Community Support for Individuals and Society to Understand Global Conflicts

79 Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) what are some community support mechanisms available to help individuals process the impact of international conflicts; and (b) how are global conflicts abroad being unpacked domestically to maintain social harmony and cohesion in Singapore.

The Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Mr Speaker, Singapore is a diverse society, and we understand that some Singaporeans relate strongly to events abroad, including international conflicts. Our approach has been to foster better understanding of these developments and to explain the implications for Singapore and Singaporeans. The Government strives to make such information available in a timely manner, including through Statements to this House.

It is also important to provide space for civil dialogue on these issues and to allow Singaporeans to contribute in constructive ways. This can deepen mutual understanding between communities and promote social cohesion. Our Racial and Religious Harmony Circles organise inter-ethnic and interfaith initiatives to build trust across communities, such as the Peace and Harmony Dialogue in October 2024 that discussed the Gaza situation; and more recently, a youth seminar in January 2026 that sought to empower youths to act against extremism in the digital age. The Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF), established by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura or MUIS), provides channels for all Singaporeans to help. In 2024, our Harmony Circles organised the Harmony-in-Action fundraising campaign supporting RLAF's Gaza efforts, raising half a million dollars.

For those in our Muslim community who need a listening ear or someone to discuss these issues with, they can approach our asatizah, who are trained to provide counselling and appropriate guidance. One example is Asatizah Solace Care, a service initiated by the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS), which provides a free, safe and confidential platform for individuals and families seeking emotional and spiritual support to talk about any concerns.

Mr Speaker: Ms Hazlina.

Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim (East Coast): Thank you, Speaker. I also thank the Acting Minister. I have two supplementary questions, one in English.

Thank you for acknowledging the need for space and to unpack complex situations. We all process things differently. One clarification to ask is, is this service that the Acting Minister has mentioned also available to communities beyond the Malay/Muslim community, given that it cuts across different groups?

And in Malay, please, Speaker.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker and Acting Minister, the whole of Singapore remains concerned, as mentioned, with many feeling confused, worried and also troubled by this multi-faceted Middle East conflict.

My first question – what are the Government's observations on the impact of this Middle East conflict so far, particularly on our Malay and Muslim communities, whether emotionally, spiritually or mentally?

Secondly, besides the plans that have already been shared as well as the platforms mentioned earlier, what are the further plans perhaps to collaborate with bodies such as Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs) and Indian Muslim Organisations (IMOs), as well as the support given to them to jointly address the effects of this situation?

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. Yes, indeed, the Asatizah Solace Care is open to all. In fact, they have been very supportive all these years and I am thankful to all the asatizah for playing this role. This is where we see our asatizah go down to the ground. They really roll up their sleeves and also try to share perspectives from what they know and how we can journey through together. And I am happy to share that they are very well aware and really plugged into the context of Singapore, as well as having a deep understanding of Islamic principles and what we ought to do in our lives as Muslims.

And also, with this in mind, they are also connected to the multiracial setting. Many of them are in settings like the Harmony Circles or even in some of the aspects of how we build our community together. So, anyone can approach them. If any fellow Singaporeans or any community leaders need their support, we welcome you to seek some guidance and opinion from the asatizah in the Asatizah Solace Care.

With regard to the second supplementary question, let me answer in Malay.

(In Malay): We do not see every issue in isolation, but we look at them holistically in terms of how we can continue our country's development. We understand that this conflict can bring about a profound impact. There are conflicts that do not affect us as severely and there are others that are more complex for us to handle as a society. So, we do not take lightly the impact of any conflict on our country, our people, including the minority groups, even though they may not experience the impact or receive more detailed insights in this aspect.

How can we provide support to those who are affected as well as community organisations, including IMOs, MMOs and also our asatizah or religious teachers?

As I mentioned, we have a multi-level approach. Firstly, in Parliament, if we look at it, we have already discussed these issues in Parliament. We also have approaches like conducting dialogues at various levels. Some are conducted in safe spaces and others are organised with community organisations and their members. If the issue is more complex and requires a more customised approach, we will also design it as such, where we see each issue as important and how we as a society can address it.

But I am also heartened to see the maturity in the thinking and the stance of Singaporeans. They prioritise national interest when dealing with these issues. We may have different positions and opinions, but when we discuss issues of national interest, many in our community agree that we should put our national interest first.

So, when we look at the support provided – for example, to our asatizah – we provide them with training through continuing education and training, which is CET. Under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme, they undergo programmes to improve and prepare themselves in engaging our community. This includes how they can provide emotional and spiritual support to the community, including issues related to the current conflict. We also have engagements through PERGAS and MUIS, where our religious teachers share their views and experiences, and how we can relate these to our national interest, as well as life as a Muslim in our country.

At the grassroots level, we also have Harmony Circles, where our religious teachers and other community or religious organisations come together to discuss relevant issues, including the ongoing conflict, and think about how we can prioritise harmony and our life as a cohesive society.

Therefore, this is the journey that we have charted over past decades until today. We will continue to improve it and develop relevant networks and approaches, because we can see that the world today has changed and we need support from all our people to develop our country, so that we can continue our efforts to build a cohesive and harmonious nation.