Issue 10: Apr - Association of Muslim Professionals

o E V E N T SQuashing theBELIEF IN THE SUPERNATURALINSPIRASI@AMP opened its series of Counsellors’ Hi-Tea sharingsessions this year with a discussion amongst invited counsellorsand social workers on the perceived role of the supernatural incausing the range of problems faced by clients. The session,entitled Belief in Supernatural and Bomohs Among Malay/MuslimClients: Part 2, is the sequel to the concluding session of lastyear’s series.by Norsiah RejabIn response to the positive feedback received from the participantsfrom the first session, Mr Benny Bong, a well-known familytherapist, was invited to further develop the helping strategy thatcounsellors and social workers can implement and to focus onproviding possible solutions to the presenting problems.In his presentation, Mr Bong emphasised that while the clients’strong beliefs in ‘black magic’ cannot be ignored or denied,counsellors need to understand their clients’ worldview andsubsequently re-orientate them to solving the problem at hand.He also highlighted the challenges which counsellors may facewhen helping clients with such predicaments. These includedifficulty in distinguishing mental disorders from ‘demonisation’;controversy over who can be ‘demon-possessed’; and theavailability of treatment.Invited speaker and well-knownfamily therapist, Mr Benny Bongdemonstrated possible approaches inhandling clients with strong beliefs inthe supernatural.The session was attended byparticipants comprising counsellorsand social workers from variousorganisations and of different races.Mr Bong also provided many relevant illustrations for counsellorsand social workers to ponder on and demonstrated someapproaches that can be adopted in handling such cases. He alsostressed that such a phenomenon not only exists amongst theMalay community but other communities as well. There were alot of questions and discussions over the issue at the end of thesession. Many felt that the session was a befitting conclusion tothe one held earlier.BUILDINGA STRONGBUSINESSFOUNDATIONby Fauziah RahmanParticipants of AMP’s Micro Business Programme this yearwill have the opportunity to build a strong foundation fortheir businesses through the partnership forged betweenAMP and EDC@SMCCI, a leading enterprise developmentcentre for micro enterprises. The participants will attenda five-day business workshop during the eight-monthprogramme, where they will pick up business concepts thatthey can then implement to their individual businesses.Additionally, participants will have several hands-on sessionswhich will enable them to put theories into practice, suchas registering their businesses, managing their financesand tapping on the new media to further propel theirbusinesses. It is hoped that the programme and businessadvice received by the participants will provide them witha good foundation to sustain their micro businesses andeventually expand in future.Applicants for the programme were assessed by AMP officers during theorientation.Officers from EDC@SMCCI also took part in the assessment process toevaluate the applicants’ business readiness.4 ISSUE 10 • APR – JUN 2011© Association of Muslim Professionals. Permission is required for reproduction.