Smg Newsletter

:m o m e n t s smguae.blogspot.com | June-Dec 2008

PLUS:

SMG President's address | Pictures - Malam Mesra Raya & Bowling Day | Event Briefs | Poetry

Contents REGULARS 02

EDITOR'S LETTER Open up to a new era

03

SMG PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS What lies ahead for SMG

FEATURES 04

SNAPSHOTS - MALAM MESRA RAYA Glam nite!

05

BRIEFS Never miss a minute of SMG's past events

06

SNAPSHOTS - S'PORE FAMILY BOWLING DAY Be bowled away..

SPECIALS 10

POETRY Takkan Melayuku hilang di Dubai!

Changing for the Better

Change is definitely not a bad thing after

convert the issue from just a two-page e-

all. Barack Obama, the new US President-

newsletter

elect, got his throne by harping on that

magazine, and promise to include more

ideology,

editorial content, pictures, interviews all in a

beating

political

heavyweight

Hillary Clinton and rival John McCain, with

into

a

full-fledge

online

new, fresh and updated layout.

the latter’s loss being blamed on several key blunders, the most significant being his

As this is a complete revamp, I implore you

inability to shake off his association with

readers to be merciful in your criticisms,

George Bush. Obama promised, among

and be patient while my team and I fine-

others, to change how the US views its

tune every aspect of the magazine over

foreign

the

the coming months. At the same time, I

country’s existing tax structures to create a

would also like to invite all the budding

better living environment for all its residents.

writers and photographers out there to

policies,

and

to

revamp

send me your articles/photos. As I have

Mohamed Hairul Borhan Editor in Chief

Although not on the same scale as what

mentioned before, change is definitely not

Obama promised, I would also like to

a bad thing, but in order to change to

announce some changes to the SMG

happen, I need all of your support.

newsletter. First off, with so much editorial content bursting to be included into each

Till then, enjoy the magazine, and feel free

issue of the newsletter, I have decided to

to contact me at [email protected]

President's Address

Together hand in hand celebration of Hari Raya (Eid Fitri) in a

capacity as the President of SMG. Mr

foreign land.

Nair being himself gave a warm reception and we had over an hour

(UAE)

the

United

Arab

a

Happy

and

Prosperous New Year. This written message is the first that I am

writing

as

President

of

the

Singapore Muslim Group (SMG) and it gives

me

a

window

to

aspiration of the Consul General, for

warm

SMG

and

convey

feedbacks that I received from fellow our

Consul

General

to be with you during the Malam Mesra Aidil Fitri 08 due to prior family commitment in Singapore and I am glad that the event was a success and met its objectives. A post mortem review reveals that majority enjoyed the event, food was good but the needs

a

more

and

the

committee has been encouraged to organise such similar events in the future where not only will this be a gathering of Singaporeans and other nationalities but also a showcase of the

Malay/Muslim

culture

in

be

an

inclusive

group,

Singaporean

groups

and

communities.

Malay/Muslims

Singaporeans and nationalities.

create a cohesive environment for

their

Singaporean

to

their social integration and after three This brings me back to the Year 2005

(3)

where a group of Singaporeans met

matured and received support within

to initiate SMG initiatives and a get

its own community and thus path the

together function was organised at

way to spread its net wider to be an

Ahmad Fuad’s house. Many who

inclusive

attended were surprised to see so

Singaporeans and nationalities in its

many Singaporean Muslims in the UAE

years

of

existence,

activities.

group,

SMG

roping

has

other

and instantly made new friends and thus felt a sense of relief.

" Initially, SMG was geared towards the Malay/Muslims Singaporean to create a cohesive environment for their social integration... "

of

It is with great regret that I was unable

programme

to

networking and interacting with the

Initially SMG was geared towards the

Nair on the activities of SMG.

innovative

the

we can better integrate with other

Singapore His Excellency Mr Dileep

entertainment

relationship

Muslims in the UAE and, being united

Singaporeans living in the UAE and in particular

close

foster unity amongst the Singaporean

First and foremost let me wish all Emirates

various issues including SMG. It is the

and he was impressed to see the

This is one of the objectives of SMG to

Warahmatullahi

in

European colleague to the function

other

Wabarakatu

Singaporeans

of mutual and frank discussion on

Singaporeans here have in Dubai.

Syed Hasan Alsagoff President Singapore Muslim Group Assalamualaikum

I met a Singaporean who brought his

For

example,

two

This is evident in the November &

Singaporean families who have been

December 2008 activities where SMG

staying in Al Ain for two years and

participated in the sponsoring of the

living not too far apart from each

Family Bowling Day, Asean Soccer

other and neither knows the existence

Invitation and Singapore Family Fun

of each other until they met at the

Day with good support from SMG

function. There has been numerous

members.

such cases and the existence of SMG

with

filled

communities in the UAE.

the

there

vacuum

were

of

these

the

Thus

socially

other

interacting Singaporean

Singaporean families and to some extent

changed

their

life

and

perspective of living in Dubai.

The SMG Committee is thankful to the Consul General of Singapore for his wisdom, understanding and advise to

Recently I had the pleasure of calling

SMG and his encouragement and

on Mr Dileep Nair, Consul General of

support for the social integration of

Singapore with a courtesy visit in my

Singaporeans in the UAE.

03

Snapshots

Briefs

A Colourful Raya Malam Mesra Aidil Fitri - Shangri-La Hotel [October 2008]

Glamorous, stylish and eventful. These are just some of the adjectives that can be used to describe this year’s Eid Fitri gathering. Held at the glitzy Shangri-La Hotel, the event was attended by more than 200 guests, all dressed up to nines in traditional Malay costumes, and all determined to have a good time. And the organisers did not disappoint. Apart from the huge buffet spread serving authentic local Malay dishes and desserts, guests were also entertained by popular Singapore comedian Suhaimi Yusof, flown in exclusively just for the night. His humour, wit and act was received warmly by the audience, who definitely went home with a smile plastered to their faces, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Bowled away Singapore Family Bowling Day - Dubai Bowling Centre [November 2008]

While maybe half of Dubai was just about to wake up from their slumber on a lazy Friday morning, about 100 or so Singaporeans, with their family in tow, braced the morning sunshine and made their way to Al Quoz, all ready to show their bowling prowess at the inaugural Singapore Family Bowling Day. While some came equipped with bowling gears and customised balls, determined to clinch the prizes at stake, others were just there to soak in the carnival-like atmosphere and spend the morning in the excellent company of other Singaporeans. With the event ending at a high, plans are already underway for a second instalment early next year. Keep a lookout for it!

Malam Mesra Aidil Fitri 2008

OCT

NOV Singapore Family Bowling Day

ASEAN Football Tournoi 2008

DEC

DEC ASEAN Business Golf 2008

Singapore Fun Day 2008

DEC

05

Snapshots

Contributions

Aku bangsa Melayu Bangsa Melayu …...

Ramai yang cakep dan berilmu

Aku bangga ngaliran darah mu

Ramai yang ahli dalam ini dan itu

Engkau sopan, manis, pandang tak

Ramai yang menunjuk dan bukan

jemu

peniru

Mesra ikatan hati hati mu Masih kekal walau zaman telah berlalu

Bangsa Melayu …… Kejar, kejar dunia kejar akhirat Mu

Bangsa Melayu …...

Bimbing keluarga, bina masyarakat Mu

Kemana generasi muda akan menuju

Bantu bangsa serta ugama Mu

Dulu, engkau hanya peon, pekebun

Terus usaha, cekal, jangan lesu

dan pemandu

Minta Tuhan, pedoman petunjuk direstu

Dulu, gaji mu hanya ratusan, tak sampai satengah seribu

Bangsa Melayu .........

Nak berkereta tak mampu

Berhati hati jangan lagi mudah tertipu

Nak ke university, tak siapa ambil tahu

Maju jaya, minta diredhai Tuhan Mu

Bila dikenang nasib mu dulu

Moga lulus ujian dicipta dan diwujud,

Hati ini terasa sedih dan pilu

didalam dunia sementara waktu

Bangsa Melayu ……

Bangsa Melayu ..... aku bangsa Melayu

We would love to hear from you! Interested to have your works published here? Send them to me at [email protected] and we'll strive our best to include it in the next issue of the magazine.

Kini engkau ada beza dengan dulu Cerdas, bijak, kurang terbelenggu

07