Community Education, Welfare & Development Lecture Series
Organised by Jamiyah Singapore Together with Indian Muslim Associations
Sunday, 18th January 2009 at Sultan Mosque Auditorium

The local Indian Muslim community can now refer to Jamiyah Singapore to gain its expertise in various fields. The fields of cooperation include community service, education, health issues and welfare.

The cooperation was built after Jamiyah and 13 local Indian Muslim organizations signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in conjunction to the Community Education, Welfare & Development Lecture Series at Sultan Mosque Auditorium on Sunday, 18th January 2009. Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs was the Guest-of-Honour.

In his speech, the President of Jamiyah Singapore, Mr. Abu Bakar Maidin said that he hopes the MOU could provide another constructive platform for the Muslim community to discuss social issues, to explore ideas as to how the socio-economic well being of the community could be enhanced and enriched by harnessing the niche of Indian Muslims in different kinds of business and professions, with the available diversified educational and humanitarian services and facilities of Jamiyah Singapore which is open to people of all races and religions. One of the major objectives of the MOU was to raise funds for entrepreneurial and community development.

In his speech, the President of the Kadayanallur Muslim League of Singapore, Haji Nasser Ghani, said that Jamiyah has now made attempts to reach out and collaborate with Indian Muslim organizations to embark on joint community service programmes in the coming months and years ahead.

Haji Nasser Ghani said “It marks another chapter in Jamiyah’s continuing efforts to reach out and engage various Muslim and social organizations in Singapore for collaborative efforts, common goals and joint programmes for the betterment of Muslims and Singaporeans”,

Jamiyah Singapore and the 13 Indian Muslim organizations would organize four to five activities that could help the Indian Muslim community every year. Both parties are discussing on various avenues to strengthen brotherhood and identify the needs of the local Indian Muslim community.

Although this is the pioneering collaboration between both parties, the contributions from the Indian Muslim community are evident. Among them are the contributions from Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddique of Meerut, India, who founded Jamiyah Singapore.

A presentation of Community Service Awards was also held to recognize the contributions of the awardees:-

• Hj M K Abdul Jabbar
• Hj S M Abdul Jaleel
• Hj Mustaq Ahmad
• Hj O K Mohd Haniffa
• Hj Mohd Yunos Bin Mohd Ishak
• Hj Sharafdeen s/o Abdul Razak
• Capt Mohd Kassim Haja Mydin
• Hj Shaik Mohamed Maricar
• Dato’ Mohd Zain Abdullah
• Hj Ismail Abdul Gafoor
• Hj abdul Latiff Md Yusoff
• Hj Mohamed Salleh Marican
• Hj Mohd Salleh bin Hassan
• Hj E S Ebrahim Marican
• Hj A G Mohamed Mustapha
• Hj P A Pakir Maidin
• Hj K O Shaik Alaudeen
• Hj Haja Bahurdeen
• Hj Mashuthoo s/o Abdul Rahiman
• Mr Mohd Nasim, Hj Naseer Ghani
• Hj T M Sheik Mohideen
• Mr Farihullah s/o Abdul Wahab Safiullah
• Mr O P M N Kamal
• Mr M Syed Jahangeer
• Mr Muhammad Feroze Khan
• Hj M Y Mohamed Rafeeq
• Mr Shaick Fakrudeen
• Mdm Mariam Bivi d/oAbdul Kader
• Mdm Hairon Masthan
• Mr Mohammed Jaleeludeen.

On that same day, a forum entitled ‘Progress and Development – The Guidance in Islam’ was moderated by Dr Syed Ibrahim (Himana Syed). The two guest speakers were Moulavi Hafiz Abdul Qayyum Baqavi, Imam of Bencoolen Mosque, and Moulavi Hafiz S A Rafeeq Ahamed Fazil, Baqavi Imam of Abdul Gafoor Mosque.

It was a significant beginning to a relationship that would enhance and develop both Jamiyah Singapore in its services and the Indian Muslim Community at large.