Tag: Singapore

Teo Soh Lung: Releases And Arrests Under The ISA

Yesterday’s press releases (27 May 2015) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are depressing. Three men were released from indefinite imprisonment under the Internal Security Act (ISA) a year ago, but it is only now that we are made aware this.

The three men were:

1. Mohamed Rashid bin Zainal Abidin, arrested in May 2006. He was released on 26 May 2014 with restrictions;

2. Sahrudin bin Mohd Sapian arrested in January 2012. He was released with restrictions on 24 February 2014; and

3. Mohamed Rafee bin Abdul Rahman, arrested in January 2012. He was released with restrictions on 24 February 2014.

The three were released in February 2014 and May 2014. Why did the MHA take more than a year to inform us of their release? Are we not entitled to know what the MHA does with ISA prisoners? Who and how many people have they arrested and for how long do they need to remain in prison? By keeping silent about arrests, imprisonment and releases of prisoners, the MHA behaves like a state sanctioned clandestine organisation.

The ISA is an unjust law. Prisoners are not charged and tried in open court. There is no judicial review for ISA cases. Release of ISA prisoners depend on the whims and fancies of the executive who may or may not rely on the reports of the ISD. The threat of indefinite imprisonment instils great fear in prisoners. Behind the four walls of the prison, they are quickly forgotten by the public. In Singapore, we do not have human rights organisations or religious organisations who demand updates on the well-being of prisoners. Even the United Nations is not able to extract any information from the MHA. The Justices of Peace who allegedly visit prisoners at regular intervals are not answerable to the public. They merely play the role of do-gooders and do not check the excesses of the government.

The MHA now informs us that Mohamed Rashid bin Zainal Abidin who was arrested in 2006 was released in 2014, a period of eight long years. Why was he imprisoned for so long? We hear from the MHA that JI or Jemaah Islamiyah has faded and it is now the era of ISIS. So why was he imprisoned for eight long years? MHA owes the public an explanation, not just the two liner alleging that Rashid was a “JI member who had undergone terrorist training in south Philippines. He was released from detention and placed on Restriction Orders (RO) on 24 Feb 2014.”

Sahrudin bin Mohd Sapian and Mohamed Rafee bin Abdul Rahman were both released after two years. Both men had allegedly undergone terrorist training and were JI members.

Why was the release of these three men kept a secret for more than one year?

And what about the following prisoners?

1. Haji Ibrahim bin Haji Maidin arrested in December 2001.
2. Alahuddeen bin Abdullah, arrested in October 2002.
3. Mohd Aslam bin Yar Ali Khan, arrested in December 2002.
4. Mas Selamat bin Kastari, rearrested in September 2010.
5. Abdul Rahimbin Abdul Rahman, arrested in February 2012.
6. Husaini bin Ismail, arrested in May 2012.
7. Abdul Basheer s/o Abdul Kader, rearrested in September 2012.
8. Asyrani bin Hussaini arrested in March 2013.
9. Masyhadi bin Mas Selamat, arrested in October 2013.

Let us hope that those imprisoned today will not suffer imprisonment for 32 years as Dr Chia Thye Poh did and that the government will in the meantime, look after their material and psychological well-being as well as that of their families. I hope the government will not let the families suffer poverty as they did to thousands of others in earlier decades.

New Arrests under the ISA

In another press release of the same date, the MHA announced the arrests of two young people – M Arifil Azim Putra Norja’s, aged 19 and an unnamed youth, aged 17. They were arrested under the ISA in April and May 2015 respectively.

Is there no other law that can deal with young people other than the ISA? Is there no Muslim organisation that can help these youths, if they are indeed misguided? What about the existing Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)? Cannot the MHA seek their assistance instead of taking such draconian action and giving them a lifetime black label?

The arrest of these two young people reminds me of the hundreds of youths arrested between 1954 – 1987. Many of them were students and could not continue their studies after imprisonment. Unlike those times, Singapore today is a developed country. Why is it that we are still not able to handle young people without using the ISA?

Young people are the future of Singapore. How we treat the young reflect the maturity of our society. As I have said before, the government made a mess of Amos Yee. Are they making another mess with these two young people? MUIS and RRG should do their best to intervene in these arrests. The effect of indefinite imprisonment without trial under the ISA is not to be taken lightly.

I hope the government will re-examine its decision to use the ISA against these two young people. The ISA is not to be used lightly and worse, on our young.

Teo Soh Lung

Source: Function 8

May 28, 2015
Caught On Camera, But Police Can’t Arrest Stroller Thief

Hi to all here!

My friend stroller was stolen by this lady from the My First Skool at Boon Lay Community Centre a few days ago.

Although police report had already been made, but the police told him the successful rate of capturing this lady thief is very low.

So need your guys help.

Help to share it out for public awareness.

Lee Cheow Yong

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

May 28, 2015
Fandi, The Singapore Boy Made Good

They wrote him off. He went away to fulfill the prophecy that a prophet has no place in his home town. He became a foreign talent away from home where he was appreciated. They did not give him much of a chance either. He is from a city without talent. And many still appreciate and think that foreign talents from Europe and the Americas are better.

Fortunately someone was stricken by guilt or felt that Fandi is the best we have and deserved a second chance. There were lots of critics and disbelievers in Fandi. Should have another foreign coach if we are going to do well. Should have more foreign players if we are going to do well. And you can imagine the moral of this Singapore Boy and his charge..

He soldiers on quietly in his Fandi style. He let his legs do the talking. Fandi is back in the headlines. He has brought back the Malaysian FA Cup with his charge, the LionsXII. We are champions again and Fandi has done it again. Who says we need to do a global search for another foreign talent?

If we don’t believe in our own talents, if we keep throwing away good money to foreigners, when will our locals be given a chance to grow and make a name for themselves? We will be forever looking up to foreigners, for foreigners, even to be conned by fakes.

It is so pathetic. First World daft that don’t believe in themselves but in trash? Would this mindset be changed and we start to grow our own timber? Well done Fandi. You have proven yourself and proven them wrong.

Chua Chin Leng aka Redbean

Source: http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.sg

May 28, 2015
Iqbal Hussain Dropped From Young Lions SEA Games Squad
He played in the 2013 South-east Asia (SEA) Games, making four appearances for the Singapore Under-23 team that bagged bronze in Myanmar.

He has been a mainstay of the Courts Young Lions in the S.League for the past two years.

When striker Iqbal Hussain heard that he was not included in the final squad of 20 for the SEA Games football tournament which kicks off here tomorrow, he was devastated.

Coach Aide Iskandar delivered the heartbreaking news to nine of the 29 players in the Young Lions’ preliminary squad yesterday afternoon.

Speaking to The New Paper yesterday, the usually shy and soft-spoken Iqbal was clearly upset.

When asked if he was surprised at the decision, the 22-year-old said: “I was surprised, everyone was surprised. I can’t say I’m taking the news very well.”

The others who didn’t make the cut were goalkeeper Fashah Iskandar, defenders Taufiq Muqminin, Zakir Samsudin and Nurullah Hussein, midfielders Shameer Aziq, Muhaimin Suhaimi, Christopher van Huizen and Afiq Noor.

The biggest name is undoubtedly Iqbal, who took to Facebook yesterday to vent his frustrations.

In a lengthy post, the 1.86-metre tall striker said the decision “broke his heart” and that the reasons given to him were “unacceptable and didn’t make sense”.

He also lamented his decision to defer his National Service three times to be able to take part in the Games.

He ended his post by wishing his teammates good luck and urged them to “win the gold”.

Iqbal, who notched his sole international cap when he came on as a substitute for the Lions against Papua New Guinea last September, played only 15 minutes for the U-23s in the 2-0 friendly win over Timor Leste at Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday.

He did not feature in the 5-1 drubbing of the Laos U-23s last Saturday because of a groin injury.

But Iqbal said: “I’m 100 per cent recovered now; that was just a minor strain. The coaches’ decision to leave me out was down to performances but, for the past few weeks, I have been shifted to a few different positions.

“I’ve been playing quite often in central midfield, where I hadn’t played for quite some time. So I didn’t do that well.

“I prefer a more attacking position, whether left, right or centre. Centre midfield takes a while for me to get used to.”

Singapore have been drawn in Group A with Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines.

They kick off their campaign against the Philippines at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday.

DIFFICULT

Speaking to TNP, Aide said yesterday was one of his most difficult days as a coach.

“It was very hard to cut those nine players, especially Iqbal, Afiq and Nurullah – because they are quality players who have played for me a long time,” said the former international defender and Singapore captain.

“Iqbal was not the only one asked to play in different positions. Going into a tournament with just 20 players, it’s important to have players who can play in several positions.

“The coaches felt that there were others who were playing better than him. It was a close call.

“We have always said to the squad that they will be picked on current form, not how they played in the past.

“I’ve told the nine boys not to stop here. They should use this as motivation to work harder and try and get into the national team.

“I want to thank all the players involved in the SEA Games preparation. They are still part of our family and, if we do well, their names will still be next to ours.”

S’PORE’S SEA GAMES FOOTBALL SQUAD
- Goalkeepers:
Syazwan Buhari, Rudy Khairullah
- Defenders:
Al-Qaasimy Rahman,  Amirul Adli,  M Anumanthan, Shakir Hamzah, Sheikh Abdul Hadi,  Fadli Kamis,  Ho Wai Loon
- Midfielders:
Adam Swandi, Safirul Sulaiman, Shahfiq Ghani, Faris Ramli,  Stanely Ng,  Pravin Guanasagaran, Shamil Shariff,  S Suria Prakash
- Forwards:
Sahil Suhaimi, Irfan Fandi,  Amy Recha

Source: www.tnp.sg
May 28, 2015
Yayasan Rahmatan Lil Alamin Raih Lebih $240, 000 Bagi Dana Nepal

Yayasan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLAF) berjaya mengumpul $241,468 untuk mangsa gempa bumi di Nepal.

Wang sumbangan masyarakat Melayu/Islam itu dikumpul hasil satu usaha mengumpul dana khas, dengan tabung derma diletakkan di 68 masjid di sini pada 1 Mei hingga 6 Mei lalu.

Jumlah yang terkumpul itu disampaikan kepada badan bantuan kemanusiaan, Mercy Relief.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa RLAF, Haji Paiman Supangat, menyampaikan cek kepada Pengurusi Mercy Relief, Encik Michael Tay, di ibu pejabat badan tersebut di Lorong 1 Toa Payoh semalam.

Turut hadir dalam upacara penyampaian cek itu ialah ketua eksekutif Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis), Haji Abdul Razak Hassan Maricar; konsul kehormatan Nepal di Singapura, Encik Madhusudan Patel; dan anggota lembaga Mercy Relief, Dr Mukhlis Abu Bakar.

RLAF bekerjasama dengan badan bantuan kemanusiaan Mercy Relief bagi menyalurkan bantuan itu kepada rakyat Nepal yang terjejas dengan gempa yang mengorbankan 8,000 jiwa dan mencederakan 19,000 yang lain.

Dengan sumbangan derma daripada RLAF itu, kutipan dana Mercy Relief bagi kerja bantuan kemanusiaan ke Nepal mencapai lebih daripada $1 juta.

Ditemui media dalam acara semalam, Encik Tay berkata beliau amat berterima kasih dengan inisiatif badan korporat dan institusi seperti RLAF bagi membantu mangsa gempa bumi di Nepal.

“Mercy Relief berbesar hati dan rasa terharu kerana begitu banyak pertubuhan tampil memberikan bantuan dalam masa yang sukar ini.

“RLAF dan Persatuan Soka Singapura adalah antara pertubuhan utama yang menyumbang kepada mangsa gempa di Nepal,” kata Encik Tay sambil menambah bahawa Mercy Relief akan meneruskan usaha mengumpul dana hingga akhir Jun ini.

Sementara itu, anggota lembaga pengamanah RLAF, Encik Zainul Abidin Ibrahim, berkata sambutan terhadap usaha mengumpul dana itu menunjukkan masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura bersedia membantu masyarakat lain yang menghadapi krisis.

“Alhamdulillah kita dapat mengumpulkan jumlah yang agak besar bagi projek ini. Ini juga menunjukkan masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura bersedia membantu masyarakat lain dan ini satu sifat yang kita inginkan dalam masyarakat kita,” ujarnya.

Dalam pada itu, Mercy Relief telah membantu lebih 27,000 mangsa yang terjejas di Nepal, termasuk di kawasan pergunungan yang sukar menerima bekalan asas seperti makanan dan perubatan.

Dengan dana yang dikumpulkan, Mercy Relief juga akan membantu membina rumah peralihan sebelum musim monsun di Nepal.

Dr Mukhlis menjelaskan rumah sementara itu boleh dimanfaatkan mangsa buat jangka masa pendek.

“Yang penting sekarang ini adalah membina perumahan bukan buat jangka masa panjang, tetapi membolehkan mereka mempunyai tempat berteduh sebelum perumahan yang lebih kekal dibina,” katanya.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

May 28, 2015