MENDAKI to provide more education & employment support to Malay/Muslim community in Singapore

There are currently nine professional networks to, among others, provide support to professionals in the community who are aiming to grow their network and give back to the community.

The Commitee of Supply (COS) debates in Singapore have seen various Ministers, Ministers of State, as well as Members of Parliament sharing their plans to provide support for Singaporeans in their respective industries and communities. 

During his speech at the debates on 6 March 2024 (Wednesday), Zaqy Mohamad, Deputy Chairman, MENDAKI (who is also Senior Minister of State for Manpower), shared plans to strengthen foundations in education and employment for the Malay/Muslim community. 

SMS Zaqy shared two key plans for the Malay community:

1. First, MENDAKI Singapore will expand education programs for children and youth, such as the KelasMateMatika (KMM) for preschoolers, which experienced a 74% enrolment surge from 2022 to 2023, reaching nearly 3,200 participants. The MENDAKI Tuition Programme, offered across 100 physical and virtual centres, also witnessed a 15% enrolment rise over the past 5 years, serving over 9,000 students in 2023. These expansions are achieved through strong partnerships with community allies and the M3@Towns initiative.
   
2. Secondly, MENDAKI has established nine Professional Networks in the care, green, and digital sectors and plans to add four more, including healthcare and media, this year. With more than 450 Malay/Muslim professionals involved, the initiative aims to expand networks, contribute to the community, exchange ideas, and assist younger workers in entering growing industries. Additionally, MENDAKI's corporate partnerships, like with Micron Semiconductor, offer scholarships to engineering students in polytechnics for three years.

In that vein, SMS Zaqy also shared that this year's COS debate focused on the Singapore Malay/Muslim community's vision of a 'Community of success', which encapsulates the three Cs — Character, competency, and citizenry, and will be supported by M³ — which comprises of Muis, MENDAKI & PA MESRA — to better serve the needs and aspirations of the community. 

The key takeaways from the leader's speech are as follows: 

Bringing the 'Community of success' to new heights 

Exemplifying citizenry on the world stage 

• Mufti has been appointed to the international Forum of Research and Studies of Muslim Minorities. 
• MoUs on Halal Cooperation with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan will not only allow halal food imports from these countries, but also enable Singapore companies to export products overseas, paving the way for more business opportunities to new markets.

Empowering religious & community leaders 

• The second edition of the International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS) will take place in October, and will focus on how citizenry and community leadership are underpinned by religious values.
• In addition, there will be nine accredited female asatizah to provide specialised support for women under the M³ Bersamamu programme.

Encouraging a culture of contribution to strengthen community institutions

• At least S$3.6mn will be pledged to Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura to support future needs of the Singapore Muslim Community.
• S$2.37mn reserves will be invested by 14 mosques through the Mosque-Wakaf Investment Plan.

Bringing the Community of Success to new heights 

strengthening education as a pillar for progress

• KelasMateMatika saw a 74% increase in enrolment for parents and children in 2023, as compared to 2022. 
• The MENDAKI Tuition Programme grew 15% in 5 years, reaching more than 9,000 students in 2023.

empowering the community to thrive & contribute 

• More than 450 individuals in MENDAKI'S Professional Networks to share and exchange industry experiences, facilitate contributions to the community and expand their networks. 
• MENDAKI has also established new corporate partnerships, for instance, with Micron Semiconductor, which offer scholarships, internships and opportunities for employees to mentor students.

grooming community leadership

• The Tunas Bersama M³ programme is an 18-month programme dedicated to nurture the generation of leader of Malay/Muslim organisations (MMOs).
• The second cohort is expected to commence in April 2024. 

Shaping a giving culture for the community 

Equipping youth for the future 

• To make mentoring accessible to youths, all M³@Towns will have at least one mentoring programme by year-end. 
• A new 'flash mentoring' programme — Cool Yah Conversations will be introduced, combining interest-based activities with meaningful mentoring interactions to lower barriers for youths to participate.

Taking ownership of one's health

• More than 40,000 have benefited from Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah (JKJU)’s network of initiatives to encourage residents to build healthier habits. 
• M³ are calling for volunteers to come on board Saham Kesihatan to drive health initiatives for 1000 residents in 2024.

Encouraging more volunteers to step forward 

• To encourage volunteers to step forward and play a part, the trio will continue to develop ways to equip volunteers with relevant skills and knowledge is introduced, such as learning to engage with residents better.

READ MORE: Your guide to navigating Ramadan in the workplace

Lead image / SMS Zaqy Facebook