Tag: Singaporeans

Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s Constitutional Challenge On Reserved EP: High Court Reserves Judgement

The High Court reserved its judgement on Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s constitutional challenge against the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) over the timing for the reserved presidential election, after a 3.5 hour closed-door hearing on Thursday (June 29).

Justice Quentin Loh is expected to deliver his decision in a week or so, Deputy Attorney-General Hri Kumar Nair, representing AGC, and Dr Tan’s lawyer Chelva Retnam Rajah told reporters after the court session.

Last month, Dr Tan filed a legal challenge against the AGC’s findings that Dr Wee Kim Wee was Singapore’s first elected President, which formed the basis for the Government to trigger a reserved election for Malay candidates for the coming polls in September.

Among the various changes to the Elected Presidency scheme – passed in November last year – was triggering a reserved election for a particular race that has not seen an elected representative for five consecutive terms.

The Government, on the advice of AGC, started counting the five terms from Dr Wee’s presidency.

The late Dr Wee was the first President to exercise powers under the EP scheme, after it was introduced in 1991 while Dr Wee was in office.

But Dr Tan, who was contesting the constitutionality of reserving the upcoming presidential election for Malay candidates, argued that the Government should have started counting from the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, who succeeded Dr Wee. This would make it four terms since the Republic has had an elected Malay President.

The upcoming presidential polls should, therefore, be an open election, he said, in a press conference on the same issue in March.

Source: www.todayonline.com

June 29, 2017
[Saving The Siameses Update] Cats Are Recovering Well, Donations For Catteries Still Required

Edited with update: Funds for Revolution is already covered. We are now raising funds for the rental of 2-3 catteries, which amounts to $1800 – $2700 per month. If you wish to help cover the first month’s rental in any way, kindly DM me (@fioloh).
•••
Most of you may have seen this case surfaced on Facebook today. Yes, this is one of the underground cases that we handle. This is the house of a backyard breeder. This is the classic case of illegal breeding for sale of kittens & cats for money, breeding spun out of control, and then rescuers have to step in to clear the mess that shouldn’t even happen in the first place.
Concrete plans are in place now. We would save all of them. All 50+ cats would be saved out of the hellhole this coming Monday. No cats would be culled by the authorities. No cats would be left behind.

We need support. We cannot do it alone. Our personal contacts have supported us in many ways – either sponsoring or heavily-subsidizing of necessary items.

Right now, we need contributions to pay for 20 boxes of Revolution, which is absolutely needed urgently. Each box of 3 vials is $25 (already heavily-subsidized), so amount of donations needed is $500 in total.
If you are able to contribute or help in any ways, kindly DM me. (@fioloh).
c.c. @ling.m.choo @lauraannmeranda
#YouBreedForMoney #ButTheCatsAreInnocent #NowWeHaveToClearTheMessYouStarted

P.S: if anybody else is trying to raise funds for this case, please DO NOT transfer to them. Funds for this case is only to be collected by either me (@fioloh) or @ling.m.choo

**

As most of the cats are not sterilised yet, they have been separated based on their gender to prevent any unwanted kittens. I mean – we are talking about 94 cats to be rehomed! Havent we had enough on our plate??

Thank you Pet Boarding Centre for helping to check their gender one by one and separate accordingly!

Photograph :
Think it’s the first time they are separated ..

***

This is to address some queries on fund-raising and explains why we are not accepting food donations.

1) Regarding funds collected:
There is an excel sheet which we are tabulating consistently. This excel sheet would show amount of funds (together with the list of kind donors) collected. Expenses would also be properly stated and tabulated in the same excel sheet that we will be publishing soon. We would also show all invoices and receipts. Thank you for your understanding and kind patience.

2) Regarding food donations:
We thank everybody for their offer to donate food items! However, the cats are on a specific brand of good quality kibbles to ensure consistency and prevent stomach upsets (so that we have one less problem to worry about). Kibbles, water and litter is already included in the rental of catteries. Hence, we do not need these items too.

We do not want to waste donors’ money too. Hence, we have approached many distributors and pet retail stores to see if they can sponsor items that we have to buy – so that funds are only used for rental of catteries and medical bills, as well as payment for necessary items such as Revolution (for cats).

Some distributors and pet retail stores have generously offered full sponsorship, and some others offered heavily-subsidized rates. The sponsored items would soon be updated on our Facebook page “Saving The Siameses”.

Hope this clarifies some queries of new donors who may not be aware of how careful we are with money.

Source: Saving The Siameses

June 29, 2017
Commando Melayu – Bangga Dapat Peluang Jadi Commando

KETIKA berada di sekolah rendah dan menengah, berat badannya berlebihan.

Beliau kemudiann melakukan perubahan yang besar kepada dirinya.

Kini, Koperal Muhammad Haidhir Jasmani, 20 tahun, berkhidmat dalam Batalion Komando Pertama (1 Cdo Bn) Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura (SAF).

Tahun ini, 1 Cdo Bn mengekalkan kedudukannya dengan memenangi Anugerah Unit Penggempur Terbaik (Best Combat Unit) bagi Peraduan Unit Terbaik SAF.

Sejak peraduan itu diperkenal pada 1969, 1 Cdo Bn telah diiktiraf sebanyak 31 anugerah.

Koperal Haidhir berbangga unitnya telah memenangi anugerah tersebut kerana ia bermakna kerja kerasnya ketika latihan dan misi berhasil.

“Latihan di sini mencabar dan saya perlu sentiasa mendorong diri saya menguatkan ketahanan mental dan fizikal.

“Pengalaman di sini mengingatkan saya ketika saya bersekolah di menengah empat.

“Pada waktu itu, saya sedar tahap kecergasan saya jauh berbeza berbanding teman saya yang berada dalam Pasukan Kadet Nasional (NCC).

“Saya terfikir, apabila mereka perlu menjalani perkhidmatan negara nanti, mereka akan lebih bersedia daripada saya kerana stamina mereka yang kuat,” kata beliau, yang menuntut di Sekolah Menengah Pasir Ris.

Pemikiran itu telah mendorongnya mengurangkan berat badannya dengan kerap ke gimnasium.

Apabila beliau menuntut di Maktab Rendah Tampines pula, beliau menyertai Kelab Kesihatan dan Kecergasan.

“Pada waktu itu, untuk mencapai matlamat kesihatan saya, saya harus mempunyai daya tahan dan ini sama seperti situasi saya sekarang,” ujarnya.

Koperal Haidhir mengakui bahawa latihan yang dilaluinya di kem lebih mencabar daripada misi sebenar.

Antara latihan yang dilaluinya adalah senaman Cabaran Komando yang merupakan latihan litar.

Bagi cabaran tersebut, Koperal Haidhir perlu menterbalikkan tayar seberat 120 kilogram dan berlari sejauh 400 meter sambil mengangkat beg pasir seberat 15 kilogram.

Senaman Cabaran Komando dilakukan sekitar dua kali seminggu.

Koperal Haidhir, yang mempunyai dua lagi adik-beradik berusia 24 dan 26 tahun, merupakan pakar senjata unitnya.

Beliau perlu mempunyai pemahaman yang mendalam mengenai senjata dan penggunaannya.

Ketika teringatkan pertama kali beliau melakukan operasi turun daripada udara, beliau berkata latihannya telah membina keyakinan dirinya.

Beliau memikirkan kesemua kemungkinan buruk yang boleh berlaku apabila beliau melompat daripada pengangkutan udara seperti helikopter dari ketinggian 1,000 kaki.

“Saya membayangkan payung terjun saya rosak dan saya berasa sangat takut.

“Namun, saya menguatkan semangat dan memberanikan diri supaya saya dapat menamatkan misi tersebut.

“Operasi itu sebenarnya telah menguji ketahanan mental lebih daripada ketahanan fizikal saya,” katanya yang telah berjaya melakukan operasi tersebut sebanyak lapan kali.

“Latihan di sini mencabar dan saya perlu sentiasa mendorong diri saya menguatkan ketahanan mental dan fizikal.”
– Koperal Muhammad Haidhir Jasmani, 20 tahun, pakar senjata dalam Batalion Komando Pertama (SAF). Antara latihan yang dilaluinya adalah senaman Cabaran Komando yang antara lain memerlukan beliau menterbalikkan tayar seberat 120 kilogram dan berlari sejauh 400 meter sambil mengangkat beg pasir seberat 15 kilogram.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

June 29, 2017
On Islamophobia In Singapore: Non-Muslims Must Acknowledge Issue, Educate Themselves, Authorities Must Take Stronger Action Against Islamophobes

My dear non-Muslims, saying that Islamophobia doesn’t exist in our country, is ironically similar to the Chinese claiming that racism and discrimination towards minority races doesn’t exist.

Don’t tell us to condemn these hineous acts, because we have always stood up as one community against it.

Don’t tell us to “reform” our “backwards” religion by cherry picking “controversial verses” when you probably don’t know anything about it.

Don’t tell us that our religion is barbaric and incites violence when all the information you get is from islamophobic websites.

Don’t tell us that we hate the “kafirs” and “infidels” when most of the attacks happen on Muslim countries and holy sites, with victims of such attacks being majority Muslims.

Don’t you see that you’re not helping, but instead, fuelling the fire of islamophobia in Singapore?

And don’t tell me that Islamophobia doesn’t exist nor is it a problem.

Enough is enough. We, the Muslims, have been victimized even more so in this entire process. If you don’t have anything better to say, keep your damn mouths shut instead of worsening the situation.

I have yet to see any actions taken by the authorities other than the usual “we should not allow this to happen” bla bla, saying things just for the sake of saying it. What’s the point? It clearly is happening and has been going on for the past few years.

Hoping that the ISA could be applied to those individuals who promote Islamophobia and bad mouthing other religions, just as how the ISD were swift to suddenly apprehend radicalised individuals.

Sigh. Don’t kecoh-kecoh lah please, we just want to raya..

Source: Ahmad Bin Osman

June 24, 2017
Halimah Yacob Does Not Confirm Running For Elected Presidency

With eight constituencies and many invitations from different organisations to break fast, Madam Halimah Yacob said her days have been packed all the way till Hari Raya, and time with family has been hard to come by.

The mother of five children, all in their 20s and 30s, said she is thankful her family “accepts” her schedule.

“I’ve broken fast at home on only a few days, all the rest of the days have been out,” she said.

She was quick to add that she does enjoy breaking fast outside, particularly with her residents.

Madam Halimah said that sometimes she does not even have time to have a proper meal between events.

During such moments, she shared that she slips into nearby mosques “incognito”.

“The good thing is that every mosque here provides something to eat, so it’s quite interesting to break fast and then perform my maghrib (evening) prayers before I go off to my event,” she said.

In 2015, on Polling Day, Madam Halimah’s mother died as she was doing her rounds. This year will be the second Hari Raya that she will be celebrating without her, but it never gets easier.

Said Madam Halimah: “What I miss about mum is her presence. Sitting there, she used to sit on the sofa, just having her there would mean tremendous comfort because she’s been the pillar of strength for me all the while.”

Hari Raya is not just a time to celebrate family, but to also remember the loved ones lost, as she pointed out.

With a laugh Madam Halimah said: “I cook lontong for breakfast every Hari Raya morning. So the children have asked me this year if I am going to cook and I told them I will see how.

“But no lah, I will make it this year, every year I will cook it.”

Other than lontong, Madam Halimah is looking forward to having time for herself this festive weekend.

“That’s the wonderful thing about Hari Raya, at least the first two days will be off limits,” she said.

When asked if she sees herself becoming busier in the future, on account of the upcoming presidential election which she is widely rumoured to be considering, Madam Halimah laughed, reiterating that she had a lot on her plate.

“I’ve been very busy actually. My time is really packed and, of course, in Parliament as Speaker the last few years have been very packed,” she chuckled.

“Our Members of Parliament have been pretty active filing motions and so on, so that has kept me pretty busy.”

Source: www.tnp,sg

June 24, 2017