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Tag: Singapore

  • When Must We Be Tolerant And When Are We Asking Too Much?

    When Must We Be Tolerant And When Are We Asking Too Much?

    My friend related a story to me over the weekend…

    His company employed a Muslim worker for the first time since the company started. The staff did well and got along well with the rest of the employees. Not long later, my friend employed another 3 more Muslim workers.

    This is when things gets a bit complicated. The Muslim workers started asking for a prayer room and also longer lunch break on Fridays for them to attend Mosque. Not wanting to appear discriminating against them, my friend agreed and informed the team leader to re-distribute the workload on Friday so that the Muslims could go for prayer. The rest of the team members were then asked to double up. This cause a bit of morale problem within the company as others are unhappy because all are paid the same salary. Over time, the productivity of the team was noted to have gone down due to longer absence from duty.

    The office also has a pantry where workers could use during their lunch break. This time, the Muslim workers asked if they could have their own fridge and microwave oven since the old one had been used for non-Halal food. Again, being religion sensitive, my friend agreed and bought new items for the pantry.

    A year later, my friend noticed that there is clearly a separation in the company. There are different utensils and also washing items for Muslims.

    At one point of time, the Muslims workers even asked if they could have a separate pantry which by now, my friend openly rejected the idea.

    The workers explained that they felt their religion was not respected by others as they were using the common table cloth to clean the table after eating pork and the taps were oily (presumably lard) when they were using it. They asked if the management could stop other workers from bringing in pork/lard into the pantry and they are okay with other non-Halal food.

    Now my friend is in a dilemma. While he respect the Muslim’s religious obligation, he does not want to impose other’s religious restriction and deprived other of their rights. He is wondering where should he stop?

    Gordon Tay

    *Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/gordon.tay.75/posts/972387889460449

     

    Editor’s Note: 

    Let’s refrain from making insulting comments on this issue. It is a real issue, which also applies to other religious customs and cultural customs too. Where do we draw the line between tolerance and over-demanding? It is important to be able to have open, logical discussions about such issues.

     

    Source: www.therealsingapore.com

  • Osman Sulaiman: Apa Dah Jadi Dengan Adat Dan Budaya Perkahwinan Orang Melayu?

    Osman Sulaiman: Apa Dah Jadi Dengan Adat Dan Budaya Perkahwinan Orang Melayu?

    Adat dan budaya perkahwinan orang melayu sudah jauh melencong dari asal. Unsur-unsur barat sudah banyak menyerap. Hilang nya adat dan budaya orang melayu, hilanglah identiti kita sebagai orang Melayu di Singapura.

    Ramai anak2 muda sekarang sudah tidak cenderung kepada adat istiadat perkahwinan orang melayu. Di anggap kuno katanya. Amalan kita hari ini akan menjejas generasi yg akan datang. Kalau bukan kita yg menjaga warisan dan budaya orang melayu, siapa lagi?

    Dapat kita lihat bagaimana budaya barat telah menyerap masuk dipraktikkan oleh anak2 muda kita apabila mereka bersanding.

    1. Joget2 barat ala the wedding planner.
    2. Pengapit ditukarkan kepada pengiring yg memakai kostume2 seperti star wars
    3. Mempelai mesti memakai baju ‘western’
    4. Malam berinai semakin kurang dipraktikkan
    5. Merenjis sudah jarang dibuat
    6. Pembacaan berzanji semakin pupus malahan ditukarkan kepada music2 pop
    7. Makcik2 bertudung berjoget dangdut
    8. Sekarang, lion dance pula.

    Tanggung jawab memelihara warisan dan budaya terletak pada generasi muda. Ibu-bapa pula memainkan peranan penting supaya budaya dan warisan tidak pupus. Hang tuah berkata: “Takkan hilang melayu di dunia.”

    Mungkin tidak di dunia. Tapi di Singapura kot?

     

    Source: Osman Sulaiman

  • FAS Set Football Final Target, Coach Aide Out With Dengue

    FAS Set Football Final Target, Coach Aide Out With Dengue

    The goal was to end all confusion over player movement between the Singapore Under-23 team and the LionsXII, as the country enters the final straight of its preparations for the 28th South-east Asia (SEA) Games, which it will host from June 5 to 16.

    In a shock development, however, it was announced at a media briefing by the technical team of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) yesterday that Under-23 head coach Aide Iskandar had been warded for dengue fever.

    It is not known how long Aide (below), 39, will be out, but the FAS stated that assistant coaches Kadir Yahaya and S Subramani will lead the team while he recovers.

    Despite the setback, national teams head coach Bernd Stange said in no uncertain terms that the SEA Games target was a place in the final, which will be played at the National Stadium on June 15.

    Speaking to The New Paper, the German said all parties – the players, coaches and the FAS – are convinced it is an achievable target.

    “We cannot say we don’t have a high objective; we want to deliver at the SEA Games, and that is to play in the final,” he said.

    “That target is important for the fans, the players, the whole country.

    “This Under-23 team are the base of our future, and so we need a top performance from them.”

    Stange, along with Aide and LionsXII coach Fandi Ahmad, have agreed on a strategy involving four players that are wanted by both teams.

    A 30-man Singapore Under-23 squad will enter centralised training on Friday and the SEA Games team will then head to Japan on May 10 for a week-long tour which includes two friendly matches.

    LionsXII players Faris Ramli, Sahil Suhaimi, Christopher van Huizen and Zakir Samsudin will be made available, though, for the Malaysian Super League’s side FA Cup semi-final first leg against Terengganu on May 9 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

    They will leave the Under-23s camp on May 7 and return to the fold before flying off for Japan three days later.

    The quartet will not be available for the second leg of the Malaysian FA Cup semi-final on May 16 in Kuala Terengganu, but will be released again should Fandi’s side qualify for the final on May 23.

    Subramani said it was important to have all 30 players together for Japan – the squad will be reduced to 20 upon the team’s return – but the coaches recognised the psychological boost the four players would gain playing in the first leg of the semi-final, and possibly the final.

    Fleet-footed attacker Faris, 22, had been prepared to miss the cup-ties, and is over the moon over the decision.

    “As players, we always give our best to whichever team we are playing for, so I was prepared to miss out on the FA Cup.

    “But now, I hope to do all I can to ensure the team carry a good result into the second leg.”

    Similar to the 2013 campaign, Stange will play an active role in the make-up of the final 20-man squad.

    The football tournament will begin almost a week before the opening ceremony on June 5, with the hosts kicking off Group A action against the Philippines on June 1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

    The Young Lions will also play Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia in the group stage, and Stange warned that they could not afford to underestimate any opponent.

    “Other than playing on home ground, it is a small advantage to be in a group which has one less team (from Group B),” he added.

    Group B features reigning champions Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei and Timor Leste.

    Sea games team will be ready

    Results in the S.League have been poor, with Aide Iskandar’s Courts Young Lions showing just one point – a 1-1 draw with Hougang United – from six games.

    The majority of the team are in the Singapore Under-23 squad that Aide will lead into battle in June’s South-east Asia (SEA) Games on home soil, and the performances in the domestic competition raised concerns over the side’s chances of doing well.

    After an 8-1 trouncing by the Japan Olympic team in February, the Singapore Under-23s also crashed 3-1 to unsung Cambodia at home last month.

    At present, most fans do not believe Aide’s team will achieve the target of reaching the SEA Games final on June 15.

    But Young Lions assistant coach S Subramani is confident the team will be ready, as they enter the final stages of preparations ahead of their opening Group A game against the Philippines on June 1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

    “The results have definitely not been good, but we are quietly confident we will do well at the SEA Games,” the former international defender told The New Paper, on the sidelines of a training session at the Singapore Sports School yesterday.

    Mani pointed to newly installed assistant coach Kadir Yahaya as a key move, as the appointment has injected some much-needed team spirit within the ranks.

    “The boys have been working hard as we focus on their physical and mental preparation,” the 42-year-old added.

    “By June 1 we will be ready, but, as in any competition, winning the first game is crucial.

    “A win against the Philippines will boost the team’s confidence even further.”

    Crucial right now is for Aide to get back with the squad, after it was revealed yesterday that he was in hospital being treated for dengue fever.

    The Under-23s’ 30-man training squad will come together for centralised training on May 1, with a tour of Japan scheduled from May 10 to 17.

    The final squad of 20 will be announced after the tour.

    TOP PRIORITY

    Top priority for the team is to form a solid back four – something Mani said is still a work in progress.

    Of late, the Young Lions have tinkered with five different players in central defence, including 17-year-old striker Irfan Fandi, whose aerial prowess is critical at set-pieces at both ends of the pitch.

    Right-back and team captain Al-Qaasimy Rahman believes the team have started to gel.

    “It has been said that our team do not have the same quality as the 2013 SEA Games team (which bagged the bronze), but we are determined to make up for it with great team spirit,” said the 23-year-old.

    “The centralised training sessions will help bond us even further. We will be at our peak by the time the SEA Games is here.

    “That is my team’s promise to all our fans.”

    30-MAN SINGAPORE UNDER-23 TRAINING SQUAD


    Goalkeepers:

    • Syazwan Buhari
    • Fashah Iskandar
    • Rudy Khairullah

    Defenders:

    • Shakir Hamzah
    • Al-Qaasimy Rahman
    • Sheikh Abdul Hadi
    • Fadli Kamis
    • Amirul Adli
    • Irfan Fandi
    • Taufiq Muqminin
    • Zakir Samsudin
    • Nurullah Hussein
    • Ho Wai Loon

    Midfielders:


    • Faris Ramli
    • Safirul Sulaiman
    • Stanely Ng
    • Anumanthan
    • Mohan Kumar
    • Shamil Sharif
    • Adam Swandi
    • Muhaimin Suhaimi
    • Shameer Aziq
    • Afiq Mat Noor
    • Christopher van Huizen
    • R Suria Prakash
    • Pravin Guanasagaran
    • Shahfiq Ghani

    Strikers:

    • Sahil Suhaimi
    • Iqbal Hussain
    • Amy Recha Pristifana
    • Taufik Suparno

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Bishan Maisonette Sold For $1.05 Million

    Bishan Maisonette Sold For $1.05 Million

    Despite the declining resale flat price index, an executive flat in Bishan has sold for more than a million dollars this month.

    The 149sqm executive maisonette in Blk 192, Bishan Street 13, changed hands for $1.05 million, according to the Housing & Development Board’s online data.

    Built in 1987, the two-storey unit between the 22nd and 24th floors, has 71 years left on its 99-year lease.

    Another maisonette at Bishan St 22 sold this month was priced at $812,000. The 146sqm unit is between the 7th and 9th floors.

    Bishan is known for its record-beating HDB flat prices, but it now has competition from Pinnacle@Duxton.

    Two HDB flats sold for more than a million dollars this month at the Pinnacle@Duxton.

    One of the 107sqm units, located between floors 46 and 48 of Block 1A, was sold for $1.05 million, while another unit between floors 28 and 30 of Block 1G went for $1.06million.

    All of the transactions for five-room flats at that development this year breached $900,000, and six went for a million or more.

    At the project’s launch years ago, five-room units at the Pinnacle@Duxton were priced at $345,100 to $439,400.

    The flats at the 50-storey Pinnacle@Duxton have just crossed their five-year minimum occupation period (MOP), and are in a highly sought-after location.

    But the older Bishan flats have consistently fetched high prices, and the housing estate holds the record for the most expensive flat ever sold – a maisonette at Block 194 that went for $1,088,888 in October last year.

    Another unit in nearby Block 190 fetched $1 million in December.

    Despite the sky-high prices for these desirable units, the resale price index for HDB flats has fallen for the last seven quarters since mid-2013.

    It slipped by another one per cent in the first quarter this year, reports revealed last week.

    While the index is trending downwards, the price for larger executive flats has gone up by one per cent in the last quarter, according to an SRX report. Location also plays a part.

    In Bedok, a 143sqm executive maisonette went for $570,000 this month. Also built in 1987, the unit in Block 145 is located between floors one and three.

    Another 28-year-old maisonette – at Bukit Batok St 31 between floors seven and nine – went for $610,000.

     

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Cemetry Worker Raped 12 Year Old Girl After Befriending Her And Family

    Cemetry Worker Raped 12 Year Old Girl After Befriending Her And Family

    A cemetry labourer has admitted raping a 12-year-old girl who was staying at the burial ground with her family.

    Roslan Jaafar, 41, befriended the girl – along with her younger sister and mother – after they started staying in a tent at the site in early 2012.

    He would take the girl out to run errands, such as buying cigarettes and dinner – but used their meetings to have sex with her.

    Roslan was caught only when the girl’s uncle noticed she had been missing for hours and discovered messages about “making love” on her phone.

    Yesterday, he pleaded guilty in the High Court to two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of a minor.

    Two other counts of sexual assault of a minor and sexual exploitation of a child will be taken into consideration when he is sentenced at a later date.

    The court heard yesterday that the family moved to the burial ground temporarily as they had no fixed accommodation.

    In March 2012, the two girls started playing with Roslan’s eight-year-old son at the cemetery while he was working.

    Roslan later visited their tent and introduced himself to their mother. He continued to visit the family regularly and grew close to them.

    In early May that year, the victim’s mother agreed to his request to take the girl out with him to buy cigarettes.

    Roslan then began to take her out regularly to run errands, usually for more than two hours at a time.

    He would take her on his motorcycle to a quiet spot nearby and have sex with her on a bench late at night, telling the girl not to tell her mother about it.

    Although the court heard that the girl consented to having sex with him, by law, sex with a girl under 14 – with or without her consent – is considered rape.

    On June 1 that year, the girl’s maternal uncle was visiting the family at the tent when Roslan took her out.

    When they did not return after more than two hours, the uncle became worried.

    He searched for Roslan’s number on the girl’s phone and found text messages from him.

    After Roslan dropped the girl off at the tent and left, the uncle confronted her about it.

    She broke down and told him what happened.

    A police report was made at the Nanyang Neighbourhood Police Centre and Roslan was arrested last year.

    Roslan told the court that the girl had told him she was not a virgin, but he accepted that she may have lied.

    Deputy Public Prosecutor Quek Jing Feng asked for a deterrent sentence, arguing that the victim was young and vulnerable.

    Roslan had betrayed the trust of the mother and that of the victim, who “would not expect a friend’s father to cause her harm”.

    The case was adjourned after the Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme said it was looking into whether to take up Roslan’s case.

    The girl and her family are no longer staying in the cemetery.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

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