Our story is a mosaic of courage and fortitude, where individuals take pride in what they do, and to together move our community forward

Mdm Chairman, before I begin, I would like to inform Members that I would be taking clarifications immediately after my reply.

Introduction

1. The story of the Singapore Malay/Muslim community is a mix of pain and joy. When we hear of a young Malay family struggling to make ends meet and find permanent housing, we despair at how things have gone awry for them. We tend to attribute these predicaments to many factors, which of late include the government not doing enough.

2. Then when we see successes in our community – be it in education, sports, music, career or business – we rejoice in these achievements. But we also tend to forget that the government has nurtured – and continues to ensure – the ecosystem that allows those willing to work hard to succeed regardless of background. For example, outstanding madrasah students are able to enter our internationally-ranked universities because admission is based on merit and not where one comes from.
   

3. Some would choose to paint a picture of stubborn gaps and hopelessness for our community. I would rebut this firmly. Our narrative is a mosaic of hope, opportunities and challenges that we have fought wholeheartedly and together to overcome. Through the hard work of our early pioneers and leaders in partnership with the government, we have been able to tackle the different problems we face and steadily move our community forward within the Singapore system. It is because this government is committed to developing the full potential of all Singaporeans that the Malay/Muslim community has been able to progress this far in many areas including education and employment. The Singapore model – of multiracialism and meritocracy – has worked well. We take pride in working together and succeeding together while showing compassion for the less fortunate in society.

4. To portray our community singularly as lagging and struggling is a dangerous attempt to lead us astray. The data we have speak volumes. Every year we see more Malay/Muslim students receiving awards such as those given out by MENDAKI for outstanding performance at national examinations. Household incomes have risen. There is an increase in Malay/Muslim PMETs from 7.2% in 1980 to 27.8% in 2010.

5. When I visited Lucasfilm Singapore in October, I asked them where they get the talent to keep the company at the leading edge globally. The management told me that it is indeed difficult as such talent is hard to come by even as they search across the world. But they did come across one local student who came through poly and took them by surprise. I asked for the student’s background which I got later. He is Nor Azman - completed his O levels at Ping Yi Secondary before going on to Singapore Polytechnic. Found time to dabble in web design and videography. Did many projects on his own accord, went through a rigorous Jedi Academy internship that was itself hard to get in and got in amidst very tough competition. I checked with Mendaki and they found out he was a MENDAKI award recipient in 2006. Today, he is with Lucasfilm armed with a Second Upper Honours NTU degree in Fine Arts – Digital Animation. Nor Azman is one reason why I have asked MENDAKI to think of a talent management framework for our community. The point I also want to make is that the system – Ping Yi Secondary, Singapore Polytechnic and NTU, and the employers who offered him internships and assignments, all spurred him on and helped create a talent that Lucasfilm is proud to mention.

6. Last month, I visited SingPost to launch a staff programme. I wanted to know how the company develops its staff and I learnt of Mr Abdul Rashid Mawi. Abdul Rashid joined SingPost as a courier in 2001 with ‘O’ levels. He worked hard and rose through the ranks. Today, he is an assistant manager, managing two Speedpost teams. He also has a diploma. He is an example of our people who work hard at upgrading themselves, even those who started humbly. There are many more stories of students and workers doing well, and of families who, despite financial constraints, are able to provide a home and an education for their children. They form a growing Malay/Muslim middle class which we should be proud of and look to for support for those further behind.

7.  The Singaporean Malay/Muslim community does not shy away from challenges and has a strong desire to do better. We have progressed tremendously by working in partnership with our government and seizing opportunities available to every Singaporean, without special treatment. This evolutionary process has made it possible for us to innovate and progress. We cannot - in good conscience – ignore our history of community efforts and government assistance, just for the self-serving agenda of a few. And we will continue on this path — with improvements in the working relationship between the government and the community. My colleagues and I, together with our community leaders, are committed to this path. There will always be an open invitation for each and every one – within the community and beyond – to work together on the next phase of our journey towards a Community of Excellence.

Developing talent and achieving greater peaks of excellence

8. I can sense a growing appetite for a more all-encompassing definition of success. Many have found their niches in different areas. More are in the process of discovering their passions and interests.

9. As Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim pointed out, our community is young. There are many talents among us. Some have made a name for themselves locally and abroad in varied fields. I have cited Nor Azman in Lucasfilm. There is Ms Sarah Ismail, a member of local multi-racial indie band Seyra, making her unique imprint on our local cultural landscape. We also have Ustaz Nazirudin Nasir, a bright young MUIS scholar who is doing his PhD at Oxford University, and Mr Alfian Yasrif Kuchit, who went to Columbia Law School and is currently Syariah Court’s youngest President.
   

10. These are encouraging developments. Indeed, the nurturing of talent must be our community’s next key phase of ethos to embrace. We should support those who are excelling to their fullest potential, and give the hidden gems an opportunity to shine.
    

11. There are existing talent development programmes for the community to tap on. For example, Mendaki’s Goh Chok Tong Youth Promise Award is designed for talents beyond the academic field, while the Ridzwan Dzafir Community Awards is for promising professionals in the public and social service sectors.

MENDAKI’s push for talent development

12. Besides these programmes, there is always room to broaden what we can offer to the widening talent spectrum. MENDAKI is now exploring relevant pilot schemes. Project Protégé is one initiative worth highlighting, as it gives emerging talents the rare opportunity to learn from established icons in our community such as music composer Iskandar Mirza and dancer Som Said. Under Mr Iskandar’s mentorship, Riduan Yusoff, 21, has grown remarkably as a musician. Going forward, MENDAKI will work even more closely with families, schools and the community to draw out the varied strengths of individuals. We welcome ideas on how we can do this well. 

Asatizah development

13. On the socio-religious front, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) plans to step up its grooming of outstanding students, young asatizah (religious teachers) and graduates into specialists who are able to provide progressive religious guidance. Already, we are seeing more such individuals scaling peaks of academic excellence in their desire to serve the community better.

14. These include Ustazah Raihanah Halid, who had completed her Masters in Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence at the International Islamic University of Malaysia. She was recently sponsored by MUIS to do her Masters of Law at NUS. This would no doubt add greater value to her work at the Office of the Mufti from both Islamic and secular vantage points.

15. It is commendable that these individuals have the thirst for knowledge not just for personal development, but also to be of greater service to our community. MUIS’ strategy of incubating these specialists will complement other efforts to shape a progressive Singapore Muslim community. These include the Joint Madrasah System (JMS) which aims to produce our religious leaders; and aLIVE (Living Islamic Values Everyday) programmes that offer modular, contextualised religious education for our community.

Prioritising education for our young

16. Education should remain a priority for the community, as it is a key social leveller. The motivation to do well in school has borne fruit for many Malay/Muslim students, some of whom have persevered despite personal setbacks. Everyone has a part to play to make sure that our young receive quality education, starting from pre-school. I urge Malay/Muslim pre-school operators to embrace this year’s Budget initiatives to develop good teachers and be located closer to our homes and workplaces.

MENDAKI tuition scheme

17. MENDAKI has been tirelessly enhancing its Tuition Scheme (MTS) to facilitate optimal learning. To address Mr Zainudin’s query, MENDAKI places great emphasis on ensuring sufficient resources for MTS. Tutors are selected through a rigorous selection process and they undergo regular training to keep abreast with the latest curriculum. New MTS initiatives focused on strengthening students’ thinking and inquiry skills will also be implemented this year. In pilot classes at upper primary levels, facilitators will cater to students’ different learning styles to help them make better sense of science concepts.

18. Since MTS enhancements were introduced in 2012, enrolment has increased by about 20%. MTS now has more than 9,000 students, thanks to support from 69 schools, five community centres and 1 mosque in hosting the tuition classes. MENDAKI will also bring on board Malay/Muslim organisations (MMOs) and Malay Activity Executive Committees (MAECs), to reach a total of 12,000 students.

SENSE college

19. Beyond the MTS, MENDAKI will launch SENSE College in Tampines, a Skills Centre for learning and upgrading. Through its bridging programme, SENSE College offers students a second chance to obtain qualifications such as the ‘N’, ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels.

Tertiary tuition fee subsidy scheme

20. Mr Muhamad Faishal Abdul Manap asked about the extension of the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) Scheme. Students of mixed parentage are eligible to apply for the TTFS, if his or her race, or the first component of the double-barrelled race as stated in the NRIC, is Malay. This means that a Malay/Indian student qualifies for the TTFS, provided he or she also meets the other eligibility criteria such as the monthly gross household Per Capita Income (PCI) cap. The TTFS is a Government scheme for students studying locally at the polytechnics and as undergraduates in our universities. There are other forms of financial assistance for eligible post-graduate students such as the MENDAKI Study Loan Full-Time Scheme.

School-based student care centre

21. Education outside of the classroom is equally important in shaping the character of our youth. As announced in the Budget, there will be greater Government support for school-based student care centres. Existing providers such as AMP will certainly benefit from this support. MENDAKI SENSE is also doing its part by setting up its first centre at Blangah Rise Primary School this year. Programmes at the centre will include Social and Emotional Learning to help students acquire fundamental life skills, and a dedicated officer to support children with learning disabilities. With more such centres, I believe mothers will have the peace of mind to re-enter the workforce while entrusting their children to qualified practitioners.

Building progressive religious institutions

22. Mosques are a key institution of our community’s socio-religious life. We should be proud of our community’s successful mosque building efforts. Building on this legacy, our mosques are evolving to meet our changing needs. Apart from being a place of worship, our mosques are a well-established provider of religious education. It is at the mosques that many of us learn about Islam and its application to our daily lives.

Madrasahs

23. Madrasahs are the other key religious institution which we should continue to focus on. Our madrasahs are not an alternative to mainstream national schools. Their key priority is to produce qualified religious teachers who are able to meet the changing expectations and needs of our community. They will produce religious leadership that will help our community develop together as good Singapore Muslims by ensuring our socio-religious compass in the right direction. I am proud that our madrasah students have done well. At the primary level, Madrasah Irsyad has been continuously surpassing the PSLE benchmark score. Many Madrasah Al-Arabiah graduates have furthered their studies in fields from engineering to Biomedical Sciences after attaining good ‘O’ level grades. About 70% of Madrasah Aljunied graduates go on to pursue religious studies at Al-Azhar University and other tertiary institutions in the Middle East.

24. MUIS has spared no effort in reviewing the madrasah curriculum under the Joint Madrasah System (JMS). I assure Dr Intan that the new multi-disciplinary and integrated JMS curriculum reflects a major paradigm shift in our madrasah education. It is designed to develop future asatizah and ulama, or religious scholars, who are well-versed in both Islamic and academic sciences, so that they are able to make sound decisions when tackling multi-faceted issues.

25. We must not let up in the drive for a top-quality madrasah education system. MUIS has made significant strides in this respect, with the new International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), teacher development and student enrichment programmes in the works. The IBDP in particular will be a breakthrough in integrating academic and religious learning, and MUIS is working through the implementation details of this major move.

26. Achieving our vision will take resources. We have to be prepared to invest more in building up our madrasahs, and I seek parents’ understanding in helping to bear this. MUIS will also step up its share by increasing funding to full-time madrasahs and financial assistance to needy students. Pooling together our resources has always been a hallmark of our community, from zakat to the Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund (MBMF) and Wakaf Ilmu, and I ask for the community’s continued support in these efforts.

Adult religious education

27. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked about part-time religious education for working adults. Leveraging on the positive feedback on aLIVE, MUIS has piloted the Adult Islamic Education Programme (ADIL) in six mosques and attracted more than 300 sign-ups so far. Classes are offered in both English and Malay, which tailors to the needs of our young urban professionals.

28. MUIS will keep improving aLIVE and ADIL, and make religious education for the entire community more student-centric and relevant.

Mosques

29. We will continue to ensure that our mosques serve the community well. To address Mr Hawazi’s query, the accelerated Mosque Upgrading Programme (MUP) Phase 2 (2012 - 2016) is on track. A total of 16 projects have been identified – 7 mosques for major upgrading and 9 mosques for minor upgrading. Works are expected to begin in Q3/ 2013 for most mosques in the latter category. Jamiyah Rabitah mosque in Tiong Bahru will be the first mosque under MUP Phase 2 to greet congregants with a refreshing look later this year.

30. Our plans for three new mosques at Punggol, Jurong West and Woodlands are progressing well. I recently unveiled the design concept for Punggol mosque, which will be ready in 2015. This is the first time that a Mosque Design Review Committee makes recommendations on mosque design. We are now studying public feedback, and will see the final design at the ground-breaking ceremony later this year.

31. The Jurong West and Woodlands mosques are in the pipeline. To be located near the junction of Jalan Bahar and Jurong West Ave 2, the Jurong West mosque is expected to be completed in 2016. The new mosque in Woodlands, to be located along the future extension of Woodlands Drive 17, will also be ready in 2016.

Facing external uncertainties and anticipating challenges

32. 2012 was a challenging year as we faced external uncertainties that affected how we usually conducted Korban and fulfilled Hajj. These are stark reminders that there will always be forces beyond our control, and we cannot afford to take for granted our privilege of being able to lead our religious lives well.

33. The key is to work together as a community to find sustainable solutions to conduct our socio-religious lives while keeping pace with circumstances beyond our control. I am happy that we have taken these changes in our stride.

Hajj

34. Mr Hawazi is concerned about how we can better allocate the Hajj visas. Our official Hajj quota is 680 per year. Noting how well-organised our pilgrims and our pilgrim management system are, the Saudi government had offered 1,500 additional places each year between 2008 and 2011. However, in view of the various development projects in Makkah and Madinah, the Saudi government has since decided to limit all countries to their official quotas for the safety of all pilgrims.

35. Hence, it is not likely we can get additional visas above our official quota. To manage local demand, MUIS will implement changes to our Hajj registration policy having looked at the issues very carefully. As Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford to do so, we must give priority to first-time applicants. Those who have performed Hajj before, or repeaters, may only do so again at least 10 years after their previous time. Every year there will also be a 10% cap on repeaters. Based on the revised policy, MUIS will inform all affected applicants of their new allocated Hajj year.

Korban

36. As Mr Hawazi noted, a Korban Review Committee comprising representatives from AVA, MCCY, MUIS and the Singapore Mosques Korban Committee (JKMS) has been formed to review the supply of livestock for korban in Singapore. This is in response to the new Australian regulatory requirements, which our 16 mosques offering Korban had professionally complied with last year. The committee will continue to work with the Australian authorities to secure the livestock.

37. As a contingency plan, the committee is also exploring alternative sources. The main considerations are that they have to meet the required health criteria and be of reasonable cost. I seek the community’s patience, as the feasibility study is ongoing. Mr Hawazi has raised an interesting suggestion to utilise Wakaf funds to set up a sheep farm to meet our needs for Korban. However, our wakaf funds are disbursed strictly according to the wakif’s will or indenture, for specific purposes such as education and mosque building. I believe the supply of livestock is best left to private sector providers who are able to meet the necessary requirements.

38. With other global uncertainties, the community should think of new ideas to address existing challenges and plan ahead. It is important that we continue to engage and participate in conversations on issues that are pertinent to us.

Suara Musyawarah

39. The Independent Committee on the Engagement of the Malay/Muslim Community, or Suara Musyawarah, is playing an important role in bringing together the community’s suggestions and recommendations. To address Mr Zainal’s query, the Committee has listened to more than 200 people from all walks of life, over some 20 focus group discussions

40. I understand one major theme so far is how we can foster an inclusive society with our strong gotong royong spirit. I am glad that some participants have pointed out that opportunities are open to all Singaporeans, including Malay/Muslims. To them, what matters is seizing such opportunities to pursue their dreams and lend a hand to the less fortunate amongst us.

41. Going forward, we can expect more candid sharing. I believe this is a journey for our community to put our heads together to create a better home for all. I am looking forward to the Committee’s final report as a roadmap to chart our future.

Reaching out to All in Need and Progressing Together as a Community

42. Dr Muhammad Maliki asked if there is scope to provide services in other neighbourhoods similar to MENDAKI’s pilot Enhanced Wrap Around Care (eWAC) project in MacPherson. I am pleased to announce that MENDAKI @ Heartlands will be set up in Pasir Ris and Woodlands. These satellite centres will help needy families gain access to a broad range of social services near their homes. I encourage the centre’s clients to be open and forthcoming about their circumstances and concerns, so that the right solutions can be found.

Conclusion - Celebrating excellence

43. Our community is now in the next phase of our journey towards excellence. Singapore is tuned for success and I urge our community to make the most of the diverse opportunities that the government works tirelessly to create. Where needed, we will ensure that help is always given, like for education and training through MENDAKI’s many initiatives. The doors of our socio-religious institutions will always be open. And where possible, we will provide springboards for our bright sparks to reach greater heights. We must set our sights far, and scale new peaks along the way.

44. Allowing a misplaced narrative of hopelessness perpetuates the very stereotype that we have worked hard over many decades to dispel. We must not be our own worst enemy, by getting trapped into a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. I recall that at MENDAKI’s recent dialogue on the Population White Paper, a young man stood up towards the end. Mr Muhd Ibnur Rashad, the co-founder of Sustainable Living Lab, the innovative arm of a community-oriented organisation called “Ground Up Initiative”, told the older gentlemen at the dialogue that “we must find the courage to leave our baggage behind. It is a whole new world out there with many, many opportunities. If we continue to be preoccupied with what could have been, we miss out on what can be”. I took his message to heart. This is the crux of where we are today.

45. Our story is a mosaic of courage and fortitude, where individuals take pride in what they do, and to together move our community forward. I am encouraged by the spirit of these women and men I have met. Like fellow Singaporeans, they steadfastly overcome the odds through hard work, and it is on the backs of their efforts that this country has grown to where we are today. It is only by working together – government, community leaders and families, and like-minded partners – that we will continue to lift up our community tier-by-tier.
    

46. Mdm Speaker, allow me now to conclude my speech in Malay.

Meraikan kecemerlangan

47. Dalam ucapan saya dalam Bahasa Inggeris sebentar tadi, saya telah membentangkan beberapa inisiatif yang bakal atau sedang dilaksanakan oleh Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) dan Yayasan Mendaki. Matlamat utamanya ialah untuk mengasah dan mengembangkan bakat anak-anak kita serta membantu golongan yang memerlukan. Ini penting untuk membantu masyarakat kita terus mencapai tahap kejayaan yang lebih tinggi.

48. Saya juga ingin tekankan di sini bahawa kesemua inisiatif yang saya sebut hanya mampu melengkapi usaha seseorang itu. Ia tidak akan memberi sebarang manfaat kecuali kita berusaha keras untuk mempertingkatkan diri demi masa depan keluarga dan anak-anak.

49. Masyarakat kita kini berada di tahap baru dalam perjalanan ke arah sebuah masyarakat cemerlang. Saya ingin menggesa agar kita bersatu padu untuk manfaatkan sepenuhnya pelbagai peluang yang disediakan oleh Pemerintah.
    
    Kita akan memastikan bahawa bantuan dan sokongan seperti inisiatif-inisiatif Mendaki dalam pendidikan dan peningkatan kemahiran akan terus diberi kepada golongan yang memerlukannya.

50. Badan-badan sosial dan keagamaan kita akan sentiasa membuka pintu untuk memberi bimbingan yang progresif. Seberapa boleh, kita akan menyediakan ‘batu loncatan’ buat anak-anak kita yang berbakat dan berkebolehan supaya mereka mampu mencapai kejayaan setinggi mungkin. Kita perlu menetapkan matlamat yang tinggi, dan mendaki puncak-puncak yang baru. Inilah laluan bagi kita untuk memperbaiki taraf hidup dan mencapai kejayaan lebih bagi kita dan keluarga, tahap demi tahap.

51. Matlamat atau impian kita tidak harus dipesongkan oleh naratif atau tanggapan bahawa masyarakat dibelenggu oleh rasa kecewa dan putus asa. Hakikatnya ialah kisah masyarakat kita merupakan kisah sebuah masyarakat yang diwarnai oleh sikap tabah dan tekad untuk menghadapi cabaran. Kisah kita merupakan cerita mengenai bagaimana sesetengah keluarga atau individu mencapai kejayaan walaupun berhadapan dengan pelbagai cabaran. Jika kita dijerat oleh tanggapan yang saya sebut tadi maka kita akan memperkecil usaha golongan ini dan percaya dengan stereotaip mengenai masyarakat kita. Kita mesti elakkan jerat serupa ini.

52. Saya amat berbesar hati dengan semangat para individu yang saya telah temui. Mereka tabah menghadapi masalah dan berjaya mengatasi hambatan dalam hidup dengan berganding bahu dengan pemimpin masyarakat dan Pemerintah. Saya yakin dengan usaha gigih setiap individu, masyarakat kita akan menempa kejayaan, Insya Allah.

53. Terima kasih.

Read more information on MCCY Budget Debate 2013