Malay/Muslim Community's Needs Have Evolved: Faishal Ibrahim

Refined support platform including newer Malay/Muslim groups being formed, he says

- Zhaki Abdullah

A refined framework bringing together the efforts of both established Malay/Muslim organisations and newer groups is being formed, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.

This initiative will go beyond the existing M³ framework that supports the Malay/Muslim community, he said, referring to the partnership between self-help group Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (Mesra). M³ was formed in 2018.

The change comes as the needs of the Malay/Muslim community have evolved, as have engagement methods and the types of community groups in Singapore today, said Associate Professor Faishal in an Aug 27 interview to mark his 100 days in office, on Aug 31.

He said that in ground engagements he has done since being put in charge of Muslim affairs in May, community groups have expressed "very strong aspirations" to partner with him.

They include Malay/Muslim and Indian Muslim organisations, some of which have been around for decades, even predating Singapore's independence - as well as newer ones and informal groups, he said.

"This is where I would like to develop a platform, at the broad level, to galvanise not only the synergy, but also the resources that we have... in developing the Malay/Muslim community," he said.

While in the past Muis, Mendaki, Mesra and established Malay/Muslim organisations would focus on certain core areas of work, new groups have come up outside of this ecosystem to improve lives, which has changed the landscape, he noted.

"So working or developing things based on the past may not work for this new landscape," said Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs.

He cited MudaSG, a non-profit established in 2021 which aims to empower younger Malay/Muslims.