Monies Disbursed from Malay-Muslim Community Development Fund

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs for each year between 2013 and 2015 (a) what is the total amount of monies that have been disbursed from the Malay-Muslim Community Development Fund (MMCDF); (b) how many organisations or agencies have benefited from this Fund; and (c) to what purposes have the monies been utilised.

The Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Madam, MENDAKI's Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund, or MMCDF, was set up to support community initiatives by Malay/Muslim organisations (MMOs) in areas such as education, youth, social assistance, and employability.

Nearly $10 million was disbursed through MMCDF between 2013 and 2015. Fifty-three MMOs benefited from the Fund in 2013, 51 MMOs in 2014, and 62 MMOs in 2015.

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied): I thank the Minister for the reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, can the Minister provide the number of funding applications received by the MMCDF Committee for Years 2013, 2014 and 2015? Secondly, I just want to clarify mosques are allowed to tap on the MMCDF for their social programmes.

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, I do not have the figures for the three years, but I would be happy to provide the Member with the figures when I have them. Mosques do not qualify because they are not considered as Malay/Muslim organisations (MMOs), but there have been instances where MMOs work in partnership with mosques and apply for funding from MMCDF.