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Tag: Yaacob Ibrahim

  • Yaacob Ibrahim: Consider The Progress Made By Malay Community Over Past 50 Years Under PAP

    Yaacob Ibrahim: Consider The Progress Made By Malay Community Over Past 50 Years Under PAP

    Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim has urged Malay voters to think wisely and consider the progress the community had made in partnership with the People’s Action Party (PAP) government when they cast their votes on Friday (Sept 11).

    “By and large, the Malay community has something good going for them here,” Dr Yaacob said on Wednesday (Sept 9). “I hope they will think wisely and vote wisely (for) their future.”

    The improvements in 50 years have been “tremendous” in such areas as education and religious life, and Dr Yaacob said he foresees his community continuing to benefit from the PAP Government’s programmes.

    Speaking to reporters after a morning visit to the Beo Crescent market to woo voters, he also addressed the issue of Muslim women not being allowed to wear headscarves in certain jobs. One such case is nurses in government hospitals.

    He said the PAP’s Malay MPs, including himself, are sympathetic to those facing such restrictions and have raised the matter with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

    “PM Lee has said the policy is not cast in stone. To me, that is a very good sign,” added Dr Yaacob, who is Minister for Communications and Information.

    The issue has been raised on the hustings by some opposition parties who have charged the interests of the Malay-Muslim community have not been sufficiently looked after.

    Dr Yaacob noted that generally, there are no restrictions on Muslim women wearing headscarves in the wider community.

    But at workplaces with restrictions, he pledged to continue to work with employers to accommodate headscarves “in a flexible way”.

    He is confident the change “will come in time”.

    He also noted that like others, the Malay community is not problem-free.

    “But the important thing is whether we are dealing with them.”

    He appealed to Malay voters to be patient as it takes time to solve the problems. “We don’t have a magic wand. The opposition believe they can solve all the problems in five years. I will be very surprised (if they do),” he added.

    Looking ahead, he sees government programmes like Fresh Start Housing Scheme improving further his community’s quality of life.

    The scheme to help second-timer rental households own a two-room flat was announed by PM Lee at the National Day Rally last month.

    Noting it will benefit many Malay families, Dr Yaacob said: “Whenever I come across Malay families, I ask them and they tell me they want to get out of rental housing… and have a permanent home.”

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Sehari Bersama Yaacob Ibrahim

    Sehari Bersama Yaacob Ibrahim

    SETIAP hari, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim bangun sekitar 5.15 pagi.

    Biasanya, bapa dua anak itu menyiapkan sarapan bagi keluarganya, menunaikan solat dan menghantar mereka ke stesen MRT.

    Sabtu lalu, Berita Harian menjejaki kempen Dr Yaacob, di sekitar GRC Jalan Besar bagi pilihan raya umum ini.

    Beliau menemui aktivisnya di Ariff Restaurant, sebuah kedai kopi 24 jam di Kallang Bahru, untuk bersarapan roti perata sekitar 7 pagi.

    Antara perkara pertama yang dilakukan ialah membincangkan rancangan serta strategi untuk hari itu.

    Sekitar 8 pagi, Dr Yaacob dan aktivisnya tiba di pasar Blok 29 Bendemeer Road menemui pegerai dan penduduk.

    Di sana, beliau disertai anggota lain pasukan GRC Jalan Besar – Encik Heng Chee How, Cik Denise Phua dan Dr Lily Neo.

    Pada 10 pagi, mereka meneruskan lawatan ke pasar di Sims Place pula.

    Di situ, mereka bertembung dan berjabat tangan dengan pasukan pesaing Parti Pekerja (WP), yang bertanding di kawasan itu.

    Rata-rata, sambutan penduduk semasa lawatan di kededua pasar itu mesra.

    Dari masa ke masa, ada juga penduduk yang meluahkan rasa tidak puas hati atau memberi maklum balas, termasuk seorang penduduk yang rasa kecewa kerana tidak mendapat baucar cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST).

    Kegiatan berkempen diteruskan dengan lawatan rumah ke rumah di sekurang-kurangnya empat blok di Sims Drive hingga sekitar 12 tengah hari.

    Dr Yaacob dan pasukannya bergegas dari rumah ke rumah untuk meminta sokongan penduduk.

    “Strategi kami adalah bertemu seramai mungkin penduduk di rumah dalam tempoh berkempen ini,” ujarnya.

    Menurutnya, ramai penduduk sudah mengenalinya kerana beliau pernah mengadakan lawatan rumah ke rumah sebelum ini.

    “Kempen macam peperiksaan. Kami tidak mampu membuat persiapan saat akhir,” ujar seorang aktivis beliau.

    Selepas lawatan itu, Dr Yaacob pulang untuk bersiap menghadiri Majlis Anugerah Muis di Istana yang berlangsung hingga sekitar 4 petang.

    Beliau meneruskan kegiatan berkempen pada sebelah petang dan biasanya berakhir sekitar 10 malam.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

  • Syed Danial: Damanhuri Abas Has The Moral Courage To Be Upfront On Issues Affecting The Malay-Muslim Community

    Syed Danial: Damanhuri Abas Has The Moral Courage To Be Upfront On Issues Affecting The Malay-Muslim Community

    The GRC concept has attained its goal of ensuring minority representation in parliament. In the sense there are roughly a proportionate representation of the SG population in parliament that belongs to the minority races.

    But that’s where it ends.

    For decades now, we see the phenomenon of minority candidates riding on the coattails of ministers n getting into parliament. Oftentimes not even having to go through the baptism of fire of the hustings during election, as they are part of uncontested wards.

    Before election, they promise the world. They will fight for this n that rights. They will champion our causes. They will be our voices in parliament.

    And when they finally get there, you see a completely different reality. They do not fight for our rights. When we start pushing for them, eg the hijab, we get the tiring response of they are doing ‘all they can’ behind closed doors. The community needs to be patient. There are other interests at stake.’ The good ol song and dance.

    They have become effectively the MPs that champions rights. But not our rights. They serve with distinction. For the Prime Minister. And their party.

    To an extent they no longer fulfill the functional role that they’ve been elected to do. They r there not to fight for our rights. They are there to explain govt policies to the community. Essentially they r there as the govt’s representatives to the people. Not our representatives to fight for our causes.

    And it’s not just the backbencher MPs. The greatest fulfiller of this role is the Minister in Charge of Muslim affairs. Dr Yaacob has consistently shown when push comes to shove, he takes the position of the govt.

    Not the community.

    He should be renamed Minister in Charge of Explaining Government Policies to Muslims.

    And then there’s the second Malay full Minister. Mr Masagos has also shown consistently he’s there to do the bidding of the govt. So he was used to make policy pronouncements that are beneficial to the govt. But are against the wishes of the community. Case in point joining the coalition to bomb Iraq and Syria. The community is against Islamic State. But there’s a HUGE difference between being against IS and being part of a coalition that bombs more Muslim countries. A vast majority in the MMC is against joining. Yet Minister Masagos toes the govt line. He explains govt polices, rather than champion our causes.

    I could go on n on. But I think the point is made.

    Our minority MPs represent the govt and their party.

    Not us.

    Then comes bro Damanhuri.

    He has come across as a candidate who has the moral courage to speak his mind on issues close to the hearts of Malay Muslims in SG. His rhetoric captures our imagination. Beyond just speeches, he has an excellent trek record of service to the community.

    So he comes across as genuine.

    The real deal.

    And he has redefined for us the role of minority representation in a GRC. The minority MP is there to voice the concerns and interests of the community. To champion our causes to the govt. And he hits the hammer on the head when he says we need to put such people in parliament. Else, we can shout till we’re hoarse outsider parliament. It will just be ignored. Worse still, token statements of
    Reassurances given that they would ‘work behind close doors’ to solve the issues.

    It is my fervent desire bro Daman gets elected. And I hope residents of MarsilingYT rise to the occasion.

    In the longer term, I think Pandora’s box has been opened. I call it the ‘Damanhari effect’.

    Henceforth, that will be the prototype of the archetypical minority MP.

    One with outstanding credentials of service to the community. Not Juz hi academic ability but completely out of touch with the community. We have such people in parliament now.

    Beyond a trek record of service, the moral courage to fight for our rights.

    To be our champions in parliament.

    Not there to merely explain policies to us

    ‪#‎yourDamanhuri‬

     

    Source: Syed Danial

  • Art Fazil: How To Answer To PAP?

    Art Fazil: How To Answer To PAP?

    How To Answer Back:

    The PAP are banging on the crucial Malay votes to help swing the election should the Chinese votes split at 50/50. They are targeting the older malay generation who are more inclined to vote for the PAP. Here are a few tips on how to answer back should your parents or grandparents give you the usual PAP spin :

    1. When they tell you “we used to be backward, no modern facilites, kampong houses, jamban (toilet) no pump, etc. so without the PAP we won’t be like this now.”
    You answer: Its the job of any elected government to make a country progress including providing housing, roads, water system, sewage system. Thats why we pay taxes like GST, Income tax etc. Singapore is not the only country on the planet that became modernised in the last 50 years.

    2. When they tell you: “Look at the countries around Singapore and how much troubles they are in”.
    You answer: If our neighbour has a fever and we have a toothache, as much as we empathise with the neighbour being sick with fever, we have our own toothache to deal with. Other people’s problems are theirs, not ours. And there is a Kaypoh Road in River Valley.

    3. When they tell you: ”We must be thankful to the PAP because compared to the neighbouring countries, we are better off”.
    You answer: Stop making comparisons like that. If really they need to compare, then compare Singapore by GDP i.e. against developed nations in Europe and compare our welfare, health and retirement policies. Its easy to compare against a less developed economy. That’s bullying. Its like a guy driving a fast car and laughing at the man on the trishaw. But try comparing Singapore to that of developed nations and we will see the shortcomings.

    4. When they bring up THE Name of the Dead: Tell them that nobody asked LKY to join politics. He wanted to be the Prime Minister, ran for elections and he got the job. LKY did not work for free. He was paid a salary, like any other civil servant. The salary came from tax-payers money. And he also said untrue things about Malays/Muslims in his Hard Truth book. (The book hasn’t been re-edited inspite of the backlash from the Malay/Muslim community).

    5. When they say: “If you don’t vote the PAP, they will know & you will be in trouble”.
    You answer: The vote is secret. No one will know who voted for whom. And by the way, the whole country knows majority of residents in Aljunied, Hougang & Punggol East didn’t vote for the PAP. They are still alive and kicking.

    6. When they tell you: “Look how many mosques the PAP has built.”
    You answer: In Singapore there used to be more than 100 mosques built by the community (read ex-Mufti Isa Semait’s biography) which has been around for many years. Sadly such heritage sites are now gone. In place are MUIS-administered mosques with a 99 year lease. Also ask them about Waqaf land being taken away, sold for peanuts resold to developers for gazzilions of dollars.”

    7. When they tell you only the PAP has Malay interest at heart.
    You answer: Yaacob Ibrahim

     

    Source: Rilek Brader

  • Yaacob Ibrahim: Semangat Ihsan Sumbangan Melayu/Islam Demi Masa Depan

    Yaacob Ibrahim: Semangat Ihsan Sumbangan Melayu/Islam Demi Masa Depan

    MENTERI Bertanggungjawab Bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, berkata pergerakan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLA) selama 10 tahun telah memaparkan semangat ihsan dan bergotong-royong sebagai satu sumbangan masyarakat Melayu/Islam demi masa depan Singapura.

    “Saya rasa RLA ini menunjukkan kejayaan masyarakat kita kerana bukan hanya dari segi sumbangan kita terhadap prinsip berbilang kaum, malah pada masa yang sama, kepada ihsan – berperikemanusiaan, bukan hanya kepada masyarakat Melayu, bahkan di peringkat nasional juga.

    “Sumbangan ini sungguh penting kerana ia membawa kebaikan dan kesejahteraan kepada semua lapisan masyarakat di Singapura.

    “Selama 10 tahun ini menunjukkan bahawa RLA telah bekerja keras bukan hanya dengan masyarakat Islam tetapi yang bukan Islam untuk menunjukkan bahawa nilai Rahmatan Lil Alamin itu adalah nilai yang sejagat,” ujar Dr Yaacob ketika ditemui wartawan dalam majlis pelancaran Bulan RLA di ITE College East, semalam.

    Majlis tersebut turut dihadiri oleh Perdana Menteri, Encik Lee Hsien Loong.

    Kempen sehingga 26 September ini bertemakan ‘Semangat Prihatin-Masyarakat Berharmoni’.

    Pelbagai kegiatan diatur di keenamenam kelompok masjid atau kesemua 69 masjid di Singapura sempena Bulan RLA 2015.

    Senarai kegiatan termasuk program kesihatan, makanan dan ubah elok rumah bagi mereka yang memerlukan.

    Relawan belia turut mengedarkan magnet peti sejuk dengan mesej ‘Fikir, Kata dan Amalkan Kebaikan selalu’ kepada orang ramai di stesen MRT Expo, Eunos dan Paya Lebar.

    Usaha RLA diterajui oleh Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) dan kesemua masjid di Singapura itu bermula bagi projek kemasyarakatan di dalam dan luar negara sebelum dipertingkat menjadi sebuah yayasan pada 2009.

    Sejak 2005, RLA telah mengagihkan lebih $4.8 juta kepada usaha kebajikan di dalam dan luar negara.

    Pengerusi RLAF, Encik Mr Po’ad Mattar, semalam buat kali pertama mengumumkan bahawa yayasan itu akan mengambil Hospital Ren Ci dan Persatuan Ain sebagai Kebajikan Angkat mereka.

    PERKEMBANGAN DI GRC JALAN BESAR

    “Saya rasa apa yang selama ini kami lakukan adalah mengenal semua penduduk di GRC Jalan Besar. Penerimaan mereka begitu mesra dan ini satu tanda yang baik. Ini menunjukkan kerja keras selama empat tahun bagi menentukan keperluan penduduk Jalan Besar dapat dipenuhi sebaik mungkin. Alhamdulillah, apa yang kami dapati apabila kami berjumpa dengan pengundi, mereka berasa riang dan gembira bahawa kami akan terus bekerja bagi mereka kalau diundi sebagai pemimpin di Jalan Besar GRC. Harapan kami adalah untuk bertemu dengan semua pengundi di Jalan Besar sebelum Hari Bertenang. Saya rasa ini sesuatu yang kami perlu buat bagi memberitahu penduduk bahawa kamilah pasukan yang lebih cekap dan pengalaman untuk bekerjasama bersama mereka bagi masa depan mereka.”

    – Menteri Perhubungan dan Penerangan Dr Yaacob Ibrahim ketika ditanya mengenai kempennya di GRC Jalan Besar di majlis pelancaran Bulan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLA) semalam.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg