JUST more than a month after its launch, the Religious Rehabilitation Group's (RRG) website has already caught the attention of international surfers from as far away as Japan and the United States.
And its hit rate based on its IP address amounts to nearly 12,000, with the top five cities being Singapore (1,250), Tokyo (982), California (373), Washington (324) and London (211).
"This reflects that there is an understanding of the need for such a website to counter extremist ideologies … we provide answers to several ideologies of Jemaah Islamiyah and the others," said the group's counsellor and secretariat member Mr Mohd Feisal Mohd Hassan.
The update on the group's progress was made during a break fast session on Friday at Khadijah Mosque, which was also attended by Mr Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs.
The group had also received comments from non-Muslim Singaporeans.
"A Chinese lady wrote in to say that she feels reassured that Muslim Singaporeans are moderate in their outlook," said another RRG member, Mr Mohamed Ali.
When asked of RRG's future plans, he said that the focus would be to engage the youth.
"For the website, this means not only new features, but also not making it seem too academic," added Mr Mohamed.
Apart from maintaining the website, www.rrg.sg, the group also plans to travel to Cairo to engage Singapore's future religious teachers — numbering more than 200 — who are now studying at the Al Azhar University there.
But Mr Mohd Feisal also stressed that it will not steer away from its main focus — rehabilitating JI detainees. Since 2004, the group has engaged in about 800 counselling sessions.
In the latest Ministry of Home Affairs' update in June, five detained JI members were released after cooperating with the Internal Security Department (ISD) and responding positively to rehabilitation.
Mr Mohd Feishal also highlighted the change in attitude of the detainees whom the RRG had counselled.
He said that initially some of the detainees would call them "ustaz hypocrites" but now, they are more willing to come forward to discuss religious issues with the RRG counsellors.
Note : No reproduction or downloading of this article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from TODAY.
The Straits Times - Breaking the fast with messages of harmony
29 September 2007
Ministers join Muslim faithful for meal at 2 mosques
By Oo Gin Lee & Yeo Ghim Lay
HUNDREDS of Muslims gathered at the newly redeveloped Al-Taqua Mosque in Bedok at dusk yesterday for the Iftar, or breaking of the fast.
Joining them was Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who unveiled a plaque to commemorate the re-opening of the 124-year-old mosque.
Also present were about 20 grassroots leaders and residents from the area.
The $1.7 million redevelopment work, which started in December last year and was completed last month, included adding more classrooms. The mosque can now accommodate an 800-strong congregation, twice its previous capacity.
CELEBRATING THE KAMPUNG SPIRIT: Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim (second from right) breaks the fast with hundreds of Muslims at the newly redeveloped Al-Taqua Mosque in Bedok. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Mosque chairman Anwar Yahya said the mosque hails back to 'kampung days'. Although it has a more contemporary look now, much of its rustic design has been preserved.
Still, its new look blends with the neighbourhood.
President of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore Alami Musa's message at the event touched on the interaction between Muslims and those around them.
'We will only be strong in our religious life if we can live as a Muslim who gets along well with others,' he said in a speech marking the occasion.
Lawyer Mohd Muzammil, 57, who has been going to the mosque for more than 20 years, agreed: 'There is a very strong 'kampung' spirit here among the Muslims and residents in the neighbourhood.'
A resident who wanted to be identified only as Madam Seah was seen placing a contribution into a donation box at the mosque.
Speaking in Teochew, she said that residents are invited to drop by the mosque, and they in turn accommodate worshippers who need to park on roads in the area when they go for Friday prayers.
There was similar scene at the Khadijah Mosque in Geylang, where Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng joined more than 90 Muslims to break the fast at a gathering hosted by the mosque and the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG).
Madrasah students and grassroots representatives were present to witness Mr Wong unveil the logo of the RRG, which was set up by a group of religious scholars and teachers who counsel Jemaah Islamiah detainees.
RRG co-chairman Ustaz Ali Mohamed is also chairman of the Khadijah Mosque.
Ahead of the breaking of the fast, the RRG said that its online portal, set up to present correct messages of Islam, received more than 11,000 hits since its launch last month.
Mr Wong attended a similar event on Thursday at the Islamic Centre in Geylang organised by Jamiyah Singapore.
