Latest news with #Halimah
Online Citizen
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Halimah Yacob: Silence on Gaza crisis encourages violations of humanitarian law
SINGAPORE: Former Singapore president Halimah Yacob has strongly criticised Israel's ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling it a 'humanitarian catastrophe which is getting worse daily'. In a Facebook post published on 23 May 2025, she condemned the inadequate aid flow into the region, stating that only a 'trickle' of supplies was reaching civilians—far below what is required to prevent starvation and mass suffering. Citing United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Halimah highlighted the dire consequences of the blockade, warning that 14,000 babies could die due to lack of food. She added that over 14,000 children have already been killed by the Israel Defense Force (IDF), calling this 'an annihilation of a future generation'. 'Keeping quiet makes us complicit in the violations of international humanitarian laws and encourages similar aggressions elsewhere,' she wrote. 'Our world is all the poorer for it. Uphold humanity.' Halimah has been a consistent advocate for Palestinian rights since the start of the conflict. In March 2025, she condemned Israel's treatment of Palestinians, drawing attention to forced displacements and violations of international norms. In February, she also criticised former US President Donald Trump's remarks suggesting the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza. She labelled the idea a 'clear violation of international laws' and likened it to the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes. Her advocacy reflects growing international concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis has intensified due to the continued conflict and restrictions on aid. On 20 May, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and full resumption of humanitarian aid. 'Singapore has consistently called for all parties in the conflict to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, and ensure that all civilians are kept out of harm's way,' the MFA said. It also emphasised the need to protect civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and medical workers, and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. According to the BBC, 58 hostages remain in Gaza, with up to 23 believed to be alive. The conflict in Gaza escalated sharply on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign, which has since displaced hundreds of thousands and created a severe humanitarian emergency. As of May 2025, Gaza health authorities report that more than 53,400 people have been killed, including at least 17,400 children. In addition, over 121,000 have been injured, with many casualties among civilians. Although a six-week ceasefire occurred earlier this year, Israel imposed a new aid blockade in March, drastically cutting the flow of humanitarian supplies. Since then, at least 57 children have died due to malnutrition, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that this figure is likely an underestimation, and that famine risks are escalating due to deliberate restrictions on aid. Nearly half a million people in Gaza now face catastrophic hunger, while the entire population of 2.1 million suffers prolonged food shortages, illness, and displacement. The WHO described the ongoing situation as one of the world's worst hunger emergencies, unfolding in real time.
Online Citizen
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Faishal Ibrahim condemns Critical Spectator post for downplaying Palestinian suffering
Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim has sharply criticised comments made by the Facebook page Critical Spectator, saying they 'minimise the suffering of Palestinians' and risk fuelling division in Singapore's multicultural society. The senior minister of state issued his statement on 23 May, the same day he was sworn in as a Cabinet member. He expressed deep concern over the remarks made by Critical Spectator, which is run by Polish national Michael Petraeus. The post, published on 23 May, was a response to a Facebook statement by former president Halimah Yacob. In it, Halimah had described Israel's blockade of Gaza as a 'humanitarian catastrophe' and warned that silence in the face of such actions amounted to complicity. Petraeus, commenting via Critical Spectator, responded by accusing Halimah of selective outrage, claiming she had failed to comment on crises in Sudan, Yemen, Libya, or Myanmar. He went as far as to say Halimah was 'complicit in the starvation of 3 million children in Sudan' due to her silence on those matters. Associate Professor Faishal strongly defended Halimah's position and character, calling her 'a deeply respected national figure' whose concerns reflected the compassion and moral courage of many Singaporeans. 'While it is valid to draw attention to suffering in other parts of the world, we should reject any statement that minimises the suffering of Palestinians,' he stated. He also stressed the importance of maintaining unity in Singapore, warning that divisive rhetoric, whether from local or foreign sources, must not be allowed to undermine the mutual respect in society. 'In times like these, we need more understanding, not division,' he wrote. 'We must never allow dismissive or divisive rhetoric to erode the mutual respect and unity we have worked so hard to build.' Prof Faishal reiterated that the Singapore government has consistently advocated for a humanitarian ceasefire, protection of civilian lives, and support for the Palestinian people's right to a homeland. He further noted that many in Singapore's Muslim community and across other communities feel deeply about the ongoing crisis in Gaza and continue to express solidarity with those affected. In the original post by Halimah, she had said: 'Keeping quiet makes us complicit in the violations of international humanitarian laws and encourages similar aggressions elsewhere. Our world is all the poorer for it.' Petraeus took issue with the idea of complicity by silence, arguing that Halimah had not made similar statements about other humanitarian crises. He accused her and global media outlets of prioritising Palestinian suffering over other global tragedies, claiming, 'Out of all of the victims of wars and disasters in this world, they deserve the least of our attention, support or even talk.' Petraeus also contended that the suffering in Gaza was self-inflicted, blaming Palestinian support for Hamas as the root of the crisis. He contrasted this with crises in countries like Sudan and Yemen, where he argued the victims were more clearly innocent. Strong support for Prof Faishal's comments on Critical Spectator In the aftermath of his statement, many Facebook users voiced strong support for Prof Faishal, praising his clarity and calling for action. One commenter wrote, 'Thank you… for your heartfelt and principled stance. We must stand together in humanity, not apart in hostility.' Another added, 'Finally, a voice we've been waiting for. Your voice brings hope and dignity to those suffering.' Several users called for Critical Spectator to be investigated or removed from Singapore's digital sphere, accusing it of foreign interference. Comments such as 'Time for people to report Critical Spectator to the police' and 'Ban Critical Spectator. It is foreign interference' were widely echoed. One user remarked that Petraeus 'should not be allowed to attack a former president in this manner', while others questioned why authorities had yet to take action against the page despite what they viewed as repeated provocations. A considerable number of comments suggested invoking Singapore's Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA), asking the government to classify Critical Spectator as a foreign entity. While some commenters expressed broader geopolitical concerns, many focused on the perceived imbalance in Petraeus' statements. One individual stated, 'Whataboutism is a logical fallacy. Expressing concern for Gaza does not mean ignoring Sudan, Yemen or Myanmar.' The reaction also included calls for the Singapore government to examine its economic and diplomatic links with Israel, questioning whether neutrality in policy aligned with moral responsibility. One commenter asked, 'How much have we invested in Israel's war economy while offering humanitarian aid to Palestinians?' Other users applauded Prof Faishal's leadership. 'You are truly a great leader for our Muslim community… Your firm stand is very much welcomed,' read one post. Another said, 'Thank you for taking a stand. I'm proud to have you as my MP.' Some, however, urged the government to match words with action. 'Speaking without action is nothing,' one commenter noted, while another asked for parliamentary scrutiny of the matter.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Seniors should initiate legacy planning to provide clarity for loved ones: Former Singapore president Halimah
SINGAPORE: The number of seniors is increasing in Singapore, but many still have not made plans for when they die, said former president Halimah Yacob, urging them to initiate such discussions. It is important to do so to make the process easier for loved ones and grieving children when the time comes, she said on Saturday (May 17). Recognising that legacy planning is a sensitive topic, Halimah said that the younger generation may not have the courage to broach the topic of death. 'Conveying our last wishes, or communicating to our loved ones our preferences regarding funeral rites and religious traditions, is critical so that they have clarity,' she said, speaking at a symposium on legacy planning by the Silver Caregivers Cooperative. It will make things easier for our loved ones when they know our wishes, so they are spared from confusion and everyone has peace of mind, she added. Halimah said that like many, she has thought about legacy planning for a long time, but has not taken the first step to start. 'I'm 71 years old now, so I think I should do something about it,' said the mother of five. Legacy planning includes estate and asset distribution plans, drafting a will, making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to ensure a trusted person can take charge if one loses mental capacity, and discussing advance care plans to settle preferences for medical care. Digital assets – like financial accounts, e-mail, social media, online business accounts and tech devices – are increasingly being discussed in wills and end-of-life documentation. Some law firms have seen a significant increase in queries from people asking about cryptocurrencies or other types of digital assets like non-fungible tokens. The symposium, held at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar, was attended by around 120 people who signed up to learn more about legacy planning. Associate Professor Thang Leng Leng from the National University of Singapore, who spoke during a presentation at the event, said that beyond asset distribution, legacy planning also includes values, wishes and preferences. This includes how you want to be taken care of if you need long-term care, funeral arrangements, and passing down family values and traditions. Prof Thang said that one thing she regrets is not asking for family recipes from her grandfather, who cooked Hakka dishes. 'I am no longer able to taste that special food from my grandfather,' she said. Another speaker, Dr Adeline Lam, a senior consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, spoke about the importance of establishing advance care plans. Advance care planning allows people to discuss their medical treatment preferences in advance, and enables them to designate someone to decide on medical care for them if they become mentally incapacitated. This helps to circumvent conflict when differences of opinion arise between family members regarding medical treatment for a loved one, she said. 'Having conversations and letting your family know your wishes so that they know what to do is important, so the burden of guilt is not there. They know that 'This is what mum wants', for example,' she said. Lawyer Norhakim Md Shah urged the audience to make an LPA. He said the process to be appointed as a deputy under the Mental Capacity Act takes a long time. This process is initiated when a person loses mental capacity and does not have an LPA for a trusted person to make decisions on their behalf. 'Doing an LPA cuts short a problem you can foresee. Nobody lives forever, and there are things we can do to help the people around us so that they do not get themselves in a complicated situation just because we have chosen not to do anything to prepare.' The LPA application fee, which is usually S$75, is waived for Singapore citizens until the end of March 2026. - The Straits Times/ANN
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
YAHOO POLL: Are you concerned about deepfakes during GE2025?
Singapore will hold a General Election soon – and it will be the first time the country experiences it in an age where Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is so prevalent in society. While governments embrace the great potential of AI, there's also legitimate concerns over the manufacturing of deepfakes which use deep learning AI to replace the likeness of a person with another in video and other digital media. This week former Singapore President Halimah Yacob revealed her likeness and voice were used in a deepfake video which alleged she made negative statements about the government. 'This is scary how AI is being used to influence voters during this critical period,' Halimah said. Other polls YAHOO POLL: Do you really need $1 million to achieve financial freedom in Singapore? YAHOO POLL: Do you agree that Changi Airport truly is the best in the world? YAHOO POLL: Do you think the US tariff issue will affect your GE2025 voting decision? And in the past, deepfakes of current Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong have also been used by investment scammers. Last year, Singapore passed a Bill to prohibit the publishing of digitally generated or manipulated content that realistically depicts a candidate saying or doing something that he or she did not. The new law will apply from the issuance of the Writ to the close of polling on Polling Day. The Writ of Election was issued for GE2025 on 15 April with Polling Day set for 3 May. So we want to know from you: Are you concerned about deepfakes during GE2025? Related Ex-Singapore president Halimah Yacob to file police report over deepfake video Singapore's new law bans digitally manipulated content during elections What is a deepfake? Everything you need to know about the AI-powered fake media Singapore to hold general election on 3 May
South China Morning Post
15-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Singapore ex-president Halimah Yacob files police report over anti-government deepfake video
Singapore's former president Halimah Yacob has filed a police report over what she says is a deepfake video of her making negative comments about the government, as the city state gears up for a hotly contested general election. Advertisement In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Halimah, who stepped down from her post and did not seek re-election in 2023, said the clip was completely false. 'It's a deepfake with even my voice being used! This is scary how AI is being used to influence voters during this critical period,' she said, without sharing the video to avoid it being circulated. With Singapore heading into an election expected to be held in early May, Halimah urged for decorum, decency and fairness for all sides of the political divide. 'Fight on the basis of the strength of your vision and the strength of your candidates and their ability to see that vision through. Don't resort to dirty tactics like this. Advertisement 'After [the general election], we still have our people and their future to think of. It's not a one-off boxing match,' said Halimah, who was formerly from the ruling People's Action Party and the Speaker of Parliament.
