Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Misguided into Thinking about Armed Jihad
So there is yet another member of my community who is sadly convinced that armed violence is justified and this is grave news. At least the Inter-Religious Organisation has quickly stepped in to voice their faith that the person detained does not represent our whole Muslim community. My non-Muslim friends also know that the majority of Muslims do not support violent jihad but they admit that there will always be others who just want to focus that Islam condones terrorism. People would always believe what they want to believe in, just like the deviant preachers who use religion to justify their anti-US politcs e.g. Anwar al-Alwaki, Osama bin Laden. What is left for us Muslims to do is to continue stressing to fellow Muslims and non-Muslims that such individuals bent on violence go against the teachings of Islam and use the Quran and Hadith selectively. Insyahallah more and more people would be convinced that Islam is a religion of peace.
Ties among religious leaders remain strong: IRO president
By S Ramesh | Posted: 06 July 2010 1814 hrs
Channel News Asia
SINGAPORE : Singapore's Inter-Religious Organisation President, Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng, has said he is confident that the latest ISA detention case will not affect relations amongst the different religious leaders.
He told Channel NewsAsia that those detained formed a small minority of the Malay-Muslim community and they do not represent the community at large.
He stressed that over time, the rapport between the leaders of the Malay community and the other religious leaders has grown with trust being built amongst one another.
Furthermore, Venerable Sik added that the Malay community leaders have done a lot to tackle the challenge of self-radicalisation.
He said he is confident that with close cooperation with authorities, the matter will be well handled.
That is a view shared by Muhd Faiz, the president of Darul Arqam or the Muslim Converts' Association of Singapore.
Mr Faiz also said that education is the key to stopping self-radicalisation cases.
He said: "There's free access on the Internet, so curbing it, shutting down the sites is not a feasible solution and I feel that the best way is through education, which means strengthening the community. The Muslim community must rally together to self-police the propagation of such radical ideas."
One way to do so, he said, is to ensure better access to qualified religious teachers. This would ensure that those seeking religious advice would not turn to the Internet for answers. He added that the Muslim community should also watch out for tell-tale signs of radicalisation.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Hindu Advisory Board, Mr R Bawajee, said the latest detention by the Ministry of Home Affairs was a case of someone being misguided by self radicalisation.
He said as a result of this, there should be no notion of distrust of the Malay-Muslim community.
Going forward, Mr Bawajee cautioned that everyone must be vigilant about cases of self-radicalisation because this could happen to individuals of other communities too.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Alfian Sa’at: I love my country, I hate my country
Alfian describes it very well when he said that his unhappiness with Singapore is very much so because he loves it. Like our family members, we love them a lot, but we are also very disappointed and angry when they don't understand us, or they think we don't understand them.
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I love my country, I hate my country
Thu, 01 Jul 2010
The Sun
Award-winning Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa’at talks to BISSME S about writing and his love-hate relationship with his homeland.
What are some of the challenges you face as a writer in Singapore?
Where do I start? Some of the challenges that we face are universal. It is difficult to make a living and a career out of writing and publishing in Singapore. For a country of 4.5 million people, I believe that there are fewer than 10% who are active readers. From that percentage, even fewer pick up and read works written locally. Readership is a challenge. We don’t have a reading culture. If you look at the bestseller lists, they are works, in a sense, already successfully and globally marketed, like Harry Potter. A lot of self-help books reach the bestseller list. That happens to be the reading diet of the Singapore population.
Why is this the reading pattern?
I think it comes from this idea that any kind of reading should be sort of instrumentalist, which means that you don’t read for pleasure alone. You read for some kind of edification. You read for a purpose, like improving your life. I find self-help books strange and presumptuous, trading on the idea that you can actually prescribe certain things for every single individual.
I think we are a complex people and I believe in us as individuals. I don’t think one self-help book is going to have the one size fits all solution. I must say in terms of theatre, it is a little better because you are not competing with international works. We are able to make inroads when it comes to theatre.
Of course (Singapore’s) film-makers and writers who are producing literature are facing stiff competition from Hollywood and pulp fiction paperbacks from other parts of the world. We are also competing against books by people who won the Booker prize or who are Nobel laureates. There is an attitude among Singapore readers who will say: ‘You have not won some international award, why should I read you?’
Are you not happy as a Singaporean?
Yes (we laugh). But I have to qualify this. It is unhappiness, an agitation, which I think is a source of a lot of creative energy. It is not a paralysing kind of unhappiness. It is an unhappiness, I think, that compels me to try to figure out certain questions. What it means to be a Singaporean … nationhood, belonging, ethnicity and identity. I hope it is not just something that ends up being a kind of involuted, armchair critic kind of complaining. I am, of course, unhappy.
Picking up a copy of Straits Times in Singapore can ruin your morning. You wonder whether they really had to report on the ministerial speech at a community centre.
It is just rehashing the same thing you have heard for the last four decades. It is so pro-government. The Opposition is always portrayed in an unflattering light.
But it doesn’t take much to read between the lines. Obviously, I am not happy with the situation. I feel as if I am not getting real access to the real information.
From your writings, one feels you faced some discrimination as a Singapore Malay?
I have been a beneficiary of the system. It is not as if I am a Malay, I am denied, like say, access to subsidised education. It has not happened to me.
But I don’t think writing is solely about your own personal grievances. I have this platform where I can share certain ideas and information. There is a certain responsibility to speak up on behalf of other people who have been discriminated against because of their ethnicity. I have heard a lot about working class Malays facing discrimination. I believe I should write about all these incidents.
Are Singapore’s Malays being discriminated against?
Singapore likes to compare itself to Malaysia, using Malaysia as a negative example. Apparently, the twin pillars of Singapore’s ideology are meritocracy and multiracialism.
Singapore’s ideology sounds good on paper and in principle. But what they ignore is that not all races are in equal proportion in society. There is still a dominant Chinese majority in Singapore. When you are the majority, you form the bulk of your market. Your images in the media are everywhere, etc. So you need to do something a little extra for the minorities who are not going to have this kind of resources simply because they form a smaller number.
But I think a lot of people in Singapore especially the Chinese don’t realise what they are enjoying is majority privilege. They think that just because everything is supposedly meritocratic, there is no such thing as market forces that will favour the majority. Why don’t I see Malay faces in magazines and advertisements? The reason is simple. Because you want to sell to the majority. The buyers want to see faces they can identify with. The question is what should the state do to prevent minorities from feeling alienated by all these market forces?
Can you cite an example of blatant discrimination?
There is still discrimination in the army. A Malay would not be assigned to a sensitive position in the army. They will not get to deal with areas like military intelligence and handle more sophisticated weapons. It has been happening for so long. But the thing that makes me unhappy is the government doesn’t admit it.
When these questions are raised, they keep insisting the army is meritocratic. It isn’t. I’d rather have a government that comes out in the open and says: ‘We do not recruit Malays into higher ranks because of security issues ... because we think their loyalty might be torn between Singapore and neighbouring countries.’ Only when this is out in the open, perhaps then we could have some healthy discussions.
But if they do this, of course this would invite a response from neighbouring countries. I believe that none of the neighbouring countries want to attack Singapore. It has no strategic depth. No natural resources. The rhetoric in Singapore is that other countries are ‘envious of our success’. I don’t think there is envy. But there is pity. Because here is a country with such a delusional sense of self-importance that it devotes so much of its budget to defence, and wastes productive years of the lives of its adult males through mandatory conscription.
But if you were the defence minister would you put Malays in higher positions in the army?
Yes, I would. Even the Israeli army recruits Arabs. In terms of social integration, it is absolutely important we do not mistrust any members of our society.
I believe their rationale is the Malays still have an attachment to Malaysia and we need to wait for several years until they feel fully Singaporean. But my rationale is: How can we feel fully Singaporean if we are not integrated into the army and made to feel Singaporean? Just because you are born in some Singapore hospital doesn’t make you feel Singaporean.
You have to go through a certain rite of passage and citizenship that makes you feel for your country. It must make you say: ‘I will fight for the army because it happens to be an army that trusted me to fight for my country.’ You must have confidence that a citizen will execute his duty as a citizen. Malaysia has had non-bumi generals for so long. Singapore never had a Malay general since independence in 1965. Only last year we had an Indian-Muslim colonel promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. It has taken them so long to appoint a Muslim general.
How do non-Malays in Singapore react to your statements?
I have more non-Malay friends than Malay friends in Singapore. I always put my views in an honest way but never in an aggressive way that will make them feel offended and defensive. But for some people in Singapore, even raising such issues puts them on the defensive.
Some consider you are ultra Malay. What is your comment?
To be an ultra Malay, I have to speak Malay well and be rooted in Malayness ... wearing songkok, samping, waving the keris (he laughs). But I don’t. I speak to my parents in Malay. But my first language is English. I even dream in English. So it is hard to be a racial chauvinist when you can’t even speak the language well. When I see a lot of this ultra Malay gestures in Malaysia, I feel nauseated because they are the same as the ultra Chinese in Singapore. Someone raising a keris is the same as a Chinese talking about the superiority of Chinese culture and their 5,000 years of civilisation.
Have you gotten into trouble with the law over your views?
I have never broken any law. But I also know there is the ISA where you do not need any evidence to catch you. I have not been detained under the ISA. But in Singapore, the process of making art comes under so many regulations. There are so many guidelines we (the artists) have to subscribe too. I had issues with censorship.
Can you give some examples?
In one of my plays, I wanted to include a scene where in the future, Malaysia decides to cut the water supply to Singapore. So some Singaporeans travel to the North Pole to transport back some icebergs. The scene was considered sensitive and we had to pull it out.
In 2001, in my poetry collection, History of Amnesia, there was a bit where I included poems on ISA detainee Chia Thye Poh. He had spent 32 years in detention under the ISA. I had a hard time getting a publishing grant (from the government). In the end, my application was turned down with no written explanation.
What misconceptions do people have about you?
That I am an angry young man. But when they meet me, they are surprised to find me soft-spoken and mild. They can’t match the writer and the person. I feel I have disappointed them.
Why are you often in Kuala Lumpur?
I am inspired whenever I come to Kuala Lumpur. I feel there are little pocket freedoms which I do not find in Singapore. There is greater freedom of expression in Malaysia. The idea of democracy is better practised here. There are no demos in Singapore. The idea is foreign to Singaporeans. Nobody has any idea what takes place in a demo ... what it feels like to shout a slogan or even hold a placard. Of course there are also repressive measures when it comes to Syariah law here. I do not want a kind of Jais (Jabatan Agama Islam) in Singapore. I do not want moral policing or even vigilantism.
Why do you want to see a demo in Singapore?
I am not saying that we should have one just for the sake of it. But if there is some legitimate grievance, then this avenue should be available. I think it is possible to have demonstrations conducted in an orderly fashion. The Singapore government is not so much afraid of the law and order aspects of allowing a demonstration. They are more afraid of public expressions of unhappiness over their rule.
Many Muslims believe the community needs the moral police. What is your comment?
We should be clear about the reach of the law when it comes to governing behaviour. When you behave in a way that harms others, obviously it is a crime and you need laws to curb it. When you are doing certain things in private and where the principle of harm cannot be demonstrated convincingly, I don’t think those are things that require legislation.
Do you hate your country?
In the foreword to my latest book (Collected Plays One), Ivan Heng (a Singapore theatre director) said that after reading my works, he realised that I hate Singapore as a lover would. Only the ones you love can hurt you. For example, if a waiter serves you late, you get annoyed but forget about it the next day. But if you felt wounded by someone you love, the pain stays for very long.
If I felt affected by some things that are happening in my country, a part of it is because I love Singapore. Of course, not in a facile, flag-waving kind of way. The frustrations come from seeing so much potential going to waste and being neglected.
What made you want to be a writer?
I wish I could tell you that there was a book that transformed my life and I wanted to be a writer. I wish I could tell you that I met this author and we shook hands and I felt something pass through me and I wanted to be writer. But the reality is I just love writing. Writing is one of those few things in life that I am probably good at. Writing is something that keeps me sane, that keeps me balanced, and that keeps me alive.
Alfian is doing a residency at the Instant Café House of Art and Ideas (CHAI) in Kuala Lumpur and will be conducting writing workshops. Those interested can log on to http://blog.instantcafetheatre.com/2010/06/writing-workshops-by-alfian-saat-singapore/)
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I love my country, I hate my country
Thu, 01 Jul 2010
The Sun
Award-winning Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa’at talks to BISSME S about writing and his love-hate relationship with his homeland.
What are some of the challenges you face as a writer in Singapore?
Where do I start? Some of the challenges that we face are universal. It is difficult to make a living and a career out of writing and publishing in Singapore. For a country of 4.5 million people, I believe that there are fewer than 10% who are active readers. From that percentage, even fewer pick up and read works written locally. Readership is a challenge. We don’t have a reading culture. If you look at the bestseller lists, they are works, in a sense, already successfully and globally marketed, like Harry Potter. A lot of self-help books reach the bestseller list. That happens to be the reading diet of the Singapore population.
Why is this the reading pattern?
I think it comes from this idea that any kind of reading should be sort of instrumentalist, which means that you don’t read for pleasure alone. You read for some kind of edification. You read for a purpose, like improving your life. I find self-help books strange and presumptuous, trading on the idea that you can actually prescribe certain things for every single individual.
I think we are a complex people and I believe in us as individuals. I don’t think one self-help book is going to have the one size fits all solution. I must say in terms of theatre, it is a little better because you are not competing with international works. We are able to make inroads when it comes to theatre.
Of course (Singapore’s) film-makers and writers who are producing literature are facing stiff competition from Hollywood and pulp fiction paperbacks from other parts of the world. We are also competing against books by people who won the Booker prize or who are Nobel laureates. There is an attitude among Singapore readers who will say: ‘You have not won some international award, why should I read you?’
Are you not happy as a Singaporean?
Yes (we laugh). But I have to qualify this. It is unhappiness, an agitation, which I think is a source of a lot of creative energy. It is not a paralysing kind of unhappiness. It is an unhappiness, I think, that compels me to try to figure out certain questions. What it means to be a Singaporean … nationhood, belonging, ethnicity and identity. I hope it is not just something that ends up being a kind of involuted, armchair critic kind of complaining. I am, of course, unhappy.
Picking up a copy of Straits Times in Singapore can ruin your morning. You wonder whether they really had to report on the ministerial speech at a community centre.
It is just rehashing the same thing you have heard for the last four decades. It is so pro-government. The Opposition is always portrayed in an unflattering light.
But it doesn’t take much to read between the lines. Obviously, I am not happy with the situation. I feel as if I am not getting real access to the real information.
From your writings, one feels you faced some discrimination as a Singapore Malay?
I have been a beneficiary of the system. It is not as if I am a Malay, I am denied, like say, access to subsidised education. It has not happened to me.
But I don’t think writing is solely about your own personal grievances. I have this platform where I can share certain ideas and information. There is a certain responsibility to speak up on behalf of other people who have been discriminated against because of their ethnicity. I have heard a lot about working class Malays facing discrimination. I believe I should write about all these incidents.
Are Singapore’s Malays being discriminated against?
Singapore likes to compare itself to Malaysia, using Malaysia as a negative example. Apparently, the twin pillars of Singapore’s ideology are meritocracy and multiracialism.
Singapore’s ideology sounds good on paper and in principle. But what they ignore is that not all races are in equal proportion in society. There is still a dominant Chinese majority in Singapore. When you are the majority, you form the bulk of your market. Your images in the media are everywhere, etc. So you need to do something a little extra for the minorities who are not going to have this kind of resources simply because they form a smaller number.
But I think a lot of people in Singapore especially the Chinese don’t realise what they are enjoying is majority privilege. They think that just because everything is supposedly meritocratic, there is no such thing as market forces that will favour the majority. Why don’t I see Malay faces in magazines and advertisements? The reason is simple. Because you want to sell to the majority. The buyers want to see faces they can identify with. The question is what should the state do to prevent minorities from feeling alienated by all these market forces?
Can you cite an example of blatant discrimination?
There is still discrimination in the army. A Malay would not be assigned to a sensitive position in the army. They will not get to deal with areas like military intelligence and handle more sophisticated weapons. It has been happening for so long. But the thing that makes me unhappy is the government doesn’t admit it.
When these questions are raised, they keep insisting the army is meritocratic. It isn’t. I’d rather have a government that comes out in the open and says: ‘We do not recruit Malays into higher ranks because of security issues ... because we think their loyalty might be torn between Singapore and neighbouring countries.’ Only when this is out in the open, perhaps then we could have some healthy discussions.
But if they do this, of course this would invite a response from neighbouring countries. I believe that none of the neighbouring countries want to attack Singapore. It has no strategic depth. No natural resources. The rhetoric in Singapore is that other countries are ‘envious of our success’. I don’t think there is envy. But there is pity. Because here is a country with such a delusional sense of self-importance that it devotes so much of its budget to defence, and wastes productive years of the lives of its adult males through mandatory conscription.
But if you were the defence minister would you put Malays in higher positions in the army?
Yes, I would. Even the Israeli army recruits Arabs. In terms of social integration, it is absolutely important we do not mistrust any members of our society.
I believe their rationale is the Malays still have an attachment to Malaysia and we need to wait for several years until they feel fully Singaporean. But my rationale is: How can we feel fully Singaporean if we are not integrated into the army and made to feel Singaporean? Just because you are born in some Singapore hospital doesn’t make you feel Singaporean.
You have to go through a certain rite of passage and citizenship that makes you feel for your country. It must make you say: ‘I will fight for the army because it happens to be an army that trusted me to fight for my country.’ You must have confidence that a citizen will execute his duty as a citizen. Malaysia has had non-bumi generals for so long. Singapore never had a Malay general since independence in 1965. Only last year we had an Indian-Muslim colonel promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. It has taken them so long to appoint a Muslim general.
How do non-Malays in Singapore react to your statements?
I have more non-Malay friends than Malay friends in Singapore. I always put my views in an honest way but never in an aggressive way that will make them feel offended and defensive. But for some people in Singapore, even raising such issues puts them on the defensive.
Some consider you are ultra Malay. What is your comment?
To be an ultra Malay, I have to speak Malay well and be rooted in Malayness ... wearing songkok, samping, waving the keris (he laughs). But I don’t. I speak to my parents in Malay. But my first language is English. I even dream in English. So it is hard to be a racial chauvinist when you can’t even speak the language well. When I see a lot of this ultra Malay gestures in Malaysia, I feel nauseated because they are the same as the ultra Chinese in Singapore. Someone raising a keris is the same as a Chinese talking about the superiority of Chinese culture and their 5,000 years of civilisation.
Have you gotten into trouble with the law over your views?
I have never broken any law. But I also know there is the ISA where you do not need any evidence to catch you. I have not been detained under the ISA. But in Singapore, the process of making art comes under so many regulations. There are so many guidelines we (the artists) have to subscribe too. I had issues with censorship.
Can you give some examples?
In one of my plays, I wanted to include a scene where in the future, Malaysia decides to cut the water supply to Singapore. So some Singaporeans travel to the North Pole to transport back some icebergs. The scene was considered sensitive and we had to pull it out.
In 2001, in my poetry collection, History of Amnesia, there was a bit where I included poems on ISA detainee Chia Thye Poh. He had spent 32 years in detention under the ISA. I had a hard time getting a publishing grant (from the government). In the end, my application was turned down with no written explanation.
What misconceptions do people have about you?
That I am an angry young man. But when they meet me, they are surprised to find me soft-spoken and mild. They can’t match the writer and the person. I feel I have disappointed them.
Why are you often in Kuala Lumpur?
I am inspired whenever I come to Kuala Lumpur. I feel there are little pocket freedoms which I do not find in Singapore. There is greater freedom of expression in Malaysia. The idea of democracy is better practised here. There are no demos in Singapore. The idea is foreign to Singaporeans. Nobody has any idea what takes place in a demo ... what it feels like to shout a slogan or even hold a placard. Of course there are also repressive measures when it comes to Syariah law here. I do not want a kind of Jais (Jabatan Agama Islam) in Singapore. I do not want moral policing or even vigilantism.
Why do you want to see a demo in Singapore?
I am not saying that we should have one just for the sake of it. But if there is some legitimate grievance, then this avenue should be available. I think it is possible to have demonstrations conducted in an orderly fashion. The Singapore government is not so much afraid of the law and order aspects of allowing a demonstration. They are more afraid of public expressions of unhappiness over their rule.
Many Muslims believe the community needs the moral police. What is your comment?
We should be clear about the reach of the law when it comes to governing behaviour. When you behave in a way that harms others, obviously it is a crime and you need laws to curb it. When you are doing certain things in private and where the principle of harm cannot be demonstrated convincingly, I don’t think those are things that require legislation.
Do you hate your country?
In the foreword to my latest book (Collected Plays One), Ivan Heng (a Singapore theatre director) said that after reading my works, he realised that I hate Singapore as a lover would. Only the ones you love can hurt you. For example, if a waiter serves you late, you get annoyed but forget about it the next day. But if you felt wounded by someone you love, the pain stays for very long.
If I felt affected by some things that are happening in my country, a part of it is because I love Singapore. Of course, not in a facile, flag-waving kind of way. The frustrations come from seeing so much potential going to waste and being neglected.
What made you want to be a writer?
I wish I could tell you that there was a book that transformed my life and I wanted to be a writer. I wish I could tell you that I met this author and we shook hands and I felt something pass through me and I wanted to be writer. But the reality is I just love writing. Writing is one of those few things in life that I am probably good at. Writing is something that keeps me sane, that keeps me balanced, and that keeps me alive.
Alfian is doing a residency at the Instant Café House of Art and Ideas (CHAI) in Kuala Lumpur and will be conducting writing workshops. Those interested can log on to http://blog.instantcafetheatre.com/2010/06/writing-workshops-by-alfian-saat-singapore/)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Singapore Dilemma in the Malay World
I read The Singapore Dilemma years ago and I look forward to reading Prof Lily Zubaidah Rahim's latest take on Malays in Singapore. One view that struck me after reading the earlier book was the government's claims that meritocracy was the be all and end all for social mobility and success in Singapore. Yes, that is true to an extent but not everyone in Singapore is presented with the same opportunities and life chances. Meritocracy is only one rung in the ladder. As an aside on using Malay breakthrough examples, Lily Zubaidah Rahim is more privileged than the rest of the local Malay community perhaps as she comes from a much esteemed lineage.
Despite the advances made by the community, Malays in Singapore are generally still behind socioeconomically compared with the Chinese. My Chinese friends, especially the not so good ones, sometimes remark that Malay backwardness is a result of our own choice. They fail to understand that it is harder for someone from a lower socioeconomic background, regardless of ethnicity, to take advantage of meritocracy in school. Regardless if Chinese, Malay or Indian, a child who comes from a broken home, cannot afford tuition, enrichment classes, PC or an internet connection or who has to work part-time, does not have equal opportunities to take advantage of meritocracy and the education system. Social mobility is not a myth as someone from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background can break out of the cycle, but the hurdles are harder to surmount.
This from Select Books might just as well be the blurp of her latest book, and it really looks like a good read.
"Relations between Singapore and her immediate Malay neighbours have been perennially fraught with tension and misunderstanding. In making sense of this complex relationship, Lily Rahim explores the salience of historical animosities and competitive economic pressures, and Singapore's janus-faced security and foreign economic policy orientation and 'regional outsider' complex. Focusing on Singapore's relations with Malaysia, the book also examines the Indonesian dimension in bilateral relations. It highlights the paradoxical similarities in the nation-building approaches of Singapore and Malaysia. The author reflects critically on sensitive issues such as the rhetoric and reality of meritocracy and multiracialism in Singapore, and analyses the city-state's weak regional soft power credentials and reputation as a political laggard despite its economic achievements."
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Jun 24, 2010
Dr Lily returns with new book
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
IN 1998, Sydney-based academic Lily Zubaidah Rahim created a storm in Singapore with her book, The Singapore Dilemma: Political And Educational Marginality Of The Malays.
Calling meritocracy in Singapore a sham, she argued that because Singaporean Malays lag economically, they also lag educationally and will always remain so without economic help.
On Friday, the senior lecturer at the University of Sydney was back in Singapore to launch another book, Singapore in the Malay World.
This time round, she tries to make sense of the complex relations that Singapore shares with its Malay neighbours, namely Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as how historical animosities with these neighbours have shaped the People's Action Party policies.
Among others, she argued that Singapore is driven by fear and insecurity which stemmed first from the communist insurgency and later on, the Islamic war on terror. This fear, she believed, has allowed the Singapore Government to shape a national identity that is based on distrust of Singapore and regional Malays.
Dr Lily is the niece of Singapore's first President, the late Mr Yusof Ishak. She now lives and teaches in Sydney, specialising in the comparative politics of Southeast Asia.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Ramadhan Al-Mubarak 1430H
Dalam diam, hampir satu minggu bulan ramadhan telah berlalu dan macam-macam juadah telah dijamu untuk berbuka. Walaupun tekak berselera makan juadah yang sedap-sedap, bubur dari masjid juga menjadi penyelera pada waktu berbuka. Kenanbyakkan masjid membahagikan bubur lepas asar tapi ada juga yang membahagikan lepas zohor. Jiran-jiran tertangga kita yang berlainan agama pun tidak terkecuali dari mengambil bubur masjid di bulan ramadhan. Maklumlah, Singapura adalah sebuah negara yang berbilang bangsa dan agama . Perbuatan sedemikian akan dapat memeratkan perhubungan antara agama dan mereka akan lebih memahami makna ramadhan untuk Melayu/Islam setempat.
Apa yang membuat saya bangga dengan Melayu/Islam di Singapura ialah semangat untuk menderma demi membiayai pembahagian bubur dan majlis iftar. Menderma di bulan ramadhan bukan saja melebihkan pahala bahkan perkara ini juga memdokong cadangan rapat umum hari kebangsaan PM Lee agar kita bekerja dengan keras demi mempertahankan harmoni keagamaan di Singapura. Ada juga kolong-kolong blok yang dijadikan tempat berterawih di bulan yang mulia ini. Ini bererti jiran tertangga kita yang berlainan agama dapat menerima peri laku agama Islam demi perpaduan sosial. Perkara yang sama dapat dilihat apabila mereka menyambut perayaan "Hungry Ghost" dan rakyat berlainan agama pula menerima segala peri laku mereka.
Semoga ramadhan ini berjalan dengan baik untuk membaca yang beragama Islam sekalian dan saya juga berharap agar perpaduan kaum di Singapura akan sentiasa tenang dan tiada pertelingkahan. Pelawalah teman-teman anda menghadiri program "Outreach" MUIS agar dapat mengeratkan perhubungan antara agama.
Apa yang membuat saya bangga dengan Melayu/Islam di Singapura ialah semangat untuk menderma demi membiayai pembahagian bubur dan majlis iftar. Menderma di bulan ramadhan bukan saja melebihkan pahala bahkan perkara ini juga memdokong cadangan rapat umum hari kebangsaan PM Lee agar kita bekerja dengan keras demi mempertahankan harmoni keagamaan di Singapura. Ada juga kolong-kolong blok yang dijadikan tempat berterawih di bulan yang mulia ini. Ini bererti jiran tertangga kita yang berlainan agama dapat menerima peri laku agama Islam demi perpaduan sosial. Perkara yang sama dapat dilihat apabila mereka menyambut perayaan "Hungry Ghost" dan rakyat berlainan agama pula menerima segala peri laku mereka.
Semoga ramadhan ini berjalan dengan baik untuk membaca yang beragama Islam sekalian dan saya juga berharap agar perpaduan kaum di Singapura akan sentiasa tenang dan tiada pertelingkahan. Pelawalah teman-teman anda menghadiri program "Outreach" MUIS agar dapat mengeratkan perhubungan antara agama.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Singapore Malays Hold Special Position
This badge of honour is a dubious one. So there is supposed to be affirmative action in terms of status, but in other areas like Malays in the SAF, our community is sidelined. We don't even have free education anymore. The irony of this whole protection of the Malay community under Article 152 actually makes us more a subject of criticism although we don't have much real privileges.
Yes the GRC is supposed to protect the interests of the non-Chinese minorities but the GRC system seems more like a poltical tactic rather than a structure to protect Malay interests. The stereotype is that the PAP counts on the vote of the Malay community. Whether that is true now nobody will know. We are just like any other community in Singapore - some will be pro-PAP, some will be anti-PAP, and most would have mixed feelings. BN's inability to hold on to the Malay vote in the last Malaysian elections tells us that there is a limit to race politics and voting anyway.
August 20, 2009 16:38 PM
Singapore Malays Hold Special Position
Bernama
SINGAPORE, Aug 20 (Bernama) - The minority Malays in Singapore have a "special position" under the republic's constitution, according to former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
He said the constitution of Singapore enjoined the government to give Malays a "special position" rather than to 'treat everybody as equal'.
Lee said this in Parliament on Wednesday when he rebutted as 'false and flawed' the arguments by Nominated Member of Parliament Viswa Sadasivan calling for equal treatment for all races in the city-state, the local media reported Thursday.
On Tuesday, Viswa tabled a motion for the House to reaffirm its commitment to principles in the National Pledge when debating national policies.
Lee, who is currently Minister Mentor, said the assumption of equal treatment for all races was "false and flawed" and "completely untrue".
According to government statistic for 2008, Singapore's population was about 4.8 million, with the Chinese forming the majority (76.7 per cent), followed by the Malays (14 per cent), Indians (7.9 per cent) and others (1.4 per cent).
He reminded everyone that Singapore's starting point was the racial clash and tense period of the 1960s after the republic was thrown out of Malaysia and until it got its independence.
Lee said the Malays in Singapore then were worried about the Chinese who formed the majority, and wondered whether the Chinese here would treat them the way the Malay majority in Malaysia had treated the Chinese minority there.
The minister also pointed to Article 152 of the constitution, which says that it is the responsibility of the government to "constantly care for the interests of the racial and religious minorities in Singapore".
In particular, it states that the government must recognise the special position of the Malays, 'the indigenous people of Singapore', and safeguard their political, economic and educational interests.
Lee mentioned how the United States handled the race issue, where despite a 1776 declaration that "all men are created equal", blacks did not get the right to vote until a century later, and racial segregation continued well into the 20th century.
For Singapore to reach a point where all races could be treated equally "is going to take decades, if not centuries', Lee said.
Yes the GRC is supposed to protect the interests of the non-Chinese minorities but the GRC system seems more like a poltical tactic rather than a structure to protect Malay interests. The stereotype is that the PAP counts on the vote of the Malay community. Whether that is true now nobody will know. We are just like any other community in Singapore - some will be pro-PAP, some will be anti-PAP, and most would have mixed feelings. BN's inability to hold on to the Malay vote in the last Malaysian elections tells us that there is a limit to race politics and voting anyway.
August 20, 2009 16:38 PM
Singapore Malays Hold Special Position
Bernama
SINGAPORE, Aug 20 (Bernama) - The minority Malays in Singapore have a "special position" under the republic's constitution, according to former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
He said the constitution of Singapore enjoined the government to give Malays a "special position" rather than to 'treat everybody as equal'.
Lee said this in Parliament on Wednesday when he rebutted as 'false and flawed' the arguments by Nominated Member of Parliament Viswa Sadasivan calling for equal treatment for all races in the city-state, the local media reported Thursday.
On Tuesday, Viswa tabled a motion for the House to reaffirm its commitment to principles in the National Pledge when debating national policies.
Lee, who is currently Minister Mentor, said the assumption of equal treatment for all races was "false and flawed" and "completely untrue".
According to government statistic for 2008, Singapore's population was about 4.8 million, with the Chinese forming the majority (76.7 per cent), followed by the Malays (14 per cent), Indians (7.9 per cent) and others (1.4 per cent).
He reminded everyone that Singapore's starting point was the racial clash and tense period of the 1960s after the republic was thrown out of Malaysia and until it got its independence.
Lee said the Malays in Singapore then were worried about the Chinese who formed the majority, and wondered whether the Chinese here would treat them the way the Malay majority in Malaysia had treated the Chinese minority there.
The minister also pointed to Article 152 of the constitution, which says that it is the responsibility of the government to "constantly care for the interests of the racial and religious minorities in Singapore".
In particular, it states that the government must recognise the special position of the Malays, 'the indigenous people of Singapore', and safeguard their political, economic and educational interests.
Lee mentioned how the United States handled the race issue, where despite a 1776 declaration that "all men are created equal", blacks did not get the right to vote until a century later, and racial segregation continued well into the 20th century.
For Singapore to reach a point where all races could be treated equally "is going to take decades, if not centuries', Lee said.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Winds of Change in the SAF?
Hopefully it is more than tokenism as a Malay MP suggested. Forty-four years after independence, a Malay-Muslim is finally appointed as a one star general in the SAF. He is in charged of the 6th Division and that does sound like a front line and sensitive appointment.
However, Khairulanwar makes a good point - to show whether the SAF has integrated Malays, perhaps it can release figures on statistics and representation of Malays in the SAF. This could be a better sign that Malays are now accepted as fellow defenders of Singapore. I sometimes wonder whether between choosing a naturalised citizen or a Malay for a sensitive SAF unit and all things equal, who would the SAF choose. I hope that the answer is an easy one for the decision-makers and someone who is born and socialised here, rather than some import, gets the job.
Nevertheless, I would not be sceptical and cast aspersions on why and how BG Ishak was promoted. I'm sure he rose through the ranks through his own merit and he is not some SAF tokenism. Instead, I am optimistic that the SAF will involve Malays more and more in our country's defence and the winds of change are here.
2009/06/26
Singapore military picks first Malay general
Colonel Ishak Ismail, 46, a senior Malay officer who has served for 28 years in SAF, is being promoted to Brigadier General, local media reported today.
He was one of the five SAF colonels (the other four non-Malays) who received their appointment letters as Brigadier Generals and a First Admiral during a function at the Defence Ministry yesterday.
Singapore has been criticised by various parties especially the Malay leaders and communities in and outside the island republic including Malaysia for seemingly practising a policy of not giving Malay SAF personnel opportunities to rise to the highest ranks due to concern over their loyalty.
Col Ishak who is SAF Sixth Division Commander since August last year, is among 464 SAF full time and National Service officers promoted this year.
"If this promotion is seen as something that can inspire others, it will also indirectly motivate them to work hard and achieve excellence every time," he was quoted by Berita Harian Singapura as saying.
Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad was quoted by Today newspaper as saying that Col Ishak’s achievement was a milestone for the Malay community in Singapore.
"It’s been talked about that you don’t see Malays serving in the upper echelons of the SAF. Now you’'ve got one, so it dispels some talk," said Zaqy who added that Col Ishak’s promotion would pave the way for more capable candidates in time.
"I hope it’s not seen as a token appointment," he said.
However, Khairulanwar makes a good point - to show whether the SAF has integrated Malays, perhaps it can release figures on statistics and representation of Malays in the SAF. This could be a better sign that Malays are now accepted as fellow defenders of Singapore. I sometimes wonder whether between choosing a naturalised citizen or a Malay for a sensitive SAF unit and all things equal, who would the SAF choose. I hope that the answer is an easy one for the decision-makers and someone who is born and socialised here, rather than some import, gets the job.
Nevertheless, I would not be sceptical and cast aspersions on why and how BG Ishak was promoted. I'm sure he rose through the ranks through his own merit and he is not some SAF tokenism. Instead, I am optimistic that the SAF will involve Malays more and more in our country's defence and the winds of change are here.
2009/06/26
Singapore military picks first Malay general
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will create history on July 1 when it appoints a Malay general.
He was one of the five SAF colonels (the other four non-Malays) who received their appointment letters as Brigadier Generals and a First Admiral during a function at the Defence Ministry yesterday.
Singapore has been criticised by various parties especially the Malay leaders and communities in and outside the island republic including Malaysia for seemingly practising a policy of not giving Malay SAF personnel opportunities to rise to the highest ranks due to concern over their loyalty.
Col Ishak who is SAF Sixth Division Commander since August last year, is among 464 SAF full time and National Service officers promoted this year.
Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad was quoted by Today newspaper as saying that Col Ishak’s achievement was a milestone for the Malay community in Singapore.
"It’s been talked about that you don’t see Malays serving in the upper echelons of the SAF. Now you’'ve got one, so it dispels some talk," said Zaqy who added that Col Ishak’s promotion would pave the way for more capable candidates in time.
"I hope it’s not seen as a token appointment," he said.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sedition Law Applied Again
I have many friends who are Christians and I am fortunate that most of them are moderate and not pushy about their religious views at all. The only views we are all pushy about, relatively speaking, are political ones and those views cut across gender and religious lines. I am glad the government bothers to take such blatant deliberate attacks on Islam as serious provocation, and its recent position on the Aware controversy is comforting that secularism is the political direction of the day. Nevertheless, some of my Catholic friends find that although the government is nervous about any Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) cartoons circulated in Singapore some time back, it is less worried about films like the Da Vinci Code, which could be interpreted as having negative portrayals of the Catholic Church, kicking up a storm.
Christian couple convicted for anti-Muslim booklets
SINGAPORE (AFP) — A Christian Singaporean couple were found guilty of sedition on Thursday for distributing evangelical publications that cast Islam in a negative light, court officials said.
Ong Kian Cheong and his wife Dorothy Chan had been charged with distributing a seditious publication to two Muslims in October and March 2007 and sending a second such booklet to another Muslim in December that same year, a district court official told AFP.
The publications were found to have promoted feelings of ill-will and hostility between Christians and Muslims, the Straits Times said on its website.
A hearing was set for June 4 for mitigation pleas and sentencing.
The sedition charge carries a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to 5,000 Singapore dollars (3,437 US) or both.
Singapore, a multi-racial island nation, clamps down hard on anyone seen to be inciting communal tensions.
In 2005, two ethnic Chinese men were jailed for anti-Muslim blogs.
The following year, a Singaporean blogger received a stern warning after posting cartoons mocking Jesus Christ on his online journal.
Ethnic Chinese make up a majority of the city-state's resident population but there are significant numbers of Malay Muslims, ethnic Indians and other groups.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Gaza's Children
Everyone must constantly be reminded that victims of any war would be civilians and children are the ones who suffer most. What would the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder be on children if adults themselves struggle to cope with it? Children would be psychlogically scarred if they survive the conflict physically. And sadly, as victims of violence, all they might understand is violence in future. Both sides should not continue to provoke each other and hopefully a ceasefire would occur very very soon.
300 Gazan Children Killed, 1,500 Wounded Since Tuesday
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- As of Tuesday, over 300 children have been killed and more than 1,500 wounded, since the Gaza crisis began on Dec 27.
United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) executive director Ann M. Veneman described the figures as not merely "cold figures" but those which interrupt the lives of children.
"No human being can watch this without being moved. No parent can witness this and not see their own child," she said in a statement on Thursday.
Ann said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was currently in the Middle-East, appealing for urgent compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1860.
The resolution calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire and the unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.
300 Gazan Children Killed, 1,500 Wounded Since Tuesday
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- As of Tuesday, over 300 children have been killed and more than 1,500 wounded, since the Gaza crisis began on Dec 27.
United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) executive director Ann M. Veneman described the figures as not merely "cold figures" but those which interrupt the lives of children.
"No human being can watch this without being moved. No parent can witness this and not see their own child," she said in a statement on Thursday.
Ann said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was currently in the Middle-East, appealing for urgent compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1860.
The resolution calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire and the unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Another Racist Blogger Arrested
Why are there still racists? Because such ignorant people will always be around.
Acting on a complaint, the police arrested that racist and it is reassuring that some action is taken, and that they didn't just ignore the whole complaint. I presume they would take action on any racist regardless of her or his ethnicity.
Nevertheless, what is appropriate action now after the supposed arrest? Should that blogger be jailed, fined, issued a stern warning or do community service? Which is the action that is most beneficial to society and that blogger at the same time, without turning him more antagonistic towards other races and blaming them for the predicament he is in now somehow?
I think it should be community service as it is his chance to make things right.
Acting on a complaint, the police arrested that racist and it is reassuring that some action is taken, and that they didn't just ignore the whole complaint. I presume they would take action on any racist regardless of her or his ethnicity.
Nevertheless, what is appropriate action now after the supposed arrest? Should that blogger be jailed, fined, issued a stern warning or do community service? Which is the action that is most beneficial to society and that blogger at the same time, without turning him more antagonistic towards other races and blaming them for the predicament he is in now somehow?
I think it should be community service as it is his chance to make things right.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Response to Islam in Singapore : Where to from here ?
Unfortunately, the comments section of this is deactivated and so I decided to post my comments here:
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I don’t quite get Dr Alwi’s rhetoric of Singapore’s by attempting to either dilute or modify Islam in order to integrate its Muslim community. As Singaporeans, we should just continue to practice Islam as it is and stop harboring thoughts that others are trying to impede our practices.
First of all, “Islam does not concentrate on filling men’s minds with philosophical ideas, or on excessive dream-like spirituality, or on physical training and perfection, or on self-serving materialistic philosophies such as exist nowadays. The personality of the Muslim is perfectly integrated and balanced, and no aspect of it is overtaken by others, as happens in other societies where man is brought up under imperfect manmade systems which all too often are governed by selfish desires, reprehensible innovations or deviant ideas.”
Secondly all Muslims are supposed to be on good terms with their neighbors, regardless of their religious practices and there isn’t a need to dilute the Islamic practices. “With his neighbor, the true Muslim is an example of good treatment and consideration of others’ feelings and sensitivities. He puts up with mistreatment and turns a blind eye to his neighbor’s faults while taking care not to commit any such errors himself. He always adopts the Islamic attitude whereby treating neighbors well was made a basic principle of Islam, so much so that the Prophet thought that Jibrail would make his neighbor his heir. Therefore he never does anything bad to his neighbor, nor does he fail in his duty towards him; rather, he does not spare any effort to do favors for his neighbor, without expecting any favors, reward or thanks in return.”
Muslims do not unjustly accuse others of ‘fisq’ or ‘kufr’ and should be modest at all times. Nothing can restore the health and authenticity of the Muslim identity except a sincere return to the eternal way of Allah and a deep understanding of the mission with which the Muslim has been entrusted. This will enable the Muslims to fulfill their duty of conveying this message to mankind, after they have adopted it for themselves as an ideology and way of life.
##############################
References:
http://www.crescentlife.com/articles/islam/ideal_muslim.htm
######################
I don’t quite get Dr Alwi’s rhetoric of Singapore’s by attempting to either dilute or modify Islam in order to integrate its Muslim community. As Singaporeans, we should just continue to practice Islam as it is and stop harboring thoughts that others are trying to impede our practices.
First of all, “Islam does not concentrate on filling men’s minds with philosophical ideas, or on excessive dream-like spirituality, or on physical training and perfection, or on self-serving materialistic philosophies such as exist nowadays. The personality of the Muslim is perfectly integrated and balanced, and no aspect of it is overtaken by others, as happens in other societies where man is brought up under imperfect manmade systems which all too often are governed by selfish desires, reprehensible innovations or deviant ideas.”
Secondly all Muslims are supposed to be on good terms with their neighbors, regardless of their religious practices and there isn’t a need to dilute the Islamic practices. “With his neighbor, the true Muslim is an example of good treatment and consideration of others’ feelings and sensitivities. He puts up with mistreatment and turns a blind eye to his neighbor’s faults while taking care not to commit any such errors himself. He always adopts the Islamic attitude whereby treating neighbors well was made a basic principle of Islam, so much so that the Prophet thought that Jibrail would make his neighbor his heir. Therefore he never does anything bad to his neighbor, nor does he fail in his duty towards him; rather, he does not spare any effort to do favors for his neighbor, without expecting any favors, reward or thanks in return.”
Muslims do not unjustly accuse others of ‘fisq’ or ‘kufr’ and should be modest at all times. Nothing can restore the health and authenticity of the Muslim identity except a sincere return to the eternal way of Allah and a deep understanding of the mission with which the Muslim has been entrusted. This will enable the Muslims to fulfill their duty of conveying this message to mankind, after they have adopted it for themselves as an ideology and way of life.
##############################
References:
http://www.crescentlife.com/articles/islam/ideal_muslim.htm
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Foreign Domestic Workers restrictions on their religious practices in Singapore?
While blog-hopping, came across this http://nusms.blogspot.com/2008/03/religious-freedom-for-indonesian-maids.html.
For a mere SGD$200++ per month, some of these domestic workers need to work like labourers, deprived of food, salaries, religious freedom, and social contact. The full report is available here http://hrw.org/reports/2005/singapore1205/6.htm .
10 Facts abut Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore- http://www.scwo.org.sg/cms/content/view/111/29/
1. There are more than 140,000 foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore. Most are from Indonesia and the Philippines. The rest come from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.
2. One in eight households in Singapore employs a foreign domestic worker.
3. The number of FDWs has increased almost thirty fold since the Foreign Domestic Worker scheme was introduced in 1978.
4. Each day, an average of 10 FDWs seek help and advice from their embassies because of problems such as physical and/or sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, not being given adequate food, and work-related stress.
5. In 2001, MOM banned 49 people from hiring FDWs. This was 12 times as many as in 1997.
6. Nine out of 10 people accused of maid abuse are women. This has been attributed to the stress of shouldering the household burden alone coupled with the lack of family support at home.
7. In the last four and a half years, 90 FDW’s, mostly Indonesians, have fallen to their deaths from high-rise buildings.
8. In 2001, less than 1% of the total population of FDW’s ran away from their employers and was not successfully repatriated.
9. Employers lodged 350 complaints against maid agencies in 2001, a 50% rise since 1998.
10. Only 19 of the more than 700 maid agencies in Singapore have been accredited under the Case trust scheme so far.
For a mere SGD$200++ per month, some of these domestic workers need to work like labourers, deprived of food, salaries, religious freedom, and social contact. The full report is available here http://hrw.org/reports/2005/singapore1205/6.htm .
10 Facts abut Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore- http://www.scwo.org.sg/cms/content/view/111/29/
1. There are more than 140,000 foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore. Most are from Indonesia and the Philippines. The rest come from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.
2. One in eight households in Singapore employs a foreign domestic worker.
3. The number of FDWs has increased almost thirty fold since the Foreign Domestic Worker scheme was introduced in 1978.
4. Each day, an average of 10 FDWs seek help and advice from their embassies because of problems such as physical and/or sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, not being given adequate food, and work-related stress.
5. In 2001, MOM banned 49 people from hiring FDWs. This was 12 times as many as in 1997.
6. Nine out of 10 people accused of maid abuse are women. This has been attributed to the stress of shouldering the household burden alone coupled with the lack of family support at home.
7. In the last four and a half years, 90 FDW’s, mostly Indonesians, have fallen to their deaths from high-rise buildings.
8. In 2001, less than 1% of the total population of FDW’s ran away from their employers and was not successfully repatriated.
9. Employers lodged 350 complaints against maid agencies in 2001, a 50% rise since 1998.
10. Only 19 of the more than 700 maid agencies in Singapore have been accredited under the Case trust scheme so far.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
The End of Affirmative Action in Malaysia?
Cleverly engineered by sour grapes defeated UMNO, shouts of "Hidup Melayu" erupted in Penang yesterday. The tumultuous Malaysian general election paved the way for Democratic Action Party's Lim Guan Eng to be sworn in as Chief Minister for Penang. The new opposition government in Penang announced a few days ago that state contracts will no longer be awarded based on NEP, an affirmative action policy inspired by Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution and the 1969 race riots which ignited when Malays were deemed marginalised by UMNO. Will the increasingly influential alternative coalition dismantle a bumiputra policy launched in 1971?
Playing the race card and preying on the potential insecurity of the rural Malay population, UMNO has cleverly shifted the arguments to one of the opposition coalition as anti-Malay.
This politicised argument is a seductive one. Very few people would like their privileges revoked and the idea that DAP and its partners will allow the rolling back of Malay supremacy is a sensitive one in Malaysia. If Penang backs down from its declaration that state awards will be based on market forces bidding rather than selective awarding to companies run by Malay elites, is it a victory for UMNO, Malays in Malaysia or all Malaysians in Malaysia in the long term?
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Syariah Law Controversy in the UK
Rowan Williams did not expect the storm he unleashed when he mentioned that it was inevitable that aspects of syariah law would be implemented in the UK. This sparked off a flurry of hostility and calls for his resignation as the leader of the world's Anglican community. The Western media has been playing up the parts about hand-chopping and discrimination against women. However, the current debate in modern UK on Syarian law is probably instead more intended for divorce, inheritance and business for Muslims trying to reconcile both their Muslim and British identities. The Archbishop of Cantebury is enlightened enough to open this topic up for debate despite the howls of his critics. Should there be only one law in a liberal democracy but if so, how does multiculturalism fit in? In Singapore there is a Syariah court which mainly handles marriage-related issues. Maybe the Archbishop had this model in mind.
Too bad that the Islamphobes in the UK are loud and pushy enough to drown out any constructive discussion.
Friday, February 1, 2008
LIDAH PENGARANG AKHBAR CINA, LIANHE ZAOBAO, TENTANG PENAHANAN ISD TERBARU, KELMARIN
BIARKAN AGAMA TERUS MEMBAWA MANFAAT BAGI MASYARAKAT
JABATAN -CyBerita(1 Feb 2008)
Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISD) telah memberkas dua lelaki Muslim radikal yang terlibat dalam kegiatan pengganasan dan mengeluarkan Perintah Sekatan ke atas seorang lagi baru-baru ini.
Insiden terbaru itu pula menyusuli penahanan seorang lagi lelaki Muslim yang mempunyai fahaman radikal pada Februari tahun lalu.
Penyelidikan telah menunjukkan golongan belia yang menjadi radikal dengan sendiri melalui risalah, video dan Internet mungkin menyimpan hasrat untuk ke luar negara bagi menjalani latihan dan menjalankan kegiatan sabotaj.
Malah ada sebahagian daripada mereka rela juga mati syahid.
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) telah mengeluarkan kenyataan menyokong langkah yang diambil ISD dan berharap ketiga-tiga lelaki itu akan berubah dan pulang ke pangkal jalan.
Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, juga telah berkata pihak berkuasa mahu mereka yang ditahan menyedari bahawa pengganasan dan fahaman radikal tidak sihat dan Singapura tidak boleh menyokong fahaman sedemikian.
Namun beliau tetap akur ia merupakan masalah jangka panjang dan satu cabaran penting bagi rakyat Singapura sentiasa berwaspada dan menangani isu tersebut sebagai satu masyarakat.
Kes ketiga-ketiga belia dengan fahaman radikal itu dapat dibongkar dalam tempoh kurang setahun menunjukkan kumpulan-kumpulan ekstremis yang cuba menyebarkan pengganasan masih merebak dan ia sukar untuk dibendung.
Keharmonian masyarakat harus diraih menerusi keharmonian agama dan rakyat Singapura harus berwaspada ketika waktu damai dan menggalak peningkatan fahaman antara berbilang kaum, agama dan budaya bagi mengukuhkan kesepaduan negara, supaya mereka yang mempunyai agenda tidak dapat mempengaruhi kita.
Harus ditekankan bahawa pengganas tidak dihadkan kepada satu bangsa atau agama.
Oleh itu, kekuatan untuk menjaga keamanan dan damai mesti datang daripada rakyatnya dan meliputi semua lapisan masyarakat, dengan orang ramai mengambil inisiatif sendiri untuk berbuat demikian.
Dengan itu, langkah bertepatan ISD itu diperlukan, juga seperti usaha berterusan pemerintah untuk menggalak keharmonian agama, seperti menganjurkan dialog-dialog agama dan perbincangan damai.
Yang paling penting sekali, sedang kita menjadi lebih berwaspada bagi membendung golongan yang mahu memperguna agama untuk menipu dan menyelewengkan belia kita, kita harus menyokong semua kegiatan agama yang berfaedah dan mempromosi semangat keihsanan setiap agama.
Di Singapura, adalah biasa jika kita melihat gereja dan kuil dibina bersebelahan.
Apabila tsunami di Lautan Hindi melanda beberapa tahun lalu, pelbagai kumpulan agama telah juga berganding bahu untuk berdoa dan mengumpul dana untuk mangsa bencana itu.
Semua ini menunjukkan bahawa asas keharmonian agama yang dipegang tidak cetek.
Beberapa kumpulan agama lain yang tidak mempunyai profil yang tinggi, juga secara senyap-senyap menyumbang untuk manfaat masyarakat umum.
Kita harus jelas bahawa sifat murah hati dan kebajikan adalah prinsip universal setiap agama dan tidak terhad kepada satu agama sahaja.
Sedang kegiatan agama yang dirancang harus digalak, mereka perlu mengamalkan disiplin dan ketelusan sewajarnya dalam perniagaan dan kewangan.
Untuk membendung pengganasan dilakukan atas nama agama dan membina masyarakat aman damai, berharmoni dan penyayang, selain membangunkan pertahanan psikologi yang kukuh, memberi kelonggaran kepada kumpulan agama menebar semangat kebajikan dan membenarkan kegiatan agama menjadi satu kuasa yang akan bermanfaat bagi masyarakat adalah satu pendekatan yang perlu diiktiraf.
JABATAN -CyBerita(1 Feb 2008)
Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISD) telah memberkas dua lelaki Muslim radikal yang terlibat dalam kegiatan pengganasan dan mengeluarkan Perintah Sekatan ke atas seorang lagi baru-baru ini.
Insiden terbaru itu pula menyusuli penahanan seorang lagi lelaki Muslim yang mempunyai fahaman radikal pada Februari tahun lalu.
Penyelidikan telah menunjukkan golongan belia yang menjadi radikal dengan sendiri melalui risalah, video dan Internet mungkin menyimpan hasrat untuk ke luar negara bagi menjalani latihan dan menjalankan kegiatan sabotaj.
Malah ada sebahagian daripada mereka rela juga mati syahid.
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) telah mengeluarkan kenyataan menyokong langkah yang diambil ISD dan berharap ketiga-tiga lelaki itu akan berubah dan pulang ke pangkal jalan.
Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, juga telah berkata pihak berkuasa mahu mereka yang ditahan menyedari bahawa pengganasan dan fahaman radikal tidak sihat dan Singapura tidak boleh menyokong fahaman sedemikian.
Namun beliau tetap akur ia merupakan masalah jangka panjang dan satu cabaran penting bagi rakyat Singapura sentiasa berwaspada dan menangani isu tersebut sebagai satu masyarakat.
Kes ketiga-ketiga belia dengan fahaman radikal itu dapat dibongkar dalam tempoh kurang setahun menunjukkan kumpulan-kumpulan ekstremis yang cuba menyebarkan pengganasan masih merebak dan ia sukar untuk dibendung.
Keharmonian masyarakat harus diraih menerusi keharmonian agama dan rakyat Singapura harus berwaspada ketika waktu damai dan menggalak peningkatan fahaman antara berbilang kaum, agama dan budaya bagi mengukuhkan kesepaduan negara, supaya mereka yang mempunyai agenda tidak dapat mempengaruhi kita.
Harus ditekankan bahawa pengganas tidak dihadkan kepada satu bangsa atau agama.
Oleh itu, kekuatan untuk menjaga keamanan dan damai mesti datang daripada rakyatnya dan meliputi semua lapisan masyarakat, dengan orang ramai mengambil inisiatif sendiri untuk berbuat demikian.
Dengan itu, langkah bertepatan ISD itu diperlukan, juga seperti usaha berterusan pemerintah untuk menggalak keharmonian agama, seperti menganjurkan dialog-dialog agama dan perbincangan damai.
Yang paling penting sekali, sedang kita menjadi lebih berwaspada bagi membendung golongan yang mahu memperguna agama untuk menipu dan menyelewengkan belia kita, kita harus menyokong semua kegiatan agama yang berfaedah dan mempromosi semangat keihsanan setiap agama.
Di Singapura, adalah biasa jika kita melihat gereja dan kuil dibina bersebelahan.
Apabila tsunami di Lautan Hindi melanda beberapa tahun lalu, pelbagai kumpulan agama telah juga berganding bahu untuk berdoa dan mengumpul dana untuk mangsa bencana itu.
Semua ini menunjukkan bahawa asas keharmonian agama yang dipegang tidak cetek.
Beberapa kumpulan agama lain yang tidak mempunyai profil yang tinggi, juga secara senyap-senyap menyumbang untuk manfaat masyarakat umum.
Kita harus jelas bahawa sifat murah hati dan kebajikan adalah prinsip universal setiap agama dan tidak terhad kepada satu agama sahaja.
Sedang kegiatan agama yang dirancang harus digalak, mereka perlu mengamalkan disiplin dan ketelusan sewajarnya dalam perniagaan dan kewangan.
Untuk membendung pengganasan dilakukan atas nama agama dan membina masyarakat aman damai, berharmoni dan penyayang, selain membangunkan pertahanan psikologi yang kukuh, memberi kelonggaran kepada kumpulan agama menebar semangat kebajikan dan membenarkan kegiatan agama menjadi satu kuasa yang akan bermanfaat bagi masyarakat adalah satu pendekatan yang perlu diiktiraf.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Warga Singapura Ditahan Bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negara (ISA)
Tercetus lagi kes warga Singapura dipengaruhi pahaman radikal melalui alam maya. Jika dahulu kita digegarkan oleh berita seorang peguam dengan pahaman radikal, kes yang terbaru ini membabitkan tiga orang anak muda berusia 26 tahun.
Menurut liputan akhbar, dalang pahaman radikal ialah Zamri. Beliau telah menyebarkan pahaman radikalnya kepada rakan kenalan. Zamri dipercayai menuai pahaman radikal melalui lelaman-lelaman yang berlegar di alam maya. Kebanyakkan lelaman yang dilawatinya berunsur Jihad mengganas dan menpunyai penerbitan dan video yang bertemakan sedemikian. Kedua-dua rakannya yang ditahan telah depengaruhi oleh idelogi jihad mengganas Zamri.
Tatkala menerima berita ini semalam, saya cuba melungsuri dan mencungkil lelaman-lelaman kumpulan pengganas. Menemui lelaman tersebut tidaklah payah, malah terdapat ribuan lelaman sedemikian. Sebahagian besar lelaman sedemikian menggunakan ayat-ayat dari Al-Quran untuk pengaruh sedangkan masyarakat umum tahu Islam adalah agama damai. Persoalan yang berligar di benak saya adalah mengapa masih ada lagi separuh dari masyarakat kita yang terjebak dengan pahaman radikal ini?
Opresi terhadap penganut Islam memang berleluasa di Negara-negara seperti Palestine dan Chechnya. Bagaimanapun, haruskah keganasan dibalas dengan keganasan? Sedangkan Rasullullah(SAW) sentiasa mungkin menyelesaikan segala pembalahan dengan damai, mengapa umat Islam tidak mungkin mengikut contohNya?
Masyarakat damai Islam Singapura terjebak ke lembah syak wasangka sekali lagi apabila berita penangkapan mereka bertiga diiringi dengan penjelasan bahawa mereka cuba sedaya upaya mempelajari kegiatan pengganas. Salah satu daripada kegiatan mereka adalah menerima latihan luar Negara daripada kumpulan pengganas serantau.
Segala usaha untuk menjernihkan syak wasangka terhadap masyarakat Islam Singapura selepas 9/11 seperti sia-sia sahaja menyusuli berita buruk terbaru ini. Walaupun begitu, Kak Pah berharap jurang keretakan kepercayaan masyarakat lain terhadap Islam tidak akan menjadi lebih keruh. Semoga segala kekusutan diselesaikan dengan cepat dan segala keruh diperjenihkan.
Menurut liputan akhbar, dalang pahaman radikal ialah Zamri. Beliau telah menyebarkan pahaman radikalnya kepada rakan kenalan. Zamri dipercayai menuai pahaman radikal melalui lelaman-lelaman yang berlegar di alam maya. Kebanyakkan lelaman yang dilawatinya berunsur Jihad mengganas dan menpunyai penerbitan dan video yang bertemakan sedemikian. Kedua-dua rakannya yang ditahan telah depengaruhi oleh idelogi jihad mengganas Zamri.
Tatkala menerima berita ini semalam, saya cuba melungsuri dan mencungkil lelaman-lelaman kumpulan pengganas. Menemui lelaman tersebut tidaklah payah, malah terdapat ribuan lelaman sedemikian. Sebahagian besar lelaman sedemikian menggunakan ayat-ayat dari Al-Quran untuk pengaruh sedangkan masyarakat umum tahu Islam adalah agama damai. Persoalan yang berligar di benak saya adalah mengapa masih ada lagi separuh dari masyarakat kita yang terjebak dengan pahaman radikal ini?
Opresi terhadap penganut Islam memang berleluasa di Negara-negara seperti Palestine dan Chechnya. Bagaimanapun, haruskah keganasan dibalas dengan keganasan? Sedangkan Rasullullah(SAW) sentiasa mungkin menyelesaikan segala pembalahan dengan damai, mengapa umat Islam tidak mungkin mengikut contohNya?
Masyarakat damai Islam Singapura terjebak ke lembah syak wasangka sekali lagi apabila berita penangkapan mereka bertiga diiringi dengan penjelasan bahawa mereka cuba sedaya upaya mempelajari kegiatan pengganas. Salah satu daripada kegiatan mereka adalah menerima latihan luar Negara daripada kumpulan pengganas serantau.
Segala usaha untuk menjernihkan syak wasangka terhadap masyarakat Islam Singapura selepas 9/11 seperti sia-sia sahaja menyusuli berita buruk terbaru ini. Walaupun begitu, Kak Pah berharap jurang keretakan kepercayaan masyarakat lain terhadap Islam tidak akan menjadi lebih keruh. Semoga segala kekusutan diselesaikan dengan cepat dan segala keruh diperjenihkan.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
From Holland, a Storm is Coming
Geert Wilders - Out to score political right wing points by inciting Muslim-bashing and Islamophobia.In 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published the infamous Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) cartoons. This started a storm of reciprocal anti-Muslim and anti-Western anger. Was self-censorship expected of the Western media like Jyllands-Posten? Some of the Western media didn't think so and they imposed their cultural world view on an "anything goes" onto us Muslims. They hold nothing sacred except the idea of freedom of expression. When the protests against the cartoons intensified, some other European newspapers further reprinted the cartoons deemed offensive to Muslims to stir up unrest.
Muslims were right to be angry but whether we were right to resort to violence is something that is hard to defend. The Western media had the right to publish what they want but did they have the right to provocatively offend for the sake of controversy and publicity?
Now, it is now not the Danes, but right wing Dutch politicians who are out to incite and raise controversy. Hopefully, the controversy would not blind people to rage and calm would prevail abroad and in Singapore.
Politician to launch film denouncing Quran; Dutch govt fears violent protests
Monday January 21, 2008
AMSTERDAM The Dutch government is bracing itself for violent protests following the scheduled broadcast, later this week, of a provocative anti-Muslim film by a radical right-wing politician, who has threatened to denounce the Quran and broadcast images of the holy book being torn up and desecrated.
Cabinet ministers and officials, fearing a repetition of the crisis sparked by the publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper two years ago, have held a series of crisis meetings and ordered counter-terrorist services to draw up security plans. Dutch nationals overseas have also been asked to register with their embassies and local mayors in the Netherlands have been put on standby.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told Dutch public television: "We have seen other crises but this is a substantial one."
Dutch diplomats are already trying to pre-empt international reaction.
"It is difficult to anticipate the content of the film, but freedom of expression doesn't mean the right to offend," said Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, who was in Madrid to attend the Alliance of Civilisations, an international forum aimed at reducing tensions between the Islamic world and the West.
Government officials are urging mainstream media not to show the film. An Interior Ministry spokesman said: "A broadcast on a public channel could imply that the government supported the project."
The politician at the centre of the storm is Mr Geert Wilders, from the extremist VVD (Freedom) party in the 150-seat Dutch lower house, whose anti-Islam comments have led to death threats. He has promised that his 10-minute film will be aired on television or the Internet regardless of any pressure.
In Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other towns with large Muslim populations, imams have been trying to "calm" growing anger. The Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badr Al Din Hassoun warned last week that Mr Wilders was "inciting bloodshed" and it was the "responsibility of the Dutch people to stop him".
Monday, December 31, 2007
Benazir Bhutto: First Muslim Female Head of State
Two-times former Pakistan Prime Minister was assassinated a few days ago by unknown figures. Those behind the attack might be from within the government, a rival politician or even Al Qaeda-linked groups. Benazir Bhutto was a popular but not a perfect leader. Her ability to become PM twice is sign of her popularity. She could never dispel the rumours of her corruption and there is no smoke without fire especially in such countries where power, nepotism and wealth are rolled into one package. But what is inspiring about her despite all the controversy surrounding her and her family, Benazir Bhutto was the first female Muslim leader of a Muslim country and that is something to command respect. Her violent end only makes her a bigger political legend.
Obituary: Benazir Bhutto
BBC 27 December 2007
Benazir Bhutto followed her father into politics, and both of them died because of it - he was executed in 1979, she fell victim to an apparent suicide bomb attack.
Her two brothers also suffered violent deaths.
Like the Nehru-Gandhi family in India, the Bhuttos of Pakistan are one of the world's most famous political dynasties. Benazir's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was prime minister of Pakistan in the early 1970s.
His government was one of the few in the 30 years following independence that was not run by the army.
Born in 1953 in the province of Sindh and educated at Harvard and Oxford, Ms Bhutto gained credibility from her father's high profile, even though she was a reluctant convert to politics.
She was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996.
Stubbornness
On both occasions she was dismissed from office by the president for alleged corruption.
The dismissals typified her volatile political career, which was characterised by numerous peaks and troughs. At the height of her popularity - shortly after her first election - she was one of the most high-profile women leaders in the world.
Young and glamorous, she successfully portrayed herself as a refreshing contrast to the overwhelmingly male-dominated political establishment.
But after her second fall from power, her name came to be seen by some as synonymous with corruption and bad governance.
The determination and stubbornness for which Ms Bhutto was renowned was first seen after her father was imprisoned by Gen Zia ul-Haq in 1977, following a military coup. Two years later he was executed after a much criticised trial on charges of conspiring to murder a political opponent.
Ms Bhutto was imprisoned just before her father's death and spent most of her five-year jail term in solitary confinement. She described the conditions as extremely hard.
During stints out of prison for medical treatment, Ms Bhutto set up a Pakistan People's Party office in London, and began a campaign against General Zia.
She returned to Pakistan in 1986, attracting huge crowds to political rallies.
After Gen Zia died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988, she became one of the first democratically elected female prime ministers in an Islamic country.
Corruption charges
During both her stints in power, the role of Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Zardari, proved highly controversial.
He played a prominent role in both her administrations, and has been accused by various Pakistani governments of stealing millions of dollars from state coffers - charges he denies, as did Ms Bhutto herself.
Many commentators argued that the downfall of Ms Bhutto's government was accelerated by the alleged greed of her husband.
None of about 18 corruption and criminal cases against Mr Zardari has been proved in court after 10 years. But he served at least eight years in jail.
He was freed on bail in 2004, amid accusations that the charges against him were weak and going nowhere.
Ms Bhutto also steadfastly denied all the corruption charges against her, which she said were politically motivated.
She faced corruption charges in at least five cases, all without a conviction, until amnestied in October 2007.
She was convicted in 1999 for failing to appear in court, but the Supreme Court later overturned that judgement.
Soon after the conviction, audiotapes of conversations between the judge and some top aides of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were discovered that showed that the judge had been under pressure to convict.
Ms Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999 to live abroad, but questions about her and her husband's wealth continued to dog her.
She appealed against a conviction in the Swiss courts for money-laundering.
During her years outside Pakistan, Ms Bhutto lived with her three children in Dubai, where she was joined by her husband after he was freed in 2004.
She was a regular visitor to Western capitals, delivering lectures at universities and think-tanks and meeting government officials.
Army mistrust
Ms Bhutto returned to Pakistan on 18 October 2007 after President Musharraf signed into law an ordinance granting her and others an amnesty from corruption charges.
Observers said the military regime saw her as a natural ally in its efforts to isolate religious forces and their surrogate militants.
She declined a government offer to let her party head the national government after the 2002 elections, in which the party received the largest number of votes.
In the months before her death, she had emerged again as a strong contender for power.
Some in Pakistan believe her secret talks with the military regime amounted to betrayal of democratic forces as these talks shored up President Musharraf's grip on the country.
Others said such talks indicated that the military might at long last be getting over its decades-old mistrust of Ms Bhutto and her party, and interpreted it as a good omen for democracy.
Western powers saw in her a popular leader with liberal leanings who could bring much needed legitimacy to Mr Musharraf's role in the "war against terror".
Unhappy family
Benazir Bhutto was the last remaining bearer of her late father's political legacy.
Her brother, Murtaza - who was once expected to play the role of party leader - fled to the then-communist Afghanistan after his father's fall.
From there, and various Middle Eastern capitals, he mounted a campaign against Pakistan's military government with a militant group called al-Zulfikar.
He won elections from exile in 1993 and became a provincial legislator, returning home soon afterwards, only to be shot dead under mysterious circumstances in 1996.
Benazir's other brother, Shahnawaz - also politically active but in less violent ways than Murtaza - was found dead in his French Riviera apartment in 1985.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Mahram needed for Singapore Women Performing the Haj
"He added that the challenge for Singapore pilgrims is that to perform the Haj, Singapore has to fulfil all requirements set by the Saudi authorities."
As Singapore becomes more modernised, some practices are harder to understand for some. Female pilgrims from Singapore now need a male family member to accompany them on the haj. On the other hand, a woman with no mahram has no obligation to perform the Haj and she should be patient for the time when a mahram can travel with her. Singapore enjoyed an exemption before for "unaccompanied" women because of MUIS but the Saudis are enforcing it strictly now. Which is sensible from their policy standpoint - how can there be double standards especially on haj issues. Besides, didn't the Prophet (pbuh) say
“No woman should travel except with a mahram.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1862)
Unaccompanied women under 45 years old cannot perform Haj
By Hisham Hasim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 December 2007 2035 hrs
SINGAPORE: From next year, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will no longer accept applications from women who are under the age of 45 and wish to perform the Haj without a close male relative.
This was confirmed by Minister in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, at a Haj send-off ceremony at the Changi Airport on Sunday morning.
MUIS has clarified that Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia have all along required women pilgrims below 45 years of age to be accompanied by their male relative – called Mahram – when performing the Haj so that the young women can be properly taken care of.
Dr Yaacob said although Singapore has assured Saudi authorities that MUIS will take care of each Singapore pilgrim, Saudi authorities did not accept this.
He added that the challenge for Singapore pilgrims is that to perform the Haj, Singapore has to fulfil all requirements set by the Saudi authorities.
Previously, pilgrims from Singapore had been exempted from this ruling after MUIS appealed on behalf of a small number of women from Singapore.
But last year, Saudi authorities decided not to exempt all 70 women applicants from Singapore.
And this year, all 56 women applicants were similarly unsuccessful. But five of them eventually managed to get their male relatives to accompany them.
MUIS said for the 51 of them, they had earlier been informed that their application to perform the Haj would be subject to the approval of the Saudi Haj authorities.
Haj agents had also been requested not to collect any payment from these applicants until consent had been obtained from the Saudi Haj authorities.
MUIS has asked the unsuccessful applicants to try and arrange for a male relative to accompany them or to postpone their pilgrimage.
Every year, women make up about 40 percent of pilgrims from Singapore.
As Singapore becomes more modernised, some practices are harder to understand for some. Female pilgrims from Singapore now need a male family member to accompany them on the haj. On the other hand, a woman with no mahram has no obligation to perform the Haj and she should be patient for the time when a mahram can travel with her. Singapore enjoyed an exemption before for "unaccompanied" women because of MUIS but the Saudis are enforcing it strictly now. Which is sensible from their policy standpoint - how can there be double standards especially on haj issues. Besides, didn't the Prophet (pbuh) say
“No woman should travel except with a mahram.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1862)
Unaccompanied women under 45 years old cannot perform Haj
By Hisham Hasim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 December 2007 2035 hrs
SINGAPORE: From next year, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will no longer accept applications from women who are under the age of 45 and wish to perform the Haj without a close male relative.
This was confirmed by Minister in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, at a Haj send-off ceremony at the Changi Airport on Sunday morning.
MUIS has clarified that Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia have all along required women pilgrims below 45 years of age to be accompanied by their male relative – called Mahram – when performing the Haj so that the young women can be properly taken care of.
Dr Yaacob said although Singapore has assured Saudi authorities that MUIS will take care of each Singapore pilgrim, Saudi authorities did not accept this.
He added that the challenge for Singapore pilgrims is that to perform the Haj, Singapore has to fulfil all requirements set by the Saudi authorities.
Previously, pilgrims from Singapore had been exempted from this ruling after MUIS appealed on behalf of a small number of women from Singapore.
But last year, Saudi authorities decided not to exempt all 70 women applicants from Singapore.
And this year, all 56 women applicants were similarly unsuccessful. But five of them eventually managed to get their male relatives to accompany them.
MUIS said for the 51 of them, they had earlier been informed that their application to perform the Haj would be subject to the approval of the Saudi Haj authorities.
Haj agents had also been requested not to collect any payment from these applicants until consent had been obtained from the Saudi Haj authorities.
MUIS has asked the unsuccessful applicants to try and arrange for a male relative to accompany them or to postpone their pilgrimage.
Every year, women make up about 40 percent of pilgrims from Singapore.
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