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MUSLIMS ARE A MINORITY IN SINGAPORE.
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11 Jan 2017
As Malaysia ups halal ante, Singapore Islamic authority relaxes cert rules
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has clarified that customers are allowed to consume birthday cakes that are not halal-certified in the country’s halal outlets, citing a “flexible approach” towards the matter.
The explanation came after McDonald’s Singapore said it has banned non-certified cakes since 1992, but the franchise has since announced today it will revise its policy following Muis’ clarification.
In a media statement reported by Singaporean press today, Muis said halal outlets “may exercise some discretion in such cases” if three conditions can be met with outside food.
The conditions stipulates that there is no cross-contamination and the item is not brought into the kitchen, food preparation area, or storage facilities; only disposable cutlery is used; and the item must be consumed while any leftovers must immediately be bagged and disposed.
“As long as these conditions are met, Muis is of the view that the principles of halal certification are still preserved,” Muis said, as quoted by The Straits Times newspaper.
McDonald’s Singapore had notified the press of its policy, following public furore against a similar ban in the fast food chain outlets in Malaysia which was made the headlines.
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However, Muis explained that McDonald’s Singapore had made the statement without prior consultation with the body.
“In the light of Muis’ clarification, McDonald’s Singapore will review its policy on birthday cakes,” Faz announced.
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25 Feb 2016
Employers should list dress code policies clearly, says TAFEP
SINGAPORE — Following allegations by a job applicant who claimed she was told she could not wear a hijab at her potential workplace, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) said that employers must communicate their dress code policies clearly.
They must also exercise care and sensitivity when conveying expectations to job applicants and employees, TAFEP said yesterday in response to TODAY’s queries.
In a Facebook post that was widely circulated last week, Ms Sharifah Begum claimed that she was told that she could not wear a hijab — a Muslim headscarf covering the head and chest — when she applied for the role of administrative assistant at preschool operator, Modern Montessori International Group (MMI).
The incident revived a long-running debate on the wearing of hijab by Muslim women in the workplace.
TAFEP said “while employers may prescribe a dress code, such dress code requirements should not be differentiated by an employee’s race or religion.”
“Rather, the dress code should be suited to the nature of work, taking into account business, operational and safety considerations,” said a TAFEP spokesperson.
MMI did not respond to TODAY’s queries. However, in a post on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, MMI’s operations and administration manager Ismail Ibrahim said the dress code for all staff is to be presentable.
“For the Muslim staff, MMI allows the flexibility of donning the headscarf (bandana), covering the neck and wearing of long pants or long dresses whilst at work in the centres,” said Mr Ismail.
He added that “the final selection to employ is based on the merits of the candidates’ knowledge, skills and attitude towards working with young children.”
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/employers-should-list-dress-code-policies-clearly-says-tafep
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More Teachers Step Forward Condemning Modern Montessori for “Hijab Discrimination”
At least two other women have condemned Modern Montessori International for discrimination, after a viral Facebook post about a staff who spurned a job at the preschool because it wouldn’t allow her to wear a hijab.
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Others who read the post have shared their tales, saying they have refused to work for Modern Montessori International over this issue, and that they have not faced problems with the wearing of the hijab at other preschools.
More Teachers Step Forward Condemning Modern Montessori for “Hijab Discrimination”
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MODERN MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL DISALLOWS HIJAB WEAR WITH LUDICROUS CLAIMS OF FEARFUL PARENTS | http://ift.tt/1PN1sPZ
Dear ASS Admins,
I was discriminated because I was wearing a hijab, I like to share my unfortunate experience with you. I went for an interview today at one of the modern montessori preschool in Kovan and my interview went well until my interviewer Mdm Sheela, Director of MMI told me….
Interviewer: Since you are wearing the hijab if you start working here you have to wear a bandanna to cover your just your hair.
Me: what is the reason for this policy in your company?
Interviewer: Because we have many incidents where chinese parents are afraid to handover their kids to a staff who is wearing hijab. kids get scared too.
This is the most ridiculous reason I have ever heard for not allowing hijab in workplace.
Called ministry of manpower they refer to MUIS.
Called MUIS, they refer somewhere else.
MOM PUT ON HOLD……..
MUIS PUT ON HOLD………….
THIRD TRANSFER ——- SORRY OFFICE HOURS ARE CLOSED…
CLAP CLAP WOW SINGAPORE SO MULTIRACIAL!
Sharifah Begum
A.S.S. Contributor
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ISETAN SINGAPORE ISSUES AN APOLOGY ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE TO ZAFIRAH EDWARDS.
WHY? Read and find out.
Apology We would like to apologise sincerely to Miss Zafirah H. Edwards for any anguish and embarrassment . Isetan takes a serious view of the matter. The staff involved will be counseled and the management of Isetan will also take steps to ensure that similar situations will not happen again . We emphasise that Isetan has all along adopted an anti-discrimination policy. Each member of our staff or promoter who is working with us, regardless of race or religion, is a valued member of the Isetan team. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to a harmonious, non-discriminatory workplace, and will strive to do better from here.
From:
The management of Isetan (S) Ltd
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1. IT BEGAN WITH THIS FACEBOOK POST.
I am a teacher. I am an employee of the Ministry of Education. I am a a civil servant. I am a Muslim. I don the tudung and I am proud to be all of the above mentioned. As a teacher, an educator, everyday I teach my pupils life lessons. Trying my best to instill values in them, so that they will grow up to become a respectable, responsible and kind member of the society. I teach all of them equally no matter their race, religion and nationality.
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Today, I am appalled, angered, disgusted, devastated. I could go on, but I would rather not. In this month of Ramadan, my younger sister a part-time employee from PUMA was treated in a prejudiced, biased manner just because of the cloth she wears over her head.
She was sent to ISETAN located at Wisma Atria to help mend the PUMA section in the ISETAN outlet due to a lack of manpower. An hour later two ISETAN managers approached another staff at PUMA and conversed in Mandarin while throwing dirty looks at my sister and made hand signals indicating the headscarf she was wearing. She was then approached by the PUMA staff and was informed that she had to leave the premises as she was wearing a headscarf and should not be working there. Fine, I CAN tolerate that.
Next, they called a PUMA manager in a nearby outlet saying that manpower or not my sister had to leave, not once acknowledging my sister’s presence or even having the decency to speak to her directly. As though she was a fly on the wall and the only thing they saw was her head scarf. Fine, I WILL tolerate that. Headscarf or no headscarf, some people are just incapable of respecting others, much less understanding anything seemingly different from what they are accustomed to in their small, small world.
As my sister was making her way out of the store. She was stopped and told to leave through the service exit and proceed to the security guard post to have her bag checked. Now that is the last straw.
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But to make an assumption that a person wearing a tudung does not have morals and will most likely shoplift is an atrocity. Ironic even, do you know the amount of faith one must have to don the tudung? The physical challenges like the weather is one of many things to overcome before making a commitment to wear the tudung forever. Not to mention the emotional, mental and social challenges brought upon by people like the 2 managers from ISETAN.
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My sister left the store crying and heading straight home after being treated so unjustly and in such an inhumane manner. How ironic, and here I thought being in the customer service line would have taught you to be sincere, kind and not biased towards a person’s physical appearence.
Well here’s a direct message to you managers of ISETAN:
Firstly, I hope you don’t treat your tudung-wearing customers the way you treat your tudung-wearing staff. You know checking all of their bags everytime they leave the store. Secondly, good customer service comes from the heart and is sincere, going the extra mile and treating customers with respect and kindness without judging their physical appearance. You reflected none of that, I suggest you reconsider your career before any customer catches a whiff of you real personality.
Finally, you owe my sister an apology. It would be good, if you can throw in some dignity and self-worth in your apology because God knows she lost a basketful of those when she walked out the service exit of your store. Isetan Singapore
2. The MP for Pasir Ris wrote to MOM.
3. Subsequently, there followed emails and telephone conversation/s.
*NOW YOU KNOW WHY ISETAN SINGAPORE APOLOGIZED.
However, this may not be the end of the matter.
Watchdog probes allegation of discrimination
http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/watchdog-probes-allegation-discrimination-0
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MUSLIM WOMAN DEMANDS $279 REFUND FOR 6 MONTH OLD SHOES CONTAINING PIG SKIN
A Muslim Woman who bought a pair of $279 shoes from Happy Walker in December last year has insisted on getting a full refund of the purchase price after she discovered that the shoes had pig skin lining inside them.
Nur Najwa Abdullah, 43, had bought the shoes from the Happy Walker outlet at Velocity Mall in Novena last year and was told at the time of sale that the shoes were made of cow leather.
It was not until earlier this month that she discovered the shoes actually contained pig skin linings. She had come to the shocking discovery when she was shopping in Buona Vista this month and saw the same shoes on sale at another store accompanied by a tag that they contained pig skin.
Seeking advice from MUIS, she was told to throw away the shoes right away and wash her feet with water and clay.
After alerting Happy Walker of the problem, they suggested giving a half refund for the shoes as they were already used by the woman for 6 months.
Ms Najwa said that she wants a full refund and is considering taking the issue to the Small Claims Tribunal. MUIS explained that it is usually the responsibility of consumers to verify what materials are contained in the products that they buy.
While there is concern about the lack of proper signage about the pig skin inside the shoes, some have said that the woman is overreacting and in fact, there is nothing wrong with using pig skin products, even for Muslims.
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WORLD HIJAB DAY
The World Hijab Day celebration sees women, both Muslim and non-Muslim, around the world donning the hijab and posting their pictures online.
Its founder, a young New Yorker named Nazma Khan, said that the objective of the day was to allay some of the myths and controversies surrounding why Muslim women choose to wear the hijab.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/world-hijab-day-ceases-operations-in-singapore
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World Hijab Day, a day of pride for Muslim women around the world
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World Hijab Day Singapore
Like This Page · January 30
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The administrators of WHDS will no longer be posting or replying to any messages.
We would like to reiterate that the decision to cease our WHDS operations is the sole discretion of the committee, no doubt with a heavy heart and do not want any further attention/complications from the authorities.
WHDS committee will be disbanded with immediate effect.
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It is with regret and sadness that we announce World Hijab Day Singapore (WHDS) will cease its operations today.
WHDS had tried to showcase the beauty of the hijab. We were confident that every Singaporean would celebrate the diversity that marks our society.We wanted to bring the joy and celebration that the occasion deserves.But it is not to be.While we tried to relay the positive messages of the WHD, the authorities responded with suspicion and threats.
We were pressured by the authorities when we attempted to seek a friendly ‘public view’ and conduct ‘ground research’ in early December for our WHDS promo video. Similarly, our attempts to organise a meeting with our wonderful supporters to update them and to discuss our plans for the short film resulted in intense scrutiny.Some of our members received threats that being involved may jeopardise their livelihood and affect their families. Facing pressure and threats, they decided to leave the committee. It left only a handful of us to continue the project.WHDS was meant to be a celebration. But the authorities’ response made it impossible for the celebration to take place.We make du’a that World Hijab Day on 1st February will be a success. May Allah swt grant WHD ease and to be freed from every fitnah in this trying times. We have total faith in WHD’s mission in creating Better Awareness, Greater Understanding and a Peaceful World.Even as WHDS has to cease our operations, the WHD message should still continue. Everyone has a role to play. Even as simple as spreading awareness to our Non-Muslim friends.
Let us make these efforts.
Let us show that even in diversity, we are UNITED as Singaporeans. Do dakwah on those who do not understand. Help to dispel the misconception or doubts that they may have on our religion with peace and patience.
We apologise for all our shortcomings and I hope each and everyone of you had enjoyed this day in your own intimate gatherings with your loved ones. In Shaa Allah, all our efforts is for no other purpose than to attain His blessing.
Our committee will be disbanded with immediate effect.
No further postings will be made on this page.
Jazakallahu Khairan.
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Malaysian Insider
World Hijab Day ceases operations in Singapore
By HUDA M.
February 02, 2014
he celebration of World Hijab Day (WHD) yesterday turned out to be a controversial affair in Singapore with the country’s representative declaring having to “cease operations” today.
Singapore’s WHD ambassador Seri Fatmawati Hambali posted a final status update on the official Singapore WHD Facebook page today, citing difficulties such as continued pressure and scrutiny from the Singapore government.
Her statement specifically highlighted the difficulty the Singapore WHD group faced “during ground research and meet ups”, and of “members of the group receiving threats that being involved may jeopardise their livelihood and affect their families”.
Seri Fatmawati called for understanding and hoped everyone would continue to spread awareness despite the “shutdown”.
Singapore is the only country where the event was met with resistance.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/world-hijab-day-ceases-operations-in-singapore
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AN OLD HOAX RETURNS!
Someone circulated an old hoax, from as far back as 2007!
The image, an email hoax from 2007, appears to still be circulating on the Internet today.
Was it done maliciously, or from a genuine concern for the welfare of Muslims in Singapore?
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ST Breaking News
Police report lodged over ‘Halal Pork’ Facebook hoax
Published on Jan 30, 2014
1:28 PM
By Audrey Tan
The police confirmed on Thursday that a report has been lodged against a religiously insensitive hoax that was making its rounds on social media platform Facebook recently. The image, which depicts a packet of grocery retailer FairPrice’s Pasar Fresh Pork bearing a green halal sticker, was first circulated via e-mail here in 2007.
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Halal Pork? : The Muslim Observer
muslimmedianetwork.com – 417 × 370 – Search by image
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ST Breaking News
‘Halal’ pork label an insensitive hoax: FairPrice
Published on Jan 27, 2014
1:13 PM
Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice said an image circulating on the Internet, of its air-flown fresh pork bearing a ‘halal’ sticker, is an insensitive hoax in poor taste. — PHOTO: NTUC
Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice said an image circulating on the Internet, of its air-flown fresh pork bearing a ‘halal’ sticker, is an insensitive hoax in poor taste.
In a media statement on Monday, FairPrice CEO Seah Kian Peng said: “We understand that an old image of a tampered packaging of FairPrice fresh pork carrying a halal certification mark has again resurfaced on Facebook recently.”
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While he said he understood the position of those who want the tudung to be able to be worn by women who are in the frontline in the public service, or uniform personnel, the issue is broader than the tudung itself, and is about “what sort of society do we want to build in Singapore”.
ST Breaking News
PM Lee holds dialogue on tudung issue, says change must be gradual
9:30
By Robin Chan
The Government’s position on the tudung is not static, but Singapore cannot take actions precipitously that can have unintended consequences, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after a two-hour dialogue with over 100 leaders and representatives from the Malay community over the Muslim headscarf.
He reiterated the Government’s stance in remarks made after the dialogue at the Old Police Academy, which is that it must balance the needs of all communities in Singapore to keep the country multi-racial and multi-religious.
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YAHOO! NEWS SINGAPORE
PM Lee on tudung issue: Government will continue to evolve position gradually, carefully
By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – Sun, Jan 26, 2014
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Yahoo Newsroom – PM Lee’s snap of the participants at the dialogue regarding the Tudung issue. (Photo from PM Lee’s Facebook page)
Singapore’s position on Muslim women being allowed to wear tudungs with uniforms and for front-line government jobs will evolve “gradually and carefully”, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In a Facebook post after a dialogue he had on Saturday evening with ministers, members of parliament, community and religious leaders, PM Lee said he “fully appreciate(s) their desire” for Muslim women in uniform to be able to wear a tudung (Muslim head scarf, also known as a hijab).
“But a larger issue is at stake: the sort of society we aspire to be,” he wrote. “I am also mindful how crucial it is for us to strengthen our cohesion, and maintain the relaxed confidence and trust that benefits us all, especially the minorities.”
The government’s position on the tudung issue “is not frozen”, he continued, referring to shifting attitudes and saying that “arrangements will get updated”. Noting that “many statutory boards” now allow Muslim staff to wear the tudung, PM Lee said he is “confident that we will not be in the same situation” as today in five or 10 years’ time.
“It is best that we continue evolving gradually and carefully,” he said. “The racial harmony we enjoy is not perfect, but it is more precious and more fragile than we think. Let’s work hard to strengthen it, so that all races can live happily together as one united people.”
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YAHOO! NEWS SINGAPORE
Muslims in Singapore need to accommodate too: Zulkifli
By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – Wed, Sep 11, 2013
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Yahoo Newsroom – Former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin shares his views on race and religion in Singapore. (Photo courtesy of IPS)
Muslims in Singapore need to make greater efforts to compromise and integrate themselves better when it comes to practicing their religious beliefs. They should not expect others to accommodate them all the time.
Former Nominated Member of Parliament Zulkifli Baharudin, who serves as Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to Algeria and Uzbekistan, voiced this view in response to a question about discrimination against Muslims at the workplace from a participant at a forum on Wednesday morning.
He was one of four panellists invited there to speak on the findings of a recently-concluded IPS-OnePeople.sg study on race and religion in Singapore.
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The panel invited to speak on the topic of race and religion in Singapore included (from right) former NMP Viswa
Turning to the question of allowing tudungs to be worn in hospitals, Zulkifli said a day will probably come in the future where that “will happen”, although the process leading to it has to be one that involves negotiation and compromise.
“There are very deep perceptions that we have to remove,” he said. “It’s not something you can legislate and say ‘This matter is over’. It doesn’t work that way.”
Zulkifli elaborated further on his view later on, explaining that the strong religiosity of Muslims in Singapore has persisted despite years of progress, education and Westernisation, making most Singaporeans of other religions more secular and liberal in their attitudes.
“I think that’s a fact of life. As a Muslim I see that; I accept that,” he said. “But I’m persuading my fellow Muslims to also say that you’ve got to consider the other side, and how you compromise and negotiate towards what you want to achieve.
“It’s not enough to say ‘No, this is what I am, this is what I want and this is what it should be’… Even in Malaysia, they are majority Malays, (but) they can’t do as they wish because any civilised society also has to take note of the minorities in the world,” he added.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/muslims-in-singapore-need-to-accommodate-too–zulkifli-140158685.html
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