Nurturing a Culture of Giving for the Future

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY DEBATES 2024 SPEECH BY SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH & MINISTRY OF LAW RAHAYU MAHZAM

Nurturing a Culture of Giving for the Future

 Mr Chairman,                        

Introduction

1.            Over the last five years, we have worked hand-in-hand with our Malay/Muslim organisations to build up the M³ network. The structures we have in place have enabled us to deal head on with various needs of our community, while complementing the Government’s efforts at the national level.

 2.            A sense of Citizenry has been at the heart of what M³ has accomplished so far. Entrenched within it the culture of giving which will continue to be integral to our Community of Success.

3.            We have established a strong foundation for contribution through M³. I will share three ways we can build on this legacy:

 a.    First, equipping our youth for the future;

b.    Second, empowering our community to take ownership of their health; and

c.     Third, encouraging more volunteers to step forward and play a part.

Equipping Our Youth for the Future

 4.            Mentoring is important as it guides our youth to realise their potential. It can also be transformative when those who have benefitted from the experience, pass it on, creating a virtuous cycle of giving. 

5.            To create a thriving mentoring culture in the Malay/Muslim community, we set up the Youth Mentoring Office, or YMO under MENDAKI, in 2019. Since then, YMO has trained and deployed over 1,600 mentors to support more than 5,700 mentees through various mentoring programmes under M³’s Focus Area 3. 

 6.            Mr Sharael Taha asked how we ensure the continued relevance of our mentoring programmes. We conducted youth mentoring programmes in four M³@Towns at Jurong, Pasir Ris-Punggol, Tampines, and Woodlands last year, and will now be refreshing our approach to bring mentoring programmes closer to more youth. By the end of this year, we will offer at least one youth mentoring programme at each of our 11 M³@Towns.

 7.            One new mentoring programme we will be introducing at our M³@Towns, as well as mosques and Institutes of Higher Learning is “Cool Yah Conversations”.

 8.            It adopts the concept of flash mentoring, a first of its kind approach in our mentoring programmes. Flash mentoring takes place over a shorter period and will combine interest-based activities like sports and games with impactful mentoring interactions in areas of personal development, educational transition, and career guidance. We hope that it will resonate with youth and lower barriers for them to get involved. Through this programme, we aim to reach 1,000 youth within a year, over and above the youths who will be engaged through our existing mentoring programmes under YMO.

 9.            To Mr Sharael Taha’s query, beyond mentoring programmes, MENDAKI also offers their Future Ready programmes which help youth better understand the changing work landscape and provide avenues for them to explore jobs in growth industries.

 10.          Key to the success of these programmes are our passionate and dedicated youth mentors. Most have benefitted from MENDAKI’s many initiatives, and now find ways to give back to the community.

 11.          One of them is Arinna Fithriyya Ridzuan. In 2019, Arinna received MENDAKI’s Special Achievement Award for Excellence and Anugerah Cemerlang MENDAKI. Today, she works at the National Youth Council and has been a mentor to Nur Odelia Mohamed Azme since Odelia’s second year of studies at ITE College Central through the #amPowered@ITE programme. With Arinna’s support, Odelia learnt to build self-confidence and take charge of her personal development. Odelia is now working with MENDAKI’s Care Advisors to explore potential post-tertiary pathways.

12.          Our youth mentors also join me and my fellow Malay/Muslim Members of Parliament including Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Ms Nadia Samdin and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim in the YOUth@M3 Engagement sessions, and various M³@Town programmes. These include Youth Edge for vulnerable youth which Ms Mariam Jaafar advises, the Youth Network Mental Health Townhall that Dr Wan Rizal champions and learning journeys to STEM companies that Mr Sharael Taha organises.  

13.          I hope our youth mentors continue to inspire others to join our mentoring community in supporting others realise their aspirations.

Chairman, in Malay, please.

Memperkasa Masyarakat Bertanggungjawab Menjaga Kesihatan

14.          Kesihatan adalah anugerah yang harus kita jaga dengan penuh tanggungjawab. Gaya hidup sihat membolehkan kita menjadi warganegara yang aktif dalam masyarakat.

 15.          Seorang contoh teladan yang prihatin terhadap kesihatan adalah Iylia Shukor. Beliau gigih menggalak masyarakat Melayu/Islam mengamalkan gaya hidup sihat dengan menganjurkan program-program kesihatan bagi mereka. Apabila bidang tumpuan kelima M³ diperkenalkan tahun lalu, Iylia memanfaatkan program Saham Kesihatan untuk bekerjasama dengan lebih banyak rakan masyarakat. Sejak itu, beliau sudahpun menganjurkan acara bulanan jalan pantas 5km bersama Balai Rakyat Kembangan Chai-Chee, Pejabat Daerah Braddell Heights, Wisma Geylang Serai dan Masjid Kassim serta sesi-sesi Qigong di balai rakyat sekitar M³@Geylang Serai.

16.          Dr Wan Rizal bertanya bagaimana inisiatif M³ mendorong usaha menjaga kesihatan masyarakat. Sukarelawan seperti Encik Iylia membuktikan bahawa Saham Kesihatan boleh memperkasa masyarakat Melayu/Islam untuk menerajui program-program kesihatan mereka sendiri. Menerusi Saham Kesihatan, mereka boleh menerima sokongan daripada agensi M³ seperti PA MESRA dan Lembaga Penggalakan Kesihatan, atau HPB, untuk melaksanakan program-program kesihatan, termasuk untuk kesejahteraan mental.

17.           Tahun lalu, lebih 500 peserta menyertai program-program Saham Kesihatan. Mereka memberi maklum balas bahawa mereka seronok dapat turut serta kumpulan masyarakat yang memupuk semangat saling menyokong satu sama lain agar menjalani gaya hidup sihat. Tahun ini, kita mahu menggandakan usaha untuk melibatkan 1,000 peserta. Demi mencapai sasaran ini, saya mengajak lebih ramai individu seperti Encik Iylia memanfaatkan Saham Kesihatan supaya program-program kesihatan dapat mendekati masyarakat Melayu/Islam kita.

 18.          Selain Saham Kesihatan, M³ juga bekerjasama dengan HPB dan rangkaian Jaga Kesihatan Jaga Ummah di mana para anggotanya kerap bergabung menganjurkan inisiatif menggalak amalan sihat. Pada 2023, lebih 40,000 penduduk meraih manfaat program-program JKJU. Kita boleh menjangkakan lebih banyak program JKJU di bandar-bandar M³ sepanjang tahun ini.

 19.          Menerusi JKJU dan Saham Kesihatan, masyarakat Melayu/Islam juga menyumbang kepada kempen negara, SG Yang Lebih Sihat yang bertujuan membantu rakyat Singapura menjaga kesihatan. Saya berharap kita terus mendakap amanah menjaga kesihatan sedang kita sama-sama membina masa hadapan yang lebih bermakna. 

 Menggalak Lebih Ramai Sukarelawan Tampil Memainkan Peranan

 20.          Dalam melakar masa hadapan, kita juga mengimbau kemajuan kita sejauh ini. Dr Syed Harun bertanya sama ada inisiatif M³ membawa peningkatan dalam pelibatan masyarakat. Sejak ditubuhkan lima tahun lalu, M³ telahpun membina prasarana dan menjalin rangkaian yang membolehkan kita membantu masyarakat secara berkesan, termasuk warga yang lebih memerlukan. Dengan adanya rangka kerja ini, kita memerlukan lebih ramai sukarelawan tampil untuk membantu menjayakan inisiatif M³.

21.          Para sukarelawan kita, yang turut merangkumi karyawan daripada pelbagai bidang, memainkan peranan penting dalam menjalankan program-program di M³@Bandar – termasuk memulakan program baru dan mendampingi keluarga-keluarga yang memerlukan agar mereka terhubung dengan program bantuan sosial.

 22.          Justeru, kita terus berusaha memastikan para sukarelawan dilengkapi kemahiran dan ilmu mendekati masyarakat secara berkesan. Tahun lalu, kita telah mempertingkatkan Rangka Kerja Pembangunan Keupayaan Sukarelawan menerusi Siri Seminar M³. Tahun ini, Pejabat Penyelarasan Pelibatan Masyarakat M³ atau M³ ECO dan PA MESRA bakal bekerjasama dengan Institut Kepimpinan Masyarakat Kebangsaan untuk menganjurkan bengkel bagi para sukarelawan. Melalui bengkel sebegini, mereka boleh mempelajari cara-cara mendampingi penduduk dengan lebih bermakna ketika melakukan lawatan rumah ke rumah.  Para sukarelawan juga dapat meningkatkan pemahaman tentang khidmat di peringkat nasional, lantas, membolehkan mereka menyokong penduduk untuk membina keluarga teguh dan berdaya bingkas.

 23.          Misalnya, menerusi Projek Dian, para sukarelawan boleh menyediakan sokongan menyeluruh kepada keluarga-keluarga Melayu/Islam di flat-flat sewa. Mereka juga akan mendampingi keluarga-keluarga ini untuk lebih memahami keperluan mereka dan menyarankan huraian serta khidmat yang sesuai. 

 24.          Salah seorang sukarelawan adalah Cik Eryannie Mohamad, Duta Dian M³@Geylang Serai yang terdorong untuk menggalak ibu bapa agar lebih prihatin terhadap pembangunan awal kanak-kanak. Pada November 2023, Cik Eryannie dan para sukarelawan lain bekerjasama dengan MSR Interior Design untuk menggantikan perabot dan mengecat rumah seorang penerima bantuan bagi menyediakan sekitaran lebih selesa untuk pembelajaran anak-anak dan keluarga mereka meluangkan masa bersama.

 25.           Ia juga penting bagi M³ bekerja rapat dengan MMO untuk menangani isu-isu yang memerlukan pendekatan khusus. Contohnya, Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura, atau PPIS, menyediakan sokongan bagi wanita Melayu/Islam. Sememangnya, MMO memainkan peranan penting di peringkat masyarakat dan nasional, dan kami mengalu-alukan lebih banyak lagi MMO dan rakan kerja berganding bahu menyokong keluarga-keluarga dan masyarakat kita.

 26.           Terima kasih Encik Saktiandi Supaat kerana menyarankan beberapa bidang di mana para sukarelawan boleh tampil menyumbang. Izinkan saya mengongsi peluang-peluang kerja sukarela di bawah M³ yang menepati citarasa dan kemahiran mereka yang berminat menyumbang.

 a.    Para pelajar pengajian tinggi boleh menyertai program #amPowered sebagai mentor kepada murid-murid Program Tuisyen MENDAKI, ataupun program “Cool Yah” di M³@Bandar.

 b.    Jika anda seorang karyawan, anda boleh menyumbang ilmu dan pengalaman sebagai mentor atau penceramah program-program pementoran M³, atau menyokong karyawan lain menerusi Rangkaian Karyawan MENDAKI.

 c.     Mereka yang mahu menyokong kanak-kanak atau keluarga-keluarga yang memerlukan boleh mendaftar sebagai pemudah cara KelasMateMatika atau Duta Projek Dian.

d.    Mulai tahun ini, rakan-rakan korporat juga diundang bekerjasama dengan M³ untuk memupuk budaya menyumbang di pertubuhan anda di mana para pekerja yang berminat boleh berkhidmat sebagai sukarelawan di M³@Bandar semasa waktu bekerja.

 27.           Saya sangat menggalakkan para Anggota Parlimen menguar-uarkan peluang kerja sukarela ini di kawasan undi anda. M³ juga bakal menjalankan sesi-sesi pengambilan sukarelawan sepanjang tahun ini, dan mereka yang berminat boleh mendaftar menerusi lelaman atau media sosial M³. 

Conclusion

28.          Mr Chairman, a culture of contribution, driven by active citizenry underpins the spirit of M3. Every one of us has a stake in ensuring that we continue to thrive as a Community of Success. There are many ways we can contribute in our different capacities – whether through pledging to the WMS, committing our time and effort as volunteers and mentors, or even as a corporate partner. I hope that many more of us will step forward to join this noble cause to uplift our Malay/Muslim community. 

English Translation

Empowering our Community to Take Ownership of their Health

14.          Health is a blessing and we have a responsibility to take ownership of it. Leading healthy lifestyles also enables us to be active citizens in our community.

15.          Take Iylia Shukor as an example. Determined to encourage our Malay/Muslim community to adopt healthier habits, he actively organises health programmes for residents. When we introduced M³’s fifth Focus Area on community health last year, Iylia tapped on Saham Kesihatan to collaborate with more community partners. He has since organised monthly 5km brisk walking events with Kembangan Chai-Chee Community Centre, Braddell Heights Constituency Office, Wisma Geylang Serai and Kassim Mosque as well as Qigong sessions at community centres in M³@Geylang Serai.

16.          Dr Wan Rizal asked how M³ initiatives spur efforts to take charge of our community’s health. As exemplified by Iylia’s experience, Saham Kesihatan empowers our Malay/Muslim community to drive their own health promoting programmes. Through Saham Kesihatan, they can receive support from M³ agencies like PA MESRA and the Health Promotion Board, or HPB, to implement programmes on health, including for mental well-being.

17.           Over 500 participants took part in Saham Kesihatan programmes last year. Participants gave feedback that they enjoyed being part of a community which fosters a strong sense of support for one another to lead healthy lifestyles.  This year, we aim to double the reach to benefit 1,000 participants. To achieve this, I invite more enablers like Iylia to leverage on Saham Kesihatan to bring community-led health promoting programmes to our Malay/Muslim community.

18.          Besides Saham Kesihatan, our M³ agencies also work with HPB through the Jaga Kesihatan Jaga Ummah, or JKJU network where members regularly come together to collaborate on initiatives that encourage healthier habits. In 2023, more than 40,000 residents benefitted from JKJU programmes. We can expect more JKJU programmes at the M³@Towns coming our way this year.

19.          Through JKJU and Saham Kesihatan, our Malay/Muslim community also contributes to the national Healthier SG campaign which aims to help all Singaporeans take ownership of health. I hope we will embrace this responsibility towards our health as we strive for a meaningful future together.

Encouraging More Volunteers to Step Forward and Play a Part

20.          In looking to the future, we also take stock of how far we have come. Dr Syed Harun asked whether M³’s initiatives have led to improvements in community engagement. Since its formation five years ago, M³ has developed structures, and networks, for us to effectively contribute to benefit others, including the vulnerable. With this ready framework, all we need are more volunteers to support the last-mile delivery of our M³ initiatives.

21.          Our volunteers comprise professionals from different fields who have been instrumental in the delivery of programmes at our M³@Towns – from initiating new ones that meet needs on the ground, to befriending vulnerable families and connecting them with social assistance programmes.

22.          Therefore, we continue to ensure volunteers are equipped to engage the community effectively. Last year, we enhanced our Volunteers’ Capability Building Framework with the M³ Seminar Series. This year, the M³ Engagement Coordination Office, or M³ ECO, and PA MESRA will work with the National Community Leadership Institute to organise capability building workshops for volunteers. Through such workshops, our volunteers will learn to engage residents more meaningfully through house visits. They will also be able to increase their understanding of services at the national level. This will help them to support residents in building strong and resilient families.

23.          Through Project Dian for example, our volunteers provide holistic and wrap-around support for Malay/Muslim families residing in rental flats. They journey with families to better understand their needs and connect them to the relevant services.

24.          One such volunteer is Mdm Eryannie Mohamad, a Project Dian Ambassador from M³@Geylang Serai who was motivated to encourage parents to take greater interest in their children’s early childhood development. In November 2023, Mdm Eryannie and her fellow volunteers even collaborated with MSR Interior Design to refurnish and repaint a beneficiary’s home to provide a more conducive environment for their children’s learning and family bonding.

25.          It is also important for M³ to work closely with MMOs to deal with issues that may require a more culturally nuanced approach. For example, MMOs like the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association, or PPIS, provide support for Malay/Muslim women. MMOs play a key role as convenors and connectors at the community and national level, and we are happy to have more MMOs and partners come alongside us to support families and our community.

 26.          We thank Mr Saktiandi Supaat for his suggestions on areas where volunteers can make a difference. Allow me to share some of the volunteer opportunities within M³ that suit the interests and skillsets of those who wish to contribute.

 a.    Our tertiary students can join as mentors for the #amPowered programmes for MENDAKI Tuition Programme students, or for the new “Cool Yah” programme at the M³@Towns.

 b.    If you are a working professional, you can contribute your knowledge and experience as mentors or speakers for M³’s youth mentoring programmes, or to support other professionals through MENDAKI’s Professional Networks.

 c.     Those who want to contribute towards supporting children or vulnerable families can sign up as facilitators for our KelasMateMatika initiative or as Project Dian Ambassadors.

 d.    Starting this year, our corporate partners are also invited to collaborate with M³ to cultivate a culture of giving in your organisations where interested staff can serve as volunteers at our M³@Towns as part of their work hours.

27.           I strongly urge my fellow MPs to share these volunteer opportunities with your respective constituencies. M³ will also be conducting volunteer recruitment drives throughout this year, and those interested can sign up via the M³ website or our socials.