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Singapore’s next chapter in building a Malay/Muslim community of success
By Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Second Minister for Health.
In 2018, as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, I officiated the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) annual zakat distribution to lower-income families for the first time.
Back then, I asked whether the families were known to the Malay/Muslim community's self-help group Mendaki and whether the children were enrolled in its programmes. As it turned out, they were not.
Mendaki has many good programmes which have uplifted the educational achievements of the community over the years under the leadership of successive ministers.
I thought then that while these programmes were effective, they had not been scaled widely enough to reach every family in need.
A similar observation arose with the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (PA Mesra).
The group – meant to bring the Malay community together – was sizeable, but its membership and leadership had stagnated over the years, lacking the renewal needed to stay relevant and dynamic.
The community had achieved considerable success, but was confronted by new challenges.
As I took on the role of Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, I contemplated: How could the community build on its past successes? What would its next bound be?
These questions sparked the genesis of M3 (M-cube).
It was an initiative to bring the three key Malay/Muslim institutions – Muis, Mendaki and PA Mesra – under a single umbrella for stronger collaboration and to better support the community’s needs.
Before the establishment of M3, the three institutions engaged the community effectively but operated independently.
Individuals seeking their services had to approach each agency separately, as there was no structured framework for inter-agency coordination.
The idea was simple: Collaborate to achieve more. As the name M3 suggests, the aim wasn’t just to add value – it was to multiply it and create a bigger, lasting impact.
M3 in action
Once the organisations began working in synergy, we could focus on refreshing existing programmes and creating new ones.
M3 was to become the rallying call for the community – bringing the Government, community leaders and volunteers together to confront the challenges of the day.
The first mission was to strengthen last-mile service delivery by ensuring that services provided by one organisation were made accessible to the immediate clients of another.
We began with the five focus areas: strengthening marriages, parenthood and early childhood education, supporting vulnerable individuals and families, youth empowerment and mentoring, employment and employability, and health.
Our goal was clear – to enhance last-mile service delivery, ensuring that help would reach those who need it the most, with no one falling through the cracks.
To make a direct impact and tap into the expertise of professionals, we established 11 M3@Towns across the island.
These local hubs fostered collaboration at the community level, bringing M3’s services closer to the ground.
Building a community of success
M3 laid a solid foundation for the Malay/Muslim community to pursue its vision of becoming a community of success – a vision defined by three key pillars: Character, competency and citizenry.
First, I believe our community’s unique character is deeply rooted in the practice of Islam which upholds values of care and compassion.
At the inaugural International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS) in 2022, prominent religious scholars from around the world reached a consensus: minority Muslim communities can greatly benefit from a body of knowledge that guides them in applying Islam in context.
This perspective reinforces the importance of being valued citizens of our country – contributing to peace, harmony and progress. In Singapore’s multiracial and multi-religious society, this affirmation holds even greater significance.
It is because of this unique character that the Malay/Muslim community could respond to the Covid-19 crisis calmly.
The community contributed to the national effort at containing the pandemic, including postponing the haj pilgrimage and not congregating for the weekly Friday prayers. They even conformed to the safe management measures during Hari Raya visiting.
Recently when confronted with the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Mufti guided the community to remain calm and pray for peace.
The community funnelled its energy towards providing aid for the Palestinians, with organisations like the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation raising a record $12.8 million to date for the people of Gaza during this recent conflict.
Second, we aim to build competency by empowering the community to excel in education. Our goal is to nurture the next generation of Malay/Muslim professionals and entrepreneurs who will take on leadership roles across the private, public and people sectors.
Third, in building a united and strong Muslim community, we aspire to develop an active citizenry – one that contributes to nation-building and passionately gives back to the wider Singapore society.
Ultimately, this is about building trust with other communities. By staying strong, united and engendering trust with other communities, we can confidently and courageously tackle the challenges ahead.
Our progress
I am proud of the Malay/Muslim community’s achievements thus far. In just five years, we have achieved considerable scale in reaching out and uplifting the community.
Many have benefited from the enhanced accessibility of various community programmes under M3. Mendaki’s KelasMateMatika (KMM) early childhood initiative has supported over 10,000 parents and children.
The Bersamamu programme has helped more than 30,000 couples strengthen marital foundations through marriage preparation courses.
Beyond these, other M3 programmes have begun to positively impact our youth, workers and families in larger numbers.
Thanks to the combined efforts of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Mendaki, we’ve seen an increase in the proportion of Malays who hold PMET (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) positions from 23.4 per cent in 2000 to 39 per cent in 2020.
We’ve also witnessed a vast reduction in the two-year recidivism rate of Malay ex-offenders, from 35 per cent for the 2011 release cohort to 26 per cent for the 2021 cohort.
We have also built a strong pool of volunteers who played an instrumental role throughout this journey.
I’m heartened by the strong support of our 850 volunteers across 11 M3@Towns, who have devoted their time and talent to connect M3’s last-mile service delivery to citizens in need.
These volunteers are Malay/Muslim professionals from various fields – lawyers, doctors, engineers, social workers and civil servants – whom we called on to step up to give back to the community.
I’m pleased that they have the spirit of paying it forward. They volunteer their time and expertise at M3@Towns and contribute to ground-up initiatives. One example is the group of lawyers who provide essential pro bono legal services to the community and recently established a formal organisation, Peguam, to offer help in a more structured way.
Our achievements as a community have not gone unnoticed. Our success story has been seen as a model for other Muslim minority communities internationally.
In October 2024, Singapore hosted the second ICCOS, bringing together leaders of Muslim minority communities from around the world.
The conference focused on sharing experiences in integrating religious and cultural diversity while addressing socio-religious challenges in a multicultural society.
I am glad many of our young Muslims participated and heard first-hand the positive feedback from international participants about our model of religious and racial harmony.
This experience, I believe, instilled a strong sense of pride in all of us as Singaporean Muslims.
The road ahead
Today, the Malay/Muslim community operates from an ever greater position of strength.
We have an exciting journey ahead. I am optimistic that the five years ahead will be even better than the five years before.
To mark the culmination of five years of our renewed spirit of collaboration, the M3 Forum was held, bringing together 4,000 volunteers – both new and veterans. In his speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined the Government’s plans to work alongside the Malay/Muslim community to shape the next phase of development.
We look forward to upcoming plans such as the establishment of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS), the rejuvenation of the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt, the reopening of the Malay Heritage Centre in Kampong Glam and the restoration works of the Sultan Mosque.
SCIS represents an important milestone for the community. It seeks to groom our future religious teachers (asatizah) with the knowledge and skills to provide contexualised religious guidance for Muslim communities living in diverse and contemporary societies like Singapore.
Through these efforts, we will instil noble character in the next generation of Muslims. The recently established Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura (Singapore Community Endowment) will play an important role in supporting the long-term socio-religious needs of our Malay/Muslim community.
This will empower our community to become self-reliant and capable of addressing the needs of future generations.
Similarly, we look forward to the revitalisation of our cultural precincts in Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai. These iconic spaces hold a special place in the hearts of Malay/Muslims, as they are integral to our heritage, telling the stories of our community’s rich history and culture.
Building our future together
I am deeply thankful to all who have joined us on this journey. In addition to the collective efforts of M3 agencies, we are also grateful for the contributions of several other Malay/Muslim organisations. We also appreciate the strong support of government agencies and partners.
Mufti of Singapore, Dr Nazirudin Nasir, shared a hadith (sayings or traditions of Prophet Muhammad) in one of his Friday sermons: “Whichever part of the date palm tree you take, it is sure to be of benefit.” Mufti elaborated that the character of a confident, resilient and empowered Muslim is like a date palm tree that provides protection to others and contributes meaningfully to the world.
If a Muslim is like a date palm tree, then our community is like a date farm – a farm that thrives on collective strength. It flourishes when we work together with others in various areas, building trust with other communities and the Government.
This year, Singapore celebrates SG60. This is a significant milestone for our country, a celebration of how far we have progressed as a nation, and an occasion to rally all Singaporeans to build our future Singapore together.
In a similar way, SG60 presents an opportunity for the Malay/Muslim community to reflect on how far we have come as a community of success, and to re-commit ourselves to the cause of uplifting fellow members of our community and Singapore.
As the Malay proverb goes, “seikat bak sirih, serumpun bak serai”. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges and uncertainties, but it also brings hopes and opportunities for a brighter future.
I am confident that the Malay/Muslim community will continue to stand together in unity and solidarity, to build a bright future for our next generation.
Read it in Malay on Berita Harian here.
M³ Forum: Celebrating 5 Years of M³
M3 celebrates its 5th anniversary this year, marking a huge milestone in the efforts to uplift the Malay/Muslim community. To cap off the celebrations, over 1,000 community partners including Malay/Muslim organisations, professionals, and dedicated M³@Towns volunteers gathered on 10 November 2024 at the M3 Forum to celebrate this momentous occasion. We were also honoured to have Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in attendance as he gave a rousing speech in which he reiterated the Government’s commitment to support the Malay/Muslim community in achieving its vision of a Community of Success. PM Wong announced three transformative projects set to enrich the Malay/Muslim community’s cultural and educational landscape.
One of which is the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS). This college will serve as a monumental educational institution to shape future asatizah with the confidence to address contemporary challenges in Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious context.
Additionally, the rejuvenation of the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt, featuring a revitalised Tanjong Katong Complex, and the reopening of the Malay Heritage Centre at Kampong Gelam, will breathe new life into Singapore’s heritage spaces. A major upgrade to Sultan Mosque is also slated for next year.
The event also marked the launch of M³'s fifth anniversary book titled ‘Realising the Vision of a Community: The M³ Journey’ published by Berita Harian. Inspired by the resilience of the Malay/Muslim community through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, the book chronicles M³’s collaborative achievements since its inception and stands as an inspiration for volunteers, and a guide for leaders.
In addition, awards were presented to outstanding volunteers and for special projects, honouring the invaluable contributions that have helped shape M³'s impact over the years.
Minister Maliki also provided an update on the Organisation Volunteer initiative launched earlier this year, rallying support from organisations and corporations to encourage employees to give back through Project Dian. Changi General Hospital (CGH) is the first to step forward, recently leading an enriching KidZania experience for children and parents, sparking positive career conversations in a fun setting. Other partners, including the Public Service Division and TAQWA Financial Services, have also come onboard, with promising engagement from public service officers eager to volunteer with M³.
Malay/Muslim Community’s Appreciation Dinner for Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong
On 20 September 2024, a tribute event was held for Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong, organised by MENDAKI with support from various Malay/Muslim organisations.
SM Lee has significantly influenced the Malay/Muslim community and Singapore through his sensitive approach to issues like terrorism, the wearing of ‘tudung’ for our healthcare workers, and Section 377A.
The community expresses deep gratitude for his unwavering dedication and service, which have fostered unity and understanding. Together, we will continue to honour his legacy and uphold the values he has embodied for future generations.
Read more about it in Minister Masagos' Facebook post here.
Bersamamu 5th Anniversary Celebration
Bersamamu has provided invaluable support and guidance to Muslim couples across Singapore since its launch in July 2019. Through Bersamamu, the Naib Kadi (marriage solemnisers) will meet and befriend the couples they solemnise and provide marriage advice and refer them to national-level programmes and services.
At the event, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli officially launched the new Bersamamu logo, and presented awards to the dedicated Kadi, Naib Kadi, and female Asatizah, whose dedication have been instrumental in the success of the programme. Ustaz Pasuni Maulan and Ustaz Sallim Jasman, two highly respected Kadis, were each bestowed with the prestigious "Anugerah Kadi Sepanjang Hayat” (Lifetime Achievement Award) in recognition of their unwavering commitment to strengthening families’ efforts, beyond solemnising marriages, over their combined 100 years of service to the community.
Read Minister's Masagos speech here: Bersamamu 5th Anniversary Event
National Day Rally
At National Day Rally (NDR), Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong announced
the establishment of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SICS). THe
college aims to train asatizah to provide religious relevant guidance within
Singapore's context.
PM Wong reiterated his commitment to work with the Malay/Muslim community
to attain success.
Read PM Wong speech here: PMO | National Day Rally 2024 (Malay)
Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura
Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura (WMS) was officially launched on 3 August 2024 by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli. WMS, a new Islamic Endowment Fund by the community for the community, creates a long-term sustainable funding stream for the evolving needs of the Singapore Muslim community.
The establishment of WMS comes back to two important reasons:
A good Islamic practice and tradition. Our forefathers have bequeathed their land and properties for specific purposes that benefit the wider community, as guided by Islamic principles. We now have 91 Wakaf, as an Amanah, entrusted for us to preserve them for future generations. This is a practice that we can learn from and build on – but the last wakaf was contributed a long time back in 1978.
Renewing our mosque land leases. In the next 30 years, we will need at least $300 million to renew our mosque land leases in quick succession. Our existing community funds such as the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) and Zakat can support the community’s current operation needs. But in the long term, we need to do more to strengthen our religious institutions such as madrasahs, and develop our Asatizah sector.
By establishing the WMS, we will allow ourselves a long runway to raise smaller tranches of funds over time and generate a resilient income stream to support our future growing needs.
M3 Youth Festival
M3 Youth Festival returned for its sixth year on 6 Jul 2024. At the event, Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam launched Cool Yah Conversations.
The Cool Yah Conversations is a refreshed mentoring approach which will be implemented in M3@Towns. The 'flash mentoring' initiative provides flexibility and targeted mentorship that accommodates the needs and schedules of our youths. It builds leadership and mentoring skills among youths, empowering them to play an active role in the community.
Minister Hari Raya Get-Together 2024
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli hosted about 300 guests comprising community and interfaith leaders, volunteers and professionals who have contributed to efforts to uplift the Malay/Muslim community.
In his address, Minister Masagos shared how citizenry remains at the core of our Singaporean Muslim identity as we contribute to a united society, striving together for the common good. It is with citizenry that the Malay/Muslim community is more empowered and has built a strong foundation for itself.
Minister Masagos also announced the formation of Islamic Legacy Planning Workgroup and Pro-Tem committee to support Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura when it's launched.