DTS Part 2

Dynamic Team Singapore: PART 2
(English Version)

By: Yussamir Yusof
Cyberjaya
15 Jun 2008

www.yussamir.com

On the second day of our trip to singapore, we went to Darul Islah, Jamiyah Halfway House. This is the house for ex-drug addicts. this is where they be placed after imprisonment and before they go back to the community.

Darul Islah located at Pasir Panjang, Singapore. the house can accommodate up to 70 people. but only men. the manager, Mr Sharif said they can’t house women drug addicts because they didn’t have expertise about handling women drug addicts.

we start our day at darul islah with friendly futsal match between us and the residents. at first lissa frighten us that the resides play it very seriously like Shaolin Soccer ( the part where they matches against a group that using hammer, deadly tools ). it was fun to play with them. their team was sponsored by a restaurant and have a competition later somewhere next month. so some of the action shots.

me-fall

me-slither ball

After the game, we’re having breakfast. at their dining hall, there lies a pool table, table tennis, drum set and also aquarium. the residents can use all these facilities whenever they like. it was very different. the residents are free to do whatever they like but no drugs of course. after our breakfast, we hang around with the residents.

me- playin ping-pong

Abg Yusuf- playin billiard

Then after having breakfast, we attend their morning meeting. morning meeting is an everyday program for the residents to speak out their feelings. this is important to the administration to see and monitor them and to devise any activities for that day. the residents live their life there as a family. so any problems within the family, can settle it during the morning meeting.

we’re watching their morning meeting from behind.

after we and the residents having our afternoon prayer ( zohor prayer ) together, there was sharing session between us and the residents. this sharing session is for us to know deeper about the residents, how their struggles and experience in their life. they were thankful to be here because of the friendly and effective environment in Darul Islah can help them in their rehabilitation period.The person who are responsible for the rehabilitation programme at Darul Islah, Mr Sharif, said that the method he devised is not regimental style. they even bring the residents to watch soccer match between singapore against uzbekistan ( did i get it correct? ) freely. they didnt have barbed wire and fence that look like a prison because this halfway center, is for them to get ready to meet the community. before the residents finish their rehabilitation period at darul islah, they will be sent to work at everyday just like normal person for them to get along in working environment with the people. the money that they got will be passed through the house administration to prevent the residents misused the salary that they get. their money is not for darul islah, but to be use at the request of the residents. in example, if the residents work and got the money and want to give to their family, they have to tell the superintendent and then the money will be passed to them.

salute- En. Syariff

After our sharing session ends, there was a Family Haircut. Family Haircut is when the residents commit wrongdoings that against the rule of the house receiving advise from another residents. this method is not to belittle or degrading the person who’re having to face the haircut but also to make them realize the mistakes they did.

Another facts that i receive on that day. Singapore canning ( hukuman sebat ) is carried with the person running and canning the criminals. woooo scary. After the family haircut, we also get to know 3 Darul Islah residents that has been released and free from drugs. They now work in Darul Islah and one of them are doing well in multimedia/IT arena.

After that, we depart from darul islah around 8pm heading to sentosa. but then we’re too late to attend Songs Of the Sea. so we take a detour to city hall where we walk to esplanade and see the merlion. picture spam below.

since the plan was cancelled, we board MRT to city hall.

the place where stamford raffles step on singapore - as been told by lissa

we were pretty exhausted and hungry on our way back home,we decide to buy some food at 7-Eleven but abg rafi din, our navigator said there was a tasty nasik lemak just around the corner and has treat all of us a nasik lemak. for SGD 1.20, it was extremely well made. very tasty. just in case you my reader/visitors have a trip to singapore, visit the shop. Zorah Confectionary at Changi Road. that time it was 11PM.

But then when we arrive at home, the door was locked. we have no option but to sleep on the pavement. around 5pm our neighbour wakeup and have the spare key to went inside. and this ends the 2nd day of our journey.

*Source Mr Tekong one of our delegation. I didnt have intention to write this journey by myself. I just wonder, when i can go to Singapore again.. I just wanna meet someone. Hehehe...

Read my short story at TETASAN . Readers will know how i fell and experience the lovely moment at Singapore. Readers will read the short story in different dimension by different perspective. Well, short story tuuu... huhuhu...