Selamat Hari Raya Haji or Salam Aidiladha to our Muslim friends here and abroad!
Today marks the end of the Haj (pilgrimage), one of the five pillars of Islam. Millions of Muslims have gathered in the holy city of Mecca. Unfortunately, this year Saudi Arabia accepted fewer pilgrims, as it is redeveloping the area around two Holy Mosques. Singapore’s Haj quota was also reduced, even though I wrote to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to request more places. I hope that those who were unable to go this year will get the chance to do so before too long.
Muslims also perform the Korban (sacrifice) today, to celebrate Prophet Ibrahim’s faith in God. Min Yaacob Ibrahim and I were initially quite worried that our Korban ritual might be affected by Australia’s stringent new regulations on live sheep exports. Fortunately 16 mosques passed the Australian audits, and were able to import 2,500 sheep for the ceremony.
When I met Australian PM Julia Gillard in Canberra recently, I thanked her for her government’s help on this matter. She told me that her government wants to continue exporting live animals. But I know that Australian animal welfare groups are pressing strongly to ban live exports completely, as New Zealand has done. We should be prepared for this possibility, and work out alternative arrangements in future.
I wish all Muslims well during this holy day. – LHL
Salam Aidiladha kepada semua umat Islam Singapura!
Semasa musim haji ini, jutaan umat Islam dari seluruh dunia berkumpul di kota suci Mekah. Malangnya, tahun ini, kerajaan Arab Saudi menghadkan bilangan jemaah dari luar negara kerana projek pembangunan semula di kawasan Tanah Suci. Kuota haji Singapura juga turut terjejas, walaupun saya telah menulis kepada Putera Mahkota Arab Saudi untuk merayu kuota tambahan. Saya berharap bahawa mereka yang tidak dapat menunaikan haji mereka tahun ini akan mendapat peluang untuk berbuat demikian tidak lama lagi.
Hari ini juga umat Islam mengerjakan korban untuk memperingati ketaatan Nabi Ibrahim kepada Tuhan. Saya dan Menteri Yaacob Ibrahim pada mulanya khuatir ibadah korban akan terjejas tahun ini sempena peraturan pemerintah Australia yang lebih ketat ke atas eksport binatang. Mujurlah, 16 masjid lulus pemeriksaan audit Australia dan berjaya mengimport 2,500 ekor kambing untuk dikorbankan.
Ketika bertemu PM Australia Julia Gillard di Canberra baru-baru ini, saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada beliau atas bantuan pemerintah beliau mengenai perkara ini. Dia memberitahu saya bahawa pemerintah Australia mahu terus mengeksport ternakan hidup. Namun, saya tahu bahawa kumpulan-kumpulan hak asasi haiwan telah menggesa pemerintah Australia supaya mengharam sepenuhnya eksport ternakan hidup seperti apa yang dilakukan oleh New Zealand. Kita perlu bersedia menghadapi kemungkinan ini dan mencari alternatif jika ia berlaku.
Saya ingin mengucapkan yang terbaik bagi semua umat Islam pada hari suci ini. – LHL
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