Singapore Malays Set To Review, Explore Paradigms To Be A Community Of Excellence

TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH ABDULLAH SINGAPORE, March 12 (Bernama) -- Singapore Malays are set to review and explore paradigms to be a community of excellence at the upcoming Community Leaders’ Forum (CLF) in November, says Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim. Dr Yaacob said the Malay/Muslim community has come far from humble beginnings. "Our current successes are all due to efforts put in bit by bit over many years, encouraged by the government to do well in everything we do. "We must continue to build on the successes together as a community and nation, and not get distracted, he said at the recent Committee of Supply 2012 Debates in the Parliament. In addition to institutionalised efforts to help our community thrive progressively, he said community-driven initiatives are also critical. Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for Information, Culture and the Arts said one key example mentioned by many speakers during the debate is the CLF. The minister said the CLF Convention in November this year will be "an apt platform for us to reflect, review and explore paradigms to further build capacity as a community to face future challenges, in our vision to be a Community of Excellence." He pointed out that the CLF secretariat had been developing the four key networks, namely Education, Youth, Family and Employability. An MP, Zainal Sapari recommended that the community leverage on the CLF to build capacity to face future challenges. Agreeing with the recommendations, Dr Yaacob said this was indeed timely. By all accounts, he said the future was paved with many uncertainties and challenges but also opportunities. The minister said he has asked the CLF secretariat to put forth some suggestions for community leaders to deliberate and consider the possibility of starting a fifth network to drive this process. -- BERNAMA