'Safety foremost in our minds': Faishal Ibrahim reassures Singaporean students in the Middle East
Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim in a Facebook post on June 22 assured Singaporeans pursuing higher Islamic education in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that the Government has their welfare and well-being in mind, following a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region.
Israel began a series of air strikes against Iran on June 13. This was followed by the US ordering air strikes on Iran's three main nuclear sites on the morning of June 22.
The Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs said he spoke with more than 40 student leaders from the Singapore Students Welfare Assembly in Egypt and Singaporean Students' Association in Jordan via video call on the evening of June 21.
"This call was important - it was an opportunity for me to check in on our students, to listen, understand, and offer my assurance that the safety, well-being and welfare of our students are foremost in our minds," he said, adding that Muis' student liaison officers remain in close contact with those studying in the Middle East.
He added that he is heartened that the student leaders are stepping up during this period to engage their peers and look out for one another.
"This ensures that every student feels safe, supported and can focus on their studies... The spirit of looking out for one another reflects the strength of our community," he said.
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2 hours ago
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MPs lead Singaporeans on sold-out durian trips across Causeway: 'Maximise the favourable exchange rate', Singapore News
They lead our country in Parliament — and now they're also leading our people into Malaysia on delicious durian tours. Multiple Members of Parliament (MP) have invited residents in their respective constituencies to durian trips in Malaysia amid the durian season, many of which have quickly sold out. Last Saturday (July 5), Jalan Kayu SMC MP Ng Chee Meng led residents on a Musang King durian tour to Johor Bahru. To participate, residents had to pay $110 per person before gathering at Fernvale community centre at 5.30am. They were then brought via bus to various shopping stops in Malaysia, including YoYo, Toppen and Aeon Mall. Among other highlights, the key event was likely the free-flow Musang King buffet. Ng's residents were not the only group travelling to Malaysia for a durian escapade — Aljunied GRC MP Gerald Giam also took residents to Yong Peng for a durian trip that same Saturday. Priced at $95 per adult or $88 per child, tickets also come with the option for a $10 upgrade for their durian buffet which would provide them with Musang King durians instead. Opposition leader Pritam Singh was also present on the trip, explaining in a Facebook post on Sunday (July 6) that it was an annual trip that they would take. "It was, quite simply, another fantastic day in Malaysia made even more special by many dear Eunos residents, who over the years, have become dear friends," he said. "Great durians, good shopping and a great Teochew dinner to round off a great day!" Many users were supportive of the trip, with some even asking if they would be willing to facilitate residents from Tampines and other wards. "Sir, can I join you for next year's trip? 2026? Definitely fun with you around," a Facebook user commented. Singh replied: "Sounds like a plan buddy! Echo!" Not one to be left out, Sengkang GRC's Jamus Lim will also be heading to Johor's Yong Peng for a durian tour on July 26. Tickets for residents are priced at $110 for adults and $95 for children. Aside from the durian buffet lunch, residents will also be able to drop by Mid Valley Southkey Mall. "There'll be lots of other activities, including shopping, shopping, and (you guessed it) more shopping. All to help you maximise the favourable ringgit-dollar exchange rate," Lim wrote on a Facebook post on June 6. Workers' Party chair and Aljunied GRC MP Sylvia Lim as well as Jurong Central SMC MP Xie Yao Quan will also be leading their own durian tours on July 12. Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC MP Grace Fu will be travelling to Malacca on July 26 for a two-day-one-night trip with a Musang King durian feast. She wrote in her post on June 1: "Limited seats available — sign up before they're all snapped up!" [[nid:719778]] khooyihang@
AsiaOne
6 hours ago
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MPs should not ask questions to 'clock numbers'; focus should be improving Singaporeans' lives: Seah Kian Peng, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Singaporeans can expect more debate in the upcoming 15th Parliament, with today's uncertain world and the need for more policies to tackle the attendant challenges, and more MPs in the House. But this does not mean that parliamentary sittings must go on for longer, as what is important is the quality of the debate, said Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng. Noting a trend of more parliamentary questions being filed in the previous term of Parliament, Seah sounded a note of caution against having this become a numbers game. "I hope we don't get to a point where MPs are filing questions for the sake of clocking numbers — I think that is not necessary and not very productive," he said in a July 1 interview with The Straits Times about the role of Speaker, and his plans if elected. On June 20, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the Government intended to propose Seah's election as Speaker when Parliament reopens on Sept 5. Seah has served as Singapore's 11th Speaker since 2023. Seah said he sees his role as helping to take the quality of debate in Parliament to the next level, which can be achieved if MPs "have done their homework and know the dos and don'ts (of Parliament's Standing Orders)". This has become more important with more MPs in the House, he added. The 15th Parliament will have 97 elected MPs and two Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) for a total of 99, up from 93 elected MPs and two NCMPs previously. The 14th Parliament had set new records on the number of sittings, ministerial statements delivered and other kinds of speeches. "Each hour spent in Parliament, if everyone turns up, is 100 man-hours... which is why we do want to make sure time is spent productively for everyone," said the former labour MP. To help new MPs get up to speed, Parliament has started to hold orientation briefings for them. Seah, who joined politics in 2006 and continues to be an MP for the Braddell Heights ward of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, had some guidance for his colleagues: Focus on representing the people to improve their lives, and not playing to the gallery. This means agreeing to disagree, where needed, rather than asking questions — or giving answers — that retread the same ground, he said. "I say this to both sides of the House: Whichever party you come from, frontbench or backbench." Seah was asked about suggestions some MPs have made previously to improve the efficiency of Parliament. These include a proposal that Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai made in 2020 as a backbencher for some speeches to be taken as read, so that more time can be spent on debate and clarifications. Seah's response was that there is a certain limit to efficiency, as people want to see their MPs' convictions when they speak, and whether their proposals are convincing. Without resorting to such measures, quite a lot of time can be saved if MPs follow Parliament's existing rules, he said. With the 15th Parliament being Singapore's biggest yet, Seah said he was particularly heartened that it includes more women MPs — 31 of them, up from 27. He expressed confidence that the proportion will only increase in the years ahead, and that more diversity — in terms of gender, race and background — makes for a better Parliament. This is as Parliament makes laws that affect all Singaporeans, and better representation of views will allow for better policies to be formulated, he added. On 'refereeing' Parliament and stepping up outreach Unlike the 14th Parliament, where there were three political parties with representatives in the House, the new term of Parliament will have two: the ruling People's Action Party, which has 87 seats, and the Workers' Party, which has 10 plus the two NCMP seats. The Progress Singapore Party, which had two NCMPs in the last Parliament, was not re-elected into the House. Seah said his role has not changed since he first became Speaker in July 2023 following the resignation of Tan Chuan-Jin, and that is to remain impartial to MPs from all parties. "Whether it's two, three, or for that matter four or more parties, to me that should not affect how we conduct the proceedings," he said. Using a football analogy, Seah said he sees himself as a referee: stepping in as needed to enforce the rules and make decisions, such as when an MP raises a point of order. That is the procedure by which a member can interject to bring to the Speaker's attention a perceived breach of the House's rules during a sitting. "The referee must know the rules, right? But we also hope the players know the rules as well," he said. Asked how he maintains impartiality while also being a PAP member, Seah responded that he has over his corporate and political career become adept at juggling different hats. "In the general election, I stood as a member of the PAP, so I wear that hat when I'm representing my constituents... But when I'm in the Chamber, I'm wearing my hat as the Speaker, I'm not wearing the hat of a PAP member," he said. What he intends to do more of is to step up Parliament's outreach to Singaporeans on the work that is done in the House. On this front, the live streaming of Parliament since 2021 has been great as it allows people to tune in to sittings wherever they are, he said. Other projects in the pipeline include an interactive, online version of Parliament set to be hosted on the virtual gaming universe Roblox, which Seah said will be ready by the end of the financial year. One lesser-known aspect of his work — which Seah called a highlight of his role — is that the Speaker represents Singapore's Parliament to other countries' parliaments and representative bodies. In June alone, he had meetings with the Bulgarian and Vietnamese ambassadors to Singapore, as well as Kazakhstan's senate chairman. He recounted how veteran diplomat Tommy Koh had, over a lunch in 2023, impressed on him the importance of this area of work. This is as diplomacy between parliamentarians is another lever by which Singapore can improve its ties with other countries and governments in this challenging period, said Seah. "That's something I do with pride and honour... You realise the respect that many parliamentarians from other parts of the world have for Singapore," he added. Seah said it has been an honour to be Speaker, but admitted that he misses being a backbencher and his corporate career. He stepped down as group chief executive of NTUC Enterprise, as well as from the boards of its social enterprises, after becoming Speaker in 2023. This was not a requirement, but he did so to focus on his new role, he said. The upside is that he gets to meet and talk to more MPs, and listen to more debates by virtue of being in the Chamber most of the time. "Of course, there are more interesting ones, and sometimes some of the speeches could be not as interesting," he said. "But it comes with the part." [[nid:719795]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
New Paper
9 hours ago
- New Paper
'Safety foremost in our minds': Faishal Ibrahim reassures Singaporean students in the Middle East
The Government is monitoring developments in the Middle East closely and is working with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to remain in touch with Singaporean students in the region. Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim in a Facebook post on June 22 assured Singaporeans pursuing higher Islamic education in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that the Government has their welfare and well-being in mind, following a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region. Israel began a series of air strikes against Iran on June 13. This was followed by the US ordering air strikes on Iran's three main nuclear sites on the morning of June 22. The Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs said he spoke with more than 40 student leaders from the Singapore Students Welfare Assembly in Egypt and Singaporean Students' Association in Jordan via video call on the evening of June 21. "This call was important - it was an opportunity for me to check in on our students, to listen, understand, and offer my assurance that the safety, well-being and welfare of our students are foremost in our minds," he said, adding that Muis' student liaison officers remain in close contact with those studying in the Middle East. He added that he is heartened that the student leaders are stepping up during this period to engage their peers and look out for one another. "This ensures that every student feels safe, supported and can focus on their studies... The spirit of looking out for one another reflects the strength of our community," he said.
