| The Star | Malaysia | 25 Nov 2016 | Asia Samachar |
Rishiwant from United Sikhs receives Star Golden Hearts Award 2016 – PHOTO / THE STAR
United Sikhs humanitarian aid director Rishiwant Singh Randhawa has always faced many obstacles in his quest to help others in their time of need.
His noble intention to feed Syrian refugees along the Macedonian-Serbian border during a harsh winter earlier this year was misunderstood by some people close to him.
They accused him of feeding “terrorists”, who they claimed would later create havoc in Europe, but Rishiwant did not let their accusations get to him.
“It is impossible to make everybody happy. At that time, all I saw were just women and children who were hungry.
“At the end of the day, the human race is one,” he said, adding that his faith was the only thing that kept him soldiering on.
In April last year, Rishiwant had organised the Good Will Walk from Kampung Wang Kerian in Perlis to the Gurdwara Sahib Malacca, to raise funds for the Kelantan flood victims, Nepal earthquake disaster fund and the poor in Malaysia.
In spite of funding problems and negative comments from some people around him, Rishiwant was adamant to keep serving others for as long as he could.
“You can’t let anything hold you back when you are helping others,” he said.
He was one of 10 award recipients of the Star Golden Hearts Award 2016, acknowledged by the Star Media Group for their role in building bridges between different communities as well as promoting racial harmony and unity.
The award, handed out by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, was in recognition of noble deeds and efforts to help others – regardless of race and background.
Each award winner received a trophy and RM3,000 cash during the ceremony.
Other recipients were Marie Christie Robert, Kong Lan Lee, Shalini Yeap May Hwa and Afred Samuel Mariyas, Jerryson Abraham Gnanaraj Doss and Edna Sung Burongoh, Khairuddin Abd Aziz, Dr Rusaslina Idrus, Mohd Yusuf Rohani, Saari Mohd Nor and Low Kock Seong, and Tan Chin Leong.
Ecoworld Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who led the panel of judges for the award, said they received over 100 nominations for the awards.
Also present at the ceremony were Star Media Group Chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, Star Media Group CEO Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and Gamuda Engineering managing director Datuk Ubull Din Om.
Original article, In keeping bellies full, ‘Rishiwant warms the heart’ (The Star, 25 Nov 2106), go here
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Asia Samachar | Entry: 25 Nov 2016, 20:35 | Source: Family
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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Prabhmeet Kaur and Balpreet Kaur Purba are amongst the latest batch of fresh Sikh graduates in Singapore.
They caught the attention Singapore’s Manpower Ministry.
They were among young graduates who are proactive in charting their career journey, pursue their passions, widen their experiences in and outside of school, and to stay positive in the midst of uncertain times.
Prabhmeet and Balpreet were among the four dozen fresh Sikh graduates who were feted at the Sikh Graduates Tea Reception 2016 organised by the Young Sikh Association, Singapore (YSA) and the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board’s Sikh Centre in October 2016.
Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say was the guest of honour.
Their stories were featured at the ministry’s Facebook page (See: Grabbing opportunities or waiting it out? 10 Oct 2016).
“I plan to major in political sciences, so that I can advocate for important issues and causes in my future career.
It is important for me to gain more experience beyond my academic qualifications, which will equip me with relevant skills for my future career. I believe I can achieve this by undertaking internships and volunteering, as well as attending dialogue sessions.”
– Ms Prabhmeet Kaur, who graduated with a diploma in mass media and is now studying social sciences at a university, feels that there are many opportunities for students to gain work-related skills while studying.
“I am currently pursuing another qualification in accounting while working in audit at the same time. I have been going for night classes at a private institution, so that I can better understand the concepts needed to become a full-fledged accountant in the future.
I am also looking to apply for courses using my SkillsFuture credits, as these courses value-add to my academic education and allows me to improve myself in other areas which would better prepare me for the working world.”
– Ms Balpreet Kaur Purba, a graduate in Sports Science and Management, who is also pursuing another qualification in accounting.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
Asia Samachar | Entry: 26 Nov 2016, 19:45 | Source: Family
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Guru Nanak Sahib, son of (Mata) Tripta and (Baba) Kalyan Das (son of Baba Shiv Narayan and grandson of Baba Ram Narayan Bedi, was born on 20 October 1469 (Julian Calendar), at village Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi (now Naanakana Sahib).
Another date (15 April 1469) has also been mentioned by some writers as Guru’s birth date. This mistake occurred due to distortion by Mehrban (who wrote a biography of Guru Nanak suiting to his planning to establish himself in the Sikh world).
Meharban, who had been functioning under the guidance of the Brahmins, who assert that a child born in Katak month of Bikrami calender (October-November of Julian/ Gregorian calendar or Common Era/ C.E.) is in-auspicious; hence he changed the date of birth of Guru Nanak.
The date 15 April 1469 has been accepted by those who have followed Janamsakhi Meharban Wali. Well known writer Karam Singh Historian too accepted the Visakh (April) date. Karam Singh, in his book Katak Ke Visakh, rejected the authenticity of the book Bhai Bale Wali Janamsakhi and proved that it (book) was the work of the descendants of Handal (of Jandiala, district Amritsar), who wanted to present Handal as superior to Guru Nanak.
Hitorian Karam Singh totally rejected this ‘Janamsakhi’ and with this he rejected even the date of the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib. But, Karam Singh made a mistake; he accepted Meharban’s date of birth of Guru Nanak without analysing it. (Meharban’s Janamsakhi is the basis of the rest of the Janamsakhis, i.e. Bhai Mani Singh Wali Janamsakhi (in fact written by Surat Singh Nirmala), Puratan Janamakhi, Wilayat Wali Janamsakhi etc).
Was Guru Nank’s birth anniversary ever celebrated on April 15th?
This is another big gossip that before 18th century Guru Nanak’s birthday was celebrated in April and it was Sant Singh Giani priest who changed the date to October. It is very funny. It was Sant Singh’s father Surat Singh Nirmala (who wrote a Janamsakhi in the name of Bhai Mani Singh) who tried to establish the date of Visakh. There is not a single instant of Guru’s birthday being celebrated in April. Not a single source mentions it, whereas there are at least three major instances mentioning that Guru Hargobind and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib celebrated Guru Nanak’s birthday on the Pooranmashi of Katalk (on the basis of 20 October 1469). These include: Bhai Gurdas, 1630s (Kabit no. 345); Guru Kian Sakhian, 1790, by Swarup Singh Kaushish; Sakhi Pothi, 1726 (unknown author), Kesar Singh Chhiber, 1780, Bansavalinama Dasan Patsahina Da; Gulab Singh Nirmala, 1753, Guru Parnali; Sant Singh Chhhiber, early 19th Century, Janamsakhi Baba Nanak; Ram Sukh Rao, c. 1820s, Jassa Singh Binod & Sri Fateh Singh Partap Parbhakar, Santokh Singh, 1832, Nanak Parkash; Gulab Singh IInd, 1851, Gurparnali; Nihal Singh – Gurmukh Singh, 1890, Khursheed Khalsa; Sondha Kavi, end of 18h century, Guru Bansavali; Tara Singh Narotam, 1884, Gur Teerath Sangrah, J.D. Cunningam, 1848, History of the Sikhs and several others. (For analytical study of this issue, read the book Nanakshahi Calender, 2010, by Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer).
Other distortions by Meharban
Only Meharban has written that Guru Nanak was born at Chahal, at the residence of his maternal grandfather (Nana in Punjabi), hence his name Nanak; and Meharban further says that Guru Nanak spent first seven years of his life at Chahal;, all other writers accept that he was born at Talwandi (now Nanakana Sahib). It is remarkable that several places of Nanakana Sahib are associated with Guru Nanak’s childhood whereas there is not a single such place at Chahal village. It seems that all the wrong traditions about Guru Nanak had been started by Meharban in his Janamsakhi; including his date (Visakh) and place (Chahal) of birth and date of death (22.9.1539 instead of 7.9.1539) etc. Meharban shows Guru Nanak wearing Janeo and various other distortions go to his credit.
How many years did Guru Nanak live in the world?
Those writers who have tried to establish the date of 15th April, they have also propagated that Guru Nanak lived in this world for 70 years 5 months and 10 days, whereas the truth is that, he lived in this world for 69 years 10 months and 19 days (in calculations of different writers there is difference of a few days).
Why did Meharban do so?
Meharban (son of Pirthi Chand, and grandson of Guru Ramdas, who had been rejected as a successor of the Guru) was under the influence of the Brahmins. That is why he wanted to give some special date for the birth of the founder of Sikhism. He chose the mythical date of the beginning of the so-called ‘satyug’ (Golden Age or Age of Truth), which is Akshay Teej (Akshay Tritya, Visakh sudi 3). The Hindus have preached this as the date for the birth of their great gods like Parsu Ram, Nar Narayan, Haygriv (a deity of Vishnu). This date is so pious that the doors of Badri Nath temple are opened on this date. Charity, donations, ritual baths and meditation of this day is considered as most pious. Meharban chose this date so as to preach that the birth of Guru Nanak was the beginning of Satyuga.
For link to the original article in Punjabi (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਅਸਲ ਜਨਮ ਤਾਰੀਖ਼), go here
Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer is the author of the 10-volume Complete History of the Sikhs and Guru Granth Sahib translation in English (7 volumes)
This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of the Asia Samachar.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
| The Malay Mail | Malaysia | 27 Nov 2016 | Asia Samachar |
ABOUT 40 members attended the Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veterans Association (MAFSVA) inaugural meeting for its Perak branch on 20 Nov 2016. MFSVA Perak is led by Cmdr Avatar Singh(Rtd). Among those present at the dinner were association Maj (Rtd) Baghwan Singh (deputy president), Maj (Rtd) Suwaran Singh (secretary), Maj (Rtd) Harwan Singh (treasurer), Battle of Kampar Chairman Maj (Rtd) Tara Singh and Lt-Col (Rtd) Mohan Singh (vice president). – PHOTO / SUPPLIED
By Loghun Kumaran
THE spirit of service has burned brightly in Major (Rtd) Baldev Singh Ganda Singh since he first joined the ranks at the age of 21.
The Taiping born army veteran is the president of the Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veterans Association (MAFSVA), an organisation devoted to improving the welfare of Sikh ex-servicemen who served the nation.
In his own words, he has served all over Malaysia as one of the Royal Logistics Corps in a career that spanned 18 years.
Decades later, the 70-year-old is still devoted to service — this time in the form of helping and honouring former servicemen from the Sikh community.
Mixing spryness with humility and humour, Baldev spoke to Malay Mail at the first social gathering of the Perak chapter. He recalled that the idea of setting up the association was met with unanimous approval from his ex-serviceman colleagues.
“They were very supportive, no questions asked. Esprit de corps still runs through our blood because we all went through the same hardships together. We are a band of soldiers and we believe in helping our fellow veterans,” he said.
Many Sikhs have excelled in the ranks of police and the armed forces, and Baldev believes that this is down to the characteristics of their culture. However, he noted that many Sikh veterans were struggling in life even after serving the country with distinction.
“Sikhs are a warrior race, but we don’t wage war on others … we are defenders. It is in our culture to serve the country that we come from. While some veterans are doing well, many are suffering in the background. These are the people we want to help.”
Baldev stressed that it was important for welfare associations to work with other agencies that shared a similar cause.
“It’s not that the government doesn’t take care of them, it’s just that they may not know where to go and how to approach the veterans. This is where we can provide some guidance. Sikhs are a minority within a minority. We need to understand that we are the ones who should be helping out our community.”
ABOUT 40 members attended the Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veterans Association (MAFSVA) inaugural meeting for its Perak branch on 20 Nov 2016. MFSVA Perak is led by Cmdr Avatar Singh(Rtd). Among those present at the dinner were association Maj (Rtd) Baghwan Singh (deputy president), Maj (Rtd) Suwaran Singh (secretary), Maj (Rtd) Harwan Singh (treasurer), Battle of Kampar Chairman Maj (Rtd) Tara Singh and Lt-Col (Rtd) Mohan Singh (vice president).
Despite its young age — it was set up in August — the association has already made a meaningful impact.
It is one of the parties pushing for the recognition and preservation of Green Ridge, a historic World War II battle site in Kampar, Perak as a war memorial.
So far, the association has met with the Indian High Commission and representatives from the Perak government to discuss the project. Further discussions with the tourism ministry is also in the pipeline.
“Besides being a tourist attraction and a heritage site, the war memorial will be a point of national pride,” said Major (Rtd) Tara Singh, the association’s chairman in charge of the “Battle of Kampar” project.
“There is no timeline yet for its completion, but I hope that building will start by the end of next year. We will also be organising a special prayer in conjunction with the battle’s 75th anniversary at the Kampar Gurdwara Sahib on Jan 22,” he said.
From a welfare perspective, the association has provided assistance to three ex-servicemen, including two double amputees and one physical disabled veteran.
In addition, the association also organised funerals with full military honours for two of its members who passed away — complete with a bugler playing the Last Post as a measure of respect. “The families are so happy when we do this because their loved ones are given the haonour they deserve when they pass on.
“We will provide this service, and other forms of assistance to all Sikh veterans — regardless of whether they are members or not,” Tara said. The association is currently in the midst of spreading its wings further. In addition to the new Perak chapter, Baldev hopes to have the Negri Sembilan and Selangor chapters up and running by the end of November.
At the moment, a state liaison committee has been formed in Perak, headed by Commander (Rtd) Avatar Singh Sarban Singh. More than 40 members have signed up as members.
For now, Avatar said the main objective is to register more members and locate veterans who need assistance.
He added that there were still disabled and sickly bedridden veterans in Perak who needed assistance “We will be putting up posters in gurdwaras around the state asking veterans to join the association.
“Many of the veterans spend most of their time at gurdwaras and they are not fond of using Whatsapp. It will be an effective way to disseminate information,” he said.
The association’s growth will only expand Baldev’s aim to continue serving the community with cooperation of all Sikh veterans.
“I do have passion and pride in what we are doing. You must have passion to serve. For me, it is a sense of duty to continue serving as I did before,” he said. For more information, call 019-333 2939 (Baldev), 019-279 2473 (Suwaran) or 012-978 1323 (Harwan).
The Sikh veterans featured in the Malay Mail (26 Nov 2016). Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veterans Association (MAFSVA) President Major (Rtd) Baldev Singh (right) talking to Perak chapter member Sawaran Singh. Looking on is MAFSA Treasurer Major (Rtd) Harwan Singh (red turban) and MAFSVA Perak head Commander (Rtd) Avatar Singh – PHOTO / MALAY MAIL
The original article, entitled ‘Still in service for Brothers in arms’, was published by The Malay Mail, 26 Nov 2016.
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| Seremban, Malaysia | 27 Nov 2016 | Asia Samachar |
Gurdwara Sahib Seremban committee president Mulkeeth Singh (right) moving forward the motion to adopt the resolution at the end of the ‘Leadership of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: Seremban Seminar’ held in Sri Sendayan, Seremban, on 26 Nov 2016. With his is Jagdev Singh, the gurdwara assistant secretary and stage secretary for the seminar. – PHOTO / ASIA SAMACHAR
Another major gurdwara in Malaysia has adopted the ‘Ek Granth, Ek Panth, Ek Maryada’ slogan as part of their leadership ethos.
Gurdwara Sahib Seremban (GSS) becomes the second gurdwara to adopt the slogan championed by the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC) for its Sikhi parchaar activities.
“We are all excited to move forward with this calling,” GSS committee president Mulkeeth Singh told Asia Samachar at the sidelines of the ‘Leadership of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: Seremban Seminar’ held in Sri Sendayan, Seremban, yesterday (26 Nov 2016).
At the end of the conference, attended by some 150 participants including a majority of the GSS committee members, Mulkeeth moved the following resolution: “This gathering of Sikhs in Seremban on 26th November 2016 reaffirms that out ultimate guide is Shabad Guru as embodied Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This gathering also revolves t be guided by Ek Granth, Ek Panth, Ek Maryada.”
On 13 Nov 2016, Gurdwara Sahib Klang (GSK) launched the slogan ’Ek Granth, Ek Paanth, Ek Maryada’ at a function specially called for that purpose, with GSK committee president Jasbir Singh then saying he was happy to see the centrality of the ‘Ek’ principle being the foundational concept of Sikhi.
The slogan was inspired by the ‘One Granth, One Panth’ slogan first floated by the World Sikh Council (WSC), which has representatives from 20 countries, including Malaysia.
At its annual meeting in March 2016 in Paris, France, the WSC called on Sikh organisations to unite under the ‘One Granth One Panth’ banner to promote the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Seremban-leg of the seminar is a sideline event following the 3rd Conference on the Leadership of Guru Granth Sahib Ji on 23 Oct 2016 in Petaling Jaya. It was followed by the ‘Leadership of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Conference: Ipoh Seminar’ on 5 Nov.
The one-day seminar is organised by the Coalition of Malaysian Sikh Organisations (CMSO). Its media partners were Asia Samachar, Sikhi Lehar Malaysia and Sikhi Vichaar Forum.
GURDWARA SAHIB SEREMBAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (L-R) Kalvinder Kaur, Balbir Singh (Secretary), Rajesbir Singh, Harmit Singh, Mulkeeth Singh (President), Surinder Singh, Jagdev Singh (Assistant Secretary), Harminder Kaur, Gurmit Singh, Jimna Kaur, Prabhdial Singh (Treasurer), Arjan Singh and Arwinder Singh. The rest are committee members. – PHOTO / ASIA SAMACHAR
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
| Statement | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 28 Nov 2016 | Asia Samachar |
Advisory Note | November 27, 2016 |
The American Sikh Council – ASC endorses and fully supports the unequivocal stand taken by the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council on the issue of not having the ‘parkash’ of any other ‘granth’ on par with the Sri Guru Granth Sahib at any Gurdwara anywhere, including the five Takhts.
It is indeed shameful that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Jathedar of Akal Takht, pretending to have the authority in order to safeguard the Sikh interests in Punjab are totally ignoring their responsibility. In fact they are doing the most damage to the Sikh interests in every respect which is unending. They issue ‘Hukam Naamay’ against dedicated Sikhs and take no action against those who do ‘parkash’ of another book at par with Sri Guru Granth Sahib; the Sikh Guru so designated by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself. This is the height of disrespect for the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Once again the American Sikh Council reiterates its support of the stand taken by the Malaysian Sikh Council and congratulates their brave and judicious decision in order to correct the supposed guardians of the Faith in and around Punjab.
American Sikh Council represents the collective view of the Sikhs in the United States and works to promote Sikh interests at the national level and the international level on issues of advocacy, and well-being of mankind. Currently there are 71 member Gurdwaras and Sikh organizations in the American Sikh Council.
Sincerely
Inderpreet Singh
Media and Public relations American Sikh Council
P.O. Box 932, Voorhees, NJ 08043, USA
Phone: 607-269-7454
email: contact@americansikhcouncil.org
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanSikhCouncil/
https://www.AmericanSikhCouncil.org
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| Asia Samachar | Entry: 18 Nov 2016, 22:10 | Source: Family
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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Manika Kaur: Sikh Awards 2016 for Sikhs in Entertainment – PHOTO / SUPPLIED
Sikh musician Manika Kaur and humanitarian worker Ravinder Singh from Khalsa Aid were among the recipients of the recent Sikh Award 2016 in London.
Manika, the Australia born devotional singer who now resides in Dubai, won Sikh Awards for Sikhs in Entertainment at the 7th annual award ceremony on which took place on 19 Nov 2016.
Ravinder, the founder of the London-based humanitarian relief agency Khalsa Aid, won the award for Sikh in Charity.
Manika’s devotion to ‘seva’ or selfless service of others through her music played a big part in her winning this year’s award, said Sikh Awards Founder Navdeep Singh Bansal in a statement.
“She represents all that is right about the younger generation of today,” he said.
Manika was nominated online and a panel of five judges picked her out of 130 nominations that we received. Amongst those nominated were film stars, authors and famous singers.
Manika runs Kirtan For Causes where she raises funds and awareness for worthy causes. At the moment, she has adopted the cause of helping the less fortunate children in Punjab.
Manika donates all the proceeds from her album sales and concert tickets to charity. The proceeds from her first album went towards the funding the construction of the first ever gurdwara in Dubai.
The Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award went to Iqbal Singh, a retired agriculture director who now runs the Kalgidhar Trust and Society which oversees 129 schools and two universities in Bharru, Himachal Pradesh.
The Business Man Award went to Bob Dhillon, the Founder/President/CEO of Mainstreet Equity Corp, Canada’s highest performing real estate company with assets valued over $1.5 billion.
The other winners:
Kiran Singh (UK), life coach at Design the Lifestyle You Desire,
an author and residential and hospitality interior designer at Studio Kiran Singh, founder and chief editor of Vivacious Mum, My Unique Home and Passion for Food – Business Woman Award;
Supreet Singh Manchanda (USA), CEO of Akal Global a $1Billon global security firm – Entrepreneur award;
Dr Brinder Singh Mahon (UK), Chief Executive Officer and Director of The Nishkam School Trust – Sikhs in Education;
Akaal Television / Amrik Singh Kooner (UK), Founder of Akaal Television, the most watched Sikh channel in 106 countries – Sikhs in Media;
Jaspal Singh Bindra (India), a global financial services industry executive with a consistent track record of driving profitable growth and increasing brand and shareholder value in a broad range of leadership roles with major banking groups such as Standard Chartered Bank, UBS and Bank of America. He has successfully led businesses with revenues ranging from $1-13 billion – Sikhs in Profession;
Gurmeet Singh (India), a 55-year old small business owner from Patna, Bihar in India. For over 20 years he has been visiting the abandoned patient’s ward of Bihar’s biggest government hospital every night with food, medicine and compassion for poor patients who have no one to turn to. – Sikhs in Seva;
Ram Singh Nayyar (Canada), the first turbaned Sikh to have led a Canadian team to the Olympic games – Sikh in Sport;
Natasha Kaur Mudhar (UK), CEO & MD of the international communications agency Sterling Media representing United Nations backed projects to end poverty to Bollywood and Hollywood talent – The Sikh People’s Choice Award.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE! Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
Singapore property veteran Karamjit Singh will be leaving real estate consultancy JLL, which bought out the company he co-founded in 2012, to pursue his own entrepreneurial interests.
Karamjit, who has been JLL’s Head of Residential, will continue to advise JLL and its clients on major residential capital markets transactions in his new capacity as Senior Consultant with effect from January 2017.
“I’d like to thank Karamjit for his great leadership over the last four years, building market leading businesses in residential land and building sales, residential leasing, and for establishing JLL’s successful partnership with PropNex,” said Chris Fossick, JLL Managing Director for Singapore and Southeast Asia in a statement today (28 Nov 2016).
“He has developed a great pipeline of talent within the team who will continue his success.”
Karamjit co-founded Credo Real Estate (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and had served as its Managing Director.
He has years of experience in real estate consultancy, investment advisory and marketing including stints at Henry Butcher Appraisal Group, Colliers Jardine and Jones Lang LaSalle.
He holds a first-class honours degree in finance from the National University of Ireland, an Advance Diploma in Real Estate & Property Management and a Diploma in Business Administration.
Karamjit joined JLL in 2012 when it acquired his company Credo Real Estate, a market leader in residential land and collective sales, JLL said in the statement.
Deals concluded by Credo Real Estate include the S$1.338 billion Farrer Court sale in 2007, the largest collective sale in Singapore’s history. The addition of Credo Real Estate facilitated the creation of JLL’s multi-disciplinary investment sales team, helping to consolidate the firm’s position as the clear market leader in Singapore, the statement added.
“Among the headline-grabbing deals advised by JLL under Mr Singh’s leadership are the collective sales of Shunfu Ville (S$638 million), Thong Sia Building (S$380 million), Raintree Gardens (S$334 million), NOL Building (S$380 million), a portfolio of three Orchard Road residential buildings (S$190.5 million) and 9 Cuscaden Road (S$145 million). Under Mr Singh’s stewardship, JLL has achieved an 84 percent market share of major private residential land and en bloc deals in 2016,” the statement said.
In the same statement, Karamjit said: “JLL is a strong global brand with great management, capabilities and culture. Since joining forces with JLL, we’ve achieved phenomenal successes as a team and now, with the residential sales and leasing businesses firmly established, I feel comfortable to hand over the reins.”
“In my new consulting role, I look forward to supporting them in their continued growth and success.”
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
| Statement | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 28 Nov 2016 | Asia Samachar |
[A press release, dated 4 Aug 2016, from the Global Sikh Council (GSC), in response to a video actively purportedly a “directive from the Sikh Panth’s supreme authority” on Dasam Granth. GSC was condemned in the video distributed by some Malaysian-based persons via the social media
Continued tolerance for disrespect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by SGGPC and their appointed so called Jathedar of Akal Takht.
[Received via email]
PRESS RELEASE
November 28, 2016
To The Global Sikh Community
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
The Global Sikh Council stands with the principal of ”ONE GRANTH, ONE PANTH” and fully support all organizations and individuals that believe in this principal.
The Global Sikh Council (GSC) endorses and fully supports the unequivocal stand taken by the Malaysian Gurdwara Council and the American Sikh Council against the unacceptable practice having the ‘parkash’ of any other ‘book’ at par with the Sri Guru Granth Sahib at any Gurdwara, any of the five Takhts, or anywhere else.
It is indeed shameful that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and their appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht, pretending to have the authority and pretending to safeguard the Sikh interests are totally doing the opposite. In fact they are doing maximum harm to the Sikh interests in every respect and taking no action against the individuals doing Parkash of another “Book” at par with Sri Guru Granth Sahib beats the previous ones. They issue ‘Hukam Naamay’ against dedicated Sikhs and take no action against those who do ‘PARKASH’ of another Book at par with Sri Guru Granth Sahib; the Sikh Guru so designated by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself. This is the height of disrespect for the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
In addition Sikh Jagat has witnessed the praises of DURGA Devi under the guise of “CHANDI DI VARR” in presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib relayed from the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. The DGMC is also under the control of the same group as SGPC and they are forgetting that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is complete Guru and has no deficiencies to be complemented from any other sources/books/granths etc.
And now the Yatra of so called DASAM GURU GRANTH SAHIB from Takht Hazoor Sahib in presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is added disrespect for the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. They are disrespecting Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jis’ order of “GURU MANYON GRANTH”, the Sri Guru Grath Sahib. There is only one Guru not two.
Once again the Global Sikh Council reiterates its principal of “ONE GRANTH, ONE PANTH”, and support of the stand taken by the Malaysian Sikh Council and American Sikh Council and congratulates their brave and judicious decision in order to correct the supposed guardians of the Faith in and around Punjab.
Issued on behalf of GSC
By: Gulbarg Singh, USA
+1-678-794-1793
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Saminder Kaur joins Settlement Hotel Melaka as Head of Sales – PHOTO / SUPPLIED
Veteran hotelier Saminder Kaur has been appointed as sales head at the Settlement Hotel Melaka.
Sam, as she’s known in the industry, moves to the boutique hotel from The Avillion Village Resort, Port Dickson where she was the sales director.
Described as an iconic sales figure in the hospitality industry, Saminder has more than 37 years of experience in sales, marketing and public relations, according to a statement issued by the hotel.
She has held senior positions at 5-star hotels in Malaysia such as The Melia, Kuala Lumpur, The Regency, Gouman and The Avillion Village Resort.
One of her role would be to strategise sales campaigns and to drive revenue both in the overall room and catering sales as well as F&B within the local market sphere and also internationally, the statement added.
Settlement Hotel Melaka, which has 49 guestrooms, suites and private villas, is
located along the colorful Jalan Ujong Pasir.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
The tiny Sikh community in Perlis, a Malaysian state bordering Thailand, has plugged itself with the Ek Panth, Ek Granth, Ek Maryada movement.
They conducted a sehaj paath (complete reading of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib in stages) to mark their participation.
“The Sanggat members did the paath themselves, with some help of our local granthi. The programme was inspired by the call from the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council,” GSK committee president Pritpal Singh tells Asia Samachar.
They held a path da bhog (conclusion of prayers) ceremony at Gurdwara Sahib Kangar (GSK) on 20 Nov 2016. The sehaj path began on 3 Oct 2016.
Kangar is the capital of Perlis, a state in the north of Peninsular Malaysia. There are about 130 Sikhs in the state.
“The path da bhog was followed by a short talk on the purpose of this semagam and the logo. We discussed the importance and relevance of the Sikh Rehat Maryada in our daily life, as individual Sikhs and Panth members,” said Pritpal.
Two major gurdwaras – Klang and Seremban – have adopted the ‘Ek Granth, Ek Panth, Ek Maryada’ slogan as part of their leadership ethos.
The slogan was inspired by the ‘One Granth, One Panth’ slogan first floated by the World Sikh Council (WSC), which has representatives from 20 countries, including Malaysia.
At its annual meeting in March 2016 in Paris, France, the WSC called on Sikh organisations to unite under the ‘One Granth One Panth’ banner to promote the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
A mid-level Malaysian court today acquitted a 29-year-old medical graduate of desecrating a Hindu temple in Ipoh, the state capital of Perak, on grounds of insanity.
Fathi Munzir Nadzri, the son of a former assemblyman, was however released with a warning in accordance with Section 348 of the Criminal Procedure Code by Sessions Court judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin, reports The Star (Medical grad freed of temple desecration charge on grounds of insanity, 30 Nov 2016).
“The court accepts the psychiatric report that the accused suffers from bipolar affective disorder with psychotic features in the manic phase and was emotionally unstable at the time of the offence,” the report quoted the judge.
Ikmal Hishan said that Sections 347 and 348 of the Criminal Procedure Code provide for the acquittal on the grounds of mental disorder and the safe custody of the person acquitted.
On the second charge under Section 6 of the Corrosive, Explosive and Dangerous Weapons Act, Fathi Munzir was acquitted and discharged for having a parang during the time of the incident.
The accused was charged on April 29 here under Section 295 of the Penal Code for damaging idols at the Sree Muneeswaran Amman Kovil temple at about 5pm five days earlier, the report said.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
UK Sikhs are twice as more likely to have a degree or higher qualification compared to the average population, least likely to be unemployed and a good majority of them staying in their own homes.
On the flip side, Sikhs in the UK are still targets for conversion to other faiths while their women are still becoming victims to sexual grooming gangs.
These are some of the findings of the UK Sikh Survey 2016 recently released by Sikh Network. The survey is said be the largest and most comprehensive ever survey of UK Sikhs.
One in four Sikhs over the age of 16 taking part in the UK Sikh Survey 2016 have been personally or know a friend or relative who has been targeted or experienced conversion to another faith. The figure rises to 30% for respondents under the age of 40.
On sexual grooming, 13% of those surveyed (aged between 16-30) have themselves or know a friend or relative who has been a victim or a target for sexual grooming. The figure rises to 15% when considering responses from Sikh women and 17% when examining responses from Sikhs under the age of 30.
On education, the UK Sikh Survey indicated that those aged 16 to 74 with a degree or equivalent higher qualification has increased to a ‘staggering’ 58.2%, up from 46% as captured in the 2001 national census. In 2001, at 23%, Christians had the lowest percentage.
The latest UK jobless rate is at an 11-year low of 4.8%, but the UK Sikh Survey shows the figure for Sikhs is 2.7%. In August 2016 the Women and Equalities Committee reported 12.8% of Muslims were unemployed.
The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show the number of self-employed workers is increasing and accounts for 15% of all people in work. The UK Sikh Survey shows 22.3% of Sikhs in work are self-employed.
In the 2011 Census in terms of employment, the report said Jews and Sikhs had the highest percentage of people in the ‘Managers, directors and senior officials’ category at 19.4% and 13.3%. Muslims are the religious group most likely to perform lower skilled jobs with 13% holding ’process, plant or machinery roles’ compared to the national average of 7% and 14% doing ‘elementary occupations’ compared to the national average of 11%.
The aim of the survey is to provide a way forward for policy think tanks and key policy makers in their acknowledgement of recognising the needs and aspirations of the British Sikh community, the report said.
The survey, conducted over 10 weeks between May and August 2016, comprised 4,559 responses. It was a combination of self-selection and targeting of groups like the elderly or non-digital population, that are more difficult to reach through self-selection, to ensure a better cross section of the community was covered.
The Sikh Network describes itself as being responsible for co-ordinating dialogue with the UK Government on behalf of British Sikhs with respect to the Sikh Manifesto 2015-2020, a document prepared before the last UK general election.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE! Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
Asia Samachar | Entry: 1 Dec 2016, 20:50| Source: Family
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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Canada’s Hickey Night Punjabi tweeter update on Harnarayan Singh
A little broadcast history was made Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledom when Harnarayan Singh, who worked as rinkside reporter in the Toronto Maple Leafs-Calgary Flames contest for Hockey Night In Canada, became the first Sikh to broadcast a sporting event in English.
Harnarayan has been a member of the Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi broadcast team since 2008, and is also the first person to call hockey games in Punjabi.
“Hockey is the fabric of Canadian culture, it brings people together. For myself growing up in southern Alberta, it was the icebreaker between my classmates and I, and that’s what makes Canada so special, the diversity is celebrated and to have a person like myself be in the hockey family, it just speaks to the multiculturalism that is so greatm,” Harnarayan told CBC News according to a report at USA Today.
Harnarayan’s call of Nick Bonino’s goal in last season’s playoffs went viral, but that was in Punjabi. He says each language has its own unique style for play-by-play.
He believes the Punjabi edition of HNIC is helping to grow the sport in the South Asian community. In fact, Singh was told the number of hockey registrations is on the rise there.
“More people playing hockey, more people buying tickets,” he said, “buying jerseys and participating in Canadian culture, so it’s great.”
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
Jaspreet Kaur: Group Head for Brand Strategy at LIQVD Asia
Singaporean MBA graduate Jaspreet Kaur, who is the Group Head for Brand Strategy at LIQVD Asia, simply loves the digital world.
Jaspreet joined the Mumbai-based digital experiential marketing company in July 2016 after spending a few years working and interning with various MNCs and SMEs in Europe and Asia.
“It’s quite funny how I turned up in digital and branding as my MBA was in trade and international business,” ,” she tells Asia Samachar.
“I think the biggest driving factor behind what I do is that digital now lets you push the boundaries of advertising and creativity. Digital allows you to bring ideas to life in an out-of-the-box way through data and technology.”
She adds: “Whether its using gamification to increase employee engagement or using UX to simplify a complicated application process. Every client, every project, every campaign is a new opportunity for innovation. The results are extremely fulfilling.”
Based in Singapore, the Senior Account Manager specialises in digital strategy, performance marketing and below the line advertising.
She loves to travel, sing soprano and write poetry. At the same time, she also maintains a food blog on Instagram and is actively involved with NGOs in New Delhi, India, according to her LinkedIn page.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE! Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
Asia Samachar | Entry: 3 Dec 2016, 22:00 | Source: Family
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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FREE ANNOUNCEMENT SERVICE:
Dear Readers. Asia Samachar runs a free service to announce saskaar and path da bhog. This is to assist readers to quickly share news with the extended family and friends. The fastest way to reach us is via the Facebook messaging. The editors try to monitor the platform as much as they can.
