Rilek1Corner

Tag: rights

  • Brave Yale-NUS Students Tired Of Not Having Their Voices Heard Hold Silent Sit-In Protest Against The College

    Brave Yale-NUS Students Tired Of Not Having Their Voices Heard Hold Silent Sit-In Protest Against The College

    Dissatisfied with certain school policies and unhappy with the way the school dealt with their opinions, some 29 students from Yale-NUS College conducted a silent sit-in on Friday, March 9.

    According to Channel 8 News, Yale-NUS College has since reached out to the students through public dialogue.

    The student who shared open letter publicly later privatised his account

    Adam Goh, one of the students believed to have taken part in the sit-in, shared an open letter on his Instagram account directed at the college, as well as a picture of three students conducting the sit-in.

    His Instagram account has since been set to private mode, according to the report.

    The open letter also revealed that while the President of Yale-NUS, Professor Tan Tai Yong, made a response earlier, the students thought that it wasn’t sufficient, and called on all students and staff members to share their views.

    The following are the students’ main demands:

    • Reinstating monthly town halls for all students and the senior leadership, as well as an open and transparent communication process
    • Making students involved in the deliberation of any policy that affects the students themselves
    • Developing a college-wide honour code that applies to all stakeholders of the college

    The students explained in the letter that they were tired of not having their voices heard, despite them speaking up and attempting to communicate with the Yale-NUS president.

    As a result, they decided to make their demands known in a manner that’s hard to ignore — physically occupying an area in order to express their concern towards the “future” of the college.

    They also gave an ultimatum, saying that until President Tan makes a written response, there’d be at least one student continuing the sit-in.

    The students added that while they don’t represent the entire student body, they welcome other concerned students and staff to join them in their effort to make their voices heard.

    A letter from the Yale-NUS Student Government has since been circulated on Reddit, saying that monthly town halls with “a cast of senior college leadership” will be organised.

    Apparently, the announcement was made by President Tan in an email previously.

    It is unknown if the sit-in is still being held.

    In a townhall that was held in February last year, students raised their concerns to the school administration over some “troubling” decisions the administration made without involving the student body in the deliberative process.

    Of the decisions that were made unilaterally, according to the students, were the suspension of the Yale-NUS International Relations and Political Association’s activities with no reasons given, as well as the setting up of a new Event Approval Committee to assess the “desirability and feasibility” of holding an event on campus.

     

    Source: channel 8 news

     

  • Muar’s ‘Muslims-Only’ Laundromat: Racism, Inciting Division Or Strictly Business Owner’s Rights?

    Muar’s ‘Muslims-Only’ Laundromat: Racism, Inciting Division Or Strictly Business Owner’s Rights?

    A self-service laundromat in Jalan Junid, Muar, which caters only to Muslim patrons, has sparked controversy on social media.

    Photographs of the shop’s signboard with the words – “For Muslim customers only. Muslim-friendly. Leave your shoes outside” – placed at the laundromat entrance have gone viral on Facebook.

    Netizens were divided in their opinion. Some praised the move, saying that it was done for the benefit of Muslim customers concerned given possible mixture of ‘najis’ (impurities) in the wash loads, while others criticised it as being unfair.

    Facebook user Zachary Arshad said he was disappointed at what the laundromat is doing as it could divide the community.

    “I’m Muslim, and this is completely overrated and unacceptable. Islam does not teach this. Islam is for all, Islam is to unite the people, not divide. This will only cause further divide among the people,” said Zachary.

    Others however felt that the owner’s actions were justified.

    Facebook user Suresh Pandian agreed with the laundromat’s owner’s move.


    Above: A photograph of the shop’s signboard with the words – “For Muslim customers only. Muslim-friendly. Leave your shoes outside” – placed at the laundromat entrance have gone viral on Facebook. Photo: New Straits Times

    “Well, if the owner is a Muslim and wants to run it in a Muslim way , I don’t think there is anything wrong with it . That is his right.”

    “Why are there a lot of negative comments here? (He) hasn’t mentioned anything racist,” said Suresh on the ‘Persatuan Gaya Hidup Sihat Pelabuhan Klang’ Facebook page.

    Indra Aditya, meanwhile, urged people to look at the issue positively.

    “A majority of his customers may have complained about being uncomfortable in sharing the usage (of the equipment) with non-Muslims.

    “This is not about being racist or about any religion…this is business,” said Indra Aditya.

    The religious authorities, meanwhile, believe that the owner is acting within his rights.

    Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said there was nothing wrong for the owner of the laundromat in imposing such a restriction as it was his right as a business owner.

    “Non-Muslims should not worry because there have options to patronise other laundromats elsewhere.

    “As Muslims who live in a multi-racial society, we cannot be too rigid in upholding such matters, but at the same time, should not belittle this effort taken by the operator of the laundromat either,” Mutalip told the New Straits Times.

    He said the state government has no plans to impose any such regulations statewide, and he urged people to better understand the concerns of Muslims in such issues.

    Johor Mufti Tahrir Samsudin said he welcomed the initiative taken by the business owner because some Muslims were doubtful in using self-service laundromats.

    “If someone wants to do it, then it is a good thing because some Muslims hold doubts over laundromat services.

    “It is better for Muslims to be free of such doubts when it comes to cleanliness as it will help Muslims fulfil religious obligations,” said Tahrir.

    Asked about the concept of laundromat services in Islam, Tahrir said that such a service should make sure that clothes are cleaned from minor and severe impurities.

     

    Source: http://www.todayonline.com

  • Commentary: We Pray Not To Be Misled By You Again

    Commentary: We Pray Not To Be Misled By You Again

    We can gladly say that our Minister Masagos Zulkifli has scored several political points this week (claps for him) and that he will never be the people’s choice or at least the Malay Muslim community’s as the EP of Singapore. Nope, out of the question, never gonna happen. We are disappointed and you have shamed the community. However, we thank Allah SWT for showing us your true colours. We pray not to be misled by you again.

    When you accused WP’s Faisal Manap of attempting to cause division in Singapore’s social cohesion by raising the issue of hijab again, you also made an indirect ad hominem towards him by guilt of association using a picture taken of Faisal Manap and Zulfikar Shariff years ago in a mosque. So what is the Minister implying, that it was tantamount to being radical? Anyone who has a picture taken with Zulfikar must be put under suspicion? That is just low, way low even for minister. Then what about you being in the same picture with Netanyahu or gracing his presence?? Lagi worst kan.

    Instead of character assassinating our MP who is merely representing the minority Malay community in his ward, why don’t you tell him what you can do for the people. A religious debate in parliament where both sides are showing what they have done for an issue. Not one raise, the other sweep it away. Or has it been cast in stone that you’ve washed your hands off us and our issues, Mr Masagos? 🙁

     

    Yusuf Saiful

    [Reader Contribution]

  • Roy Ngerng: Don’t Let The PAP Change The Law On Lee Kuan Yew’s Image Rights To Protect Their Own Interests

    Roy Ngerng: Don’t Let The PAP Change The Law On Lee Kuan Yew’s Image Rights To Protect Their Own Interests

    Now is the time to make fun of Lee Kuan Yew before they make it illegal. For goodness sake, he is not my founding father.

    “We’ve built a nation with our hands, the toil of people from a dozen lands” – this was what the National Day Song in 1990, One People, One Nation, One Singapore, started with.

    So before we go all crazy over one man, let’s not forget that it is the hard work of each and every Singaporean that made Singapore happen. And unless we are going to protect each and every Singaporean, there is no need to change the law to protect one single individual, especially not a dead one.

    Do you know what this means? This means that in future, if anyone wants to write a book or make a movie to talk about Lee Kuan Yew and the atrocities that he had done, they wouldn’t be able to do so and the PAP can criminalise them if the PAP wants. This law would allow the PAP to whitewash the truth about what Lee Kuan Yew did.

    Don’t let the PAP pass or change the law to cover their own ass.

    If the PAP so believe in self-reliance, then let’s stop relying on the over-glorification of one man and please start running the country.

    There are more important things to do, like reducing poverty and income inequality, and increasing wages for Singaporeans, rather than spend meaningless time evangelising over one man. It’s mortifying.

    The man is dead. Dead. For crying out loud.

     

    Source: Roy Ngerng Yi Ling

  • Law Society Produces Pamphlet To Inform Of Rights And Investigation Process Carried Out By Police

    Law Society Produces Pamphlet To Inform Of Rights And Investigation Process Carried Out By Police

    The Law Society has produced a Pamphlet of Rights to provide basic information on the relevant rights a person has when being questioned by the police and the process they should expect during investigations.

    In a news release on Tuesday (Apr 14), the Law Society said the pamphlet is “important and necessary” because information about legal rights during investigations may not be easy for members of the public to find or understand.

    “In 2013, the Law Society’s Criminal Practice Committee began work on a “Pamphlet of Rights” for members of the public,” said the release. “The idea was to provide basic information in a condensed and ‘simple to understand’ form to the public.”

    The pamphlet covers information about legal rights during investigation, search of possessions and property, prosecution and also legal aid.

    Pamphlet of Rights is currently being distributed to community clubs and police stations where it will soon be made available to members of the public and people who are arrested or brought in for questioning by the police.

    The pamphlet was produced through the engagement of various stakeholders in criminal justice system such as the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Home Affairs, with support from the Ministry of Law.The Law Society said it hopes to make it available in as many public locations as possible.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com