Noor Deros, a self-identified religious teacher, not recognised by S'pore's Asatizah Recognition Board

Noor Deros, a Singaporean based in Malaysia, made headlines after he listed several demands on Facebook for political parties competing in the 2025 general election, in exchange for his vote and his "limited capacity" to campaign for them.

In the post, Noor Deros, claimed that he was a "Ustaz", a title used by religious teachers and scholars of Islam.

In another post, Noor Deros further alleged that only the Workers' Party (WP) had "taken [his] concerns seriously" and agreed to meet him, along with other religious scholars, though he added that WP did not make any concrete promises to meet his demands.

In an Apr. 26 media statement, the Asatizah Recognition Board (ARB) cautioned that referring to Noor Deros as a Singapore Islamic teacher is "inaccurate and misleading".

This is because Noor Deros "has never received recognition under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS)" and is, therefore, not permitted to preach in Singapore, added the board.

All individuals who wish to teach Islam in Singapore will need to apply under the ARS, and their applications will be assessed by ARB independently.

The board consists of 12 senior members of the Asatizah fraternity who represent various sectors and areas of expertise within the Muslim community.

Noor Deros' 2017 application unsuccessful

In the media statement, ARB also revealed that Noor Deros had previously applied for recognition in 2017.

However, his application was unsuccessful "due to his refusal to comply with the ARS Code of Ethics", despite being counselled by the board.

According to ARB, the code of ethics is a framework established "to ensure accountability and integrity among religious teachers while safeguarding Singapore’s unity, peace, and harmony".

WP statement

In an Apr. 26 media statement responding to Noor Deros' claims, the WP said it meets with various members of Singapore's religious communities in the course of their political work.

Singaporean religious leaders of all faiths share "varied views" and "opinions on public life in Singapore".

With regard to the meeting with other religious leaders where Noor Deros was present, WP said there were "no promises, commitments, or agreements made to any individual, including Noor Deros, in exchange for political support for WP candidates".

"In Singapore, the principle of keeping religion and politics separate is well established. The WP’s commitment to this principle is a matter of public record," read the statement.

Top image via Noor Deros/Facebook