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Tag: Singaporeans

  • Remember Howe Liang, Please

    Remember Howe Liang, Please

    There were three pairs of trackshoes in the common corridor outside his abode at his brother-in-law’s HDB flat at Tampines Avenue 5.

    One pair was his, worn out through his regular walks in the nearby park.

    There was also a bicycle, also his, but one that has been unused for almost a year.

    It reminded me about his mode of travel from his former residence at Kampong Arang to the National Stadium when he was working in the gym at the Singapore Sports Council in Kallang in the Nineties.

    Once the nation’s greatest athlete, Tan Howe Liang is now a forgotten man.

    In the wake of swimmer Joseph Schooling’s historic gold-medal feat in the 100 metres butterfly event in Rio, I decided to check on our first Olympic medallist last week.

    Tan achieved the weightlifting honour at the Rome Olympics in 1960 in dramatic fashion – after an eight-hour ordeal at the Palazetto Dello Sports Hall in the Italian capital.

    In the lightweight category (60-67.5 kg) competition, Russia’s Viktor Bushuev had already won the gold by breaking the world record. It was down to Tan and Iraq’s Abdul Wahid Aziz for the silver medal.

    After just one clean and jerk lift left, Tan felt pain in his legs and the doctors advised him to return to the Athletes’ Village for treatment.

    This would mean a withdrawal from the competition, but battle-hardened Tan was not prepared for that.

    He bore the suffering, continued to compete and eventually claimed the silver medal, ahead of 33 rivals.

    Schooling won gold in Rio in also dramatic circumstances, beating three world-class swimmers – including his idol Michael Phelps – to consign the trio to joint-silver medals with an outright triumph in Olympic record time.

    Like Tan’s historic first, Schooling’s fascinating story will be told, and retold, in print, on social media and over television.

    ST FILE PHOTO

    But the duo’s current lives are a stark contrast, sadly.

    While Schooling, 21, is the rave of the moment and is looked upon in awe by Singaporeans and the world, Tan, 83, has been consigned to history.

    To the recesses of our memories.

    And remembered and recognised only by his close buddies who occasionally take him out for a hawker centre meal or a chit chat over coffee.

    Tan lives off his savings – slightly bloated by the sale of his three-room Kampong Arang flat two years ago – a lifelong Public Assistance allowance and monthly pocket money from his teacher-daughter.

    ODD-JOBS

    He also helps himself financially by doing odd-jobs, but even they have become rare these days because of a right knee operation that did not turn out too well.

    A walking stick comes in handy when pain arises from joint-aches, some resulting from his overindulgence with weights during his competitive days of yesteryear.

    However, it was nice to see Tan (who once said: “I hope someone wins gold so that reporters will stop interviewing me every Olympic year”) sharing in Schooling’s success.

    He was all praise for the Singapore son who rocked the swimming world, saying: “He worked hard, did himself and the country proud. I like him, I admire him, and his achievement was better than mine.”

    The similarity lies in that both feats were historic firsts, recognised by big celebrations and victory parades.

    The means to the two ends were wrapped in a work ethic soaked in true dedication, never-say-die determination and an innate desire to excel.

    But the sad truth is that on a day (last Thursday) when poster-boy Schooling was placed on a nation’s pedestal and paraded through some streets of Singapore, bow-legged Tan was stretched out on a sofa in a lonely world.

    Surely thinking, what it should have been.

     

    Source: The New Paper

  • NDR 2016: MUIS, PERGAS To Work Together To Make Asatizah Scheme Mandatory

    NDR 2016: MUIS, PERGAS To Work Together To Make Asatizah Scheme Mandatory

    Two Muslim leadership bodies will work together to make the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) mandatory, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his Malay National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 21).

    The decade-old scheme, which is currently voluntary, recognises teachers and scholars who meet the minimum standards of qualification to preach and teach Islamic religious knowledge.

    “MUIS (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) will work with PERGAS (Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association) and the Asatizah Recognition Board (ARB) to make (the scheme) mandatory,” said PM Lee in Malay during his speech, which began at 6.40pm at ITE Central.

    He added: “I commend the community for these initiatives and for their resolve. This will ensure that all Muslim religious teachers here are able to guide their students to practice Islam in the context of Singapore’s multiracial society.”

    Earlier in his speech, Mr Lee had said that it is critical for local asatizah (Muslim religious teachers) to understand Singapore’s multiracial context.

    He shared that several topics, including an understanding of contemporary issues and context, are incorporated in professional development programmes offered to asatizah by the ARS.

    “I understand that many asatizah find this exposure useful and important,” he said.

    On the sidelines of the Rally, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said the plan is to start making the ARS mandatory from the beginning of next year, although there will be a transition period.

    “We want to have every religious teacher to be qualified and be on the ARS. If some of them do not have the necessary qualification, we will run programmes, we will basically work with them to ensure they can be part of the ARS,” he said.

    The Minister added that 80 per cent of teachers are already registered under the ARS.

    “The remaining 20 per cent are those operating on the private sector; those are running their own classes. We will be meeting them and I think they understand the need for the ARS and some of them are coming forward and I think some of them also fear that they may not have the necessary qualification.”

    In that situation, the authorities will work with the teachers to see what assistance is needed to ensure they meet the criteria to be qualified under the ARS.

     

    Source: ChannelNewsAsia

  • PM Lee: Kita Mesti Pastikan Singapura Ada Presiden Melayu Dari Semasa Ke Semasa

    PM Lee: Kita Mesti Pastikan Singapura Ada Presiden Melayu Dari Semasa Ke Semasa

    “Kita mesti pastikan bahawa dari masa ke masa, Singapura mempunyai seorang Presiden Melayu, seorang Presiden India ataupun dari kaum minoriti lain.

    “Saya percaya isu ini penting bukan sahaja kepada masyarakat minoriti tetapi juga Singapura.”

    Demikian tegas Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong dalam ucapan beliau di Rapat Umum Hari Kebangsaan 2016 hari ini (21 Ogos).

    Semasa ucapan dalam bahasa Melayu, PM Lee berkata, semakan terhadap jawatan Presiden Dipilih dibuat atas dasar untuk memastikan masyarakat minoriti merasakan bahawa mereka diwakili secukupnya dalam sistem politik negara ini, dengan kepentingan mereka dijaga dengan rapi.

    Encik Lee berkata semakan itu bagi memastikan bahawa dari masa ke masa Singapura akan mempunyai seorang Presiden dari kalangan minoriti, seperti semasa di bawah sistem Presiden Dilantik dahulu.

    Di bawah sistem itu, Singapura ada Presiden Yusof Ishak (Melayu), Presiden Benjamin Sheares (Serani), Presiden Devan Nair (India) dan Presiden Wee Kim Wee (Cina).

    Namun kini, di bawah sistem Presiden Dipilih, adalah sukar bagi calon bukan Cina untuk dipilih sebagai Presiden.

    KEADAAN BOLEH DIPOLITIK DAN PECAH BELAHKAN PERPADUAN

    Dalam jangka panjang, keadaan ini, kata Encik Lee, akan menimbulkan perasaan kecewa dan resah di kalangan masyarakat minoriti, dan ia boleh dipolitik dan diperalatkan untuk mengapi-apikan masyarakat minoriti dan memecah belahkan perpaduan kita pada masa depan.

    Oleh itu, kata Encik Lee, Singapura harus membuat perubahan sekarang dan mengambil tindakan ketika suasana aman dan rakyat bersatu.

    “Jadi, kita mesti pastikan bahawa dari masa ke masa, Singapura mempunyai seorang Presiden Melayu, seorang Presiden India ataupun dari kaum minoriti lain.

    “Saya percaya isu ini penting bukan sahaja kepada masyarakat minoriti tetapi juga Singapura,” ujarnya.

    Bagaimanapun, kata Encik Lee, kriteria kelayakan yang ketat akan dikekalkan. Ini supaya rakyat yakin bahawa sesiapa sahaja yang dipilih sebagai Presiden layak dipilih dan memenuhi piawaian tinggi yang sama.

    “Jawatan Presiden merupakan simbol negara kita. Setiap rakyat Singapura mesti berasa bahawa seseorang dari kaumnya boleh menjadi Presiden malah terpilih menjadi Presiden dari masa ke masa.

    “Dengan keyakinan dan sokongan itu, Presiden boleh memainkan peranannya menyatu padukan rakyat Singapura,” kata Encik Lee.

    Source: Berita MediaCorp

  • Mohd Khair: Timbangkan Sendiri – Masuk Akal Ke Radio Hang FM Ini Sebarkan Ajaran Radikal

    Mohd Khair: Timbangkan Sendiri – Masuk Akal Ke Radio Hang FM Ini Sebarkan Ajaran Radikal

    Ramai pembantu rumah dari Indonesia dengar Radio Hang dari Batam setiap hari.

    Mereka terdedah dengan risiko ‘self-radicalisation’. Dan mereka ini sekarang berada di Singapura.

    Malah keseluruhan warga Indonesia di Batam pun berada dalam posisi ‘self-radicalisation’ kerana terdedah dengan Radio Hang dari Batam.

    Apakah langkah yang perlu diambil untuk melindungi keselamatan Singapura dalam isu ini?

    1. Jam frequency atau internet Radio Hang dari Batam agar ianya tidak lagi boleh didengari di Singapura

    2. Sementara menunggu kesan dari jamming atauu banning itu, para majikan pastikan yang setiap pembantu Indonesia tidak mengikuti siaran Radio Hang mulai dari sekarang.

    3. Angkut kesemua pembantu rumah dari Indonesia yang mendengar Radio Hang Batam untuk ditemuduga demi mencari elemen-elemen radikal di kalangan mereka.

    4. Hantar balik pembantu para pembantu rumah yang menunjukkan bibit-bibit ‘self-radicalisation’

    5. Membataskan perjalanan warga Indonesia ke Singapura, terutama ke atas mereka yang terdedah dengan Radio Hang setiap hari di Batam.

    6. Memantau pergerakan warga Indonesia dari Batam yang sekarang ini berada di Singapura kerana mereka ini sekarang berisiko tinggi kerana terdedah dengan Radio Hang

    7. Pihak MFA menghantar nota bantahan kepada kedutaan Indonesia kerana membenarkan Radio Hang beroperasi di Batas dengan frequency yang menjangkau ke Singapura dan mendedahkan rakyat Singapura dengan ideologi radikal. Di dalam nota bantahan itu, pemerintah Singapura menasihatkan pemerintah Indonesia agar mengharamkan Radio Hang dari Batam kerana menjadi sumber ‘self-radicalisation’ yang menimbulkan ancaman terhadap keselamatan Singapura.

    Semoga langkah-langkah ini akan menamatkan pengaruh radikal Radio Hang terhadap warga Batam dan juga warga Singapura serta sesiapa juga yang mendengar siaran radio tersebut.

    Demi keselamatan kita bersama, iaitu untuk warga Singapura dan juga warga Indonesia.

    Tetapi apakah benar Radio Hang di Batam itu bahaya dan menjadikan orang yang mendengarnya jadi ‘self-radical’?

    Kalau betul, maka apa yang dibentangkan di atas ini perlulah ditimbangkan secara serius.

    Betul ke?
    Boleh ke?
    Masuk akal ke?

     

    Source: Mohd Khair M Noor

  • Abdul Rahman Mohamed: Jangan Sebar Fitnah Jika Tidak Dengar Radio Hang

    Abdul Rahman Mohamed: Jangan Sebar Fitnah Jika Tidak Dengar Radio Hang

    Siapa yg menyalurkan maklumat2 palsu dan fitnah kepada agency2 media bukan Islam sebegini?

    Sudah tentu ia dilakukan oleh anasir2 dikalangan orang2 Islam sendiri.

    Bijak ke penilaian sebegini?

    Puluhan ribu bahkan jutaan ummat Islam telah mendengar siaran Radio Hang Batam tidak pula jadi pelampau, radikal dan pengganas tetapi hanya berdasarkan ‘pengakuan’ dua ekor individu yg didakwa menjadi radikal setelah mendengar Radio Hang Batam.

    Bagi saya ini merupakan penilaian yg sangat memalukan kerana jelas orang2 menyodorkan maklumat2 tersebut TIDAK MENDENGAR SIARAN2 RADIO HANG justru sekali gus meletakkan mereka ke tahap Bengap Maksima yg hanya bertindak berdasarkan hati dengki, hasad dan berniat jahat tetapi bukan berdasarkan fakta dan kebenaran.

    Adakah sesudah ini anasir2 ini akan mendesak penguasa siapa sahaja yg telah mempertahankan Radio Hang dari fitnah tak menjadi mereka agar ditangkap kerana menyokong ideology pengganasan?

    Jika Zikir dan Selawat tidak dapat membersihkan hati mereka saya rasa Air
    Battery boleh agaknya.

    Saya ingin menyampaikan ayat2 ini kepada mereka

    Holy Quran 9:32
    ——————
    يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ

    Mereka hendak memadamkan cahaya Allah (Al Quran dan As Sunnah) dengan mulut mereka ( fitnah2 bodoh mrk), sedang Allah tidak menghendaki melainkan menyempurnakan cahayaNya, sekalipun orang-orang kafir tidak suka (akan yang demikian).

    Holy Quran 5:8
    ——————
    يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

    Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, hendaklah kamu semua sentiasa menjadi orang-orang yang menegakkan keadilan kerana Allah, lagi menerangkan kebenaran; dan jangan sekali-kali kebencian kamu terhadap sesuatu kaum itu mendorong kamu kepada tidak melakukan keadilan. Hendaklah kamu berlaku adil (kepada sesiapa jua) kerana sikap adil itu lebih hampir kepada taqwa. Dan bertaqwalah kepada Allah, sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui dengan mendalam akan apa yang kamu lakukan.

     

    Source: Abdul Rahman Mohamed

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