Reference

His role to forge a Singapore Muslim identity has helped the community to thrive in a multi-religious, modern and cosmopolitan Singapore. — Tariq Ramadan, Professor of Contemporary Islamic, Studies, Oxford University, UK. Mufti Syed Isa has played a very significant role in providing, leadership and inspiration in enhancing the bond of relationship, among the many faith communities for the greater good of Singapore, and beyond. — Retired Revd Dr John Chew, Bishop of Singapore. Syed Isa Semait worked as a typist, welder, bookseller and marriage registrar before being appointed Mufti of Singapore in 1972 at the age of 33. He soon found his decisions aimed at improving the religious life of Singapore’s Muslim community challenged by many. Some called him a government lackey. But backed by his peers and older religious leaders, he persevered and gradually won the hearts and minds of many Muslim Singaporeans round to what he was convinced was the best way for them to organise their religious affairs in the midst of rapid development. Keeping the Faith tells the story of Syed Isa, the Mufti of Singapore for almost40 years, and how with his guidance, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis, or Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura) oversaw improvements to the collection and administration of zakat or tithes, the fixing of Islamic calendar dates, the administration of wakaf or endowments, and the revamping of religious education to keep up with changing times. By the time he stepped down from the post of Mufti at the end of 2010, Syed Isa had helped see to a more confident and progressive Muslim community that was no less religious but more conscious of the role it could play in a cosmopolitan, multi-religious Singapore. As an active member of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Syed Isa also led the way in fostering friendships with leaders of the various faiths in Singapore.
Keeping the Faith shows how Syed Isa applied his knowledge and convictions to help shape what he believed would lead to the best outcomes for his community.

CLOSE WATCH documents Singapore's efforts in countering the threat of terrorism since the country was stunned by the arrests of several Jemaah Islamiyah members here following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States.
This book details what goes on behind the scenes as the authorities endeavour to keep the country safe from terrorist attacks. The whole-of-government approach to the threat is augmented by contributions from a cross-section of society, from the private sector to religious organisations and members of the public. Together, their collective vigilance is a testimony to the whole-of-nation effort in keeping our home safe.

AUTHOR
Ben Nadarajan has been a journalist with The Straits Times for 10 years and has won several in-house and international awards for his work. He likes writing about crime, security and legal issues, although he has dabbled in science, environmental and foreign affairs stories as well. He grew up wanting to write fiction, but ended up writing non-fiction instead.

After more than four decades of independence, Singapore has built up a significant corpus of norms, principles and experiences that form the bedrock of its foreign policy. Many of these milestone events and watershed moments in MFA's history are known only to a handful of ministers and officials. There is a need to always remember the fundamentals of our key foreign policy interests. In Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience, Prof S Jayakumar records his reflections on selected episodes and events where he was involved as Minister or as Permanent Representative to the UN. They illustrate how Singapore created diplomatic and economic space for itself, and its proactive diplomacy in the UN and ASEAN. The author also recounts Singapore's responses to moves by other countries that were inimical to its national interests, resolving disputes in an amicable manner through third party settlement, now an important feature of Singapore's foreign policy. Included are episodes in bilateral relations with Malaysia, Indonesia and China which demonstrate that such relations must be on the basis of equals respecting each other's soverign status, and also in compliance with international law and international agreements.

Foreign Maids - The Complete Handbook For Employers And Maid Agencies by Chew Kim Whatt is the answer to the Ministry of Manpower's effort to instil in employers how we should treat maids as workers and human beings.

Foreign Maids is a one-stop reference that offers fresh approaches for employers, employment agencies, embassies and social workers. It offers practical tips and shows you the way to smooth maid agency, employer and domestic worker relationships, and eliminates unnecessary confusion and misunderstanding.

This book gives you insights on how to treat this addition to your household, to achieve the same level of efficiency in her as you would desire when hiring and managing an employee in your company. Some of the highlights are :

• Do you understand your maid's cultural values?
• Why hire a transfer maid/new maid?
• Get the job description right
• Ma'am, what's my work every day?
• Training for performance
• Work Permit procedures, guidelines and sample forms
• Maid abuse