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Tag: MCCY

  • Singapore Teen Ben Davis Chasing EPL Dream Hopeful Of NS Deferment

    Singapore Teen Ben Davis Chasing EPL Dream Hopeful Of NS Deferment

    Davis has been made rapid progress since signing with second-tier Fulham on a two-year scholarship in July, getting involved in a few pre-season friendlies for their academy and scoring two goals in the process.

    Fulham’s academy is rated as one of the 24 Category One academies in England and compete in the Premier League Under-18 South League along with other London clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

    While it may be exciting times for Davis, a shadow looms large over his development as he is expected to serve National Service (NS) for two years between the age of 18 to 21.

    The midfielder flew back to Singapore specially to undergo his pre-NS enlistment medical check-up on Monday afternoon before returning to England on the same night.

    With that process completed, Davis will be now able to apply for NS deferment.

    FourFourTwo understands that the Football Association of Singapore will render help for his application, where it will be assessed by Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) before reaching the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

    It looks like a long road ahead as no Singapore footballer has ever been able to defer NS, however talented they might be.

    Nonetheless Davis’ father, Harvey Davis hopes that a precedent can be set for his talented son so that his career does not get disrupted at this crucial juncture.

    “Ben’s now at the stage and level where he can go on to achieve his dream, hopefully the authorities can set in place some procedure or criteria for football or team (for NS deferment),” said Harvey, who is the managing director for JSSL Singapore.

    “I hope that Ben’s case will be the right case to push it forward. We’re keeping our hopes up and are remaining positive for Ben’s application, because we have faith that the system will eventually come through for our talented sportsmen and women.”

    As for Davis himself, he is trying to put all those distractions and uncertainties aside as he focuses his effort on flying the Singapore flag high in England.

    “It was difficult at the start for me, but I got used to it and improved a lot in a short time,” said the 16-year-old, who turns 17 in November. “It’s quite different how they use physicality to win the ball and that takes some getting used to. I’m spending more time at the gym to build muscles.

    “The training’s much more intense in Fulham as compared to Singapore (in the Sports School). I want to improve further, maybe by shooting more, scoring more goals and taking more risks.

    “No one looks down on me just because I’m Singaporean, but I’m really motivated to be better than the people in my age group because I know they won’t slow down. The goal for me now is to earn a pro contract for next season.

    “In five years’ time, I hope to be representing Singapore and playing in one of the English Championship clubs, or in the Under-23 teams of the Premier League clubs.”

     

     

    Source: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/

  • Have An Opinion On Proposed Amendments To The Administration Of Muslim Law Act, Send Your Views To MCCY

    Have An Opinion On Proposed Amendments To The Administration Of Muslim Law Act, Send Your Views To MCCY

    Public consultation on the draft Administration of Muslim Law Act (Amendment) Bill

     

    The Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) invites the public to give feedback on the draft Administration of Muslim Law Act (Amendment) Bill.

    The Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) provides for the establishment of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), the Syariah Court (SYC), and the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM), and the administration of mosques and wakafs (Muslim endowments).

    The Government, in consultation with community partners and stakeholders, regularly reviews the Act to ensure that this unique piece of legislation is robust and relevant, stays up-to-date with new programmes and processes, and serves the needs of our Muslim community. The proposed amendments this year seek to reinforce Muslim institutions, enhance the management of Muslim assets, and strengthen Muslim families.

    Consultation documents

    1. Draft AMLA (Amendment) Bill
    2. Public Consultation paper explaining the policy intent behind the proposed amendments

    All interested members of the public are requested to submit their comments on the proposed amendments no later than 6.00pm on 13 April 2017, via the following channels:

    • Email to: [email protected]
    • Post to:
      Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth
      Community Relations and Engagement Division
      Level 2, Old Hill Street Police Station
      Singapore 179369

     

    Source: www.mccy.gov.sg

  • MCCY And NAC Must Come Clean On Exorbitant Consultation Fees For Bin Centre

    MCCY And NAC Must Come Clean On Exorbitant Consultation Fees For Bin Centre

    The AGO report has revealed lots of lapses, including an eye-popping $410,000 consultancy fee for a $470,000 bin centre.

    Whoever authorised the payment at the National Arts Centre has to be held accountable and the MCCY owes the public an explanation.

    Instead, MCCY Minister Grace Fu defended her subordinate and claimed that it was a “complex” project requiring “significantly more design expertise”. Fu is wrong to assume the public could be taken for a ride easily.

    Should Fu decide to conduct an internal investigation and if it uncovers “more than meets the eye”, the CPIB may need to put in some OT. I am not alleging any wrongdoing but this should not be ruled out as the amount of tax dollars involved is more than 7 times the amount paid by NParks for 26 Brompton bicycles.

    In 2012, former MND Minister Khaw had defended NParks’ purchase without any inside information. Khaw’s knee-jerk defence made him look foolish when CPIB investigations subsequently revealed a NParks’ director had purchased $57,200 worth of bicycles from a friend.

    Fu has got to be kidding by refusing to even conduct an internal investigation. Worse, she insisted on behaving like her SMOS and has started to chut pattern (warning: do not watch video if you feel like puking).

    The $410,000 consultancy fee could have bought 186 Brompton bikes for NParks or 100,000 plates of mee siam without cockles for her boss.

    The following information should be disclosed to public:

    1 The name of NAC director.

    2 The name of the consultant.

    3 The relationship between the consultant and the director

    4 The amount overcharged by the consultant

    5 Action to be taken against director’s overspending of tax dollars.

    So how complex is the construction of NAC’s bin centre? Does it require 56 man-years?

     

    Source: https://likedatosocanmeh.wordpress.com

  • Singapore Signs International Convention Against Racial Discrimination

    Singapore Signs International Convention Against Racial Discrimination

    The Republic signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on Oct 19 (Monday) in New York, and is expected to ratify the ICERD in 2017.

    The ICERD is a United Nations Convention that condemns racial discrimination based on race, colour, descent, nationality or ethnic origin, and calls upon states to pursue a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms.

    Said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth in a statement: “Singapore is committed to preserving a multiracial society where every person is equal, regardless of race, language or religion.

    “Our historical memory of racial riots in the early years of our nationhood continues to guide our efforts in striving towards a society free of racism and racial discrimination. Social harmony is not taken for granted, and we have strived continually to strengthen inter-racial and inter-faith understanding and mutual respect.

    “Signing the ICERD is part of this endeavour to enhance racial and religious harmony in Singapore.”

    Singapore first confirmed its intention to consider acceding to the ICERD in 2011. The MCCY said the Republic will work progressively towards the ratification of the ICERD in 2017, and will work with our stakeholders, including through public consultations, to fulfil our obligations.

    Added Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu: “Over the last 50 years, we have built a Singapore where every citizen matters, regardless of race, language or religion. This has been our fundamental approach to nation-building and will continue to guide us into the future. Signing the ICERD further entrenches our commitment to this end, to unequivocally show that racial discrimination has no place in Singapore.”

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Madrasah Students Need Not Pay National Examination Fees Effective This Year

    Madrasah Students Need Not Pay National Examination Fees Effective This Year

    Madrasah students will not need to pay national examination fees starting this year, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said today.

    His announcement comes after Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced in his Budget speech last month that the Education Ministry would waive fees for national examinations for Singapore citizens studying in Government-funded schools.

    The six full-time madrasahs, or Islamic religious schools, are largely funded by the Muslim community, and are not covered by this waiver.

    But Dr Yaacob said on Thursday that the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth would assist the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) so that madrasah students will not need to pay these fees too.

    Besides full-time madrasahs, Muis is also working to strengthen part-time Islamic education and make it available to more people in the Muslim community.

    A home-schooling programme, Kids aLive (Learning Islamic Values Everyday) Home Edition, for parents to teach their children about Islam at home was launched in 2014.

    And more than 16,000 students were enrolled in its aLive programme, for children between seven and 16 years old, in mosques last year. This year, Muis plans to start extra sessions on weekdays and weekends, and extend the operating hours for these centres, aiming for a 12 per cent increase in spaces within the next year.

    Meanwhile, to meet rising demand for its Adult Islamic Learning (Adil) classes, Muis has also increased the number of participating mosques to 13, and will develop eight more modules later this year.

    Self-help group Mendaki, too, is stepping up its education outreach efforts to benefit more in the Malay/Muslim community, including having more space in its tuition and homework supervision programmes and giving more guidance to parents of children aged six and below.

    It will be expanding its flagship programme, the Mendaki Tuition Scheme (MTS), which has benefited over 180,000 students since it started in 1982.

    Last year, about 10,000 students enrolled in its 50 centres islandwide. This year, it will set up MTS centres in six more mosques here to make the programme more accessible, among them Al-Ansar Mosque in Bedok, Al-Iman Mosque in Bukit Panjang and Al-Mawaddah Mosque in Sengkang.

    Mendaki will also pilot a mentoring scheme at four of its MTS centres to counsel lower secondary students and help them plan their future, said Dr Yaacob, and aims to have 15 Mendaki Homework Cafes up and running this year – up from two in 2013.

    It also recognises the need to lay a strong foundation for children in their early learning years, and will provide greater support for parents with children aged six and below.

    It will, for instance, develop a toolkit and a curriculum to help parents develop their child’s learning capabilities during the early years.

    Adults will not be left behind. Mendaki’s training arm, Mendaki Sense, will design programmes that tap on schemes under the SkillsFuture initiative, which helps people master skills throughout their career.

    Mendaki is also looking to boost financial literacy among families by working with national financial education programme MoneySense.

    Dr Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade GRC) also asked for an update on mosque kindergartens. Dr Yaacob said there are 18 such kindergartens, with about 2,600 pupils enrolled. This year, Muis and Mendaki will study ways to further strengthen these kindergartens.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com