Speech by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Health, at the Launch of Halal 2018, 29 March 2018

Mr Suhaimi Salleh, President, Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Memorial Scholarship Fund Board

Mr Adnan Abdul Hamid, Chairman, Muhajirin Mosque

Mr Hamzah Abdullah, Managing Director, MegaXpress International Pte Ltd

Y.H. Dato’ Nazipah Jamaluddin, Senior Director of International Department of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority of Malaysia  

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen 

    Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to be here at the launch of the Halal 2018 – Food and Lifestyle exhibition. This is an annual event of the Malay-Muslim community and I am heartened that two organisations – Muhajirin Mosque which is located in Bishan-Toa Payoh, and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Memorial Scholarship Fund Board, or LBKM, will be beneficiaries of fund raising efforts at this four-day event.    

2.    I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Muhajirin Mosque on its 40^th Anniversary. Thank you very much for the good work that you have done, regardless of race and religion. The mosque is showcasing its activities at this exhibition to reach out to the wider community.    

Celebrating the Heritage of Muhajirin

3.    Muhajirin Mosque was first built on 7 April 1977, as the first mosque under the Mosque Building Fund (MBF) Scheme. The construction of the mosque was funded through community efforts and through the MBF, which saw contributions from every Muslim employee in Singapore.

4.    In 2006, Muhajirin Mosque was temporarily closed, demolished and rebuilt to form the current Singapore Islamic Hub, together with Madrasah Irsyad and MUIS. The Hub was officially opened in July 2009, coinciding with MUIS’ 40th anniversary. The combined Hub symbolises the Islamic principles of Iman, Ilmu and Amal (Faith, Knowledge and Deeds). This is the motto that is reflected on the Muhajirin Mosque logo. 

Giving Back to the Community on its 40^th Anniversary

5.    To celebrate Muhajirin Mosque’s 40th anniversary, a series of exciting activities and events has been planned for the whole year. Earlier in February this year, a memorial lecture was held at the mosque in recognition of the mosque’s former Imam, the late Almarhum Ustaz Ahmad Sonhadji Bin Mohammad. The works and life contributions of Ustaz Sonhadji were showcased in a mini exhibition, and is now being displayed here at the Expo.

6.    I am pleased to know that part of the collection from this event will benefit the community.  Muhajirin Mosque is giving out 10 bursaries to madrasah students at the primary level. This is made possible with a pledge of $3,500 to LBKM. Muhajirin Mosque also disburses annual bursaries to students through LBKM. The bursaries will certainly benefit students in need, and I hope this good work will continue.

Adopting Healthy Lifestyle as a Community

7.    Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to touch on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. The Ministry of Health declared war on Diabetes in 2016, as this is a chronic disease affecting many Singaporeans, including members of the Malay-Muslim community. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had also highlighted diabetes as a serious concern in his National Rally speech last year. Currently, nearly half of all Malays over the age of 60 have diabetes. While we cannot completely eliminate diabetes, we can do something to reduce our risks of getting the disease, starting from leading a healthy and active lifestyle, and going for regular health screening.

8.    I am very heartened that many of our mosques and Malay organisations are actively reaching out to the community to raise awareness on health issues, including diabetes.  For example, the ‘Jaga Kesihatan Jaga Ummah’ (JKJU) initiative which started last August, in collaboration with Health Promotion Board (HPB), have benefitted more than 4,000 people. This year, 10 more mosques will be participating in the JKJU initiative and Muhajirin is one of them.

9.    For those who will be attending Umrah, HPB has introduced a new initiative called ‘Get Fit for Umrah’ to help them improve their physical well-being before their pilgrimage. HPB is working with the Association of Muslim Travel Agents to reach out to more Muslim travel agencies to offer the initiative to pilgrims. Apart from such community initiatives, we can play our part at an individual level and incorporate physical activity into our daily lives. For example, we can include exercises as part of our family’s leisure activities. This will not only keep us active, but also gives us the opportunity to spend time together with our loved ones.

10.    Allow me to share a few words in Malay on a topic that is close to the hearts of many Singaporeans - food.

11.    Makanan ialah aspek yang penting dalam mana-mana budaya, termasuk budaya Melayu. Makanan juga menjadi bahagian yang penting dalam majlis-majlis perkahwinan dan keramaian. Kami ingin menggalak masyarakat supaya makan makanan berkhasiat dan pada masa yang sama juga enak. HPB sedang bekerja rapat dengan kedai-kedai dan katerer makanan dan minuman atau F&B yang halal untuk menggalak mereka sediakan makanan lebih sihat dengan mengubah sedikit menu mereka.

12.    Bagi membantu mereka yang menjalankan perniagaan F&B sediakan makanan lebih sihat, HPB selalu mengadakan sesi-sesi “networking”, bersama Persekutuan Kulinari Halal Singapura (SCHF) dan Dewan Perniagaan dan Perusahaan Melayu Singapura (SMCCI). Ini bertujuan untuk menghubungkan mereka dengan syarikat-syarikat pengeluar makanan yang sudah menghasilkan bahan-bahan makanan lebih sihat, seperti minyak masak yang lebih sihat, beras dan mi bijirin penuh.

13.    HPB juga bekerjasama dengan syarikat-syarikat katerer majlis perkahwinan, seperti Eternally Yours dan Jamil Catering and Trading Services, supaya mereka dapat sediakan hidangan yang sihat tetapi masih sedap rasanya di majlis-majlis keramaian. Restoran-restoran seperti Rumah Makan Minang, sudah berikrar untuk menawarkan hidangan lebih sihat dalam menu harian mereka. Syarikat F&B halal, seperti Swensens, Fish & Co dan Pastamania, juga menawarkan pilihan makanan yang lebih sihat di cawangan-cawangan mereka.

14.    Sedang lebih ramai mereka yang menjalankan perniagaan F&B halal menyertai Program Pemakanan Lebih Sihat, masyarakat akan meraih manfaat dengan adanya lebih banyak makanan sihat. Ini akan memudahkan masyarakat untuk mengamalkan gaya hidup dan cara pemakanan yang lebih sihat. Dengan memilih makanan lebih baik, bersenam dengan kerap dan melakukan pemeriksaan kesihatan secara tetap, kita boleh menjaga kesihatan kita, sebagai individu dan sebagai satu masyarakat.

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(In English)

11.    Food is an important aspect of any culture, including the Malay culture. At weddings and gatherings, food is an important part of the celebrations. We want to encourage the community to eat healthily without compromising on taste. HPB is working closely with halal F&B outlets and caterers to encourage them to offer healthier halal food choices by making small changes to their menus.

12.    To enable halal F&B outlets and operators to offer healthier food options, HPB holds regular networking sessions, held in partnership with organisations such as the Singapore Halal Culinary Federation (SHCF) and the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI), to connect them with food manufacturers who have developed healthier ingredients such as healthier cooking oil, wholegrain rice and noodles.

13.    In addition, HPB is working with wedding caterers, such as Eternally Yours and Jamil Catering and Trading Services, to offer healthier and tasty dishes at gatherings and events.  Restaurants, such as Rumah Makan Minang, have pledged to offer healthier dishes as part of their daily menu. Halal F&B chains, such as Swensens, Fish & Co and Pastamania, are also offering healthier options at their outlets.

14.    As more halal F&B outlets and caterers come on board the Healthier Dining Programme, the community can benefit from a wider variety of healthier meals, making it even easier to lead a healthier lifestyle and adopt healthier eating habits. By making better food choices, exercising regularly and going for regular health screenings, we can maintain good health as individuals and as a community.

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Conclusion

15.    Let me conclude by congratulating the organisers on this event and Muhajirin Mosque on its 40th anniversary.

16.    Thank you.