The Malay/Muslim community's goal of becoming a community of excellence requires every member of the community to play his/her part. The community of excellence is one that is self-reliant, creative, confident and progressive. It is prepared to move forward in the modern world with science and technology, even as it retains a deep sense of pride in its Malay heritage and culture, and Islamic faith.
2. Malay/Muslim community leaders, together with the Malay MPs will embark on a process to deliberate on the key pillars for developing a community of excellence. In so doing, they will be building on the efforts of the KBE Convention.
3. In 1999, the Malay/Muslim community had deliberated extensively on how to prepare the community for the knowledge-based economy, under the aegis of the KBE Convention. The broad strategic thrusts identified then -enhancing employability, strengthening families and education and talent development - continue to remain fundamental pillars for building a community of excellence.
Employability
4. The economic environment that all Singaporeans increasingly have to operate in is one marked by rapid creation, destruction and restructuring of industries and companies. Lifetime employment is no longer to be expected. Workers must keep learning new skills and be flexible enough to undertake different jobs in their lifetime.
5. The Malay/Muslim community must continue to focus squarely on readying all members of the community for this knowledge-based economy. It must address the threat of structural unemployment and help the less- educated or less-skilled Malay/Muslims upgrade themselves. The community has to look ahead and ensure that succeeding generations of Malay/Muslims enter the workforce with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to compete successfully in the workforce.
Families and Youth
6. Strong families lie at the heart of a strong community. Malays have a strong family orientation and enjoy a network of family support. While efforts to strengthen families continue, we should pay attention to our youths, who are the parents of tomorrow and who will determine the shape of the Malay/Muslim community in the years to come.
7. Malays aged 19 and below constitute 37.7% of the community. For the Chinese and Indian communities the figure is 25.8% and 30.7% respectively. The large youth base offers many opportunities for the Malay/Muslim community. We should develop the potential of every young person - equipping him/her with the skills and attitudes for success at school and work and with strong values. Youths at risk must be given support and opportunities. Otherwise, they risk becoming delinquent and/or victims of structural shifts in the economy in their adult lives.
Education
8. Education is critical to enabling Malay/Muslim to be ready for the new economy. Currently, some 70% of each P1 cohort attain post-secondary education. The Malay/Muslim community is currently pursuing PM's target of 90% of Malay/Muslims attaining post-secondary education. The pursuit will require sustained intervention at various points along the education continuum. Efforts must start at the pre-school stage, to provide a strong foundation, so that the child and his parents are prepared for his entry into primary school.
Process
9. The Malay MPs and about 40 community leaders will engage in 6 focus group discussions with various stakeholders, groups and individuals to delve deeper into issues of structural unemployment, educational attainment and youth development. This will culminate in the Community of Excellence: Leaders Forum on 4 October 2003 (Saturday). During the Forum, community leaders would have an opportunity to dialogue with the Prime Minister. The discussion process leading up to the Forum would give the community leaders ample time to reflect on the issues and contemplate strategic outcomes, which will form the basis for the dialogue at the Forum. Mendaki will provide the secretariat and support the process.
10. The process aims to achieve the following:
a) Engender shared perspectives and understanding of how the future might unfold, the critical driving forces affecting it, and the implications for the Malay/Muslim community; and
b) Deliberate on the fundamental pillars that are critical to the progress of the Malay/Muslim community -employability, family and youth development and education - so as to enable the community to channel existing resources more effectively towards strategic areas and critical gaps.
11. The active participation and support of members of the community will be critical to achieving the objectives of the Community of Excellence: Leaders Forum.
2. Malay/Muslim community leaders, together with the Malay MPs will embark on a process to deliberate on the key pillars for developing a community of excellence. In so doing, they will be building on the efforts of the KBE Convention.
3. In 1999, the Malay/Muslim community had deliberated extensively on how to prepare the community for the knowledge-based economy, under the aegis of the KBE Convention. The broad strategic thrusts identified then -enhancing employability, strengthening families and education and talent development - continue to remain fundamental pillars for building a community of excellence.
Employability
4. The economic environment that all Singaporeans increasingly have to operate in is one marked by rapid creation, destruction and restructuring of industries and companies. Lifetime employment is no longer to be expected. Workers must keep learning new skills and be flexible enough to undertake different jobs in their lifetime.
5. The Malay/Muslim community must continue to focus squarely on readying all members of the community for this knowledge-based economy. It must address the threat of structural unemployment and help the less- educated or less-skilled Malay/Muslims upgrade themselves. The community has to look ahead and ensure that succeeding generations of Malay/Muslims enter the workforce with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to compete successfully in the workforce.
Families and Youth
6. Strong families lie at the heart of a strong community. Malays have a strong family orientation and enjoy a network of family support. While efforts to strengthen families continue, we should pay attention to our youths, who are the parents of tomorrow and who will determine the shape of the Malay/Muslim community in the years to come.
7. Malays aged 19 and below constitute 37.7% of the community. For the Chinese and Indian communities the figure is 25.8% and 30.7% respectively. The large youth base offers many opportunities for the Malay/Muslim community. We should develop the potential of every young person - equipping him/her with the skills and attitudes for success at school and work and with strong values. Youths at risk must be given support and opportunities. Otherwise, they risk becoming delinquent and/or victims of structural shifts in the economy in their adult lives.
Education
8. Education is critical to enabling Malay/Muslim to be ready for the new economy. Currently, some 70% of each P1 cohort attain post-secondary education. The Malay/Muslim community is currently pursuing PM's target of 90% of Malay/Muslims attaining post-secondary education. The pursuit will require sustained intervention at various points along the education continuum. Efforts must start at the pre-school stage, to provide a strong foundation, so that the child and his parents are prepared for his entry into primary school.
Process
9. The Malay MPs and about 40 community leaders will engage in 6 focus group discussions with various stakeholders, groups and individuals to delve deeper into issues of structural unemployment, educational attainment and youth development. This will culminate in the Community of Excellence: Leaders Forum on 4 October 2003 (Saturday). During the Forum, community leaders would have an opportunity to dialogue with the Prime Minister. The discussion process leading up to the Forum would give the community leaders ample time to reflect on the issues and contemplate strategic outcomes, which will form the basis for the dialogue at the Forum. Mendaki will provide the secretariat and support the process.
10. The process aims to achieve the following:
a) Engender shared perspectives and understanding of how the future might unfold, the critical driving forces affecting it, and the implications for the Malay/Muslim community; and
b) Deliberate on the fundamental pillars that are critical to the progress of the Malay/Muslim community -employability, family and youth development and education - so as to enable the community to channel existing resources more effectively towards strategic areas and critical gaps.
11. The active participation and support of members of the community will be critical to achieving the objectives of the Community of Excellence: Leaders Forum.
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