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Tag: Singapore

  • Walid J Abdullah: Sharon Au Incident Shows Racism And Majority Privilege Are Real Problems In Singapore

    Walid J Abdullah: Sharon Au Incident Shows Racism And Majority Privilege Are Real Problems In Singapore

    Sharon Au made an inexcusable mistake yesterday with her racist remarks. If it was a junior host/comedian, one could perhaps understand the mistake (though it still cannot be excused), but for someone as experienced as her, it is neither understandable nor acceptable. Truth be told, Indians (and other minorities) go through such situations on an almost daily basis.

    For me personally, it is most disappointing when religious teachers and people who are called ‘Ustaz’ make such comments in mosques, under the excuse ‘oh, it’s just a joke’. Racism persists because we allow it to: i strongly believe we should call these people out whenever they make such stupid ‘jokes’ (yes, i say these are stupid, because an intelligent person usually does need to resort to racism to get a laugh from his/audience). Do not let them get away with it.

    At the same time, Sharon has apologized unequivocally, and we should be forgiving. We should reserve harshest treatment for the recalcitrants, who perennially and unapologetically make racist comments despite being advised not to so. Many bigger names than her have made racist comments – including PAP Members of Parliament – and then used the excuses of ‘I was misquoted’, ‘You do not have a sense of humour’, ‘My words were taken out of context’, and so on, to
    justify their chauvinism.

    Hopefully, incidents like this remind Singaporeans not to delude themselves into thinking that racism is something ‘that happens in other countries’, and that majority privilege does not exist.

     

    Source: Walid J Abdullah

  • Alfian Sa’at: Unfortunate That Racial Discourse Framed In Terms Of Sensitivity, But Sharon Au Has Apologise, Let’s Move On

    Alfian Sa’at: Unfortunate That Racial Discourse Framed In Terms Of Sensitivity, But Sharon Au Has Apologise, Let’s Move On

    I don’t know Sharon Au as a friend. But I have met her before, and I remember that we were both enthusing about how much we loved Haresh Sharma’s plays. (Au declared he was her favourite Singaporean playwright.)

    I actually don’t like it when racial discourses are framed in terms of ‘sensitivity’, because the aggrieved parties–often minorities–are then cast as humourless and oversensitive. And that’s really quite wrong, because God knows how minorities have often used laughter to deal with…all the stuff we have to deal with! I’d much rather such comments be flagged as ‘inappropriate’ rather than ‘insensitive’. This is because the discourse on sensitivity vests all the authority in the aggrieved party to define where the line of offence lies and when it has been crossed–unfortunately breeding resentment. But when we describe something as ‘inappropriate’ there is a sense that a whole community (of Singaporeans) takes responsibility for defining what should be the norms in our multicultural society.

    So when Au imitated an Indian accent when she spoke to an Indian member of the audience, was she being ‘insensitive’? Certainly it’s ‘lame’, ‘off-colour’ and even a little ‘tone-deaf’. It could have been funny in a situation, for example, if the girl had a chance to try on a Chinese accent (there’s such a thing, and it has given us choice phrases like ‘SQ me’ and ‘solly solly’ and ‘probrem sums’) as a way of getting back at Au. And this is what I believe happens when friends interact with each other. A close friendship gives you license to poke fun at each other–though you always take cues from the other person, who’ll lead with self-deprecating remarks: “Sorry, I’m very Chinese, I must insist the taxi driver give me my 5 cents change”; “Eh, I bring shame to the Malays lah, I really cannot play soccer”; “I’m very Indian, I cannot wear all this monochrome stuff, I must have at least three colours on me.”

    I think as a very experienced host, Au’s instinct is always to establish rapport with the audience member. But I think she flubbed–and I truly think it is an honest mistake–because she might have assumed that it is the ability to make these racial comments that establishes rapport. This is getting it backwards: you build the rapport first, you gain the other person’s trust, before you get permission to say such things (and you should be able to take as good as you give). I think at the spur of the moment, Au might have looked at that audience member and immediately thought: ‘talk to her in that teasing, jokey way you talk to your Indian friend’. But of course the audience member was a total stranger (in a public setting), and which stranger could take kindly to such remarks?

    Au has apologised, gracefully and sincerely, without attempting to justify what she did (which is more than I can say of those who might claim that they’re being ‘victimised’ by political correctness and that ‘people can’t take a joke anymore’–or worse, say that ‘I have many Indian friends so I can’t be racist’).

    And now on to the rest of the Games!

    (PS: Some people cannot read properly so let me summarise. This isn’t saying ‘she did nothing wrong’. This is saying, ‘she did something wrong and admitted it and made a voluntary apology’. There’s a difference k?)

     

    Source: Alfian Sa’at

  • Sabah Quake: 13 Dead, At Least 6 Missing

    Sabah Quake: 13 Dead, At Least 6 Missing

    A strong earthquake that jolted Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia has left 13 people dead and another six missing on Southeast Asia’s highest peak, an official said on Saturday (Jun 6).

    The 6.0-magnitude quake struck early Friday near the picturesque mountain, a popular tourist destination, sending landslides and huge granite boulders tumbling down from its wide, 4,095-metre-high (13,435-foot) crown.

    “There are 13 (dead) bodies. Two yesterday and 11 today. We’ve got six people still missing. I cannot confirm with you where they are from,” Mohammad Farhan Lee Abdullah, police chief of the town of Ranau near the mountain, told AFP.

    Malaysian media reports have said the dead included members of a Singapore primary school group on an excursion to the mountain, including a 12-year-old girl who was killed, as well as a local Malaysian climbing guide.

    Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) identified the schoolgirl as Wee Ying Ping Peony from Tanjong Katong Primary School. It added that seven students and two teachers from the school are still missing.

    “It’s very sad. The Singapore children were so happy when they arrived here, but now…” Masidi Manjun, tourism minister for the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, told reporters.

    Rescuers earlier on Saturday finished escorting down to safety 137 hikers who were stuck on the mountain for up to 18 hours after the quake damaged a key trail and they faced the threat of continuing rockfalls.

    Crews and officials engaged in further search and rescue efforts were kept on edge, however, by aftershocks including a Saturday afternoon tremor that Malaysian officials rated at 4.5-magnitude.

    It sent staff and journalists scurrying out of the park’s headquarters.

    Reports said most people on the mountain when the quake hit were Malaysian but that they also included hikers from Singapore, the United States, the Philippines, Britain, Thailand, Turkey, China and Japan.

    Authorities have not provided a breakdown or given details on the number of injured.

    ‘ROCKS RAINING DOWN FAST’

    Major earthquakes are rare in Malaysia and the tremor was one of the strongest in decades, jolting a wide area of Sabah and sending people fleeing outdoors.

    But there have been no reports of major damage, nor any casualties outside of those on the mountain.

    Masidi said all climbing would be suspended at Mount Kinabalu for at least three weeks to allow for repairs to damaged trails, accommodation and other facilities.

    Malaysia’s Bernama news agency quoted a climber describing his terror as the quake unleashed a shower of large stones from the rocky peak.

    “Rocks were raining down fast, like rock blasting,” Lee Yoke Fah, a 60-year-old Malaysian who suffered minor injuries, was quoted as saying. “I am not going to climb again, I am scared.”

    Mount Kinabalu is among the top tourist attractions in a state famed for its rainforests, wild rivers and coral reefs.

    Around 20,000 complete the relatively easy climb each year, usually taking two days.

    The force of the tremor was so strong that it toppled one of the two “Donkey’s Ears”, towering twin rock outcroppings that form a distinctive part of the peak’s profile.

    Mount Kinabalu is sacred to the local Kadazan Dusun tribe, who consider it a resting place for departed spirits.

    Malaysian social media users and some officials have suggested the quake was a sign the spirits were angry after a group of 10 apparently Western men and women tourists last weekend snapped nude photos at the summit and posted them on the Internet.

    “This will certainly bring misfortune… we can’t play with the spirit of the sacred mountain,” deputy state chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan told reporters Saturday.

    He called for the tourists to be brought to justice.

    GROUP TURNS UP TO SHOW SUPPORT

    A group, including parent volunteers, turns up to show their support for returning students and teachers of Tanjong Katong Primary School. (Photo: Monica Kotwani)

    A group of about 50 people turned up at Changi Airport Terminal 2 to show their support for the 19 students and two teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School returning to Singapore after their ordeal. Among them was Mr Hafiz Bin Ahmad, Amal’s uncle.

    Speaking to Channel NewsAsia, Mr Hafiz said he understands from his sister-in-law, Amal’s mother, that Amal is alive because one of the teachers pushed Amal to an overhang in the area, and the teacher did not return after 15 minutes.

    Amal also suffered from hypothermia but Mr Hafiz said he believes she did not sustain any serious injuries.

    FERRATA TRAIL “MANAGEABLE”: SEASONED CLIMBER

    Seasoned climber Suhardi Hashim feels that the Ferrata (Walk the Torq trail) is “manageable, even for 12-year-olds, especially if the climbers have had sufficient training and rest.”

    He has been scaling mountains for more than 10 years, including Mount Rinjani in Indonesia. Since 2006, he has climbed Mount Kinabalu eight times, and said it is his favourite climb because of the majestic view at the peak.

    Speaking to Channel NewsAsia, Mr Suhardi added that the trail is an adventurous one but it is safe, as there are protective measures for climbers. For example, they are hooked up to safety lifelines.

    He said he had arranged to climb the mountain on Jun 9, but has since cancelled his trip, as he received a letter from the Park informing climbers that there would be no climbing activities until further notice.

    The US Geological Survey had said the quake struck at a depth of 10km its epicentre located about 54 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah.

    No major damage was reported caused by the quake, which sent residents of the region fleeing in panic from homes and buildings, including Kota Kinabalu’s International Airport, according to witnesses.

  • Sabah Earthquake: More Bodies Recovered, 8 Singaporeans Remain Unaccounted For

    Sabah Earthquake: More Bodies Recovered, 8 Singaporeans Remain Unaccounted For

    As the Ministry of Education confirmed the identity of the Singaporean student who died in the 6.0-magnitude quake that hit Sabah on Friday (June 5), the wait for other Singaporeans anxiously awaiting news of their still-unaccounted for loved ones looked set to lengthen into a third day.

    This as the Malaysian authorities recovered more bodies on Mount Kinabalu yesterday.

    Six of Tanjong Katong Primary School students and two teachers who were on a school trip remain unaccounted for. Confirming the identify of the student who died – 12-year-old Peony Wee Ying Ping – the ministry said in an update around 11pm the identities of other bodies found could not be verified.

    At around 7pm, Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Masidi Manjun tweeted that nine bodies have been retrieved and flown to Kota Kinabalu by helicopter, while another was being carried down the mountain. At least 11 have been killed in the quake.

    In a Facebook post at 11.55pm yesterday, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said: “My heart is heavy to learn that several bodies have been recovered. We’re not able to confirm if they are our students and teachers – but whether they are our students and teachers or not, they are loved and missed by their families.”
    He added that he had spoken to Mr Manjun to thank him for “his leadership and the strong support that his team has given us”. “Minister Masidi assured me of continued assistance and close cooperation,” Mr Heng added in his post.

    Among the 29 TKPS students — mostly athletes and student leaders — and eight teachers who went on the annual school expedition known as the Omega Challenge, 19 students and two teachers returned yesterday.

    Family members of the missing students and teachers left for Kota Kinabalu in the morning on a Republic of Singapore Air force plane, but most remained in the dark about the whereabouts of their loved ones for much of the day.

    Mr Heng was present at Changi Airport to receive those who made it back to Singapore safely. Speaking to reporters, the Minister said search and rescue operations on the ground are in full swing.

    “We are in close touch with the parents who have also flown in with us, to provide support to the parents. Our officials are working very closely with Malaysian authorities, to do our very best to locate the children and teachers who are missing,” he said.

    A team led by the ministry comprising counsellors, officials from the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Transport Ministry went to Kota Kinabalu on the same flight as the relatives of the missing individuals.

    As updates came in from the Malaysian news outlets and social media over the day, MOE stressed that they will not release names of students who are unaccounted for “until the next-of-kin have identified their loved ones”.

    “Our team has been in Kota Kinabalu since early afternoon, and is working closely with the Malaysian authorities. Our priority now is to provide support to the next-of-kin in this difficult time,” said the ministry’s spokesperson.

    TKPS students who returned yesterday were visibly distraught, many in tears as they were reunited with their loved ones at Changi Airport. Some of them had their arms in slings and one boy was in a wheelchair.

    Mr Heng said the students are “a bit shaken, but otherwise they are fine”, adding that the MOE has arranged for follow-up care for them and their family members.

    At least 50 people, including parent volunteers of the school, also showed up at Terminal 2 to support those who returned.

    Among them were Mr Hafiz Ahmad, who was there to receive his niece Amal Ashley Lim. Speaking to the media, Mr Hafiz said Amal’s mother, his sister-in-law, told him that one of the teachers had shielded Amal and another student under an overhang when the quake happened. Amal was later helped down by a mountain guide, he said.

    He added: “It’s been quite unbearable (to be waiting) here. We have had to synchronise what we hear from the press and others…but we understand the limitations, that crisis management involves difficulties.”

    Another TKPS parent, Mr Alec Wing, whose son also returned yesterday, said the school and teachers had gone beyond their calls of duty. “Many of the teachers who were with them (on the trip) put themselves in harm’s way and got injured pretty badly. Their spirit is really admirable,” said the permanent resident from Mauritius, who works in the technology sector.

    Back in Singapore, the school’s personnel also tried their utmost to keep parents updated, such as by contacting the relevant ministries, airlines and insurance companies, Mr Wing added.

    However, he noted that the communication between government agencies could have been more prompt and better coordinated.

    “We were getting dribs and drabs of information, and we were not sure where the sources are, and whether they are credible, he said, adding MOE appeared to not be in contact with the  MFA’s crisis response team on Friday . “The disaster happened at 7.15am (on Friday) morning, but it took the Minister coming down at 1am (on Saturday) before things started to get into place,” he said.

    Parent volunteer Miyashita Swissdy, whose child completed the Omega Challenge two years ago, was also at the airport. “This is a very meaningful leadership programme. It teachers young children perseverance, to work towards their goals. This is an unfortunate accident…The teachers are very experienced because it is not the first time they are planning something like this,” she said.

    MOE said that the two injured students and one teacher, who required more medical attention in Kota Kinabalu, would return tomorrow (June 7).

    Parent Sadri Farick, whose son Emyr Uzayr is one of the two students, said he feels “thankful and is very happy to see (Emyr) in one piece”. He had flown to Kota Kinabalu to see his son.

    “I feel very sad for my friends and (Emyr’s) friends, it’s very sad to hear him ask me where are his friends who are still missing, and it’s getting dark now,” said Mr Sadri.

    In his Facebook post late yesterday, Mr Heng added: “This is also a difficult time for our officers, on the frontline in KK, in TKPS and MOE HQ. Officers are giving their all and feel the pain personally. I really appreciate the officers’ dedication.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • 103 Suspected Drug Offenders Arrested In Islandwide Operation

    103 Suspected Drug Offenders Arrested In Islandwide Operation

    A total of 103 suspected drug offenders were arrested in an islandwide operation carried out from Jun 1 to Jun 5, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said in a news release on Friday (Jun 5).

    The CNB seized about 88g of heroin, 9g of ‘Ice’, and a small amount of cannabis and opium powder during the operation, it said.

    The operation was supported by officers from the Singapore Police Force and covered Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Boon Lay, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Geylang, Marsiling, Teck Whye and Woodlands, CNB added. Investigations against all the suspects are ongoing.

    SUSPECTED HEROIN, ‘ICE’ TRAFFICKER ARRESTED

    In an operation carried out on Jun 3, CNB officers arrested a 62-year-old male Singaporean in Bedok North, who is suspected of trafficking drugs. Officers recovered about 37g of heroin and 4g of ‘Ice’ from him, CNB said.

    The man was brought to his residence in the vicinity of Bedok North. Officers recovered a small amount of heroin and “numerous drug paraphernalia”, including an improvised drug-smoking apparatus there, CNB added. He will be investigated for drug trafficking, said CNB.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

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