Rilek1Corner

Tag: race

  • Walid J. Abdullah: Muslims Are Biggest Victims Of Terrorism

    Walid J. Abdullah: Muslims Are Biggest Victims Of Terrorism

    Immigration Officer:

    First time you’re presenting at a conference?

    Me: No, but it’s the first time i’m being checked like this even after telling immigration i have a conference.

    Him: Are you nervous?

    Me: No, i’m disappointed.

    Him: Why? I’m just doing my job.

    Me: You didn’t check anyone else, so please don’t tell me this is random.

    *eons later*

    Him: You can have your passport back.

    Me: Can i ask why it took so long?

    *directs to another guy*

    Other officer: Err, we had another name like yours, with same surname too.

    Me: From Singapore? I can guarantee you there is none.

    We both know why it was only me who had to go through this, and no one else. Let’s not pretend.

    ——

    The reality is Muslims are the biggest victims of terrorism, whether directly or otherwise.

     

    Source: Walid J. Abdullah

  • Damanhuri Abas: Distrust Of Malays By The Government Have To Stop Now

    Damanhuri Abas: Distrust Of Malays By The Government Have To Stop Now

    Was at Reach Feedback session with Dr Yaacob and Mdm Rahayu this evening.

    EP was hot tonite. Salleh Marican of Second Chance fired the first salvo and stated that 3 years ago his biz paid up caps qualifies him to contest for the EP but it looks like his chance is gone now.

    With bleak economic outlook job prospects will be serious issues that will beset Singaporeans. No clear way forward on this one as the Malay community is least independent of the govt help.

    The rushed changes to the EP and the strange interest and concern on the Malay community has inevitably exposed the hypocrisy of selective meritocracy that has existed for the last 50 years which scholarly works by Prof Hussin Mutalib and Dr Lily Zubaidah (related to President Yusuf Ishak) have already exposed for years but ignored.

    Thus I raised to them about the fallacy of meritocracy and discrimination that starts with the government for their strange unjustified distrust of the loyalty of the Malay community.

    This unhealthy relationship of distrust between govt and the Malay community is toxic and must be eradicated. It has secondary effects on the wider community as imposed structural barriers denying Malays access to so-called sensitive position in government jobs get expanded into entrenched attitudes in the wider society.

    The Malays has done nothing to deserve this distrust. Our track record of loyalty to land and country are unmatched based on the peformance of the Malay regiment who sacrificed their life for Singapore during the Japanese invasion of this country.

    To blanket the entire community on baseless grounds of disloyalty are unfair and unjust, denying our meritocratic right to have full unhindered opportunity like everyone else just because we are malays.

    Examples of silly reasons of ship kitchen dietary constraints in the navy no longer cut any ice with a matured and thinking citizenry. So please stop this outrageous justification to maintain discriminatory practices when questions of loyalty and distrust are the real excuses and must end.

    Yes changes are taking place but more can and must be done to stop discriminatory practices. The change must start from the very top beginning with the government. Real meritocracy must be implemented.

    Then only maybe one day Singaporeans will truly be a one united people as what our kids recite daily in school.

    Special thanks goes to Dr Yaacob and Mdm Rahayu for accepting me and others into the session. They are more courageous than some Minister who rather call off his session than faced Dr Tan Cheng Bock.

     

    Source: Damanhuri Bin Abas

  • A Chinese-Muslim Convert’s Experience With Ignorance In Singapore

    A Chinese-Muslim Convert’s Experience With Ignorance In Singapore

    I need to get this off my chest.

    I was seeing a new doctor yesterday (4th time this month, don’t ask) and she expressed surprise that my name sounded ‘Chinese’ when I’m wearing a hijab (and therefore look like a Muslim aka. Malay in Singapore). So I said I’m Chinese Muslim, yes, my family is Chinese, yes, I’m the only Muslim in my family, yes, I’m a convert to Islam, yes.

    Then she asked me why I converted. Usual question.
    Me: “I researched.” (Shortest answer, I’ve figured, that prevents unnecessary questions and only engages those who really want to know more, because, what bores people more than research?! hahaa)

    And then she says this.
    “Huh. You researched? Don’t research until become ISIS ah!”

    WELL.
    I’m not offended, no don’t get me wrong. I’ve had this said to me a few times before. But today I feel so strongly about it and am just appalled to know that it has come to the stage whereby learning and gaining knowledge in Islam can be viewed as a route to becoming ‘brainwashed to terrorism’.

    Ever since my reversion close to 3 years ago (I turn 3 in 10 days time, yay!), I’ve met countless Muslims and Muslim converts in Singapore week after week, class after class. Muslims who are so knowledgeable in their field of work, AND in Islamic knowledge. Scientists, mathematicians, historians- and what they all have in common is the knowledge in Islam which sets the strongest foundation in whatever they do. And I’m learning from an ustaz who has no professional certification to his name, yet embodies the humility and disposition of people who have spent years of their lives gaining more and more knowledge. Such people are overflowing with wisdom, but they don’t ever stop learning. As my ustaz would say, “The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know.”

    To all my friends out there, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of, because the epitome of a Muslim lies in gaining knowledge. And the more knowledge we gain, the less we ‘become ISIS’ (I cringe even writing this sentence). What they do/ claim to do in the name of Islam, they are no more than a bunch of terrorists. Got that? Just Terrorists. No “Islamic extremists” or “fundamentalists” or “Islamists”- just terms that the media has coined to make you believe that we Muslims have got anything to do with that bunch- when in fact we are as much related to them as you are.

    Now let me go back to my jihad of trying to be as patient as I can and not have a sarcastic comeback everytime someone tries to link me to ISIS. Ugh.

    —
    The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ- peace be upon him) said: “A servant of God will remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his time on earth and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what activities he spent it; and about his body and how he used it.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 148)

     

    Source: Maryem Chin

  • Balestier Khalsa Suspends Winger Zulkiffli Hassim For Allegedly Racially Abusing Referee

    Balestier Khalsa Suspends Winger Zulkiffli Hassim For Allegedly Racially Abusing Referee

    Balestier Khalsa winger Zulkiffli Hassim will not turn out for his club any more in the 2016 season.

    The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Disciplinary Committee (DC) has found him guilty of making derogatory racial remarks.

    The incident occurred in Balestier’s 2-1 loss to Geylang International in a Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League match on Aug 25, with the 30-year-old allegedly making remarks of a racial nature against assistant referee Y Sathyakumar in the 90th minute.

    This is not the first incident Zulkiffli has been mired in that saw racial undertones. He was hauled up for a similar incident four years ago.

    In April 2012, the DC threw the book at Zulkiffli, after he pleaded guilty to charges of making racial remarks against Woodlands Wellington’s Trinidadian defender Fabian Lewis.

    He was banned for five games and received a suspended fine of $1,000.

    This time around, he could see graver punishment.

    Balestier, of their own accord, have suspended him without pay from Sept 8, and will hold a hearing of their own tomorrow.

    Zulkiffli has not turned out for Balestier since Aug 25, missing one game – last week’s 1-1 draw with Warriors FC – and will play no part in the Tigers’ last four league games of the season.

    He will also sit out Balestier’s play-off for third place in the RHB Singapore Cup on Oct 29.

    “Racial abuse has no place in the S.League and in Singapore, and for a club this is an extremely serious issue that is not to be treated lightly,” said Balestier chairman S Thavaneson.

    “We don’t want to pre-judge him, but we decided to suspend him pending his DC hearing, and in that letter to him told him that the club reserve the right to take (further) disciplinary action against him.

    “The first time (Zulkiffli was found guilty for a similar offence) we were sympathetic but firm, and told him that the club would not tolerate any form of racial abuse, against a player, official or fan. He agreed and realised the seriousness of his undertaking.”

    Balestier stood by their man in 2012, pointing to the fact that this was the first instance of such an offence, and while it would not be tolerated, was an isolated incident that happened in the heat of the moment in a match.

    But, with the club hauling him up for a hearing of their own this time, the signs are not good for Zulkiffli.

    “We want to follow due process, but the message must be clear and it must go down not just to players of Balestier, but to everyone,” said Thavaneson.

    “Racial abuse can lead to uglier things, and there is no place for it here.”

    A contrite Zulkiffli told The New Paper that he has missed being involved with his team.

    “I regret what I did, it was in the heat of the moment, and I couldn’t control my anger then,” he said, revealing that he has been going for runs, and playing social football on weekends to stay in shape.

    “I have to apologise to the club and my team. We don’t have a very big squad, and with some of the players out injured, I really feel guilty that I cannot help them out on the pitch.”

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Singapore Needs ‘Deeper, More Personal Multiracial Compact’

    Singapore Needs ‘Deeper, More Personal Multiracial Compact’

    Building a multiracial compact is never-ending, as Singapore can never be satisfied with what it has achieved, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who called for a “deeper, more personal multiracialism” here.

    At a dialogue yesterday with youth, he observed that peaceful accommodation was possible in British and French societies when it came to the first-generation immigrants despite cultural and religious differences.

    Interestingly, he said, it was the second generation that grew up in both countries who felt alienated and were vulnerable to outside influences.

    “(So) however little we’ve achieved, it can tumble down quickly. Building a multiracial compact is a never-ending game, not just because of what we’re like as a people, but because of what’s happening around the world,” he said.

    Noting that ethical and religious consciousness is rising, leading to global conflict, he added that Singapore must put even more effort into deepening its multiracial compact now.

    “We start from young, with friendships, interactions, being in the same netball team, the same hockey team, meeting three or four times a week, being on Facebook together, being on WhatsApp together, growing up as Singaporeans together. It has to be a deeper, more personal multiracialism,” he stressed.

    Mr Tharman was speaking after some race-related questions from students. One had observed that the older generation still harboured “racial sentiments”, and worried that it might cause a divide like the one in the United States.

    Another participant felt that what the President of Singapore does — his actions — rather than his race is the main factor in how people related to the office. He suggested that more be done to allow Singaporeans to know what the President is doing.

    To that, Senior Minister of State and MP (Jurong GRC) Desmond Lee, who was part of the panel, said that, in the first place, the candidate must meet certain criteria and have a lengthy background in the private or public sector. They should be able to explain how they can carry out the roles of the President, he noted.

    As for the issue of race, he said: “When you say race doesn’t matter, we want to be there, we want to work constantly towards being truly multiracial, multicultural Singapore (but) I think we all accept that race still is a factor.”

    The race issue had surfaced recently, with impending changes to the Elected Presidency that would ensure minorities get elected as President from time to time.

     

    Source: TODAY Online