now, I stopped all that already. Islam has brought new meaning to my life and I am much happier now.

    BUT…

    Oh boy, calling me a Malay, that pisses me off big time. Haven’t they noticed that race and religion are two separate issues? I don’t understand why would people ask me questions like:

    “Why do you want to be a Malay?”

    “Your family members are still Chinese?”

    “You are now a Malaylah, is it?”

    “Do you miss pork? Let’s eat bak chor mee now?”

    “Must have been terrible for you to fast for a month, right?”

    “Really Malay pray 5 times one ah?”

    “Do your Islam God accept only Arabic language or you can say prayer in English or Mandarin?”

    “Is your boss okay about you going to prayer in many times in a day time?”

    “Amazing you can keep a beard when you are Chinese!”

    “What happen to your Chinese family line? You have any other siblings to carry on the family name?”

    “Do you have to cut kukujiao?”

    “So now you have join the rilek clan?”

    “How can you eat Malay food high in cholesterol!”

    “As long no pork, mean you can eat already lor, right”

    #

    In Singapore, Malay and Muslims don’t always come in a package. Not all Malays are Muslims. Muslims can be Indian, Chinese, Caucasian, Eurasian, and the list goes on. I noticed many times the local media and even the Malay community themselves often confused the two terms together.

    Perhaps it is the lack of education and awareness about race and religion that made them form such distasteful mental picture of Islam and Malays?

    Time to clear these misconceptions- starting from the media. Stop using the term ‘Malay-Muslims’.

     

    Joshua Tan aka Syafiq Abdullah

     

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  • Homosexuality and Liberal Islam are Dangerous to Singapore

    Mohamed SaiddhinAbdullah
    Mohamed SaiddhinAbdullah
    syed Khairudin
    NUS Professor Syed Khairudin Aljunied

    I was recently made aware of the uproar over my dear friend Prof Dr Syed Khairudin Aljunied and his post on the wall of his personal Facebook account.I do not see why is there a need to make a big fuss over his post in the first place. There were some who took offence as they see it as him replying in his official capacity just because the word “prof” appeared. I find it daft really. It was the questioner who addressed him as “prof”. Prof K was replying in his personal capacity and nowhere did he say he is replying in his official capacity. (note that I too personally address him as Prof K)

    Next, there are those who took offense at the words “diseases”, “cancerous” and “cleanse”. The ones starting the petition are being mischievous when they took those words out of context. It is literally putting words into his mouth when they angle it the way they are doing it now. The hypocrisy……

    And if he edited the post, isn’t it good in some sense as perhaps he did see value in some of the complaints brought forth and corrected it accordingly. Or perhaps he realised it himself. I am just speculating here.

    Most seem to fail to note who the post was addressing it to. Prof K was addressing it to the Muslim faithful. A Muslim not adhering to the teachings of Islam can’t be called the faithful can he? Nor can a Non-Muslim be part of the Muslim faithful. He is addressing to the in-house crowd. (though what Prof K is suggesting can be used by the other religions in their own religious context).

    pinkdot2012asmall1

    He is replying to a Muslim. How do you expect him to reply then? There is no way we can compromise on the issue. Islam abhors homosexual acts and we can’t condone nor compromise on it. As a scholar, he is obligated to stand up to deviant ideologies and practices. Read below:

    “Scholars and religious teachers (asatizahs) must speak up and write against these ideologies and practices. They are obligated to explain to the public the true meaning of what Islam is and sexuality as defined by the Quran and Sunnah. When the scholars and asatizahs are silent about these issues, corruption will spread like wild fire.”

    Same goes to Liberal Islam as they bring about a dangerous ideology that runs contrary to the teachings of Islam. They discard 1400++ years of scholarly research, debate and rulings and bring in instead deviant interpretation of the religion claiming that theirs is most up to date. And most of them who are advocating it are not even learned enough in the knowledge of Islam in order to make any new rulings. The ideas and ideals brought forth by the proponents of these ideologies and practices brings about many social ills and it is detrimental to the well being of any society. Any part of the body that is not normally there and brings diseases to it is cancerous. Then there is a need to cleanse it. Cleanse not in the sense of killing them but to do it spiritually in the context put forth by Prof K.

    If we do not make a stand, society will degenerate faster that it is now. What next? If the pedophiles decided to form a lobby and lobby for the age of consent to be lowered further, what do we do? Do we let them be coz it is their rights? Freedom to love mah…Some European countries approve of Bestiality and some in fact have animal brothels. If ever we have a bestiality lobby here, do we allow them through also?

    Where do we draw the line on the morality of society?

    Many too failed to notice the words that come before and after those words mentioned above. They also fail to see the overall meaning he is conveying. Put it in context people! Nowhere is he spouting hatred for a certain group of minorities. It is conveniently angled in such a way by the authors of the petition. He is in fact advocating early detection and seeking early treatment. Read below:

    “Parents and school teachers must be made aware of these challenges. They must detect early signs of waywardness from their children and students. Give advice, send them to proper religious classes and seek help from counsellors, if necessary. Win over the hearts of the misled youths and explain to them what’s right with knowledge and wisdom.”

    We condemn homosexual acts but we do not condemn those who have homosexual tendencies or those who are transsexuals. We welcome them with open arms,always ready to listen to them and offer them advice if need be. We will accept them as who they are but we will never fail to remind them to return back to the true path. Coz we love ’em.

    Peace.

    PS. To all those who support Prof K can like his fan page created by some supporter out there. Haters need not come.

    Source: Written by and taken from Mohamed Saiddhin Abdullah

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  • Aku seorang Muslim tapi Aku GAY – Ciptaan ALLAH

    I’m not proud of being gay. Because I don’t think it makes sense to be proud of being gay.

    You can only be proud of the things you put work in. If you have to work for it. If you have to work at it. I didn’t do anything to be gay. No work involved. I was born gay. So, it’s not something to be proud of. But not being proud of it does not mean I am ashamed of it. I’m neither proud nor ashamed of being gay. I just am.

    The same thing with being Malay. I was born Malay. No work involved. So no sense in being proud to be Malay. But not being proud of it does not mean I am ashamed of it. I’m neither proud nor ashamed of being Malay. I just am.

    With being Muslim, however, it’s a different thing. Because I have to put work in to ‘stay Muslim’. Examples of this ‘work’, or should I say effort: I pray, and I fast during Ramadan, and I read the holy Qur’an to dedicate the holy Yaasiin verses to my late parents. I (try to remember to always) treat people with respect and kindness, whatever their religion or race. Things like that. That’s effort put in. So yes, I can be proud of being a Muslim, because it’s something I work at.

    ________________________________________________________________

    Okay, now what about ‘pride’ being connected to ‘embracing’ who I am. Do I ‘embrace’ the fact that I’m gay? The word ‘embrace’ in this context; I guess it means: do I celebrate and rejoice in being gay?

    Do I run down a hill screaming ‘I’m gay!! I’m gay!!’ to the sounds of ‘the hiiiillssss… are aliiiive…. with the sound of muusssiiiiiiccc….’ No. Do I join gay parades overseas? No. Am I a member of gay associations? No. Do I make it a point to attend gay events? No. Although I’m open to those things anytime in the future, why not. (Except the running down a hill screaming part). When I can make the time. When I want to. If the desire and interest develops into being, why not. But I don’t consider those things necessary. It would be nice, but not necessary.

    I don’t ‘celebrate’ my being gay. I’m not sure…? But if I inspect this ‘not sure’ further, I’ll come back to ‘I don’t’. So let’s keep it simple and honest: I do not celebrate and rejoice in being gay. But does this mean I am ashamed of being gay? Nope. Because if I am, I would have done something to try and change things. I would have dated women. Convince myself I can ‘turn straight’. Maybe go on to marry one of the women. Convince myself sex with her is okay. Persuade myself to make love to her, say, once a fortnight (would monthly or quarterly still be considered reasonable?). Have kids with her. Generally, live life as a straight man, regardless of whether I lead a double life behind my wife and kids by sleeping with men on the side. But, still calling it life as a straight man.

    Different people live differently. Make different choices.

    If I’m ashamed of being gay, I would probably be living a lie. But I’m not. I’m spending my life with the man I love. God willing, I will be fortunate enough to have him by my side the rest of my life.  Even if this means people, strangers or otherwise, may sometimes look at me just a little bit differently. A subtle shake of the head, dramatically slow and sad. Or a knowing glint in their eyes. A slight smile. In disapproval? In approval, even? ahhh… who cares.

    I am what God made me. I am male, Muslim, gay, Malay, Singaporean.  Lol.

    May God give me the strength to continue to always be honest with myself. Amin!

    Abdul Halim

    I am a Singaporean Malay guy, aged 41 years old.

    Abdul Halim

    Source: http://bit.ly/1jbFJDa