PM Lawrence Wong at the M3 Forum 2024
Speech by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong at the M3 forum on 10 November 2024.
My Cabinet and Parliamentary Colleagues,
Distinguished guests and M3 representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning, Selamat Pagi. It is very good to join all of you today at the M3 Forum. It almost feels like a National Day Rally standing here but do not worry, my speech is not going to be as long as the National Day Rally speech. It is going to be quite short. But like the rally, I will start with some remarks in our national language.
Saudara saudari sekalian, hari ini kita meraikan ulang tahun M3 yang kelima.
M3 bermula sebagai satu usaha untuk tiga badan Melayu/Islam utama, iaitu MUIS, Mendaki dan MESRA, bekerjasama dengan lebih rapat demi memenuhi aspirasi
dan keperluan Masyarakat.
Kini kita ada sebelas M3 di Bandar di serata Singapura.
Saya sendiri saksikan perubahan ketara yang dibawa oleh M3 di Kawasan Undi saya di Marsiling-Yew Tee. Mantan Pengerusi pengasas Puan Rahidah Mohd Noor, penggantinya Dr Faisal Johandi - berdua ada di sini, dan pasukan mereka telah bekerja keras sejak lima tahun lalu.
Mereka menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti seperti program bimbingan dan pementoran belia serta aktiviti gaya hidup sihat.
M3 di Bandar telah mencatat kemajuan dalam Tiga K – Keperibadian, Kemahiran, dan Kewarga-negaraan – inilah nilai-nilai yang membina sebuah Masyarakat Gemilang, seperti ditekankan Menteri Masagos.
Dalam lima tahun M3 telah mencatat banyak pencapaian yang membanggakan. Ini hasil kerja keras dan dedikasi semua pihak termasuk para sukarelawan serta rakan kongsi M3.
Atas semua sumbangan anda, terima kasih!
Kejayaan M3 membuktikan bahawa kita boleh capai apa-apa sahaja jika kita bersatu padu dan bekerjasama.
Ayuh kita bekerjasama dengan lebih rapat supaya masyarakat Melayu/Islam terus maju ke hadapan sebagai sebuah Masyarakat Gemilang.
M3, as all of you know, builds on the excellent work that has been done by MUIS, MENDAKI, and MESRA.
MUIS has provided guidance to Singapore Muslims, enabling them to practice their faith progressively and harmoniously in our multi-racial and multi-religious society.
MENDAKI has improved education and employment outcomes, enabling the community to progress with our nation.
And MESRA has fostered a spirit of active citizenry by creating platforms for community participation. Not just for the Malay/Muslim community but also for our wider society.
Individually, each of the ‘3Ms’ has done very good work.
But M3 brought them together and amplified their impact. The impact is not just additive but exponential, and that is reflected in your acronym. It is not ‘M three plus’, it is ‘M3’. We want it to have exponential impact.
And with M3, the organisations began working more systematically with one another, including in their partnerships with other organisations, including MMOs as well as the Government.
M3 allowed them to harness their collective strengths and networks, to expand their capacity and reach.
This has allowed them to better identify and deal with issues in the community, to provide more integrated support and to strengthen last-mile delivery of services.
In the last 5 years, we have all seen the impact of M3 programmes.
You heard just now from Minister Maliki about the impact.
Through M3@Towns, the M3 agencies mobilise more volunteers, bring programmes and services closer to residents, and offer more targeted assistance – be it through the mosques, MENDAKI satellite centres, or CCs.
For example, M3 youth mentoring programmes have matched over 1,600 mentors to 5,700 young people.
And there is now at least one such programme at each of the 11 M3@Towns.
Importantly, M3 has nurtured a culture of contribution and service.
I am very glad to see that today, we have some 4,000 volunteers across our M3 agencies.
Many are professionals and we see more professionals stepping forward.
One example is Mr Redzuan bin Ismail. He is an Operations Manager by day. And he is also a volunteer with M3@Jalan Besar. He has led more than 11 projects over the past two years, uplifting residents and bringing families together in Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng. His initiatives have not just benefitted those in need, but also inspired many other volunteers to step forward.
M3’s success is due to volunteers like Redzuan, who have created a virtuous cycle of giving and contribution.
Many of you, our volunteers from M3, are here today. There are many others outside this room too. Later today, we will be recognising some outstanding volunteers; but all of you have come together to make a difference.
So this morning, I would like to say a very big Thank You to all of you for your service. Thank you very much.
I was there recently to unveil the Iconic Arch just two months ago; this is part of the developments at the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt.
So far, our works at Geylang Serai have centred around Wisma Geylang Serai, which you are familiar with, Joo Chiat Complex, and Geylang Serai Market.
At the west of the Cultural Belt, we have Tanjong Katong Complex. It is the first air-conditioned shopping complex built by HDB. We just launched a tender for the building. So, we will redevelop the entire building.
When it reopens in 2029, Tanjong Katong Complex will be another key node for the Malay/Muslim community, in addition to Wisma Geylang Serai; and it will also be a vibrant destination for Singaporeans.
MENDAKI will relocate its headquarters to the new Tanjong Katong Complex.
This will help to bring together the M3 agencies within this precinct.
And further extend MENDAKI and MUIS’s reach into the community, enabling them to do more together.
Both Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai are areas of special significance to our Singapore Malay community. We will work closely with the community to refresh these precincts, to make them modern and vibrant, while ensuring they retain their unique and distinctive character. These are important projects that we look forward to working with the community on.
I had mentioned this briefly at the National Day Rally, and we are now ready to share more details.
The SCIS will strengthen our capabilities to nurture and groom a pipeline of future asatizah. We want them to have the knowledge and skills to:
Provide religious guidance for our Muslim communities, but to also have an understanding of religion that is contextualised for living in a diverse multi-cultural society like Singapore.
And to guide our Muslims in responding confidently to issues of the modern world.
This is important for us in Singapore, and I believe this will help to continue to further strengthen trust between our Malay/Muslims and other communities, and enable us to overcome challenges together, as one united people.
The SCIS will not just support the development of religious character. It will also develop and nurture graduates who can meet the needs of the community effectively.
The SCIS will do so by offering a full-time undergraduate degree programme and it will have dual tracks – students can choose to major in either Islamic Studies or Social Sciences.
This will give students a foundation of knowledge to qualify them as asatizah. As well as practical skills to pursue careers in religious and adjacent sectors, like social work.
In other words, some going to the college will graduate and become religious teachers, and some can join the social sector – but all will help to uplift their fellow citizens in their own ways.
To succeed, the SCIS needs to be credible and respected.
It will partner established local and international institutions to deliver its programmes.
For the Social Sciences pathway, the partner will be the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
For the Islamic Studies pathway, the partners will be Dar al-Ifta in Egypt, the University of Jordan, and Al-Qarawiyyin (koraw-wi-yin) in Morocco.
Leaders of these institutions, and other universities like Al-Azhar in Egypt, have given their support for the SCIS. In fact, they will sit on its Advisory Panel, contributing valuable perspectives on contemporary issues impacting Muslim minorities.
MUIS, with the Government’s support, has put in place the governance structures for the SCIS.
Mufti Dr Nazirudin will head the Steering Committee.
Mufti is respected and held in high regard by our Malay/Muslim community. He also happens to be academically trained in both Islamic and Social Sciences. He has played a key role in guiding the community and is a champion for progressive Islamic thought and practices.
He is well suited for this responsibility. I am confident the college will benefit from Mufti’s leadership.
Let me summarise this part in Malay.
Pembentukan SCIS adalah satu titik bersejarah dan membanggakan bagi masyarakat Melayu/Islam.
Bagi pihak Pemerintah kami bertekad untuk melihat kolej ini berkembang maju.
Oleh itu kami akan memberi sokongan yang diperlukan.
Masyarakat Melayu/Islam juga ada taruhan untuk pastikan SCIS berkembang maju dan berjaya.
Anda boleh menyumbang menerusi Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura. Sumbangan anda akan pastikan kolej ini dapat bertahan untuk jangka masa panjang.
Saya sangat yakin bahawa SCIS akan menyumbang kepada visi Masyarakat Gemilang.
Ini satu contoh positif bukan hanya untuk Singapura malah seluruh dunia.
SCIS adalah antara beberapa projek menarik yang kami sedang usahakan bersama khusus untuk masyarakat Melayu/Islam di Singapura.
Saya galakkan anda semua untuk terlibat sama dalam pelbagai projek ini. Tidak kira kecil ataupun besar anda semua boleh mainkan peranan untuk membina masyarakat Melayu/Islam yang anda idam-idamkan di samping membangun masa depan negara kita bersama.
You have uplifted and united the entire community.
You have galvanised more citizens to step forward, to do their part for one another for the Malay/Muslim community, and for Singapore.
I encourage all of you to build on this good momentum to develop new initiatives, and to encourage more volunteers to step forward. The government will support you in these endeavours.
Our efforts in M3 reflect our wider plans for our next phase, for our new phase of nation building.
Two years ago, we engaged many Singaporeans in our Forward Singapore exercise.
Now, we have set out a roadmap to chart a new way forward for ourselves and for our nation.
We want a Singapore where every citizen will have a voice and a stake; where we can all do our part to contribute to the greater good; and we can all realise our aspirations and be the best possible versions of ourselves.
Let us continue as partners in building this shared future. Let us work together to realise our collective dreams for ourselves and for Singapore! Thank you very much. Terima kasih.
Distinguished guests and M3 representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning, Selamat Pagi. It is very good to join all of you today at the M3 Forum. It almost feels like a National Day Rally standing here but do not worry, my speech is not going to be as long as the National Day Rally speech. It is going to be quite short. But like the rally, I will start with some remarks in our national language.
Saudara saudari sekalian, hari ini kita meraikan ulang tahun M3 yang kelima.
M3 bermula sebagai satu usaha untuk tiga badan Melayu/Islam utama, iaitu MUIS, Mendaki dan MESRA, bekerjasama dengan lebih rapat demi memenuhi aspirasi
dan keperluan Masyarakat.
Kini kita ada sebelas M3 di Bandar di serata Singapura.
Saya sendiri saksikan perubahan ketara yang dibawa oleh M3 di Kawasan Undi saya di Marsiling-Yew Tee. Mantan Pengerusi pengasas Puan Rahidah Mohd Noor, penggantinya Dr Faisal Johandi - berdua ada di sini, dan pasukan mereka telah bekerja keras sejak lima tahun lalu.
Mereka menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti seperti program bimbingan dan pementoran belia serta aktiviti gaya hidup sihat.
M3 di Bandar telah mencatat kemajuan dalam Tiga K – Keperibadian, Kemahiran, dan Kewarga-negaraan – inilah nilai-nilai yang membina sebuah Masyarakat Gemilang, seperti ditekankan Menteri Masagos.
Dalam lima tahun M3 telah mencatat banyak pencapaian yang membanggakan. Ini hasil kerja keras dan dedikasi semua pihak termasuk para sukarelawan serta rakan kongsi M3.
Atas semua sumbangan anda, terima kasih!
Kejayaan M3 membuktikan bahawa kita boleh capai apa-apa sahaja jika kita bersatu padu dan bekerjasama.
Ayuh kita bekerjasama dengan lebih rapat supaya masyarakat Melayu/Islam terus maju ke hadapan sebagai sebuah Masyarakat Gemilang.
Five Years of M3
Five years ago, we established M3 to better serve our Malay/Muslim community.M3, as all of you know, builds on the excellent work that has been done by MUIS, MENDAKI, and MESRA.
MUIS has provided guidance to Singapore Muslims, enabling them to practice their faith progressively and harmoniously in our multi-racial and multi-religious society.
MENDAKI has improved education and employment outcomes, enabling the community to progress with our nation.
And MESRA has fostered a spirit of active citizenry by creating platforms for community participation. Not just for the Malay/Muslim community but also for our wider society.
Individually, each of the ‘3Ms’ has done very good work.
But M3 brought them together and amplified their impact. The impact is not just additive but exponential, and that is reflected in your acronym. It is not ‘M three plus’, it is ‘M3’. We want it to have exponential impact.
And with M3, the organisations began working more systematically with one another, including in their partnerships with other organisations, including MMOs as well as the Government.
M3 allowed them to harness their collective strengths and networks, to expand their capacity and reach.
This has allowed them to better identify and deal with issues in the community, to provide more integrated support and to strengthen last-mile delivery of services.
In the last 5 years, we have all seen the impact of M3 programmes.
You heard just now from Minister Maliki about the impact.
Through M3@Towns, the M3 agencies mobilise more volunteers, bring programmes and services closer to residents, and offer more targeted assistance – be it through the mosques, MENDAKI satellite centres, or CCs.
For example, M3 youth mentoring programmes have matched over 1,600 mentors to 5,700 young people.
And there is now at least one such programme at each of the 11 M3@Towns.
Importantly, M3 has nurtured a culture of contribution and service.
I am very glad to see that today, we have some 4,000 volunteers across our M3 agencies.
Many are professionals and we see more professionals stepping forward.
One example is Mr Redzuan bin Ismail. He is an Operations Manager by day. And he is also a volunteer with M3@Jalan Besar. He has led more than 11 projects over the past two years, uplifting residents and bringing families together in Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng. His initiatives have not just benefitted those in need, but also inspired many other volunteers to step forward.
M3’s success is due to volunteers like Redzuan, who have created a virtuous cycle of giving and contribution.
Many of you, our volunteers from M3, are here today. There are many others outside this room too. Later today, we will be recognising some outstanding volunteers; but all of you have come together to make a difference.
So this morning, I would like to say a very big Thank You to all of you for your service. Thank you very much.
Supporting Your Aspirations
In five years, M3 has laid strong foundations for a Community of Success. I encourage you to keep up the good work and to build on this momentum.
The Government will continue to partner and support you.
I had said in my National Day Rally, earlier this year, that we will support your efforts to be a modern and progressive community while retaining your unique culture and traditions.
The Government will do more to support you in realising these aspirations.
This morning, let me share some of the initiatives and key projects that we are working on together.
Kampong Glam
First, we will refresh our cultural precincts. I will start with Kampong Glam, where we have the Malay Heritage Centre.
The Centre has been a cornerstone of the historic district of Kampong Glam, telling the stories of the Malay Community’s rich culture and history.
The Centre is now closed for redevelopment, as some of you would know. NHB has been working closely with stakeholders to reconceptualise and refresh the Centre.
When it reopens, it will have new galleries, enhanced programmes, and offer an improved visitor experience.
We hope this will allow the Centre to better share the unique stories of Singapore Malays and your important contributions to Singapore. We look forward to the re-opening of the revamped Centre, possibly in two years time.
Near the Centre, we have Masjid Sultan, which is another jewel of Kampong Glam.
The mosque just celebrated its 200th anniversary.
It is a symbol of faith for the Muslim community, and continues to play a key role in fostering understanding between our different communities.
The mosque is now undergoing restoration works so that it can be reinvigorated and to preserve and reflect its stature and significance. This is also a significant project of restoration, and we look forward to its completion. All this is happening in Kampong Glam.
Geylang Serai
Next, we have Geylang Serai.I was there recently to unveil the Iconic Arch just two months ago; this is part of the developments at the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt.
So far, our works at Geylang Serai have centred around Wisma Geylang Serai, which you are familiar with, Joo Chiat Complex, and Geylang Serai Market.
At the west of the Cultural Belt, we have Tanjong Katong Complex. It is the first air-conditioned shopping complex built by HDB. We just launched a tender for the building. So, we will redevelop the entire building.
When it reopens in 2029, Tanjong Katong Complex will be another key node for the Malay/Muslim community, in addition to Wisma Geylang Serai; and it will also be a vibrant destination for Singaporeans.
MENDAKI will relocate its headquarters to the new Tanjong Katong Complex.
This will help to bring together the M3 agencies within this precinct.
And further extend MENDAKI and MUIS’s reach into the community, enabling them to do more together.
Both Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai are areas of special significance to our Singapore Malay community. We will work closely with the community to refresh these precincts, to make them modern and vibrant, while ensuring they retain their unique and distinctive character. These are important projects that we look forward to working with the community on.
Singapore College of Islamic Studies
Another important initiative is the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (or the SCIS).I had mentioned this briefly at the National Day Rally, and we are now ready to share more details.
The SCIS will strengthen our capabilities to nurture and groom a pipeline of future asatizah. We want them to have the knowledge and skills to:
Provide religious guidance for our Muslim communities, but to also have an understanding of religion that is contextualised for living in a diverse multi-cultural society like Singapore.
And to guide our Muslims in responding confidently to issues of the modern world.
This is important for us in Singapore, and I believe this will help to continue to further strengthen trust between our Malay/Muslims and other communities, and enable us to overcome challenges together, as one united people.
The SCIS will not just support the development of religious character. It will also develop and nurture graduates who can meet the needs of the community effectively.
The SCIS will do so by offering a full-time undergraduate degree programme and it will have dual tracks – students can choose to major in either Islamic Studies or Social Sciences.
This will give students a foundation of knowledge to qualify them as asatizah. As well as practical skills to pursue careers in religious and adjacent sectors, like social work.
In other words, some going to the college will graduate and become religious teachers, and some can join the social sector – but all will help to uplift their fellow citizens in their own ways.
To succeed, the SCIS needs to be credible and respected.
It will partner established local and international institutions to deliver its programmes.
For the Social Sciences pathway, the partner will be the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
For the Islamic Studies pathway, the partners will be Dar al-Ifta in Egypt, the University of Jordan, and Al-Qarawiyyin (koraw-wi-yin) in Morocco.
Leaders of these institutions, and other universities like Al-Azhar in Egypt, have given their support for the SCIS. In fact, they will sit on its Advisory Panel, contributing valuable perspectives on contemporary issues impacting Muslim minorities.
MUIS, with the Government’s support, has put in place the governance structures for the SCIS.
Mufti Dr Nazirudin will head the Steering Committee.
Mufti is respected and held in high regard by our Malay/Muslim community. He also happens to be academically trained in both Islamic and Social Sciences. He has played a key role in guiding the community and is a champion for progressive Islamic thought and practices.
He is well suited for this responsibility. I am confident the college will benefit from Mufti’s leadership.
Let me summarise this part in Malay.
Pembentukan SCIS adalah satu titik bersejarah dan membanggakan bagi masyarakat Melayu/Islam.
Bagi pihak Pemerintah kami bertekad untuk melihat kolej ini berkembang maju.
Oleh itu kami akan memberi sokongan yang diperlukan.
Masyarakat Melayu/Islam juga ada taruhan untuk pastikan SCIS berkembang maju dan berjaya.
Anda boleh menyumbang menerusi Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura. Sumbangan anda akan pastikan kolej ini dapat bertahan untuk jangka masa panjang.
Saya sangat yakin bahawa SCIS akan menyumbang kepada visi Masyarakat Gemilang.
Ini satu contoh positif bukan hanya untuk Singapura malah seluruh dunia.
SCIS adalah antara beberapa projek menarik yang kami sedang usahakan bersama khusus untuk masyarakat Melayu/Islam di Singapura.
Saya galakkan anda semua untuk terlibat sama dalam pelbagai projek ini. Tidak kira kecil ataupun besar anda semua boleh mainkan peranan untuk membina masyarakat Melayu/Islam yang anda idam-idamkan di samping membangun masa depan negara kita bersama.
Conclusion
To conclude, M3 has made good progress. In fact, very good progress in these last 5 years.You have uplifted and united the entire community.
You have galvanised more citizens to step forward, to do their part for one another for the Malay/Muslim community, and for Singapore.
I encourage all of you to build on this good momentum to develop new initiatives, and to encourage more volunteers to step forward. The government will support you in these endeavours.
Our efforts in M3 reflect our wider plans for our next phase, for our new phase of nation building.
Two years ago, we engaged many Singaporeans in our Forward Singapore exercise.
Now, we have set out a roadmap to chart a new way forward for ourselves and for our nation.
We want a Singapore where every citizen will have a voice and a stake; where we can all do our part to contribute to the greater good; and we can all realise our aspirations and be the best possible versions of ourselves.
Let us continue as partners in building this shared future. Let us work together to realise our collective dreams for ourselves and for Singapore! Thank you very much. Terima kasih.
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