The AMLA Amendments - Association of Muslim Professionals
The AMLA Amendments - Association of Muslim Professionals
The AMLA Amendments - Association of Muslim Professionals
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KARYAWAN<br />
Editorial<br />
Editorial Board<br />
Yang Razali Kassim<br />
Supervising Editor<br />
Mohd Azhar Khalid<br />
Editor<br />
Yus<strong>of</strong> Sulaiman<br />
Abdul Razak Chanbasha<br />
Mohd Nizam Ismail<br />
Winda Guntor<br />
Assistant Editor<br />
Contributors<br />
Arfat Selvam<br />
Chairul Fahmy Hussaini<br />
Halijah Mohamad<br />
Hidayah Amin<br />
Ismail Pantek<br />
Mohd Nizam Ismail<br />
Mohd Suhaimi Ismail<br />
Norman Vasu<br />
Raihan Ismail<br />
Saat Abdul Rahman<br />
Sadali Rasban<br />
Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied<br />
Yang Razali Kassim<br />
Yolanda Chin<br />
Yus<strong>of</strong> Sulaiman<br />
Zaleha Ahmad<br />
Karyawan Disclaimer:<br />
Karyawan is a publication <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Association</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals. <strong>The</strong> views expressed<br />
by the authors do not necessarily reflect<br />
those <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Association</strong> and its subsidiaries<br />
nor its directors and the Karyawan editorial<br />
board. Copyright in 2009 <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Association</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals. Printed in Singapore<br />
by <strong>The</strong> Print Lodge Pte Ltd. All rights reserved.<br />
We welcome letters, comments and<br />
suggestions on the issues that appear<br />
in the magazine. Please address your<br />
correspondence to:<br />
Editor, Karyawan<br />
<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals,<br />
1 Pasir Ris Drive 4,<br />
#05-11, Singapore 519457,<br />
Tel: +65 6416 3966<br />
Fax: +65 6583 8028<br />
Email: karyawan@amp.org.sg<br />
THIS ISSUE <strong>of</strong> Karyawan looks at change and identity: Changes in the legislative framework for<br />
<strong>Muslim</strong>s in Singapore; Potential change in terms <strong>of</strong> the future national leadership and what this<br />
means for national identity; And thirdly, the identity <strong>of</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong> Singaporeans in a secular state.<br />
<strong>The</strong> primary focus <strong>of</strong> this issue is on the Administration <strong>of</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong> Law Act (<strong>AMLA</strong>), taking<br />
<strong>of</strong>f from the latest amendments to <strong>AMLA</strong> in November 2008. <strong>The</strong> <strong>AMLA</strong> changes continue a<br />
process that has stretched over many years since <strong>AMLA</strong> was promulgated in 1966. <strong>The</strong> primary<br />
motivation behind these legislative changes over the years has been the goal <strong>of</strong> improving<br />
the “s<strong>of</strong>tware” and eco-system <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Muslim</strong> community. In terms <strong>of</strong> their immediate goals,<br />
the latest amendments to <strong>AMLA</strong> were aimed at addressing the social challenges facing the<br />
Malay/<strong>Muslim</strong> community, specifically the problems <strong>of</strong> marriage, divorce and dysfunctional<br />
families. Invariably, these amendments will have a long-term impact on the identity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Muslim</strong> community as Singaporeans living in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society within<br />
the ethos <strong>of</strong> a secular state.<br />
This Karyawan issue presents a spectrum <strong>of</strong> views on the latest amendments to <strong>AMLA</strong>, reflecting<br />
the undercurrent <strong>of</strong> debate over these changes, a debate which is not <strong>of</strong>ten heard <strong>of</strong> publicly.<br />
A glimpse <strong>of</strong> this debate was captured in the Karyawan Forum on <strong>AMLA</strong> organised by this<br />
publication in collaboration with Young AMP and RIMA, the Centre for Research on Islamic and<br />
Malay Affairs. <strong>The</strong> forum was held just prior to the passing <strong>of</strong> the amendments by the Singapore<br />
Parliament in November 2008. Given the paucity <strong>of</strong> publicity for such alternative views, this<br />
forum, and this issue <strong>of</strong> Karyawan, hope to encourage some long-range thinking on <strong>AMLA</strong> and<br />
its central place in <strong>Muslim</strong> society in Singapore.<br />
At around the same time in November, the world was shaken by a most unexpected issue<br />
– the election <strong>of</strong> Barack Obama. <strong>The</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> Obama’s victory and his subsequent swearing<br />
in on January 20 as the first African American president <strong>of</strong> the United States carried a special<br />
significance for plural societies around the world. Can multiracial countries also produce their<br />
own Obama Are they ready for a president or prime minister from the minority community<br />
<strong>The</strong>se are more than just questions <strong>of</strong> representation. <strong>The</strong>y go to the core <strong>of</strong> national identity<br />
and nation-building. Singapore was not spared such a debate in the wake <strong>of</strong> Obamamania. This<br />
issue <strong>of</strong> Karyawan captures the debate in a couple <strong>of</strong> articles.<br />
Finally, the question <strong>of</strong> reconciling <strong>Muslim</strong> identity with the secular values <strong>of</strong> the state is also<br />
discussed. We present a commentary on this in our Focus section. Are <strong>Muslim</strong>s in Singapore<br />
comfortable with their present identity Do they have problems reconciling being <strong>Muslim</strong> and<br />
being Singaporean What about the triple identity <strong>of</strong> being Malay, <strong>Muslim</strong> and Singaporean all<br />
at the same time<br />
We hope you enjoy reading this issue <strong>of</strong> Karyawan.<br />
Yang Razali Kassim<br />
Supervising Editor<br />
From the Editor’s Desk<br />
<strong>AMLA</strong>: Time for<br />
sweeping changes<br />
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