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Muslim MPs and NMP break fast together late night after passing of POFMA

(PHOTO: Yaacob Ibrahim/Facebook)
Clockwise from top left: Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Amrin Amin, Saktiandi Supaat, Abbas Ali Mohamed Irshad, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Zaqy Mohamad, Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Zainal Sapari, Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap and Rahayu Mahzam. (PHOTO: Yaacob Ibrahim/Facebook)

SINGAPORE — After debating intensely over the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA), 10 Muslim parliamentarians came together to break fast on Wednesday (8 May).

The Bill was passed at about 10.18pm with 72 parliamentarians saying “yes”, all nine Workers’ Party (WP) MPs and NCMPs saying “no”, and three NMPs - Anthea Ong, Irene Quay and Associate Professor Walter Theseira - abstaining.

The session coincided with the third day of Ramadan, a time of fasting for Muslims, and ended more than three hours after the call to prayer in the evening when Muslims are allowed to eat.

People's Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Jalan Besar GRC Yaacob Ibrahim posted a photo of the gathering on Facebook early Thursday morning.

The photo showed Dr Yaacob and fellow PAP MPs Saktiandi Supaat, Zaqy Mohamad, Zainal Sapari, Amrin Amin, Rahayu Mahzam, Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, WP MP Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap as well as NMP and founder of inter-religious non-profit group Roses of Peace Abbas Ali Mohamed Irshad.

Yaacob wrote, “With the Singapore parliament going overtime on Wednesday 8 May, Muslims elected and nominated MPs from across the political spectrum came together for the breaking of the fast in parliament.”

Describing it as the “first ever event of its kind”, Yaacob noted, “Perhaps we can come together for other meaningful activities.”

More parliament stories here.

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