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Tag: Rahayu Mahzam

  • Rahayu Mahzam: “Beautiful And Dynamic” Malay Language Must Be Preserved

    Rahayu Mahzam: “Beautiful And Dynamic” Malay Language Must Be Preserved

    Describing the Malay language as a “beautiful and dynamic” one, Member of Parliament for Jurong Group Representation Constituency Rahayu Mahzam said on Saturday (Sept 3) that it was important to keep up efforts in preserving and bringing life to the language from a young age.

    “This year, we lost literary giants and language experts Allahyarham Cikgu Muhammad Ariff Ahmad, Cikgu Aliman Hassan and Dr Liaw Yock Fang. With the passing of these culture and literary figures, the responsibility of ensuring the continued usage and love of the Malay language now falls squarely on the shoulders of the next generation.”

    Ms Rahayu was speaking at the launch of the Bulan Bahasa 2016 (Malay Language Month 2016) at the National Museum of Singapore this afternoon.

    Speaking to TODAY on the sidelines later, she explained that the Bulan Bahasa was initially something that was celebrated every two years, and “it was limited to the literati, those who are very savvy with the language”.

    “Then there was the decision to bring in more people and once we started doing it every year, we also started looking at appropriate spaces where there’s a natural crowd and we can bring in families to enjoy and celebrate together,” she said.

    They began to scope out locations in the heartlands, intending to focus on just one spot. But they soon realized that they could reach out to more people if activities were expanded to more communities, she added. “So we decided to do more in the heartland and neighbourhoods and it went down very well.”

    Organized by the Malay Language Council, Singapore, this year’s festival, which runs from Aug 15 to Oct 15, showcases the dynamism of the Malay language through tours of exhibits and artifacts of significance to the Malay community, such as jewellery from Fort Canning as well as from well-known personalities such as the first President of Singapore Yusof Ishak.

    There are also a diverse array of Malay language and cultural activities at the museum and beyond. Over at Nee Soon, Chua Chu Kang and Sembawang, where the festival will also be extended to, residents there get to partake in activities such as Malay handicraft and Traditional Malay games, and view exhibition displays by Malay dialect groups. 

    Ms Rahayu, who is a first-time chairperson of the Bulan Bahasa committee, said “more than 50 partners have come together to produce over 100 programmes so everyone can continue to enjoy Bahasa Melayu as a beautiful and dynamic language”. New partners this year include Islamic artwork design firm Haz Workz Design, concept creation and production house Big Tree Pictures and youth music group Nusantara Arts.

    Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport, who was the guest-of-honour at the launch, said during his speech that the events and programmes in this year’s Bulan Bahasa “are varied, rich and representative of how dynamic and alive the Malay language is in Singapore today”.

    “We are here today, because we share a common desire to preserve the Malay language and culture, and to pass on this love for the language and culture to our future generations. In diverse and multi-cultural Singapore, our Mother Tongues are pivotal in strengthening our ethnic roots, as well as our cultural and national identities.”

    During the launch, Mr Ng also presented musician Megat Muhammad Firdaus Mohamad, actress Siti Khalijah Zainal and Jamiyah Ar-Rabitah Mosque education officer, Ustazah Nurul ‘Izzah Khamsani with certificates. The trio, who were appointed by the Malay Language Council, Singapore as its new language ambassadors, were chosen for their passion for the Malay language, culture and heritage.

    Meanwhile, students will also be heavily involved in the festival. Some 118 students from 60 schools were appointed in May to participate in the preparations for the festival, under its initiative Rakan Bahasa, or friends of the language. The students will be providing special tours at the Singapore History Gallery, as part of a special effort to ensure the Malay language and culture is appreciated by non-Malay speakers as well.

    Additionally, there is Rentak Kita!, a Malay Traditional Orchestra performance with sharing sessions in both English and Malay conducted by Orkestra Sri Temasak, which was founded by musicians Megat Muhammad Firdaus Mohamad and Afi Hanafi.

    Ms Rahayu said the increased programmes in the heartlands align with the future direction of Bulan Bahasa. “It allows us to showcase the platform to non-Malays at the grassroots level and that allows Malay as a national language to reach out to the masses,” she said.

    “I think (the future) direction is greater outreach, definitely, and a more impactful experience for those who participate in Bulan Bahasa as well as extending this spirit of preserving the Malay language culture over and beyond the two months of the festival,” she added.

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Police Report Made Against PAP Member, Rahayu Mahzam, For Alleged Racist Remarks

    Police Report Made Against PAP Member, Rahayu Mahzam, For Alleged Racist Remarks

    A member of the public, Mr Abdul Salim Harun has filed a police report on Ms Rahayu Mahzam, a Member of Parliament from the People’s Action Party for alleged racist remarks made on 5 May during the last PAP rally for the Bukit Batok By-Election.

    Mr Salim claims that Ms Rahayu’s remarks to have the potential to cause subversion among the minority community here.

    In the report, Mr Salim wrote,

    “On the 5th May 2016, during a Bukit Gombak stadium PAP rally, Ms Rahayu Mahzam insinuated in her Malay speech mischievously, that the opposition candidate Dr Chee Soon Juan is not only xenophobic, but all foreign Muslims who come into our shores needs to be screened vigorously and background checks judiciously. I feel that such comments especially from elected MPs can constitute subversion among the populace if left unchallenged and does not go well with societal norms and fabric. The 8 min 20 sec speech also constitute defamation as Dr Chee had not said any of such at all and its reach is alarming.

    I am lodging this report for record purpose and will be seeking legal advise on the matter. “

    He said that these remarks were “placed into” the mouth of Dr Chee Soon Juan, Secretary-General of Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) when he never said any of such things.

    During the campaign of the Bukit Batok By-Election, Dr Chee responded to media queries on his views on the arrest of 8 radicalised Bangladeshi workers under the Internal Security Act. In the interview, he said, “we need to pay more attention to the people who come into our shores.”

     

    According to Mr Salim, the offending comments said by Ms Rahayu are as follow and can be seen in the video below;

    1) Jangan membenarkan kemasukan Pekerja asing – Not allowing the entry of foreign workers

    2) Setiap orang Islam yang masuk ke Negara ini perlu dipantau/disaring – Muslims who entered this country needs to be scrutinised

    3) Mengambil peluang ini untuk menjadikan isu Politik – Taking this opportunity to politicise the issue.

    Mr Salim said that as a Malay who enjoys minority rights, he distances himself from such unwarranted attacks on a Chinese and furthermore, feel ashamed from the remarks.

    He further added that similar racist remarks were made against him on Fabrication about the PAP (FAP) Fanpage by a “Shawn Loo” last year which was condoned by the authorities and Judiciary.

    Mr Salim had volunteered his service with the SDP as a volunteer during the Bukit Batok By-election.

    TOC has written to Ms Rahayu for her comments and will include her response when she replies.

    policereport_PAPmp

     

    Source: The Online Citizen

  • Maarof Salleh: Don’t Be Taken In By Rahayu Mahzam, Nothing Will Change

    Maarof Salleh: Don’t Be Taken In By Rahayu Mahzam, Nothing Will Change

    When MP Rahayu Mahzan again raised the tudung issue in her maiden parliamentary speech, I cannot but be a bit more cynical in asking whether this is again a new ‘sandiwara’, and not a serious effort, in trying to persuade the national leadership to review its position on the subject.

    The fact is the subject has been there long before Rahayu been recruited into politics, with so many dialogues and debates. But the position of the government has remained unchanged.

    Like some others, I too feel such an unchanged position cannot but raise other related questions. Whether we (the national leadership and the Malay Muslim community) really understood the issue and did not react wrongly out of the misunderstanding or misperceptions of the issue? Whether those responsible for the task to explain and clarify on the issue have really done their work without fear and favour? If every possible explanation have been made why there have been no change in the leadership position in this issue?

    While Rahayu’s re-raising the issue is refreshing, it is the sentiment of many that it will be yet another sandiwara in which the issue will pop up now and then, but no happy ending can be expected.

     

    Source: Maarof Salleh

  • Walid J. Abdullah: Kudos To Rahayu Mahzam For Raising Tudung Issue But Time Will Tell If She Deserves Community’s Trust

    Walid J. Abdullah: Kudos To Rahayu Mahzam For Raising Tudung Issue But Time Will Tell If She Deserves Community’s Trust

    There have been a couple of contrasting reactions towards MP Rahayu Mahzam’s maiden speech in Parliament, in which she urged the government to reconsider its policy on the hijab.

    (On a side note, it is interesting to note that MP Faisal Manap has mentioned the same thing before, but rarely gets the same media coverage, and of course, if he did bring up such issues, he would be ‘politicizing religion’, but let’s leave that aside for now.)

    The first reaction was to celebrate her courage and bold attitude, raising the issue in her very first speech. Indeed, it is perhaps unprecedented for a Muslim MP to do so.

    The second, however, was a more cynical one. Some question whether this was a political show that would amount to no real change.

    To be sure, one can definitely understand why the second reaction surfaced: the issue has been raised numerous times before under various conditions. And it always seemed like there was always an excuse to dismiss the requests (‘you were too loud’, ‘you were not loud enough’, ‘there are other important issues’, ‘we must not disrupt harmony’ etc etc etc.) Even senior members of the community like Cikgu Maarof Salleh expressed cynicism at the speech.

    For me personally, i prefer to see it in a more positive light. I believe each MP should be judged based on what he/she has said/done, and not merely on the party he/she belongs to. And no one MP will always be flawless or completely hopeless (well, i hope not!): they will have good moments that should be celebrated, and lesser ones that we as citizens can and should call them out for.

    As for MP Rahayu herself, she is new and has done nothing so far that warrants our mistrust, so I believe her words should be commended.

    Time will tell how much the new MPs truly represent the people and voice their concerns – not just the individual MP’s thoughts – in Parliament. For now, i say, kudos to her.

     

    Source: Walid J. Abdullah

  • Sorotan Calon Wanita Harungi Tempoh Pilihan Raya

    Sorotan Calon Wanita Harungi Tempoh Pilihan Raya

    KEKURANGAN pengalaman dalam bidang politik dan usia muda calon baru Parti Tindakan Rakyat (PAP), Cik Rahayu Mahzam (gambar kiri), mungkin antara faktor yang dipersoal pelbagai pihak, termasuk pembangkang dan pengundi.

    Namun, Cik Rahayu, 35 tahun, berbakti kepada penduduk dengan jiwa dan beliau yakin penduduk juga dapat merasakan keikhlasannya itu.

    Meskipun masih baru dalam arena ini, beliau rancak berkempen dan turun padang dari awal pagi hingga malam untuk mengenali penduduk dengan lebih dekat.

    “Memang saya lebih muda dan masih banyak yang perlu dipelajari, tetapi saya bersama pasukan akar umbi dan GRC yang kuat. Dengan kemantapan parti (PAP), terdapat sumber yang boleh kami rujuk termasuk daripada Anggota Parlimen berpengalaman.

    “Saya telah bekerja keras menjalin hubungan dengan penduduk. Dengan usia saya yang muda, saya juga bertenaga dan ghairah,” kata Cik Rahayu.

    Seorang lagi calon wanita muda PAP, Cik Tin Pei Ling (gambar tengah), 31 tahun, mempunyai pengalaman dalam bidang politik memandangkan beliau telah berkhidmat sebagai Anggota Parlimen (AP) selama lebih empat tahun.

    Namun, status barunya sebagai ibu baru-baru ini dijadikan isu oleh pihak pembangkang.

    Menurut calon Parti Perpaduan Nasional (NSP), Encik Cheo Chai Chen, 64 tahun, peranan baru Cik Tin sebagai ibu adalah kelemahannya dan jika pengundi memilih Cik Tin, beliau mungkin akan memberi lebih banyak tumpuan kepada anaknya berbanding pengundi.

    Cik Tin tidak bersetuju dengan pandangan Encik Cheo dan menekankan komitmennya kepada MacPherson.

    Sementara itu calon NSP, Cik Nor Lella Mardiiiah Mohamed (gambar kanan), pula turut membentangkan rancangannya untuk membentuk dana pelajar Melayu di Tampines.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg