http://yoursdp.org/news/senior_pap_member_to_speak_at_sdp_malay_forum/2012-08-30-5321
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| Added on: Thursday Today Total comments<!--</s>-->: 4 | ||
Singapore Democrats
The speakers will weigh in on the topic The future of Singapore – do Malays have a part? With the current immigration policy, Singaporeans are concerned that the cultural and social identity of Singapore of which our Malay-Muslim community plays an integral part will be eroded. This is because the mass infusion of individuals of other nationalities threatens the social ethnic mix of Singapore. It seems that the PAP Government has given little thought to how these new immigrants will integrate into the Singaporean society and culture. The Malay community is suspicious that the PAP is bringing in nationals especially from China and India to reduce the proportion of Malays in this country. Add to the long-standing policies that discriminate against them, there is increasing resentment among our fellow Malay citizens against the PAP. The long line of PAP Ministers in charge of Muslim affairs, including the current one, Mr Yaacob Ibrahim, has proven to be ineffective in voicing the concerns of the Malay community. The SDP has invited Minister Yaacob to speak at the forum. This forum will discuss several issues including education and economic progress affecting Singapore Malays – and therefore Singapore – with the view to formulating an SDP alternative policy position on the subject. As mentioned above, helping us with the discussion are: Mr Abdul Halim, a former senior civil servant at the Immigration Department of Singapore. Mr Absul Halim is the recipient of several state awards including the BBM and PBM. He has held several positions within the PAP including the secretary of the PAP's Kampong Kembangan Branch and deputy chairman for the PAP Bedok Reservoir-Punggol Branch at the Aljunied GRC (of which he is still a member). He is a founding member of Yayasan Mendaki and has served as Mendaki's assistant secretary-general. Mr Abdul Halim was also chairman of the Malay Activity Executive Committee Coordinating Council of the People’s Association which identifies and recruits Malay grassroots leaders. Mr Maarof Salleh has a Masters degree in Southeast Asian Studies and writes regularly on contemporary Malay-Muslim issues. Trained as a teacher, Mr Maarof Salleh served as president of the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS). He was also Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS). He served in various capacities in the University of Singapore Malay Language Society, the Muslim Youth Assembly, the Singapore Malay Teachers' Union and the Yayasan Mendaki. Mr Walid Jumblat teaches at the Political Science Department at NUS where he completed a BA (Hon) in Economics. He then did his Masters degree in Political Science from the same university, with his research interests in Singapore politics and state-religion relations. The other speakers are SDP Chairman Mr Jufrie Mahmood and Dr Wong Wee Nam, member of the SDP Healthcare Advisory Panel. Dr Vincent Wijeysingha will be the forum moderator. The SDP has also invited Mr Yaacob Ibrahim, Public Forum: The future of Singapore - do Malays have a part? Date: 8 Sept 2012 (Sat) |
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