Malay-Muslim panel's report also makes other suggestions
By Maryam Mokhtar, The Straits Times, 9 Jul 2013
AN INDEPENDENT Malay-Muslim panel has recommended that an in-depth study be done on discriminatory practices at workplaces in Singapore.
It has also called for resources in the community to be streamlined to make it easier for people to get help.
For instance, a website with information on national and community-level aid schemes can be set up, said the group in a report on ways to uplift the community.
The report, released to the media yesterday, also recommended programmes for needy families, especially in pre-school education as "it is critical... (that children) have the necessary foundation when they start Primary 1".
These are among the key recommendations made by the 13-member panel, Suara Musyawarah, formed last October to gather feedback on the thoughts, concerns and aspirations of the Malay-Muslim community.
The report, however, is to be a "conversation starter", not a prescriptive guide to resolving all issues facing the community, said Suara Musyawarah's chairman Sallim Abdul Kadir.
About 500 people of various ages and income groups gave their views and ideas during 35 focus group sessions held over six months, until May this year.
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who was given the report on Sunday, said it found the community has the desire to move forward.
Dr Yaacob will give his response to the report at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering with MPs and community leaders on Aug 23.
Yesterday, Mr Sallim said the discussions show the Malay-Muslim community has a strong sense of belonging to Singapore, and a desire among the needy to get a job, improve their skills and give their children a better life.
"They are not looking for handouts," said the panel's vice-chair Saleemah Ismail.
The report noted that some issues, like discrimination or perceived discrimination, are not unique to the Malay-Muslim community.
It said some gave accounts of discrimination when applying for jobs. For instance, some employers said they preferred non-Malays and there were accounts of women workers being told they could not wear the tudung (headscarf).
Such cases should be reviewed, and if justified, investigated further and acted on, said the report.
"Maybe there are valid reasons. So let's be open in public as far as we can so that people can move on," Mr Sallim said.
It also suggested a more in-depth study to find the best way to weed out discrimination at work.
The report also suggested that the Community Leaders Forum pool data resources of its partners and provide linkages to national agencies and other groups for information exchange and to help needy Malay-Muslim families.
The forum, set up in 2003, brings together more than 100 partners including Malay-Muslim organisations and family service centres.
As for pre-school education, it found that the home environment of many poor families did not encourage studying and that the parents, with little education, were unable to coach their children.
"There is a lot of willingness to help and a willingness to be helped. Perhaps what we need to focus on is the level of outreach so that those who need the help get it," said the committee's vice-chairman Alwi Abdul Hafiz.
The report is online at: suaramusyawarah.com
Malay/Muslim community aspires to do better: Yaacob
By David Ee, The Straits Times, 8 Jul 2013
AN INDEPENDENT study of the concerns and aspirations of a broad cross-section of the Malay/Muslim community has found that they all want to move forward, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday.
Those interviewed - including residents of rental flats and parents of school dropouts - wanted their children to do better, he added, noting that this was an aspiration shared by other Singaporeans.
"That's a very important signal to us that even the people at the bottom have a sense of hope that they can do better than the previous generation," he said, after being presented with a copy of the Suara Musyawarah report.
Dr Yaacob, who is also the Communications and Information Minister, praised the 13-member study panel chaired by Mr Sallim Abdul Kadir, head of human capital at a telecommunications firm, for seeking out views from a broad cross-section of the community, including "people whose voices we have never heard before".
The panel was formed last October and the report will be made public only tomorrow.
Over 35 focus group sessions, the group tapped more than 500 people for their views, including professionals, the working class, taxi drivers and single mothers.
Dr Yaacob, speaking at the Malay Heritage Centre, said he would study the findings to see what could be done.
He will give his response on Aug 23 at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering with MPs and community leaders.
But, he stressed, the study was a "starting point" for engagement.
The panel made the news in April when lawyer and civil society activist Nizam Ismail quit it as "a matter of principle", after also leaving the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) due to alleged government pressure.
He had spoken at the Population White Paper protest in February, and a Workers' Party youth wing forum in March.
Mr Nizam, after leaving the AMP and Suara Musyawarah committee, questioned whether the Government welcomed a diversity of opinions.
Yesterday, Mr Sallim, responding to accusations that his panel was biased, countered that members had been "objective and impartial".
Meanwhile, at another event yesterday, Dr Yaacob launched several initiatives for Ramadan, including an inter-faith home makeover programme to benefit 50 needy Muslim and non-Muslim families.
The Muslim fasting month is scheduled to start on Wednesday.