Rilek1Corner

Tag: malay

  • Why It Is Wrong To Say Lee Kuan Yew Hated Muslims

    Why It Is Wrong To Say Lee Kuan Yew Hated Muslims

    READ ONLY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

    As his casket traveled through the streets of Singapore today, I think it’s about time I pay my tribute too.

    Well honestly I couldn’t be bothered about the politics much, all I know is I was born here, I grew up here, go to school here, serve NS, go to work, get salary, go home, go enjoy, go live the life. All this wasn’t possible if he have not done anything about it.

    If someone ask me why am I proud to be a Singaporean? Frankly, I can’t answer them but I can say that for a nation who is only 50 years old, we are actually very competitive in the world.

    1. Our exchange rate is way better than any other
    2. Our Diploma’s and Degree’s are recognize at almost all countries
    3. Our Visas are covered at many countries
    4. We are among the most safest countries in the world.
    5. We have among the best healthcare systems in the world.

    and the list goes on…

    But at the same time, we have many downfalls too but those things which we deemed nonsense and unacceptable may sometime has a good out of it (well for at least my POV).

    1. Take example the expensive cost of healthcare (well there is a govt subsidy to a certain limit but if we give 100% or a vast amount of subsidy to the people, the people will take no ownership to take care of their health)
    2. The expensive COEs (do I really need to explain)
    3. The expensive houses (if houses are cheap, everybody would buy a house, where would you stay then? we do not have much land)
    4. Rising cost of living, then we complain salary never increase (well, technically, that’s your company’s responsibility to amend your salary)
    5. Strict police rules and policies (honestly, a bent law will just do more harm then good to our nation. you wouldnt want your child to be walking at night alone do you and of course, there are minority of cases where rape, theft and murder happened, but it is not widespread, just call them unlucky)
    6. Inflation going up, GST increases, yes it is a problem (but for a 1st world country, our taxes are not as expensive as other nations that may go up to 40%)
    7. Other countries give $$ to their citizens who is not working (yes, our govt tries to accommodate to our non-employees or aged “Golden People” but if they do this for everyone and gives them more than what is asked, where would our desire to work and live proper goes? I might as well sit down and get money from govt every month, unfair to those who actually worked hard and pays tax)

    and the list goes on…

    Then lastly about what about LKY hated the muslims and such…
    Well, I don’t really care, it doesn’t affect me, I mean he could say that but I still have mosques to go and worship. Bazaar Geylang is still on every year. Hari Raya PH is still there. Muslims can wear their religious costumes and still walk along the streets. I mean I still have 3 meals a day, roof over my head and places to chill out, relax, work, play and everything else, I think it is sufficient of what I need as a muslim. He can say what he wanted to say, he has gone now anyway, RIP to him but 50 years on, I can still see muslims everywhere in Singapore.

    I have no issues over my cinabengs or thambikakis. I play footie with them and everytime during a Singapore football game, you can see we don’t care if we cina or india or melayu, all are Singaporeans. When I served my NS, I fought fire along side these boys and I slept with them in one hole eating the same thing they eat and drink. I feel happy having cinabengs as when my hp gone haywire, this statement will come out “later i go to ah beng shop, sure can repair”. My thambikakis indian food is top of list when I needed some flavour. My neighbours are chinese and everyday I said good morning to them and vice-versa. Yes there might be 1 small store of muslim food and indian food in a coffeeshop and tons of chinese food stalls but come on, not practical right to have so many stalls for muslim people who is just that many. Later no sales then business bankrupt wanna blame who? I love my cinabengs and thambikakis, period.

    So all in all, I can weigh that LKY did more good than harm to the nation. He can’t possibly impress all 5 million of you, why don’t you be in his shoes then?? Yes he destroyed some unfortunate people’s life, put them to prison and all and if it was me, yes I would be dammed all my life too but have you ever thought of what if those who opposed him became successful? There will be good out of it I’m sure but will there be balance? Let’s just face it, Singapore wouldn’t be where it belongs and what it is now.

    My advice, let the govt do what they want, they have themselves to answer to the lord when they go 6ft under someday. If they have mistreated the citizens one way or another, they will get the wallup from the almighty, who am I to say they are wrong? As LKY passings made’s it last drive down the streets, I’m sure every men-in-white realizes that life has to end someday. If anyone is not happy with the govt or LKY’s administration, migrate lor. I’m staying cause i still can do what’s right here and I feel safe here and I believe we have to be thankful regardless of what views you have. So as a proud Singaporean, I mourn the death of our Nation Greatest Builder.

    ‪#‎compositionForLunch‬
    ‪#‎quotesForLunch‬

     

    Source: Eusoff Casper

  • Female Malay: Disagree With Lee Kuan Yew’s Policies, Do Not Belittle Or Disrespect The Sacrifices He Made For Singapore

    Female Malay: Disagree With Lee Kuan Yew’s Policies, Do Not Belittle Or Disrespect The Sacrifices He Made For Singapore

    Yesterday I quoted MISS INI’s conversation with me, expressing her frank views from her heart & mind on LEE KUAN YEW. THE MALAYS & SINGAPORE. [https://www.facebook.com/notes/maidin-packer/lee-kuan-yew-the-malays-singapore-a-note-from-the-heart-of-a-young-professional-/860914697303713?pnref=story].

    She inspired yet another young Malay woman, 30, to share her thoughts with me. She also requested to remain anonymous. So I will refer to her as MISS ITU.

    MISS ITU: Dear En Maidin, Thank you for sharing the thoughts of Ms INI on your Facebook. It heartens me to know that there are others out there, like me, who view the current situation in the same way.

    Let me apologise for this rather lengthy note – or rant as you may see it. These are words that I have never spoken out loud to anyone outside my family, and I do not wish for my identity to be known.

    It alarms me to note that over the last few days, my own Facebook feeds have been filled with narrow-minded perspectives of how [some] Malays view the actions of the late LKY. I agree that while one may not agree on actions taken in the past, one should never belittle or disrespect the sacrifices and actions he carried out for the sake of the country.

    Often, I read comments that were made based on little knowledge – if not total lack of knowledge – of the background and reason for decisions and policies. Often, these policies are viewed in the perspective of ‘with intent to marginalize Malay/Muslim communities further’.

    Often, I’d expect these comments to be made by the older generation, who are often less educated. Ironically, these comments are usually made by peers who have had decent levels of education, if not tertiary and further.

    I fail to understand the reason for the discontent. I’ve seen Malay/Muslim individuals rise up and take their place among the top of the cohorts in schools and workplaces. I’ve seen Malay/Muslims succeed in businesses, locally and overseas. I’ve seen success that was borne out of sheer determination and hard work. – LEE KUAN YEW

    I often feel that the grumbles on the ground by people in my own community stem from the mentality that they should be on the receiving end of things without having to work too hard for it. They often have the ‘Malays were here first, so should have more rights over others’ – a very Bumiputera-ish attitude. 

    But Malays are often content with what they have, and instead of aspiring to be better than the other races, or even those if the same race, belittle the achievements to the extent of insinuating that these successes can be attributed to knowing the right people and having the right kind of money. Never sheer hard work. It’s the constant putting down of others that is holding us all back as a community.

    While many are quick to quote what the late LKY said about integrating the Muslims as ‘evidence of marginalizing and attempting to eradicate the entire race’, I wonder why the same quote cannot be used to spur the community on to prove that we can integrate into the society without sacrificing our beliefs. We can hold on fast to our faith while still being Singaporeans first.

    Same can be said when I read a certain post on my FB feed about the reasons why the Malay schools were abolished. We Malays should be ashamed of ourselves. Majority of us cannot even speak in our own mother tongue fluently, much less in comparison to the late LKY who can converse in Malay without needing a translator. And his diction is at times better than a native Malay speaker.

    We are blind to the contributions the country led by the late LKY have made to our community. Our mosques are huge examples of such contributions. Should we have relied on the ‘Malays will depend on itself to build its community’ mentality, we would not have gotten far. [Some] People grumble over the compulsory mosque development fund that we contribute to every month. Such complaints over a petty amount of cash that is often so insignificant that we fail to notice it.

    And we should be honest and upfront with ourselves. How many of us can actually save enough money every month to be able to afford the house we live in if not for our CPF? We Malays are easily contented and quick to keep up with the Joneses. We are quick to display acts of keeping up appearances while piling on mounts of debts. We are quick to fall for get-rich quick schemes instead of getting down to the grind of things.

    I am a child of the 80s. I did not go through what my parents and grandparents went through in the early years of our nation. But it never fails to amaze me that we have come far as a nation in terms of development and infrastructure.

    Yet, I am afraid. I am afraid thinking of the situation my children will have to face growing up, based on the current mentality of the people. People are holding on so tightly to the past, to the misconceptions, that they are getting left behind without them realizing it.

    I may be seen as too ‘intergrated’ into the society. I may be seen as naive. I have served in the civil service, and left it to spend close to a decade in the private sector working for expats.

    I have more non-Malay friends than Malay friends, but they all celebrate my festivities and take time to understand my racial customs and traditions as well as religious beliefs and rituals. If not for the fact that I live in a multi-cultural society which the late LKY insisted on, this would not have happened. And just for that, I am thankful.

     

    MY REPLY: TQ for sharing your views. Would be nicer if it could be shared with others. Yes many of our people need to be re-educated. Your views could help. I would be happy if you are to share it or allow me to use it, with or without your name. Pls advice.

    MISS ITU: Salam Sir. Thank you for reading my note. Do feel free to share and use it. However I would appreciate if my name was not revealed. I believe there are others who feel the same, and like me, are finding it difficult to voice out our thoughts without being hacked down. Ironically, by our own community.

    If you want to be popular, do not try to be popular all the time. Popular government does not mean that you do popular things all the time. We do not want to be unpopular or to do unpopular things. But when they are necessary, they will be done. Popular representative government means that within each five-year period, your policies have demonstrably worked and won popular support. That is what it means. And if we flinch from the unpopular, we are in deep trouble. – LEE KUAN YEW

     

    Source: Maidin Packer

  • Alfian Sa’at Questions Lee Kuan Yew Legacy

    Alfian Sa’at Questions Lee Kuan Yew Legacy

    The arts community in Singapore has responded to the death of Mr Lee Kuan Yew by postponing new shows, observing a moment of silence before performances, creating art – and also critiquing the politician and some of the public tributes being made.

    On Wednesday, playwright and poet Alfian Sa’at, 38, posted a satire on his Facebook page condemning what he viewed as exaggerated eulogies that popularise the “fishing village myth” of Singapore, the idea that Mr Lee “conjured gleaming skyscrapers out of a primordial swamp”. In later comments he said he has observed a “historical revisionism free-for-all” this week.

    In his satire, he wrote: “Did you wake up today? What did you see? A ceiling? Yes, that roof over your head – Lee Kuan Yew put it there. So tomorrow, when you wake up, and look at your ceiling, the very least you can do is imagine his face on it. Looking down on you. Know that he has always looked down on all of us Singaporeans.”

    He also posted from an article in New Mandala, an online journal of the Australian National University College of Asia, which alleged that Mr Lee distrusted the Malay community. Alfian has long called for greater Malay representation in Parliament and public offices and on Friday wrote in Malay on Facebook that “it is difficult for us who have always been treated like stepchildren to claim we are the children of he who is being glorified”.

    Some responders to his posts suggested that it was in bad taste to share such thoughts before Mr Lee’s funeral on Sunday. He later posted that he would hold off further critiques until Monday. In the comment thread he explained further: “My stand has always been that this is a public figure and his public legacy needs to be dissected objectively without fear or favour. But I also think that within the spectacle of public mourning there are pockets of private grief that are complex and defensive and vulnerable and which will feel very hurt by some of the things I will say – even if none of it is addressed directly at them.”

    He also told The Straits Times on Friday that he has since made the posts on his Facebook account private because he has been receiving “both death threats and abuse from people”.

    Other members of the arts community have also been discussing Mr Lee’s legacy on social media. In response to a commentary by former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng who criticised the view expressed in the Western media that Singapore had sacrificed certain freedoms to attain wealth and security, poet Alvin Pang wrote on Facebook that Singaporeans must acknowledge the trade-offs that were made to get it to its current position.

    “Our family tongues and broad access to Malay as a regional lingua franca: gone. Much of our heritage and cultural life: sacrificed. The siblings that might have been, curtailed by hard anti-natal policies that were later lifted to no avail. Compulsory military conscription. Censorship. The list goes on,” he wrote, adding: “To be able to discuss these soberly, from different informed, constructive perspectives: that IS democracy, IS civilisation, and furthermore, does honour to his memory.”

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Samad Ismail: Of Friends And Foes

    Samad Ismail: Of Friends And Foes

    I read something about my late father yesterday. He was mentioned in an article written by a former Singapore Minister Othman Wok in a tribute to the republic’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who died on Monday. I reproduce it (in bold) from (excerpt) of Othman’s piece that was published in the Straits Times (Singapore).

    It is a nice tribute to Singapore’s founding father. But the bit on my late dad – not so nice.

    For reasons, perhaps known only to Othman who considers my father “a good friend”, he chose to repeat and publish a false allegation made decades ago against my late father – that he was a “card-carrying member” of the Malayan Communist Party. A charge my father had denied following his release in 1981 after four-and-half years in detention under the ISA.

    I write, on behalf of my sisters and brothers, to say that – with due respect to Othman, we find the reference made of our father despicable and a deliberate act to malign him.

    We will not be drawn into further remarks to set the record straight or to clear our father’s name for obvious reasons. Individiuals (from both sides of the causeway) responsible for the detention of our father are all dead and gone.

    We will let it rest but we must register our protest and to express our regret and that we are deeply saddened by Othman’s invocation of our father’s name – by resurrecting and repeating a false accusation – a false narrative – that had been put to rest decades ago.

    Below is part of Othman’s article.

    “I told him my concerns were about how we were going to cope with the communist threat in an independent Singapore. He said to me: “You don’t worry. I will handle them.”

    He made good on this promise, dealing firmly and deftly with the communists after Independence. Some have expressed disagreement with Kuan Yew on his subsequent actions, since many of those detained continued to insist for many years that they were not communists.
    This is a misunderstanding of how the communists worked in that era. They did not admit they were communists then because communist organisations had been declared illegal from the time of the Malayan Emergency. So it became their strategy to go underground and to secretly infiltrate groups throughout society. My good friend Samad Ismail, also an Utusan Melayu newsman, did not admit to being a communist at the time, but he turned out to be a card-carrying member of the Malayan Communist Party.

    Samad was detained in Malaysia in the 1970s. I have no doubt there were detainees in Singapore who, like him, were underground communist members or strong communist sympathisers who fought for the same violent cause. Kuan Yew fought the communists vigorously and Singapore is better off because of it.”

    Othman Wok, 90, served in Lee Kuan Yew’s Cabinet as Social Affairs Minister from 1963 to 1977.

     

    Nuraini A Samad

    Source: http://nursamad.blogspot.sg

  • Lee Kuan Yew Was Honest And Authentic, Malays Should Reflect And Move Forward

    Lee Kuan Yew Was Honest And Authentic, Malays Should Reflect And Move Forward

    The Malays should move on, appreciate history but get unstuck from the past. I don’t think this is how Sang Nila Utama, Left Adnan… and all the other historical Malay leaders they often quote would want them to behave. A BIG mindset shift is needed among the Malays. Their comments are a revelation on their way of thinking, on what is going on subconsciously. Probably the reason why the community is not progressing as much as the other ethnic groups. Something must be done to reprogram their mindset, to purify their hearts. Let’s hope there is a blessing in disguise to this. – Miss INI

     

    It started with her private message to me on FB on Saturday (21//3/15), a few days before Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away. Miss INI (my name for her as she preferred to remain unknown):with her private message to me on FB on Saturday (21//3/15), a few days before Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away. Miss INI (my name for her as she preferred to remain unknown):

    “I really like your post about LKY. It cringes and saddens me to read [some] ruthless comments. How can they even have the heart to say such a thing about another person… regardless if they like him or not.”

    [The post referred to: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153715612467080&set=a.10150113790487080.295946.811982079&type=1&theater]

    MY REPLY: You should feel free to add your comments for people to appreciate.

    MISS INI: I should feel free. But maybe I am afraid about being confronted by other FB users who I think are not doing justice towards their own family upbringing by using harsh words on an ailing, old man. I am sure their parents have raised well.

    Forget about him as LKY, a very successful leader in my opinion. It’s about basic humanity. It’s so toxic to curse others. It’s just cruel. May Allah forgive them and purify their hearts.

    It’s also very revealing about the mindset of [some in] the community. Many still expect special privileges just because of their race. I appreciate the fact that Singapore offers a level playing field; it brings about our resourcefulness and resilience. If they keep on ‘expecting’ to be given and having a victim mentality, it’s going to be challenging for them to snap out of their poverty mindset.

    If us Malays desire to be successful and respected, it starts from us. Add more value to the community and be exemplary in character. Don’t blame LKY and the government. Based on my experience, the older generation like my Mum, Dad, Dad’s friends and elderly taxi drivers I have spoken with are the ones who truly respect and appreciate LKY. They went through hardships and have seen how this island has transformed.

    Mr Lee Kuan Yew is known as a VISIONARY leader for a good reason, a very gifted one that is. (Sat 21/3/15 at 10;53pm)

    MY REPLY: Good points. May I use it for our people to reflect upon? If you still have concerns, I can exclude your name and just mention ‘FB friend’. (Sunday 22/3/15 at 10:41am)

    MISS INI: Just want to share why I am so perplexed by the unhappiness of the Malays. It’s based on my own experience.

    I’m as ordinary as other Malays and as ordinary as other heartlanders regardless of race and religion. If others think that the Malays are marginalized, I beg to differ.

    I wasn’t born in an ‘elite’ family. Growing up, my Dad was a plumber at Sembawang Shipyard. My Mum was a housewife taking care of 7 children. Their roles were defined and we were a simple yet a very happy family.

    None of my siblings were graduates and when I was young, I had this fascination towards ‘mortar boards’, which to me at that point was a symbol of academic success. So as a teenager, I set the intention to be the first graduate in my family. I am the second youngest. And I also visualized for my younger brother, nieces and nephews and the generations beyond to keep getting better and better academic and career wise.

    Having said the above, I had never faulted my parents for not having a bigger dream for their children. My Dad was a very responsible provider, an alpha male like most men in his and LKY’s generation I suppose. He was also a disciplinarian. Together with my loving Mum who also honored her roles as a wife and mother, their parenting focus was simple – on values, religion and character. In this aspect, I would say that they have done a wonderful job and I thank Allah for blessing us with beautiful parents.

    To fast forward, my dream about the future of my family became a reality. I had the opportunity to complete my degree. I received some support from MOE so as a bonus as I did it overseas. Application was a breeze, MOE didn’t make it difficult for me. My race and religion were irrelevant. I graduated with a BA.

    My younger brother did a better job than me. Not long after, he graduated with an honours degree. He is now one of the Head at a government organisation. His race and religion didn’t stop him from being promoted.

    As for my nieces and nephews, I am grateful that they are also academically driven so almost all of them are graduates if not working towards being one.

    When my late brother in-law was suffering from lung cancer and finance was a little tight for my him and my sister having 6 children to care for, my undergraduate nieces received sufficient financial support and subsidies. The balance, we raised the funds collectively as a family.

    Glad to say that one of them is now doing her honours year at NUS (Political Science) and the other one was offered to do her PHD (Information Systems) by NTU. Again, their gender, race, religion and them wearing the hijab didn’t hinder them from progressing and receiving support that they have worked hard for.

    So yes, the future is brighter for my family. InsyaAllah. We are not millionaires yet and face life challenges like others, but we are progressing. Not sharing this out of arrogance as abundance is from Allah and Allah can take it away from us anytime so it is very important to remain grateful yet humble.  

    My point is to highlight that it is a level playing field in Singapore and we should appreciate that it is based on meritocracy and not special privileges. My Malay friends who were academically driven, but faced financial challenges have also received support that they deserved. No, they were not marginalized by the government.

    If we truly desire to succeed, finance is genuinely tight, support is around us. To get more like attaining a scholarship, we must of course earn it. If we are not happy where we are, be proactive and do something about it.

    As a former teacher, I have never met any student who is deprived of support because of their race or religion. There are all sorts of schemes offered.

    Medically, having gone through the cancer healing journey with my late brother in-law and having aged parents myself, I know there are various schemes to make medical fees affordable for the community. The Malays are not ‘crossed out’.

    High COE, cost of living… Live within our means. To have a more comfortable living, go work for it. No one is stopping us. Limitations joining the Navy, SAF? If it is really so, aren’t there other options?

    Mr Lee Kuan Yew spoke his mind. Like it or not, he was AUTHENTIC and was honest about his views. It may be painful to hear, but it’s much better than him being a hypocrite.

    Look at the glass as half full instead of half empty. In relation to your post, yes it’s all about having the attitude of gratitude.

    Was aghast when I read comments on Mediacorp Suria [website]. Disturbing how they throw the blame to Mr LKY for the prettiest of shortcomings. What is happening to the Malay/Muslim community? I didn’t know that it is ‘sinful’ to be praying for the health of the ‘kafirun’? With such ‘religiously elitist’ mindset, it wasn’t wrong after all for Mr LKY to have once said that we could integrate all religions but not the Muslims.

    Instead of backlashing him, why not take it as a positive challenge and prove him wrong by being progressive, respectful and gracious? Those who advise others to think positively and pray for Mr LKY’s health are verbally attacked and labelled as boot-lickers, ‘Melayu yang lupa daratan’ and worse… as sinned deviants.

    Yes, feel free to share my thoughts. Appreciate the exclusion of my name as I may not know the best way to respond to strong, harsh views yet.

    The Malays should move on, appreciate history but get unstuck from the past. I don’t think this is how Sang Nila Utama, Left Adnan…and all the other historical Malay leaders they often quote would want them to behave.

    A BIG mindset shift is needed among the Malays. Their comments are a revelation on their way of thinking, on what is going on subconsciously. Probably the reason why the community is not progressing as much as the other ethnic groups. Something must be done to reprogram their mindset, to purify their hearts. Let’s hope there is a blessing in disguise to this.

    (Thought this was sent last night, but it didn’t go through. Have a blessed Sunday with your loved ones, Mr Maidin. Thank you for hearing out my concerns.) – Sunday 22/3 at 12:17pm.

    MY REPLY: This is a good addition to be included in the note I plan to quote from you. Thank u. I hope it will do some good to our people’s mindset.

    (Sunday 22/3/15 at 12:22 pm)

    “You begin your journey not knowing where it will take you. You have plans, you have dreams, but every now and again you have to take uncharted roads, face impassable mountains, cross treacherous rivers, be blocked by landslides and earthquakes. That’s the way my life has been.” – Lee Kuan Yew

     

     

    Source: Maidin Packer