ZAINUL ABIDIN RASHEED - Majulah!: 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore

World Scientific Series on Singapores 50 Years of Nation-Building

Published

50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore

edited by David Chan

Our Lives to Live: Putting a Womans Face to Change in Singapore

edited by Kanwaljit Soin and Margaret Thomas

50 Years of SingaporeEurope Relations: Celebrating Singapores Connections with Europe

edited by Yeo Lay Hwee and Barnard Turner

Perspectives on the Security of Singapore: The First 50 Years

edited by Barry Desker and Cheng Guan Ang

50 Years of Singapore and the United Nations

edited by Tommy Koh, Li Lin Chang and Joanna Koh

50 Years of Environment: Singapores Journey Towards Environmental Sustainability

edited by Tan Yong Soon

Food, Foodways and Foodscapes: Culture, Community and Consumption in Post-Colonial Singapore

edited by Lily Kong and Vineeta Sinha

50 Years of the Chinese Community in Singapore

edited by Pang Cheng Lian

Singapores Health Care System: What 50 Years Have Achieved

edited by Chien Earn Lee and K. Satku

SingaporeChina Relations: 50 Years

edited by Zheng Yongnian and Lye Liang Fook

Singapores Economic Development: Retrospection and Reflections

edited by Linda Y. C. Lim

50 Years of Urban Planning in Singapore

edited by Chye Kiang Heng

Singapores Real Estate: 50 Years of Transformation

edited by Ngee Huat Seek, Tien Foo Sing and Shi Ming Yu

The Singapore Research Story

edited by Hang Chang Chieh, Low Teck Seng and Raj Thampuran

The complete list of titles in the series can be found at
http://www.worldscientific.com/series/wss50ynb

Published by

World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224

USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601

UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Zainul Abidin Rasheed, editor. | Norshahril Saat, editor. |
Norshahril Saat. Progressive Malay/Muslim Singaporeans. Container of (work):

Title: Majulah! : 50 years of Malay/Muslim community in Singapore / editors, Zainul Abidin Rasheed,
Dr. Norshahril Saat.

Other titles: Majulah! (World Scientific Publishing Co.)

Description: New Jersey : World Scientific, [2016] | Some contributions translated from Malay. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015047281 | ISBN 9789814759861 (hardcover : alk. paper) |
9789814759878 (pbk : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Malays (Asian people)--Singapore. | Muslims--Singapore.

Classification: LCC DS610.25.M34 M325 2016 | DDC 305.6/97095957--dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015047281

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Front cover image: Courtesy of Sarafian Salleh 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Back cover image: Courtesy of Tanoti Sdn Bhd 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2016 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher.

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Desk Editors: Rhaimie Wahap and Karimah Samsudin

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Printed in Singapore

Fifty years ago, we set out on our SG50 journey. We were determined to build a multiracial society where every citizen is equal, regardless of race, language or religion. It was the fundamental reason for our existence, the reason we left Malaysia to become a sovereign, independent republic. From that point on, we built a nation together. Our pioneers decided that there would be a Singapore, and that we would be a society where people are valued for their abilities and contributions, not the colour of their skin.

Fifty years on, against all odds, we have created a harmonious multiracial society, where each group maintains its heritage and culture, but all come together to share one Singapore identity. We journeyed from Third World to First as one united people. That is why we can celebrate SG50 together.

The Malay/Muslim community has played a vital role in this journey. They joined hands with other communities, tackled challenges together and achieved progress and prosperity together. These essays capture part of this SG50 journey from the perspective of the Malay/Muslim community.

We are now into the next phase of nation-building. I hope readers will draw valuable lessons from the past as we prepare for the future. Where Singapore goes from here will depend on each of us, and on whether we can come together to build a more united and prosperous Singapore. We must always be a society where minorities are confident of their place and proud of our nation, a city where every citizen has full opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their dreams. Then Singapore will succeed, and all of us can celebrate together.

Majulah Singapura!

Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister

2015 was an eventful year for Singapore as it marked its 50 years of independence. On 9 August 1965, the country separated from Malaysia, after two years being part of the federation. The future was uncertain: the country had limited land, water and energy. Fifty years on, Singapore has moved from a third world to first. The same sense of achievement applies to the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. On the eve of Singapores independence, the community was in a dilemma: they had the option of moving to Malaysia, being part of the majority, with better job opportunities; and on the other, they could remain in Singapore, being a minority, and compete with other ethnic groups in a meritocratic setting. Many felt inadequate because they as a community was lagging behind economically. Undeniably, a number of Malay/Muslim professionals crossed over to Malaysia, but those who stayed on made Singapore a multiracial country.

Majulah! 50 Years of Malay/Muslim Community in Singapore traces the communitys evolution in the last five decades. Although this book focuses on challenges facing the community after 1965, it does not deny its contributions before Singapores independence. In other words, the countrys history pre-dates 1965. The history of the Malays in Singapore has to include the Nusantara (archipelago). However, the last 50 years, during independent Singapore, have been significant for the Malays/Muslims in Singapore, as they made tremendous progress in the field of education, information technology, finance and thought, on top of contributions traditionally associated with the community, such as literature, music, the arts and Islam. Obviously it cannot be exhaustive but it will capture enough to portray the essential element of the communitys growth or lack of.