Tag: Singapore

Amos Yee Knew Blog, Video Contents Would Offend, His Ideas Shaped By SDP Member And Roy Ngerng

Blogger Amos Yee has pleaded not guilty to both charges on Thursday morning (May 7), at the start of his two-day trial. The teenager faced a charge of making offensive or wounding remarks against Christianity and another of circulating obscene imagery.

Yee’s lawyers had requested for an adjournment as they needed time to look through the evidence. The judge called for an end to the day’s hearing, and will hear further submissions on Friday, 2.30pm.

Lawyer Alfred Dodwell told reporters after the hearing: “(Yee) is in the highest spirits possible and he’s very happy with the conduct of the case and feels very confident about it.

“Amos is very positive; he believes there’s nothing wrong and stands by what he says and this is the very reason why he is in remand, because he refuses to be gagged.”

“Amos is in the highest spirits possible and he’s very happy with the conduct of the case”: #AmosYee’s lawyer, Alfred Dodwell, says that the blogger “knew what he was doing”. cna.asia/1bzfvsg

Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Wednesday, May 6, 2015

“In relation to the first charge, which is in relation to obscenity, it is a legal argument so there is no need for there to be a trial, because we have to submit on whether this image is, in law, found to be obscene. So there are legal tests to be involved and that’s what we will be submitting on in relation to this. And the court has to make a determination as to whether this image was and truly obscene,” said Mr Dodwell.

“In relation to the second (charge), the portion on the relation to Christianity, there’s a lot said that he attacked Christianity, in the context of the transcript of what he has said. The question really is, did he do so, and if so, then in what context did he say it as an analogy to Mr Lee Kuan Yew?” Mr Dodwell asked.

He added: “The question for us as lawyers is: ‘Has he violated the law? Is he criminal in relation to this?’ That is really the question. And Amos Yee knows about these things. He feels very strongly that he has the freedom of speech and expression in Singapore as provided for in the Constitution and he feels very strongly that he has done nothing wrong. So he’s in the highest of spirits.”

“I FULLY EXPECTED PEOPLE TO TAKE OFFENCE”

Court documents revealed that Yee knew that the contents of his blogs and videos would be offensive, but went ahead to post them. Before uploading his video on Christianity in December 2014, Yee said he was “aware that the content of the video was offensive and would promote feelings of disharmony and ill-will within the Christian community”.

“I noted that there were people who were offended by my video and I fully expected people to take offence,” he said, referring to comments after the video was uploaded.

Regarding his video posted on Mar 27, he said: “I was aware that the contents of the video were seditious in nature, in that they raised discontent or disaffection amongst people practising the Christian faith in Singapore, but was not sure if my actions would land me in jail.”

The Mar 27 video compared Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to Jesus Christ. “I was fully aware that this comparison was bound to promote ill-will amongst the Christian population, and would be offensive to a significant number of Singaporeans, because the general sentiment towards Lee Kuan Yew was very positive,” said Yee.

Court documents also revealed that Yee’s mother, when consulted, advised him not to upload the Mar 27 video, but he “disagreed with her and uploaded it anyway”.

“I do not have the intention to remove any of the videos that I have made,” said Yee according to Court documents, adding that he also would not remove the post involving Margaret Thatcher and Mr Lee Kuan Yew that was deemed obscene. “I refuse to do this because it would not appease the public, as the video and posts will continue to be circulated, and also because doing so would suggest that I was sorry for the videos and my post, which I am not.”

According to Court documents, Yee said his ideas were also shaped by meet-ups with members from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). An SDP member also introduced Yee to Mr Roy Ngerng’s blog, and Yee said he was convinced by what Mr Ngerng had published.

The teenager added that he drew evidence from Mr Ngerng’s blog posts for his video on Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

COURTROOM PACKED FOR TRIAL

Yee decided not to take the stand in court on Thursday. One of his lawyers later said this was because Yee had explained himself in the statement to police, after his arrest in March.

The teen’s parents attended the trial. Mr Ngerng, blogger Andrew Loh and lawyer Teo Soh Lung were also seen in the packed courtroom.

Yee has been in remand after his previous pre-trial conference on Apr 30, after his bailor, family and youth counsellor Vincent Law, decided to discharge himself. Mr Law had told reporters earlier that he had done so as Yee “refuses to abide” by the bail conditions. Mr Law was also seen in the audience on Thursday morning.

If convicted of making remarks wounding the feelings of Christians, Yee, who is being tried as an adult, faces up to three years’ jail, a fine, or both. For circulating obscene imagery, he could be jailed up to three months, fined, or punished with both.

A third charge, for his statements on Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, was “stood down”. An AGC spokesperson said the charge has not been dropped, but that the prosecution will deal with the first two charges for the upcoming trial with the third charge to be dealt with later.

The 16-year-old saw his challenge on the conditions of his bail dismissed by Justice Tay Yong Kwang in a bail hearing on Wednesday. Yee also refused to go for psychiatric counselling in exchange for a lower bail amount, which remained at S$30,000.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

May 8, 2015
‘Generasi Muaz’ Mahu Lahirkan Pendakwah Fasih Berbahasa Inggeris

Berdasarkan pengalaman, setiap kali Jamiyah mempunyai acara syarahan, kebanyakan penceramah Singapura yang diundang selalunya bertutur dalam bahasa Melayu.

Secara tidak langsung, menurut Presiden Jamiyah, Dr Mohd Hasbi Abu Bakar, para penonton yang hadir juga merupakan mereka yang berusia sekitar 50 tahun ke atas.

“Agak sukar bagi generasi muda yang kebanyakan lebih mesra bertutur bahasa Inggeris memahami apa yang diketengahkan pensyarah.

“Ada kekosongan di situ. Justeru kami amat berharap dapat melahirkan lebih banyak pendakwah yang mahir menyampaikan ceramah dengan yakin dalam bahasa Inggeris,” ujarnya.

Dr Hasbi amat berharap mereka yang mahir bersyarah di depan khalayak ramai dan mempunyai pegangan agama asas menyertai program Generasi Mu’az yang diinspirasikan daripada program mencari pendakwah berjudul Pencetus Ummah yang popular di saluran televisyen Malaysia, Astro Oasis.

Sejauh ini sudah 30 peserta daripada pelbagai latar belakang telah mendaftar.

“Mereka yang daftar bukan sahaja golongan pelajar dari peringkat madrasah sahaja.

“Pelajar sekular yang mengikuti kelas agama hujung minggu tetapi yakin berpidato juga boleh tampil mendaftarkan diri,” tambahnya yang menyasarkan 50 peserta.

Sebagai permulaan, program itu dibuka kepada kaum Muslim berusia antara 17 dengan 40 tahun.

Semua peserta akan dibimbing empat pembimbing dari Singapura dan Malaysia yang akan mengongsi selok-belok menjadi seorang penceramah berkesan.

Empat finalis terbaik juga akan diundang memberi ceramah semasa acara Pelayaran Islamik.

Menurut Dr Hasbi, meskipun program Generasi Mu’az ini akan dijalankan dalam bahasa Melayu, memandangkan bahasa Inggeris merupakan bahasa utama di sini, ia secara tidak langsung memberi kelebihan berbanding pendakwah lain di rantau ini.

“Di Canada, setiap tahun mereka sering mengadakan konvensyen agama yang dihadiri lebih 17,000 penonton.

“Antara penceramah yang diundang selalunya dari negara itu sendiri, Britain dan Amerika Syarikat.

“Jadi saya juga mempunyai impian agar satu hari nanti seorang pendakwah Singapura juga akan diundang dan menyampaikan ceramah selain mengongsi pandangan kepada penceramah dan penonton antarabangsa lain,” ujarnya yang pernah diundang ke konvensyen di Canada itu.

Tarikh tutup pendaftaran ialah hari ini, 7 Mei, dan mereka yang berminat boleh mendaftarkan diri menerusi talian 6743-1211 atau e-mel ke [email protected].

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

May 7, 2015
Pelawak Celebrity Malaysia Very The Lepak On Set

Terperanjat pelakon Sani Hussin semasa menjalani sesi penggambaran bagi rancangan lawak terbaru, Super Spontan Upsize, baru-baru ini.

Sani, yang diundang bukan sebagai pelawak tetapi sebagai ‘pengurus’ pasukan, agak terperanjat dengan budaya kerja di sana memandangkan kesemua penggambaran diadakan di Malaysia.

“Kalau kat Singapura, kita pentingkan disiplin dan semuanya mesti teratur.

“Tetapi di sana, suasananya agak santai. Malah ada pelawak yang dengan bersahaja boleh bermain bola di dalam studio,” kongsinya.

Rancangan yang bakal ditayangkan di Suria pada 4 Ogos nanti menampilkan pelawak Malaysia dan Singapura.

Antara yang diundang termasuk Najip Soiman, Sahfudin Mahfuz, Fakkah Fuzz, Mamat Bora serta satu-satunya bunga di antara kumbang, Farhana M. Noor.

Dari Malaysia pula, pelawak yang disertakan termasuk Johan, Rahim, Zulin Aziz, Pak Yus dan Ajak Shiro.

Sani juga menyifatkan status para selebriti di sana berbeza daripada selebriti di sini.

Ini memandangkan kehadiran mereka bagi apa jua rancangan menjadi daya penarik yang dapat meningkatkan lagi rating sesebuah rancangan.

Ini belum termasuk unsur kewangan yang dapat diraih sesebuah syarikat yang menampilkan para selebriti ini dalam acara mereka.

Bagaimanapun, Sani akui ada yang boleh dipelajari daripada ketangkasan dan kepetahan berbual para pelawak Malaysia.

Menurutnya, mereka memang cukup handal selain boleh berfikir dengan pantas dan berkesan.

“Rancangan Super Spontan ini sebenarnya mengasah dan mencabar minda serta kebolehan pelawak.

“Ia sesuai untuk pelawak yang memulakan kerjaya mereka dalam dunia teater.

“Ini kerana dari situlah kita mula mempelajari tentang kemahiran melawak serta kemahiran mengubah suai sesuatu situasi.

“Jadi para pelawak Malaysia ni memang cepat dan mudah mendapat idea selain menjadikan sesuatu bahan yang simple itu sebagai sesuatu yang melucukan,” katanya sambil menambah bahawa para pelawak di sana tetap terus berjenaka meskipun di luar set penggambaran.

Super Spontan Upsize yang diterbitkan Grid Media Pte Ltd, syarikat milik Khairudin Samsudin, dihoskan Najip Ali dengan pengadil tetap, Afdlin Shauki dan Suhaimi Yusof.

Antara pengadil undangan termasuk Norish Karman, Shah Iskandar, Hisyam Hamid, Khairudin Samsudin dan Amy Mastura.

Para pelawak juga dibahagikan kepada dua kumpulan yang namanya juga sudah cukup mencuit hati – Gajah Gerek dan Selamba Kodok.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

May 7, 2015
Singaporeans Suck Up To PRCs Because PRCs Are Richer

Hi admin,

Look at this comment by a PRC woman, who scolded Singaporeans for saying that the 2 PRC bitches are wrong.

Translation “If you are so capable then kick all PRCs out of Singapore ah! You are not even able to do it! As long as PRCs have money, we can go anywhere! Even if you are jealous and hate us, you have no choice! We PRCs are rich! Not like you people, going to a store you can’t even buy a TV without paying in installments! Disgrace! PRCs have money so we are your boss! Your government must serve us! Even if you complain, it is worthless!”

I think our current government has really betrayed all of us big time now. Bringing in snakes like those 2 mad PRC women and this arrogant PRC bitch. We need a real political party that has the guts to really kick all these foreigners out of Singapore!

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

May 7, 2015
What Are Our Universities Doing About The LGBT Community?

Aku terkilan nampak posting dari NTU Kaleidoscope semalam. Makin baca makan hati aku membuak. Bingit siak.

Diorang repost satu article dari Today yang telah ditulis bersama oleh beberapa orang yang associated dengan Inter-University LGBT Network.

Aku ada satu soalan…kenapa cara hidup komuniti LGBT ni harus digembar-gembur dan diterima mayarakat? Nampak macam diorang ditomah lah selalu, macam hidup mereka tu susah merana. Orang-orang Nepal yang merana takda rumah, keluarga hapus keranan gempa bumi pun takda teruk asyik complain macam diorang. Macam kena victimised sangat ke apa sial…

Kelakar siak dapat tau yang ada banyak support groups untuk komuniti LGBT in our univeristies. As a graduate of one of the uni, aku malu siak nampak ni macam punya support for komuniti LGBT ni.

NUS je dah ada tiga kumpulan yang provide support. Tak rasa ada banyak group untuk budak-budak Melayu yang datang dari keluarga susah. Sedangkan korang tengok…NUS Muslim society agaknya ada satu, society Bahasa Melayu pun ada satu. Apa mereka lebih important daripada kita ke? Apa diorang punya problem lebih teruk dari problem masyarakat kita yang bertahun-tahun, tukar Minister ni Minister tu pun tak boleh solve jugak the problems.

Yang ada aku menyampah dia punya anggek macam dia bagus sangat. Tapi yang ada aku respect diorang as individuals. Yang ada mampus dia punya pandai dan konfiden.

Tapi as a Muslim aku tak boleh bawak diri aku nak accept mereka. Bukan aku je fikir macam ni. Ramai lagi orang dari agama lain pun macam tu juga. Ini agama kita tak accept kenapa ni uni-uni pandai-pandai nak force it down our throats? Kita boleh tolog diorang tapi kalau diorang yang tengok kita macam sial, sala siapa siak? Diorang yang suspicious of us. Kenapa?

Memang bukan tempat kita untuk judge diorang, memang terpulang pada mereka…aku pun tak kisah sebab aku pun ni bukan macam malaikat pun. Tapi kenapa sibuk-sibuk sangat pasal hal diorang? Kau tanya diri kau, apa diorang buat untuk be normal. Diorang yang ostracise diri mereka. adakau nampak orang cakap depan muka diorang…eh bapuk pergi berambus…ada?

Orang Melayu diorang suruh integrate. Apasal nak jadikan LGBT komuniti ni separate and distinct? Kena give diorang special treatment? Aapa counsellors kat NTU, SMU atau NUS tak cukup ke atau tak boleh handle?

Aku hope ni universities ni semua do something about this. Nanti tahun depan apa? 10 LGBT support groups in the unis?

Reader Contribution: Faiz S

May 7, 2015