Issue 19: July - Sep 2013 - Association of Muslim Professionals
Transcription
Issue 19: July - Sep 2013 - Association of Muslim Professionals
lified ISSUE 19 JUL SEP 2013 A Quarterly Newsletter by the Association of Muslim Professionals EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS A Step Forward Towards a Positive Net Worth Community In Pursuit of Excellence Let Dreams Take Flight MICA (P) 038/11/2012 ISSN 1793-8694 © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. A Step Forward 03 Developing Youth Entrepreneurs 04 Towards a Positive Net Worth Community 05 In Pursuit of Excellence 06 Staying Fit Together 07 Fun in Full Bloom 08 A Tribute to our Helping Professionals 08 Chronicles of our RIMA Internship 09 Reflections on Ramadan 11 Let Dreams Take Flight 13 Marketplace 13 Highlights EDITORIAL LINE-UP WHAT’S in STORE 01 Supervising Editor Mohd Anuar Yusop Subeditors Nuramalina Abdul Ghani Ruzaidah Md Rasid Contributors Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim Amalina Sujak Fadlun Kemat Mariam Mustaffa Mohd Alfian Mohd Ismail Noraqilah Mohd Kambali Nur Ashikin Hamidon Saiful Nizam Jemain Sharifah Norashikin SSA Sharifah Nur Huda Zuhairah Hussien Syifa Azhar Suffirah Md Mansor Photography Acmad Tocquero Macarimbang For advertising enquiries, please email [email protected]. Amalina Sujak Fadlun Kemat Nuramalina Abdul Ghani We welcome feedback, comments and suggestions on the articles that appear in AMPlified. Please address your correspondence to [email protected]. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. Dear Readers ISSUE In the present globalised world where our landscapes constantly shift and change, AMP remains passionate in braving new frontiers to confront the multi-faceted social issues faced by the Malay/Muslim community. In this AMPlified issue, we will be highlighting some of our new programmes and services that we hope would catalyse the community’s progress. One of them includes the launch of the AMP Debt Advisory Centre (DAC), which takes on a multi-pronged approach to tackle debt problems within the community. The DAC has since worked with other relevant agencies to benefit a number of clients who have approached the centre for assistance. You can read more about the services DAC offers on Page 4. Another interesting enhancement to one of AMP’s services this year comprises its Education Bursary, in which applications have been extended to assist a wider range of diploma and degree students. The enhancement of the bursary aspires to increase the pool of potential tertiary graduates within the community. It is also hoped that the recipients will be encouraged to strive harder in their pursuit of higher education and in turn, contribute back to the society upon their successful graduation. A synopsis of the AMP Education Bursary Disbursement Ceremony that was held in June can be found on Page 5. This year also marks a milestone for AMP’s research subsidiary, Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA). Following the move to its new premises at Guthrie Building, RIMA had organised its official relaunch ceremony in April; details of which you can read more on Pages 1 and 2. With an expanded research team and a new Chairman at helm, RIMA is poised to be a one-stop research centre and think tank for the community. A notable explorer once said, “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” With that, I would like to urge for us to have an open mind in braving future challenges and to pursue fresh initiatives for the betterment of the community. I also wish you and your family a blessed and prosperous Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. May Allah swt accept our good deeds during these months, insya Allah. Mohd Anuar Yusop Executive Director, AMP © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. 19 JUL SEP 2013 EVENTS The new RIMA logo was unveiled at the relaunch ceremony. by Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim Dr Mohd Shamsuri Juhari (standing, in black), Centre Director of RIMA, presenting on their developing directions and upcoming projects. Four months after its move into the new premises at Guthrie Building, the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA) held its official relaunch ceremony on 13 April, where the new logo was unveiled to signify its renewed fervour in achieving its aspirations within the community. The milestone event marks a strategic revamp, which RIMA underwent, in its aim to be a one-stop research centre and think tank for the community. The restructuring exercise has seen the expansion of the RIMA research team – from a two-person unit to a team of six research associates and one executive – and a wider research focus. During the ceremony, Mr Azmoon Ahmad, Chairman of AMP Group articulated his aspirations for RIMA to be the preferred organisation for research and data on the community. It is also hoped that RIMA’s role will expand beyond the community and Singapore society and over time, become a credible and trusted research organisation on Malay and Muslim issues in the region. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. pg 01·02 NEW CHAIRMAN Following the resignation of Mr Nizam Ismail, the RIMA Board of Directors has unanimously elected Dr Ameen Ali Salim Talib as the new Chairman of RIMA as of 29 April. Dr Ameen Talib is no stranger to AMP’s efforts in uplifting the community, having served in various capacities, which include being a member of the AMP Board – an appointment he presently holds. He has also been serving as a member of the RIMA Board since last year. Dr Ameen brings with him a wealth of experience from both the academia and corporate world. He has taught at the Business School of the National University of Singapore and is an Adjunct Professor of The Maastricht School of Management. He currently runs his own consultancy firm, Ameen Talib & Associates, and is the Managing Director of Café Le Caire. The event provided a platform for both AMP and RIMA members to network with some 30 invited guests from the research community. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. JUL SEP 2013 EVENTS Developing The youth wing of AMP, Young AMP, organised its Corporate Leadership Series (CLS) on 13 May at Singapore Management University, to provide an avenue for youths and young professionals to interact with industry leaders and gain insights on ways to excel in a particular trade or sector. Themed Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Entrepreneurship, the inaugural session featured two established entrepreneurs, namely Mr Saurav Bhattacharyya, Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Inventions Pte Ltd, and Mr Benedict Soh, Executive Chairman of Kingsmen Creatives Ltd. outh Entrepreneurs by Sharifah Nur Huda Zuhairah Hussien The two speakers, with moderator Mr Muhd Shamir Rahim (extreme right), taking questions from members of the audience. Some 40 youths and young professionals gained more insights on starting and sustaining their own business from the session. Mr Saurav shared on the challenges he faced in starting his own tech firm and how he managed to sustain his business in a competitive landscape over the years. Subsequently, Mr Soh spoke about his passion for organisational and human resource development, which he believed are essential in managing a business. He also shared on the necessary traits to prosper in a particular trade, how to ride on emerging market trends, as well as how the success of his business lies in upholding quality. To conclude the session, Ms Farah Fahmi from SPRING Singapore presented on the various support mechanisms available for SMEs in Singapore. A total of 40 members of the audience certainly benefited from the session and were inspired by the speakers’ entrepreneurial journey to start their own venture. Young AMP hopes to expand to other trades and sectors under the series with more of such insightful sessions in the future. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. TOWAR DS A POSI TI V E NET WO RT H C OMM UNI T Y by Saiful Nizam Jemain On 1 April, AMP launched its Debt Advisory Centre (DAC), which is a one-stop centre that provides advice and education to individuals who face debt problems. Despite the low-key launch, the DAC is a significant pioneering implementation of one of the strategies proposed during the 3rd National Convention of Singapore Muslim Professionals, organised by AMP in June last year. The DAC represents a unique collaboration between AMP, as a social service provider, and expert volunteers from the financial, legal and real estate professions, in adopting a multi-pronged approach to tackle debt issues within the community. Debtors, who approach DAC for assistance, are provided with roadmaps comprising recommended solutions that are available to them – either administered by AMP or other relevant external agencies. Through DAC, debtors also partake in support group sessions that allow them to share their experiences, as well as gain emotional support from others who are facing similar issues. They will also have to attend workshops, which will educate and enhance their financial literacy, and most importantly, reduce their risks of relapsing into debt problems. Since its launch, the DAC has seen a number of clients with multiple debt issues and has been able to link up with other relevant agencies to ensure these clients receive the necessary assistance. The DAC has also engaged with various volunteers, who have come forward to provide their moral support and expertise to benefit the clients. In addition, the DAC will also collect quality data for research on the debt issues within the community, of which further inferences on the extent of these issues can be made useful in the future. Eventually, the DAC aims to increase the number and level of positive net worth individuals within the community. It also hopes to expand its operations and extend its services to general members of the public in due course. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. pg 03·04 JUL SEP 2013 © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. EVENTS Senior Manager, Mdm Hameet Khanee (standing, extreme left, in pink) addressing some 138 AFYS beneficiaries during the retreat. by Amalina Sujak Some 138 beneficiaries from the Adopt a Family & Youth Scheme (AFYS) braved the scorching sun on 15 June to participate in the AFYS Mid-Year Retreat at Gardens by the Bay. Held in conjunction with the June holidays, the annual retreat witnessed the eager AFYS families exploring the garden paradise and having fun with crafts at the same time. Gardens for most of the AFYS families, it was indeed a challenge for them as they meandered through the unfamiliar yet distractingly dazzling terrain to perform their tasks within a given time frame. There were a total of nine stations, where they not only solved puzzles but also completed craftworks such as origami, weaving, ketupat-making and windmill-making. The families were then treated to a scrumptious lunch at Texas Chicken. At the end of the event, each family were given some sweet treats and complimentary access to a Conservatory – choice of either the ‘Flower Dome’ or ‘Cloud Forest’. The AFYS families thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to bond with their families while cultivating important values such as leadership, teamwork and patience during the retreat. The main highlight of the retreat was the ‘Incredible Garden Trail’, which required the families to put on their thinking caps and work together to complete various station activities. They had to solve clues by studying the maps provided, to figure out the location of their next station. As it was a first visit at the A moth er-da ught er p air bon din g ov king. l-ma mil nd wi er © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. With the theme I Care, You Care, We Care, AMP held its inaugural Social Workers’ Day on 12 April at AMP Auditorium to recognise and commemorate the invaluable service and dedication of its helping professionals. Led by the Marriage Hub team, all of AMP’s staff was tasked to don something with a heart shape as part of the event‘s dress code. dlun by Fa ions, ying sess e. e role-pla elling scen ns u One of th co e a marriag depicting Ke m a The celebration started off with everyone getting in groups for some ice-breaking activities, followed by a line-up of fun games relating to social service. One of the activities included a role-playing segment, where four staffs were put in their social work colleagues’ shoes to attend to challenging clients, played by the social workers and counsellors themselves. It was indeed an entertaining yet insightful experience, getting to learn more about the social service profession! t Some of the staff also collaborated to put on an amusing video entitled, A Day in Social Services Division, where parodical scenes of the challenges faced by our social workers and counsellors were re-enacted. At the end of the event, everyone received tokens of appreciation in the forms of Care Bears and USB flash drives, and was treated to a scrumptious reception. A group shot of the organising committee. Kudos to all of our helping professionals for their tireless contribution towards uplifting the community! Chronicles of our RIMA Internship by Nur Ashikin Hamidon and Syifa Azhar Our internship at the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA) was indeed an insightful experience. Although we have minimal prior knowledge on what research work truly entails, we were introduced to various research methods and were given the opportunities to hone a wide range of skills under the tutelage of Dr Mohd Shamsuri Juhari, Centre Director of RIMA. During our very first day, we acquired a firsthand experience in observing a focus group discussion for a research project on housing issues. Henceforth, we were adequately exposed to how researchers obtain both qualitative and quantitative data – from being observers in a psychiatric rehabilitation session to gathering secondary data from online and printed sources. We are better able to appreciate the technicalities of research work and more importantly, develop an in-depth understanding and awareness of the different contemporary issues faced by the Malay/Muslim community. We concluded that many approaches can be undertaken to tackle these issues at their root causes to spearhead the progress of the community. Our internship has also allowed us to realise that active participation in intellectual thought and discourse can be an integral step towards actualising many often-overlooked initiatives to propel the community forward. Nur Ashikin Hamidon, 19, aspires to improve the welfare and quality of life of others by pursuing a career in the public sector. Her experience as vice-president in Raffles Institution gave her the opportunity to explore various socio-economic problems that inundate the differing social classes within the community. She has developed an interest in issues such as social stratification and social mobility, and thus made a decision to read Sociology and Economics at the National University of Singapore following her internship. Syifa Azhar, 19, comes from the four-year Victoria-Cedar Alliance Integrated Programme in Victoria Junior College prior to her internship. Her schooling years have propelled her to pursue medicine at the National University of Singapore come August. She aspires to be a physician in the future and contribute back to society by helping to give others a new lease of life. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. pg 07·08 JUL SEP 2013 THOUGHT Reflections on Ramadan by Sharifah Norashikin SSA “O’ children of Adam, take your adornment at every , and eat and drink, but be not excessive; surely, He likes not those who commit excess.” [ S u r a h A l - A’ r a f 7 : 3 1 ] © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. pg 09·10 It is almost that time of the year again, when bright fairy lights will adorn the trees along Geylang Serai; vendors peddling their wares will fill the sidewalks of Tanjong Katong Complex; and we consumers will have big holes in our pockets. Yes, Ramadan is here again! This is also the time we ironically get swayed (by both hunger and the irresistibly deliciouslooking kuih-muih and other yummy treats, which seem to scream, “Buy me!”) into overeating and grossly over-spending, when moderation should be key instead. Guilty as charged, I too cannot resist the lure of shopping at the bazaar. For instance, I once bought enough food to feed a family of eight when I was actually breaking fast with only two friends. Worst of all, after gulping down my bandung (and Coke, and a few other icy cold beverages), I was so full I had to guiltily force myself to swallow a morsel of my nasi campur. All that food were then kept in the fridge for the next day’s sahur (pre-dawn meal). Yet, the routine come 5.00 am was: take a sip of water, tip the leftovers into the bin, and head back to bed. Over the years, I have seen products sold at the bazaar change to accommodate the altering palates of the consumer – where the old Geylang Serai market were once adorned with stalls selling ayam percik, baju kurung and greeting cards; the modernised façade of the vicinity is now accompanied by an array of shopping items, ranging from carpet auctions, zero-dollar down payment cars, to real estate agents hoping to close exclusive deals with home owners. Perhaps in the years to come, it might not be uncommon to also see maid agencies parading available-for-service domestic helpers at the bazaar. So who is to blame – consumers like me with less-than-formidable willpower to resist from buying too much, or vendors who capitalise on the spirits of the festivities? The present capitalist culture today pressures the ‘have-nots’ to keep up with the ‘Joneses’. So when Pakcik Jones has a new car or Makcik Jones changes her curtains with matching sofa covers each year, others feel compelled to do the same. A helper also becomes necessary for when we decide to throw lavish open house parties. While we are encouraged to break our fasts simply with kurma (dates), we also buy copious amounts of food to satiate our hunger. It is this same need to look good or fulfil superficial desires that could cause our community to overspend. Perhaps we could all do with a little reprioritising by detoxifying our spending habits and chaining up the naughty devil who asks us to wear Prada. A little reminder on how moderation is quintessential in life never hurts. It helps maintain our faith, the contents of our wallets and a trim waistline. Have a blessed Ramadan, everyone! Sharifah Norashikin SSA is a Research Associate with the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA). The opinions expressed in this article are her own. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. JUL SEP 2013 SPOTLIGHT Mohd Fahmy Abdul Rashid, 23, was inspired off the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, where Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, told his son to protect his dream and work towards achieving it no matter the costs. The mentor of AMP’s Youth Enrichment Programme (YEP), who is also a second year mechanical engineering undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, holds steadfast to this advice especially in pursuing his childhood dream – that is to fly. Recently, Fahmy was accepted into a coveted flight school to be trained as a commercial pilot but could not proceed due to insufficient funds. Instead of mourning over the lost opportunity, he intends to pursue a career in the aviation industry upon graduating from his degree course. AMPlified caught up with Fahmy of late, where he shared his mentoring journey in the youth programme. t s e L m a e r D Ta by hd Mo Al f Ism hd o M ian ail © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. Photo courtesy of Mohd Fahmy Abdul Rashid. pg 11·12 JUL SEP 2013 e left), in (extrem Fahmy kpit the coc h lane wit ial airp mmerc o c a f o its two of pilots. t h g i l F e k a AMPlified: You have been a YEP mentor for almost two years. How would you describe this experience? I would say that it has been a pretty interesting and fulfilling one, having to interact with the same group of youths on a weekly basis. It has also been educational for me as I am exposed to youths of differing capabilities, where I start to realise that not every one of them will have the same response to a particular method of engagement. AMPlified: In your opinion, what do you think makes a good mentor? To me, a good mentor is someone who can interact with the youths under his or her care at a level where these youths feel comfortable enough to open up, or where there are no barriers between them and yet at the same time, maintain respect from the youths. First and foremost, the mentor should also be well-versed academically so that the youths can look up to him or her as a role figure. AMPlified: Your youths enjoy how you coach them in Mathematics. Can you share some tips on how our youths can excel in the subject? Once you start to grasp the basic concepts, it is all about constant drilling – practise, practise and more practise! It is not exactly a secret because everyone knows that. The key factor in improving and excelling in the subject is by clocking in the hours for practice and being disciplined about it. There is also no such thing as a silly question. If you have any doubts, do not be shy to ask your teachers, your older siblings or even your friends. I believe these tips can also be applied to other subjects as well. AMPlified: How have you been successful in instilling positive values in the youths under your care? Instilling a positive value in anyone requires time. Personally, I have made the decision not to allow the setback of not being able to pursue my dream get to me. Life moves on, and I still harbour my dream of becoming a pilot one day. I hope the youths under my care will learn from my experiences and in due course, adopt the value of resiliency. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction. © Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction.
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