Rilek1Corner

Tag: Reserved elections

  • The Bitter Insult: Singapore Malay Community Would Have Been Insulted Multiple Folds When Result Of PE Comes Out

    The Bitter Insult: Singapore Malay Community Would Have Been Insulted Multiple Folds When Result Of PE Comes Out

    The Bitter Insult

    When the results of the Reserved Presidential Election are announced in the weeks to come, Singapore Malay Community would have been insulted Multiple Folds…

    1) That Malays would stand no chance of being elected in an open contest in this land of Singapura

    2) That Malays are no where near the league of qualifying for the Presidential Candidacy criteria apart from the passage of political office… Such that meticulous engineering spanning years may even be needed to ensure the minimum stint in office is achieved.

    3) That on all other official matters such as the Census, HDB flat application Ethnic Integration Clause, Primary School Application, NRIC registration, Malay Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy, etc… The patrelineal CMIO model is applied strictly… But in the political arena especially this Reserved Presidential Election, the highest official public office… The patrilineal CMIO model is waived thus allowing cultural affinity and acceptance or the kampung way of determining whether someone is ‘orang kita’ or ‘pendatang’.

    4) That members of the Malay community are longing to be given the chance to have a Malay President after so very long… After Yusoff Ishak… such that seeing his face on the Singapore Yusoff Ishak series notes is not enough… Such that having ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, a premier research institution named after him is not enough, such that having a Yusoff Ishak mosque – a community center symbolic for doing good, piety and humility without desire for earthly rewards… Is NOT enough… Such that to appease a deep unawaken unrest that is threading in the hearts and minds of Malay Singaporeans, a decision of surgical precision has to be made a short few months prior to the departure of President Tan from office that Singapore Must have a ‘Malay President’… One that has an image appealling and representative to the pious modern Malay Muslim women and men.

    5) That the Malay community is very supportive of this ‘affirmative action’ although it was not a request.

    However, the most bitter insult will be when the portraits of the Reservedly Elected President and spouse are the only Malay faces to be seen in public institutions, institutions that stand on National platform for national interest and not simply an institution of private ethnic community interest that have been deemed unsuitable for Malays such as some Military Units and all Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools… Such that regardless a Malay is smart enough, is fit enough, is capable enough and is supported enough… the faces of the Reservedly Elected President will be the only Malay faces gazing over the activities in those highly funded, highly resourced institutions of elite development.

    This to me is an insult, the most bitter insult to the face of smart, capable and quaified Malay students and youth past, present and future… Where by virtue of race, they can only have potraits of the Reservedly Elected Malay Presidential couple hanging silently as representatives of the whole communities in such institutions.

    But Malays known for being peaceful, forgiving and always optimistic for the ‘hikmah’ that is not easily comprehended to show itself.

    Thus perhaps a prayer is appropriate that given the chance to choose, we are guided with making a the right option that will soften the blow of the many insults that we are about to receive…

    May the Reservedly Elected President be someone of humble from a humble background so that we can teach our children that humility has its rewards;

    May the Reservedly Elected President be someone that is determined and have persevered through struggles of success and failures so that we may teach our students not to expect favours and shortcuts to earn your worth as a contributing member of society;

    May the Reservedly Elected President be someone that is a credible leader that not only holds titles and appointment but have demonstrated capacity to make, rational, weighted and wise decisions where it matters such that the followers are motivated and secure in good times and in situations of economic turmoil and crisis, so that we teach our children what it means to walk the talk and leading by example;

    May Reservedly Elected President be someone who is charitable yet not a celebrity of charity who yearns millions of Pahala or its equivalence, someone known to have given generous donations and have pledged to give much more so that we can teach our children that to care for those who are not as fortunate is a responsibility for social good but not personal gain… It is one of the tenets of piety such that if right hand were to give, the left hand doesn’t know;

    May the Reservedly Elected President be one that is sincere. Yet we can gauge sincerity impossible so perhaps as a proxy to sincerity, May the Reservedly Elected Malay President be someone who is self sufficient without the need to receive and rely on lucrative annual salary from public funds and if given, would return it back to the public especially those who need that extra help, so that we can teach our children, our parents, our siblings, our friends, our relatives, our neighbours, our community members, our fellow Singaporeans that fair remuneration fuels the quest to serve… Excessive remuneration fuels greed and it is possible to serve without milking dry public funds paid for by the people from the GS Tax, Income Tax, Property Tax, Fuel Tax, etc. Etc… Not forgetting the upcoming sugar tax.

    May the Reservedly Elected Malay President be someone that will be a trustworthy person who will preside to ensure the well being of Singaporeans and growth of the nation, regardless of Race; as symbolic champion the abolition of unfair affirmative and preferential race policies, regardless of language; as a symbolic champion of honest communication guided by the language of hope, understanding and love, regardless of religion; as a symbolic champion to the free personal preference and choice of faith, believe systems and all its associated practices without denying rights to peaceful dialogue as long as principles of preserving human dignity is respected always… Such that despite being only a symbolic champion… will inspire the recovery of a Singaporean society that is harmonious and caring with a strong gotong royong and quanxi spirit that in the pirsuit of wealth, growth and excellence, No Singaporean… Be they friends, neighbours, family, schoolmate, colleagues, neighbourhood uncles, aunties, women, men, children… will ever slip and fall through the cracks due to greed and inconsiderate actions/inactions.

    May the Reservedly Elected Malay President be someone who was not one with the system that contribute to the predicament we are in and the insults we are about to receive.

    May the hikmah be clear upon us for the choice we are about to make and the future passage we are about to take.

    Rafiz Mohyi Hapipi
    Singapore Citizen,
    Parent to 3 wonderful children
    & A Malay

     

    Source: Rafiz Hapipi

  • Commentary: Reserved PE For Malays Akin To China’s The Voice For Chinese; Both Exclude Certain Communities From Contesting

    Commentary: Reserved PE For Malays Akin To China’s The Voice For Chinese; Both Exclude Certain Communities From Contesting

    For those who dont understand why it’s a bad call to reserve the presidential race for Malays, let me bring you back to a similar incident.

    Remember when ‘The Voice’ came to Singapore but was looking only for Chinese singers to participate in its competition? Many were livid. For what? For the same reason why people are sickened when the presidential election exclude certain community from contesting.

    That’s what this presidential system has created. Unhappiness among the people.

    If for such an inconsequential singing competition can make us feel upset because we are excluded from participating it, the presidential election is on a national scale and such policies from the government creates ill-will between the community.

    Race based policies create division instead of strengthening our social fabric.

    Let me take you further to an environment where you can resonate better.

    Supposed the principal of the school where you send your children to study, decides to bar your child from participating in the school 100m race as he wanted a particular person to win it. What would you have done?

    Your answer to the above will guide you to what you would do today and understand why such policies are destructive and we have to move away from it.

     

    Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

  • Commentary: Singapore Malay President Dilemma; Everybody Want To Count Themselves Malay For PE

    Commentary: Singapore Malay President Dilemma; Everybody Want To Count Themselves Malay For PE

    🇸🇬SINGAPORE MALAY PRESIDENT DILEMMA

    In Malaysia it was very clear that most Indian Muslims and all others Muslims minority wanted to blend with the Malay masses and to be recognized as Malay so as to benefit the bumiputra status.

    It was encouraged by the Malaysian government as it has benefited both parties but it cannot be the same with Singapore after the separation with Malaysia.

    Singapore government has always wanted to segregate other Muslims minorities and ethnicities from being grouped and counted as Malays.

    Since Malays in Singapore were weak economically, politically and position so it’s is not an issue for them and in fact they themselves wanted to be distinct and separated and they were always proud of their own heritage, language and culture.

    Now that Elected President is reserved for Malays, they suddenly wanted to count themselves as Malays which made most Singaporean Malays felt amused and reserved.

    I think that’s the perception that has to be corrected and Singapore government must have clear definitions what constitute to be a Malay in multi racial Singapore.

    They just cannot become a Malay selectively.

    🖊 Ismail L. A.

     

    Source: Mohamed Ismail Ismail

  • Khan Osman Sulaiman: Singapore Is Multiracial, Multi-religious Society Yet Debate On Racial Issues @ Speaker’s Corner Not Allowed

    Khan Osman Sulaiman: Singapore Is Multiracial, Multi-religious Society Yet Debate On Racial Issues @ Speaker’s Corner Not Allowed

    Writ for the Reserved Presidential Election has been issued by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday and preparations had been made to carry out our speech at Hong Lim Park this coming Saturday to voice our concerns over the racialised Presidential Election.

    However, we are informed last minute by the National Park that we will require police permits to speak because the topic touch on racial issues.

    It is absurd that the government doesnt allow citizens to discuss/speak/debate on race issues at the speaker’s corner but at the same time, passing a bill that has created much distress on the populace.

    In reserving a Malay candidate for the presidential election, it is inevitable that race will be part of the subject matter should we want to openly call out on the government’s policy. Hence, it can never get debated publicly by citizens due to existing regulations.

    Even when matters are brought up in parliament, we have seen how it will be swiftly shot down as playing racial politics.

    In an open societies, the government is expected to be responsive and tolerant. Its political mechanisms are said to be transparent and flexible.

    To the international community, Singapore is a multiracial and multi-religious society which has enjoyed many years of relative peace. A facade that has been perpetuated by the government.

    In reality, our freedom of speech, freedom of association, are curbed by an invisible hand that are always ready to put us away should we cross the line.

    Such community will never be able to achieve its full potential and will lose it cognitive development over time.

    At the present moment, we have incompetent leaders that are preoccupied with a single cause. Economic satisfaction for its people. They are incapable of solving a nation’s hunger for a multi fold development. We already retard our progression by reserving a Malay candidate for high office.

    My hope is that Singapore will elect a leader that will advocate for change and truly work for the betterment of its people holistically.

     

    Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

  • Three Possible Reasons That Can Lead To A Walkover Election And Win For Mdm President Halimah Yacob

    Three Possible Reasons That Can Lead To A Walkover Election And Win For Mdm President Halimah Yacob

    1. No signs of preparation for the election

    Knowing that the PE2017 would involve the whole nation to be at the voting booths, it is very unlikely that the government will mobilize its civil service officers at a short notice without any prior briefing. Has there been any information from sources in the civil service about blocking of leaves?

    2. PAP candidate might lose if there is a straight contest between candidates

    Therefore there is a high possibility that the two non-PAP candidates Salleh Marican and Farid Khan will be disqualified by the Election Department, making this upcoming reserved election for Malays a walkover victory for Halimah Yacob who is walking into Istana with her status as former Speaker of Parliament, and not as a CEO of a company with $500 million shareholders equity.

    3. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is not his father

    There are rumors going around saying that there would not be an election, but some questioned if the PAP administration dare to fix the presidential election so blatantly enough to appoint its chosen candidate. Some argued that it will not be let off easily if it did so happen.

    Again, many Singaporeans may have lost interest in the upcoming reserved elections due to the amount of tasteless drama and conspiracies surrounding it. Yet, despite the outcome of the election, no matter who the president is, we need to think about one important thing, “Just how far is the PAP willing to go to protect its monopolistic stranglehold on political power?”

     

    Rilek1Corner