Singapore – Page 906 – Rilek1Corner

Polemik LGBTQ di Singapura: Kenyataan Rasmi ABIM

Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia/Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM)

Atas semangat persaudaraan Islam dan muhibbah komuniti ASEAN, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) merasa terpanggil untuk menyatakan keprihatinan terhadap usaha-usaha komuniti Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) di Singapura menyebarkan dakyah negatif terhadap Dr. Syed Muhd Khairuddin , seorang Pensyarah Jabatan Pengajian Melayu di National University Singapore (NUS), Singapura.

Dalam perkembangan tersebut, sekumpulan pendukung LGBT telah mempertikaikan kenyataan di laman peribadi Facebook beliau yang berupa peringatan kepada umat Islam di Singapura agar menjauhi dan menolak amalan LGBT.

Pertikaian tersebut telah berlanjutan apabila kelompok tersebut mendesak beliau agar memohon maaf secara terbuka atas kenyataan tersebut, yang dirasakan menyinggung pengamal dan pendukung LGBT. Tidak cukup dengan itu, mereka telah mengutus surat bantahan kepada pentadbiran universiti dan melancarkan petisyen atas talian bagi mendesak tindakan tataterbib dikenakan ke atas beliau.

Rentetan itu, timbul tindak balas daripada komuniti Muslim dan pertubuhan Islam di Singapura yang memberikan respon mempertahankan kenyataan dan pendirian Dr Syed Muhd Khairuddin. Komuniti masyarakat Islam mempertahankan beliau yang bertindak sebagai penyampai mesej yang benar; bahawa Islam melarang amalan LGBT.

Dalam konteks ini, ABIM ingin menegaskan bahawa pandangan Islam terhadap LGBT adalah jelas dan muktamad dalam Islam, baik dari segi moral ataupun perundangan Islam.

Prinsip dan pendirian agama Islam berasaskan kepada sumber Al-Qur’an, Hadis, Ijma’ dan sumber-sumber lain yang jelas tanpa ragu menolak sama sekali amalan LGBT di kalangan umat Islam. Hakikat ini diketahui serta diperakui bukan sahaja di kalangan umat Islam, bahkan di kalangan masyarakat umum.

Sesungguhnya pendirian yang dikemukakan oleh Dr. Syed Muhd Khairudin selari dengan pandangan sarjana yang berotoriti dalam Islam, antara lain seperti yang diungkapkan dengan tepat oleh mantan Presiden Islamic Society of North America, Muzammil Siddiqi (2003):-

“Homosexuality is sinful and shameful. … But nowadays this act has become a phenomenon. There are agencies and lobby groups that are working hard to propagate it and to make it an acceptable and legitimate lifestyle. For this reason it is important that we should speak against it. We should warn our youth and children from this devilish lifestyle. We should make it very clear that it is Haram, absolutely forbidden and that it kindles the wrath and anger of Allah…”

Percubaan mempertikaikannya oleh kelompok tertentu– termasuk dari dari kalangan Muslim sendiri – dari awal pelaksanaan Islam hingga ke hari ini ternyata tidak dapat diterima oleh umat Islam, di negara mana pun mereka berada. Hal ini dizahirkan dengan jelas oleh negara-negara Islam OIC menerusi persidangan-persidangan hak asasi sejagat.

Bahkan di kalangan umat Islam yang merupakan golongan minoriti di negara-negara lain, termasuk di Barat juga jelas menunjukkan bahawa hampir kesemuanya menolak amalan LGBT. Meskipun wujud beberapa pertubuhan dan invidividu yang mengangkat pengamalan atau perjuangan LGBT atas nama ‘Islam’ atau ‘Muslim’, ia tidak pernah sama sekali menggugat pendirian Islam yang terbina kukuh atas sumber hukumnya.

Penolakan terhadap amalam songsang LBGT bukan hanya terbatas kepada agama Islam sahaja. Waima ia turut disuarakan dengan jelas di kalangan majoriti penganu agama-agama besar yang lainnya. Adalah merupakan hal yang sedia dimaklumi bahawa agama-agama besar di dunia menjunjung tinggi institusi keluarga dan perkahwinan Justeru hanya perkahwinan diantara lelaki dan wanita dengan tujuan murni demi kelangsungan zuriat manusia yang harus dipertahankan oleh para penganut agama dari sebarang usaha meruntuhkannya melalui ‘hubungan dan perkahwinan sejenis’ melalui pintu LGBT.

Sebagai komuniti penganut agama-agama besar yang penting di dunia, keengganan masyarakat dan pemimpin rantau Asia Tenggara untuk mengiktiraf amalan LGBT sebagai ‘nilai universal’ jelas terbukti. Sebagai contoh, ketua-ketua negara ASEAN (Persatuan Negara-Negara Asia Tenggara) sepakat menolak advokasi pelobi LGBT untuk memasukkan klausa berkaitan LGBT dalam Deklarasi ASEAN Mengenai Hak Asasi Manusia yang diumumkan pada 19 November 2013.

Seperti Malaysia, Singapura sebagai sebuah negara maju dan terkehadapan dalam konteks persaingan dunia global turut mempertahankan undang-undang yang mengiktirafkan amalan liwat sebagai satu jenayah yang dihukum di bawah Kanun Keseksaan negara tersebut.

Justeru atas justifikasi dan semangat agama dan muhibbah ASEAN inilah maka ABIM menyatakan sokongannya terhadap usaha-usaha individu seperti Dr Syed Khairudin dan pertubuhan Islam Singapura yang berusaha menyampaikan pendirian Islam yang jelas terhadap isu LGBT. Atas dasar ini juga, kita menyeru agar pihak yang menyokong LGBT di Singapura wajar untuk menghormati pendirian serta pandangan yang dikemukakan oleh Dr Syed Khairuddin berdasarkan kepada kerangka intelektual yang objektif serta ilmiah.

ABIM sama sekali tidak berhasrat untuk campur tangan tentang hal ehwal masyarakat Muslim Singapura. Kenyataan ini diketengahkan sebagai satu penjelasan mengenai pendirian ABIM terhadap isu umat Islam sejagat

ABIM turut yakin bahawa sebagai penganut agama Islam yang berpendidikan tinggi dan berwawasan luas, Prof.Dr Syed Khairudin dan pemimpin agama Islam di Singapura akan mengambil yang pendekatan sederhana dan berhikmah dalam menyelesaikan isu ini.

Walaupun pendirian Islam cukup jelas dalam isu LGBT ini, Islam turut mengajar bahawa nilai akhlak dan moral yang tinggi menuntut mesej tersebut disampaikan dengan pendekatan yang terbaik. ABIM menolak sebarang pendekatan konfrontasi berunsur kekerasan di mana-mana peringkat, oleh sesiapapun terhadap komuniti tersebut.

Tanpa sebarang provokasi dan dakyah yang tidak bertanggungjawab dari pihak yang mempertikaikan beliau, ABIM yakin inilah nilai murni dan akhlak Islamiyyah yang telah dan akan terus diamalkan oleh beliau dan pemimpin msyarakat Islam di Singapura.

Atas dasar ini, ABIM turut menyeru semua pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam di Malaysia untuk memberikan sokongan dan dukungan yang penuh terhadap Dr.Syed Khairuddin dan pertubuhan Islam di Singapura, untuk terus memperjuangan pendirian umat Islam terhadap LGBT sebagaimana yang diketengahkan oleh masyarakat Islam di Malaysia.

Mohamad Raimi Ab.Rahim, Naib Presiden
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)

Source: ABIM

Read the ENTIRE chronology of saga in category ‘AGAMA’:

March 5, 2014

NUS professor acknowledges ‘poor judgment’ in posts on sexuality

SINGAPORE — The National University of Singapore professor at the centre of an online controversy has acknowledged that his recent Facebook posts discussing his views on homosexuality caused offence, said NUS provost Tan Eng Chye.

In a circular sent out this morning (Mar 5), Prof Tan said that Associate Professor Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied’s comments on his views of lesbianism “contained provocative, inappropriate and offensive language”.

“I have counselled Associate Professor Khairudin, who has acknowledged that whilst his only intention had been to convey his point of view, his original posts reflected poor judgment in the tone and choice of words. He has since amended or removed these posts,” said Prof Tan.

Two alumni and a current student had earlier lodged a complaint to NUS over Professor Khairudin’s Facebook posts, claiming that Professor Khairudin had described “alternative modes of sexual orientation” as “wayward”, and as “cancers” and “social diseases” to be “cleansed”.

The circular emphasised NUS’ commitment to diversity, regardless of “gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, political beliefs or sexual orientation”, and highlighted the need to respect this diversity when communicating with others.

Both staff and students were reminded to “show restraint, due care and respect with their words and actions, particularly when communicating online.”

Source: TODAYonline

Read the ENTIRE chronology of saga in category ‘AGAMA’:

March 5, 2014

An inclusive society – LGBTQ & Straight

Screen Shot 2013-10-25 at 1.49.28 PM — Bill B. – The American gay who wrote to The Real Singapore

I was quite horrified to read this open letter to TRS from two tourists who were recently in Singapore for a holiday. I was horrified for two reasons: first, over their terrible experience in Singapore, and second, that they’d choose TRS to air unhappiness over a very serious issue. I’ll only be discussing the first reason here (there is subtext, in case you are wondering).

I was quite shocked to learn that there are still Singaporeans who think it’s okay to publicly and openly discriminate against a minority group. I know this isn’t surprising to many out there, but I’ve been extremely sheltered for most of my life — I went to a convent school and the culture was incredibly inclusive. In fact, almost all my friends are from different races/religions/sexual orientations. Festive celebrations in my home might as well be a successful and happy initiative for a racial harmony campaign.

So, to learn that a mother would openly (and clearly, loud enough for the two men to hear) tell her son to avert his eyes because being gay is abnormal seems just horrendous to me. Please note that the operative words here are “openly” and “loud enough”.

There is a world of difference between keeping opinions and beliefs that might hurt others to yourself and blatantly airing them for the world to see

I get it: we all have (and are entitled) to our own opinions. I dislike corn, peas, pork and a multitude of other harmless items. I also have less harmless opinions about this country, Singaporeans, various ethnic groups, and so on. But I know these opinions might end up causing more dissension than peace, so I am careful what I say and to whom (those who know me will know that I am not so good on volume control, so I am extra careful at times).

Openly airing our beliefs, especially if it may be hateful towards certain groups in society is not, and will never be, helpful. There is nothing to gain; nothing to achieve. The mother may have been caught unaware by her child’s curiosity in that moment, but the way she chose to handle the situation — trying to pass on sensitive values and beliefs loudly and in public – reflected a lack of wisdom and social awareness.

Be aware of what values we pass on to our children, when and where it happens

We’ve established that we’re all entitled to our own opinions. We were also raised with certain beliefs that we’ve assumed as our own. However, we should be mindful of the situation in which we attempt to convey these sensitive values and beliefs to the younger generations.

We should always do so with an awareness that the child will have to grow up (live and function) in a society where each individual has a different set of values and beliefs. In other words, we should teach them inclusion instead of exclusion.

We should do so behind closed doors (especially religious values that may be sensitive to a changing society), not with the intention of “hiding” our opinions, but simply being mindful that these values and beliefs we’ve cultivated may be hurtful to other members of society… and we don’t want our children, who might not have social awareness at a young age, slipping up and saying something harmful.

What that mother did publicly — covering her son’s eyes and telling him that the couple was “abnormal” — could have been done in a different way. I can’t fault the mother for her personal beliefs, but I can fault how she had expressed it, and the way she attempted to pass it on to a future generation.

Let me elaborate.

I am Christian. I grew up in a Christian family, which had a strong belief in the heterosexual family unit, according to the Bible. However, my parents never instilled hate along with the values and beliefs they passed on to me, instead, they made sure I understood humility. This was to ensure that I would be able to recognize fellow sinners and feel compassion before hate. In doing so, they passed on bigger and more important values of love. This also meant that in the face of a society with varying values and beliefs, I would not judge, instead, I’d attempt to understand first.

I would like to add that the children we mold today will grow up to be teenagers and adults of tomorrow, some of whom would think that it is perfectly okay to scream “f*cking faggots” to strangers and teach their children loudly and in public that being gay is “abnormal”.

The cycle continues. It’s time we break it.

Source: http://alisawrites.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/an-inclusive-society/

March 5, 2014

American Gay Couple Felt Discriminated in Singapore

This is a complaint over the ridiculous treatment me and my boyfriend Walter endured during our visit to Singapore. I am an American tourist who holiday-ed in Singapore last month together with my boyfriend of 5 years. We planned for this holiday for ages and finally booked our tickets to this world renown Garden City. After arrival, we took in the beautiful sights and was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness, diverse cultures and food until something happened.

All that initial positivity went out of the window when me and my boyfriend were taking a leisurely stroll at the botanic gardens. Out of the blue, a young local boy accompanied by his mother pointed at us and shouted, “mummy… why are the two boys holding hands?” What came next shocked us beyond words. The lady knelt beside her son, hurriedly covered his eyes and exclaimed at the top of her voice “don’t look at them, they are abnormal”. After which she dragged the puzzled boy away as though we had the plague!

We were both dumbfounded at this shockingly bigoted behavior. Apart from the Christian belt in the South, we would never be subject to such blatant discrimination in the USA. Even President Obama , the most influential man in the world has repeatedly called for universal love and equality. It is thus disappointing that despite being a democracy, Singaporeans are still backward in their mindsets and deny minorities the freedom to love.

I write in now because our brush with Singaporean’s narrow mindedness happened not only once but twice. Shortly after that episode, while Walter and I were cuddling by the riverside at Clarke Quay enjoying the river breeze, a group of rowdy brown skinned goons ran up to us and screamed “fucking faggots” and ran off laughing like hyenas.

What’s with this trashy behavior Singapore? Why are we being bullied and insulted for our sexuality? We are paying tourists in your country and this is how you treat your guests? For all your beautiful buildings and wonderful infrastructure, the people of Singapore are sorely lacking in common decency and woefully antagonistic towards us. Where is the love Singapore? How can you proclaim yourself a first world nation when such blatant discrimination against sexual minorities still exists?

Bill B.

Source: Bill B., Shaul Hamid, TRS

March 5, 2014