S'porean unity crucial amid external conflicts, maintain mutual respect: Faishal Ibrahim

Singapore must strengthen its unity during global uncertainty so that external conflicts can never create divides, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim in Parliament on Mar. 5.

He spoke in context of the recent conflict in the Middle East that intensified after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes across Iran on Feb. 28.

These developments are a stark reminder that the peace and harmony in Singapore should not be taken for granted, he said.

He called for Singaporeans to stand together, support one another, and maintain the mutual respect and understanding that define Singapore's society.

Uplifting the Malay-Muslim community

The spirit of standing united against challenges has always been a defining strength of all Singaporeans, and particularly of the Malay-Muslim community, Faishal said.

To help everyone in the Malay-Muslim community thrive, the government will provide them with opportunities to excel at every life stage.

For Muslim couples, the Bersamamu programme will be expanded to include parenthood support.

For children, Mendaki (the Council for the Development of the Singapore Malay/Muslim Community) will launch the ReadySetLearn (RSL) Language Explorer, a reading programme to equip parents to nurture their children's early literacy in both English and Malay.

Mendaki will also expand its Youth Mentoring Office to students from Secondary 1, earlier than the current age range from Secondary 3 to undergraduates.

Under an enhanced Mendaki Achievement Programme, enrichment programmes will give students opportunities to explore artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, to prepare them for the digital future.

For seniors, a ground-up initiative known as Santunan Emas has benefitted close to 900 seniors weekly, providing them and their caregivers with religious guidance, social engagement activities, and healthcare support.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and People’s Association (PA) will work to support its efforts.

'We first' society

The government's efforts to support each person's future remain grounded in communal values and culture, Faishal emphasised.

He urged everyone in the community to embody the spirit of a "we first" society — where personal development contributes to collective progress, and where every act of service creates positive impact throughout the community.

"Our true strength lies in our collective spirit — the same spirit that sees neighbours helping neighbours, organisations collaborating across boundaries, and leaders emerging to serve the greater good," he said.

Top images from MDDI/YouTube and Edwin Tong's Facebook