Tag: Singaporeans

Police Question Actor Shrey Bhargava After Reports Lodged Over Viral FB Post

Freelance actor Shrey Bhargava – whose Facebook post on his experience auditioning for local film Ah Boys To Men 4 (ABTM4) had gone viral and sparked widespread debate – had been questioned by the police over reports lodged concerning him.

In response to TODAY’s queries, the 21-year-old confirmed that he met with officers at the Tanglin Police Division on Wednesday (May 31) and was questioned on “the intentions behind (his) post”, among other things.

He said: “Yes, I was called by the (police) for questioning. I was informed there that there were police reports made. I was not informed for what or by whom, that was kept confidential.”

Mr Bhargava said the police told him “not to worry about anything as I had done nothing wrong”, but also advised him to “be cautious about what I post online as people may misinterpret me and my intentions to my detriment”. He was also advised to contact the police if hate speech and abusive comments against him worsen.

“The Investigation Officer and I agreed that I am absolutely against racial violence of any sort and, instead, was only seeking a healthy and productive discussion for the betterment of Singapore’s media landscape and society. Specifically, I wanted Singaporeans to engage in dialogue regarding the inclusion of minorities in the media, as well as to tackle the issue of casual racism in order to create a more inclusive and harmonious Singapore,” he said.

ABTM4 will be jointly produced by J Team Productions and MM2 Entertainment, and directed by Jack Neo.

Approached by the media, J Team Productions had issued a statement saying that the casting director was testing Mr Bhargava on his “versatility” as an actor, and had asked him to perform the scene in various ways, including one as a “full blown Indian man”.

However, Mr Bhargava disputed this: “This is not true. I was asked to do the scene only twice. The first time I did without direction. The second time, I did after being given the direction ‘be more Indian’ and to do it again as a ‘full-blown Indian man’… The J Team’s statement has misrepresented the facts… It has painted me in a damaging and deceptive light. It seems as though I over-reacted, or worse, that I lied.”

Contrary to its claims, the J Team had failed to test for versatility, Mr Bhargava argued. “Instead, they defined for me what being Indian ought to mean and that is the crux of the matter… What did they mean by “Be more Indian”? Do they have a premeditated idea of what it means?… And why is being ‘more Indian’ supposed to be ‘funny’,” he questioned.

Source: www.todayonline.com

June 1, 2017
Good Samaritans Help Malay Family Who Now Don’t Have To Be Homeless For Hari Raya

Thanks to Good Samaritans, the HDB default rent of $414 was completely paid since last night when we broke the appeal for funds so that a Malay family staying at Yishun rental flat won’t be evicted during Hari Raya.

Good job Singaporeans! And shame on you HDB!

Poor People’s Campaign – a ground-up community initiative to improve the living condition of the poor among us.

A Muslim couple may have to spend their Hari Raya homeless as HDB will evict them by 30th June if they can’t pay the rental default of $414 or 3 months’ rental.

The husband is a pest controller – he has two sons and a wife who looks after the kids.

His salary is only $1000 before CPF deduction.

There are other outstanding bills eg SP and S & C but the rental one seems more important as it means having a important roof over their head.

If you can help out with any amount, please pay it at any AXS machine with the account number taken from the post: 2810-0792-6-14

Don’t let them celebrate Hari Raya homeless!

Source: Gilbert Goh

June 1, 2017
Damanhuri Abas: Singaporeans Need Truly Independent, Non-Partisan President

With this announcement from the Government, we Singaporeans would now state our expectations on the Malay President to be that we, Singaporeans of all races will be voting for in September.

As spelled out in the raison d’être of having an Elected President, the position comes with critical Presidential powers of financial oversight for our vital billions of dollars of reserves. He or she is the safeguard and second key to our reserves. He or she must rigorously check the government to know how well or badly they managed the collective money of the people. This monies are invested and since the Government refused full transparency to disclose the truth of the state of our reserves in clear details, the President is the only hope of the people to hold the Government accountable on our behalf.

Thus the President to be must be someone who has experiences managing in the real sense, multi-million dollar operations in a position of direct and primary responsibility. He or she is accountable for the positive outcome of the business or otherwise must be able to face the rigour of explaining any failures when it happens with all its consequences.

A person with such capabilities most likely would only be someone who has run himself or herself, successful multi-million dollar setup with thousands of employees under his or her charge and care. Someone from the private sector would be ideal as the public sector immunes somewhat from the demanding scrutiny and consequential rigour.

The honest question Singaporeans should now ask is, are there any such persons of capable experience and merit in the Malay community to be given that trust by the people? If there is such a person that emerged to contest, Singaporeans should make the right choice of electing that person instead of anyone from the Government rank and file from the Malay community which sadly do not have any experience given of the above scale of financial amount and responsibility as mentioned, working in the Government.

Ultimately, the overwhelming evidence of late from rampant price and tax hikes on the people, and the sudden changes to the constitution to game the system, the people must be fully cognisant of the dangers of unchecked and uncontrolled Government going rogue. Thus the people all the more needs a truly Independent Elected President. And that will never come from someone who is a known Government man or woman who will tow the government line instead of being its very gatekeeper.

Source: Damanhuri Abas

June 1, 2017
2nd Chance CEO Mohamed Salleh Marican: I Hope To Run For President

The founder and chief executive officer of Second Chance Properties, Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican, 67, has said he hopes to run for president.

He told The Straits Times in an email on Wednesday (May 31) that he will be collecting the application forms required to contest the presidential election in September.

Mr Mohamed Salleh’s name had been bandied about in recent weeks as a potential candidate for the upcoming election, which will be reserved for Malay candidates. His company is the first owned by a Malay/Muslim to be listed on the Singapore Exchange.

“It is encouraging to know that many have considered me as a potential candidate,” he said.

“The short answer is that, I believe I have done well for myself in business and would like to step up and give back to society in a much larger way. The position and influence of the Elected President will have a great impact on whatever activities he or she choose to promote.”

He added that he “can also fulfill the call of most Singaporeans who desire a truly independent Elected President, one who is untainted by party politics”.

Under changes to the Constitution approved last November, candidates from the private sector must have been the chief executive of a company with at least $500 million in shareholders’ equity, on average, for the most recent three years.

Second Chance Properties’ shareholder equity was between $254.3 million and $263.25 million in the past three financial years, which is lower than this requirement.

However, the Presidential Elections Committee has the discretion to certify that a candidate who does not automatically meet the criteria can stand, if it is satisfied that he has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of the President.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

June 1, 2017
Masjid Hang Jebat Jadi ‘Dapur Pusat’ Bubur Ramadan Bagi 5 Masjid

Jika anda menjenguk ke belakang perkarangan Masjid Hang Jebat, sudah menjadi satu kelaziman untuk melihat beberapa ekor ayam berkeliaran bebas, persis seperti suasana di kampung.

Di sebalik suasana santai yang menggamit kenangan manis ini, Masjid Hang Jebat juga memainkan peranan amat istimewa pada bulan Ramadan.

Sejak Ramadan lalu, masjid di kawasan Buona Vista ini menjadi dapur pusat yang membekalkan bubur kepada lima masjid di serata negeri.

Dengan pembangunan pesat beberapa bangunan di sekitar masjid ini seperti kampus baru Mediacorp, Masjid Hang Jebat menjangkakan suasana lebih meriah termasuk pengagihan lebih banyak bubur Ramadan tahun ini.

JUMLAH BUBUR, JEMAAH BERTAMBAH

Jika pada tahun-tahun sudah, pihak kakitangan dan sukarelawan Masjid Hang Jebat sendiri yang menyingsing lengan, memasak bubur Ramadan untuk diagihkan kepada jemaah yang berkunjung.

Namun sejak Ramadan tahun lepas, tugas itu beralih kepada sebuah penyedia khidmat catering yang turut membekalkan kepada empat masjid lain iaitu Ar-Raudhah, Tentera, Mukminin dan Ahmad.

Di pihaknya pula, Masjid Tentera mendapati bilangan jemaah yang kian bertambah sejak baru-baru ini.

“Kebelakangan ini, Alhamdulillah banyak juga yang datang. Pasal mungkin di Mediacorp dan Ayer Rajah Crescent terdapat banyak ofis di mana pekerjanya mengetahui di sini ada masjid yang terpencil di dalam dan tidak ramai orang tahu. Kini Alhamdulillah semua sudah mula tahu, mereka datang waktu zohor, asar, sampai maghrib pun ada insyaAllah ramai sekarang,” kongsi Encik Nirwan Kamsin, seorang sukarelawan yang sudah berkhidmat di masjid itu selama lima tahun.

Selain para pekerja, tambah Encik Nirwan, masjid ini kerap juga dikunjungi jemaah yang dahulunya tinggal di kawasan perumahan berdekatan, yang ingin sekali sekala melepaskan rindu pada masjid itu.

Menurut pihak masjid, jumlah bubur yang diagihkan di Masjid Hang Jebat akan ditambah seganda berbanding tahun lalu, menjadi sekitar 200 bungkus sehari.

TIDAK HILANG SEMANGAT GOTONG ROYONG

Walaupun kesibukan aktiviti menyiapkan bubur kini diambil alih oleh syarikat katering, ternyata sifat gotong royong masih mekar di kalangan sukarelawan masjid.

“Sekarang gotong-royong itu tak banyak, mereka datang waktu maghrib untuk gotong royong untuk bantu waktu iftar sahaja. Tetapi, tetap ada, pasal banyak jemaah di sini semua,” tambah Encik Nirwan.

Bagi seorang lagi sukarelawan masjid, Encik Abdul Malik, beliau mengharapkan agar lebih ramai orang yang datang untuk mengimarahkan masjid itu.

Masjid Hang Jebat merupakan antara segelintir kecil masjid setempat di mana jemaah masih boleh dapat merasakan suasana kampung yang memberi imbasan keadaan masyarakat Singapura pada satu ketika dahulu.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

May 31, 2017