MM Lee’s comments on Muslims draw criticism

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has drawn criticism from several Malaysian leaders after saying that Singapore’s progress on integration has been affected by the tendency of Muslims in the region to be “distinct and separate”.

His remarks were published in a new book, titled Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going. New agency AFP was first to break the news about the comments, which were then picked up on Sunday by several Malaysian and Indonesian newspapers and news websites.

Malaysian leaders insisted that his views were wrong, while Indonesia had a divided response, judging by comments posted on the online site of the English-language newspaper Jakarta Globe.

Some of the comments agreed with Mr Lee’s views, while others felt that he should have been more sensitive towards the Muslims.

In the book, Mr Lee made the comments when asked to assess the progress of multiracialism in Singapore.

“I have to speak candidly to be of value, but I do not want to offend the Muslim community,” said MM Lee.

“I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration — friends, intermarriages and so on, Indians with Chinese, Chinese with Indians — than Muslims. That’s the result of the surge from the Arab states,” said the former Prime Minister of Singapore.

“I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam. I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate,” he added.

Mr Lee went on to share on his experience of working with politicians of his generation, and how they were able to integrate well with each other, including sitting down to eat.

He also said, “But now, you go to schools with Malay and Chinese, there’s a halal and non-halal segment and so, too, the universities. And they tend to sit separately so as not to be contaminated. All that becomes a social divide.”

He added that this becomes a “veil” among peoples. When quizzed on what Muslims can do to integrate better, he replied, “Be less strict on Islamic observances and say ‘Okay, I’ll eat with you.’”

Malay-language newspaper Utusan Malaysia also featured responses from three officials.

De facto Religious Affairs Minister Jamil Khir Baharom said he hoped that Malaysians would not agree with Mr Lee’s views that linked Islam to blocking racial integration and national development.

“I am worried such views will spread into Malaysian society, which has many types of ideas,” he said, adding that followers of Islam were taught to be moderate.

Malaysian Islamic Development Department director-general Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said that Mr Lee should learn from his son, and current Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, who is closer to Singapore Muslims.

He also added that MM Lee’s mindset is still stuck in the  1960s, which was a period of prejudices and suspicions against Muslims.

Right-wing Malay rights group Perkasa slammed Mr Lee, saying he seemed to be raising sensitive issues without bothering about Muslim sensitivities, just like the non-Muslim opposition leaders in Malaysia.

Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali added, “Perkasa does not consider Kuan Yew as being less able to respect other religions, but instead, consider him as a very senile old man.”

Parti Islam SeMalaysia Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan said Mr Lee’s comments made him sound like a “racist militant fighter”.

One of the comments on the Jakarta Globe report said, “It is not wise to zoom into the religion or belief that these Malays hold. Asking them to be less strict (with) their religion is seen as a dubious idea which may create hatred.”

.

by Ewen Boey

Source: FTP Newsroom

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36 Responses to “MM Lee’s comments on Muslims draw criticism”

  • MM Lee was describing “worst-case scenario”: Dr Yaacob
    By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 29 January 2011 1700 hrs

    http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107702/1/.html

    SINGAPORE: The Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was describing a “worst-case scenario” when he recently spoke about the Malay Muslim community.

    Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, who was at a cheque presentation ceremony at Yayasan Mendaki, was responding to media queries regarding Mr Lee’s comments in his latest book, titled “Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going”.

    Mr Lee had said that multi-racialism in Singapore was “progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came”.

    Dr Yaacob said the rise in religiosity in almost all faith communities has been described as a reaction to modernisation and noted that Mr Lee believed these reactions can be divisive and saw it as his responsibility to warn Singaporeans about the possible risks in society.

    Dr Yaacob added that Singapore is a secular country that respects and protects the rights of Muslims to practise their own religion, and this is fundamental to Singapore’s identity.

    “Many Muslims and non-Muslims in Singapore have commented on MM’s remarks about Muslims…They have told me, and told us, that the scenario painted by MM is not the reality that they face in the day-to-day lives that they experience here in Singapore.

    “To me, that is a very good sign. I would be personally very worried if Singaporeans agree with the scenario that MM has painted, because it means that for us to be a committed Muslim or of any other faith, is incompatible with being a loyal citizen.”

    Asked for his comments on the response by Muslims, Dr Yaacob said he expected a reaction.

    “Let’s look at this rationally, read the book and understand where he’s coming from. And don’t just read one book, see MM in his whole lifespan and the struggles he has gone through.

    “At the end of the day, he has a certain perspective. That perspective may not be accurate now, maybe 40 years ago. So that’s where I disagree with him, as I mentioned, in the book. That the reality on the ground is people are working together side by side.”

    Dr Yaacob declined to speculate on the impact the issue might have during the general election, but said: “At the end of the day, as far as the government policy is concerned, we want to integrate everybody, irrespective of your race and religion…so let’s put this in perspective.”

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 60

  • Halal - non Halal:

    If so difficult to integrate with halal and non halal section, then just make it all halal. Thats integration. Non Muslims dont mind eating halal food and Muslims CANNOT eat non halal food, so give face and make life easy. LKY talk big with the poor Malay community that he discriminates against. If the King of Saudi Arabia come to Singapore, LKY will carry the halal food by himself and go and sit and eat with the King. U think he will talk cock with the King of Saudi Arabia about halal or non halal.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 54 Thumb down 17

  • Hellcat:

    I have yet to see one PAP minister that have the balls to go against LKY’s view, Because ,,,

    Those who dare go against him are either dead, retired, in jail, going to jail, harass by ISD, exile, bankrupt or declare as mentally unsound.

    OR they will soon fall into one of the above.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 90 Thumb down 4

  • runroad:

    MM Lee was describing “worst-case scenario”: Dr Yaacob
    By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 29 January 2011 1700 hrs

    Wheeeooo, Wheeeeoo, Wheeeeoo!!!

    Damage control! Damage control!

    Loose cannon with giant mouth rolling about the deck!

    KNN! Own goal! Own goal! Own goal!

    All bought-and-paid-for Malay moles on deck, pronto!

    Activate standard defensive response:

    “LKY’s remarks about Muslim Malays being good-for-nothing was taken out of context, OK?”

    “Senile old fool had a brain fart and didn’t mean to reveal his racist tendency. He only wanted to create a bogeyman like he did in 1960 to frighten his majority into running back into the safety of his totalitarian embrace, got that? Now move along please, nothing to see here.” !!!!!!!!!!

    Haw, haw, haw! LMFAO!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 43 Thumb down 2

  • Douchebag:

    Kojakbt: MM Lee was describing “worst-case scenario”: Dr Yaacob
    By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 29 January 2011 1700 hrs
    http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107702/1/.html

    The Yakult has finally spoken! Ha, what a late VIP entrance.

    This aside, let me say that the only reason Lao Lee is out of touch with present reality is simply because 3 million dollars has the power to keep him closeted and comfy in his own fucking ivory tower!

    If he has the guts, I challenge him to give up his MM title and salary and start running night classes on history in community centres to teach and discuss with young people. Then he doesn’t need bodyguards, and he doesn’t need to be assassinated.

    If Dubya can humbly ply university lecture circuits and siam war crime tribunals or other troubles, why not Lao Lee?

    The same goes with the whole white party! You are all disconnected from us daft peasants. Ptui!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 37 Thumb down 8

  • Sperm:

    What struggle when you lock people up without trial , help Japanese to translate allied reports that could or have damaged singaporeans lives , indeed a big struggler

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 49 Thumb down 4

  • When We Are United, We Will Never Be Defeated!!!:

    ”Let’s look at this rationally, read the book and understand where he’s coming from. And don’t just read one book, see MM in his whole lifespan and the struggles he has gone through”
    Yaacob Ibrahim.

    Well then what more can we say of the Longkang Minister Yaacob Ibrahim except to say that he’s indeed a true dedicated loyal lackey of the PAP.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 51 Thumb down 6

  • Doktor:

    I think… honestly, this Real Truth book is just a smoke screen and not the main issue. Stop playing mind game Mr Lee!

    The real Hard Truth are issue like Education, Housing, Economy, Labour and Immigration policies! We are not daft! While you ridicule everyone else and throw smoke bombs… the real issues will not go away after the smoke bombs!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 61 Thumb down 1

  • ADAMONE:

    In the dirty world of POLITICS any opportunity to draw blood and gain votes at the expense of the people will be fully exploited.

    Stay calm be rationale,look around us, weigh our options and use your vote wisely.

    A good MP,a bad one,a dud,a racists or an opportunist,the choice is yours in that one vote and for F..K sake it is secret and don’t let that stoopid fear factor deprive you of your CHOICE,just remember you have to live with THAT CHOICE for the next five years GOOD or BAD.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 1

  • I'm Not a Racist:

    Lets the put it in perspective:

    First he says intermarriage is an issue.

    Then, his daughter wanted to marry outside his race but he objected.

    So who is the hypocrite now.

    Muslims have never objected marrying someone outside their race.

    Second, he mentions integration.

    Till today, Malays are never trusted to hold sensitive appointments in Navy, Air Force and even some units of the army.

    It goes to show that even before that person shows his disloyalty, he is presumed to be a traitor. Such wonderful startegies he has built to integrate his citizens.

    Also in the past Malays who went to tertiary education were not called up for NS. They waited and waited and waited. But when they finally gave up waiting and applied for a job, the employer would tell them ‘Sorry, you gotta serve NS first.’

    Now how cruel can that be? A social strategy to purposely supress the cream of the race. Disingenious.

    This final example takes the cake cos after years of conditioning, the populace finally got the message from the top:

    YES GO AHEAD AND DISCRIMINATE

    And they came out from the closet throwing out the banner:

    MANDARIN SPEAKING CANDIDATES PREFFERED

    Even for jobs that don’t require so.

    Will they deny that it is happening? Of course. But the fact that they will not expose even a handful indicates how much they are encouraging it.

    The most efficient civil service in the world cannot even catch ONE discriminating comnpany?

    So where is the lie here?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 73 Thumb down 6

  • HALAL - NON HALAL:

    ““But now, you go to schools with Malay and Chinese, there’s a halal and non-halal segment”

    Since the non muslims can eat halal food and the Muslims CANNOT eat non halal food, why dont we give face, and serve only halal food. Then everyone can integrate and life become easy. Why do the muslims have to break with their religion when it does not harm the non muslims to eat halal food with us. Why is this option not considered. Are the non muslims not willing to integrate. Most restaurants in Malaysia are halal, including Chinese restaurants. U enjoy a multi cultural evening at any hotel or restaurant u go to. The integration of the people are real with everyone giving face to one another.

    LKY talk big when he talks to the poor Muslim Malays in Singapore. If the King of Saudi Arabia was to visit Singapore, LKY wll bungkus Halal food in his tiffin and go and sit with the King and happily eat halal food. I bet he also wont talk cock with the KING about halal or non halal food either. If LKY had set this example a long time ago, we would not be having this conversation today and we would all be feeling proud of one another and nobody would have lost anything.

    Giving face to the orignal inhabitants of this land should not be deemed improper. Unless of course, it has always been LKY’s intention to divide and ensure we all dont integrate and dont feel good with one another.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 48 Thumb down 8

  • LOL:

    “I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration — friends, intermarriages and so on, Indians with Chinese, Chinese with Indians — than Muslims. That’s the result of the surge from the Arab states,” said the former Prime Minister of Singapore.

    he really talked like a God now.
    never mind tho,the more crap things he said,the more steps closer to the end of his day.
    why he likes to LOL himself at his golden age?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 41 Thumb down 1

  • Loyal Singaporan:

    MM Lee Kuan Yew may be a lot of things..but he is not senile. look at what he’s done for singapore. that cannot be denied. look at how he’s transformed this kampong island into a world-class city state. some people comment that muslims are not given top notch army and military positions. look at the track record. there are cases of muslim extremists even within the army! no other religion or race displays tis kind of fanaticism. so, MM Leecertainly has a point. he has put the message across in an extrememly diplomatic and sensitive manner. reason with him. see his side of the story. and one more thing. muslims and enjoytheir own customs and practices. but isn’t it downright selfish to ask the non-muslims to eat halal food only? we have the right to enjoy non-halal food. think about this, this country does not revolve around one particular race, be it chinese, indian or malay.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 54

  • trollz:

    @Loyal Singaporean

    pls dun breed

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 2

  • A.H:

    ikan keli, ikan haruan, ikan yu….he was senile and is senile long time ago….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 44 Thumb down 0

  • LOYAL SGPOREAN:

    i hope singaporeans are clear in their mind and cast the right vote and not because of their hatred of what PAP has done and vote for the opposition where they have done nth but criticising and promise nth like the last election.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 48

  • Pegasus:

    MM is right. The world has given in too much to the ’sensitivtities’ of religious fundamentalists. How about the rights of sensitivities of others? We have our right to be angry, too!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 29

  • Ken Bare:

    All religions are divisive and separatist, based on fairy tales, and create more misery for the world than anything else in society or all of human history. “Imagine no religion” is the true paradise.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 29

  • sha75:

    (but isn’t it downright selfish to ask the non-muslims to eat halal food only? we have the right to enjoy non-halal food. think about this, this country does not revolve around one particular race, be it chinese, indian or malay.)-i am not a person who likes to argue..i am just a silent reader..but i tink ur remark here is a bit wayside..
    There is absolutely no problem for us to actually eat side by side in one table with friends who is eating non halal food.and non of our muslim friends i belive will stop you from eating non halal food.
    the problem is sometimes ppl can be over wearry ,we are living in the mordern world now,muslims and malays have already pass the generations of conservativeness and rigidness to more laidback society in which we LEARN to understand to understand ppl surrounding us.
    If you are talking bout hawker ctrs or food outlets that sells only halal food..it is not because they want to cater ONLY for the muslims,it is becoz it just make buisness sense,and i belive it is only for the money..and not becoz of the sensivity issue.
    Bout MM’s comments,well as a muslim ,i have to defend what opinions goes beyond reason..To me ill take it as another challenge to actually make my fellow singaporeans understand that whet MM lee’s remark have pass due its retired time.
    MM lee have been the strength and backbone of this country for 4 decades,and i belive this is not the first time he have comment bout islam or the malay muslim in general.
    But i sincerely belive that whatever comments or remark he made,IT is our duty, particularly the Muslims and Malay community to reach and and open up to our fellow sgporeans that hey,You can sit at my table eating non halal food. :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 43 Thumb down 0

  • singaporean:

    Loyal Singaporan: MM Lee Kuan Yew may be a lot of things..but he is not senile. look at what he’s done for singapore. that cannot be denied. look at how he’s transformed this kampong island into a world-class city state. some people comment that muslims are not given top notch army and military positions. look at the track record. there are cases of muslim extremists even within the army! no other religion or race displays tis kind of fanaticism. so, MM Leecertainly has a point. he has put the message across in an extrememly diplomatic and sensitive manner. reason with him. see his side of the story. and one more thing. muslims and enjoytheir own customs and practices. but isn’t it downright selfish to ask the non-muslims to eat halal food only? we have the right to enjoy non-halal food. think about this, this country does not revolve around one particular race, be it chinese, indian or malay.

    Wouldn’t there be disintegration and why do we habour distrust by not allowing Malays into key military posts as a simple example. Everyone knows, noone publicly says. Also, extremists are a minority in ALL races/religions/cultures and therefore the majority should not suffer due to its actions nor be blacklisted. So much hate in this world.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 0

  • boy an62:

    I was born at Chinatown and mixed around with chinese community for 17 years.I Play,eat and sometimes sleep at thier place.I don’t see anything wrong.Even till now with chinese friends. why must he said that muslim and non muslim never sit one table.BUT TO LET MY RELIGION GO LOOSE THAT’S OUT OF MY MIND!!!!!! Remember the sentence POLITICS AND RELIGIONS CANNOT MIXED? But why bring this religion in the book? WHY WHY WHY????

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 42 Thumb down 0

  • neontetra:

    I think they purposely choose the controversial few lines for publicity only leh~~~ lol no need to overreact too much yaaaa lol

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 25

  • 超级白:

    If any opposition is going to bring out this topics in the next GE, he/she will be a neighbor of Mat Selamat in Whitley the next day!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 2

  • Needle:

    @Halal Non Halal
    “if so difficult to integrate with halal and non halal section, then just make it all halal. Thats integration. Non Muslims dont mind eating halal food and Muslims CANNOT eat non halal food, so give face and make life easy.”

    HAHA! TELL THAT TO THE 100s OF CHINESE LINING UP IN CHINATOWN FOR BBQ PORK RIGHT NOW. IF U ASK CHINESE TO STOP EATING PORK AND EAT HALAL…. THEN U WILL REALLY SEE WHAT A RACIAL RIOT IS!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 18

  • The Minority:

    When a person make that kind of remark, how cam you see it in a perspective way? If a person make a remark like, “I’ve to say this candidly…The reason you’re ugly is because yr mom married to someone that is ugly..” So do I have to take this remark rationally & look at it perspectively…No What!!!! Definitely I’ll be hurt & really punch that face..There’s a saying, the tongue is sharper than the knife…So I guess this is what happen now. It does hurt to hear this from a former PM to SM to MM (Dunno what title comes next if he still alive for another 10 yrs.) I’m married to another race & both of our family are integrating well.. CNY reunion dinner WooHoo love it :) If we as the common people can believe in ourselves as a multi-racial society, does he believe in that. Well with that kind of remark, I really don’t know. With that kind of remark, he sounds like a person that don’t believe in it’s own product…Well there goes my wish to be part of the National Day parade….Sad…Really sad :(

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 0

  • Fair:

    I don’t usually agree with the government policies or LKY but this time I find what LKY said is very true.

    20 years ago, you won’t see such a things as different sections for malays or even 100% halal food court which is sprouting everywhere now.

    Why should we chinese, indians and other races be giving face? It sounds to me like we are selling out our culture, bending over backwards to appease rather than giving face. Halal foodcourt restrict our choice and should not be given a license to operate.

    I still remember last year example of Macdonald remove the year of the pig toy from their meals. That shows how fragmented our society really is. The government should really work to remove all these artificial barries and separation to better integrate all races here.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 21

  • Guy:

    @Needle

    @Halal Non Halal
    “if so difficult to integrate with halal and non halal section, then just make it all halal. Thats integration. Non Muslims dont mind eating halal food and Muslims CANNOT eat non halal food, so give face and make life easy.”

    HAHA! TELL THAT TO THE 100s OF CHINESE LINING UP IN CHINATOWN FOR BBQ PORK RIGHT NOW. IF U ASK CHINESE TO STOP EATING PORK AND EAT HALAL…. THEN U WILL REALLY SEE WHAT A RACIAL RIOT IS!

    Dude they are talking about those stalls in Schools such as Universities etc! Muslims don’t mind if u wanna eat bakkwa or pork intestine at home or coffee shop wif ur family/friends! Just that it will be more preferable to have chinese/indian-cuisines that are HALAL in schools! wouldn’t that that more racially harmonious? i mean c’mon, as a non-muslim myself, i wont die without pork when im in school. i can always go out and have my favourite bak kut teh at coffee shops!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 2

  • ADAMONE:

    The way I see it this issue boils down to one factor.When you have a MONARCHY all subjects are force to accept the religion of the day.

    There was Hinduism before the ArabMuslims convert the Sultans since than malays in Malaya are synonymous with muslims.

    Muslims are followers of Islam and not a RACE

    Malays are indigenous to the malay Archipelago/Nusantara that encompass Malaysia/Indonesia/Philipines and part of Thailand.

    Each has its own language culture and religion.It is only in Malaysia/Singapore where the prefix malay is emphasized that all these problems arises.

    We are the children of GOD for believers or children of the UNIVERSE for others and we BELONG to the HUMAN RACE “PERIOD” AMEN

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2

  • Master Tactician:

    He is one smart guy. He got DR M to respond. That alone will swing many to his side. And he can then continue with his import of PRCs more easily. That’s the master politician at work, albeit a crooked one.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

  • Irrelevant:

    I'm Not a Racist: Lets the put it in perspective:First he says intermarriage is an issue.Then, his daughter wanted to marry outside his race but he objected.So who is the hypocrite now.Muslims have never objected marrying someone outside their race.Second, he mentions integration.Till today, Malays are never trusted to hold sensitive appointments in Navy, Air Force and even some units of the army.It goes to show that even before that person shows his disloyalty, he is presumed to be a traitor. Such wonderful startegies he has built to integrate his citizens.Also in the past Malays who went to tertiary education were not called up for NS. They waited and waited and waited. But when they finally gave up waiting and applied for a job, the employer would tell them ‘Sorry, you gotta serve NS first.’Now how cruel can that be? A social strategy to purposely supress the cream of the race. Disingenious.This final example takes the cake cos after years of conditioning, the populace finally got the message from the top:YES GO AHEAD AND DISCRIMINATEAnd they came out from the closet throwing out the banner:MANDARIN SPEAKING CANDIDATES PREFFEREDEven for jobs that don’t require so.Will they deny that it is happening? Of course. But the fact that they will not expose even a handful indicates how much they are encouraging it.The most efficient civil service in the world cannot even catch ONE discriminating comnpany?So where is the lie here?

    You don’t understand business from wat I read.
    He who pays the piper calls the tune. Right?
    Like you, you can with your own money choose to buy nme rebus from ANY food stall. right?
    Secondly, the private sector is colour blind.
    The bottom line is PROFIT.
    Why doens’t it employ someone who can bring in the profit instead of some passenger?
    They are not “bumiputra” companies and they are not charity. Right?
    Thirdly, the entire orld is scrambling to learn Chinese because of the China market.
    When someone wants to do Malay or Tamil or Russian and say please employ me over the Mandarin speaker then something must be very wrong. Right?
    All things being EQUAL, even you as an employer will choose a Mandarin speaker.
    Current language skills. Right?
    Unless I have some Russian customers then Russian will be right.
    Change is the only constant.
    Change to Mandarin for easy employment.
    That’s what the market wants especially when China is going to be the world’s number 1 economy!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 7

  • Tan Kok Tim:

    I would like to share the following which I posted in ST Online Forum:

    I refer to “We have no problem integrating, says young Muslim” in ST, 28 Jan 2011.

    Well said too that, “Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions are distinct and separate but this is because we hold different beliefs.”

    Will the differences be lowered to a level that one day it will bring unity to the human race or will it tear things further apart?

    No particular religion, sect or denomination, even those within and among their own ranks, could unite all if their differences remain so wide and beyond anyone able to reach reconciliation to arrive at a Common purpose.

    On judging food and many other things by humans, are humans given the right to ‘judge’?

    Should humans eat pork, beef or just vegetables?

    Who decided this for mankind, say from the outset of mankind’s appearance on earth, and therefore from the beginning of time?

    Have humans sat back and question this?

    Did our ancient ancestors [of everyone, of every race], say 50,000 to 100,000 years ago before the appearance of the following modern religions or before the spread of each religion to reach each country across vast oceans, eat meat, like pork, beef or just vegetables?

    I just refer to three major religions below, and wish to make it clear that it is not aimed at any particular religion or belief as it is universal, general and more so applicable to all mankind:

    A] Hinduism started in The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) during the Bronze Age civilisation [3300–1300 BCE].
    Question is: did their ancestors eat beef well before the founding of the Indus Valley Civilisation and prior to their people becoming Hindus?

    B] Buddhism started in the 6th century BCE starting with the birth of Buddha.
    Question is: did their ancestors eat meat well before the birth of Buddha and prior to their people becoming Buddhists, not eating meat but only vegetables?

    C] Did the ancient ancestors of Muslims eat pork? According to the traditionalist view, the Qur’an began with revelations on Muhammad’s divine revelations in AD610.
    Question is: did their ancestors eat pork well before AD610 prior to their people becoming Muslims?

    Mankind must ask by using their intellect wisely, why the above three religions did not start from the beginning of time since many in this contemporary modern world believe it was the Creator God’s wish to tell humans not to eat this or that, like not to eat pork, or beef, or just eat vegetables?

    Why should the Creator God reveal only recently {over the past few thousand years} for mankind not to eat pork, not to eat beef, or just eat vegetables?

    Did the Creator God reveal this only recently {in this contemporary age} because it was acceptable for our ancestors to eat all these foods then but not for us, now?

    Could we accept that our ancient ancestors, say 200,000 years ago, did eat pork, beef and that few of them were vegetarians but were meat eaters?

    I believe true history and the Truths would be revealed to shake up everyone in this modern age to their core to know what our ancient ancestors really did, or ate, or what they were not allowed to eat.

    On pork, pigs were considered dirty by many people.

    Modern man {not those back in the AD} should check whether commercial pig farms today are clean, and not dirty, and the pigs are fed not on swill but on clean bran, etc.

    On top of that, modern man should check whether pigs {today’s world and not back in the AD} are checked for diseases and stamped/certified at the abattoir to be in good condition for sale in the market and are fit for human consumption.

    Humans must wake up to what is the Truth, and what is man-made truth.
    Please enjoy whatever you eat, or told to eat, or given to eat.

    Well, I like to eat with lots of Gratitude that could stir my soul to its deepest depth to bring up the joy of the Creator’s blessings, yearning back to the beginning, to the Origin, to the first bud of spring, and to the first seeds that took roots {not today, but far back in ancient times}.

    Rainy seasons in many places. At least please acknowledge and accept that no rain, no sun, so no food. Be blessed, always.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3

  • What rubbish!!!:

    Loyal Singaporan: MM Lee Kuan Yew may be a lot of things..but he is not senile. look at what he’s done for singapore. that cannot be denied. look at how he’s transformed this kampong island into a world-class city state. some people comment that muslims are not given top notch army and military positions. look at the track record. there are cases of muslim extremists even within the army! no other religion or race displays tis kind of fanaticism. so, MM Leecertainly has a point. he has put the message across in an extrememly diplomatic and sensitive manner. reason with him. see his side of the story. and one more thing. muslims and enjoytheir own customs and practices. but isn’t it downright selfish to ask the non-muslims to eat halal food only? we have the right to enjoy non-halal food. think about this, this country does not revolve around one particular race, be it chinese, indian or malay.

    Could the Hindus or Buddhist take beef, could the vegetarian Taoist monks take meat, could the Jews take other than kosher meal, could a diabetic take sugary stuff, so what is all this quarrel about dietary requirements based on religious beliefs or health reasons. I as a Muslim could sit right next to a guy enjoying his bak kut teh while I enjoy my nasi padang, no problem with that. Is it a problem with you?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 0

  • Mushroom:

    I’m Chinese Singaporean and I don’t mind according the Malays the extra consideration and respect. After all, they are truer Singaporeans than the other major races can claim to be. Besides, I often find Malays to be good-natured people (often much more so than my fellow Chinese Singaporeans) in spite of all that hoo-ha about halal and nonhalal. If we can even have Italian or Japanese restaurants in Singapore, what’s wrong with having halal restaurants especially when it shows the extent Singaporeans can go to accommodate one another? And by all means, non-Malays can still enjoy their pork at home! Peace.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 2

  • MdOne13:

    When we were ask whether we want to buy the books “Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going” in the army… Everyone start cursing the writer… It just awesome!
    Currently most hated!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2

  • Hard Truth facing politicians:

    Hard Truth is that President Mubarak is under siege and still refuses to throw in his towel.

    Many humans and their leaders do not believe that the invisible realm exists, and some do not respect the Unseen, and yet many readily and easily believe in the words of politicians for decades.

    This is the fundamental flaws and contradiction of humans.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

  • Wayang Wayang:

    now now, unless he step down soon, if not our neighbor would definitely feel offended and may result in something undesirable, after the recent spade of our politician gossip about out neighbor and our neighbor neighbor.

    old man, time to give up your seat. you have sit on it for too long you have lost your mind and utter rubbish. another worst situation for sitting too long on the same seat will result in constipation and pile.

    vote for change vote out the pap

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1

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