Karyawan V9, I2.Indd
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Published by: Association of Muslim Professionals • Volume 9 Issue 2 January 2009 • MICA(P) No: 188/10/2008 • ISSN No: 0218-7434 Administration of Muslim Law Act AMLA: Time for Sweeping Changes? OBAMA: What He Means for Singapore Are Singaporeans ready for a Are We non-Chinese Prime Minister? Ambitious Enough? Are the AMLA amendments enough Singapore to build a community of excellence? Muslim Identity Reconciling the identity AMLA, Mosques and of the community Madrasahs in Contemporary Singapore After Mumbai: Impact of MBMF changes to mosques, Going Beyond the madrasahs and the community Dialogue of the Deaf Bridging the gap between Muslims, the Changing Muslims and non-Muslims Economy and Financial Planning A closer look at laws governing estate and financial planning for Muslims CONTENTS MESSAGE EDITOR’S DESK 1 FOCUS REFLECTIONS ON THE SINGAPORE MUSLIM IDENTITY by Yusof Sulaiman 2 The Singapore Muslim Identity initiative was introduced by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) in 2005. Four years on, Yusof Sulaiman reflects on how effective it has been in shaping the Muslim community in Singapore. AMLA: TIME FOR COVER SWEEPING CHANGES? 6 by Yang Razali Kassim A recent Karyawan Forum on AMLA discussed the significance and implications of the latest amendments to the STORY Administration of Muslim Law Act. ISSUES/COMMUNITY THE AMLA AMENDMENTS IS SINGAPORE READY FOR A NON-CHINESE PM? OBAMA: WHAT HE MEANS FOR SINGAPORE 27 AMLA OVERVIEW by Yang Razali Kassim ARE WE AMBITIOUS ENOUGH? 9 Following the election of Barack Obama as the first African by Mohd Nizam Ismail American president, many Singaporean are debating whether Mohd Nizam Ismail discusses whether the amendments to AMLA are sufficient and if it is possible to have a non-Chinese prime minister in Singapore. more needs to be done in order to achieve a Muslim community of excellence. A NON-CHINESE PM? RACE, SOCIAL COHESION AMLA, MOSQUES AND MADRASAHS IN CONTEMPORARY AND SINGAPOREAN IDENTITY 30 SINGAPORE 11 by Yolanda Chin and Norman Vasu, RSIS by Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied A study conducted by Yolanda Chin and Norman Vasu showed The recent AMLA amendments changed the way the Mosque Building that Singaporeans can be classified into three groups on the and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) will be used by the community. Syed Muhd issue of whether Singapore is ready for a non-Chinese prime Khairudin Aljunied looks at the implications on the mosques, madrasahs minister – the “why not”, the “why not, but not now” and the and the community. “no” groups. PM MELAYU DI SINGAPURA? 32 by Ismail Pantek SOCIO-ECONOMY Dengan kemenangan Obama di Amerika Syarikat, apakah kita tetap berkata mustahil untuk Melayu Singapura jadi AMLA AND THE CHANGING ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE 14 perdana menteri? by Arfat Selvam A panelist at the Karyawan Forum on AMLA, Arfat Selvam discusses how AMLA should be updated in line with the changing economic landscape. PIONEERING MALAY ENTREPRENEURS HAJI YUSOFF ‘TALI PINGGANG’ – Patriarch of Gedung Kuning MUSLIMS AND FINANCIAL PLANNING 16 and Pioneering Malay Entrepreneur 34 by Sadali Rasban by Hidayah Amin Not many in the community are well-versed in Islamic financial planning. Gedung Kuning, a mansion of historical significance, has a special Nevertheless, it is an important area that needs to be looked closely at, especially place in the community. Hidayah Amin, the great granddaughter the laws that govern it, says Sadali Rasban, another panelist at the Karyawan of Haji Yusoff ‘Tali Pinggang’, one of the earlier owners of Gedung Forum on AMLA. Kuning, shares her personal memories of living in the mansion and the role of Haji Yusoff Tali Pinggang as a pioneer of Malay entrepreneurship. SOCIAL RESILIENCE AMLA AND THE PROBLEM OF DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES 18 YOUR SAY: GUEST COLUMN by Raihan Ismail One of the key AMLA amendments makes it easier for divorced women to AFTER MUMBAI: Going Beyond the ensure the maintenance orders on their husbands are enforced. How will this Dialogue of the Deaf 37 help alleviate the problem of dysfunctional families? by Saat Abdul Rahman and Chairul Fahmy Hussaini The recent Mumbai tragedy was one of the worst terrorist attacks in recent history. Saat Abdul Rahman and Chairul Fahmy TACKLING THE PROBLEM OF EARLY MARRIAGES AND DIVORCE – Hussaini look at what can be done now by the community to An interview with Halijah Mohamad 21 bridge the gulf between Muslims and non-Muslims. In an interview with Karyawan, lawyer Halijah Mohamad explains how key AMLA amendments can tackle various problems in the community. She was one of three lawyers who played a major role in bringing about these amendments to AMLA. BOOK REVIEW THE ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF MINOR MARRIAGES: How will the AMLA Amendments Help? 24 ISLAMIC LAW BY WAEL HALLAQ 39 by Zaleha Ahmad Review by Mohd Suhaimi Ismail Zaleha Ahmad looks at how the AMLA amendments will help combat the Mohd Suhaimi Ismail reviews Wael Hallaq’s The Origins and problem of minor marriages, which is one of the contributing factors of divorce Evolution of Islamic Law, which traces the history of legislation in in the community. Islam and how it has evolved through the centuries. KARYAWAN Editorial From the Editor’s Desk AMLA: Time for Editorial Board Yang Razali Kassim sweeping changes? Supervising Editor THIS ISSUE of Karyawan looks at change and identity: Changes in the legislative framework for Mohd Azhar Khalid Muslims in Singapore; Potential change in terms of the future national leadership and what this Editor means for national identity; And thirdly, the identity of Muslim Singaporeans in a secular state. Yusof Sulaiman The primary focus of this issue is on the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), taking Abdul Razak Chanbasha off from the latest amendments to AMLA in November 2008. The AMLA changes continue a Mohd Nizam Ismail process that has stretched over many years since AMLA was promulgated in 1966. The primary motivation behind these legislative changes over the years has been the goal of improving the “software” and eco-system of the Muslim community. In terms of their immediate goals, Winda Guntor the latest amendments to AMLA were aimed at addressing the social challenges facing the Assistant Editor Malay/Muslim community, specifically the problems of marriage, divorce and dysfunctional families. Invariably, these amendments will have a long-term impact on the identity of the Muslim community as Singaporeans living in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society within Contributors the ethos of a secular state. Arfat Selvam This Karyawan issue presents a spectrum of views on the latest amendments to AMLA, reflecting Chairul Fahmy Hussaini 1 Halijah Mohamad the undercurrent of debate over these changes, a debate which is not often heard of publicly. Hidayah Amin A glimpse of this debate was captured in the Karyawan Forum on AMLA organised by this Ismail Pantek publication in collaboration with Young AMP and RIMA, the Centre for Research on Islamic and Mohd Nizam Ismail Malay Affairs. The forum was held just prior to the passing of the amendments by the Singapore Mohd Suhaimi Ismail Parliament in November 2008. Given the paucity of publicity for such alternative views, this Norman Vasu forum, and this issue of Karyawan, hope to encourage some long-range thinking on AMLA and Raihan Ismail its central place in Muslim society in Singapore. Saat Abdul Rahman Sadali Rasban At around the same time in November, the world was shaken by a most unexpected issue Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied – the election of Barack Obama. The impact of Obama’s victory and his subsequent swearing Yang Razali Kassim in on January 20 as the first African American president of the United States carried a special Yolanda Chin significance for plural societies around the world. Can multiracial countries also produce their Yusof Sulaiman own Obama? Are they ready for a president or prime minister from the minority community? Zaleha Ahmad These are more than just questions of representation. They go to the core of national identity and nation-building. Singapore was not spared such a debate in the wake of Obamamania. This issue of Karyawan captures the debate in a couple of articles. Karyawan Disclaimer: Karyawan is a publication of the Association Finally, the question of reconciling Muslim identity with the secular values of the state is also of Muslim Professionals. The views expressed discussed. We present a commentary on this in our Focus section. Are Muslims in Singapore by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the Association and its subsidiaries comfortable with their present identity? Do they have problems reconciling being Muslim and nor its directors and the Karyawan editorial being Singaporean? What about the triple identity of being Malay, Muslim and Singaporean all board. Copyright in 2009 of the Association of Muslim Professionals. Printed in Singapore at the same time? by The Print Lodge Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. We welcome letters, comments and We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Karyawan. suggestions on the issues that appear in the magazine. Please address your correspondence to: Editor, Karyawan Association of Muslim Professionals, 1 Pasir Ris Drive 4, #05-11, Singapore 519457, Tel: +65 6416 3966 Yang Razali Kassim Fax: +65 6583 8028 Email: [email protected] Supervising Editor Focus KARYAWAN Reflections on the Singapore Muslim Identity Yusof Sulaiman IN ITS 18th June 2007 issue, The Economist reported a survey 2 by the Pew Research Centre, which found that more than 60% of Muslims in Britain, Spain and Germany polled identified themselves by religion first before nationality. In fact, in Britain alone where multiculturalism is widely practised, 81% viewed themselves as Muslims first. Their response, while peculiar to their own situation, reminds us of our own experience here as Muslims in Singapore where the tension between religious and national identities constantly tests our position as a minority community in a secular society.