Tag: Muslim

Shanmugam: Singaporeans Have Obligation To Reach Out To Muslims, Prevent Islamophobia

Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam has called on Singaporeans to reach out to their Muslim neighbours and build social cohesion, saying they are obliged to do so as the recent string of terror attacks threatens to fray the trust between communities here.

He underlined the need to thwart Islamophobia from developing on Wednesday, after a closed-door meeting with 60 students from the six full-time madrasah, or Islamic religious schools, in Singapore.

“Whatever it is, we are Singaporeans together and that trumps everything else,” he told reporters, adding that “the 85 per cent who are non-Muslim have an obligation to reach out to the Muslim community and make sure the bonds are strong”.

He noted that after each of the recent terror attacks in Europe and the US, the number of attacks against Muslims shot up three-fold.

While there was no immediate threat of such violence erupting in Singapore, he warned that non-Muslims could start developing negative attitudes towards Muslims.

“People will be too politically correct to express them, but internally they will start looking at Muslims differently,” he said, adding that feedback from Muslims indicate they are concerned about rising Islamophobia in Singapore.

Before the dialogue, Mr Shanmugan visited the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and later, the adjacent Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri.

Muis chief executive Abdul Razak Maricar and Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin also took part in the dialogue.

Mr Shanmugam said the students raised the topic of Islamophobia in Singapore, adding that it was an issue the Government recognised as a significant risk to the country’s social fabric.

If Singaporeans become prejudiced against Muslims, terrorists will find it easier to recruit them, he said.

“If 85 per cent of the population that’s non-Muslim starts developing Islamophobia, that’s precisely what the terrorists want you to do… When the minority Muslim community feels marginalised and discriminated, that’s when you get fertile ground for recruitment.”

“We’ll be playing right into their hands,” he added.

A student at the dialogue, Madrasah Al-Maarif Pre-U 1 student Afifah Shameemah, recounted to reporters an incident at a school camp two years ago when a participant from another school made a joke about Muslims being terrorists.

The 17-year-old said it hurt her feelings, but she did not speak up at that time.

But if it were to happen today, she would, she said. “It may be a joke, but beause we are in a multi-racial country, we really have to be careful of what we say and make sure we aren’t hurting anybody with our words.”

Madrasah Al-Arabiah Secondary 3 student Kasyful Azim, 15, who also took part in the dialogue, suggested including madrasah schools in more national sports and academic competitions so that their students can better integrate with their peers in mainstream schools.

Source: Straits Times

March 31, 2016
MUIS: Stand Together With All Muslims and Singaporeans In Offering Deepest Condolence

Over the past few months we have seen too many ugly incidences of violence all around the world – from Istanbul to Jakarta, from Syria to Cameroon, Ankara, Brussels, and just two days ago, Lahore.

Hundreds of innocent lives have been lost, including, sadly, horrifically and unforgivably, women and children.

We are saddened and outraged at such cruelty and misguidedness, which truly have no place in this world.

We stand together with all Muslims and all Singaporeans in offering our deepest condolences to the families of all the victims of these senseless tragedies. ‪#‎prayforthevictims‬ ‪#‎prayfortheinnocents‬

Source: MUIS

March 30, 2016
Former Law Professor: Arab Culture Integral To Islam, Johor Sultan Advised

The Johor sultan should realise that Arabic culture and norms are an integral part of Islam, said constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari.

“I think the sultan of Johor should consult the menteri besar or the mufti before shooting from the hip, or else he would embarrass everybody including himself.

“He needs to realise that he is the head of Islamic religion for the state, apart from being the state head.

“There is no question of turning the society into an Arab one; the fact remains that Arabic culture and norms have become an integral part of Islam,” the former law professor said in a statement today.

He was responding to the Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar who had called on Malays to be proud of the Malay culture and not try to emulate Arabic culture.

Abdul Aziz pointed out that the term sultan itself is Arabic and rooted in the Quran.

“Perhaps the sultan of Johor ought now to be thinking of coining a new term to replace the term sultan,” he said.

Arabic term

Noting that Johor was the only state to use the term ‘ahlul hal wal aqdi’ to denote the members of succession council in the Johor Constitution, he also pointed out that it is an Arabic term and that the sultan should also consider replacing it.

Jawi is also an aspect of Arabic culture which the sultan should think about, he said, adding that jawi is very much the culture of Johor as well.

Abdul Aziz also responded to the crown prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who had recalled the incidents during the 1992 constitutional crisis and reminded the government not to repeat such greed-driven episodes.

It was the prince’s grandfather who presented then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad with the opportunity to “whack the rulers”, Abdul Aziz remarked.

“Some of the rulers, in fact, complained that they have been embarrassed by the incident provoked by the late Sultan Iskandar, which started with the alleged beating of the Johor state hockey coach,” he said.

Source: www.malaysiakini.com

March 26, 2016
Almakhazin: Did MUIS really want to praise LKY during khutbah Jumaat?

Last year, after Lee Kuan Yew’s death on 23rd March, a lot of Muslims in Singapura were shocked and disgusted by MUIS.

Prior to his death, we saw how mass grieving was “encouraged” by the government and the media.

Muslims spoke of making doa for him and referred to him as their father or grandpa.

When he died, some Muslims prayed that he would be placed with the solihin.

Muslim organisations fell over themselves singing his praises and declaring their sadness.

And MUIS, as the authority for the Muslim community, led the way. They used the khutbah Jumaat to praise Lee Kuan Yew:

“Saudara-saudara sidang Jumaah yang dirahmati Allah,

Pemergian Perdana Menteri Pertama, mendiang Encik Lee Kuan Yew, telah menyentuh setiap rakyat Singapura, termasuk kita para anggota masyarakat Islam. Amat besar sekali kesan yang beliau tinggalkan kepada kehidupan berbilang agama dan bangsa negara ini. Di peringkat antarabangsa, beliau telah memimpin sebuah pemerintah yang membangunkan Singapura menjadi negara maju yang dikagumi dan dicemburui dunia. Ini tercapai, antaranya melalui kesungguhan beliau memastikan keharmonian hubungan antara kaum, kemajuan ekonomi dan kecemerlangan pendidikan.

Marilah kita merenung dan mengambil iktibar daripada kehidupannya. Beliau telah pergi meninggalkan warisannya.”

A lot of Muslims felt that for MUIS to use the masjid, the mimbar to praise someone who has discriminated and oppressed Muslims for decades was not only in poor taste, but an abuse of their management powers.

Especially when they do not show such love and admiration when our ulama passed away.

But after the khutbah, some information came to light.

According to sources inside MUIS, the khutbah praising Lee Kuan Yew was not part of their plan.

Instead, they were told to say it. And we believe that this situation will happen happen again whether this year or in the coming years.

From the information we received, MUIS was told to do three things for Kuan Yew during solat Jumaat:

1. A minute silence during khutbah to honour his death

2. Make a congregational doa for Lee Kuan Yew

3. Praise him during the khutbah.

MUIS tried to reject the demands but was not able to. They needed to show their loyalty to the government.

But the first two demands were too much. They compromised and agreed to praise him during khutbah Jumaat.

These are the information that were relayed to us and we welcome MUIS clarifying it.

If these information are true, then it shows that while there are a lot of systemic problems in MUIS, the abuse of the mimbar, of the masjid to praise Lee Kuan Yew may not be due to them.

They were powerless to reject the demand.

But that they are powerless is also the very problem we need to resolve.

They are powerless because MUIS staff, their leaders, are government servants.

They are compelled to support government policies and demands, even when it goes against Islam.

Whether it is the denial of hijab, the destruction of masjid, the taking of wakaf land or the use of khutbah to praise a politician, MUIS is unable to stand up against the government.

Because they have to listen and follow government demands, they not only affect their organisation…

But also how we practice our religion.

Source: Almakhazin SG

March 25, 2016
THE HEIGHT OF ARROGANCE!!! Hajjah Mona Nasi Padang Geylang Serai

This will be the last time I patronise this stall. I just spent $22.50 on 3 nasi campur which I must say is not cheap in the first place. But price aside, what pissed me off is the sheer arrogance of the owner. When I politely gave him feedback that his plate was too small to accomodate the nasi campur, he rudely said to me “Ini saya punya style. Pinggan ini untuk makan pakai sudu, bukan pakai tangan” (seeing that I used my hand to eat). When he sensed that I was talking to my wife about him, he arrogantly approached us in a confrontational manner. The conversation went on like this:
Him: “Kenapa awak tak puas hati? Ini style saya, saya yang punya kedai”
Me: “Saya cuma kasi feedback. Lagi pun saya kenal adik awak Hisyam dan dah lama makan disini sejak arwah mak awak masih ada”
Him : (switching to English) This is my shop and my style. If you’re not happy, open your own shop!”

OPEN MY OWN SHOP???!!!

A Complaint by Saudara Hilal Alwi

March 24, 2016