The document discusses the evolution of self-help efforts within the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore, emphasizing the need to adapt these strategies to contemporary social challenges. It proposes three key strategies for enhancing community engagement and improving social mobility, including re-evaluating the role of community organizations and fostering inclusivity. Additionally, the document highlights the importance of addressing social inequalities and ensuring that support systems evolve to meet the changing expectations and aspirations of the community.

1. ISSUE 02
2018
RUBRIX
A Newsletter by Research and Planning Department
Yayasan MENDAKI
SINGAPORE MALAYS:
NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION

2. CONTENTS
01
05
Re-Conceptualising Self-Help in the
Malay/Muslim Community: 3 Strategies
Social Cohesion for the Future
12
15
“What Can I do to Help?” A Refreshed Approach
to Networked Social Service
Yayasan MENDAKI Post-National Day
Rally 2018 Policy Forum:
Planting the Seeds for the Future
10 National Day Rally 2018 at a Glance
08 The M³ Partnership: Buttressing Early
Learning in the Community

3. 1
ISSUE 02/2018
I N T H E M A L A Y / M U S L I M C O M M U N I T Y:
3 S T R A T E G I E S
By: Fitri Zuraini Abdullah and Siti Afiyah Mustapha
RE-CONCEPTUALISING
SELF-HELP
“We are a community that can solve any problem
that we face in future, because we have done well
in the past and we have the strength and the
ability to do so.”
- MinisterMasagosZulkifli(StraitsTimes,2018)
Historically, the ethos of self-help is fundamental to
Singapore’s social and asset-building policies to build self-
reliance; at the same time, it has closely influenced the
outlook and development of the Malay/Muslim community
post-independence. In reviewing literatures in this period
containing the keywords “self-help” and “Malay community”,
one cannot help but observe that the central praxis in
academia and policy commentaries is to capture narratives
of the “Malay problem”. Perhaps the first establishment of
“self-help” in the policymaking ambit for the community
was then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s response to
his first Minister for Home Affairs and Social Welfare Mr
Othman Wok, with regard to the financial support asked
by Malay businessmen: it is to teach a man on how to fish
(successfully), rather than simply giving him the fish. Later at
the MENDAKI Congress in 1982,Prime Minister Lee KuanYew
expressed in his opening address:
This problem is of concern to all Singaporeans
and not just to Malay Singaporeans. It is in the
interests of all to have Malay Singaporeans better
educated and better qualified and to increase
their contribution to Singapore’s development.
(Ministry of Culture, 1982)
This political rhetoric emphasises that the self-help blueprint
in the early days was mainly to counter perceived ethnic
“deficits”. Yet, this is debatable as some may point to the
glaring shortfall of the Malay/Muslim community
highlighted in the population census, and the fact that
post-independence the community has went from being the
majority to the minority within a day.
The inauguration of the self-help group scheme was
contentious, as it appeared to racialise a community’s
needs and issues, instead of adopting a more nationalised
solution to educational and other societal needs. Today,
the presence of self-help groups is pragmatic as members
of a community are more likely than those outside it to
grasp and act on the specific challenges of the community.
In this vein, leaders involved with self-help and community
organisations are more likely to appreciate the cultural
resources they can capitalise, and be cognisant of the cultural
sensitivities within which they must work. This echoes the
strong community support that bolster self-help efforts in
the past, as asserted by Mr Lee Kuan Yew:
A government-run scheme cannot achieve
a quarter of the result of this voluntary,
spontaneous effort by Malay/Muslims to help
themselves. You can better succeed because
you will be more effective with Malay/Muslim
parents than the government school teachers
and principals. You can reach them through their
hearts, not simply their minds. You have the
motivation, the dedication and the commitment

4. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
2
which can make the difference between a student
who tries and tries again, and one who gives up.
(Ministry of Culture, 1982)
Nonetheless, the relevance and effectiveness of the
Malay/Muslim social and voluntary sector in meeting
the needs of its community is being tested with time.
Self-help efforts are no longer pegged to the old concerns
but by new expectations of how well it looks after its most
vulnerable segments.The ways of the past,separate solutions
for separate issues, or “one solution for all” (it was, and
is still considered to be Education) is no longer sufficient
for the community to buttress itself against future socio-
economic onslaughts. Social issues are increasingly complex
and interlinked. It is no longer just securing upwards social
mobility, as this goal has increasingly been met through
increasing nominal salaries and economic viability of the
Malays, but to balance the unmet needs with the changing
aspirations of future generations. The analogy of teaching
the man to fish is still apt – self-help is not just a concept
but a culture that we continue to strive in; however the
man is ought to be taught to anticipate the weather and
the sea. The question is also whether the ways in which
Malay/Muslim community have approached its concerns in
the past can be transferred to future challenges, especially
with a view to the large systemic changes and the
consequential impacts that are projected. Three key
strategies are proposed to re-conceptualise and refresh
the culture of self-help for the community, to embrace
the evolving complexities and challenges of its generation.
those from lower-income families do not get left behind as
society progresses. Without active intervention, society will
naturally stratify and social mobility will slow down.
These are issues that the social service architecture is
adapting to, and we witness an increasingly decisive shift
in social policy from self-reliance to greater inclusivity.
The National Council of Social Services for example has
outlined a sectoral transformation plan with a 6-step
approach: (1) holistically address the situation, (2) easier
access, (3) cross-agency collaboration, (4) co-locate agencies
that complement, (5) enabling and supporting local
community efforts, and (6) bringing people together at the
local level. Inter-agency collaborations that bring together
public, private and social sectors are being tightened to
tackle complex social issues. The establishment of seven
MENDAKI satellite centres across the island aiming
at bringing the social services closer to rental
neighbourhoods is an example. Through hard data and
COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS NEED TO
ASSESS WHETHER THEY ARE BEST-PLACED
TO ENGAGE DEEPLY STRUCTURAL SOCIETAL
CHALLENGES SUCH AS SOCIAL MOBILITY
AND POVERTY; OR DEFINE AND TAKE-UP
NATIONAL ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION
AND HEALTHCARE AS LARGELY THE
COMMUNITY’S RESPONSIBILITY
Assess one’s position in the ecosystem
First, community organisations need to assess whether
they are best-placed to engage deeply structural societal
challenges such as social mobility and poverty; or define
and take-up national issues like Education and Healthcare
as largely the community’s responsibility. Solutions to
such deep-rooted issues require communities to engage
with larger structural concerns to ensure its sustainability,
which it is neither meant, nor equipped to handle.
In Singapore, as social mobility continues to get more
difficult with time, there is a need to actively ensure that

5. 3
ISSUE 02/2018
qualitative observations, MENDAKI is able to ensure that
these satellite centres are situated at hot spots for
the underserved Malay/Muslim population, whilst
simultaneously identifying and engaging the assets
that are present at the particular neighbourhoods. The
latest MENDAKI@Choa Chu Kang is designed to facilitate
opportunities for residents to contribute their skills and
expertise to the development of society (Berita Harian,
2018). An effective self-help community entails an actively
engaged, coordinated community which owns and presents
a coherent response to its issues and carefully channels its
resources where most needed.
Determine one’s value proposition
Second, as structural issues are gradually being
addressed by the government, community organisations
have to continuously re-align and assess their value
proposition in uplifting the community. For example,
in addition to provision of programmes and services,
advocacy could be a competency and lever that community
organisations can pull to extend their impact through
policy change. Rather than being merely service providers,
organisations can provide platforms to leverage and
support change agents within households and the broader
community. The value of community organisations lies in
its ability to straddle both the public institutions and the
ground – to identify and flag out groups that have fallen
THE VALUE OF
COMMUNITY
ORGANISATIONS LIES IN ITS
ABILITY TO STRADDLE BOTH
THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
AND THE GROUND – TO
IDENTIFY AND FLAG OUT
GROUPS THAT HAVE
FALLEN THROUGH THE
CRACKS OR GAPS IN
POLICIES, AND DELIVERING
THE “LAST MILE”
INSTITUTIONS AND
ORGANISATIONS
MUST COLLECTIVELY
WORK TO FIND WAYS
TO SCALE ITS IMPACT
WITHOUT SCALING
THEIR SIZE. THEY
HAVE TO BE SELF-
REFLECTIVE, AND
AVOID ANY IRONIES
IN THE MIRROR
through the cracks or gaps in policies, and delivering the
“last mile”.
To illustrate this, MENDAKI has advocated on the issue
of getting more Malay/Muslim children into pre-schools
(a priority for M3
). Through its engagement with families
and social agencies, it found that low and low-middle
income household face financial hurdles in sending their
children to pre-school. Caregivers are highly aware and
convinced of the importance of early childhood education,
and they shoulder greater responsibility for their child’s
education. However this sentiment juxtaposes the childcare
enrolment numbers amongst these families. MENDAKI sees
a role that community stakeholders can fulfil in helping
the families to access the available assistance and giving
the “last mile” push. The voices on the ground brought to
attention a Catch-22 Situation when considering placement
of their children in childcare centres – to obtain maximum
government subsidies, the mothers must be in formal
employment. Yet, for our Malay mothers, to be employed
means the children must already be in an alternative care,
which they cannot afford in the first place without the
subsidies. Even with the maximum claimable Basic Subsidy,
Additional Subsidies and Start-Up Grant, some families

6. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
4
References
Berita Harian,Singapore (Sep 23,2018).Mendaki lancar pusat satelit di Choa Chu Kang.
Retrieved from https://www.beritaharian.sg/setempat/mendaki-lancar-pusat-satelit-di-
choa-chu-kang
Ministry of Culture,Singapore.(1982).Prime Minister’sAddress at Opening Ceremony
of the Congress of the Council on Education for Muslim Children (MENDAKI)AtThe
Singapore Conference Hall on 28 May 82.Retrieved from http://www.nas.gov.sg/
archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/lky19820528b.pdf
Ministry of Culture,Community andYouth,Singapore.(June 28,2018).Acommunity
that soars: Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli,Minister-in-charge of MuslimAffairs at
Minister’s Hari Raya Get-Together. Retrieved from https://www.mccy.gov.sg/news/
speeches/2018/Jun/a-community-that-soars.aspx
National Committee onYouth Guidance and Rehabilitation,Singapore.(2015).The
Right Side: 20Years of Rebuilding Lives.Retrieved from https://www.msf.gov.sg/NYGR/
Documents/The%20Right%20Side%202.pdf
The StraitsTimes.(Aug 29,2018).3 Malay/Muslim groups joining hands to tackle
issues shows ‘we can solve any future problems’: Masagos.Retrieved from https://www.
straitstimes.com/singapore/masagos-3-malaymuslim-groups-joining-hands-to-tackle-
issues-shows-we-can-solve-any-future
would still face difficulties in paying for the un-subsidised
portion of the start-up cost and monthly child care fees.
The value-add of community organisations is their ability to
detect the changing expectations and aspirations of families
and enable them. At this stage it is important to emphasise
the paradigm shift from viewing those it is helping
“as victims that need saving”, inadvertently perpetuating
the crutch mentality, to see them as “potential leaders”
with assets and aspirations to cultivate within their families.
Scale impact sustainably
Third, the Malay/Muslim social and voluntary sector
must be strengthened. Institutions and organisations must
collectively work to find ways to scale its impact without
scaling their size. They have to be self-reflective, and avoid
any ironies in the mirror. The levers for scaling impact may
be seen as peripheral to the missions of the organisations.
Yet if they are to meet the community’s most pressing social
challenges, these new strategies and approaches will need
to commit to an outreach method that is sustainable and
targeted to new populations, while maintaining ties with
their existing audiences. In addition to this, it must also
recognise the right partners with the right resources
that can enhance its value offerings and collectively fill
the gap in the social service ecosystem. A case in point is
the outcome from the Inter-Ministry Committee
between Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA), and Ministry of Social and
Family Development (MSF) on Prevention of
Re-Offending to address the problem of re-offending
amongst juvenile delinquents in 2009. A Cental Youth
Guidance Office was established aimed at “life-course
perspective of at-risk youths and an integrated approach
across agencies to identify, engage and intervene at all
stages of youth’s life” (National Committee on Youth
Guidance and Rehabilitation, 2015). Notably, it brought the
resources and agenda of the various agencies together to
work together for the at-risk youths, their families,
and their schools – not against, or having to choose one
consequence over the other.
The three strategies discussed are fundamentally what
M3
aims for the community going forward. The ethos of M3,
whilst still grounded in programmes and services, goes
beyond to pool resources and knowledge from every corner
of the community to address fundamental concerns tied to
values,demographics and aspirations.It is a community-wide
movement that is able to tap on the experience and resilience
inherited from the past, address present concerns, and to
mitigate future needs. It builds a self-reflexive community
that is agile and is not satisfied with just getting by,
but seeks to continuously improve and stay ahead.

7. 5
ISSUE 02/2018
SOCIAL
COHESION FOR
THE FUTURE
Today, Singapore is a vibrant cosmopolitan hub with
skyscrapers, efficient transportation systems and a thriving
economy to fuel each and everyone’s Singaporean Dream.
Of course, none of these would have been possible
without the blood, sweat and tears of our older generations
who built Singapore from grounds up to provide their
future generations with a better tomorrow
Likewise, our youths today will inherit Singapore
and continue to add to the foundation laid by
those before them. But with current narratives on inequality
and the need of social cohesion becoming more prevalent,
how do we ensure that our Malay/Muslim youths would
be equipped for the challenge and contribute positively to
the society when they take over?
During her address at the second session of the thirteenth
parliament, Mdm Halimah Yacob emphasised on the need
to tackle inequality in order to forge a caring and cohesive
society. Since then, inequality has been the buzzword on
many national platforms. There is an urgent need to tackle
this issue to prevent a stratified social system that would
affect the lives of Singaporeans. In a study conducted
by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) with 3000 Singapore
citizens and permanent residents, there is a
gap highlighted between classes with regards
to education and housing (Straits Times, 2017).
Elites in private housing and schools generally do not mix
around with their counterparts and vice versa. Researchers
have suggested that people with similar backgrounds tend
to gravitate towards one another as they feel that they are
unable to connect with those of a different background.
In an interview conducted by Channel Newsasia, a resident
shared that they avoid going near rental flats as the
environment looks foreboding and the residents there may
be “less educated” (Ng & Toh, 2018). These narratives might
undermine social cohesion which would threaten the fabric
of our society as we know it.
Multiple literature has provided evidence that those of a
higher socio-economic background tend to have higher
educational and occupational goals than those of a lower
socio-economic status (Sewell & Shah, 1968). Empirical
findings have shown that education is a tool policymakers
leverage on to increase mobility and alleviate poverty, with
the end goal of possibly minimising social stratification
(Carlton & Winsler, 1999). This upstream effort generally
By: Dhaifina Dasri
PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR
BACKGROUNDS
TEND TO GRAVITATE
TOWARDS ONE
ANOTHER AS THEY
FEEL THAT THEY ARE
UNABLE TO CONNECT
WITH THOSE OF
A DIFFERENT
BACKGROUND

8. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
6
targets children in order to start providing equal
opportunities at a much younger age to catch
up with their fellow age-mates. In contrast, an
article suggested that for a meritocratic state
like Singapore, equal head start might not translate
to equal end results (Smith, Donaldson, Mudaliar,
Md Kadir, & Lam, 2015). Perhaps, those of higher
socio-economic status can afford additional
tuition or enrichment classes to help them attain their
educational goals while their counterparts are unable to.
Similarly, scholars have also highlighted that education
in itself does not necessarily contribute to social cohesion
and that there will always be stratification in terms of
educational background.
In the Digital Sensing on Youth Concerns report conducted
by National Youth Council (NYC) and MENDAKI’s Future
Ready Conversation Series, it is apparent that youths are
suffering the weight of inequality and have called for a more
inclusive society. They are feeling the brunt of it in their
everyday lives and fears that it would affect their future
life chances. This is especially plain in the Malay/Muslim
community with anecdotal references from the latter report
showing fear of not being able to attend university due to
tough admissions in local universities or lack of substantial
financial support for overseas universities and being viewed
as “lazy” due to the negative connotation attached to
their race. Needless to say, this train of thought
might lead to dissatisfaction and resignation. Malay/
Muslim youths might see this as a rat ace and
deterrence in realising their aspirations further. On a
much grimmer note, youths born into disadvantaged
families will still be trapped in the vicious cycle of low
education and low income if they feel that they are being
looked down upon. The lack of mutual understanding
between classes might breed distrust and in turn, fuel
class tensions (Ng & Toh, 2018). The investigative account
featured in the CNA Insider (Paulo and Low, 2018)
highlighted everyday Singaporeans voicing how
social interactions and behaviours entrench deep and
widening class divide; illustrated by a student’s comment
“I think rich people treat poor people badly…because
they think they’re rich, so they don’t really know what
it’s like to be poor”. How then, as the forerunners of
Singapore’s future, do we help our youths maintain
social cohesion?
Minister Ong Ye Kung mentioned that Singapore has to
look forward when crafting policies in order to survive
(Straits Times, 2018). On a national level, policymakers have
taken measures to propagate integration. Housing and
Development Board (HDB) has launched three Build-to-Order
projects with rental and sold flats within the same block.
There are also efforts underway to continually refresh and
THE LACK
OF MUTUAL
UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN CLASSES
MIGHT BREED
DISTRUST AND IN
TURN,FUEL CLASS
TENSIONS
M³
COLLABORATION
IS LIKETHE
MALAY SAYING
“SEIKAT BAK SIRIH,
SERUMPUN BAK
SERAI”
rejuvenate estates to avoid ending up with deteriorated
neighbourhoods that are largely occupied by lower income
groups and elderly residents. In the educational landscape,
Ministry of Education (MOE) will work with elite schools to
ensure that they do not become self-perpetuating, closed
circles (Prime Minister’s Office, 2018). In addition, MOE has
introduced the Values in Action programme in 2012 as part

9. 7
ISSUE 02/2018
Ng, K., & Toh, E. (29 May, 2018). The Big Read: Social stratification — a poison
seeping into Singapore’s housing estates and schools. Retrieved from
Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/the-
big-read-social-stratification-a-poison-seeping-into-10283526
Paulo, D.A. & Low, M. (2018, October 1). Class – not race nor religion – is
potentially Singapore’s most divisive fault line. Channel NewsAsia,
Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/
regardless-class-race-religion-survey-singapore-income-divide-10774682
Prime Minister’s Office. (19 August , 2018). National Day Message 2018.
Retrieved from Prime Minister’s Office: https://www.pmo.gov.sg/national-
day-rally-2018
Prime Minister’s Office. (16 May, 2018). PM Lee Hsien Loong at the debate
on the President’s Speech 2018. Retrieved from Prime Minister’s Office:
https://www.pmo.gov.sg/newsroom/pm-lee-hsien-loong-debate-presidents-
speech-2018
Sewell ,W. H., & Shah,V. P. (1968). Social Class, Parental Encouragement,
and Educational Aspirations. American Journal of Sociology,Volume 73,
Issue 5, 559-572.
Smith, C.J., Donaldson,J.A., Mudaliar, S., Md Kadir, M., & Lam, K. (2015).A
handbook on inequality, poverty and unmet. Social Insight Research Series,
1-86.
Straits Times. (28 December, 2017). New study finds clear divide among
social classes in Singapore. Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Straits Times. (14 September , 2018). Singapore must take a long-term
perspective to survive in a changing world. Singapore.
Yayasan MENDAKI. (2018). Future Ready Conversation Series. Singapore.
Referencesof its Character and Citizenship Education to develop socially
responsible youths who are able to contribute meaningfully
to the community.This component can be used to encourage
engagements and collaborations between youths from
different backgrounds. On a community level, youth
programmes such as AMP’s Youth Enrichment Programme,
MENDAKI’s Mentoring @ MTS and Empowerment
Programme for Girls serve as platforms where volunteerism
plays an effective role in bridging the gaps between classes.
In this case, the mentoring relationship would be able to
facilitate understanding between diverse backgrounds as
well as conduit of resources. If anything, the mentoring
relationship of different classes might motivate and uplift
the disadvantaged youths to strive harder to break out of
their current cycle.
In his National Day Rally speech 2018, PM Lee Hsien Loong
mentioned that the M³ collaboration is like the Malay saying
“Seikat bak sirih, serumpun bak serai.” As a community,
we should tap on our resources to assist those who are in
need. This collaboration would be especially effective in
fostering social mixing with the combination of resources
and expertise within all 3 organisations – MUIS’
beneficiaries, MESRA’s engagements at heartlands and
MENDAKI’s programmes. With this partnership and what
it stands for, we can further entrench the gotong-royong
spirit in our community and most importantly in our
youths. As we elevate our status from a third to first world
country, there will definitely be new forms of inequality
that will arise in any society. While the government is doing
all that it can to curtail the issue, our youths who would be
most affected would have to collectively unite and uplift one
another in other to maintain Singapore’s social cohesion. It is
only then can Singapore be, “A society where every skill and
talent is recognised, developed and celebrated and where
those who have done well contribute back to society, and
help others to do better” as envisioned by PM Lee during
his conclusion at the National Day Rally 2018.

10. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
8
In his inaugural speech as Minister-in-charge of Muslim
Affairs at the 2018 Hari Raya Get-Together, Mr Masagos
Zulkifli talked about harnessing the collective synergy
of three key community institutions – Yayasan MENDAKI,
the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and the
People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees
Council (MESRA) – to tackle community challenges under
the M³ framework. One of the major initiatives of M³ is
to strengthen preschool support for Malay/Muslim families.
This is a timely move: Malay/Muslim children continue
to be overrepresented among students in the learning
support programmes at Primary One, even after government
measures to level access to early learning by (1) offering
financial assistance for childcare and kindergarten enrolment
to low-income families, and (2) expanding low-cost
kindergartens run by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
By: Muhammad Farouq Osman
BUTTRESSING EARLY LEARNING IN THE COMMUNIT Y
Social workers have noted that while preschool enrolment
is high nationally, regular preschool attendance is found
wanting among children of families they have worked with.
As a result, the latter often miss classes in preschool and end
up being unable to even spell their names, let alone count,
by the time they enter primary school. The problem
compounds itself as the children progress through primary
education, as the stigma of falling behind in lessons
translates into poor motivation and self-esteem. Overseas
studies have shown that children who lack exposure to
learning and development opportunities during their
first five years are more likely to experience negative life
outcomes in their adulthood, such as chronic health issues,
joblessness and crime. It is this lack of school-readiness and
its attendant social ramifications that M³ hopes to tackle.
In line with the above mission, Minister of State for
Manpower and MENDAKI’s deputy chairman Mr Zaqy
Mohamad announced the KelasMateMatika@CC (KMM)
programme, which aims to boost numeracy skills among
Malay/Muslim preschool children from needy families.
KMM, which is offered free-of-charge, equips children with
basic numeracy concepts, and their parents the know-how
to impart those skills at home. Needless to say, KMM is a
muchwelcomedcomplementtoregularkindergartenclasses:
it has the potential to not only ignite, but sustain children’s
interest in mathematics through its unique pedagogy.
The extra exposure will help ensure that these children are
ready for primary school, thus stemming the trend of Malay/
Muslim children enrolling in learning support programmes
at the primary level. The significance of KMM as the M³
collaboration’s very first initiative is not to be understated:
beyond simply building foundation in mathematics, it is
ONE OF THE
MAJOR INITIATIVES
OF M³ IS TO
STRENGTHEN
PRESCHOOL
SUPPORT FOR
MALAY/MUSLIM
FAMILIES
THE M³
PARTNERSHIP:

11. 9
ISSUE 02/2018
meant to equalise access to quality preschool programmes.
Young children from middle- and upper-class families
are already enrolled in not only regular preschool, but
high-quality enrichment classes that run the gamut from
coding to speech and drama. KMM helps to bridge this
gap by offering mathematics enrichment to Malay/Muslim
families who otherwise cannot afford similar programmes
offered commercially. Furthermore, by familiarising
Malay/Muslim parents early on with the mathematics
syllabus at the preschool level, KMM empowers them to
take an active, longer-term interest in their children’s
education beyond primary school.
Overall, KMM signifies the beginning of M³’s concerted
efforts to strengthen outreach and last-mile service delivery
to low-income Malay/Muslim families. This is done by
everaging the unique strengths of each of the three
organisations. KMM, a programme which has its roots in
NEEDLESS TO SAY, KMM
IS A MUCH WELCOMED
COMPLEMENT TO REGULAR
KINDERGARTEN CLASSES: IT
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO NOT
ONLY IGNITE, BUT SUSTAIN
CHILDREN’S INTEREST IN
MATHEMATICS THROUGH
ITS UNIQUE PEDAGOGY
THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF KMM AS THE M³
COLLABORATION’S VERY
FIRST INITIATIVE IS NOT
TO BE UNDERSTATED:
BEYOND SIMPLY BUILDING
FOUNDATION IN
MATHEMATICS, IT IS MEANT
TO EQUALISE ACCESS
TO QUALITY PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMMES
KMM, A PROGRAMME
WHICH HAS ITS ROOTS
IN MENDAKI’S TIGA M, IS
NOW REACHING MANY
MORE MALAY/MUSLIM
FAMILIES IN NEED, WITH
MUIS BENEFICIARY FAMILIES
GETTING ON BOARD AND
MESRA’S SPREADING
AWARENESS ABOUT KMM
VIA ITS GRASSROOTS
NETWORKS
MENDAKI’s Tiga M, is now reaching many more Malay/
Muslim families in need, with MUIS beneficiary families
getting on board and MESRA’s spreading awareness about
KMM via its grassroots networks. Such tripartite partnership
bodes well for the community, as it lays the ground for
future collaborations to support education for our young
children. For example, the M³ network could be used to get
more Malay/Muslim families to join MENDAKI’s Cahaya M
developmental programme, which, like KMM, involves both
children and their parents in the pursuit of learning but
covers subjects beyond mathematics to include thinking
skills and the languages. In the long term, M³ could partner
government agencies and family service centres (FSCs) to
address the issue of irregular kindergarten attendance,
which is commonly found in families facing multiple
stressors. This is where each of the M³ agencies could tackle
different aspects of a family’s challenges, and provide an
ecosystem of support together with other government and
social agencies.
M³ showcases our community’s commitment to tackle
inequality by focusing on early education and ensuring
that families have a strong start. However, government
agencies and community institutions are only as effective
as the contributions of the rest of the community – especially
youths and professionals – in volunteering and supporting
the cause. It is only with everyone’s involvement can we
ensure that no child will be left behind.

12. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
10
NATIONAL DAY RALLY
Getting more young children to attend pre-school
Demand for pre-school has increased, particularly for the
younger age groups, with more dual-income families and
working grandparents, and more recognising the importance
of early childhood development
No. of children aged between two
and four enrolled in pre-schools
2018 90,000
2012 66,000
No. of children aged 5 – 6 years in
pre-schools
2018 75,000
2012 71,000
50,000 – No. of new pre-school places created over the last
5 years to meet growing demand, with another 4,000 to be
added by the Government by 20232
500-600 – No. of new cases of children from lower-income
families not enrolled in pre-schools that is referred to ECDA’s
partners every year
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT &
EMPOWERMENT
Developing the Malay/Muslim community’s high youth base
10 main topics voted by over 1,400 youths in a National Youth
Council (NYC) online poll3
:
0-4 yrs 5-9 yrs 10-14 yrs 15-19 yrs 20-24 yrs 25-29 yrs 30-34 yrs 35-39 yrs 40-44 yrs 45-49 yrs 50-54 yrs 55-59 yrs 60-64 yrs 65-69 yrs 70-74 yrs
& Over
36169
30930
33438
40170
45986
48796
41104
34512
29543
32821
41235
40637
31742
20922
27819
RESIDENT MAL AYS BY AGE GROUP 1
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE
AND EDUCATION
1M3
(MUIS-MENDAKI-MESRA COLLABORATION)
1
Department of Statistics, Singapore. (2018). Singapore Residents By Age Group, Ethnic Group And Gender, End June,Annual.
2
The Straits Times. (Aug 20, 2018). Record number of children in pre-school. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/record-number-of-children-in-pre-school
3
National Youth Council, Singapore. (2018).What do youth care about? A digital sensing of youth concerns.
The 3 priorities ( ) for M3
are:
Inclusivity
Pathways
to Success Active
Citizenry
Environment
&
Sustainability
Governance
& Politics
Education &
LearningJobs &
Economy
Cost of
Living
Mental
Health
Marriage &
Parenthood
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
“Our focus here has often been on families at-risk. However, it is important that we, in our approach and paradigm,
do not regard them as victims that need saving, but as potential leaders. Therefore, we should not only help them get
through their daily struggles, but also support them in building and growing their family assets – no matter how small
– as soon as they start their families. Our efforts require a very different approach from only giving them handouts.”
– Minister Masagos Zulkifli

13. 11
ISSUE 02/2018
Enhanced schemes and subsidies to keep costs low
Upgrade MediShield to MediShield Life
Extended CHAS for all Singaporeans
SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE
OF DRUGS OR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
A decrease in the no. of new Malay drug
abusers in 2017, down from 2016 and 2015
513
2013 2014 2015 2016
1710
600
1624
678
1738
729
1713
2017
632
1618
No. of New Malay Drug
Abusers in the Last 5 Years
Total No. of Malay Drug Abusers
in the Last 5 Years
GENERATION PACKAGE
Extended Home Improvement Programme (HIP)
Second Upgrading under HIP II
Voluntary Early Redevelopment
Scheme (VERS)
The new Merdeka Generation Package (MGP) covers:
U-Save rebates for household bills
Affordable meals at hawker centres
2018 AT A GLANCE
2MERDEKA
500,000 Singaporeans born between
1950 to 1959
3MANAGING COST
OF LIVING
4HOUSING
5 KEEPING HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE
Better long-term care with CareShield Life
More and better polyclinics
4
Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore. (2018). Demographic Profile of Drug Abusers.
5
The Straits Times. (July 11, 2018). Muslim divorces at 5-year low. Retrieved from:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/muslim-divorces-at-5-year-low
They were the earliest batches to serve
National Service, and together with
the Pioneer Generation, they built up
Singapore during a time of hardship and
sacrifice
Outpatient subsidies
MediSave top-ups
MediShield Life premium subsidies
Payouts for long-term care
In comparison to the other ethnic groups,
the figures remain relatively high4

14. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
12
“WHAT CAN I DO
TO HELP?”:
A REFRESHED APPROACH TO NETWORKED SOCIAL SERVICE
By: Muhammad Hazique Salahudin
“Marilahkitasama-samaturunpadangmembantu
golongan yang memerlukan demi memajukan
masyarakat.”
– PM Lee Hsien Loong,National Day Rally 2018
The quote above from PM Lee in his address to the
Malay/Muslim community aptly distilled the essence
behind the vibrancy and vigour of the Malay/Muslim
voluntary and social sector. Whether it is MENDAKI, PPIS
or 4PM, every organisation in the sector shares the same
raison d’être of building a community of excellence in
whatever capacity they could. The Singaporean Malays and
Muslims therefore possess a uniquely self-help approach
on helping the members of their communities, that fosters
a strong sense of togetherness amongst them.
That said, piecemeal efforts from a hundred sources yields
a thousand different aims; its attempts overlapping, and its
results less than certain. Akin to piecing a puzzle together,
each organisation champions one individual quality that
contributes to excellence. Piecing the landscape together
requires competent appreciation of the bigger picture.
Here is where PM Lee’s rallying call of the need for unity,
holds true.
M3
, as envisioned by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs
and Chairman of Yayasan MENDAKI Mr Masagos Zulkifli,
is the vehicle for the community’s pursuit of greater heights.
Essentially, it pushes for wider and deeper collaborations
amongst the key agencies of MENDAKI, MUIS and MESRA,
leveraging on each other’s expertise and networks in
realising the community of excellence (Berita Mediacorp,
2018). But like mushrooms after the rain, more questions
popped up compared to answers. Many Malay/Muslim
Organisations wondered where this placed them in the
ecosystem. The public, cautiously optimistic, still asked,
“Apa yang baru? Kita dah pernah buat (What is new?
We’ve done it before).”
A Tradition of Coming Together to Solve Problems
Coming together and collaborating to solve problems is
ESSENTIALLY, IT
PUSHES FOR WIDER
AND DEEPER
COLLABORATIONS
AMONGST THE
KEY AGENCIES OF
MENDAKI, MUIS AND
MESRA, LEVERAGING
ON EACH OTHER’S
EXPERTISE AND
NETWORKS IN
REALISING THE
COMMUNITY OF
EXCELLENCE

15. 13
ISSUE 02/2018
not new for the community, and is a cherished tradition
to be proud of. In fact, MENDAKI’s formation in 1982 is
the manifestation in the mould of this spirit. At the time,
MENDAKI was envisioned as the central pillar and
clearing house for a network of concerned Malay/Muslim
organisations in tackling issues of education and community
development (Yayasan MENDAKI, 1992). While each party
was free to pursue its own aims, MENDAKI was to be the
platform where free-flowing exchange of thoughts and
ideas that transcend their individual causes could take place.
Modest success was achieved as the centrality of MENDAKI’s
status made it a touchpoint through which Malay/Muslim
organisations could interact.
M3
: Reinvigorating Musyawarrah and Muafakat
The way forward is, as it seems, is to look back. The new
paradigm could be perceived then, as having a key
organisation (MENDAKI) be tapped on by a public agency
(the Government) to lead and encourage the creation of
a community-based network of service providers to
collectively solve issues. This modus operandi is what
Graddy and Chen (2006) refers to as a “Lead-Organisation
model”. Yet while this model promises much, they remind
us also that the journey to get there is not easy. No longer
can the centrality of MENDAKI be relied upon solely, as the
status of each organisation is raised from being an isolated
service provider, to an integrated node within the network.
Every single organisation must be offering deeply
consequential services to the cause, and success relies
upon the meaningful exchange of resources, expertise,
and joint decision making. Conscious, constant and
active encouragement in forming and strengthening
inter-organisation networks are but basic requirements.
M3
, is accordingly about strengthening the inter-
organisational formal and informal networks to multiply
each organisation’s impact in the pursuit of common goals.
With M3
, inter-organisational links are to be strengthened
outside of the formal leadership level, so more areas
of potential synergistic engagement may develop.
Organisations also become more conscious to each other’s
particular strengths, allowing future efforts to be executed
with greater efficacy as well.
COMING TOGETHER AND
COLLABORATING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IS
NOT NEW FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IS A
CHERISHED TRADITION TO BE PROUD OF
M3
, IS ACCORDINGLY
ABOUT STRENGTHENING
THE INTER-
ORGANISATIONAL
FORMAL AND INFORMAL
NETWORKS TO MULTIPLY
EACH ORGANISATION’S
IMPACT IN THE PURSUIT OF
COMMON GOALS
Figure 1: M3
Model
1710
Ideas, Issues
& Co-created
Solutions
Executing Organisation C
Lead Organisation X as facilitator
M3
Networked Model
Organisation A Organisation B
Backing Public Agency

16. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
14
AFTER ALL, IT IS
NOT MERELY
TIGA M, BUT THE
SYNERGISTIC
M KUASA TIGA
WHICH IS THE WAY
FORWARD
Malay and Muslim community to look forward to. The M3
model is a paradigm shift in terms of how we approach
issues. From asking “what do you do?”, it inverts the question
and encourages organisations to ask each other, “what can
I do to help?”. This is precisely what M3
seeks to transform.
While now limited to the three Ms, it can potentially be
a model adopted by other MMOs as well. Just imagine,
what can be achieved if each of us think this way. So apt
istheMalaysayingthatgoes,“BersatuTeguh,BerceraiRoboh”
in the context of M3
.
Baharudin, H. (2018,Aug 29). 3 Malay/Muslim groups joining hands to
tackle issues shows ‘we can solve any future problems’: Masagos. Retrieved
from The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/masagos-
3-malaymuslim-groups-joining-hands-to-tackle-issues-shows-we-can-solve-
any-future
Berita Mediacorp. (2018,June 28). Sinergi menerusi M3 - MUIS, MENDAKI,
MESRA - kunci utama capai visi masyarakat Melayu/Islam luar biasa.
Retrieved from Berita Mediacorp: https://berita.mediacorp.sg/mobilem/
specialreports/ramadansyawal2018/sinergi-menerusi-m3-muis-menda-
ki-mesra-kunci-utama-capai-visi/4064232.html
Channel Newsasia. (2018, May 14). Malay-Muslim community must tackle
3 ‘elements’ to ensure continued progress, says Masagos Zulkifli. Retrieved
from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/malay-mus-
lim-community-tackle-3-elements-progress-masagos-10232318
Graddy, E.A., & Chen, B. (2006). Influences on the Size and Scope of Net-
works for Social Service Delivery. Journal of Public Administration Research
and Theory, 533-552.
Lee, H. (2018,Aug 19). National Day Rally 2018 Speech (Malay). Retrieved
from Prime Minister’s Office: https://www.pmo.gov.sg/national-day-rally-
2018-speech-malay
Yayasan MENDAKI. (1992). Making the difference : ten years of MENDAKI.
Singapore: Yayasan MENDAKI.
Bibliography
Contrary to the thought that the central platform becomes
less relevant, it in fact grows ever more important. Graddy
and Chen posit that this is the role of the public agency.
However, in this community’s context, this may be the role
of MENDAKI. Beyond quarterly formal meetings, it now has
to develop mechanisms to ensure that the informal networks
are not only sustained but grows exponentially. After all,
it is not merely Tiga M, but the synergistic M Kuasa Tiga
which is the way forward.
Will it succeed, and what happens to the other
organisations?
It is still early days for M3
. To begin the process, MENDAKI,
MESRA and MUIS have identified three cross-cutting flagship
community issues. They are: early childhood education,
drug and social issues, and developing youths as assets.
For each of these issues, a championing agency has been
appointed to lead the co-creation of solutions amongst
the three. Naturally, non-M3
Malay/Muslim Organisations
(MMOs) have echoed worries over their relevance moving
forward, perceiving the growth of M3
as potentially
encroaching into their traditional domains. They need not
be. As the Minister himself stressed, M3
’s aim is primarily
to cultivate a coordinated approach in resolving cross-
cutting community issues. While the non-M3
MMOs are
encouraged to collaborate as well (e.g. KGMS’
collaboration with M3
to build a teacher’s network and
deliver help to students), their position as champions of
their traditional domains are valued and remain.
Conclusion
Response to M3
thus far has been understandably mixed.
This is to be expected, knowing that any impact would
only be felt much later. That said, there is really much for the
FROM ASKING “WHAT
DO YOU DO?”, IT
INVERTS THE QUESTION
AND ENCOURAGES
ORGANISATIONS TO ASK
EACH OTHER, “WHAT CAN
I DO TO HELP?”

17. 15
ISSUE 02/2018
100 YEARS FROM
NOW, SINGAPORE
SHOULD STAND
OUT NOT JUST
FOR ITS MODERN
SKYSCRAPERS
AND WORLD
RANKINGS, BUT FOR
BEING A NATION
OF BOUNDLESS
OPPORTUNITIES
YAYASAN
MENDAKI POST-
NATIONAL DAY
RALLY 2018
POLICY FORUMPL ANTING THE SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE
By: Nur Diyana Azman
In his concluding remarks during this year’s National
Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
rallied Singaporeans to continue laying the foundations
and working together to build a better Singapore for
themselves and the future generations to come. This year’s
speech took on a more forward looking tone as Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong outlined upcoming initiatives
that would address Singaporeans’ concerns regarding the
future especially in the areas of healthcare financing and
housing. This theme of working towards a brighter and more
stable future was brought forward to Yayasan MENDAKI’s
Post-National Day Rally 2018 Policy Forum.
Held on 28 August, the forum was attended by 60
individuals comprising community leaders, representatives
from Malay/Muslim Organisations, youths and
academicians. The forum was also joined by panellists
consisting of Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and
Chairman of Yayasan MENDAKI Mr Masagos Zulkifli, ~ PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG

18. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
16
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and
Health Mr Amrin Amin; Dr Mathew Mathews, Senior
Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies; and moderator
Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute
and Adjunct Lecturer, University Scholars Programme,
National University of Singapore. The forum began with
an outline of the message highlights and key policy
announcements of the Rally. Guest speakers, Mr Amrin
and Dr Mathews, subsequently foregrounded the panel
discussion with their individual insights on the speech.
In Mr Amrin’s presentation titled “Better Health, Better
Care, Better Life”, the healthcare announcements that
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had made at the rally was
further elaborated through addressing Singapore’s present
state of health; the challenges the healthcare sector are
facing; and the steps currently taken to overcome these
challenges. The three key shifts approach towards a better
health - to move beyond the hospital to the community,
to move beyond quality to value, and to move beyond
delivering healthcare and focus on providing good health
to nurture a healthy nation and a healthy people - was
also highlighted. These three paradigm shifts will
provide the roadmap to a sustainable system beyond the
Healthcare 2020 master plan.
Dr Mathews’ presentation titled “Ensuring Socioeconomic
and Educational Opportunities for All” assessed how social
inequality may hinder certain groups of people from
getting access to various socioeconomic and educational
opportunities such as tuition and enrichment classes.
He put forward ways that the Singapore society can
collectively increase access to opportunities for all, including
making sure necessities are affordable and available to
everyone, and increasing volunteerism and collaboration
among community resource providers.
Thereafter, the dialogue mainly revolved around the future
state of the Malay/Muslim community, in relation to the
broader society. A hot topic during the dialogue was on the
formation of M³, consisting of trio: MENDAKI, MUIS, and
MESRA. Several audience members had the perception that
other Malay/Muslim organisations that are not part of M³
could be seen as “less important”. Mr Masagos stressed that
this was not the case and assured the audience members that
the other organisations are as important and that he values
and respects them. He also asserts that the other Malay/
Muslim organisations have an equally crucial role to play in
uplifting the community and they will be tapped on in the
future based on their organisation’s key strengths.
In a related query on how the youth can play a part in M³,
Mr Masagos sees them as potential assets that have yet to
be tapped on. He suggested engaging the Malay/Muslim
youths through mentoring and peer modelling programmes.
Mr Masagos also emphasised on the need for the community
organisations and schools to work closely together so that
students with the potential to give back to the community
can be directed to the right channels once they graduate
from school.

19. 17
ISSUE 02/2018
Mr Masagos also impressed on Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong’s call to the Malays to come forward to help and
take the community to the next level with M³ needing the
strong support of the community to succeed. He repeatedly
emphasised that he sees everyone in the community as an
asset and that the community is able to solve any problem
that they face in future because they have done it in the
past and have the strength and the ability to do so.
Another hot topic was healthcare and the services available
and accessible for the community. An audience member
raised a question on the possibility of having hospices
specifically for the Malay/Muslim community. Mr Amrin
responded that there was not a need for such services as more
and more people prefer to pass on at the comfort of their
own homes. However, initiatives related to the end-of-life
care are being proposed and he also recommended that
the Malay/Muslim community should began conversations
regarding the preferences and arrangements concerning
end-of-life care as that would help older adults age well.
In a related question regarding caregiving for the older
adults, an audience member enquired regarding the
programmes and schemes available to help ease the burden
of caregivers especially with the ageing population and the
increasing number of people diagnosed with dementia.
Mr Amrin shared that the Ministry of Health is looking into
expanding community programmes that would help to
relieve the burden of caregiving. They are also exploring
ways technology can be harnessed to relieve such burden
and stress.
The topic of housing and the 99-year lease for HDB flats was
also widely discussed as many flagged concerns regarding
I SEE EVERYONE AS
ASSETS. WE ARE A
COMMUNITY OF
SUCCESS. WE ARE A
COMMUNITY THAT
SOLVES PROBLEMS,
NOT A COMMUNITY OF
PROBLEMS. THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT PARADIGM
TO START FROM
~ MR MASAGOS ZULKIFLI

20. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
18
the decreasing lease life of flats, which would in turn affect
its value. However, Mr Masagos assured the audience
members that the value and quality of their flats will still
retain through the programmes that have been introduced
such as HIP I, HIP II, and VERS.
Before the session came to an end, Mr Masagos reiterated
the need for the community to work together in solving its
problems and that it starts with having the right attitude.
On the whole, the insightful and honest dialogue between
panellists and participants served as a platform for the
critical discussion and introspection of how the new policy
announcements can be capitalized to uplift the community.
As a key partner of the Malay/Muslim community,
Yayasan MENDAKI seeks to utilize such feedback to
continue with its collective efforts to uplift and empower the
community, through excellence in education.

21. 19
ISSUE 02/2018
NOTES

22. RUBRIX – SINGAPORE MALAYS: NARRATIVES OF SOCIAL COHESION
20
NOTES

23. 21
ISSUE 02/2018
NOTES

24. MENDAKI Rubrix Newsletter 2018
Issue 02, 2018
Copyright © 2018 Yayasan MENDAKI
Research & Planning Department
Yayasan MENDAKI,Wisma MENDAKI
Views presented in this publication are those of the individual authors.
They do not purport to represent the views of the Editorial Team, the Publisher,
the Board and Management of Yayasan MENDAKI or the institutions the
authors are affiliated to.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be printed or reproduced
or stored in any retrieval system by any electronic, mechanical or other means
without permission in writing from the publisher and Yayasan MENDAKI.
All enquiries should be addressed to:
Research & Planning Department
51, Kee Sun Avenue, Off Tay Lian Teck Road,
Singapore 457056
Main Telephone Line: 6245 5555
Research and Planning Department: 6245 5860
Email: rpdpublications@mendaki.org.sg
Website: www.mendaki.org.sg
Series Advisor: Mdm Rahayu Buang
EDITORIALTEAM
Chief-Editor: Aidaroyani Adam
Content Editor: Sabrena Abdullah
Contributors:
Dhaifina Dasri
Fitri Zuraini Abdullah
Muhammad Farouq Osman
Muhammad Hazique Salahudin
Nur Diyana Azman
Siti Afiyah Mustapha
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