Tag: malay

Do Opposition MM Politicians Have A Hidden Agenda?

Aiseyman! This GE is so exciting siol~ With all seats being contested, it is a sight to see so many Malay-Muslim opposition candidates standing up to be counted to speak up for Singaporeans, and be the voice of the MM community. For far too long, the MM community has been under-represented in our country’s political conversation that it would be a step in the right direction for our community if more are willing to be involved in the governance of our country.

But with the increasing religiousity within the MM community, it is worth questioning if these MM opposition candidates truly believe in furthering the democratic process of our political system, or are they merely using the various political parties as a platform to air their grievances and further their religious agenda of pushing for a more conservative and Islamic society?

Just look at SDP’s Damanhuri Abas. Even though he represents a party that believes in the ideals of democracy, justice and equality, he himself is not a true believer of these values because he cherry picks who he thinks deserves to be treated as equals and who deserves to be discriminated against. On the one hand, he fights for the rights of Muslim NSmen and Hijabi Muslimahs, but on the other hand, he says that the law should continue to discriminate against gay men by retaining Section 377A.

Another example is NSP’s Nor Lella Mardiiah Mohamed. In the 2011 elections, she represented the party without wearing the hijab. This time round however, she is representing the party as a Muslimah wearing the hijab. While it is her prerogative to wear the hijab, one can’t help but wonder if this change is reflective of her increasing religiousity, and whether this will translate into support for the hijab issue and more broadly, issues that demand for more allowance of Islamic practices in our secular society.

What about WP’s Firuz Khan who appears to be a supporter of former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad? Like Mahathir, is he also a fan of race-based politics and the bumi-policy? If he is voted into parliament under the WP ticket, will he champion for more MM entitlements and privileges that will affect the delicate racial situation in singapore?

These are questions that the opposition parties or the MM candidates themselves must address so that voters know what these candidates truly stand for and whether they are deserving of our votes.

Source: www.aiseyman.com

September 6, 2015
GE2015: I Am A Malay Voter

I am a Malay/Muslim and will be voting in the upcoming General Elections in Singapore.

Who do I vote for. What am I voting for. What exactly is it in for me?

I spoke to my parents, my friends, my cousins, even the Malay barber under the void deck where I just had my hair cut.

This used to be Singapore’s land they say but now the Malays are being discriminated left, right and centre …

(Source: iRememberSG)

Mendaki? MUIS? Yaacoob Ibrahim? . . . Ahhhh no point.

They won’t even help their own kind and are just government puppets. How many times have we heard stories of the poor Malay student being turned down by MENDAKI for help or of the needy and broken family being denied MUIS financial disbursements?

There is always that somebody’s friend saying that it is a fact that they are being discriminated because they are Malay.

“Tak boleh kasi chance dengan Cina, Mesti jaga diri sendiri” they remarked. (translated: Cannot give face to the Chinese, we must look after our own)

It was a horror story that Malay children of my generation grew up listening to – that it is tough to be Malay in Singapore.

The stereotype was further enforced when national figures year on year shows that the Malay community form the largest percentage of broken families and are living in rental flats. (Even the PM admitted that they are a group to be concerned about in his latest NDP rally).

Why are the Malays lagging despite article 152 of the constitution:

(2) The Government shall exercise its functions in such manner as to recognise the special position of the Malays, who are the indigenous people of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of the Government to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social and cultural interests and the Malay language.’

Who do I vote for. What am I voting for. What exactly is it in for me and more importantly my community.

Will voting the opposition empower the Malays and increase their standard of living?

I closed my eyes and touched my heart in silence and searched for the answer…..

I want my community to be given opportunities to progress and improve their lives.

I want my community to have equal access to education, healthcare, housing and employment as with the other races

I want my community to be able to practice Islam without fear or prejudice and to be able to perform our religious obligation with relative ease.

I want my community to be able to contribute to the Singapore story and be a part of its success.

I want a minister that stand up for our rights and represent the concerns of the common Makcik and Pakcik in parliament – without reservation.

I want a Minister that speaks good Malay because that Minister is going to be the role model that I ask my child to look up to.

Minutes passed, I steadied my breath, opened my eyes and looked around me.

For a race that comprises only 13% of Singapore’s population, we have 70 well maintained mosques with quality teachers, programmes and support services.

(Iman.edu.sg)

We have grants and subsidies that are set aside for only our community that others do not enjoy, such as the Mosque Building Fund; ensuring that we are able to continue and perform our religious obligations with ease (and not rely solely on donations and auctions to buy land and build a mosque).

Yes, Malays currently form the majority of broken families and stay in rental flats but there are now more programmes than ever to help us ‘get out of the poverty cycle’ – if we but find out about them and play our part instead of listening to hearsays. (ST:Many poor Malays do not seek social aid)

We have Malay pilots, lawyers, doctors and top civil servants. (Speaker of Parliament, i.e. Head of Legislature is Mdm Halimah Yacob)

Even those that came from Madrasahs were given the same opportunity to succeed as their peers who chose the secular programmes.

Read: NUS medical school takes in first Madrasah students

Read: Former Madrasah student wins Berita Harian inspiring young achiever award.

We are a community that not only receives but also gives back to society – the Yusof Ishak Fund is managed by the Malay community and helps deserving citizens (of all races) with their professorship.

We have access to housing and health care; the same standard with other races. In fact, there is a racial quota for housing to ensure that there will always be space for Malay families in every the estate.

It is time for my community to break away from the stereotypes that we have reinforced on ourselves over the years.

We have to stop the delusion and feel self-entitled to success and protection just because “Singapore was Tanah Melayu” (Singapore was a Malay land and we the indigenous people) in the constitution.

We have just as many opportunities as the other races to succeed in Singapore.

SkillsFuture, Housing Grants and Education were extended to us the same way it was extended to all the other races – if we could but make it count and use it to achieve progress.

I know that despite the best efforts to level the playing field, there still exist discrimination in Singapore. The “tudung issue” is a prime example of that discrimination . … But still . . . it does not explain why we cannot progress.

Come September 11, the Malays in Singapore shall vote.

Some people will always be more equal than us but just like my parents before me, I vote for a government that allows me to be the best I could be as a Muslim and as a Singaporean, regardless of my race and my background.

Source: https://thoughtsofrealsingaporeans.wordpress.com

September 5, 2015
Maliki Osman: Policies In Place To Ensure That No Singaporean Is Left Behind

To ensure that no Singaporean is left behind, various policies have been put in place to help low-income households to purchase their own HDB flats and at the same time ensure that Singapore’s pioneer generation is honoured and supported, said Minister of State for Defence and National Development Maliki Osman on Thursday (Sep 3).

Speaking at the People’s Action Party (PAP) rally at Bedok Stadium, Dr Maliki, a candidate for East Coast Group Representation Constituency, outlined the various initiatives to provide housing support for low-income families.

“They will not be there (low income) forever. With our help and our care, we will get them to the best position that they can be,” he said.

“Home ownership is a critical enabler that will build resilient families who have the security of a home and an asset to provide a better future for their children.”

Since 2012, 1,800 families earning under S$1,000 were able to book their own two-room HDB flats or larger, noted Dr Maliki.

“It shows that in Singapore, we try our very best to make sure that even the lowest-income families have (the) ability to own their own homes.”

He said that for those who have sold their HDB flats, cannot afford new housing and now live in rental flats, a new Fresh Start Housing Scheme — which was announced during last month’s National Day Rally — is in the works to help them purchase another property.

The minister also touched on how a large and active volunteer network in East Coast has been honouring and supporting the pioneer generation to ensure that they “do not live alone socially and emotionally”.

Over a period of nine months, volunteers managed to reach out to 9,000 pioneers to explain the Pioneer Generation Package and care for them. A fresh wave of outreach efforts will soon be launched to explain MediShield Life. Besides for the elderly who live in HDB heartlands, Dr Maliki said that support is also being extended to those who live in private estates.

“We cannot assume that those in private estates are without needs. We cannot assume that they are functioning well and managing on their own … They tell us they also have needs and we must connect with them.”

Speaking in Malay, Dr Maliki added that the PAP really cares about the Malay community and the socioeconomic conditions of the Malay community have clearly improved over the years. “As we mature and develop, we will hold hands together. We will hold the hands of those who are slower and lagging behind. But we will never leave them behind,” he said in English.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

September 4, 2015
GE2015: Alternative To Malay PAP MPs

If online chatter is to be taken as truth, it is therefore without a doubt that the Minister for Muslim Affairs is not a favourite person among the Malay – Muslim community.

It is not hard to realise why,

It is the PAP who appointed Yaacob Ibrahim as the Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs.

The community did not choose him. The community did not elect him. The community did not appoint him.

But if anyone is to be a Minister of Muslim Affairs, we should at least expect him to be elected in a constituency with a large number of Muslims.

There are a lot more Malays in Aljuneid. (source)

If Yaacob want to be a leader of the Malay community, I wonder why he did not contest there.

At least, with a larger Muslim electorate, he could have claimed thousands of Malays voted for him.

Instead, his constituency seems to be overwhelmingly non-Muslims.

When asked about the progress of the Hijab discussion, Yaacob mentioned that it was problematic for some jobs and urged members of the community to be patient as he continues discussion . . . (in which the community patiently waited……and waited….and waited)

Source: TODAY

The General Elections is finally here and there was a petition to ask the Malays to not vote for him in the Jalan Besar GRC. That was the only way they could get him out and see change for the Malay Muslim community. They were desperate.

Who else could they vote for they ask? Who else would stand up for their rights?

Some say Damanhuri Abas (in red) of the SDP. Others whispered Mohamed Fairoz Shariff (in blue)of the WP.

(Pic by Google images)

Of the numerous opposition parties, only SDP is willing to openly champion the hijab issue.

Source: SDP

Workers Pary went wishy washy as they explained that the discussions should be carried on with an open mind, and include the input of the heads of uniformed professions on the feasibility of accommodating the wearing of the hijab in their organisations, subject to considerations such as operational exigencies. (source)

Party influence.

It seems that a person may have good ideas for the community and be passionate about it but it is the Party that they belong to who will have the final say.

Perhaps, contrary to beliefs, Yaacob was indeed championing our cause behind those close doors (until his hair turned all white) but try as he might, he could not get his Party’s approval.

Yes, the Muslim community have well maintained mosques, we have equal opportunities for education, health care and housing, we have the mosque building fund and we can practice our faith without fear or discrimination.

Perhaps that is exactly why we need a responsible person there to keep championing the interest of the Muslim community. (otherwise we won’t even have these in the first place)

Bit by bit, inch by inch, yard by yard – persevering despite everything that the party denied.

We mentioned it in our previous article GE2015 – I am a Malay Voter.

It is how we succeed regardless of our race and background that makes it remarkable.

Source Zulfikar FB

Source: https://thoughtsofrealsingaporeans.wordpress.com

September 4, 2015
Damanhuri Abas: Mahu Bangkitkan Isu-Isu Penting Bagi Masyarakat Melayu

Calon SDP bagi GRC Marsiling-Yew Tee, Damanhuri Abas berkata sebagai seorang calon kaum minoriti dalam pasukan SDP di GRC tersebut, beliau berharap akan dapat memperjuangkan isu-isu yang penting untuk masyarakat Melayu.

Berucap dalam bahasa Inggeris, Encik Damanhuri menimbulkan isu pemakaian tudung oleh wanita Islam yang bekerja di barisan hadapan, contohnya jururawat.

Encik Damanhuri juga menegaskan peri pentingnya masyarakat berbilang kaum dan agama di Singapura.

“Kita semua rakyat Singapura tidak kira Cina, Melayu mahupun India. Kita hanya ada pulau kecil ini yang kita boleh katakan sebagai negara kita. Pada usia saya 45 tahun ini, saya menghauskan kesatuan, kesetiakawanan yang tulen.

SDP adalah sebuah parti yang melaungkan dengan lantangnya visi Singapura yang adil, makmur dan saksama,” tegas Encik Damanhuri.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

September 4, 2015