Critical to reduce reliance on oil & gas

Debbie Too
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BRUNEI has a "unique opportunity" to invest in the "greening" of the economy, which would also reduce reliance on traditional energy sources.

Aneta Nikolova, the environmental affairs officer for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), told The Brunei Times there was incontrovertible evidence to show that countries that focused on only one type of fossil fuel for their energy needs would eventually reach a critical point.

"There is always a critical point, because hydrocarbon, for example, is a finite source... There is no need to wait for that critical point to come closer," she said.

Nikolova also said that oil and gas exploration would become more expensive as fossil fuel reserves were used up, forcing petrochemical companies to bore deeper into the earth's crust. She said that current technology only permitted 40 to 50 per cent of the world's oil reserves to be extracted "so there is basically a lot of room now to start experimenting and building the technology base for renewable energy," Nikolova, a trained petrochemical and engineering geologist, said.

Nikolova said Brunei was in the fortunate position of having a leadership that was very much aware of the need for conservation of nature. She said that Brunei had wisely reinvested returns from oil and gas into natural capital restoration. The "system" is in place to give the country the opportunity to start expanding into renewable energy, such as wind, solar and possibly bio-gas.

"Brunei has an abundance of solar, and good wind opportunities. Another source that could be tapped into could be bio-gas collected from human settlements, big hospitals and farm toilets to produce electricity for home use," she said.

One scenario that Brunei could also explore would be to switch from a centralised electrical system, which she said has an 80 per cent loss on the grid transmitting energy to households, to a de-centralised power system.

This would create more jobs because more people would be needed to work in the compounds. She also said energy itself could be recycled. "During the day when most households have reduced occupancy, if Brunei has solar power, that could be sent back into the grid instead of using it for home use, so the opportunities are here," she said.

Nikolova said green growth created "very different and new opportunities" to be creative and innovative. "I have seen the amazing buildings (in Brunei) from your Sultan, and it is amazing to see the foresight and (care for) nature and the natural environment, so I have a very firm belief that there are a lot of opportunities here," she said.

Nikolova was in Brunei for the first national seminar on Green Growth Policy Tools for Low Carbon Development in Brunei Darussalam: On-site e-Learning Training of Trainers' Seminar at the University Technology Hub, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times

Singapore population half foreigners by 2030: Govt

FOREIGNERS could make up nearly half of Singapore's population by 2030, the government said yesterday as it unveiled its politically sensitive projection for a city of up to seven million boosted by young immigrants.

In a white paper on population, the government said Singaporeans' flagging birth rates — which have been below replacement levels for more than three decades — necessitated immigration into the prosperous Southeast Asian nation.

The paper, released by the National Population and Talent Division, said the total population could range between 6.5 and 6.9 million by 2030.

Foreigners would make up nearly half the population by then with the proportion of Singaporean citizens projected to fall to 55 per cent from 62 per cent as of June 2012.

Singapore's total fertility rates (TFR) of 1.20 children per woman last year are far below the 2.1 needed to sustain the native population, and have been so for more than three decades. "We do not expect our TFR to improve to the replacement rate of 2.1 in the short term," the paper said.

"Taking in younger immigrants will help us top up the smaller cohorts of younger Singaporeans, and balance the ageing of our citizen population," it added.

"To stop our citizen population from shrinking, we will take in between 15,000 and 25,000 new citizens each year," it stated, adding that the immigration rate would be reviewed "from time to time".

Immigration has been a politically sensitive issue for the government, which had in recent years widened the door for foreigners in order to sustain the city-state's economy.

But their numbers were reduced following a social backlash, with foreigners blamed for problems including overcrowding, straining public services and driving up housing costs.

The study said the government would take steps such as expanding transport networks and building more public housing to support the increase in population.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times

ASEAN must address HR violations

Quratul-Ain Bandial
BRUNEI-MUARA

THE protection of ASEAN's ethnic and religious minorities must be "seriously addressed", despite the bloc's policy of non-interference in member states' internal affairs, a representative from a regional human rights body said.

As Brunei chairs a five-day meeting in the capital for the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Indonesia's representative Rafendi Djamin said the body must adequately address human rights violations.

"Protection of religious and ethnic minorities has to be seriously discussed within the AICHR, no matter how sensitive the issue is," he said, referring to the plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, described by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

"When matters implicate several member states, this is when a regional approach is needed to address the challenges. That's my personal position no matter how sensitive it is you have to discuss these matters," Rafendi told The Brunei Times in an interview yesterday.

Established at a meeting between the 10 ASEAN leaders in October 2009, the AICHR was set up as a consultative body to promote regional co-operation on human rights. But human rights groups have characterised the AICHR as toothless and lacking the authority to investigate cases or prosecute human rights offenders.

Rafendi acknowledged that some clauses contained within the ASEAN Human Rights declaration "can be interpreted as a limitation of human rights" and that the commission was in the process of drafting "more binding" human rights laws.

"ASEAN cannot talk anymore that our human rights are only related to women and children's rights. It's very important that we have a very comprehensive standard of human rights stipulated in the declaration," he said. "We have to make these accepted norms within our society."

He added that the AICHR needed to engage more with civil society groups. "The level of discussion on human rights needs improvement; engaging more stakeholders civil society, experts, NGOs on human rights violations," Rafendi said.

"There's a lot to be improved, definitely. It's not so fast but moving in the right direction."

As Brunei takes the helm of ASEAN, Rafendi said he expected the country to deliver on a successful year for the body.

"Under the leadership of chair Brunei, I have a lot of expectations in terms of the delivery of the AICHR as a body for ASEAN and the people of ASEAN, bearing in mind the power and mandate that it has."

Brunei has stated that carrying out AICHR's activities will be a key priority under its stewardship.

Representatives from each ASEAN country met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah on Tuesday. Brunei's representative to the AICHR is former minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat.

"We're happy that we met with him (Prince Mohamed, the chair of the AMM (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting). It's a very good sign that Brunei sees the importance of the AICHR as a new body."

"Human rights in this region can be a very sensitive issue. During the luncheon with the minister we were able to have an informal discussion about issues within ASEAN."

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times

Isu status PR akan ditangani

Oleh Sim Y. H.

SERIA, 28 Jan - Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri sedang merumuskan satu garis pandu yang dihasratkan untuk membantu menangani masalah status penduduk tetap yang diketengahkan oleh sesetengah penduduk khususnya bagi warga penduduk tetap Brunei perempuan atau wanita yang bersuamikan warganegara asing.

Mengulas mengenai dengan isu taraf penduduk atau imigresen, Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman, berkata, isu yang diketengahkan adalah mereka yang mempunyai kad pengenalan merah atau status penduduk tetap, di mana bagi perempuan yang bersuamikan warganegara asing, sukar mendapat taraf penduduk tetap.

"Mereka yang penduduk tetap Brunei itu adalah perempuan yang bersuamikan orang asing. Jadi setakat ini, Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri, sedang merumuskan satu garis pandu yang kira-kira akan meliputi isu-isu seperti ini terutama sekali apabila mereka itu sudah berumah tangga lebih 20 ke 30 tahun, sudah melahirkan satu generasi baharu, generasi itu pun juga belum mendapat kad merah, isunya adalah isu persekolahan mereka, pekerjaan mereka.

"Insya Allah, mudah-mudahan dengan kebijaksanaan kepimpinan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia, Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri akan dapat merumuskan satu garis pandu bagi menyelesaikan isu-isu seperti ini."

Yang Berhormat Pehin menyatakan perkara ini dalam temu bual bersama media selepas lawatan kerja ke Mukim Sukang, Daerah Belait, hari ini.

Menurut beliau, penduduk di kawasan pendalaman tidak ketinggalan daripada menerima perhatian pihak kerajaan dengan pelbagai prasarana dan kemudahan-kemudahan seperti jalan raya dan bekalan elektrik, yang disediakan oleh kerajaan adalah dalam keadaan baik.

Di samping itu, kehidupan masyarakat khususnya dari segi perpaduan mereka amat mempercayai dengan kepimpinan yang ditunjukkan oleh ketua-ketua rumah panjang dan penghulu dalam memeduli serta terus prihatin terhadap keperluan dan kesejahteraan mereka.

Pada masa yang sama, usaha terus dijalankan untuk memperbaiki prasarana yang disediakan serta untuk menangani permasalahan yang disuarakan oleh masyarakat setempat.

"Perkara yang berbangkit dari dialog bersama orang ramai tadi adalah bagaimana prasarana yang ada diperbaiki. Ertinya ada jalan raya yang rosak diperbaiki."

Yang Berhormat Pehin menambah bahawa maklumat-maklumat yang dikemukakan semasa sesi dialog berkenaan telah diambil perhatian oleh pihak-pihak yang berkenaan untuk diambil tindakan selanjutnya serta percaya bahawa perkara berkenaan akan dapat diperbaiki dari semasa ke semasa.

Dipetik dari - Media Permata

US-China Relations: War in 2013?

 

By Addison Wiggin

 

War between the US and China — an unpleasant thought, for sure…unless you happen to be a defense contractor. The threat of war could be sufficient to power the defense industry’s profit growth for many years.

 

We would not be tackling this grim topic — nor engaging in the financial market version of grave-dancing — if the suits and uniforms in Washington understood that China is merely implementing its own version of the Monroe Doctrine.

 

If you don’t remember the Monroe Doctrine from history class, it goes like this: President James Monroe in 1823 put the European powers on notice that if they meddled anywhere in Latin America, the United States would step in to put a stop to it. It was a big “keep out of our backyard” sign.

 

OK, it was more subtle than that; an aging Thomas Jefferson congratulated Monroe on achieving a “cordial friendship with England.” The doctrine was, indeed, a tacit agreement between the United States and Great Britain. The US took a free ride on the Royal Navy. Its ships patrolled the waters surrounding Latin America, keeping the continental powers far from America’s doorstep.

 

The original Monroe Doctrine aimed to keep Europeans away. China’s Monroe Doctrine aims to keep the United States from getting closer than it is already.

 

“The Pacific basin has long been home to the United States’ largest trading partners, and Washington deploys more than 320,000 military personnel in the region, including 60% of its navy,” writes Conn Hallinan of the think tank Foreign Policy in Focus. “The American flag flies over bases in Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Marshall Islands, Guam and Wake.” The US Seventh Fleet routinely sails near the Chinese coast, to the edge of the “12-mile limit” where international waters end.

 

No wonder Chinese leaders sense — rightly or wrongly — that they’re being encircled.

 

“China has made it clear that it will not tolerate the threat to its security represented by a foreign military presence at its gates when these foreign forces are engaged in activities designed to probe Chinese defenses and choreograph a way to penetrate them,” writes our acquaintance Chas Freeman, the veteran US diplomat who was President Nixon’s interpreter on his groundbreaking visit to “Red” China in 1972.

 

“There’s no reason to assume that China is any less serious about this than we would be if faced with similarly provocative naval and air operations along our frontiers.”

 

Thus are the Chinese asserting their dominion over the disputed Senkakus Islands. “China sees the islands as part of its defensive parameter,” Hallinan explains, “an understandable point of view considering the country’s history. China has been the victim of invasion and exploitation by colonial powers, including Japan, dating back to the first Opium War in 1839.”

 

China also insists it rightly controls a host of islands in the South China Sea — rich fishing grounds and a potential source of oil and gas. These islands, such as the Spratlys and Paracels, are also claimed by… oh, let’s run down the list: Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and the Philippines. Maybe the Kardashians too, for all we know.

 

In addition, China has...

• Commissioned its first aircraft carrier
• Developed a whiz-bang stealth fighter jet called the J-20
• Goosed its defense spending by double-digit percentages every year for the past decade (although Beijing’s defense budget it still one-fifth the size of Washington’s).

 A sensible US response would go something like this: “Hey, China’s implementing its own Monroe Doctrine. They want to be in charge in their own backyard. Meanwhile, we’re $16.4 trillion in debt. Heck, we owe $1.1 trillion of that to China. Why are we going deeper in debt to keep 60% of the Navy stationed in the Pacific basin? Maybe we should reconsider this whole ‘American lake’ thing.”

 

Instead, the US government is doubling down.

 

“As the war in Iraq winds down and America begins to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, the United States stands at a pivot point,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote in Foreign Policy’s November 2011 issue. “One of the most important tasks of American statecraft over the next decade will therefore be to lock in a substantially increased investment — diplomatic, economic, strategic and otherwise — in the Asia-Pacific region.”

 

In DC wonk circles, this statement of intentions has come to be known as “the pivot.”

 

The same month Clinton published that article — with the presumptuous title “America’s Pacific Century” — the Obama administration stationed 2,500 US troops on Australia’s northern coast for the first time. More encirclement.

 

This “pivot” opens up an intriguing investment angle. Think of it as channeling some of your tax dollars back into your own pocket. The US defense industry is positively salivating over the pivot.

 

As 2012 wound down, the Aerospace Industries Association — whose membership roster reads like a list of ITA’s top holdings — issued its annual industry forecast. Reuters summed it up like this: “US sales of warplanes, anti-missile systems and other costly weapons to China’s and North Korea’s neighbors appear set for significant growth amid regional security jitters.”

 

Not to put too fine a point on it, the pivot “will result in growing opportunities for our industry to help equip our friends,” enthused AIA vice president Fred Downey. Orders from Asia will more than make up for a slowdown in buying by those parsimonious and peacenik Europeans.

 

And even if the automatic cuts in the US take effect, “contractors such as Lockheed, Boeing, Northrop and Raytheon Co. expect regional demand for their products and services to help them offset Pentagon belt-tightening,” says Reuters.

 

The AIA didn’t put numbers on its forecast, but pressed by Reuters, the industry group disclosed that sales agreements with countries under the US Pacific Command’s umbrella grew 5.4% in fiscal 2012 — to $13.7 billion.

 

Nevertheless, J.P. Morgan recently downgraded several of the big defense-sector names: “We believe,” said its report, “that Republicans as a group put a higher priority on spending cuts than they do on preserving the defense budget.”

 

We have our doubts… but even if that turns out to be true, there’s still money to be made from the pivot. Back in November, we urged the subscribers of Addison Wiggin’s Apogee Advisory to buy shares of The iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace and Defense ETF (ITA). The stock is up about 15% since then. But as the pivot proceeds, we would expect this stock to continue trending higher.

 

Dipetik dari - The Daily Reckoning

Concern over role of social media in cyber crimes

Nabilah Haris
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

RISING crime related to the Internet, especially involving social media, is a major issue for the IT Protective Security Services (ITPSS), which said it planned to take appropriate measures to ensure the public were safe.

ITPSS CEO Shamsul Bahri Hj Kamis said he was made aware of the growth in Internet-related crime at a national seminar he attended organised by the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

"It is a serious problem. The statistics mentioned are, so to speak, depressing," Shamsul Bahri said.

"We were made to understand that incidents related to abuse via Internet-related media have been on the rise for the past few years."

He added: "During the seminar, a representative from the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) stated that these cases included sexual grooming, molestation, cyberbullying and even rape. All these sexual crimes on children, according to them, were 100 per cent (instigated through) the Internet, mainly the social media." Several incidents of cyberbullying, through social media, which had materialised into real-life problems, had been reported to the ITPSS.

He said that at the moment parents and schoolchildren, including those in their teens, were the ITPSS' main priority as the most vulnerable groups.

The ITPSS will be carrying out its objectives through the Brunei Computer Emergency Response Team (BruCERT), under the ITPSS, which deals with computer-related and Internet-related security incidents in Brunei.

One of the ways the ITPSS is reaching its target groups is through the publication of two books Digibytes and A Parent's Guide: Online Safety for Children.

He said the books were aimed at children, students and even adults. He said they were designed to be easily understood and covered topics such as information security and the dangers of the Internet.

He also said the ITPSS would be conducting campaigns to spread awareness about safety throughout this year.

"InsyaAllah, we are going to have more targeted campaigns this year. It will be for the public in general. We do not have a proper schedule yet but we do plan to conduct these campaigns at public venues," he said.

"We will also be conducting these (campaigns) at schools. We have already been invited to various schools this year to give talks, along with practical sessions where our speakers will demonstrate ways individuals can protect themselves online."

A website will also be set up targeting these specific issues, Shamsul Bahri said. "We are attempting to set up a specialist website on information security awareness," he said.

"We do acknowledge that our physical materials (the books) are not widely well-known by the public. This is why we have been planning to set up this website to try and attract people. We want to advertise and promote more awareness, where people can easily gain access to these materials online."

However, these changes will not occur overnight. Shamsul Bahri said the establishment of the website would go through several phases and would include awareness-related games for children, as well as online surveys to see the effectiveness of the ITPSS' upcoming campaigns.

"We want feedback, and even criticism, on how to make our campaigns better. We have done surveys prior to this, but we are always striving for improvement. We have engaged a consultant to assist us with our programmes."

Shamsul Bahri said he was quite impressed with efforts made by several law-enforcement agencies and hoped to emulate their success. "We are quite impressed with what local enforcement agencies have done with their campaigns on school curriculums. We would like to approach them considering how effective their model is."

Shamsul Bahri said he would like to remind the public that predators existed in our society and that they were exploiting Bruneian openness.

"There is a tendency for people to post anything they want online. It is dangerous to reveal personal details even mentioning that you are alone. People are unaware that posting through a smartphone also reveals their location.

"Through BruCERT and our marketing team, we are trying to inculcate much needed awareness. Some of these perpetrators are exploiting the Malay culture of always giving and always trusting. We are trying to make people aware that it may not always be a good practice. Some things need to be kept private and confidential."

Interested members of the public may obtain copies of Digibytes and A Parent's Guide: Online Safety for Children at ITPSS, which is located at Simpang 69, Jalan E-Kerajaan, Gadong.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times

Brunei Darussalam: Islamic banking earmarked for further growth

The Islamic banking segment strengthened its position within Brunei Darussalam’s financial services industry last year on the back of rising demand that led to the launch of a new bank and major bond issuances. Having moved early to establish sharia-compliant services, the Sultanate is now well placed to carve out a niche for itself as an international Islamic banking centre. However, the industry will need to address a number of challenges, led by a shortage of skilled workers, if it is to fully support the segment’s development.

In mid-October, Standard Chartered Bank Brunei (SCB) said it was mulling plans to introduce Islamic banking products this year to meet increased demand for sharia-compliant banking services in the Sultanate. SCB’s announcement followed the September launch of the Islamic Bank of Brunei, which replaced the International Bank of Brunei as the sole domestically owned bank operating in the country.

The Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei was the first financial institution to offer savings and financing in accordance with Islamic principles when it was launched in 1991, followed two years later by the Islamic Bank of Brunei. They were joined in 2000 by the Islamic Development Bank of Brunei.

SCB’s CEO, Lai Pei-Si, told reporters during a media luncheon held at Hua Ho Manggis Mall in October that launching an Islamic bank was a “logical step to take and logical step to consider because Brunei has an express need for Islamic banking products”. He added that the bank would begin modestly by offering Islamic products, with hopes of bringing “much more comprehensive Islamic solutions into the country”.

In April, the managing director of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, Javed Ahmad, said the market share held by sharia-compliant banking was expected to increase to 60% from its current levels of 40-55% over the next five years.

Speaking at a seminar on Islamic finance, Ahmad said Brunei Darussalam’s strengths, led by strong economic and political stability, good infrastructure and government support, meant it was well placed to build a reputation as an Islamic financial centre. “With more aggressive marketing, Brunei Darussalam’s journey towards making itself an Islamic financial hub might become a possibility in the next few years,” he said.

A report prepared in December by global consultancy firm Ernst & Young said the worldwide value of Islamic banking would reach $1.55trn in 2012 and $1.8trn this year. Growth within the Muslim population of Middle East and North African countries and Asia, it added, were key drivers in the increasing demand for Islamic financial services. The Sultanate is clearly benefitting from early participation in the Islamic banking segment, having launched its first Islamic bond, the Short Term Government Sukuk Al-Ijarah programme worth BND150m ($111m) for a three-month certificate in April 2006.

In November, the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD), which is acting as the central bank, announced the successful pricing of its 82nd issuance of sukuk, or Islamic bond, which was worth BND100m ($122.5m) at a rental rate of 0.16%. The move followed a $100m, 90-day issuance that matures this month.

While Brunei Darussalam is well placed to tap into growing interest in Islamic financial services, observers have highlighted the need for the Sultanate to develop new Islamic banking products if it is to maintain its position in the market.

“Understanding the theory of Maqasid al-Sharia (the objectives of Islamic law) and the defining characteristics of an Islamic bank could encourage the Islamic banking industry to improve and excel in their product innovation as well as financial intermediation that can be linked to economic growth,” Abdul Ghafar Ismail, a lecturer at the Research Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said at a conference in May.

Industry experts believe the Sultanate is working to address these challenges, with a particular emphasis on improving staff training after human resources was identified as a factor that could limit its success in the field. “Having strengthened its operational base and regulatory framework, Brunei is now taking steps to address a shortage of trained industry professionals in the Islamic financial sector by providing on-the-job training and local universities offering bachelors, masters and doctorate degree programmes related to Islamic finance,” said Javed.

The Sultanate’s early entry into the Islamic financial services market has provided it with solid foundations to develop the industry. Experts suggest the sector should now shift its focus to exporting that expertise and consolidating a global role in sharia-compliant banking.

Dipetik dari - Oxford Business Group

Rasulullah Teladan Sepanjang Zaman

Assalamu'alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Bismillahir Rahmannir Rahim

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil'alameen, Wabihee Nasta'eenu 'Alaa Umuriddunyaa Waddeen, Wassalaatu Wassalaamu 'Alaa Asyrafil Mursaleen, Sayyidina Muhammadin, Wa'alaa Aalihee Wasahbihee Ajma'een, Waba'du.

ALHAMDULILLAH, beta bersyukur ke hadrat Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala, kerana dengan limpah rahmat-Nya dan izin-Nya jua, dapatlah kita meraikan lagi peristiwa agung, Maulidur Rasul, Sayidina Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, iaitu sebaik-baik makhluk yang dicipta oleh Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala di muka bumi.

Marilah kita sama-sama memperbanyakkan 'selawat' ke atas Baginda, di samping menghayati dan mencontohi perjuangan Baginda dan para sahabat dalam menegakkan syiar Islam ke seluruh pelusuk dunia.

Kini sudah 14 abad berlalu, namun ajaran Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam masih saja terus hidup dan subur di jiwa orang-orang yang beriman, kerana apa yang disampaikan oleh Baginda itu adalah sesuatu yang tulen, asli dan benar, tidak bercampur dengan yang palsu walau sedikitpun, sebagaimana perkara ini diakui oleh Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala dalam Surah An-Najm ayat 2 hingga 3, tafsirnya : "Rakan kamu, (Nabi Muhammad yang kamu tuduh dengan pelbagai tuduhan itu) tidaklah dia menyeleweng (dari jalan yang benar) dan dia pula tidak sesat dan tidak memperkatakan (sesuatu yang berhubung dengan ugama Islam) menurut kemahuan dan pendapatnya sendiri."

Alhamdulillah, beta amat bersyukur, kerana kita di negara ini sudah sekian lama mengadakan Majlis Sambutan Maulidur Rasul dengan perisian berdikir di masjid-masjid yang diadakan selama 12 malam berturut-turut. Acara kemuncaknya pula ialah Perhimpunan dan Perarakan di seluruh negara dan pada malamnya Majlis Dikir di Istana Nurul Iman. Kemeriahan seperti ini sukar dilihat di tempat-tempat lain tetapi di negara ianya adalah sebagai satu kelaziman. Tidakkah ini satu ciri kebruneian yang unik, yang boleh dibanggakan?

Pada tahun ini, beta difahamkan bahawa tema sambutan Maulidur Rasul, Sayidina Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ialah 'Rasulullah Teladan Sepanjang Zaman'. Ini bermakna, Baginda itu dari aspek apa pun adalah tetap relevan untuk menjadi teladan dalam semua zaman. Baginda adalah model yang sempurna, dalam semua peringkat kehidupan baik semasa kanak-kanak, remaja, dewasa dan peringkat tua. Kita tidaklah lagi perlu untuk menoleh kepada lain-lain model.

Oleh kerana itu, kita dengan spontan akan merasa amat tersentuh apabila imej Baginda yang unggul, murni dan luhur itu cuba dicemari oleh individu-individu yang jahat yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Umat Islam di seluruh dunia akan mengutuk sesiapa saja yang menghina Baginda.

Pada hemat beta, saluran terbaik untuk menyerapkan teladan yang berharga ialah melalui pendidikan ugama. Kerana itu perlaksanaan Perintah Pendidikan Ugama Wajib 2012 pada awal tahun 2013 ini adalah amat wajar dan perlu. Ia akan menjadi wadah untuk melahirkan generasi lebih berilmu, malah lebih berakhlak serta mampu untuk menghindarkan mereka dari gejala buruk sosial dan penyakit masyarakat yang membebankan negara.

Sebagaimana dimaklumi, pendidikan agama secara formal mungkin sahaja terbatas tempohnya, sedangkan yang diperlukan adalah pendidikan sepanjang hayat. Maka sebagai kesinambungan untuk tujuan ini, kita memerlukan institusi lain untuk menampungnya. Di dalam hubungan ini, beta melihat masjid adalah di antara wadah terpenting ke arah itu.

Kerana itulah dalam Rancangan Kemajuan Negara 2012-2017, kerajaan beta telah menyediakan peruntukan lebih dari 100 juta ringgit bagi pembangunan masjid-masjid baru di seluruh negara. Kita mengharapkan dengan pembinaan masjid-masjid ini, di samping akan menambahkan lagi kemudahan untuk beribadat, ia juga berperanan untuk menjadi pusat kegiatan ummah dan tidak terkecuali sebagai tempat pengembangan ilmu secara berterusan.

Sehubungan itu, sebagai pusat kegiatan bagi kebajikan dan tempat pengembangan ilmu, masjid-masjid juga jangan dilupakan merupakan syi'ar dan mercu tanda utama bagi negara ini. Selaku syi'ar dan mercu tanda, ia tidak boleh malap dan lemah. Bahkan tidaklah memadai setakat mendirikannya semata-mata tanpa mengambil kira reka bentuk yang sesuai selaku syi'ar.

Beta perhatikan, beberapa buah masjid yang baru dibuka baru-baru ini, reka bentuknya adalah kurang menonjol dan agak mengecewakan. Kita seolah-olah mahu dibawa balik semula kepada era 'reka bentuk standard' masjid-masjid kita, sehingga tidak menghiraukan tentang syiar.

Di sini suka beta mengingatkan supaya kita bersikap lebih maju dan meningkat, bukannya menurun ataupun berpatah balik ke belakang.

Allah telah mendatangkan Islam selaku agama yang tinggi. Lalu sehubungan itu, kita pun dituntut pula untuk meninggikan syiarnya setinggi yang mungkin. Jadi kalau masjid-masjid kita rakyat-rakyat atau menyamai bangunan biasa, di manakah syiar itu di sini?

Sekian, Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah Wassalamu 'alaikumWarahmatullahiWabarakatuh.

Philippines to bring South China Sea dispute with Beijing to tribunal

Manila fires shot across China's bows with move to bring both countries' conflicting claims on potentially oil-rich waters to UN

The Philippines has taken a legal step to counter China's claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, formally notifying Beijing that it is seeking international arbitration to declare Chinese moves in the potentially oil-rich waters "illegal and invalid".

The Filipino foreign secretary, Albert del Rosario, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the Chinese ambassador, Ma Keqing, had been handed a note notifying the Chinese government that Manila is bringing both countries' conflicting claims to an international tribunal.

The move is likely to bring an angry response from China, the Philippines' third-largest trading partner.

Several countries claim parts of the South China Sea, but China claims virtually all of it. It has confronted Filipino ships in a standoff over the Scarborough shoal, which both countries claim. The Philippines withdrew ships from the shoal last June and has since protested China's buildup.

There are fears that territorial conflicts in the region, including a dispute between Japan and China in the East China Sea, could spark Asia's next major armed conflict.

The Philippines hopes that arbitration through a tribunal operating under the 1982 United Nations convention on the law of the sea would lead to a decision that would direct China to respect its claims. But even if a tribunal ruled against China, Beijing could choose to simply ignore the ruling.

Del Rosario said the Philippines made the move after previous diplomatic efforts to resolve the territorial rifts failed.

"The Philippines has exhausted almost all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement of its maritime disputes with China," he said. He added the Philippine government hoped that its legal move would "bring this dispute to a durable solution".

"We are all for improving our economic relations with China but it should not be at the expense of surrendering our national sovereignty," he said.

The Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing did not immediately comment, asking that questions be submitted by fax.

In the note handed to the Chinese ambassador, the Philippines listed several aggressive moves it alleged were launched by China in recent years to fortify its territorial claims, including the occupation of South China Sea islands and the enactment of a law to allow Chinese patrol vessels to block and board foreign ships passing through vast stretches of waters that Beijing claims.

Del Rosario said the Philippines' move was made independently of its ally the United States, which has called for a peaceful resolution of the claims and a guarantee that freedom of navigation would not be hindered.

Other countries clashing with China over South China Sea territory, including Vietnam, could benefit from Manila's action without risking possible Chinese retaliatory steps.

Dipetik dari - The Guardian

Thailand Calls for Regional Response to Rohingya Boat People

Ron Corben

Thousands of Muslim Rohingya fleeing sectarian violence in Burma’s Rakhine state have taken to the sea, ending up in Thailand, Malaysia and elsewhere. There are calls for a regional response to the humanitarian situation.

Hundreds of largely stateless Rohingya have been detained by authorities after landing on Thailand’s southern shores often aided by human trafficking gangs.

As more refugees arrived in recent weeks, there have also been accusations that the Thai military has been involved in detaining arriving boats and selling the passengers to human trafficking brokers who then transport them to Malaysia.

Senior Thai Foreign Ministry officials say they are investigating. In 2009 the Thai Navy faced charges of abandoning up to 1,000 Rohingya refugees at sea without engines and navigational aid as well as little food and water.

The latest charges came as the Thai Supreme Commander, General Tanasak Patimaprogorn, called on the international community to provide more assistance for the refugees.

Chris Lewa, an advocate for non-government group, the Arakan Project, says at least 13,000 people have fled parts of Burma’s western Arakan state in recent months.

“Rohingya people now have lost hope for a better future," Lewa said. "They could support some persecution before, but they kept their hope alive that something will improve in the future. The boat season we see this year examples of changes and one of them is that women and small children are leaving. That means entire families.”

In Thailand, more than 900 Rohingya are being detained after security forces raided known trafficking locations in Songkhla province.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist from Chulalongkorn University, who met with refugee groups in Songkhla, expects more Rohingya to flee to Southeast Asia.

Panitan says the Thai government’s response has been in line with national security guidelines together with providing humanitarian aid. But, with the Rohingya’s stateless legal situation, he says a regional response is required.

“The initial response is according to the National Security Council guidelines, use humanitarian responses in terms of setting up the help for these people especially for the women and children," he explained. "But, of course, they will be repatriated back but the problem is to where? And the situation is much more dangerous for them. So actually we don’t know what to do with them. The international community especially the agency responsible for taking care of these people should come up with a better guideline.”

The International Committee for the Red Cross has been given access to the Rohingya and a interim agreement to allow the United Nations High Commission for Refugees access has also be agreed upon.

But a full response from the Thai government is still pending.

A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman told VOA that senior government officials are meeting to formulate the Thai policy. But, the Thai Army remains opposed to plans to set up a semi permanent camp for the detained Rohingya.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, says Thailand needs to work with regional countries and put pressure on Burma to grant citizenship to the Rohingya.

“Obviously we’re very hopeful that Thailand facing this large influx of boats will play a leadership role in galvanizing some other neighbors in ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] who have been affected by the Rohingya boats - for instance Malaysia, Indonesia perhaps Brunei," Robertson said. "Put concerted pressure on Burma to recognize the Rohingya as citizens.”

In the past year, sectarian violence in Burma’s western Rakhine state between the largely Muslim Rohingya and Buddhist community has left up to 200 people dead with more than 100,000 people forced into temporary camps. United Nations says the total number displaced by the conflict is around 500,000.

Dipetik dari - Voice of America