SINGAPORE – A task force to help develop the youth in the Malay/Muslim community, including identifying career development opportunities, was launched on Oct 11.
Announced in July, the task force is led by Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Rahayu Mahzam and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development Syed Harun Alhabsyi.
It will be supported by a joint secretariat comprising the People’s Association (PA) Malay Activity Executive Committees Council, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Mendaki and the National Youth Council.
Ms Rahayu announced the launch at the Piala Suara Serumpun, an annual dikir barat competition for tertiary students, held at The Theatre at Mediacorp on Oct 11.
Dikir barat is a traditional Malay art form blending poetry, movement and rhythmic ensemble singing.
A statement from PA said that over the next year, the new task force will focus on three strategic priorities, including identifying career development opportunities and equipping the youth with essential skills to thrive in Singapore’s evolving economy.
They will include looking at how the youth can effectively use artificial intelligence, Ms Rahayu said.
The task force also aims to foster cultural expression and identity through the arts, religion and sports, and strengthen social cohesion by enabling more effective participation in national initiatives and cross-community engagement.
Ms Rahayu said 13 youth consultants – young leaders from various backgrounds, including entrepreneurship, sports, arts, technology and the social sector – have been appointed as a bridge between the task force and the community.
PA said the task force and consultants will look at ways to
close the gaps in Malay/Muslim youth participation
in national programmes and expand meaningful opportunities for youth engagement within the community.
It added that the youth consultants will hold conversations with the Malay/Muslim youth to gather feedback, understand current challenges and opportunities, and capture diverse perspectives.
They will use their findings to formulate actionable ideas and initiatives that support the youth in the community.
Said Ms Rahayu: “These youth consultants will bring fresh perspectives to youth development efforts. They will help us identify areas of improvements through dialogue sessions and joint activities. These dialogue sessions will gather the voices and views of our youth, and we hope that with their insights, we can improve existing initiatives and make them more effective.”
Among the consultants are Mr Luqmaan Hakiim, the co-founder of SGFR, a popular snack retailer, Ms Farhanna Farid, a two-time Asian powerlifting champion, and Ms Yulianna Frederika, the founder of Lepak Conversations, a research and advocacy non-profit organisation that holds discussions on Malay/Muslim issues.
Speaking to The Straits Times on Oct 11, Ms Yulianna, 27, said she was invited to be involved in the task force in September, and what “sealed the deal” for her are the other consultants, whom she described as interesting and unconventional.
The diversity of the group allows for engagement with a wider range of young people in the community than previous efforts, she said.
Describing a lot of her work at Lepak Conversations as creating inclusive spaces to talk about Malay/Muslim issues, Ms Yulianna said through her involvement in the task force, she wants to highlight the diversity in the Malay/Muslim community and open up a space for the youth from different backgrounds to feel welcome.
She said: “You can just be a regular Malay Joe and still be an important person in the community. So I’m interested, in essence, to develop a sense of belonging for young Malays.”
