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Tag: NUS

  • NUS Law Prof Lynette Chua Launch Book Called Mobilizing Gay Singapore

    Credit: http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/
    Credit: http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/

    SINGAPORE — What are the legal restrictions and political norms that affect the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community? How did they organise themselves and engage the state, eventually organising the first public gay rally, Pink Dot, in 2009?

    These are the themes examined in a new book by law professor Lynette Chua from the National University of Singapore (NUS) on the LGBT movement. Launched yesterday, the 168-page volume was based on in-depth interviews with gay activists here and government statements and media reports on the issue. Called Mobilizing Gay Singapore, it looks at the LGBT movement’s emergence, development and strategies, and how the roles of law and rights play out in the process.

    Speaking to TODAY at the book launch at the NUS Centre for Asian Legal Studies at the Faculty of Law, Associate Professor Chua said the book is aimed at trying to understand the social-legal history of the movement. The book, she said, could have a reflective impact on activists regarding their roles and could be informative for those who are not knowledgeable about the movement. The book was written in her personal capacity as a social-legal scholar and does not represent NUS’ views, she said.

    During the panel discussion at the launch with Assoc Prof Chua, NUS law professor Michael Hor and NUS Department of Sociology Assoc Prof Daniel Goh, an audience member asked how local political parties could take a stronger stand on the LGBT movement.

    In response, Assoc Prof Goh said political parties have to be pragmatic to remain in the game and cannot be the vanguard of a movement that is about minority rights.

    Added Assoc Prof Chua: “Like it or not, many of the activists believe the desire for a state of equal rights for LGBT or legal reform will not come from the opposition party … The Opposition is simply too weak just trying to get a foothold in local politics.”

    Copyright 2014 MediaCorp Pte Ltd | All Rights Reserved

     

     

    Source: TODAY, singaporelawwatch.sg

     

     

  • Part-time UniSIM Degree Not Recognized

    Photo Credit: The Straits Times
    Photo Credit: The Straits Times

     

    Dear R1C,

    I used to work in the public sector and several years ago I graduated with a UniSIM degree. After an extremely long wait and several email exchanges with the HR department, they finally got back to me with the news.

    Yes, I was not given any upgrade and remained as a junior officer.

    I recall Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in the National Day Rally 2012, announced that Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and SIM University (UniSIM) will become the republic’s 5th and 6th universities. Both institutions will participate in the Government’s plan to increase the number of publicly funded full-time university places.

    As we already know SIM collaborates with foreign universities in some of their degree courses. UniSIM also confer their own degrees and I obtained my degree from there.

    It appears that there is no standardization in the public service. I asked around and found that only certain stat boards and ministries fully recognized UniSIM degrees. Not all stat boards or ministries share the same vision as PM Lee, let alone ready to offer better remuneration package to those who managed to graduate from their part-time degrees.

    For people like me who wanted upgrade themselves and take up part-time degrees from so called recognized universities like UniSIM, it takes a lot of perseverance, sacrifices and determination. I have two young children, the youngest is 7 months old and another one in primary school. Besides juggling work commitments and studying, I have to be a father and husband. Not forgetting, that I have to manage my relationship with my parents who are old and unwell.

    At that time, my wife also wanted to pursue her part-time degree but she had to put that plan on hold until I completed my studies. This is to ensure that the children don’t feel left out or neglected when our other half is busy studying. Alhamdulillah, my wife is currently pursuing her part-time degree in UniSIM.

    Except for several ministries and stat boards, UniSIM graduates working in public service are offered lower starting pay as compared to NUS/NTU/SMU graduates. Some I heard are offered upgrades but no jump in pay or change in career progression.

    I really enjoyed what I did in the public sector. Unfortunately, I cannot find any more good reason to continue this path. I found a job opportunity in private sector which offered me the same pay but better career prospects. As the cost of living is increasing in Singapore, I need to think about my family and our future. No one can make the change except ourselves.

    I do hope that part-time graduates will be treated more fairly especially in the government sector.

    Not just lip service.

     

    Authored by Mohd Syahrizan

     

    letters to R1C

  • Rehashing the Hijab Movement in Singapore

     

    NUS Nursing undergraduate Afiqah Binte Kamel, who started the Singapore Nursing Hijab Movement aimed at representing nurses and the specific issues surrounding wearing the hijab in nursing. Credit: Google Images
    NUS Nursing undergraduate Afiqah Binte Kamel, who started the Singapore Nursing Hijab Movement aimed at representing nurses and the specific issues surrounding wearing the hijab in nursing.
    Credit: Google Images

    SINGAPORE, Mar 14 (Campus Eye) – Debates concerning the ban on the hijab for Muslim women wearing uniforms in the civil service continue between the Singapore government and lobbyists, after having been reignited in late 2013.

    This issue resurfaced following the creation of the Singapore Hijab Movement, a Facebook group that amassed more than 20,000 likes within weeks of being set up. The group ceased operations on Nov. 14, 2013.

    Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Yaacob Ibrahim, said in a statement released on his Facebook page following closed-door discussions in November 2013 with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that Malay ministers from the People’s Action Party and civil society leaders in the Malay-Muslim community must “manage and balance the diverse needs of our multi-racial and multi-religious society,” and that “accommodation and compromise by all parties” is necessary.

    Lobbyists for the cause are dissatisfied with this seemingly ambivalent government response.

    One such reaction came from Walid J. Abdullah, a tutor in National University of Singapore (NUS) Political Science department and active participant in the ongoing debate.

    “One of the things we are afraid of is dialogue and debate about religion in Singapore. On all sides, there needs to be more openness, more engagement,” he said.

    “Have discussions, for example, with the nurses who want to wear the hijab,” Walid added. “Get to know them, get to know what their intentions are.”

    This sentiment was echoed by NUS Nursing undergraduate Afiqah Binte Kamel, who started the Singapore Nursing Hijab Movement aimed at representing nurses and the specific issues surrounding wearing the hijab in nursing.

    Read more here

    Written by Sharifah Nursyafiqah

    Source: Sharifah Nursyafiqah, Campus Eye NUS, Afiqah Kamel

     

    MORE HIJAB RELATED ARTICLES HERE

  • Muslim Organisation PERGAS Support for NUS Lecturer Syed Khairudin Aljunied on LGBTQ Issue

    A letter of support by Mohamad Hasbi Hassan, President of Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS) to Dr Syed Khairudin Aljunied.

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    1909216_636158099770717_860087061_o

    Source: PERGAS, Facebook Page Dr Syed Khairudin Aljunied

  • Of LGBTQ Lobby and Liberal Islam – Trends in the Muslim Community

     

    SyedDanialpicbadge1

     

    Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

    The Mauqif – Standing point

    Saiyyidina Abu Bakr as Siddiq rad. holds a special place within the Ummah. Indeed, there is a hadith that says after the Ambiya, the first to enter Jannah among this Ummah is Saiyyidina Abu Bakr.

    The Ulema delved into this to ascertain why. They came up with the concept of the Mauqif. A standing point. A moment in time when, through one’s actions, one distinguishes one’s self above the rest. And there are so many occasions which are the mawaaqif where Abu BAkr shone. Very briefly, When he accepted Islam. Rasulullah SAW he never wavered even for a second when Rasulullah SAW first made dawah to Abu Bakr. Then, the incident of Isra Me”raj, a test for the Ummah. Abu Bakr never wavered or doubted the words of Rasulullah SAW. Then the incident of the passing of Rasulullah. In a moment where fitnah could emerge for the Ummah, Abu Bakr made that famous statement, ‘He who worships Muhamad, let him know that Muhammad is dead. But he who worships Allah, let him know that He is Alive, and Cannot die.’ Then the sending out of the army of Usama Bin Zaid, when even the senior sahabahs advised him to hold back and protect Madinah.

    The life of this remarkable individual is filled with so many Mawaqif that will be his witness when he stands in the Court of Allah azzawajal.

    Brothers and sisters, what is our Mawqif?

    What actions can we take in this fleeting life to present in the Court of Allah azzawajal? In this current LGBT controversy, do we sit back within the safety of our comfort zone, or do we stand up and speak the Truth, for the sake of Allah azzawajal?

    Wallahualam, but I believe this could count as a Mauqif for Prof Khai. There are many comments made regarding the NUS Provost letter. To my mind the capitulation and pandering to the Liberals is predictable. And at the end of the day, it is nothing more than a slap on the wrist for Prof.

    I am very heartened that the unintended outcome of this event is the awakening of our community. We have been asleep for far too long. Subhanallah, so many has come up to voice their support. The pushback against the LGBT lobby is indeed eye-opening and unprecedented. The Ulema have come forward in numbers. The conservative majority is becoming less and less docile.

    Brothers and sisters, this is the time to push forward. There are so many issues that are harming the Ummah. The LGBT lobby. The larger issue of the poison of Liberal Islam. So many of our youth are ideologically-defeated and dancing along the periphery of jahannam.

    It is not the time to pull back. And focus on individual worship.

    We have serious work to do. And in the process, in sha Allah,gather our own mawafiqs – standing points that can be our Witness in the Court of Allah azzawajal.

    Barakallahufeek.

     

    SyedDanialLGBTshamugam
    Syed Danial commented on Minister Shanmugam’s Facebook comment regarding the LGBTQ issue.

    There’s some confusion going around that I wish to address.

    LGBT is a movement. It wishes to legitimize unnatural acts that is unacceptable in the sight of Allah azzawajal. I do not support the movement. I support homosexuals or people with tendencies who wish to change. To these people, we lend a helping hand. Not the LGBT movement.

    At it’s heart, the movement is hypocritical. They claim to be promoting love. Universal love. That is disingenuous. Two people can profess love for each other. That does not mean they have to consummate it by piercing an orifice whose function is to excrete human waste. So the movement does not promote love. It promotes disease causing acts against nature .

    We must differentiate between the two. Peace

    danial2
    Syed Danial and his friend MD Shawal created Facebook PicBadges to show support for the anti-LGBTQ movement.
    saynotoLGBT
    Syed Danial and his friend MD Shawal created Facebook PicBadges to show support for the anti-LGBTQ movement.

    Source: Syed Danial, Nurul Syafiqah