Some 80 corals that had been illegally imported into Singapore has been seized, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint statement on Monday (April 3).

They had been imported from the Philippines, and were falsely declared as “plastic aquarium ornaments”.

The corals, which included 75 hard corals and five soft corals, were picked up at the importers premises, where they had been wrapped in plastic bags lined with paper, and conceals in ceramic mugs.

They are now under the care of Resorts World Sentosa while the case is investigated.

According to AVA, hard corals are a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Singapore is a signatory. Therefore, CITES permits are required for the import, export or re-export of CITES species, including their parts and products.

Under the Republic’s Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, offenders can be fined up to $50,000 per scheduled species (not exceeding a maximum aggregate of $500,000). They may also be jailed for up to two years.

Meanwhile, although soft corals are not protected under CITES, they were seized together as they had been falsely declared.

Both agencies stressed that the Government adopts a zero-tolerance stance on the use of Singapore as a conduit to smuggle endangered species.

ICA said that it would continue to conduct checks on cargo, passengers and vehicles at the Republic’s checkpoints, while AVA said that it would continue its efforts to partner local and international enforcement agencies to curb wildlife trafficking.

The authorities also reminded travellers against brining live animals, birds and insects into Singapore without a proper permit.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

A religious teacher who made insensitive comments about Christians and Jews will be sent back to his home country.

Imam Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel Abdul Malik, who is from India, was also fined $4,000, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

On Monday (Apr 3), the 46-year-old was charged with the offence of committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious groups.

“Nalla has paid the fine. He will be repatriated,” MHA said.

Read also: Imam being probed for comments on Christians and Jews

In February, a video emerged online of the imam in which he reportedly uttered a phrase after a sermon that could be interepreted as asking God to grant Muslims victory over Jews and Christians.

“The phrase was and is unacceptable in a multi-racial and multi-religious society,” MHA said, adding that Nalla had admitted in court that the supplication was his own and not taken from the Qu’ran.

The ministry acknowledged that the action against Nalla had been taken with regret, given his diligent work as the Chief Imam at the Jamae Chulia Mosque over the past seven years. “He has not been deliberately malicious. Nevertheless, what he did was wrong. And he has admitted it. Given the nature of the breach, action had to be taken.”

Last Friday, Nalla also apologised for his actions to a group of leaders from various religious groups in a closed-door meeting. He also apologised during a visit to the Maghain Aboth Synagogue along Waterloo Street on Sunday.

Read also: Imam apologises for insensitive remarks, clarifies remarks were not from Qu’ran

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2017-04-03 20:04:16

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Imam who made insensitive remarks to be repatriated

Source:

The Straits Times

Berita Harian

Wise SG

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MHA also stressed that any religious leader from any religion who makes such statements will be held accountable for their actions, and explained that the same principles will apply even if such verses are found in a religious text.

“Under Singapore law, we cannot (regardless of his religion) allow anyone to preach or act divisively and justify that by reference to a religious text,” MHA said.

Commenting on the issue in a Facebook post, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim commended authorities for applying the law firmly and fairly in the best interest of all communities.

“Earlier, I mentioned that there cannot be double standards when we deal with issues that touch on race and religious harmony. Our laws preserve the freedom to practise one’s faith, and protect all communities, regardless of race or religion, from being denigrated,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the individual who shared the video of the imam online, Mr Terence Kenneth John Nunis, was issued with a stern warning for choosing to make the video public instead of reporting the action to the police.

He has apologised for his conduct and undertaken not to repeat it, MHA said.

Another individual connected to the video, National University of Singapore Associate Professor Khairudin Aljunied, was also given a stern warning.

Mr Khairudin had published two Facebook posts supporting the supplication that Nalla had used, which MHA said were contrary to the law.

The academic, who was suspended from his duties by the university on Mar 6, has also apologised.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE – She was a nurse for six years, caring for children and new mothers. Three years ago, Ms Hazel Sim took her love for children one step further by becoming a foster parent.

The 34-year-old, now working in sales, has already cared for three children under the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) fostering scheme. The scheme provides the care arrangement of children aged under 18 who are orphans, victims of abuse, or whose parents are unable to care for them.

Ms Sim’s first foster child had special needs. She cared for the eight-month-old baby till the girl returned to her biological family at the age of four. Ms Sim is currently the foster parent of a five-month-old girl and a two-year-old boy.

She and her husband Jackson Lai, 37, tried to have children of their own but have been unsuccessful. “For our family, we have nothing to lose but for these children, they have everything to gain,” she said.

In this episode of Heroes Among Us, a video series that explores the lives of everyday people who rise above their circumstances, Ms Sim tells her story.

The MSF Fostering Service has helped over 5,500 foster children in the past 60 years. There are currently 420 foster parents caring for 430 children under the scheme.

This article was first published on Apr 03, 2017.
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