Tag: Singaporeans

IS Uses Malay-Language In Push For New Recruits In Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR — The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group is in an “aggressive mode” in reaching out to Malay-speaking communities by making reading materials in the Malay language more accessible online, a move that could have wide-ranging ramifications for countries in South-east Asia.

The Malaysian authorities say ISIS is spreading its propaganda through more “localised news reports” and “articles” that glorify its fighters, especially those from Malaysia and Indonesia who have travelled to Syria to take up arms with the militant group.

These “articles” are uploaded on ISIS websites in Malay, which also share information on ISIS activities in the provinces they conquered.

One of the websites is a portal containing articles taken from the ISIS magazine Dabiq, which are then translated into Bahasa Indonesia and Malay.

Online recruiters in Malaysia and Indonesia also use forums and blogs to reach out to potential recruits.

Malaysia’s top counter-terrorism official, Mr Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, said the ISIS recruiters would include articles on martyrdom and life in the organisation.

“They feed their sympathisers with fairy tales,” said Mr Ayob.

It is understood that there are currently about six to seven ISIS websites, forums and blogs in Malay.

Mr Ayob said these websites use servers abroad to avoid detection from the authorities in both countries.

The ISIS social-media unit has also taken the initiative to include Malay subtitles in its radio programmes broadcast in English and Arabic through ISIS’ official radio station, Bayan, which was made available on YouTube three months ago.

A check on YouTube, which provides access to recorded ISIS radio programmes, showed that Bayan attracts between 700 and 2,000 visitors.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s Political Science and Islamic Studies lecturer Ahmad Muhammady said the emergence of ISIS websites in Malay indicates an “offensive approach” taken by the terror group.

“Before this, they took a ‘defensive approach’, that is to respond to the accusations made against them, and it was done either in Arabic, English or Indonesian. Now, they changed tact,” Mr Ahmad said.

“To me, it is not surprising. Currently, the term ‘jihad media’ (ilami jihadi) is getting popular among the pro-ISIS chatters. This term is coined … to encourage young people to join the ISIS media team to take an offensive approach against their ‘enemies’.”

Last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a regional security forum in Singapore that South-east Asia is a key recruitment centre for ISIS.

“ISIS has so many Indonesian and Malaysian fighters that they form them into a unit by themselves — the Katibah Nusantara (Malay Archipelago Combat Unit),” said Mr Lee, who also warned that ISIS could establish a base somewhere in the region and pose a “serious threat to the whole of South-east Asia”.

His remarks followed the recent arrests of two self-radicalised Singaporean youths, including M Arifil Azim Putra Norja’i, 19, who had planned intensively to attack key facilities and assassinate government leaders if he was unable to leave Singapore for Syria.

Mr Ahmad said ISIS’ use of Malay-language materials as a recruitment tool was a worrying development for Malaysia. “Currently, there is an increase in interest among youths in rural areas in the east coast, especially among secondary and college students,” he said.

He said the use of Malay as the medium was all about penetrating deeper into Malaysian society.

“Those who are not educated in English still rely on the Malay website as a source of reference.”

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said so far, no ISIS websites in Malay have been shut down.

Its monitoring and enforcement division head Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said MCMC was aware of the emergence of the ISIS sites.

“So far, we have not blocked any such website, but we did take down a few videos on YouTube,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Source: www.todayonline.com

June 17, 2015
Suspected Loanshark Runner Arrested For Starting Fire Damaging Two Flats In Toh Guan

Police have arrested a man, believed to be a loan shark runner, who was involved in at least five cases of harassment involving fire islandwide.

The 31-year-old man was arrested on Monday at Lorong 5 Toa Payoh after setting his last fire on Saturday at Block 272, Toh Guan Road.

The fire destroyed the front doors of two units on the 12th storey of the block.

Residents believe the loan sharks were deterred by closed-circuit television cameras installed outside the debtor’s 11th storey unit and decided to target his neighbours’ flats instead.

Following the fire, the police arrested the suspect and seized cans of paint, bicycle chain locks and marker pens.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be involved in more than 10 cases of loan shark harassment islandwide, including at least five cases involving fire.

The suspect is expected to be charged today for loan shark harassment.

The two residents whose doors were burnt said they were relieved the man had been caught, and hoped such an incident would not happen again.

One of them, a man in his 20s who wanted to be known as Mr Lim, told The New Paper: “I didn’t expect something like that to happen to me, and I hope the police step up enforcement.”

His neighbour, who wanted to be known as Madam Liu, 76, blamed her luck and said she would have to pay for her own repairs.

Lianhe Wanbao reported that the suspect was taken to the scene of the crime yesterday in restraints, escorted by six police officers.

He was seen answering questions from the officers before being led away.

‘ZERO TOLERANCE’

Mr Loh Kah Wai, who heads the Unlicensed Money Lending Strikeforce of the Specialised Crime Division, said in a statement yesterday: “Police have zero tolerance against such lawless acts of loan shark harassment involving fire which threaten the community’s sense of safety.

“We will continue with our tough enforcement action and spare no effort to nab these offenders to ensure that they face the full consequences of their actions.” Under the Moneylenders Act, first-time offenders found guilty of acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender, committing or attempting to commit any acts of harassment, can be jailed up to five years, fined up to $50,000, and caned up to six strokes.

Source:www.tnp.sg

June 17, 2015
Sabah Quake: Reunion Of Guides And Students At Tanjong Katong Primary School

On Tuesday (Jun 16), three mountain guides met the Singaporean schoolboy whose life they helped save following the earthquake that struck Sabah on Jun 5.

Rizuan Kauhinin, Simon Gohinmin and Mazlee Liong touched down in Singapore on Monday night (Jun 15). The next day, they were reunited with Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) student El Wafeeq El Jauzy, whom they had helped carry down Mount Kinabalu following the 5.9-magnitude quake.

Also at the reunion was another TKPS student who was rescued – Arnaav Karan Chabria, 11.

BEFORE THE REUNION

Rizuan, Simon and Mazlee after breakfast and watching morning television, a short time before the scheduled reunion. (Photo: Kane Cunico)

“We slept comfortably. I dreamt I was climbing,” said Rizuan ahead of the meeting.

“I will shake Wafeeq’s hand and ask the boy about his condition,” said Mazlee on the way to TKPS. “The last time I had a chance to ask the boy his name and age, but this time I will ask more and get to know him more.”

A VERY SPECIAL SHIRT: #TKPS student Wafeeq’s family had this made for the men who saved him in the #SabahQuake. bit.ly/1SjaiWc

Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Monday, 15 June 2015

Wafeeq and his family wore customised shirts, which they intended to present to the Sabahan guides as gifts. “We wanted to give the guides something meaningful. So we came up with the idea of soccer jerseys with Wafeeq’s and the guides’ names,” said his mother, Mdm Sabrena El Huda.

Added the 12-year-old student: “I made the T-shirts to symbolise the courage of the Sabah mountain guides.”

Shy El Wafeeq El Jauzy, at home with his family before the reunion. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

Wafeeq has prepared a special jersey for his “saviour” Rizuan. His family had three of these made, each with Rizuan and Wafeeq’s names on it. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

REUNION AT TKPS

The reunion – arranged as part of an upcoming Channel NewsAsia documentary, Heart of Courage – saw the guides, the two boys and their families meet behind closed doors on Tuesday morning (Jun 16). This is the first time the guides have travelled out of Malaysia, and they will spend two days sightseeing in Singapore.

Smiles as Rizuan and Wafeeq finally meet again after a trying joint experience in Sabah. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

Rizuan checking out the jersey Wafeeq had made. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

The most vocal out of the three guides, Rizuan said, “The earthquake that happened affected a lot of people. The boys endured a lot of trauma and you need to give them time to get better. They lost a lot of their friends and I hope that they will be strong to continue their way of life.”

“I’m not just the only guide to help the boys. It was a big operation that involved all the mountain guides,” he added.

Wafeeq’s father Mr El Jauzy hugs one of the trio, Simon Gohinmin. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

Wafeeq called the chance to meet the men who saved him a “precious” moment. “They helped me all the way from the mountain,” he added.

His mother, Mdm Sebrina said: “I feel very delighted – the whole family does – seeing them in person. When we spoke to each other, we shared our stories as if we had known each other for a long time.

“I wouldn’t see this meeting as a closure but a start. I think this sense of brotherly love will continue beyond this episode.”

Asked if her son will go back to Mount Kinabalu, she said: “He is a very determined boy.” Wafeeq still wants to reach the summit, she added. “I think he has found a very good guide”

The TKPS students and their families share some quiet time with the mountain guides. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

A total of 18 climbers were killed in the disaster, 10 from Singapore.

Catch Heart of Courage on Channel NewsAsia, June 23, at 8.30pm.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

June 17, 2015
Izwan Mahbud Outstanding In Lions Draw With Japan

Four-times Asian champions Japan were held to a surprisegoalless draw at home by a resolute Singapore on Tuesday (June 16) in a poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Japan expectedly dominated possession and peppered the Singaporean goal at the Saitama Stadium, particularly in the second half, but poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Izwan Mahbud meant the visitors grabbed an unlikely point.

Keisuke Honda came closest to breaking the deadlock in the lop-sided contest with a 73rd minute free-kick which cannoned off the corner of post and cross bar but bounced clear to safety.

Izwan produced his best save in the 55th minute when he scooped a strong Shinji Okazaki header off the line at the second attempt, while he also did well to palm away a close range Honda header in the 68th minute.

Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic, appointed in March, cut an increasingly irate figure on the sidelines as time wore on. The coach pulled off the under-performing Shinji Kagawa and Takashi Usami and threw in striker Yoshinori Muto.

Muto though failed to make a mark with Honda leading the charge. The AC Milan playmaker’s rasping long range drive in the 78th minute bending just wide off the goal as Izwan and his team mates held firm against further waves of pressure to pick up the precious point.

Singapore’s German coach Bernd Stange, under-fire after some poor results including a 2-2 friendly draw at home to Guam in March, had said pre-match it would be a “world sensation” if his 154th FIFA ranked side could hold Japan to a draw.

The surprise point moves them top of joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying Group E on four from two games after they won 4-0 in Cambodia in their opener last week.

Japan next face Cambodia at home in September while Singapore are away to Syria, who beat Afghanistan 6-0 in their opener on Thursday.

Source: www.tnp.sg

June 17, 2015
The Stars Of SEA Games 2015

The SEA Games 2015 has come to an end, with host nation Singapore achieving an unprecedented 84 gold medals.

Team Singapore came in second place in the overall medal tally – just behind Thailand. And this is Singapore’s highest ranking since the 1975 Sea Peninsular games in Thailand, where they also came in second place.

Our gold medal haul also confidently surpassed our previous record where Singapore won 50 gold medals in 1993, which was also hosted in Singapore.

Singapore total 258-medal haul also trounced our previous record of 164 medals, also during the 1993 games here.

While every athlete put their best foot forward, there were some that stood out and made outstanding achievements.

Below is a list of the Top 6 Singaporean athletes

1. Shanti Pereira

Our national sprint queen raced across the finish lines (and into our hearts) to win the nation’s first sprint gold medal at the SEA Games for 42 years.

While doing that, she managed to re-write a new national record time of 23.60s for the women’s 200m title.

2. Joseph Schooling

Schooling currently carries the nation’s hope at our first Olympic medal for swimming – and judging by his performance at the SEA Games, it’s an achievable feat. Schooling won nine golds and broke nine games records while he was at it.

3. Muhammad Nur Alfian

It’s a true underdog story that may remind people of The Karate Kid. Alfian was up against defending world Silat champion Tran Dinh Nam from Vietnam. Mid-way through, he suffered a deep cut between his toes.

And yet, he came out on tops and won the sole gold medal for Silat against all odds.

In an even more poignant moment, he was in tears throughout the National Anthem during the victory ceremony, proving just how much the gold medal means to him.

4. Ashley Liew

The 28-year-old marathon runner suddenly found himself ahead of the other 11 competitors.

But this was because the rest had mistaken taken a different route while he made the correct turn.

But instead of taking advantage of his unexpected lead, he slowed down and waited for the rest of the pack to catch up instead.

And this display of sportsmanship earned him raves online, including from Prime Minsiter Lee Hsien Loong.

5. Squash pair

The squash doubles team of Marcus Phua and Vivian Rhamanan ended Singapore’s 20-year wait for a gold medal as they won Singapore’s first SEA Games gold in squash since 1995 when they clinched the men’s doubles jumbo final.

While the Singaporean athletes clearly shone on home ground, there were foreign athletes too that deserved praise.

Here is our list below:

1. Nguyen Thi Anh Vien

Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Anh Vien could possibly be the only swimmer during the games who could come close to outshining swim star Schooling. The 18-year-old won an impressive eight golds and five games records. Let’s not forget she entered herself in 11 events.

2. Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah

What were you doing at the age of 11? This Malaysian water skiier is already considered a veteran in the sport as she won her first SEA Games gold medal aged 8 in 2011. This year, she managed to get two golds and she said that she is already aiming for three next year.

3. Phyo Kyaw Zin

Myanmar goalkeeper Phyo Kyaw Zin played a big role in helping Myanmar in their improbable journey to reach the football final. Despite their 0-3 loss in the final to Thailand, Phyo saved a total of 12 shots in the final. Impressive.

Source: www.tnp.sg

June 17, 2015