Tag: Singapore

Learning To Appreciate Islamic Thought In Modern Context

A programme for aspiring Islamic religious leaders to better understand religious teachings in the context of contemporary, plural societies was launched yesterday.

A total of 40 recent graduates and final-year undergraduates from universities in the Middle East and South-east Asia are attending the Islamic Thought in Context: Living in Plural Societies series at the Singapore Islamic Hub over 10 days this week and the next. The sessions are organised by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore’s (Muis’) research and education arm, Muis Academy, together with the Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University.

They cover such topics as syariah in a modern context, and diversity and Islam in modern Singapore.

On Friday, Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim announced plans to study the feasibility of setting up an Islamic college here to provide a higher quality of religious education that is better tailored to the local context.

Dr Yaacob also told reporters over the weekend that such a college could have its first cohort in, say, five years, but a full-fledged institution might need a longer timeframe of between 15 and 20 years.

In the meantime, sessions like this month’s aim to help equip local religious teachers with an appreciation of current trends, and skills to better teach the religion today.

Sessions will be taught by lecturers from both RSIS and the Muis Academy, as well as international scholars such as University of Melbourne Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies Abdullah Saeed, and University of Notre Dame Professor of Islamic Studies Ebrahim Moosa.

Participant Muhammad Ashraf Anwar, 23, said the series would help him better understand current issues facing the community. Said the final-year Islamic theology student at Al-Azhar University in Cairo: “In Egypt, we learn traditional Islam from credible sources, but the community in Egypt is very different. We have to learn how to contextualise what we study to better serve the community here.”

Muis Academy’s vice-dean, Ustaz Mohammad Hannan Hassan, said: “The programme was created to help students consult the Islamic tradition and place it within the context of Singapore’s plural society.” He added: “This contextualisation is not something outside of Islam, it’s an established part of our tradition.”

As for an Islamic college, SRP Head of Studies Mohammad Alami Musa said it would benefit madrasah graduates, who are now not able to pursue higher religious education locally. A pool of some 15 asatizah (religious teachers) with master’s and doctoral degrees could be part of the faculty, he said.

Other community leaders also welcomed the college. Managing director of education group SimplyIslam Mohamed Nassir Abdul Sukkur said it was “long overdue”.

Mr Alami said: “It has been a dream of asatizah from the pioneer generation to have an Islamic college here.”

Source: Berita MediaCorp

July 19, 2016
Damanhuri Abas: The Turkey Failed Coup Exposes Western Hypocrisy On Democracy

The failed coup in Turkey exposes again (but conveniently ignored in mainstream discourse) western hypocrisy. It can be deduced from western mainstream media as the coup unfolds, their inclination to see Erdogan go. Shamelessly discarding their mantra of the defender of democracy. They were probably hoping that like Morsi in Egypt, to just let another of this ‘Islamist’ disappear ‘into the night’ quietly.

By the Grace of God, the people of Turkey unlike the Arabs in Egypt, stood together as one united people in denouncing the Military (most probably western backed) coup. Even the so-called secularist had the integrity to see through the game being played and stood by the democracy they believed in where differing opinions are discussed and debated and where disagreements do not mean hatred for each other.

This coup also exposes the conniving hypocrites in the ranks and file of state institutions in Turkey who instead of addressing grievances through the ballot box, had the audacity to resort to non-constitutional means to overthrow an elected government.

There is a lesson in all this for everyone who shout so much about rule of law, that when it comes to their own interest/preference (even in Singapore), they are likewise guilty of fanning this hypocrisy by rooting the illegal coup ‘quietly’ wishing for the overthrow of Erdogan. When will we grow up to behave like mature adults to debate and discuss and differ too but respect the rule of law to ensure justice for all within the democratic process. Or are we in truth only pretentious and not so civilized after all.

Integrity is the true test of character and sadly in the aborted coup event in Turkey, in our instinctive response, exposes our severe lack of it. Failure in our collective consistency to always follow agreed rule of law (local or international) but instead flip-flopping shamelessly, has led to the mess in the middle east when western powers since the time of colonization until today, deemed it their strange privilege to decide leaders of countries justified by their own self-interest ignoring the wishes of the indigenous population.

We will continue to allow this injustices on earth through our selective conscience so long as we choose to look the other way when our comfort zone, our people, our religion, our heritage, our civilization, our guy is doing the bad thing.

Instead we who claimed to be educated, modern and the so-called proud believers in democracy must raise our collective voices in praise of the success of the people of Turkey in fighting back and defying rogue elements of the Turkish military with their lives. In truth, the Turks in the streets of Ankara and Istanbul last Friday are fore runners in moving humanity forward in the spirit of defending civilization than all of us put together.

Walk the Talk people!!!!

Source: Damanhuri Abas

July 18, 2016
Family Upset About Caterer’s No-Show For Hari Raya Eve Dinner

Lontong, rendang, and sambal prawns – that was what she was looking forward to serving her extended family at a special meal on July 5, the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

But the food, which cost her $600, did not appear on the dining table.

Ms Darniyati Majid, 46, is among several customers of a catering company who claim they did not receive what they ordered and also did not get refunds.

Attempts by The New Paper to contact the owners of the company several times last week were unsuccessful.

A search with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) shows that the business is still listed as a live company.

Ms Darniyati, a quality inspector, said: “My mother is not feeling well, so I wanted to order a feast for her to host 30 to 40 family members visiting on Hari Raya eve.”

On July 4, a day before the delivery, she sent a Facebook message to the company to confirm the delivery timing, but there was no reply.

Ms Darniyati said she was “so worried I could not sleep” so on the morning of July 5, she contacted another catering company to order food for the dinner. It cost her $300.

Later that day, someone from the catering company sent her a message via Facebook, promising to refund her for the non-delivery, but she did not get a refund.

On July 6, she made a police report. A police spokesman told TNP a report was lodged and investigations were ongoing.

Another customer, graphic designer Zara Samsudin, 37, had ordered iftar (breaking of fast) meals for the entire duration of the fasting month.

From June 7 to June 24, the orders were fulfilled, but from June 27, she stopped receiving any food.

Ms Zara said: “The owner messaged me to say that her cook had been injured (due to an incident involving) hot oil.”

She said the company gave her a full refund of $145 on July 5.

Other customers have not been as lucky.

At least four people, who posted messages online complaining about the caterer, told TNP they did not receive their orders and refunds. They said they could not reach the owners after Hari Raya.

The amounts owed are between $69 and $149, according to their claims.

One of them, housewife Sheree Deen, 28, said: “The owner keeping quiet would not assuage our worries.”

When reporters visited the owner’s flat in Woodlands last week, he was not in. A woman at the flat, who declined to be named, said the catering business had closed down the week before.

PAGE TAKEN DOWN

The company’s Facebook page, which has been taken down since Tuesday night, listed the address of a food stall in Sembawang.

When TNP visited the stall last week, the cooksaid the owner was in Johor Baru.

Mr Seah Seng Choon, executive director of the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case), advised that consumers seeking for refunds from a registered business may file a claim with the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT).

Mr Seah added: “If they get a judgment in their favour but the business refuses to pay, they can enforce the judgment by way of a writ of seizure and sale to recover their money.”

Case said no complaints have been registered against the catering company in the past.

Consumers can contact Case for advice on filing a claim at the SCT via their hotline at 6100-0315.

Ms Darniyati said: “I hope caterers won’t take orders if they can’t cope. I would not want this to happen to anyone.”

Source: The New Paper

July 18, 2016
Pelakon Adi Putra Dilapor Senyap-Senyap Nikah Lagi

Pelakon kelahiran Singapura yang sudah menebarkan sayapnya di negara jiran sekali lagi terpalit kontroversi baru-baru ini.

Adi Putra, didakwa sudah bernikah kali kedua secara senyap-senyap, lapor laman Astro Gempak.

Perbuatannya itu terdedah setelah gambar yang menunjukkan beliau bersama seorang wanita berpakaian sedondon dalam sekitaran majlis pernikahan tersebar menerusi aplikasi Whatsapp.

Sebelum gambar-gambar itu tersebar, laporan Harian Metro menyatakan pelakon KL Gangster itu didakwa berkahwin kali kedua dengan seorang janda anak satu baru-baru ini.

Perbuatan Adi Putra mengejutkan ramai orang, termasuk isterinya, Aida Yusof, 41 tahun, yang dikatakan tidak mengetahui berita perkahwinan suaminya itu.

Astro Gempak cuba menghubungi Adi Putra namun tidak berhasil.

Menurut laman mStar, Adi Putra membatalkan majlis Aidilfitri bersama kelab peminatnya, yang dijadual hari ini (17 Jul), pada saat-saat akhir.

Beliau memuat naik gambar di laman Instagramnya memohon maaf kerana terpaksa membatalkan perjumpaan tersebut.

“Assalammualaikum wmb. Saya memohon maaf kepada semua hotlovers kerana perjumpaan raya dan ulang tahun hotlovers esok 17 Julai, harus dibatalkan atas sebab-sebab yang tertentu. Saya sekali lagi mohon kemaafan,” katanya dalam laman sosial itu.

Pada bulan Disember 2013, Adi Putra pernah mencetuskan kontroversi setelah beliau dilaporkan mempunyai skandal dengan isteri orang dari Johor sehingga melibatkan laporan polis dan disiasat mengikut Seksyen 509 Kanun Keseksaan, menurut laporan mStar.

Namun, kes itu ditutup dan diklasifikasikan sebagai “no further action” atau tiada tindakan lanjut.

Rumah tangga Adi Putra dengan Aida sebelum ini juga pernah berdepan dengan masalah apabila beliau memfailkan perceraian di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Kuala Lumpur terhadap Aida pada 11 Mei 2012 namun membatalkan hasrat itu kemudiannya.

Pasangan Adi Putra dan Aida sudah bernikah sejak 14 April 2006 namun tidak dikurniakan cahaya mata, tetapi mengambil seorang anak angkat perempuan berusia empat tahun, menurut mStar.

Source: Berita MediaCorp

July 18, 2016
Filipino Professionals Head To Singapore As Tourists To Seek Jobs

This is allowed for foreign professionals; once hired, firms apply for work passes

Mr Ramz came to Singapore in March as a tourist but his itinerary did not include visiting the Merlion, Universal Studios or Orchard Road.

Instead, the 29-year-old Filipino had only one goal: to find a job.

He would spend hours scouring employment websites every day, and often had only one meal a day to save money.

Finally, after about four months, he landed a job as a financial analyst at an offshore bank, drawing a monthly salary of $2,800.

Filipino professionals like Mr Ramz, who declined to give his full name, are increasingly taking a route once used mostly by maids to find employment in Singapore: entering the country as tourists. Once they secure jobs, their employers apply for work passes for them so that they can work here legally.

In Singapore, foreign professionals can apply for jobs while visiting. But the authorities “will not grant an extension of visit passes” if the job prospects are unclear, states the Manpower Ministry on its website.

However, Manila frowns on it and has been clamping down on its citizens leaving the country as tourists to prevent human trafficking.

Immigration officials at the airports send people home if they do not have two-way tickets and a sufficient amount of cash to prove that they are genuine tourists.

Mrs Daisy Lopez, who owns employment agency WorkHome Personnel in Singapore, said aspiring maids, who are usually from the countryside, have borne the brunt of the tightened rules.

“The immigration officers can tell by one look that they aren’t tourists. They don’t dress fashionably and cannot answer the questions confidently,” she said.

In contrast, professionals, many of whom hail from cities like Manila and Cebu, have a better chance of convincing immigration officers as they dress better and carry themselves well.

Taking the legitimate route has its advantages, said Filipino bank staff and marketing and retail executives.

It ensures that their rights, such as paying no placement fees, are protected under Philippine laws.

But the process takes several months and has no guarantee of success.

This is because they have to rely on recruitment agencies in the Philippines which are inundated by thousands of applications from university graduates who want to head to Singapore because of the good pay.

Graduates earn only about US$400 (S$510) a month in the Philippines whereas in Singapore, they can draw over $2,000.

So, many prefer the tourist route.

It allows employers to interview them in person, increasing their chances of getting hired.

While they are here, many bunk with their friends for free but dip into their savings to pay for food and transportation.

If they cannot find a job before their tourist visa expires in a month, they apply to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to extend their stay.

In some cases, the extension is rejected.

Filipinos like Mr Ramz then head to Johor Baru for a few days and re-enter Singapore on a new tourist pass.

“It was stressful. But I told myself to stay positive because I must get a job here,” he said.

Headhunters such as Mr Satish Bakhda from Rikvin recruitment consultancy said many foreigners who try the tourist route go home empty-handed as the Manpower Ministry continues to tighten the rules for the hiring of foreign workers.

“But some foreigners will still try their luck because the pay here is so much higher than what they earn at home,” he said.

One hopeful foreigner is Ms Mary, 26, a Filipino marketing executive whose employer was unable to renew her S Pass and has to leave Singapore next month.

She said: “I’ve heard of Filipinos who went home without a job. But I’m willing to take my chances and fly here next year as a tourist. I really want to work here.”

Source: The Straits Times

July 18, 2016