Tag: Singapore

Ismail Kassim: Stop Spread Of Fake News Belittling Or Inciting Hatred Towards Islam

I am relieved the case of the Imam’s controversial remarks has been settled with the minimum pain to all involved, but it does leave a bad taste in the mouth that will linger on.

There are still a number of unanswered questions such as the agenda of the whistle-blower and his accomplice. His diatribes – past and present – against the Malay Muslims and the religious authority – have shown that his motives are less than pristine.

What the Imam said was beyond any doubt wrong and he should not have uttered it, not in Singapore, and not under the present ‘’fear of terrorists’’ climate, here and elsewhere.

But I don’t think he meant to incite violence against Jews or Christians member. It probably stems from an indulgence in religious rhetoric that has become habitual among some unenlightened preachers.

My regret is that the whole episode could have been avoided by a more pro-active and constructive approach on the part of the powers-to-be.

Like the Bible and the Torah and other holy texts from the Abrahamic faith, the Quran too has passages that to some extent incite the faithful to violence against unbelievers, hypocrites, homosexuals, gays and so on.

While there were reasons for such verses at the time of the revelation, they have lost their meaning in the present world, and should not be uttered by anyone in public, least of all by an Imam in a mosque.

I do hope that there will be the appropriate follow-up measures.

I also like to take this opportunity to remind all that there are fake news on Islam and Muslims that are circulated at regular intervals with immunity on social media.

And what’s most unfortunate is that these people know that these stories have been made up to incite hatred against Muslims and belittle Islam, and yet they have no compulsion in spreading such news.

They too deserve to get a warning.

Source: Ismail Kassim

April 5, 2017
Malaysia Right-Wing Group, Perkasa, Sends Protest Letter To K Shanmugam For Claiming That Singapore Malays Better Off Than Malaysian Malays

PETALING JAYA: Malay right-wing group Perkasa wants Wisma Putra to send a letter of protest to Singapore for comments attributed to a senior minister comparing Singapore Malays with Malaysian Malays.

Singapore Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam had been reported as saying that Singapore Malays are better off in terms of education standing, skills and wealth than those of similar ethicnicity in Malaysia or Indonesia.

Perkasa deputy chairman Sirajuddin Salleh said the statement made by Shanmugam was uncalled for.

“I am concerned about the statement. It is not diplomatic and is an insult to the King and the government of Malaysia,” he told FMT when asked to comment on Shanmugam’s statement.

Sirajuddin said Malaysia and Singapore were close neighbours and there should be greater diplomacy between both countries.

“I hope Wisma Putra will issue a strong protest letter. To me, the remark is not good. I will not touch on the content because it is very subjective.

“It is just like if he comes to my house and says something that is not nice. Whether he is right or not, that is subjective, but in this case, it is not very nice,” Sirajuddin said.

Earlier Channel News Asia quoted Shanmugam as saying that “with a stable, strong political system, with a strong government, with a guarantee for the minorities … with this framework, we can become the community that Muslim societies in other countries look towards and say, this is the example.”

Shanmugam had also suggested that Malay, Indian and Chinese PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) from Singapore were better off than those of the same race, respectively, in Malaysia.

However, the minister had cautioned that while Singapore was doing better compared with many parts of the world, “within Singapore there is still a gap” and they were no longer just competing with Malaysia or Indonesia, but instead competing with the world.

He said the proportion of Malay Primary 1 students who go on to post-secondary education had doubled from 45% in 1995 to 93% in 2015. Those who eventually receive polytechnic diplomas, professional qualifications or university degrees have “gone up over a five-year period to 21%.”

Shanmugam added that the proportion of Malays working as PMETs increased to 28% in 2010 and their median real monthly income per capita had doubled since 1990.

Nearly 90% of Malay households in Singapore own their own homes, according to Shanmugam.

However, he singled out three challenges facing the Malay-Muslim community in the country – radicalisation, loss of jobs and the over-representation of Malays being caught for crimes and drug abuse.

Citing a Pew Research Centre study which showed that 10% of Malaysian Malays had a favourable opinion of Islamic State (IS), and that nearly one-quarter were not prepared to come out and say that IS is wrong, Shanmugam said that Singapore Malays must not get to that level.

“A key part of that depends on you, the leaders of the Malay community, and whether you can make sure that the right religious values are put forth. We have to work hard at this because the influences are on the internet,” Shanmugam reportedly told a seminar organised by the Association of Muslim Professionals in Singapore.

On drug abuse, Shanmugam had said 53% of those arrested for drug abuse last year were Malays. This is an increase from 10 years ago when the proportion of Malays arrested for the same was 32%.

Singapore Malays better off, claims minister

Source: www.msn.com

April 5, 2017
Singaporeans Petition For 2017 Elections To Be Open For All Races

I’m a true blue Singaporean & am thankful to be born here. Singapore is where it is today due to Good Leadership, Hardworking Singaporeans & most importantly Unity amongst the various races.

So, I was a bit surprised when the Government designated the 2017 Presidential Election to be a Reserve Election for the Malays only. Although the Government’s intention is noble to ensure multi-racialism enshrined in the Elected Presidency, many Singaporeans I’ve known are not in favour of it. The Head of State should be a unifying figure commanding the respect of all Singaporeans. This could only be done through free and unregulated elections. Too many requirements should not be imposed thereby limiting the aspirations of Ordinary Singaporeans that one day they could be Presidents as well.

My humble request to the Government is to make the 2017 Presidential Election an open one for all races. Give the choice to Singaporeans to decide who they want their President to be & who will make Singapore Proud.

Majulah Singapura.

Nallakaruppan S started this petition with a single signature, and now has 383 supporters. Start a petition today to change something you care about.

Source: www.change.org

April 5, 2017
Bernard Chen: Faisal Manap Is True Singaporean Son, Not Divisive Character

When the highest ranked public servant in our legislature (and potentially Singapore’s first women Muslim president come September 2017) is allowed to wear a head scarf while attending to her duties both inside and outside of the House, I do not see why other Muslim officers are unable to do so.

And by the way, I have known and worked with Mr Faisal for years. He is far from being a divisive character, he is humble, slow to speak, and always listening to what others have to say, even when he is personally criticised. He makes it a point to attend funeral wakes / ceremonies of his residents, regardless of their ethnicities. He attend dinners organised by temple associations, house temples etc. He speaks with his community with patience and honesty and he engages other communities with tact and grace. So please refrain from throwing unwarranted accusations and red herrings in the House.

And what’s Parliament for if you cannot raise issues that matters.

And yes he raises issues pertaining to the Malay-Muslim community as the advancement of his community is close to his heart but more often than not, he raises national issues that will benefit all Singaporeans, regardless of their race or religion. I can attest to that as I helped draft his questions. He is a Singaporean and proud of it. Probably that explains why he was able to increase his vote share in his own ward of Kaki Bukit because more people want him to speak up for them in Parliament and not behind closed doors.

And “subtly” raising issues sensitive to Muslims is the responsible thing to do. Isn’t that what “engaging people quietly behind the scenes” is all about, being responsible and “subtle”.

Mr Faisal’s “subtlety” is discord and divisiveness while Mr Masagos’ “subtlety” is good, responsible and the way forward. Double standards.

Source: Chen Jiaxi Bernard

April 5, 2017
Tudung Issue: In Defence Of Faisal Manap

A motion on the achievements of Singapore women took a drastic turn when Minister Masagos had an intense exchange with WP MP Faisal Manap in Parliament over the tudung issue yesterday.

The exchange took place in a middle of a debate on supporting the aspirations of women in Singapore, after Faisal Manap had raised the tudung issue in an earlier speech.

In a nut shell, Masagos was taking Faisal Manap to task for constantly raising “divisive” issues such as the tudung issue, role of Malays in the SAF, and Palestine etc. You get the drift. Difficult issues that tend to put the government in a spot. That might drive a wedge by making these issues into what Masagos called a “state vs religion” matter.

Why keep focusing on such issues, Masagos asked, instead of focusing on issues that matter most to the Malay-Muslim community – education, housing, jobs. Why not focus on issues that are more important and constructive?

Now, Faisal Manap is a politician at the end of the day. While I’m sure that issues such as tudung, role of Malays in the SAF and Palestine do matter to many Malay-Muslims, I am also sure that Faisal Manap specifically raised these issues precisely because these were tough issues that would put the government in a spot. And to gain some political mileage out of it too by playing to the gallery. i.e. Faisal Manap is just being a politician.

E.g. remember the photo of him praying before a GE rally in 2015, which appeared on social media?

Like what many other politicians do actually. Including PAP ones. Just that sometimes they are lousier at it – e.g remember. Koh Poh Koon helping an old auntie to carrying 32kg of old newspapers.

Yet, three points in defense of Faisal Manap:

1) Sole Malay Opposition MP

Now, the PAP is accusing Faisal Manap of raising “divisive” issues on a regular basis. The thing is, if not him, then who? There aren’t any other Malay-Muslim opposition MPs, so the onus is on him to raise certain issues that members of the Malay-Muslims want answers to.

Perhaps Faisal Manap wouldn’t need to raise such issues if Malay-Muslim PAP MPs have the guts to raise them in Parliament in the first place.

2) If not in Parliament, then where?

Masagos said that the government does not discuss such issues in public forums, such as Parliament, as they are sensitive and potentially divisive, and can be easily misunderstood because they are complex and difficult to resolve. Instead, Masagos said, the government addresses these issues behind closed doors with community leaders.

Not that we can’t discuss behind closed doors at times, but honestly, what’s so wrong about an elected representative raising issues that matter to his constituents in Parliament? And if we can’t have an open debate in Parliament, then where is a right platform for law makers to debate sensitive, but important stuff?

At least Parliament is a public forum where everything that’s said is recorded into the Hansard – so we know what exactly is said. As opposed to doing things behind closed doors all the time, where the public wouldn’t know what’s going on.

When can this society have an honest conversation about things, rather than sweep them under the rug?

3) Point about Zulfikar was a red herring

In his speech, Masagos raised the point about Zulfikar (remember the dude who was detained under the ISA last year for promoting violence and ISIS?) and Faisal Manap being at an event at the same time.

That was a classic red herring that is completely irrelevant to the topic at hand:

Somewhat insinuating something else also. Which is an ad hominem:

Nope. Not cool at all, Masagos.

That is all.

The end.

Source: www.thoughtssg.com

April 5, 2017