Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli at Minister's Hari Raya Get Together on 4 April 2025

DPM Heng Swee Keat,

SM Teo Chee Hean,

Mufti of Singapore, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir

Community leaders,

Distinguished colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen.

Introduction

1. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. And good evening

Songket tenun warisan budaya

Bunga tabur corak pilihan

Sama berhimpun di Hari Raya

Salam dihulur mohon kemaafan

2. Thank you for joining me today for our annual Hari Raya Get-together. 

3. A special welcome to all our non-Muslim friends from the different communities. Your presence exemplifies Singapore’s multiracial society, where our diversity is our strength. Thank you for very much..

Reflections on the Malay/Muslim community’s journey

4. Indeed, we have much to be grateful for. Over the past 60 years, the Malay/Muslim community has made commendable progress in tandem with our nation’s peace and prosperity.

5. We did not achieve this by chance, but through deliberate and concerted effort.

• In the early years, successive community leaders worked hard to set robust foundations for the community.

• Our religious and ethnic-based organisations were committed to helping our Muslim community:

6. Recently, we strengthened these foundations, by working together to build a Community of Success.

• We coordinated the resources of MUIS, MENDAKI, and PA MESRA under the M³ framework, and many professionals stepped forward to give back.

• Last year, many of you attended M³’s fifth anniversary and I was glad to hear from you the positive impact that M³ had on the community.

7. Today, we stand as a thriving society built on these strong foundations.

8. But how can we chart our next bound of success?

9. Let me share three ways the Malay/Muslim community can move forward as a Community of Success. We must: “Go together”, “Go wide”, and “Go far”.

Go together: Coming together as one Malay/Muslim community to fulfil our shared aspirations

10. First, we must go together – stepping into the future hand-in-hand, as aunited Malay/Muslim community.

11. Over the years, our community has nurtured the spirit of gotong royong and strengthened our mutual trust. This trust produces unity, and unity achieves big results.

•  Today, our community contributes generously to uplift one another. For example, we raise $40 million annually for the Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund, and an additional $70 million in Zakat. Unity and generosity - are why we accumulate over $100 million every year from our small community of 650,000!

12. Beyond donations, many of you also giving much of your time and talent to support those in need.

• In fact, volunteering has become a multi-generational effort. Mr Deddy Zulkarnain, a systems analyst, started volunteering because of his father, Mr Kelane, a member of M³@Tampines and leader of Project Dian. He and his wife, Mdm Sharifah, have been conducting house visits to M³ Project Dian households in Tampines for three years now. During Hari Raya, they go the extra mile to distribute meals and care packages to these families.

• Last year, the 11 M³@Towns organised over 160 ground-up efforts, benefitting over 65,000 residents. Thank you to all who have helped in these efforts!

• Ladies and gentlemen, this is community unity in action. Going together, is how we can uplift our community.

Go wide: Building bridges across communities and contributing to a shared future

13. In the same spirit of gotong royong, we must go wide – looking beyond ourselves to strengthen bonds with other communities. This is of existential importance as it contributes to a strong and resilient society in Singapore.

14. Today, fostering racial and religious harmony has become part of our everyday lives in Singapore.

• The fact that leaders of different communities are here tonight is a testament of our collective commitment to our life of harmony. Similarly, Muslims also graciously partake in other communities’ festivities in Singapore.

15. Just as we come together during good times, we also stand by one another during tough times.

•  We have overcome many challenges over the years, and have emerged stronger than before, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

• And this is how we will face tomorrow’s challenges. United and together.

16. So let’s go wide and continue to look beyond ourselves. In this SG60 year, let us strive to connect with our fellow Singaporeans of all races and religions, show care for the vulnerable among us, and contribute to a better tomorrow. 

17. Let me continue in Malay.

Merentas Jauh: Memajukan masyarakat kita dengan penuh keyakinan

18. Hadirin sekalian, masyarakat Melayu/Islam telah mencapai kemajuan yang ketara sepanjang 60 tahun lalu. Dekad demi dekad, kita bekerja keras untuk membina asas yang kukuh bagi memperkasa masyarakat kita.

19. Untuk maju sebagai Masyarakat Gemilang ke tahap seterusnya, kita mesti meniti masa depan dengan Melangkah Bersama, Merangkai Jalinan dan Merentas Sempadan.

• Pertama, kita perlu Melangkah Bersama sebagai masyarakat yang bersatu padu untuk mencapai cita-cita yang kita idam-idamkan.

• Kedua, kita harus Merangkai Jalinan dengan membina kepercayaan dan persefahaman bersama masyarakat berbilang bangsa dan agama, demi membangunkan  sebuah masyarakat Singapura yang kukuh dan berdaya tahan.

• Akhir sekali, kita mesti Merentas Sempadan dengan merancang masa depan, berani mencabar batasan serta giat meneroka peluang-peluang baru.

• Dalam ucapan Bahasa Inggeris saya tadi, saya telah melakarkan bagaimana kita boleh Melangkah Bersama dan Merangkai Jalinan. Izinkan saya terangkan pula bagaimana kita boleh Merentas Sempadan sebagai satu masyarakat.

Merentas Zaman

20. Sempadan pertama yang kita harus rentas adalah sempadan masa atau zaman. Sedang masyarakat kita terus berkembang, kita harus cuba merentas apa jua sempadan atau batasan dan memikirkan keperluan kita sekarang dan jangka panjang. Ini supaya institusi keagamaan kita seperti masjid dan madrasah berkekalan dan mampan.

21. Atas dasar inilah kami wujudkan Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura (WMS).

• Sumbangan anda kepada WMS, tidak kira kecil atau besar, adalah sadaqah jariyah yang akan menjana pahala berkekalan hingga ke akhirat, InsyaAllah.

• Dana yang diterima akan dikumpulkan sebagai korpus wakaf. Pulangannya akan menyokong keperluan sosio-agama masyarakat Islam dalam jangka panjang. Inilah cara kita mengekalkan institusi keagamaan dan mendokong barisan asatizah kita.

22. Dalam  hal ini, sukacita saya ingin mengumumkan bahawa MUIS akan menganjurkan Perbincangan Meja Bundar Wakaf atau ‘Wakaf Roundtable’ hujung tahun ini. Kami akan mengundang para ulama tersohor tempatan dan antarabangsa. Mereka akan membincangkan pentadbiran wakaf yang inovatif untuk disesuaikan dengan konteks yang berkembang dalam masyarakat kita hari ini.

23. Semoga dengan kemurahan hati anda menyumbang pada WMS dan sokongan terhadap para ulama kita dalam membangunkan wakaf yang mampan, kita akan mengekalkan institusi keagamaan kita merentasi zaman.

Merentas Jauh dengan teknologi

24. Kedua, kita juga harus berani merentas teknologi.

25. Kita akur bahawa kekeliruan masyarakat dalam zaman internet, telefon bimbit dan media sosial timbul kerana kita tidak bersedia atau faham dampak teknologi yang meluas dan mendalam. Kini keterobosan besar teknologi dalam bidang seperti kecerdasan buatan atau ‘AI’, automasi, dan analitik data, berpotensi untuk mencetusi revolusi bagi pelbagai industri. Jika kita tidak bersiap sedia, ia boleh melenyapkan mata pencarian kita, walaupun kita berijazah sekalipun.

26. Ia juga boleh menyusup dan mengganggu amalan keagamaan jika ia mengganti peranan asatizah dengan wadah ilmu yang lebih menarik perhatian dan mudah diakses oleh golongan remaja. AI boleh melahirkan masyarakat yang tinggi ilmu tapi tidak beradab, jika masyarakat tidak mempunyai bimbingan yang betul daripada asatizah yang bertauliah.

27. Hanya dengan mendakap perubahan ini, kita akan mampu menerobos ruang-ruang dan peluang-peluang baru untuk berkembang dan merinitis sempadan yang belum pernah kita terokai. Saya sendiri sudah mula mempelajari cara menggunakan AI, dan ia merupakan pengalaman yang sangat menarik dan membuka minda saya.

• Baru-baru ini, semasa saya ada sedikit masa terluang, saya cuba mencipta sebuah lagu dengan menggunakan AI. Mula-mula saya karang sebuah puisi. Kemudian, saya gunakan ChatGPT untuk memperbaikinya, supaya dapat dikembangkan menjadi lirik sebuah lagu. Setelah itu, saya gunakan satu app muzik AI untuk hasilkan melodi dan rentaknya.

• Ayuh kita dengar sedutan lagu ini yang berjudul "Gemilang".

• Macam mana? Boleh tahan tak? Tak sangka, puisi saya yang pada mulanya agak sederhana itu, akhirnya menjadi sebuah lagu lengkap yang menggambarkan visi Masyarakat Gemilang kita.

28. Jadi, ayuh kita segera mendakap arus perkembangan ini. Kita boleh mula  dengan memahami bagaimana kita dapat memanfaatkan teknologi baru, dan menggunakannya demi mencapai kemajuan untuk Masyarakat Gemilang kita. Mari kita bersama merentas sempadan dengan teknologi!

Merentas Jarak

29. Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan, akhir sekali, kita harus berani Merentas Jarak - melangkau Singapura.

30. Hari ini, masyarakat Melayu/Islam kita membangun visi Masyarakat Gemilang atas tiga teras yang kukuh - keperibadian yang murni, kemahiran yang teguh, dan semangat kewarganegaraan yang aktif, untuk memperkasakan satu sama lain.

31. Keperibadian masyarakat Melayu/Islaml ah yang mendorong kita untuk menolong masyarakat Palestin yang ditimpa kezaliman dan kehancuran. Kita bersatu dalam semangat kemanusiaan! Dengan usaha luar biasa rakan kongsi M³ dan masyarakat, kita telah berjaya mengumpul hampir $2 juta untuk Gaza sejak beberapa minggu lalu. Kempen Aid for Gaza yang diterajui Yayasan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLAF). Ini adalah tambahan kepada sumbangan Singapura melebihi $20 juta setakat ini, bukti jelas sifat ihsan dan keazaman rakyat Singapura untuk membantu rakyat Palestin. Terima kasih atas kemurahan hati anda!

32. Pada masa yang sama, kemurnian peribadi kita yang melangkau Singapura hingga ke Palestin harus wujud untuk mereka yang berjiran dengan kita.

33. Semangat ini ketara pada hujung minggu lalu, apabila Pasukan Pertahanan Awam Singapura (SCDF) dengan segera menghantar satu misi penyelamat ke Myanmar untuk membantu mangsa-mangsa gempa bumi termasuk pegawai-pegawai yang beragama Islam yang tidak dapat beraya. Terima kasih kepada mereka.

•  Siang tadi, RLAF telah menganjurkan kutipan dana di masjid-masjid untuk mangsa gempa di Myanmar semasa solat Jumaat. Kutipan akan disalurkan kepada dana Palang Merah Singapura. Saya amat mengalu-alukan sumbangan anda semua.

34. Secara lebih luas, visi kita membangun Masyarakat Gemilang telah menarik perhatian masyarakat Islam minoriti antarabangsa yang mahu belajar daripada pengalaman Singapura.  

• Di Persidangan Antarabangsa mengenai Masyarakat Gemilang atau ICCOS Oktober lalu, para peserta seperti Dr. Baptiste Brodard, dari Universiti Fribourg, Switzerland, mengiktiraf pendekatan Singapura dalam menangani isu-isu kepelbagaian budaya dan agama dan menawarkan model alternatif bagi memupuk perpaduan sosial.

• Menyusuli ICCOS, RLAF pula menganjurkan Program Masyarakat Gemilang or Communities of Success Programme (COSP). Ia telah memberi para peserta peluang untuk mengunjungi institusi-institusi tempatan, dan mengambil bahagian dalam perbincangan mengenai pembangunan masyarakat Islam minoriti. Para peserta COSP datang dari pelbagai negara termasuk dari Papua New Guinea dan Sepanyol.

35. Baru-baru ini, saya bertemu dengan rakan-rakan sejawat, menteri-menteri dari Filipina, Kemboja dan Thailand. Mereka amat berminat dengan perkembangan Masyarakat Gemilang kita, dan mengalu-alukan peluang untuk bekerjasama  lebih erat dengan Singapura – khususnya dalam program pertukaran pengetahuan dan pembangunan keupayaan.

36. Sebagai menyahut permintaan mereka, saya ingin mengumumkan bahawa kami akan bekerjasama di bawah Forum  bagi Masyarakat Gemilang Serantau (Forum for Regional Communities of Success). Saya telah mengusulkan agar menteri-menteri negara tersebut bersidang di Singapura dalam waktu terdekat untuk berbincang lebih lanjut.

37. Forum ini akan dimulakan di Singapura dan mengandungi tiga komponen:

38. Pertama, COSP versi dua  akan melengkapkan para peserta dengan pengetahuan dan keupayaan untuk menyesuaikan apa yang telah dipelajari di Singapura dengan konteks tempatan mereka sendiri. Secara khusus, ini termasuk:

• Program-program pembangunan masyarakat yang diadakan di masjid sebagai wadah untuk mendekati masyarakat;

• Pembangunan keluarga, melalui program Bersamamu yang dikendalikan oleh ROMM; dan

• Program pementoran belia dan kepimpinan masyarakat.

39. Kedua, dengan COSP versi 2.0, kami akan bekerjasama dengan rakan kongsi seperti Yayasan Antarabangsa Singapura (SIF) untuk membawa para sukarelawan kita ke luar negara seperti Kemboja, Filipina dan Thailand untuk menjalankan program-program pembinaan keupayaan di negara-negara tersebut.

40. Program-program ini akan dilaksanakan agar sukarelawan masyarakat Melayu/Islam kita dilatih, supaya mereka berpeluang untuk menyumbang kepada masyarakat serantau dengan lebih efektif.

41. Ketiga, kita juga sedang meneroka peluang untuk menawarkan biasiswa atau program amali kepada para pelajar islam dari ketiga-tiga negara ini di peringkat menengah untuk melanjutkan pelajaran mereka di madrasah-madrasah Singapura.

42. Saya berharap kerjasama kita bakal membantu masyarakat minoriti Islam Kemboja, Filipina, dan Thailand sama menjadi Masyarakat Gemilang mereka sendiri, dalam usaha mereka untuk mencapai keamanan dan kemajuan. Sambil itu, kita terus mempertingkat dan membina usaha untuk memperkukuh Masyarakat Gemilang kita.

43. Marilah kita menjadi Masyarakat Gemilang yang selalu Melangkah Bersama, giat Merangkai Jalinan, dan sama-sama berjaya Merentas Sempadan, sekaligus menyumbang kepada kemakmuran Singapura dan dunia.

Conclusion

44. Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude in English.

45. As we continue to build a Community of Success, our Malay/Muslim community is in a position of strength.

• We uplift others in the community, chart new aspirations, and contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s progress.

• We also have much to offer to other communities beyond our borders.

46. And our road ahead is an exciting one with much to look forward to.

47. Let me outline some key highlights in the next five years.

• This June, the Advisory Panel of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) will convene in Singapore for the first time. Leaders from partner institutions and other renowned universities will meet to discuss insights on emerging global trends and the impact on contemporary religious issues.

• We will also induct the first batch of COSP 2.0 participants from Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand, and Singapore this year.

• Next year, in 2026, MUIS will hold the 3^rd edition of the International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS). It will be an opportunity to broaden discussion on initiatives of minority Muslims of Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand beyond Singapore.

• By 2027, Kampong Glam will be transformed, with a redeveloped Malay Heritage Centre and a newly restored Sultan Mosque that will showcase our Malay and Islamic cultural heritage.

• In 2028, SCIS will open its doors and welcome its first batch of students.

• In 2029, the new Tanjong Katong Complex will open, as a key node in our vision for the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt.

• And in 2030 and beyond, we will continue to grow our vision of a Community of Success that will create meaningful and lasting impact for our community and those around us.

48. As we chart our future, let us remember that the grandest vision is only possible when we stand united, with peace as our guiding principle.

49. History has shown us that unity and peace unlock progress.

• The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah demonstrated how the Prophet SAW prioritised peace and unity over confrontation and conflict, which paved the way for Islam to thrive beyond what the companions could imagine.

50. The lesson is clear: success is not just about ambition – it’s about wisdom, resilience, and the ability to stand together amidst difficulties with patience.

51. The road ahead is exciting, yet complex and uncertain. But we are a community that embraces challenges and turns them into opportunities to rise, uplift, and inspire.

52. Let us continue to build on the strong foundation we have laid. Let us remain steadfast in our values, unwavering in our commitment, and bold in our aspirations. Above all, let us never lose our greatest strength – our unity – that allows us to thrive in a multi-racial, multi-religious society, and to contribute meaningfully beyond our shores.

53. I am confident that we will go together, go wide and go far — as a thriving Community of Success.

54. Thank you, and Selamat Hari Raya!

English Translation

Go far: Confidently advancing our Community of Success

18. The Malay/Muslim community has made great strides over the last 60 years. For decades, we worked hard to build a robust foundation to empower our community.

19. To progress as a Community of Success for the next bound, we must: “Go together, Go wide, and Go far”.

• First, we must Go Together as one united community to achieve our collective aspirations.

• Second, we must Go Wide – by building bridges of trust and understanding with the different multi-racial and multi-religious communities to forge a strong and resilient society.

• Lastly, we must Go Far – to plan for the future and dare to push the boundaries and explore new possibilities.

• I have spoken on how we can “go together” and “go wide” in English. Let me now elaborate on how we can “go far” as a community.

Go far in time

20. The first boundary we need to overcome is the boundary of time. As the needs of the community continue to grow, we must “go far” by looking beyond the immediate needs and preparing for the long-term. This ensures our religious institutions, such as our mosques and madrasahs, remain sustainable.

21. On this basis, we have created the Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura (WMS).

• Your contributions to WMS, no matter how big or small, are enduring acts of faith that will reap long-lasting rewards.

• Funds received will be pooled to form a wakaf corpus. The returns generated will support the socio-religious needs of our Muslim community in the long term. This is how we sustain our religious institutions and asatizah fraternity.

22. In this spirit, I am happy to announce that MUIS will convene a Wakaf Roundtable later this year. We will invite local and international eminent religious scholars to discuss innovative wakaf administration practices that can be adapted to meet the evolving contexts in today’s society.

23. May your generous contributions to WMS and support towards our scholars’ efforts in developing a sustainable wakaf ensure the sustainability of our religious institutions over time.

Go far with technology

24. Secondly, we must “go far” by embracing technological changes.

25. We have seen that the advent of technology, such as the internet, mobile phones, and social media, had resulted in societal disruptions because many were not prepared for or did not understand the widespread impact of technology. Today, new technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics, have the potential to revolutionise industries further. If we are not prepared for these changes, it could disrupt livelihoods, even among degree holders.

26. AI could also potentially affect our religious practices if it replaces the role of our asatizah by providing a more attractive and easily accessible platform of knowledge to our youth. Without proper guidance from our asatizah, AI could create a society that is highly knowledgeable but lacks strong character that is rooted in faith.

27. It is only by embracing change that we will be able to break through new spaces and leverage opportunities to grow and explore new areas that we have not explored before. I myself have been learning how to use AI, and it has been an enriching and eye-opening experience.

• Recently, during my leisure time, I tried to create my own song using AI. It started with a poem, which I wrote. I then used ChatGPT to refine my poem, which was subsequently developed into lyrics. After which, I used a music app to generate the melody and rhythm.

• Let’s have a listen to a snippet of “Gemilang”.

• Not bad right? Little did I expect a simple poem could turn into a song that encapsulates our vision of a Community of Success.

28. I encourage everyone to keep up with new developments in tech. We can start by understanding how to harness new technologies and use them purposefully to build our Community of Success. Let us go far with technology, together!

Go far in space

29. Ladies and gentlemen, lastly, we must go far in space – beyond the boundaries of Singapore.

30. Today, our Malay/Muslim community is realising our vision to be a Community of Success, which is anchored on three Cs – good Character, strong Competency, and active Citizenry, to uplift one another.

31. It is in this spirit that the community has responded to the call to support the Palestinians who have been afflicted by injustice and devastation. We are united in the spirit of humanity! Through the extraordinary efforts of M³ partners and our community, we have raised close to $2 million for Gaza over the last few weeks. The Aid for Gaza campaign organised by Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF). To date, Singapore’s total contributions have exceeded $20 million. This is proof of the empathy and determination of the people of Singapore to help Palestinians. Thank you for your generosity!

32. At the same time, we must extend this same spirit of care and empathy to our neighbours in the region.

33. This was evident just last weekend, when the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) promptly deployed our officers to assist with disaster rescue efforts for the victims of the earthquake in Myanmar.

• This afternoon, RLAF organised a fundraising collection at all mosques in Singapore after Friday prayers for the earthquake victims in Myanmar. The collections will be channeled to the Singapore Red Cross. I encourage all of us to contribute generously where we can including our Muslims officers who  had to  celebrate Hari Raya away from families. Thank you.

34. More broadly, our efforts to build a Community of Success have garnered international interest from countries that are keen to learn from Singapore’s experience.

• During the International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS) last October, participants such as Dr. Baptiste Brodard, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, recognised Singapore’s approach to managing religious and cultural diversity matters and lauded these efforts as an alternative model to fostering social cohesion.

• RLAF also organised the Communities of Success Programme (COSP) following ICCOS. It provided participants with the opportunity to visit local institutions and participate in discussions on ways to develop minority Muslim communities. Some of these participants even come from countries like Papua New Guinea and Spain.

35. I recently visited Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand, and met with my counterparts. They have expressed interest in our community’s progress, and look forward to establishing deeper partnerships with us – particularly in knowledge exchange and capacity building programmes.

36. In response, I am pleased to announce that we will be developing a Forum for Regional Communities of Success. I have proposed that the Ministers of these countries convene in Singapore in the near future to take the collaboration forward.

37. The Forum will be initiated in Singapore and will consist of three components:

38. First, the COSP version 2.0 programme – which will create opportunities for participants from Cambodia, The Philippines and Thailand to participate in:

• Mosque-based programmes, which leverage mosques as centres for community development programmes and outreach;

• Family development, for example through the Bersamamu programme by the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM); and

• Youth mentoring and community leadership programmes.

39. Second, we plan to work with partners like the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) to bring our volunteers overseas such as Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand to serve and conduct capacity building programmes in these countries under COSP version 2.0.

40. These programmes will give our Malay/Muslim volunteers the opportunity to contribute to the community more effectively.

41. Third, we are also exploring the possibility of offering scholarships or attachments for Muslim secondary school students from these countries at our madrasahs.

42. I hope that our collaboration will help the minority Muslim communities of Cambodia, The Philippines, and Thailand shape their own Communities of Success, thereby contributing to greater peace and progress in their respective societies. And as we do so, we will continue to build up and scale new heights as a Community of Success 

43. Let us continue to be a Community of Success that goes together, goes wide, and goes far, as one united people.