Tag: Singaporeans

Muslims Open House To Spread Hari Raya Cheer

Muslims opened their homes to friends and relatives as part of Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities yesterday but some even invited strangers.

Sikh, Christian and Hindu guests tucked into briyani and curry in Ms Noor Mastura’s home in Serangoon, taking turns at the table with a steady stream of relatives.

Ms Mastura, 26, invited them through the SG Muslims for Eid initiative, which she started last year.

The scheme aims to link up Muslim households celebrating the festival with people of other faiths, and Muslims who want to join in the celebrations but have nowhere to go.

“The whole idea of Eid is to spread joy,” said Ms Mastura, a flight attendant. “The first day is an important day and it’s usually a family affair for the closest relatives and friends, but we wanted to let guests experience customs like the Eid prayer, and going home to ask for forgiveness from elders.”

A total of 16 hosts and eight guests signed up for the initiative, which is modelled on a similar idea that the Humans of New York street photography project in the United States came up with for Christmas.

One of the three guests who visited Ms Mastura’s home yesterday was polytechnic student Parvitar Singh, 19, who was experiencing Hari Raya in a Muslim household for the first time. “It’s an honour to be here and to see how Noor’s family comes together, how there is so much respect between her and her elders, and to experience their love and hospitality,” he said.

He said he signed up for the event to learn more about other cultures and faiths. “Recent attacks around the world made me realise that it’s very important to come together as a society,” he said.

Ms Mastura and co-organisers Dhaniah Suhana, 29, a student, and Haider Amir, 31, a sales manager, said they started their society – Interfaith Youth Circle – to provide opportunities for deeper interfaith engagement, and to give young people a safe space to share their views.

They also organise activities such as monthly group discussions on different religious texts.

Mosques all over the island saw one of their busiest days yesterday.

At Al-Huda Mosque in Bukit Timah, relatives of mosque chairman Azman Kassim and long-time volunteers laid out prayer mats and prepared lontong – a vegetable stew with rice cakes – for 1,000 people.

“It’s become a family tradition,” said Mr Azman, 55, whose parents and some of their brood of 78 – including grandchildren and great- grandchildren – were helping out.

His nephew, Mr Zulqarnain Zulkiflee, 31, who helps looks after the mosque’s social media presence, said: “For those who pray at this mosque, it’s a challenge to come here because they have moved farther away, but the kampung spirit keeps bringing them back.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 9, 2016
Standard Chartered Bank: Employee Was Right To Hand Over Money To Robber

A teller who handed over about $30,000 in cash to a robber at Standard Chartered Bank’s Holland Village branch on Thursday did the right thing, according to the bank, which has tightened security there with a security guard.

Yesterday, an islandwide manhunt continued for the Caucasian man who had brazenly walked into the bank around 11.25am, slipped the teller a piece of paper with his demands, then got away with the money on foot.

The branch did not have a security guard then, but a bank spokesman said it had “in-branch security measures” such as closed-circuit TV cameras and staff “are well trained to respond to such situations”.

The teller acted in line with the bank’s protocols and “in the best interests of our customers and our colleagues”, the spokesman added. “Everyone was safe.”

She also said the bank has taken immediate action to further enhance security, without giving details, citing ongoing investigations.

Yesterday, a Certis Cisco security guard was present at the Holland Village branch, but this is understood to be a temporary measure.

Banks contacted said it is not mandatory for banks to have security guards, although many do.

The Straits Times observed yesterday that of the six banks – HSBC, StanChart, OCBC Bank, DBS Bank, Citibank and Maybank – in that stretch of Holland Village, the last two were the only ones that appeared not to have a security guard.

An industry source said bank staff are instructed to hand over money peacefully during a robbery so as not to endanger the safety of staff and customers.

“We always tell staff – don’t attempt to bring attention to the robbery. You don’t want to agitate the robber or antagonise him. What if he pulls out a gun and it turns into a hostage situation? That’s even worse,” he said.

Most banks that The Straits Times contacted yesterday said the latest incident has not prompted a review of their security measures, since these are regularly updated.

DBS said its branches are “equipped with robust security systems and features”.

A spokesman for OCBC said it has measures such as round-the-clock surveillance cameras and Certis Cisco guards. United Overseas Bank said its branch employees and security personnel have been reminded to be extra vigilant.

It is understood that the police are studying CCTV footage from the vicinity of Holland Village to identify the suspect, who was described as a Caucasian wearing a grey hoodie and mustard trousers. No weapon was seen during the robbery, which was over in minutes.

Business returned to normal yesterday along the stretch where the StanChart branch is located. Before the bank opened at 10am, customers were already waiting in line.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 9, 2016
Walid J.Abdullah: Iraq Invasion Precipitated ISIS’ Rise, Widespread Condemnation In Order

The Chilcot Inquiry has concluded that Blair’s invasion of Iraq was unjustified, and completely unnecessary. Basically, the report stated the obvious. But it’s still great to have it in black-and-white.

The Iraq War is a direct, enabling factor for the rise of ISIS, and we are bearing the brunt of that perverted group’s rise.

Now, i hope those who have been quick to comment on and condemn terrorism will react with similar alacrity in finally condemning Blair and Bush in engineering the bogus war in Iraq, which have had irreversible consequences for Iraqis and the rest of us.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

July 8, 2016
Osman Sulaiman: Train Defects Saga Shows Limits Of Local Mainstream Media, Lack Of Government Accountability & Transparency

Most of us would have heard the news about our SMRT trains being exported back to China because of ‘superficial’ hairline cracks.

Apparently, LTA says that it is of no concern. It tried to downplay the defect. It also mentioned that repair of the trains will take about 7 years and later on clarified that it will take between 3-7 years.

Interestingly, the news was first reported by foreign media and not by our mainstream media who is supposed to be the citizens first point ofinformation.

Either they (journalists) are incompetent to sniff out such infos or someone in charge is holding back information to cover up this mess.

Instead of taking those responsible over these purchases and do a full inquiry, it has decided to keep the matter unknown to the public and hush up these activities (train defects) in an attempt to cover up.

As these issues involves the life of millions of commuters, it is important that the public is informed of such matters. Afterall, Singaporeans have a stake in the transport system and billions of public funds were used to purchase these trains.

Our government is never known for its transparency. Where the late LKY would have taken out to dry those responsible over major mishaps, the current leadership has developed a system of shielding those who are responsible.

Without transparency and a functioning media, we are at the mercy of those who are in position to manipulate the people for its own benefit.

Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

July 8, 2016
Dedication To Causes Earns Halimah Yacob NUS Honorary Doctorate

She grew up poor, with her mother struggling to put food on the table after her father died when she was eight, and went on to build a storied career in the labour movement, politics, women’s issues and more.

But Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, 61, said it would be harder for someone from a similarly poor background today to do the same. While most people started off “at a very low base” in the past, some families can now afford to give better access to opportunities and resources for their children, she said.

Singapore has to “keep an eye on things like making sure our inequality does not continue to widen” through important measures in education, healthcare and housing. “So our job is to make sure that all children are able to access these kinds of resources so they are not disadvantaged,” she said, adding that she was happy that the Government was now investing “upstream” in early childhood development.

The veteran politician was speaking during an interview with the media last week, ahead of her being conferred the Honorary Doctor of Laws by the National University of Singapore (NUS) in recognition of her distinguished career and service, particularly in the public sectors, where she has championed workers’ welfare, women’s issues, and family issues.

At the NUS Commencement main ceremony on Thursday (July 7), Mdm Halimah became the 26th person to be conferred the honour, which is NUS’ highest form of recognition for outstanding individuals who have had a significant impact on the community and NUS.

Other luminaries who have been similarly honoured include former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, and Mdm Halimah, who holds a Bachelor and Master of Laws from NUS, said she was “deeply honoured and also very humbled” by the conferment.

NUS president, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, said: “An NUS Law alumna, Mdm Halimah has made her mark through her commitment and dedication to the labour movement, and her strong advocacy of women’s rights and the Malay community.”

Mdm Halimah worked for three decades in the labour movement, and became the first Malay woman elected into Parliament in 2001, and later the first female Speaker of Parliament in 2013.

As a woman from a minority background, she has been lauded for breaking glass ceilings in Singapore, but Mdm Halimah said this was not something she deliberately set out to do; her focus was on doing her work well.

“Sometimes we worry too much about disadvantages, hurdles, whether you’re a woman or come from a certain family background. Frankly speaking, my life has not been easy … but I never believed that hurdles and obstacles are problems or disadvantages that should be viewed negatively … they help to spur and motivate me,” said Mdm Halimah, who added that adversities help “develop capabilities, resilience and abilities”.

Nonetheless, she acknowledged the “deep-seated prejudices against women” that still prevail in many places, during her speech at the ceremony yesterday. Noting that women politicians in other countries have been criticised on the basis of their gender, such as a woman who was deemed “emotional” because she was unmarried, Mdm Halimah said: “By all means disagree with her policies if you wish to, but don’t try to diminish her by trivialising her role because she is a woman.” The lesson she had learnt, she added, is “never to let anyone or anything define you as that means ceding your choices to others and limiting yourself”.

She also urged graduates to remember to give back to society.

“Remember that we are where we are today because we have the support of so many people along the way,” she said. “Let’s have the humility to accept that not everything that happened to us was because of how smart or how good we are, but because we had a lot of help.”

This year, 10,395 students graduate from NUS, among them 6,491 who will receive bachelor’s degrees. A total of 23 commencement ceremonies will be held at the NUS University Cultural Centre over eight days, from Thursday till July 14.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 8, 2016