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Tag: RRG

  • RRG Lancarkan Aplikasi Baru Demi Bantu Cegah Ideologi Radikal

    RRG Lancarkan Aplikasi Baru Demi Bantu Cegah Ideologi Radikal

    Satu aplikasi telefon bimbit dilancarkan hari ini (31 Mei) sebagai sebahagian usaha mencegah penyebaran ideologi radikal dalam masyarakat.

    Aplikasi oleh Kumpulan Pemulihan Keagamaan (RRG) itu antara lain membolehkan orang ramai berhubungan secara langsung dengan para kaunselor untuk membincangkan isu-isu atau keprihatinan mengenai fahaman agama yang melampau.

    Ia juga mengandungi fungsi FAQ, atau soalan-soalan yang sering ditanya, yang memberi penjelasan tentang topik-topik seperti jihad dan serangan pengganas.

    Aplikasi ini dilancarkan oleh Menteri Ehwal Dalam Negeri, K Shanmugam semasa Retreat RRG ke-12 siang tadi.

    Ia turut disertai Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Ehwal Dalam Negeri, Amrin Amin.

    Retreat itu membincangkan cara-cara lebih berkesan yang boleh digunakan, terutama sekali dalam proses pemulihan para tahanan dan juga tentang membasmi fahaman ideologi pengganas dalam masyarakat kita.

    “Aplikasi ini sangat berguna, khususnya bagi anak-anak muda yang senang sekali dengan penggunaan telefon bimbit, di mana mereka boleh menggunakan aplikasi RRG ini untuk mendapatkan penjelasan dan juga penerangan tentang perkara-perkara yang ada kaitan dengan isu ekstremisme dan juga fahaman ideologi ISIS,” jelas Naib Pengerusi RRG Dr Mohamed Ali

    Selain aplikasi RRG, orang ramai juga boleh berhubung dengan RRG melalui saluran Youtube dan laman Facebook mereka.

    Menurut Dr Mohamed, Retreat RRG diadakan sepanjang tiga hari, dengan dua program.

    “Satu program adalah untuk anggota RRG dan keluarga mereka. Jadi keluarga anggota RRG juga berada dengan mereka di retreat ini,” ujar beliau.

    “Dan juga program khas iaitu seminar khusus bagi RRG untuk membincangkan isu-isu yang sangat penting bagi mereka dan melakarkan masa depan mereka dalam membasmi fahaman idealogi radikal di Singapura,” Dr Mohamed Ali memberitahu BERITAMediacorp.

    Source: BERITAMediacorp

  • RRG, MUIS Mahu Setiap Asatizah Ikuti Modul Cara Tangkis Fahaman Pelampau

    Kumpulan Pemulihan Keagamaan (RRG) dan MUIS bermatlamat mendapatkan setiap asatizah mengikuti modul utama kumpulan itu mengenai cara menangkis fahaman pelampau.

    Demikian menurut Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim.

    Modul itu adalah sebahagian daripada program Pendidikan Profesional Berterusan yang wajib disertai mereka yang berdaftar di bawah Skim Pengiktirafan Asatizah.

    Dr Yaacob menjelaskan demikian sebagai menjawab pertanyaan dari AP Dr Fatimah Lateef.

    Beliau berkata 80 peratus asatizah sekarang termasuk dalam skim itu.

    Usaha giat sedang dijalankan bagi menggalakkan baki 20 peratus asatizah yang belum berbuat demikian supaya turut serta.

    Menerusi modul itu, RRG berkongsi dengan asatizah tentang pengalamannya membantu bekas para anggota kumpulan pengganas Jemaah Islamiyah kembali ke pangkal jalan dan ke pangkuan masyarakat.

    Menurut Dr Yaacob, MUIS dan RRG akan terus mengemaskini modul itu bagi memastikan ia kekal relevan.

    Dr Yaacob menambah, MUIS juga akan terus memperkukuh kurikulum madrasah dengan bahan relevan yang dibangunkan RRG.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Ustaz Dr Mohamed Ali: Masyarakat Tidak Harus Keliru ISIS Berlandas Islam

    Ustaz Dr Mohamed Ali: Masyarakat Tidak Harus Keliru ISIS Berlandas Islam

    Masyarakat Islam tidak harus keliru dengan fakta bahawa ajaran pengganas ISIS walaupun atas nama Al-quran dan Sunah tetapi bukanlah satu ajaran Islam yang sebenar.

    Pengganas ISIS ialah golongan yang melampau yang menggunakan agama bagi membenarkan sesuatu fahaman atau ajaran mereka termasuk pengganasan diterima oleh umat Islam yang lain.

    Fahaman mereka itu hanya menuju ke arah radikalisme dan akan terus merosakkan Islam.

    Naib pengerusi Kumpulan Pemulihan Keagamaan (RRG), Ustaz Dr Mohamed Ali, yang juga Penolong Profesor Program Pengajian Perhubungan Antara Agama Dalam Masyarakat Majmuk (SRP), Sekolah Pengajian Antarabangsa S. Rajaratnam (RSIS) di Universiti Teknologi Nanyang (NTU) berkata: “Adakah umat Islam perlu menanggung masalah ISIS? Sebenarnya masalah yang dihadapi oleh ISIS bukanlah masalah umat Islam keseluruhannya. Tetapi ini masalah salah guna agama dan tiada kena-mengena dengan Islam.”

    Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai tulisan Encik Sulaiman Daud di laman Facebook yang meminta umat Islam menanggung masalah militan ISIS.

    Menurut Dr Mohamed, umat Islam perlu membezakan antara keperluan sebenar umat Islam dengan kehendak pengganas.

    Beliau turut mengutarakan konsep ‘Al Wala Wal Bara’ iaitu di antara konsep Islam yang diputarbelitkan kumpulan pengganas bagi mengesahkan niat jahat mereka itu.

    Konsep itu membicarakan tentang hubungan antara orang Islam dan golongan bukan Islam, serta Islam ialah agama yang mementingkan perhubungan baik sesama manusia.

    Menyentuh tentang langkah mewujudkan negara Khalifah Islam, Dr Mohamed berkata tindakan mewujudkan negara khalifah bukan satu keperluan agama pada zaman hari ini.

    “Zaman ini terdapat kuasa negara ‘nation state’ dan zaman telah berubah kepada bentuk sekular atau sistem pemerintahan yang lain. Umat Islam sebenarnya sesuai pada setiap zaman pemerintahan. Kita boleh tinggal di mana sahaja di England atau di mana sahaja. Apa yang diperlukan oleh setiap orang Islam yang berpegang teguh kepada agama dan menyesuaikan diri dalam apa sahaja keadaan,” ujar Dr Mohamed.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

  • Youth Radicalisation: Where Does It Stem From?

    Youth Radicalisation: Where Does It Stem From?

    Youth radicalisation. The subject is once against in the news, especially after the arrest of two Singaporean teenagers.

    It is worrying, to say the least. And what’s more distressing are the comments that accompany some of these reports. As a young Muslim, it is unsettling to read comments that condemned the religion as a whole. Even though they were few and far between, there were comments that hinted at Islamic education being one of the catalysts for the radicalisation of youths.

    As someone who has spent most of her formative years studying at an Islamic Institute in Pakistan, this hit a nerve.
    Let me elaborate. I gained admission to an Islamic Institute when I was just thirteen. I left for Pakistan after a year as a secondary school student in Singapore. The main reason why I decided to pursue my education in that particular institute was because I wanted to learn more about my culture and embrace a sense of spirituality. And this was with my parents’ blessing and support.

    The next four years were a whirlwind of adventure.

    Everything seemed so new and unique compared to what I was accustomed to in urban Singapore. The sights, sounds and smells were a positive assault on my senses. Well, mostly positive. (I found out quite quickly that I couldn’t get my fix of fast food as often as I would have liked.)
    Adapting to a totally different culture and environment was definitely challenging but I was relieved to discover that one aspect of life remained the same. Here I mean the people and their company.

    I had a preconceived notion that the biggest difficulty for me would be making friends with my classmates, as they would come from different walks of life. What a misconception that turned out to be. We mostly got along like a house on fire. The fact that we came from various backgrounds and cultures did not make a difference at all.

    Throughout the four years that I spent there, I forged many friendships that last till this day. My friends have all moved on after graduating and some of them have even started families of their own. I guess the point I am trying to make here is that from my experience, studying at an Islamic institution or having an Islamic education does not automatically or invariably lead to radicalisation.

    However, it would be an act of denial to say that youth radicalisation is not becoming a pressing issue. The recent case of two Singaporean youths who were radicalised by ISIS and arrested, with one detained for planning terrorist attacks and only recently released, proves that this is indeed a case for national security concern. The primary question on people’s minds is this: How do young people get radicalised?

    The first avenue is through the Internet. Youths are increasingly exposed to various forms of online platforms such as social media, blogs, forums, YouTube videos and websites in general. Terrorist groups reach out to impressionable minds by seducing them into believing that their brand of ideology is right, and violence for the cause is therefore justified. Moreover, cyberspace also exposes young people to like-minded communities, as was the case with one of the teenagers who was arrested. Also, the promise of salvation may strike a chord with certain youths who are not familiar with the actual teachings of Islam.

    So how do we combat youth radicalisation?

    The Ministry of Home Affairs has articulated the following: “Religious institutions and teachers have an important role to play in engaging young Singaporeans when they have questions on religious matters, and steering them in the right direction.”

    I agree with this wholeheartedly as young people should be taught to tell the difference between the actual teachings of Islam and the false promises that terrorist groups make.

    Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), formed in April 2013, is an example of such a group whose primary aim is “countering the ideological misunderstanding of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members through counselling.

    Their centre has five zones. Each zone elaborates on a different point like how extremists have distorted the meaning of Islam to advocate violence and the ways the RRG counters that. It also talks about how Singapore has been affected and the importance of promoting a vigilant society and expressing our commitment to peace.

    Support and supervision from family and close friends make a huge difference as well in protecting these youths from the dangers of radicalisation.

    Finally, I would like to say that when harrowing issues such as youth radicalisation are brought to the fore, the first course of action should be to protect the youths from further entrapment and provide them with all the assistance they need to free themselves from the web of radicalisation — instead of making assumptions about the religion itself.

     

    Source: http://inconvenientquestions.sg

  • Helpline Launched To Fight Radicalisation Threat

    Helpline Launched To Fight Radicalisation Threat

    As terrorist group ISIS’ prolific reach becomes more apparent by the day, the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) has come up with three measures to counter the growing threat of self-radicalisation in Singapore, including a new helpline that will be available from early next month.

    The helpline (1800-774-7747) is for members of the public who wish to raise the alert on those whom they feel are in danger of being self-radicalised. It is also meant to serve as an easily-accessible legitimate reference point for those who have questions about extremist ideology or are seeking advice on aspects of Islam.

    The initiative follows reports last month that a self-radicalised 19-year-old student here had plans to join ISIS in Syria, failing which he plotted attacks to be carried out locally. He was detained under the Internal Security Act in April, while another 17-year-old was arrested last month for further investigations.

    In its statement on the detention and arrest then, the Ministry of Home Affairs had highlighted the importance of family members, friends, colleagues and members of the public turning in those they suspect are at threat of radicalisation early.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the 11th RRG Retreat today (June 8), where the helpline was announced, RRG member Ustaz Ahmad Saiful Rijal Hassan said the community often does not know where to go for help for such matters. “So this is a platform other than Facebook or a website, where they can just call directly and talk to us,” he said.

    On whether the helpline, which will be manned by RRG members, will operate round the clock, RRG vice-chairman Mohamed Ali said it depends on the “availability of our own councillors”, and details are being finalised. RRG has 38 members.

    Asked how the group is addressing people’s fear in reporting their loved ones for possible self-radicalisation, Ustaz Ahmad said he thinks the Malay community “is mature enough to know what is right and what is wrong”. On their part they have been promoting co-existence and peace, and they also urge their community to play a part in the national security and national cohesion.

    “If you dont report it early, you might be sending them off to the gallows,” he added.

    The other counter-measure rolled out by the RRG is short religious talks before weekly Friday Prayers where they can raise awareness on the threat of radicalisation. This started last week.

    Meanwhile, a new manual for RRG counsellors on refuting ISIS’ ideology was also launched today. It focuses on the terrorist group’s evolution, its propaganda and ways to debunk their ideology. Topics include challenges for Muslims living in secular environments, the need for critical thinking to evaluate religious sources and debunking the allegation of the Islamic State caliphate, said RRG co-chairman Ustaz Ali Haji Mohamed.

    Speaking at the Retreat today, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean said there is an urgent need to deal with the threat posed by ISIS. Security agencies and the community need to work together to develop a counter ideology against the terrorist group’s extremist ideology that is tailored to Singapore’s context so it is more relevant for Muslim Singaporeans, he added.

    RRG and community groups also need to reach out to youths through the Internet and social media in interesting, appealing and engaging ways, Mr Teo, who is also Minister for Home Affairs, said in Malay. Just as ISIS has used social media to provide religious justifications for its various actions, Singapore’s responses have to be equally, if not more, dynamic, he said.

    Agreeing, Ustaz Ahmad said youths spend a lot of time on the Internet, and “the problem with that is that whatever is (online) are information, not knowledge”.

    So, they are encouraging more Muslim youths to attend religious classes by accredited scholars, he added, citing that at least 60 per cent of Muslim youths here are not in any formal religious classes.

    Ustaz Ali added that public education efforts are important because youths rely heavily on the Internet for religious guidance but without a strong foundation in religious knowledge, they are unable to discern correct Islamic teachings from those of ISIS.

    DPM Teo also said there is a need to go beyond countering radical and distorted ideology, to put forward a positive agenda for all communities to live in harmony.

    “We need to work together to protect our young people from this danger of self-radicalisation through the Internet, so that they do not do harm to themselves, their family, the community and to Singapore,” he said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com