Faishal Ibrahim to be Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs

Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, who is being promoted to Senior Minister of State, will be appointed Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, as part of Cabinet reshuffle moves.

- Hariz Baharudin

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on May 21 that Prof Faishal will take over the Muslim Affairs portfolio from Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, who held the position for seven years.

During a press conference about the reshuffle, PM Wong also said that Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad will take over the chairmanship of self-help group Mendaki. He is currently deputy chairman.

"So, Faishal and Zaqy, together with other Malay/Muslim office-holders and MPs, will continue to engage the Malay/Muslim community closely, building on the strong foundations we have today and working with the community to realise our shared goals," said PM Wong.

He added that he, too, will work closely with the community.

"Engaging the Malay/Muslim community was a priority for me in the last term, and it will continue to be a priority in this new term of government," said PM Wong.

Leadership transition in the Malay/Muslim community had been a matter that PM Wong said he had discussed with Mr Masagos.

PM Wong noted that Mr Masagos had done a good job during his tenure, having advanced many initiatives such as M3 - a partnership between Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (Mesra).