New advisory panel for Islamic college among 5 key updates in Malay/Muslim affairs
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Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli announced several initiatives for the Malay/Muslim community during the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth’s budget debate on March 10.
PHOTO: MDDI
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SINGAPORE – A high-level advisory panel will be convened to guide the development of Singapore’s first Islamic college, while a programme to help families in rental flats own their homes will be expanded.
These were among the moves relating to Malay/Muslims announced during the debate on the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth’s budget on March 10. Here are the key takeaways:
1. Advisory panel for new college
To guide the development of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS),
The first meeting of the panel, which will be chaired by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, is scheduled for June, on the sidelines of the International Conference on Cohesive Societies.
Other leaders on the panel include Singapore’s Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, Grand Mufti of Egypt Nazir Mohamed Ayyad and Dr Salama Dawood, president of Al-Azhar University.
The Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura, a community endowment fund established in 2024,
The wakaf has raised $6.25 million so far, of which close to $1 million comprises cash contributions and the remainder is in pledges. Besides funding the SCIS, the money will be channelled towards other needs of the Muslim community, such as financing the renewal of mosque leases, mosque maintenance and the development of religious teachers, or asatizah.
The SCIS is expected to open its doors in 2028. The college is currently in the process of establishing partnerships with the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Egypt’s Islamic advisory body Dar al-Ifta, the University of Jordan and Morocco’s Al-Qarawiyyin University.
Mr Masagos also provided updates on the common salary guideline for asatizah, which ensures salaries are benchmarked to relevant sectors.
Implemented progressively since 2023, the guideline has benefited more than 400 religious teachers, he said. More than 80 per cent of asatizah working in Singapore mosques and madrasahs have seen their salaries rise to meet the guidelines, with an average increase of between 5 per cent and 12 per cent.
2. Expansion of Project Dian@M3
Project Dian@M3, a programme to help Malay/Muslim families in rental flats buy their own homes, will be expanded to reach 1,000 more households.
The programme will reach all 11 M3@Towns by end-2025, up from the current six M3@Towns, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman.
The new towns are Marsiling-Yew Tee, Nee Soon, Pasir Ris-Punggol, Toa Payoh and Woodlands.
Since its pilot in 2021, the project has engaged more than 535 households. More than half of these are families with young children who benefit from additional support, Mr Maliki added. This support includes children being matched with volunteers who read to them at home.
3. Tie-ups on using AI in tuition programme
Mendaki will sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre and Quantedge Foundation to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its tuition programme.
Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said the move to integrate AI tools into the Mendaki Tuition Programme curriculum aims to better prepare students with the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven future.
The tuition programme served 9,700 Malay/Muslim students in 2024. It currently operates from 100 physical and virtual centres across Singapore.
Enrolment has grown by 35 per cent over the past five years, said Mr Zaqy.
4. New community mentoring scheme
To celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday, a mentorship programme will be launched to link secondary school students with professionals, some of whom are seniors.
The PA Mesra 60 for 60 programme will bring together 60 mentors and 60 Malay/Muslim secondary school students from various schools, Mr Maliki said.
The initiative aims to boost students’ confidence and equip them with skills in project management, public speaking and presentation.
Students will work with their mentors to come up with and lead their own community projects in areas of their interest, such as sustainability.
5. Fund raiser for Gaza
All 11 M3@Towns will come together to raise funds for humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza.
A fund-raising initiative, called Aid for Gaza, aims to raise $600,000 over six weeks in collaboration with Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation. It has collected $266,000 in the campaign’s first two weeks.
Mr Maliki said: “The situation in Gaza remains volatile, and Gaza still needs much help in the areas of humanitarian aid and reconstruction. The situation is more critical now, as they observe their fast in the month of Ramadan.”
