Tag: Muslim

WP’s Faisal Manap And Fairoz Shariff Put Religion First, Potential Minister-In-Charge Of Muslim Affairs

Bro,

I nampak photo of WP Malay candidates performing prayers before rally dah go viral. I’m actually very proud and impressed of what they do. As a Kaki Bukit resident and a Muslim, it is good for me to see that there’s people like the WP candidates who represent us.

They show that even they are in Chinese party, they never forget their religious duties. They also very good people with very good heart.

What I know is Cik Faisal Manap and Cik Fairoz Shariff is very strict on religion. Religion is number one, is the priority for them. Islam is guide for what they do.

What I feel is Muslim MPs should put religion first, like Cik Faisal and Cik Fairoz.

Cik Faisal I know is Wear White supporter which is pro-family and anti LGBT. As Muslim this is not even a question for us. LGBT is forbidden. I respect Cik Faisal for standing up for what he believes in. He dont care about what the party stand. He support because he is a Muslim.

“I support the movement because it’s my responsibility to show concern for my fellow Muslims, asking them to do some introspection on whether what they’re doing is in accordance with Islamic values. That’s the campaign’s main calling.” – Faisal Manap

I and my family wil pray they will be successful next week. Who knows maybe they can become Muslim Minister one day inshaallah?

Hamzah

[Reader Contribution]

*Editor’s Note: The original article was amended to correct a phrasing error. We apologise to Mr Hamzah.

September 7, 2015
Yaacob Ibrahim: Semangat Ihsan Sumbangan Melayu/Islam Demi Masa Depan

MENTERI Bertanggungjawab Bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, berkata pergerakan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLA) selama 10 tahun telah memaparkan semangat ihsan dan bergotong-royong sebagai satu sumbangan masyarakat Melayu/Islam demi masa depan Singapura.

“Saya rasa RLA ini menunjukkan kejayaan masyarakat kita kerana bukan hanya dari segi sumbangan kita terhadap prinsip berbilang kaum, malah pada masa yang sama, kepada ihsan – berperikemanusiaan, bukan hanya kepada masyarakat Melayu, bahkan di peringkat nasional juga.

“Sumbangan ini sungguh penting kerana ia membawa kebaikan dan kesejahteraan kepada semua lapisan masyarakat di Singapura.

“Selama 10 tahun ini menunjukkan bahawa RLA telah bekerja keras bukan hanya dengan masyarakat Islam tetapi yang bukan Islam untuk menunjukkan bahawa nilai Rahmatan Lil Alamin itu adalah nilai yang sejagat,” ujar Dr Yaacob ketika ditemui wartawan dalam majlis pelancaran Bulan RLA di ITE College East, semalam.

Majlis tersebut turut dihadiri oleh Perdana Menteri, Encik Lee Hsien Loong.

Kempen sehingga 26 September ini bertemakan ‘Semangat Prihatin-Masyarakat Berharmoni’.

Pelbagai kegiatan diatur di keenamenam kelompok masjid atau kesemua 69 masjid di Singapura sempena Bulan RLA 2015.

Senarai kegiatan termasuk program kesihatan, makanan dan ubah elok rumah bagi mereka yang memerlukan.

Relawan belia turut mengedarkan magnet peti sejuk dengan mesej ‘Fikir, Kata dan Amalkan Kebaikan selalu’ kepada orang ramai di stesen MRT Expo, Eunos dan Paya Lebar.

Usaha RLA diterajui oleh Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) dan kesemua masjid di Singapura itu bermula bagi projek kemasyarakatan di dalam dan luar negara sebelum dipertingkat menjadi sebuah yayasan pada 2009.

Sejak 2005, RLA telah mengagihkan lebih $4.8 juta kepada usaha kebajikan di dalam dan luar negara.

Pengerusi RLAF, Encik Mr Po’ad Mattar, semalam buat kali pertama mengumumkan bahawa yayasan itu akan mengambil Hospital Ren Ci dan Persatuan Ain sebagai Kebajikan Angkat mereka.

PERKEMBANGAN DI GRC JALAN BESAR

“Saya rasa apa yang selama ini kami lakukan adalah mengenal semua penduduk di GRC Jalan Besar. Penerimaan mereka begitu mesra dan ini satu tanda yang baik. Ini menunjukkan kerja keras selama empat tahun bagi menentukan keperluan penduduk Jalan Besar dapat dipenuhi sebaik mungkin. Alhamdulillah, apa yang kami dapati apabila kami berjumpa dengan pengundi, mereka berasa riang dan gembira bahawa kami akan terus bekerja bagi mereka kalau diundi sebagai pemimpin di Jalan Besar GRC. Harapan kami adalah untuk bertemu dengan semua pengundi di Jalan Besar sebelum Hari Bertenang. Saya rasa ini sesuatu yang kami perlu buat bagi memberitahu penduduk bahawa kamilah pasukan yang lebih cekap dan pengalaman untuk bekerjasama bersama mereka bagi masa depan mereka.”

– Menteri Perhubungan dan Penerangan Dr Yaacob Ibrahim ketika ditanya mengenai kempennya di GRC Jalan Besar di majlis pelancaran Bulan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLA) semalam.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

September 7, 2015
Do Opposition MM Politicians Have A Hidden Agenda?

Aiseyman! This GE is so exciting siol~ With all seats being contested, it is a sight to see so many Malay-Muslim opposition candidates standing up to be counted to speak up for Singaporeans, and be the voice of the MM community. For far too long, the MM community has been under-represented in our country’s political conversation that it would be a step in the right direction for our community if more are willing to be involved in the governance of our country.

But with the increasing religiousity within the MM community, it is worth questioning if these MM opposition candidates truly believe in furthering the democratic process of our political system, or are they merely using the various political parties as a platform to air their grievances and further their religious agenda of pushing for a more conservative and Islamic society?

Just look at SDP’s Damanhuri Abas. Even though he represents a party that believes in the ideals of democracy, justice and equality, he himself is not a true believer of these values because he cherry picks who he thinks deserves to be treated as equals and who deserves to be discriminated against. On the one hand, he fights for the rights of Muslim NSmen and Hijabi Muslimahs, but on the other hand, he says that the law should continue to discriminate against gay men by retaining Section 377A.

Another example is NSP’s Nor Lella Mardiiah Mohamed. In the 2011 elections, she represented the party without wearing the hijab. This time round however, she is representing the party as a Muslimah wearing the hijab. While it is her prerogative to wear the hijab, one can’t help but wonder if this change is reflective of her increasing religiousity, and whether this will translate into support for the hijab issue and more broadly, issues that demand for more allowance of Islamic practices in our secular society.

What about WP’s Firuz Khan who appears to be a supporter of former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad? Like Mahathir, is he also a fan of race-based politics and the bumi-policy? If he is voted into parliament under the WP ticket, will he champion for more MM entitlements and privileges that will affect the delicate racial situation in singapore?

These are questions that the opposition parties or the MM candidates themselves must address so that voters know what these candidates truly stand for and whether they are deserving of our votes.

Source: www.aiseyman.com

September 6, 2015
Yaacob Ibrahim And Laselle College Of The Arts Should Shoulder Some Responsibility On Wine Bottle Debacle

Admin,

For the record, I condemn what has been made of Yaacob Ibrahim’s photo at a Laselle College of the Arts function. It was mischievous and tried to paint him, the Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, in a very bad light. It was in very bad taste and is very unbecoming of a Muslim, if the person or people behind the photo is or are indeed Muslims.

Yaacob has been quick to condemn the photo and had even called on WP’s Faisal Manap to condemn the act.

He should be reminded of the saying, there is no smoke without fire.

As a Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs,he should not have been caught in that situation. There are many confetti poppers so why does one that looks like a wine bottle had to be used? If it hadn’t been used, it wouldn’t give people the opportunity to milk it for political mileage. I’m sure his assistants or even he himself would have been briefed about the programme. Or maybe they weren’t thorough enough?

Then you also have the event organiser Laselle. It is a secular arts school but it does not mean that they cannot be aware of the sensitivities of a Muslim politician holding a wine bottle(even though it is a fake). Again, confetti poppers come in all shapes and sizes so why the need to go for one that looks like a wine bottle? Are they really that ignorant?

What this incident shows is that there are people who are still unaware of racial and religious sensitivities, We cannot take for granted that everyone undersands Islam and the obligations of its adherents. As a Muslim, it is our duty to be mindful of such matters and advise the people of a better way to do things.

Unwine

[Reader Contribution]

September 6, 2015
GE2015: I Am A Malay Voter

I am a Malay/Muslim and will be voting in the upcoming General Elections in Singapore.

Who do I vote for. What am I voting for. What exactly is it in for me?

I spoke to my parents, my friends, my cousins, even the Malay barber under the void deck where I just had my hair cut.

This used to be Singapore’s land they say but now the Malays are being discriminated left, right and centre …

(Source: iRememberSG)

Mendaki? MUIS? Yaacoob Ibrahim? . . . Ahhhh no point.

They won’t even help their own kind and are just government puppets. How many times have we heard stories of the poor Malay student being turned down by MENDAKI for help or of the needy and broken family being denied MUIS financial disbursements?

There is always that somebody’s friend saying that it is a fact that they are being discriminated because they are Malay.

“Tak boleh kasi chance dengan Cina, Mesti jaga diri sendiri” they remarked. (translated: Cannot give face to the Chinese, we must look after our own)

It was a horror story that Malay children of my generation grew up listening to – that it is tough to be Malay in Singapore.

The stereotype was further enforced when national figures year on year shows that the Malay community form the largest percentage of broken families and are living in rental flats. (Even the PM admitted that they are a group to be concerned about in his latest NDP rally).

Why are the Malays lagging despite article 152 of the constitution:

(2) The Government shall exercise its functions in such manner as to recognise the special position of the Malays, who are the indigenous people of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of the Government to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social and cultural interests and the Malay language.’

Who do I vote for. What am I voting for. What exactly is it in for me and more importantly my community.

Will voting the opposition empower the Malays and increase their standard of living?

I closed my eyes and touched my heart in silence and searched for the answer…..

I want my community to be given opportunities to progress and improve their lives.

I want my community to have equal access to education, healthcare, housing and employment as with the other races

I want my community to be able to practice Islam without fear or prejudice and to be able to perform our religious obligation with relative ease.

I want my community to be able to contribute to the Singapore story and be a part of its success.

I want a minister that stand up for our rights and represent the concerns of the common Makcik and Pakcik in parliament – without reservation.

I want a Minister that speaks good Malay because that Minister is going to be the role model that I ask my child to look up to.

Minutes passed, I steadied my breath, opened my eyes and looked around me.

For a race that comprises only 13% of Singapore’s population, we have 70 well maintained mosques with quality teachers, programmes and support services.

(Iman.edu.sg)

We have grants and subsidies that are set aside for only our community that others do not enjoy, such as the Mosque Building Fund; ensuring that we are able to continue and perform our religious obligations with ease (and not rely solely on donations and auctions to buy land and build a mosque).

Yes, Malays currently form the majority of broken families and stay in rental flats but there are now more programmes than ever to help us ‘get out of the poverty cycle’ – if we but find out about them and play our part instead of listening to hearsays. (ST:Many poor Malays do not seek social aid)

We have Malay pilots, lawyers, doctors and top civil servants. (Speaker of Parliament, i.e. Head of Legislature is Mdm Halimah Yacob)

Even those that came from Madrasahs were given the same opportunity to succeed as their peers who chose the secular programmes.

Read: NUS medical school takes in first Madrasah students

Read: Former Madrasah student wins Berita Harian inspiring young achiever award.

We are a community that not only receives but also gives back to society – the Yusof Ishak Fund is managed by the Malay community and helps deserving citizens (of all races) with their professorship.

We have access to housing and health care; the same standard with other races. In fact, there is a racial quota for housing to ensure that there will always be space for Malay families in every the estate.

It is time for my community to break away from the stereotypes that we have reinforced on ourselves over the years.

We have to stop the delusion and feel self-entitled to success and protection just because “Singapore was Tanah Melayu” (Singapore was a Malay land and we the indigenous people) in the constitution.

We have just as many opportunities as the other races to succeed in Singapore.

SkillsFuture, Housing Grants and Education were extended to us the same way it was extended to all the other races – if we could but make it count and use it to achieve progress.

I know that despite the best efforts to level the playing field, there still exist discrimination in Singapore. The “tudung issue” is a prime example of that discrimination . … But still . . . it does not explain why we cannot progress.

Come September 11, the Malays in Singapore shall vote.

Some people will always be more equal than us but just like my parents before me, I vote for a government that allows me to be the best I could be as a Muslim and as a Singaporean, regardless of my race and my background.

Source: https://thoughtsofrealsingaporeans.wordpress.com

September 5, 2015