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Tag: Malays

  • Her Whole Life Now Is About Caring For Her Son

    Her Whole Life Now Is About Caring For Her Son

    Devoted mum has been main caregiver of quadriplegic son for 17 years. Every day, she talks to him, says dad. She has to tube-feed her 38-year-old son, change his diapers, and turn him over every two hours to prevent bedsores.

    If you think life is tough for Madam Maznah Sharipan, 59, think again.

    Her husband had his foot amputated because of diabetes, and is on dialysis.

    So when it comes to physically turning her son to ease his bedsores or putting ice packs to bring down his frequent fevers, Madam Maznah has to manage all on her own.

    Her son, Mr Yuri Dahlan Ismail, suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him bedridden when he was 21.

    While on a work assignment, the car he was driving was involved in an accident. The front seat passenger did not survive.

    Madam Maznah, a housewife who has been her son’s main caregiver for the past 17 years, is responsible for tube-feeding him, changing his diapers and sponging him daily.

    Speaking to The New Paper in their four-room flat in Bukit Panjang, her husband, Mr Ismail Shahul Hamid, 62, said she is devoted to their son.

    They have a younger son, 36, who does not live with them but visits every week to help bathe Mr Yuri.

    Mr Ismail said: “She will talk to him all the time, telling him to be patient and to endure. Even if he can’t respond, he can still hear her voice.”

    Despite the challenges, Madam Maznah manages to keep going with strength, humour and faith.

    During this interview, she broke into laughter when her husband said in jest that she neglects him despite their 40 years of marriage.

    But she does admit that her son is always on her mind.

    “When I’m not at home, I’m always wondering about him. I feel relieved and happy every time I see him.”

    Her son’s condition – he is a quadriplegic and is unable to communicate in any way – was hard for her to accept at first.

    “I used to cry and had trouble sleeping after his accident,” she said.

    Mr Yuri – named after Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man to travel to space – had just graduated from Singapore Polytechnic when the accident happened in 1999.

    He had serious head injuries and was hospitalised for six months. He then had to stay at a rehabilitation home for another six months before returning home.

    Over the past few years, Madam Maznah has managed to care for her son, but her biggest challenge involves moving him frequently to reduce pressure on his bedsores, which have worsened over the years.

    Mr Ismail, who has Type 1 diabetes and kidney failure, has been going for dialysis three times a week since 2008. The former driver was forced to stop working after his foot was amputated in 2014.

    After that, his wife had to wheel him to the dialysis centre, but he now relies on a motorised wheelchair.

    The family lives on a monthly payout from Mr Yuri’s former employer, Mr Ismail’s CPF payout and financial assistance from a family service centre and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).

    HOME NURSING

    Since June last year, Mr Yuri has been a recipient of non-profit organisation Home Nursing Foundation (HNF), which provides home care services.

    Staff nurse Hong Jia Wei, 27, visits their home twice a week to attend to his bedsores.

    The family is part of Portraits Of Love, a photography project featuring patients and their caregivers, families or loved ones.

    Ms Hong told TNP that Mr Yuri’s bedsores were very serious at first but his condition has improved slightly.

    She said: “The mum is not young any more and it is difficult for her to turn him over every two hours.

    “But they are very loving towards him and always telling me that he is a good son.”

    She added that she was impressed by their tenacity.

    “They are a very simple and humble family and always joking around.”

    Mr Ismail said they have learnt to accept their fate.

    “The reality is that life has its ups and downs,” he said.

    Madam Maznah added: “I just feel lucky that I’m still able to embrace my son. I’m always praying for him and I have never given up hope that he will get better one day.”

    Raising awareness of home healthcare services

    Portraits Of Love is a project where patients are presented with a photograph taken with their caregivers, families or loved ones.

    Between August and November last year, 50 Home Nursing Foundation (HNF) patients were photographed. The photographer, accompanied by a make-up artist who also served as a stylist, went to each home for the photo shoot.

    A framed A8-size photograph was given to every participating patient.

    The foundation’s spokesman said: “We noticed that our patients tend to have one thing in common: blank cold walls in their flats. Whatever photos they have are greatly treasured by them.”

    The Portraits Of Love exhibition, which runs from tomorrow till Sunday, is the first of a series of events organised by HNF to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.

    The exhibition will showcase a series of photos and short write-ups of HNF’s beneficiaries who have received support through its home healthcare services.

    The aim is to raise public awareness of home healthcare services and to educate the public about available care options and support services in the community.

    The exhibition will be officially launched tomorrow by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health and Environment and Water Resources, at Raffles City Shopping Centre.

     

    Source: The New Paper

  • Insiden Kelar Di ITE: Rayuan Terhadap Hukuman Penjara Diluluskan

    Insiden Kelar Di ITE: Rayuan Terhadap Hukuman Penjara Diluluskan

    Rayuan yang dikemukakan seorang pelajar ITE terhadap hukuman penjara 18 bulan dan enam sebatan rotan yang dikenakan ke atasnya, diluluskan mahkamah.

    Muhammad Zuhairie Adely Zulkifli, 17 tahun, didapati bersalah mengelar teman lelaki rakan sekolahnya di kampus ITE pada Mac tahun lalu.

    Hakim Chan Seng Onn hari ini (21 Apr) sebaliknya mengarahkan Zuhairie supaya menjalani latihan pemulihan antara 18 bulan hingga tiga tahun.

    Pada Mac tahun lalu, Zuhairie menggunakan pisau sepanjang 35cm untuk mengelar Ahmad Nuthaqif Sahed berkali-kali di mukanya. Zuhairie melarikan diri selepas serangan itu, namun ditangkap pada hari yang sama. Mangsa mengalami beberapa keretakan tulang serta beberapa tendonnya juga terputus akibat serangan tersebut.

    Zuhairie mengaku bersalah atas serangan tersebut pada Oktober 2015 dan dijatuhi hukuman pada November tahun lalu.

    TAFSIRAN HAKIM TERHADAP KESALAHAN “TERLALU BERAT”

    Peguamnya, Benny Tan memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini bahawa tafsiran Hakim Daerah terhadap kesalahan-kesalahan Zuhairie mungkin terlalu berat, dan beliau menjatuhkan hukuman pencegahan, bukan pemulihan.

    Encik Tan menggesa Mahkamah Tinggi supaya mengarahkan Zuhairie menjalani latihan pemulihan, di mana remaja itu boleh memanfaatkan program-program khusus untuk membimbingnya – sesuatu yang gagal dilakukan ibu bapanya, kata peguamnya.

    LAPORAN: ZUHAIRIE MEMBESAR DALAM SEKITARAN TIDAK STABIL

    Satu laporan psikologi menyatakan bahawa Zuhairie membesar dalam sekitaran yang “tidak stabil” dengan “jagaan ibu bapa yang tidak konsisten serta keganasan di rumah.”

    Mahkamah diberitahu bahawa ibu bapa Zuhairie “gagal menjadi peran contoh” dengan “rekod jenayah bagi tempoh masa yang panjang”.

    Zuhairie juga tinggal di sebuah rumah kebajikan sejak usianya 12 tahun.

    Peguamnya berkata latihan pemulihan akan memperbetulkan kesan latar belakang keluarganya terhadap Zuhairie.

    PENJARA AKAN BERI “KESAN NEGATIF”

    Beliau menambah bahawa langkah terbaik bagi kepentingan masyarakat ialah mengarahkan Zuhairie menjalani latihan pemulihan, bukan menjatuhkan hukuman penjara, di mana remaja itu akan terdedah kepada kesan negatif.

    Encik Tan juga menunjukkan mahkamah dua klip video insiden serangan itu yang dirakamkan seorang pelajar dan tersebar luas di lelaman media sosial. Ia menunjukkan mangsa mencemuh Zuhairie dan mencabarnya supaya melawannya.

    DPP: ZUHAIRIE BERSEDIA GUNA KEGANASAN KETERLALUAN

    Namun, Timbalan Pendakwa Raya, Wong Kok Weng, menggesa Mahkamah Tinggi supaya jangan menarik balik hukuman penjara yang dikenakan terhadapnya.

    Beliau menarik perhatian tentang beberapa perkara dalam laporan probesyen Zuhairie – termasuk sikapnya yang bersedia menggunakan keganasan yang keterlaluan untuk menghuraikan konflik, dan sikapnya yang semberono dan terburu-buru.

    DPP Wong juga berkata prospek pemulihan Zuhairie tidak seharusnya dibesar-besarkan, dan menarik perhatian, Zuhairie terus mewajarkan tindakan ganasnya dengan menyalahi mangsa kerana menyakitkan hatinya.

    Hakim Chan, ketika menarik balik hukuman yang dijatuhkan sebelum ini, memberitahu Zuhairie supaya memanfaatkan sepenuhnya tempoh menjalani latihan pemulihan untuk memperbaiki dirinya.

    Source: Berita Mediacorp

  • Malay Population The Most Unhealthy Group In Singapore

    Malay Population The Most Unhealthy Group In Singapore

    The Malay population is the unhealthiest in Singapore.

    Latest statistics from the national disease registry reveal that a disproportionate number of diabetics and patients with kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes come from this group.

    Although Malays account for 13.5 per cent of the population, they make up 24.4 per cent of people on dialysis. Once diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, patients need either a transplant or dialysis for the rest of their lives.

    The proportion of Malays who have had kidney transplants rose from 8.5 per cent in 2003 to 10.1 per cent last year.

    Malays – both men and woman – are also at significantly higher risk of suffering a stroke than people of other races. Malay men are 1.5 times more likely to suffer one compared to Chinese men for instance.

    Age-standardised stroke rates for every 100,000 men last year was 296 for Malays, 199 for Indians and 184 for Chinese. For women, it was 195 for Malays, 131 for Indians and 105 for Chinese. Age-standardisation removes the influence of age distribution in each group and allows for a fair comparison.

    Malays are also more likely to suffer heart attacks. Since 2010, they have surged past Indians as the ethnic group with the highest rate of heart attacks.

    The report said: “The higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction among Malays is likely to be due to their higher proportions of hypertension and high cholesterol compared to the other ethnic groups.”

    It added that most Malays are unaware of their conditions compared to people of other races.

    The only major illness which the Malay population is not the most likely to get is cancer. This is most prominent among the Chinese.

    Former storekeeper Mohamad Raihan Yaakub, 68, suffers from diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. He rarely exercises but has cut down from one pack of cigarettes a day to one every three days.

    The unemployed man started dialysis four years ago and lost his older brother to kidney failure.

    He had a blocked artery and had a stent inserted more than a decade ago. His children have no major health problems, but his son has taken up smoking too.

    “I tell him not to smoke, but he doesn’t listen,” he said.

    In Singapore, smokers make up almost a quarter of heart attack and stroke sufferers.

    Mr Sukandar Kastam, 49, was diagnosed with diabetes when he was only 25 years old. He has been on dialysis for the past six years.

    He used to weigh 120kg but has since lost 50kg. He too is unemployed and says he has been turned down time and again for jobs because of his need for dialysis three times a week.

    He admits that he does not exercise “because lazy lah”. Although he lives fairly near the National Kidney Foundation’s dialysis centre in Kim Keat Road, he would ride his motorbike there rather than walk.

    Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob said community groups and mosques have been organising health-related activities for the Malay community, but a more concerted effort is needed.

    “A lot of the pushing will have to be done at the community level and we should partner health-care providers like the hospitals and polyclinics for this effort,” she said.

    “Also, we should catch them young when habits are not yet formed on eating, exercising and prevention. Taking care of our health is our own responsibility.”

     

    Source: The Straits Times

  • Vivian Lee, Bekas Temanita Alvin Tan, Diarah Bela Diri Di Mahkamah Atas Tuduhan Hina Islam

    Vivian Lee, Bekas Temanita Alvin Tan, Diarah Bela Diri Di Mahkamah Atas Tuduhan Hina Islam

    KUALA LUMPUR: Sebuah mahkamah di Kuala Lumpur memerintahkan Vivian Lee, iaitu bekas teman wanita blogger kontroversi Alvin Tan, supaya membela diri terhadap pertuduhan mempersenda umat Islam dan bulan Ramadan.

    Ini setelah dia menerbitkan penerbitan menghasut dalam laman sosial Facebook, tiga tahun lalu.

    Hakim Abdul Rashid Daud membuat keputusan itu selepas mendapati pihak pendakwaan berjaya membuktikan kes prima facie terhadap Vivian Lee atau Lee May Ling, 27 tahun, di akhir kes pendakwaan hari ini (14 Apr).

    Mahkamah menetapkan 10 dan 11 Mei untuk Lee, membela diri dengan memberi keterangan secara bersumpah terhadap pertuduhan tersebut mengikut Akta Hasutan.

    Mengikut pertuduhan, Vivian Lee dan Alvin Tan didakwa menyiarkan gambar mereka menikmati hidangan dengan kapsyen bertajuk ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa (with Bak Kut Teh…fragrant, delicious and appetising (‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan) Bak Kut Teh, Wangi, Enak dan Menyelerakan’ yang mengandungi logo halal.

    Mereka didakwa bersama-sama melakukan kesalahan itu melalui laman sosial Facebook pukul 9.00 pagi pada 12 Julai 2013.

    Bagaimanapun, Abdul Rashid melepaskan dan membebaskan Lee daripada pertuduhan menyiarkan gambar lucah di Facebook.

    Ketika ditanya wartawan di luar mahkamah, Timbalan Pendakwa Raya, Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin mengenai pertuduhan terhadap Alvin Tan, beliau berkata: “Pada hari ini keputusan hanya terhadap Lee bagaimanapun pendakwaan terhadap Tan masih diteruskan meskipun tanpa kehadirannya di mahkamah”.

    Mereka turut didakwa atas tuduhan menyiarkan gambar lucah dalam laman Facebook yang sama, antara 9.00 malam pada 6 Julai 2013 dan 2.00 pagi pada 7 Julai 2013.

    Pada 6 Mac tahun lalu, pendakwa meneruskan perbicaraan terhadap Lee meskipun tanpa kehadiran Tan, 28 tahun, yang disyaki melarikan diri ke Amerika Syarikat bagi mengelak menghadiri prosiding perbicaraan.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Kepelbagaian, Ekonomi Moden Antara Cabaran Utama Melayu/Islam

    Kepelbagaian, Ekonomi Moden Antara Cabaran Utama Melayu/Islam

    Kepelbagaian dalam kehidupan sosioagama dan keadaan ekonomi yang sering berubah-ubah merupakan dua cabaran utama yang perlu diharungi masyarakat Melayu/Islam di sini pada masa hadapan.

    Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim berkata demikian semasa menyampaikan ucapan dalam bahasa Melayu di perbahasan Jawatankuasa Peruntukan (COS) di Parlimen, hari ini (14 Apr).

    Dalam pada itu, Dr Yaacob berkata Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) akan buat pertama kalinya menganjurkan persidangan “Fatwa dalam Masyarakat Kontemporari”, untuk antara lain, membincangkan proses pengeluaran fatwa yang mengambil kira konteks Singapura.

    Menurut Dr Yaacob, meskipun cabaran-cabaran tersebut amat rumit, beliau yakin masyarakat boleh mengatasinya hasil kegigihan dan kerjasama erat dengan Pemerintah.

    MELAYU/ISLAM MENYUMBANG KEPADA KEHARMONIAN MASYARAKAT

    Menyentuh tentang cabaran pertama, Dr Yaacob berkata masyarakat Melayu/Islam di sini berjaya membuat sumbangan genting kepada keharmonian dan kesejahteraan masyarakat majmuk Singapura, di samping yakin mengamalkan kehidupan beragama.

    “Pada dasarnya, kehidupan kita banyak berpandukan nilai-nilai seperti kesederhanaan, sikap inklusif dan menghormati perbezaan. Inilah yang dipaparkan oleh golongan perintis terdahulu seperti Presiden Yusof Ishak, Ustaz Ahmad Sonhadji Mohamed, Pak Ridzwan Dzafir serta Ustaz Ibrahim Kassim,” ujar Dr Yaacob.

    Namun, beliau akur, dengan cabaran yang lebih rumit hari ini, “semakin sukar untuk kita mengimbangi kepentingan dan pandangan yang berbeza-beza.”

    Walaubagaimanapun, Dr Yaacob berkata setiap golongan – termasuk ibu bapa, guru, karyawan, pemimpin masyarakat dan agama – perlu memainkan peranan untuk menolak unsur-unsur yang boleh menjejas perpaduan masyarakat.

    MUIS PERTINGKAT USAHA KUKUHKAN KEPIMPINAN AGAMA PROGRESIF

    Oleh itu, MUIS akan mempertingkatkan usaha untuk mengukuhkan kepimpinan agama yang progresif, dengan antara lain, menganjurkan persidangan “Fatwa dalam Masyarakat Kontemporari”.

    Kata Dr Yaacob, sejak 1968, lebih 500 fatwa dikeluarkan untuk membimbing masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura, dan persidangan tersebut bertujuan mengongsi pengalaman MUIS dalam hal berkenaan.

    “Persidangan ini dapat menjadi satu wadah perbincangan dan penyebaran pemikiran progresif lebih-lebih lagi buat masyarakat minoriti Islam yang hidup dalam masyarakat berbilang bangsa dan agama,” kata Dr Yaacob.

    PERUBAHAN EKONOMI EKORAN LEDAKAN TEKNOLOGI

    Menyentuh tentang cabaran yang kedua pula, Dr Yaacob berkata antara cabaran yang dibawa bersama ekonomi baru ialah perubahan-perubahan ekoran ledakan teknologi, yang memaksa industri-industri di sini menyusun semula dan berubah.

    “Ini bermakna peningkatan kemahiran yang berterusan menjadi genting, dan ICT pula menjadi pemangkin kemajuan.

    “Anak-anak muda kita mesti sedar tentang hakikat ini. Mereka mesti bersedia untuk memasuki alam pekerjaan yang semakin menitikberatkan kepakaran serta pengalaman, lebih daripada segulung ijazah,” kata Dr Yaacob.

    Oleh itu, katanya, Dewan Perniagaan dan Perusahaan Melayu Singapura (DPPMS) serta badan-badan Melayu/Islam lain perlu mendorong usaha agar lebih ramai pekerja dan syarikat Melayu/Islam dapat membawa nilai tambah dalam bidang masing-masing.

    Yayasan MENDAKI pula akan saling mendekatkan masyarakat Melayu/Islam kepada gerakan SkillsFuture. Ia akan melancarkan beberapa inisiatif baru termasuk “Future Ready Mentoring” untuk membimbing para pelajar menengah, Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE) dan politeknik dalam pemilihan kerjaya.

    Program CM-Tech@Heartlands yang bakal dilancarkan pula akan dibawa ke kawasan kejiranan untuk merangsang minat anak-anak Melayu/Islam dalam bidang teknologi.

    MELAYU/ISLAM CAPAI BANYAK KEMAJUAN

    Bercakap tentang usaha untuk memperkukuh sokongan terhadap aspek pendidikan, keperluan sosio-agama, pembangunan keluarga serta bantuan bagi golongan kurang bernasib baik di kalangan masyarakat Melayu/Islam seperti yang ditanya beberapa Anggota Parlimen, Dr Yaacob berkata “kita sudah mencapai banyak kemajuan dalam hal ini, dan lebih banyak boleh dicapai pada masa hadapan.”

    Dr Yaacob juga berkata kita boleh bersyukur bahawa selain membina, kita mampu mempertingkatkan institusi-institusi kita demi memenuhi keperluan keagamaan masyarakat kita.

    TAPAK MASJID BARU DI TAMPINES NORTH 

    Atas dasar itu, kadar sumbangan Dana Pembinaan Masjid dan Mendaki (MBMF) sudah diubah seperti yang diumumkan bulan lalu.

    Dr Yaacob juga mengumumkan bahawa sebuah kawasan sudahpun dikenal pasti sebagai tapak pembinaan masjid di Tampines North.

    24,700 RUANG SOLAT TAMBAHAN

    Menjelang tahun hadapan pula, dua masjid baru – Masjid Maarof dan Masjid Yusof Ishak – akan siap dibina. Kerja-kerja pembangunan semula Masjid Darul Ghufran pula bakal dijalankan tahun ini.

    Selain itu, ruang solat di Masjid Al-Istighfar juga bakal bertambah. Secara keseluruhan, Program Peningkatan Masjid yang bermula sejak 2009, sudah berjaya menghasilkan 24,700 ruang solat tambahan, dan banyak lagi yang bakal diusahakan di bawah program itu, kata Dr Yaacob.

    Memberi perkembangan tentang sektor madrasah pula, Dr Yaacob berkata Madrasah Arabiah akan berpindah ke lokasi baru dengan tempoh pajakan 30 tahun.

    Malah, MUIS turut giat menyokong usaha menerapkan penggunaan teknologi dan infokomunikasi dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran di Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri dan Madrasah Aljunied.

    PUNGUTAN ZAKAT KIAN BERTAMBAH

    Dr Yaacob juga berkata pungutan zakat di kalangan masyarakat Melayu/Islam bertambah saban tahun, iaitu dari $22.7 juta pada 2010, kepada sekitar $35.3 juta (sebelum diaudit) tahun lalu. Setiap tahun, MUIS juga mengagihkan zakat kepada sekitar 5,300 fakir miskin.

    Yayasan MENDAKI juga giat mempertingkat usaha untuk menyalurkan mereka yang memerlukan kepada pusat-pusat khidmat sosial di peringkat nasional. Sepanjang enam tahun lalu, lebih 14,000 individu sudah dibantu.

    MENDAKI AKAN BANTU KELUARGA MANFAATKAN KIDSTART

    MENDAKI akan turut bekerjasama dengan Agensi Pembangunan Awal Kanak-Kanak (ECDA) agar keluarga Melayu/Islam yang memerlukan dapat mengambil manfaat daripada inisiatif KidSTART.

    Inisiatif tersebut menyediakan sokongan dalam pelbagai aspek, termasuk kesihatan, pembelajaran dan pembangunan anak-anak berusia bawah 6 tahun.

    “Kita menaruh harapan kepada anak-anak muda kita untuk meneruskan perjuangan ini serta melangkah dengan cekal, berjalan dengan tawakkal dan bertindak dengan akal.

    “Yang nyata, masa depan yang cerah memerlukan usaha jitu daripada setiap anggota masyarakat. Marilah kita berganding bahu dan semarakkan lagi semangat kerjasama antara masyarakat Melayu/Islam dan Pemerintah demi mencipta masa depan yang lebih cerah untuk kita bersama,” ujar Dr Yaacob.

    Source: Berita Mediacorp