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Tag: Masagos Zukifli

  • Masagos Zulkifli: Nothing Natural About Our Racial Harmony; It’s There BECAUSE We Keep An Eye All The Time

    Masagos Zulkifli: Nothing Natural About Our Racial Harmony; It’s There BECAUSE We Keep An Eye All The Time

    #masagos been reflecting PM sharing on Saturday as he recalled why he pushed for a reserved election for the minority communities although he knew it was going to be extremely difficult to carry the ground with it. PM could have kicked the can down the road for his successor to deal with it but he’s clear there’s no certainty the next PM is able to do it in time before a crisis makes it necessary.

    I acknowledge our race relations is good where Singapore is today and that it’s heartening how as a society, we are all on the same page in looking forward towards a future where we won’t need a reserved election. Some have concluded since it’s all good we need not make a special effort and unnecessarily raise our race issues to the fore.

    In truth, there’s nothing natural about our racial harmony – it’s there BECAUSE we keep an eye on it all the time and make many adjustments along the way – formation of MUIS, EIP for housing, GRC and now a reserved presidency. Even for MUIS, it was originally set up as requested by the community to help administer family laws for Muslims – now we’re glad there’s a MUIS to lead in our guard against extremism in our community and is a great asset against terrorism. We cannot take our harmony for granted and have a short term view of policies that seek to guard it.

    I think the whole of Saturday was simply PM pointing out examples from other countries of what could go wrong if we are not careful about sensitivities around race. Myanmar is facing an immediate issue. Even in Singapore, in our more progressive state, we still have instances where our Muslim youth had been labelled as terrorist unfairly.

    A friend told me that while in Pahang his family members there praised the courage of PM to get a Malay to the Presidency in a country where he has to handle the sensitivities of tbe Chinese majority. Thats why i always feel fortunate that i live in a country where the majority puts in so much hard work to make everyone feel they belong and the minorities make adjustments so that everybody integrates with one another. #OnlyInSingapore

     

    Source: Masagos Zulkifli

  • A Hub Of The Malay Community, Wisma Geylang Serai

    A Hub Of The Malay Community, Wisma Geylang Serai

    An annual Hari Raya bazaar will be held at Wisma Geylang Serai from next year, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli revealed on Sunday (Jul 30).

    Mr Masagos said one of the signature events that the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) will organise is the annual bazaar at the new civic centre. The minister, who is an adviser to MESRA, was speaking at 40th anniversary of PA’s Malay Activity Executive Committees (MAEC) on Sunday.

    He said Wisma Geylang Serai will be a new building that the Malay-Muslim community can be proud of. It will also be an opportunity for the new building to become a reflection of the rich Malay heritage, culture and identity. “I was happy to see this come through from the architectural designs of the building.”

    The People’s Association has agreed for MESRA to manage the programming of Wisma Geylang Serai with other stakeholders, and Dr Maliki Osman will lead this, Mr Masagos said.

    It will collaborate with the National Art Council, National Heritage Board and Geylang Serai community club to run events, courses and programmes with a focus on outreach and engagement that will make the new civic centre a distinct heritage space, the minister added.

    Dr Maliki, the Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs as well as Mayor of the South East Community Development Council, said in a separate press briefing on Sunday that he envisioned the new space to be “a kind of Singapore Botanic Gardens for the Malay community” and bringing in people to experience the life, culture and heritage.

    “We want it to be the hub of the Malay community,” he said.

    Wisma Geylang Serai will house a community club and other social and community-related facilities, and will be operational in 2018. A pedestrian network will also be built to enhance accessibility and connectivity to other developments in the area, including Geylang Serai market, Joo Chiat Complex and Paya Lebar MRT station.

     

    Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Commentary: We Pray Not To Be Misled By You Again

    Commentary: We Pray Not To Be Misled By You Again

    We can gladly say that our Minister Masagos Zulkifli has scored several political points this week (claps for him) and that he will never be the people’s choice or at least the Malay Muslim community’s as the EP of Singapore. Nope, out of the question, never gonna happen. We are disappointed and you have shamed the community. However, we thank Allah SWT for showing us your true colours. We pray not to be misled by you again.

    When you accused WP’s Faisal Manap of attempting to cause division in Singapore’s social cohesion by raising the issue of hijab again, you also made an indirect ad hominem towards him by guilt of association using a picture taken of Faisal Manap and Zulfikar Shariff years ago in a mosque. So what is the Minister implying, that it was tantamount to being radical? Anyone who has a picture taken with Zulfikar must be put under suspicion? That is just low, way low even for minister. Then what about you being in the same picture with Netanyahu or gracing his presence?? Lagi worst kan.

    Instead of character assassinating our MP who is merely representing the minority Malay community in his ward, why don’t you tell him what you can do for the people. A religious debate in parliament where both sides are showing what they have done for an issue. Not one raise, the other sweep it away. Or has it been cast in stone that you’ve washed your hands off us and our issues, Mr Masagos? 🙁

     

    Yusuf Saiful

    [Reader Contribution]

  • Protest Against Unjustified 30% Increase In Cost of Water: March 11

    Protest Against Unjustified 30% Increase In Cost of Water: March 11

    When finance minister Mr Heng Swee Kiat went to deliver the budget speech in Parliament, many people were relieved to know that the minister has finally recovered from his horrible stroke and ready to serve the country again.

    But the welcoming relief soon turned to shock as the minister drops a bombshell by announcing a 30% price hike in our water pricing.

    Though the hike will be spread over two years – one in July this year and the other in the same month next year with the assurance that Singaporeans will enjoy rebate subsidies to cushion the hike, nobody is smiling especially when the hike is carried out during the current economic crisis.

    Moreover, we realised that PUB has being enjoying profits from its operation and over the past 7 years, it has generated a massive S1.1 billion in profit. For FY 2015, it has generated $166.8 million profits – an increase of 77.3 per cent compared to FY2010’s profit of $94.1 million.

    The government has also tried to increase train fare few years ago when the transport operators are still reaping handsome profits triggering off a protest in January 2014. Protesters were unhappy with the fact that the two major transport companies, SMRT and SBS Transit, are making $120 million and $18 million in net profits respectively and this is set to increase rapidly with the rise in train ridership as well.

    For the latest 30% increase in water cost, the government has quoted the higher operating cost of treating water and that the reservoir in Malaysia is also drying up as mitigating reasons – factors which do not hold up well as all along PUB is still doing well in the black. The 30% increase in water pricing will probably add billions into the coffers of PUB but will certainly deepen the hardship of our poor and vulnerable who are already struggling with the country’s high cost of living.

    We have the unenviable record of being the world’s costliest city for the third time in a row this year. More shockingly, the water price hike also came on top of a slew of other recent price increases eg town council fee, ERP, electricity among others.

    Many have suggested that instead of increasing water pricing, why not ration water as during LKY’s time water rationing was very popular as it fosters community togetherness and people still value water as a precious commodity instead of having to pay dearly for it to be appreciated.

    The environment minister Mr Masagos did himself no favour by saying that:”The consumer must feel the price of water and realise how valuable water is in Singapore, every time he or she turns on the tap, right from the first drop.”

    It is as if Singaporeans need to be financially punished so we can better treasure our water supply. I am sure that we can look at other cheaper feasible alternatives to better appreciate water.

    It is unknown why the government could not use part of the tens of billions it has collected annually from GST, COE, taxes, ERP, land sales and other tariffs to offset the water hike but prefers to pass the pain directly to the people.

    The timing of the price hike is also damaging as many PMETs are still jobless or under-employed during this economic downturn. There is no social safety net for those who are jobless and such price hike only adds on to their growing frustration as a local Singaporean.

    All these recent utilities’ price hikes reveals a heartless merciless government bent on squeezing every drop of revenue from a struggling populace tired from paying all kinds of bills amidst stagnanting income growth.

    We call on all Singaporeans who are against this unjustified water price hike to turn up for our protest in a defiance show of unity.

    Though we may not be able to change the government’s stance but at least we will show them that we are unhappy and won’t take it laying down!

    Prepared by: Gilbert Goh
    Event Organiser
    3 March 2017

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/131704817353153/

  • Only PAP-Approved Version Of Islam Allowed In Singapore?

    Only PAP-Approved Version Of Islam Allowed In Singapore?

    When PAP Minister Masagos Zulkifli made his comment about the hijab ban and gay sex, there was another issue that he mentioned that probably has a much larger repercussion..

    Masagos stated that Islam in Singapura should be practiced according to local context.

    On the surface, it does not look that harmful.

    It supposes differences in context for Muslims living in different parts of the world and at different times..

    Many assume he simply meant that Muslims should take our local context into account.

    But that was not all he said.

    Masagos’ comment was in relation to the PAP government’s decision on the type of Muslim speakers they allow into Singapura..

    It is about the type of Islam the PAP allows to be practiced.

    In discussing the ban on Muslim scholars who believe Muslims should not wish others on their religious holidays..

    Masagos argued that these scholars did not take “into account the teachings of our religious scholars that allows it, and they reject our religious scholars – this is very dangerous.”.

    But his assertion that we should take into account the teachings of local scholars (as though all our local scholars allows it)…

    betrays the fact that there is a difference of opinions among the local scholars.

    PERGAS wrote in their irsyad that the difference of opinion is valid and that this difference should be respected.

    How can he accuse the Ulama as though they are behind the decision to ban these speakers when these Ulama stated they accept the difference of opinions?

    And the ulama do not have the ability to deny anyone entry.

    That ability rests with the PAP government.

    The decision to deny entry was not made by the Ulama.

    That decision was made by the PAP government.

    The PAP government decides on the types of Muslim scholars allowed to enter Singapura based on the type of Islam they allow.

    The “Islam according to local context”…has nothing to do with referring to our local scholars.

    It is about referring to the PAP.

    Masagos’ statement is about creating a version of Islam…

    Created and approved by the PAP.

     

    Source: Almakhazin SG