MUSLIM EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Haji Sha'ari bin Tadin asked the Minister for Social Affairs whether the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura has any plans to use the accumulated money in the Fitrah Fund, which is currently kept in fixed deposit, for any specific project, and, if not, whether the MUIS will consider establishing a Muslim Education Foundation to assist deserving Muslims to further their tertiary education.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: As at 30th May 1978, the amount in the Fitrah Fund kept by the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) stood at $1,852,594.42 with $1,826,000.00 in fixed deposits. The yearly Fitrah collection (Muslim tithes) paid by Muslims in cash representing the price of 2.26 kilograms of rice per Muslim, is allocated according to Muslim law to the 8 "Asnafs". Funds allocated to the "Asnafs" which are not utilised at the end of the year are kept in the Fitrah Fund, the accounts of which are audited yearly by qualified accountants appointed by me in consultation with the Auditor-General.

The money in the Fitrah Fund is invested as fixed deposits with accredited banks. Since the inception of the MUIS, the yearly interest earned from the fixed deposits are used to pay the salaries of staff employed by the MUIS to attend to Fitrah collections. Their annual salaries, including CPF contributions amount to approximately $91,000. These staff, consisting of a Financial Officer and clerks, attend to the registration of "Amils" (Fitrah collectors), "fakir" and "miskin" (poor and needy), collection of Fitrah, distribution of Fitrah, etc. Besides attending to matters relating to Fitrah collection and distribution, these officers oversee the day-to-day administration of the Wakaff (endowment) accounts, Mosque Building Fund accounts, "Zakat harta" (Muslim property tax) accounts and the "Bait-ul-mal" (General Endowment Fund) accounts.

The MUIS has plans to use part of the money in the Fitrah Fund for 2 major projects for the benefit of Muslims. The 2 projects are -

(a) Mosque Building Programme

The MUIS, in consultation with the Ministry and the Housing and Development Board, feel that it is necessary to speed up the mosque building programme to cater for the religious needs of Muslims who are resettled in new towns. It has, therefore, decided to advance the completion dates of the mosques to be built in Woodlands and Bedok/Chai Chee from 1981 to 1979 or early 1980. It has also decided that it is necessary to build a mosque in Ang Mo Kio New Town by 1980 under Phase I of the Mosque Building Fund Scheme since a large number of Muslims would be living in this New Town. To ensure the availability of funds for the accelerated mosque building programme, the MUIS has agreed in principle to advance a sum of $1.3 million, interest- free, from its Fitrah and Baitul-mal Accounts for the Mosque Building Fund Scheme. The advance will be repaid from subsequent collections made under the Scheme. (b) Multi-purpose Muslim Religious Centre

The MUIS has proposed the building of a Multi-purpose Muslim Religious Centre for the benefit of Muslims. The Centre will be built on a 1,999 sq metre (21,518 sq ft) site behind Masjid Muhajirin at Toa Payoh. The MUIS is consulting the Housing and Development Board architects regarding the design of the Centre. The Centre will have a multi-purpose hall with seating capacity for at least 500 persons, dormitories, including a hostel for foreign visitors, a library, office space and caretaker's quarters. The MUIS Council has agreed to spend $500,000- $600,000 on the construction of the Centre. This sum excludes cost of land and professional fees. The cost of this Centre will be met from funds in the Fitrah and Baitul-mal Accounts.

The proposal to establish a Muslim Education Fund is not necessary because, yearly, the MUIS has been allocating part of the Fitrah collections as bursaries for deserving Muslim students. Although the quantum of each bursary varies according to the awardee's financial background and whether he is receiving financial assistance from other sources, the recommended quantum per bursary for university undergraduates is $1,000 per annum, and for post-graduate students, the quantum per bursary is $1,500 per annum.

The Member may wish to know that during the years 1975-1977, the MUIS distributed $110,300, $93,250 and $98,480 respectively as bursaries for deserving Muslim students. Of this, $65,100 (59%) in 1975, $58,600 (62.8%) in 1976 and $58,000 (58.9%) in 1977 were given to deserving Muslims for their tertiary education. This year, the MUIS has set aside $100,000 for bursaries. Of this, the MUIS has earmarked $54,500 (54.5%) for deserving Muslims pursuing tertiary education. The $54,500 is for 50 bursaries at $1,000 per bursary for undergraduate students and 3 bursaries at $1,500 for post-graduate students.

In view of the substantial annual allocation of funds by the MUIS to assist deserving Muslims in their tertiary education, it is not necessary to establish a Muslim Education Foundation as proposed. It will be a duplication of the bursary scheme implemented by the MUIS since 1969.