Tag: Singapore

PERGAS: Islamic Scholars Divided Over Festive Greetings To People Of Other Faiths, PERGAS Of The View That It Is Acceptable In Singapore Context

Will the PAP MP Dr Maliki Osman retract his statement?

On 26th January 2016, Dr Maliki made a comment about Islam in Parliament that has been proven wrong.

The PAP MP Dr Maliki Osman….in his speech about extremism..

Referred to discussions among Muslims that it may not be permitted for Muslims to wish non Muslims for their festivals.

As reported on ChannelnewsAsia…

when discussing the opinion that it is not allowed in Islam..

“Dr Maliki said senior, respected scholars have spoken up and contradicted the message. Citing a report in Berita Harian, the MP said that such bans have no basis in Islam.”

The PAP MP Dr Maliki appears to have made an unequivocal statement that is has “no basis in Islam”.

And yet..

The Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association – Pergas

has sent out guidance to Muslims in Singapura with regard to the issue.

According to the guidance, there is a difference in opinion on whether it is allowed in Islam.

Pergas provided a rather balanced position.

Importantly, they provided the Islamic evidence for those who believe it is not permitted (and those who believe it is)..

Dr Maliki Osman claimed there is no basis…the scholars said there is.

Will Dr Maliki Osman now retract his statement?

Source:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/…/all-hands-on-…/2458936.html

Source: Almakhazin SG

February 7, 2016
SDP: Minister’s Silence On Benjamin Lim’s Suicide Is Troubling

The SDP expresses our deepest sympathies to the family of Benjamin Lim. His suicide is a tragedy that could have been avoided.

There is a reason why the law and society treat minors differently from adults: They are presumed to not possess the full maturity in thought and deed as adults. Common sense would have indicated to the authorities to proceed with caution when dealing with minors. Yet, five police officers were dispatched to arrest the boy.

Even if the police were concerned that Benjamin would not be co-operative and could overpower the officers and escape, how far could he have run? And even if he did make a getaway, did the police not have his family, school and classmates that they could contact?

Also of concern is whether the number of officers sent to arrest Benjamin signaled an aggressive police mindset that was carried over into the interrogation room.

School officials must be aware that their duty is, first and foremost, to protect students’ welfare as well as their families’ interests. Doing this would not impede law enforcement officers from carrying out their duty. It would, on the other hand, help to prevent tragedies like Benjamin’s suicide from taking place.

But there is something else that is equally disconcerting. The Ministers for Law, Education, and Home Affairs have kept silent on the matter. Given that a teenager has committed suicide resulting from a series of actions involving the police and the school, it behooves the Ministers to, at the minimum, address the situation and see how the matter is resolved and future incidents prevented.

Instead of looking into the matter, Todayonline runs a headline saying: “MPs, experts laud police review of interview process involving minors”. Why are MPs and the media not speaking up on investigating the circumstances that led to a 14-year-old committing suicide after police interrogation? Instead, they are lauding the review of a procedure that should not have been in practice in the first place.

In any developed country, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) would require minors to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or lawyer during interrogation. Its SOPs would also require video recordings of all police interrogations. Without these protections of minors’ rights – indeed the rights of all persons under interrogation – we will never know the treatment meted out to Benjamin during the three hours or so in police custody.

The public is upset over this incident and deserves full accounting from the Government.

Dr Wong Souk Yee
Chairperson
Singapore Democratic Party

Source: http://yoursdp.org

February 6, 2016
88-Year-Old Karang Guni Auntie Cannot Stop Smiling After Abang Melayu Helped Her

Happy Chinese New Year 2016.

Was driving back home in Toa Payoh when suddenly i saw a trolley rolling down the road with full of unused items. I was puzzled and i look around for the owner of the trolley. Ended up i saw another trolley bigger than the first one with more items and behind all this huge items i saw a small old lady. She almost get hit by a car due to her pushing the trolleys in the middle of the road. And best part there were about 2 to 3 cars passing by and never did stop and help her. Manage to stop and push up the first trolley to the pavement followed by attending to her. While approaching her all u can see is her half face with her hands waving. Due to huge boxes covering most of her body. From far she shout ‘uncle boleh tolong saya uncle boleh tolong saya!’ Which is ‘help me help me!’

Cut story short help her since i have a van. And she direct me to the place where she is going. HONESTLY if she push it on her own its gonna take her 1hr30mins or so But it was only a 5 min drive. While in the van. We talked. She was 88 years old live in toa payoh. She has kids but lost contact with her. (True or not i donno) She only drinks coffee and eat kueh pau. Spent the rest of the day serching for unused items.

Best question and answer.

Me: aunty you angkat barang kenapa banyak sangat? Satu orang dua trolley. You sudah tua makin sakit.
Her reply moved me!

Aunty: Chinese new year sudah mau datang. Saya harus kerja kuat kuat nanti dapat wang lebih boleh beli makan sedap. Boleh kasi wang sama budak budak.

And seriously it moved me! She work so hard and earn so little and her thoughts for Chinese new year is so huge. I envy her spirits.

And i never know hows a life of karang guni in Singapore till i met her. She directed me in someplace where she can sell it. And she teach me to put the items accordingly. Like papers with papers cupboards with cupboards metal with metal etc. And FYI i got scolded by her for messing it up. So have to redo everything balik. Not easy! Seriously not easy. And i got stop and questioned by Police Officer due to parking my van in the opposite direction. Which i didnt realise and the aunty directing to the place. And they left!

After all is done. I have to make my move and go home. Aunty never stop saying thank you uncle thank you uncle. Tak ada orang tolong sama saya cuma you sahaja. I told her its okay. If people help you take it as a blessing. If people dont help you dont expect much. We owe no one a living. Aunty replied. Wahhh saya happy la ini hari. So cute i tell you the aunty.

Before moving off handed a certain amount of money and all of a sudden she cried. And this is what she say. “I asked your help not for money. I asked your help to help carry the stuff cos im old and weak not for your money” translated thou.

My reply “no worries. Keep the money. Get yourself good food. Bak kut teh or whatever u wanna eat. Get yourself good drink like wheat grass or soya bean. I dont want you to eat kueh pau and drink coffee tmr. Have something good for yourself. Prepare yourself for Chinese New Year. Buy what is necessary.”

Her face expression is priceless. Smiling with a lil tear dropping. And continue saying thank you Uncle! And i depart with good bye aunty and kong xi fa cai.

And the smile on her face stuck on my mind. I guess this is the most wide smile she smiled before. I thank Allah for letting me meet this aunty and give me the chance to help her. Things happen for a reason. Kindness start with oneself. May we be different in colours but kindness show no difference in colours. And Alhamdullilah everything is smooth. Aunty reached her destination safely.

Every happiness starts with you. To all my Chinese friend. Happy Chinese New year.

Psst. The pictures is she request to take all because ” uncle amek gambar saya la jadi uncle boleh ingat saya. Nanti bila uncle rindu sama saya uncle boleh tengok gambar saya.” Translated “uncle take my picture so you can remember me. As and when you miss me just see the pictures and you will be remembered.”

Thank you.
Kong xi fa cai!

Source: Syam Sj

February 5, 2016
Japan Confer Highest Award Posthumously To Lee Kuan Yew For Contribution To Bilateral Ties

The Republic’s founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, will be conferred one of Japan’s highest awards in recognition of his contributions towards ties between the two country.

The conferment of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers will be backdated to Mar 23 last year, the date of Mr Lee’s death.

In reply to media queries on Wednesday (Feb 3), the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said they were “deeply honoured and appreciate the Japanese Government’s decision to confer the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers to the late first Prime Minister of Singapore Mr Lee Kuan Yew”.

Established in 1888, the Order is usually conferred upon eminent statesmen, former prime ministers and senior cabinet ministers, diplomats and judges. It may be also be conferred posthumously, and is the highest regularly conferred honour in the Japanese honours system.

The Order is in recognition of Mr Lee’s contributions “to the development of relations between Singapore and Japan over several decades”, said the MFA.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

February 5, 2016
Ah Pek Parks BMW In Motorcycle Lots, Chides Motoryclist, Claims To Be Civil Servant

**Update: Errant parking offence has been reported via onemotoring. It’s over to LTA now. Thanks everyone who pm-ed me with suggestions and information! **

So this just happened at the carpark opposite Ghim Moh market, 20 Ghim Moh Road.

I walked back to my bike and saw a BMW parked next to my ride. Which was weird because I thought I remembered that space was marked out for motorcycles. So I looked again to double check, true enough, the car had parked in the space meant for not one, not two, but three motorcycle lots.

At this point, the driver (a skinny bespectacled Chinese man in his late fifties?) alighted. He saw me looking at the markings on the ground, and asked if there’s a problem. Thinking that he might have been mistaken, I asked him if he knew he was parking over the motorcycle lots.

Guess what? He retorted in a challenging tone that I had my own parking space, and that I shouldn’t care. Said he ‘wasn’t parking’, then proceeded to lock his car and walk away.

I don’t know why, I took a photo of his beautifully parked car.
He came back and asked if I took his photo (he must have been lurking around), looking half worried and half frustrated.

(No Uncle, you are not Brad Pitt, why would I want to take your photo?)

I told him since he didn’t do anything wrong, he has nothing to worry about.

His retaliation? He pompously announced that since I took ‘his photo’, he would take mine as well. I gladly obliged.
(Sure, be my guest. My lovely Vespa is parked perfectly within my bike lot).

You know, under normal circumstances, I might have just let it go. I’ve never reported errant drivers, I don’t know which authority is in charge, and it’s really just too much trouble. But what this uncle said next really made me want to do something about it.

If he weren’t so obnoxiously rude, I might have let it go. He threatened me.

‘DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I’M A CIVIL SERVANT YOU KNOW!’

(Wrong threat. I used to be a civil servant and some part of me still feels like I’m part of the service; so this only made my blood boil. What a disgrace you are to the rest of the responsible, hardworking civil servants I know!)

‘YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE MESSING WITH! YOU ARE PLAYING WITH YOUR ARSE!’

(Hmm, what kind of a metaphor is that?)

All the while ranting that he’s ‘not parking’, ‘not parking’. At which point I pointed out the red painted words on the ground to him – ‘NO PARKING’.

Mr All-Important-Civil-Servant, if you didn’t do anything wrong, why did you hastily drive away then? All the while reminding me loudly that I’m ‘playing with my arse’.

Mr All-Important-Civil-Servant, you are a disgrace to the public administration. I humbly suggest you use your Skillsfuture credits for a parking refresher course. Or basic etiquette. Or language improvement.

This would have been wonderful material for a teachable moment. What a waste!

Just for you, I’m going to educate myself on the procedures of reporting errant parking offenders. And don’t worry, it’s no trouble at all.

‪#‎civilservantsbehavingbadly‬ ‪#‎bmwparkingftw‬ ‪#‎dotherightthing‬

Source: Carrine Yeo

February 4, 2016