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Tag: voice

  • Brave Yale-NUS Students Tired Of Not Having Their Voices Heard Hold Silent Sit-In Protest Against The College

    Brave Yale-NUS Students Tired Of Not Having Their Voices Heard Hold Silent Sit-In Protest Against The College

    Dissatisfied with certain school policies and unhappy with the way the school dealt with their opinions, some 29 students from Yale-NUS College conducted a silent sit-in on Friday, March 9.

    According to Channel 8 News, Yale-NUS College has since reached out to the students through public dialogue.

    The student who shared open letter publicly later privatised his account

    Adam Goh, one of the students believed to have taken part in the sit-in, shared an open letter on his Instagram account directed at the college, as well as a picture of three students conducting the sit-in.

    His Instagram account has since been set to private mode, according to the report.

    The open letter also revealed that while the President of Yale-NUS, Professor Tan Tai Yong, made a response earlier, the students thought that it wasn’t sufficient, and called on all students and staff members to share their views.

    The following are the students’ main demands:

    • Reinstating monthly town halls for all students and the senior leadership, as well as an open and transparent communication process
    • Making students involved in the deliberation of any policy that affects the students themselves
    • Developing a college-wide honour code that applies to all stakeholders of the college

    The students explained in the letter that they were tired of not having their voices heard, despite them speaking up and attempting to communicate with the Yale-NUS president.

    As a result, they decided to make their demands known in a manner that’s hard to ignore — physically occupying an area in order to express their concern towards the “future” of the college.

    They also gave an ultimatum, saying that until President Tan makes a written response, there’d be at least one student continuing the sit-in.

    The students added that while they don’t represent the entire student body, they welcome other concerned students and staff to join them in their effort to make their voices heard.

    A letter from the Yale-NUS Student Government has since been circulated on Reddit, saying that monthly town halls with “a cast of senior college leadership” will be organised.

    Apparently, the announcement was made by President Tan in an email previously.

    It is unknown if the sit-in is still being held.

    In a townhall that was held in February last year, students raised their concerns to the school administration over some “troubling” decisions the administration made without involving the student body in the deliberative process.

    Of the decisions that were made unilaterally, according to the students, were the suspension of the Yale-NUS International Relations and Political Association’s activities with no reasons given, as well as the setting up of a new Event Approval Committee to assess the “desirability and feasibility” of holding an event on campus.

     

    Source: channel 8 news

     

  • Commentary: Is MUIS The Problem Or The Solution? Are They ‘Really There’?

    Commentary: Is MUIS The Problem Or The Solution? Are They ‘Really There’?

    Is MUIS the problem or the solution?

    While the world express vociferous objections towards Donald trump for his blatant acts of provocation, our beloved MUIS is seen as being indifferent and muted towards the situation.

    MUIS, for the longest time, has not been the representative of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore.

    It is not capable of expressing the sentiments and advancing the aspirations of the community. Its fecklessness is due to 2 crucial factors.

    1. It receives funding from the gov.

    2. The leadership of MUIS is not elected by the community but rather installed and approved by PAP gov

    MUIS is the highest governing body for the Muslims in Singapore. We placed our hope that it acts for the best of our interest. Yet, MUIS has been found wanting on numerous occasions.

    There are many instances where MUIS has taken on the narrative of the gov and became part of the state propaganda.

    It has no organizational backbone to have views contrary to the state. It operates as if it has to take directives from the gov and wait for instructions on views deemed sensitive. This shows a clear lack of autonomy and of a weak leadership.

    Frequently, the views or statements from MUIS mirrors those of the gov. In doing so, it runs the risk of being seen as subservient to a secular gov. It often uses weak justifications and rationale to which this PAP gov is known for.

    Ive not read any statements from MUIS that are different from those of the PAP gov. Issues like;

    – Tudung
    – The banning of Mufti Menk
    – Yusof Estes being denied entry
    – The discrimination faced by our community in the workforce
    – The Rohingyas
    – The Palestinians

    The list goes on. The near absence of the Malay/Muslim political voice in Singapore is reflected in how MUIS conducts itself on a national level.

    If MUIS continues to be emasculated, and act only for its self-interest, then it will not be a surprise should one day, it becomes irrelevant to the very community it is supposed to serve.

    If that happens, there’s a high chance that the community may seek other avenues for its spiritual consumption and with it, comes the real chance of radicalization slowly growing its base.

     

    Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

  • National Muslim Youth Association (Malaysia) – Muslim Women Advised To Avoid Celebrating Valentine’s Day In Any Form

    National Muslim Youth Association (Malaysia) – Muslim Women Advised To Avoid Celebrating Valentine’s Day In Any Form

    The National Muslim Youth Association (Pembina) advised Muslim women against using emoticons in text messages or wearing fragrance, ahead of Valentine’s Day tomorrow.

    Pembina’s guide published on its official Facebook page today said Muslim women should avoid seven things while dealing with “non-mahram”, or men they can marry, even outside the day commemorating love.

    Besides avoiding the use of emoticons and wearing “excessive” fragrance, the guide also urged Muslim women to avoid making their voice sound sweet, and to cover up their “aurat”, or intimate parts.

    The Islamist group also warned Muslim women against being alone with “non-mahram” men, and to avoid inappropriate times by dealing with them only in daytime.

    It also told Muslim women to keep their text messages simple for “non-mahram” men.

    The guide is part of Pembina’s annual anti-Valentine’s Day campaign, claiming the celebration threatens the faith of Muslims and leads to illicit sex.

    Earlier today, the group released a list of five things Muslim youths can do to reject the day, such as publicly chastising unmarried couples who are dating.

    The group also suggested youths wear Pembina’s anti-Valentine’s Day T-shirt, post its posters in public, and urge their friends to join Islamic or beneficial activities on the day.

    The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has consistently opposed the celebration of Valentine’s Day among Muslims, claiming it possesses Christian elements.

    The global celebration was banned during the 71st meeting of the National Fatwa Committee for Islamic Affairs in 2005.

    An anti-Valentine’s campaign called “Mind the Valentine’s Day Trap” has also been held by Jakim since 2011, where volunteers approach youths to warn them of the celebration’s alleged danger.

    In addition, previous sermons had claimed the day originally worshipped ancient Roman deities, or celebrated the fall of Muslim rule in Cordoba, Andalusia, now in modern-day Spain.

    Islamic enforcement agencies also regularly hold raids on budget hotels and public parks, detaining and charging unmarried Muslim couples with “khalwat”, or being in close proximity with the opposite sex.

    Originally a celebration of a Christian saint, Valentine’s Day has long taken a commercial nuance to celebrate romantic love and is vastly popular in East Asia.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com