Leadership renewal is critical to maintaining the effectiveness of organisations in a continuously changing landscape

Question

Mr Zainudin Nordin: To ask the Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs in view of the recent leadership change in MUIS (a) whether there are more changes to be expected in MUIS and other Muslim-related institutions; (b) what are the mid-term and long-term plans and development that the community can expect from these changes; and (c) whether there are challenges to the identification and development of high calibre and quality officers to head important institutions such as MUIS. 

Response

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: From 7 August 2013, Haji Abdul Razak bin Hassan Maricar will be the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore's, or MUIS', first Chief Executive (CE). When the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) was amended in 2005 to create the CE post, I had explained in Parliament that this was to strengthen MUIS' executive leadership and align its governance practices to other statutory boards where there is a clear separation of board responsibilities and executive functions. This change took some time to plan and execute, because changes in the leadership of this key Malay-Muslim institution must be carefully undertaken.

With this, the MUIS Council will be chaired by a non-executive President, with a CE reporting to the Council. This separation of functions will enable experienced and qualified Muslim public officers to be appointed as the CE. The position of the non-executive President can then be filled by a person with stature and standing in the community, who does not have to run MUIS on a day-to-day basis at the same time. I am grateful that Haji Mohammad Alami Musa, the current full-time President, has agreed to remain as the non-executive President. This will ensure continuity and stability in MUIS before a successor is appointed later in the term.

Leadership renewal is critical to maintaining the effectiveness of our key Muslim institutions and Malay/Muslim organisations in a continuously changing landscape. We will continue to identify capable persons to lead our key Muslim institutions. Indeed there are challenges finding top-calibre officers to fill echelon positions, as is the case with all other organisations. One strategy that I am keen for MUIS to push further is the cross-posting of high potential Muslim officers between MUIS and the wider public service. This will enable MUIS officers to pick up broader public service capabilities, and allow other officers to be groomed for future positions in MUIS. 
Continuity and innovation are two prongs of what the community can expect from these leadership changes. MUIS will continue to carry out its statutory functions, such as regulating Hajj and Halal matters. Earlier this year, MUIS unveiled its 4th 3-Year Plan after extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders. For the next three years, MUIS will focus on (i) developing asatizah; (ii) increasing its outreach to our young; (iii) strengthening madrasah education; (iv) building resilience in zakat receiving families and (v) strengthening our mosques as important socio-religious nodes to serve the community. I am confident the new CE, who has been part of the MUIS senior management team since 2007, will ably lead MUIS in implementing its vision as laid out in the 4th 3-Year Plan.