Tag: Singaporeans

Making Hijab Part Of Victoria Police Uniform

Constable Maha Sukkar yesterday became the first Victoria Police officer to wear a traditional Muslim hijab as part of her uniform.

The 30-year-old former graphic designer was supported by her parents, who flew in from her native Beirut for her graduation ceremony, and friends from the Muslim community.

“At first we were worried by how people would respond but we really admired her courage and she has been an inspiration to us,” said her best friend, Aiesha Hussain, at the ceremony.

The navy, lightweight hijab, specifically designed for Constable Sukkar, has Velcro to enable its release should she get caught in a physical scuffle.

Constable Sukkar, of Dandenong, said it had been her dream to join Victoria Police since she arrived in Australia from Lebanon four years ago. She said she did not expect the traditional Muslim headpiece would attract any unwanted attention, but if it did she would handle it “just like any other police officer”.

Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said Victoria Police wanted to attract more women and more recruits from culturally diverse backgrounds that reflected the community.

“I think this is Victoria Police showing that we are very welcoming of people from a whole range of backgrounds and nationalities who want to join us,” she said.

At yesterday’s marching out ceremony at Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley, 46 graduates were sworn in.

Police Minister Andre Haermeyer warned they were entering the force at a time when it faced intense criticism and scrutiny, and a mounting battle against organised crime.

Source: www.theage.com.au

July 28, 2015
Meet Minnesota’s First Hijab-Wearing Policewoman

Have you ever heard of Kadra Mohamed? Well you should have.

She’s Minnesota’s first hijab wearing police woman and the first Somali female officer.

Kadra Mohamed is only 21 years old and already making history.

St. Paul is also one of the few American police departments that allows women to wear the hijab while working. This way, they hope to enable Muslim women to consider a career in law enforcement.

This topic always raises the same questions. Why is it that Muslim women wearing hijab have to fight all kinds of stereotypes to have a career? There are millions of Muslim women like Kadra Mohamed, who want to achieve their goals. And it’s not their hijab that is holding them back. It’s those people with narrow-minded views, refusing to see what kind of talents these women might brighten up the world with.

Let’s hope Kadra Mohamed will not stay an exception forever!

Source: http://mvslim.com

July 28, 2015
Mampu Gengam Kejayaan Walau Diasak Cabaran Hidup

Ibunya bertungkus-lumus membesarkan beliau serta adik lelaki sebagai ibu dan pencari nafkah tunggal keluarga sejak mereka kecil lagi.

Oleh sebab itu, Encik Muhammad Jazli Jumain percaya kini sudah tiba masa ibunya, Cik Jamilah Ali, 59 tahun, berhenti kerja dan berehat, memandangkan beliau lulus dengan cemerlang dari universiti dan berjaya mendapatkan pekerjaan baik dalam sektor awam.

“Ibu bekerja sambilan di restoran makanan segera dan membawa pulang paling banyak $800 sebulan. Sebelum ini, beliau pernah melakukan pelbagai kerja lain, termasuk kerja pembersihan, pekerja kolam renang dan pekerja kilang.

“Sekarang, saya nak lakukan apa yang saya boleh demi mengurangkan beban ibu supaya beliau dapat bersara dengan selesa,” kata anak sulung itu, yang tinggal di flat tiga bilik dalam kawasan Yishun.

Adiknya yang berusia 23 tahun mula bekerja sebagai penolong jurutera awal tahun ini. Ibu bapa mereka bercerai semasa beliau kecil dan bapanya meninggal dunia beberapa bulan lalu, kata Encik Muhammad Jazli.

Encik Muhammad Jazli, 25 tahun, antara lebih 8,600 lulusan Universiti Teknologi Nanyang (NTU) yang akan menerima ijazah dalam konvokesyen yang berlangsung hari ini hingga Isnin depan.

Lulusan Politeknik Singapura itu akan menerima ijazah kepujian kelas pertama dalam bidang Kejuruteraan Elektrikal dan Elektronik (EEE) dalam majlis konvokesyen fakultinya berlangsung lusa.

Pencapaiannya itu bukan sahaja satu kebanggaan bagi dirinya dan hasil kerja keras sendiri, malah beliau percaya ia lebih membanggakan ibunya serta ibu dan bapa saudaranya yang turut memainkan peranan menjaganya sejak kecil, khususnya apabila ibu keluar bekerja.

Beliau juga bersyukur menerima Biasiswa Nanyang daripada NTU, yang antara lain membiayai yuran pengajian, kos penginapan di hostel NTU serta memberinya elaun dan geran program pertukaran di luar negara.

“Dengan bantuan biasiswa ini, saya tidak perlu ambil kerja sambilan seperti yang saya lakukan semasa di politeknik dan dapat memberi tumpuan penuh kepada pelajaran.

“Biasiswa ini juga memberi saya peluang sama dengan pelajar lain walaupun keadaan kewangan keluarga tidak mewah. Contohnya, dengan biasiswa in juga, saya dapat ikuti program pertukaran ke Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Hongkong pada 2013.

“Saya melakukan yang terbaik dalam pelajaran dan harap saya membuktikan bahawa sumbangan para penaja dan NTU kepada saya menerusi biasiswa ini berbaloi,” ujarnya.

Encik Muhammad Jazli yang akan mula bekerja sebagai jurutera projek eksekutif di Penguasa Pengangkutan Darat (LTA) bulan depan juga rasa senang dapat memanfaatkan pengetahuan kejuruteraan yang diperolehi menerusi empat tahun di NTU apabila mula bekerja nanti, selain menyumbang kepada masyarakat menerusi kerjanya.

Presiden Tony Tan Keng Yam, yang juga Canselor NTU, akan merasmikan majlis konvokesyen pertama NTU tahun ini hari ini.

Majlis itu akan dihadiri Menteri Pendidikan, Encik Heng Swee Keat.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

July 27, 2015
Straight A Student Commits Suicide After ‘Poor’ Result, Guilt-Stricken Mother Takes Own Life After

She is still coming to terms with the death of her teenage granddaughter, who had committed suicide over two Bs in her O levels.

Then three months after the 16-year-old plunged to her death, Madam Ng Siang Mui’s grief- and guilt-struck daughter, who was the teen’s mother, also killed herself.

The tragic double deaths has left her son-in-law, the teen’s father, mentally unstable.

In an interview with The New Paper, Madam Ng, 71, shared the devastation and anguish of the triple tragedy that began in January this year.

She was reluctant to speak at first, noting that the death had torn the family apart.

Madam Ng initially said: “Talking to you now is useless. My daughter is dead. My granddaughter is dead.”

She changed her mind later because she hoped that sharing their story could help highlight early intervention and save more lives.

Madam Ng said that in January, just three hours after getting her results slip, her granddaughter jumped to her death.

Except for two Bs – in English and Mathematics – the student had scored distinctions for her other subjects.

More children and teenagers have been seeking help for suicidal thoughts, said the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS).

SOS says that in 2013, they had 224 clients, aged 19 and below, writing in to them — that is 65 more compared to the year before.

Source: http://www.tnp.sg

July 27, 2015
Yaacob Ibrahim: Allowing Hijab At Workplace ‘Very Problematic’ For Professions That Require Staff To Be In Uniform

Wearing a Muslim headscarf at the workplace would be “very problematic” for some professions that require their staff to be in uniform, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday.

Weighing in on the issue for the first time since a debate began in September, Dr Yaacob said in a note on his Facebook page that many employers here have exercised flexibility on the practice. However, he pointed out that police officers and Singapore Armed Forces servicemen are not allowed to wear or display religious symbols on their uniforms or faces.

“Nor do we allow Muslim police women officers to wear the hijab on duty,” Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for Communications and Information, wrote. “But when they are out of uniform, they are free to wear the hijab, as indeed many do going to and from work.”

He added: “Muslim women enjoy many freedoms in Singapore. They don the hijab in many situations, including in Parliament, the highest elected chamber in the land.”

The issue was first raised at a forum on race in September, when a polytechnic lecturer asked why nurses were barred from wearing the Muslim headscarf and sparked a debate on whether front-line officers should be allowed to.

An online petition championing the cause then began on Oct 12, with the aim of garnering 20,000 signatures. It was taken down last week, with only 12,405 signatures.

Former Mufti Shaikh Syed Isa Semait was then embroiled in the controversy after he told the Berita Harian that the petition could breed misunderstanding, and that one question to ask was whether all Muslim women working at the front line as nurses want to wear a hijab. This led Mufti Mohamed Fatris Bakaram to weigh in on Monday, as he criticised netizens who had used abusive and disrespectful language in the debate.

Dr Yaacob, who noted the issue has garnered “renewed attention” in mainstream and social media, said Malay Members of Parliament from the People’s Action Party had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Cabinet ministers.

While the issue is important to many Muslim Singaporeans, Dr Yaacob said the attacks on the former and current Muftis are “completely uncalled for”. He added: “They will not bring the discussions forward, much less solve any problems. Such behaviour reflects badly on those who engage in it. Let us always treat each other with due respect, whether in our own Muslim community or when engaging those belonging to other faiths.”

While everyone has the right to practise his or her respective faiths, Dr Yaacob said this also entails a responsibility to promote mutual respect and understanding among different religious groups and to preserve the common space that all groups share.

Urging the Malay-Muslim community to remain patient, he said he and his colleagues will continue discussions with the community.

“Negotiating our common space in a way that all are comfortable with is a continuing work in progress. Muslims have to do this, as do people of other faiths.

“We have come a long way together as a society, and we should approach the adjustments that will be needed from time to time with the same spirit of tolerance and mutual respect,” he added.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 27, 2015