First Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations for the Malay/Muslim community conducted under Ciptasama@M³

1. The Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations (ESCs) conducts its first session for the Malay/Muslim (MM) community through CiptaSama@M³. The SGT ESC x CiptaSama@M³ serves as a platform for the community to reflect on their COVID-19 experiences and issues they faced. Two sessions will be conducted in January to seek out ideas and suggestions to co-create solutions for a more cohesive, resilient and caring Singapore society.

2. Since the Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations (ESC) commenced in June 2020, over 2,850 Singaporeans and community partners have participated in more than 45 ESCs organised by the Government. These conversations have yielded fruitful insights on the challenges and opportunities facing Singapore in a post-COVID-19 world, and on how we can emerge stronger from this crisis. As we work towards recovering from this pandemic, this spirit of participation and co-solutioning will help Singaporeans to chart a new path and emerge stronger.

(i) Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations (ESCs)

3. We have undergone a shared experience which will shape the attitudes and worldview of an entire generation. Through the ESCs, we want to draw this out and use these reflections as core elements on which to build an even stronger society.

4. At least 20 ESCs will be held between June 2020 and February 2021. In the spirit of Singapore Together, these ESCs are inclusive and accessible to all, including Singaporeans who may be more comfortable in Mother Tongue.

5. [New] The SGT ESC x CiptaSama@M³ will be conducted in both Malay and English, involving some 100 Singaporeans over two sessions on 7 and 12 January 2021. It covers different topics and will be co-hosted by four Malay/Muslim Political Office Holders (MM POHs). Please see Annex A [PDF, 469 KB] for a snapshot of the participants at the session on 7 January 2021.

6. These ESCs are conducted digitally by default. Each ESC involves some 40 to 50 participants from diverse backgrounds and is hosted by one or more political officeholders. Over 2 hours of discussion, participants will, in their facilitated breakout groups, share their reflections about the COVID-19 crisis, their hopes for Singapore and the community, and what actions we can take to reach the desired outcome together.

7. These ESCs are open for public sign-up. Upcoming ESCs include sessions for Youth in the Arts and Budget 2021. Singaporeans who are interested can register at https://go.gov.sg/ESconversations.

(ii) Other Platforms

8. The Government is committed to engaging widely across different stakeholders and will also invite partners to convene their own conversations, to enable more to participate, and multiply the potential for action.

9. Stories and ideas shared by participants of across these channels will be shared on Our SG social platforms and on the Singapore Together website for interested members of the public to catch up on the perspectives of other Singaporeans.

(iii) Emerging Aspirations from the ESC

10. In the ESCs so far, participants shared their experiences and candid thoughts on a wide range of issues including supporting the vulnerable, equipping both younger and mid-career workers with necessary skills and digital tools, and having greater civic participation across all segments of society. Through these ESCs, there was a common thread of aspiring towards a more caring, resilient and cohesive Singapore, and the belief that by working together, and pooling together our experiences, expertise and efforts, we can emerge stronger as a society and country. (Please see Annex B [PDF, 469 KB] for a snapshot of the topics discussed at recent Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations.)

11. The ESCs are ongoing and more will take place from now till February 2021. As key issues emerge from the Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations, we will form Singapore Together Alliances for Action to work on them and give effect to the aspirations shared by participants.

(iv) Singapore Together Alliances for Action¹ (AfA)

12. The AfAs bring together a diverse group of people from different sectors – government, community, businesses – to co-create, and co-deliver ideas and solutions. They will be important drivers to mobilise our collective energies and expertise and exemplify the Singapore Together governance approach of working in partnership, towards Singapore’s recovery and future.

13. [Updated] There are currently 11 AfAs – four on social issues, and seven on the economic front led by the Emerging Stronger Taskforce (EST). (Please see Annex C [PDF, 469 KB] for more information on the AfAs.)

14. We encourage all Singaporeans to play a part in the Singapore Together efforts. We can stay united amidst the challenges ahead and emerge stronger together. Partnerships between the Government and Singaporeans are important to build the Singapore that we want to become. During this period, we will continue to see more partnership efforts, including possible partnerships within the Malay/Muslim community; for instance, citizen workgroups have been convened to look into sustainability and Singapore Citizenship topics.

Annexes [PDF, 469 KB]
A. [New] Snapshot of the participants at the session on 7 January 2021
B. Infographics - Snapshot of the topics discussed at recently held Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations
C. [Updated] Singapore Together AfAs

For media queries, please contact:

Diana Cheong
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
Email: diana_cheong@mccy.gov.sg

Lee Keng Yin
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
Email: lee_keng_yin@mccy.gov.sg

For media queries on CiptaSama@M³, please contact:

Radhiah Ibrahim
Ministry of Communications and Information
Email: radhiah_ibrahim@mci.gov.sg

About Singapore Together

Singapore Together is about the Government working with Singaporeans, and Singaporeans working with one another, to build our future Singapore. The Government will open up more partnership opportunities for Singaporeans to participate. The Government also hopes to support more citizen-led efforts. Whatever our background or interests, we can each step forward to contribute in areas that we care about. By working together, we can turn diversity into strength and transform challenges into opportunities, to build a Singapore that present and future generations of Singaporeans will be proud of.

About M³

The M³ framework is a collaborative effort between three key community institutions, namely Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), MENDAKI and PA MESRA. Together, they leverage each other’s strengths to better serve the Malay/Muslim community. M³ aims to empower citizens by supporting the last-mile service delivery for social programmes for families in need, rallying the community to help each other, and collaborating with Malay/Muslim organisations and Government agencies to address challenges faced by the community. For more information, visit https://www.m3.sg/.

¹ Previously referred to as Singapore Together Action Networks