Tag: Singapore

Singapore Murtad Association Pokes Fun at NUS Prof Syed Khairudin Aljunied on LGBTQ Issue
A friend of mine from NUS alerted me on the post below which was written by a FASS Associate Professor who teaches Malay Studies at her school.

Please bear in mind that this is an influential person who is supposed to educate students without foisting his religious beliefs on them. However, he has evidently transgressed his boundaries.

So here is my reply to Mr. Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied:

Dear Prof, are you aware that lesbianism has existed way before Islam? A religion which only began existing in the 610 AD? In the Code of Hammurabi, written circa 1750 BC, it was mentioned that women who were allowed to marry other women were called the “salzikrum” (“daughter-men”). If you think that this is an isolated case, let me further support it by mentioning that homosexuality has been observed in 1500 species, ranging from large marine animals to insects. It is clear from nature that there is more to sexual behaviour than one that is solely geared towards reproduction.

However, even if you are still convinced that homosexuality, especially lesbianism, is a choice, how does this relate to it being morally-incorrect? In what way does someone’s sexual preferences harms or infringes upon others’ rights? If I were to prefer asam pedas to curry and eat my food in solitude, while you on the other hand, prefer the latter and forces me to only eat curry because that is what the majority prefer, wouldn’t your action be considered as a form of bullying?

Yes, you will then proceed to rebuff my points by quoting anti-homosexuality verses from the Quran, but so what? I, as an ex-Muslim, question the book’s credibility since it is rife with incoherent chronological order for historical events (Quran states Virgin Mary as Aaron and Moses’s sister, when in actuality, both of them were born 1500 years apart), scientific inaccuracies (Earth is flat and Sun and Moon orbits around it) and mathematical errors (the calculation for the inheritance law did not amount to a whole number, it resulted in an improper fraction instead).

Are you sure you want to openly claim that lesbianism is a “wrongful ideology and practice” when your religion, Islam, is in fact, made up of layers upon layers of lies? But then again, in Islam, taqiyyah is totally “halal” and permissible in order to beguile the ignorant from the flaws of Islam. Not only that, your religion, Islam, preaches hate and intolerance in the name of Jihad.

In Surah 2: The Cow
1. Kill disbelievers wherever you find them. If they attack you, then kill them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. 191
2. War is ordained by Allah. 216

Can you now see the difference, Prof? Being in a fulfilling relationship with a woman is not harming others but actively persecuting others who don’t agree with your beliefs, is.

As evident from its violence-inducing scripture, Islam has no place in a multi-religious and secular country such as Singapore. But of course, not many non-Muslims or even Muslims, for that matter, know about their own religion, which is why I find it appalling that even when Muslims themselves are mired in ignorance of the true Islam, they have no qualms dictating others on how they should live. And how they should love.

Wake up. This is 21st century Singapore, if you prefer to bound your life rigidly to the teachings of the Quran, please time-travel back to 7th Century Saudi Arabia. I’m sure with your parochial mindset and stalwart need to assert what you believe as “morally-correct”, you will definitely “gel well” with the barbaric and tribal Arab men of that epoch.

Let’s face it: Lesbianism isn’t cancerous, your religion is.

Source: Singapore Murtad Association, Syed Khairudin Aljunied

Read the ENTIRE chronology of saga in category ‘AGAMA’:
February 27, 2014
Muslimah Shares Story on Bipolar Disorder

SINGAPORE – Sanity and happiness, Mark Twain once wrote, is an impossible combination.

In Yohanna Abdullah‘s case, it is all too true. She cannot afford to get too happy because that would trigger something in her brain and make her do outrageous things.

Like sunbathing in her underwear in Kallang Park, singing, dancing and flirting with strangers in public, and even marrying a foreigner she met online but barely knew.

The 47-year-old publications executive has bipolar disorder, a mental illness characterised by severe mood swings, from depressed (“low”) to manic (“high”).

Ms Yohanna has been diagnosed as Bipolar Type 1, which means she is prone to mania.

“I am generally a modest person but when I am high, I’m uninhibited and say or do as if there is no wrong or right. Whatever is right is what feels right at the moment,” she says.

She was diagnosed with the condition – which experts say is caused by many factors ranging from genetic to social – more than 15 years ago.

The divorcee and mother of two children, aged 17 and 19, believes it was triggered by a combination of factors: mother-in-law issues, the stress of juggling work and motherhood, financial problems and the discovery of her former husband’s affair with a colleague.

Her meltdown shocked many who knew her to be Miss Congeniality, an intelligent woman with a bubbly disposition and a promising future.

Chatty and articulate, Ms Yohanna is still grappling with the condition which turned her life into a roller-coaster ride, but says medication and the support of loved ones have helped her to manage it a lot better.

She had only a brief attack last year. This was a far cry from two years ago, when she had to be hospitalised in the Institute of Mental Health on at least 10 occasions.

Source: Asiaone

February 27, 2014
U.S Federal Trade Commission Investigates Pyramid Scheme ‘Herbalife’

The Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Herbalife (HLF) is a pyramid scheme. All Nicole Lopez wanted was a crack at the American dream and a chance to work at home closer to her kids. Instead, she got a nightmare, losing thousands of dollars after trying to sell Herbalife, which makes weight-loss shakes and nutritional supplements.

Earlier Tuesday, the National Consumers League released a letter urging the FTC to take action because the allegations against Herbalife could impact consumers. The group said it had met separately with representatives from Herbalife, Pershing Square and the Direct Selling Association, and concluded that an investigation is the best answer to determine whether Herbalife is a legitimate business or whether it operates a pyramid scheme.

Ackman alleged in December that Herbalife was a pyramid scheme and made a bet the stock would fall, arguing that the company makes most of its money by recruiting new salespeople rather than on the products they sell. Herbalife disputes that.
• Herbalife stock surges after Icahn grabs stake
• Icahn vs. Ackman: Investors take squabble to TV

“If you’re an honest person and you want to do an honest business, there’s no way you can succeed,” Lopez said, sitting in the kitchen of her Utah home.

Unwilling to recruit other people to sell Herbalife, which is how most Herbalife reps make money, she quit after 11 months and lost the $10,000 she invested.

On Wednesday, Herbalife said in a statement “We regret that the National Consumers League has permitted itself to be the mechanism by which Pershing Square continues its attack on Herbalife.”

“We are pleased that the National Consumers League, the nation’s oldest and one of the most respected consumer protection organizations, has requested that the FTC launch an investigation of Herbalife,” Ackman released in a statement.

“We believe that a thorough investigation of Herbalife will reveal it to be a pyramid scheme that has harmed millions of consumers in more than 80 countries around the world.”

After a 10-month investigation into so-called multi-level marketing, CNBC found dozens of people with similar stories. Multi-level marketers sell products through a network of distributors, many of whom work at home and get paid by selling products, as well as recruiting other distributors.

Herbalife maintains that it is a financially strong company that has created meaningful value for shareholders.

Last month Herbalife Ltd. denied a media report that it was the target of a law enforcement investigation. At that time the FTC would not confirm or deny whether any government agency was investigating Herbalife.

Many of the people interviewed discovered that selling the products was harder than they thought. After hitting up family and friends to buy products, sellers often resorted to spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars buying sales leads, which sometimes led nowhere. The real money, they found, is in recruiting others to sell the product, creating what’s known as a “down-line” of distributors. The more distributors they recruit, the more money they are likely to make, based in part on a combination of bonuses and commissions.

The debate has garnered the attention of Wall Street, with hedge fund titans now battling over Herbalife’s stock.

Herbalife shares finished Tuesday down 2.1% at $40.38. Another investor, Dan Loeb of Third Point LLC, has disclosed an 8.2 percent stake in Herbalife, a vote of confidence in the company.

Shares of Herbalife fell 23 cents to $40.15 in premarket trading Wednesday. Its shares have traded in a 52-week range between $24.24 and $73.

CNBC heard claims of thousands of dollars a month — even $10,000, $20,000 and $65,000. One featured speaker, Olga Valencia, a successful distributor, recalled how “my first car was a Mercedes that I bought with Herbalife.”

Herbalife strongly rejects criticism that the company is a pyramid scheme.

“Allegations that Herbalife’s business model is a pyramid scheme are serious charges with serious consequences for consumers and those who are recruited to sell Herbalife’s products,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director at the National Consumers League. “The FTC is the federal agency with the right mandate and expertise to explore these allegations.”

Source: http://bit.ly/1kayQm0

February 27, 2014
Mantan Anggota Parlimen Ariff Suradi Meninggal Dunia

AL-FATEHAH.

MANTAN anggota parlimen Parti Tindakan Raykat (PAP) Haji Mohamed Ariff Suradi meninggal dunia pagi tadi di Hospital Besar Singapura pada usia 84 tahun.

Beliau meninggalkan lima orang anak, 16 cucu dan dua cicit.

Allahyarham Haji Mohamed Ariff merupakan generasi pertama pemimpin Melayu PAP yang mencipta sejarah dalam Pilihan Raya Umum 1963 apabila beliau memenangi kawasan undi Kampong Kembangan, ketika itu kubu kuat parti Umno Singapura.

Haji Mohamed Ariff memenangi pilihan raya bagi kawasan undi Kampong Kembangan pada 1968 dan 1972. Allahyarham merupakan pemimpin kesatuan sekerja sebelum menceburi bidang politik.

Beliau mendapat pendidikan Melayu di Sekolah Tanglin Tinggi dan Kota Raja; berpendidikan Inggeris di sekolah Inggeris di Monks’s Hill dan Victoria.

Sumber: Berita Harian Singapura

February 26, 2014
Appeal for Witness: Hit and Run Accident

My cousin is a victim of hit and run @ loyang way just now (tuesday,25 feb) at around estimated 3plus pm. As there was a bicycle near him when he was found, rasenye he might be riding on that bicycle.. kindly PM me if anyone has any info

He is currently critical and unconscious.

Place of Accident: Along Loyang Way.
Date: 25th Feb 2014, Tuesday.
Time: Approx 3pm
Victim: 19 year old Cyclist.
Condition: Critical with severe injury to the brain, broken shoulders and hip bone. Unconscious.

-Allah uji tak kira siapa dan bila..bukan kerana Allah tak sayang,tp kerana Allah tau kita kuat..Allah tau kita impikan Jannah..setiap ketentuan Allah pasti ada beribu hikmah-

Source: Siti Nurliyana Samaat, cousin of victim.

February 26, 2014