The Beginning - Association of Muslim Professionals

The BeginningSENTIMENTS ON THE GROUNDTHE BIG MOMENTMENDAKI SWASTA?

The quick succession of controversies in the 1980s and itscumulative effect disturbed the community. Not helping alsowere other government policies seen as favouring the majoritycommunity. For instance, the launch of the Speak MandarinCampaign as well as the introduction of the Special AssistancePlan (SAP) schools, were seen to be giving Mandarin-speakingstudents an unfair advantage because of better resources. Thelack of cohesion and collective resolve within the community inresponding to these issues evoked a sense of a community insearch of leadership.It was during this tumultuous period that a group of Malay/Muslim professionals felt that something urgent needed to bedone to provide some direction to the community They regularlymet up at mosques and at each other’s homes to discuss whatthey could do to help ease the concerns of the community. Theythen decided on a Convention as the most ideal platform toshare their thoughts and plans to promote the progress anddevelopment of the community. They knew that for their planto work, they would have to get the Government, especiallyMr Goh Chok Tong, and other Malay/Muslim organisations onboard. However, before they had the opportunity to meet withMr Goh, who was then the First Deputy Prime Minister and PrimeMinister-in-waiting, the publications team that was producingthe journal for the convention was raided by the authorities.Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.Reprinted with permission.

Associate Professor Dr Hussin Mutalib, amember of the group of professionals wholater became the Founding Chairman of thefirst AMP Board of Directors, recalls:Members of the Economy & Business Panel in discussion“We operated at a timewhere there was a lot ofsuspicion; that any idea thatwas alternative to the statusquo was not easily tolerated.Some of us told our wivesif for some reason any of uswere called up or arrestedbecause of what we weredoing, they should meet upand discuss what to do next.”25

Mr Yang Razali Kassim, who was also a member ofthe group who later became the Deputy Chairmanof the first AMP Board and Chairman of the firstExecutive Committee, remembers that momentvividly. He said, “Following that raid, the coregroup (of the Convention) took a pledge that shouldwe be detained, so be it. Fortunately, it did notcome to pass. By then, we managed to establishcontact with Mr Goh, with whom we subsequentlyengaged in several intensive discussions to primehim on our plans.”The group continued on with their efforts to meetwith political and community leaders includingthe Malay Members of Parliament, to share theirthoughts. The core group behind the Conventionplan wanted these leaders to understand theintention behind organising the event.With their support and most critically that of MrGoh, the Convention went ahead as planned. MrYang Razali says, “Our message was clear: Thecommunity cannot be left without a sense ofdirection during a period of transition and change.The Malay/Muslim professionals want to play theirpart to pacify the community and help bring itinto the mainstream of Singaporean society. Togive the community a sense that they are notbeing marginalised by developments, we have tocome up with a bold plan of action for the future.Hence the vision of a 21 st century community inSingapore with the Malay/Muslim professionalsplaying a three-pronged role as problem solver,mobiliser and thought leader.”The Education Panel discussing its paper with the Organising Committee27

THE BIG MOMENTHeld at the then National Productivity Board’s Auditorium on 6 and7 October 1990 and officiated by Mr Goh Chok Tong as the Guestof Honour, the Convention attracted more than 500 Malay/Muslimprofessionals who listened to the ideas and strategies presented bythe group. The Convention focused on the prospects, challengesand directions that the Malay/Muslim community would be facingas it entered the new century.1st National Convention of Singapore Malay/Muslim Professionals (1990)Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Reprinted with permission.29

THE BIG MOMENT1st National Convention of Singapore Malay/Muslim Professionals (1990)Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Reprinted with permission.Specifically, it explored strategies andrecommendations on politics, leadershipand organisations; economy andbusiness; education; religion; socialculture;and MENDAKI, as the Malaycommunity’s major self-help group.Concerned by what they discerned tobe grumblings on the ground about thedominating presence of Malay politicalleaders in key community organisations,the group called for MENDAKI as a majorself-help group to be depoliticised andbe more accountable to the community.30

The First National Convention of Singapore Malay/Muslim Professionals, as it was officiallycalled, proposed several breakthrough strategies to help propel the community forward.One of this was the formation of a movement of Malay/Muslim Professionals (MMP), whicha year later was formally incorporated as the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP). Itwas suggested that this association of Malay/Muslim professionals:s Finalise a vision for the community;s Mobilise Malay/Muslim professionals to play a constructive role in the transformation ofMalay/Muslim society to face the 21st century;s Be a think tank for the community;s Play a leadership function within the community;s Channel to the Government opinions and views of Malay/Muslim professionals on abroad range of issues affecting the community;s Be role models for the young and be an inspiration for the community;s Be a fountain and training ground for future leaders of the community with a view tosystematically preparing various echelons of Malay/Muslim leadership in various fields;ands Play a supportive role for existing Malay-Muslim organisations.Source: Forging a Vision: Prospects, Challenges and Directions (1990)31

THE BEGINNING | MENDAKI SWASTA?The Convention was a resounding success – people from allwalks of life wrote to the group thanking and congratulatingthem. Associate Professor Dr Hussin recalls, “I remembertaking a taxi home one day which was driven by a Malay man,who recognised me from the Convention. Throughout thejourney, we discussed the Convention, but something touchinghappened when I reached my destination and wanted to paythe fare – he refused to accept it.When I asked him why, he said, ‘This is a small contributionfrom me as a taxi driver. We saw what you had done for thecommunity. We now feel we can breathe in Singapore andwant to thank you.’ This is what volunteerism is all about. Thisis what passion towards a noble cause is all about - not wantinganything else in return but to touch the hearts of people, forthem to feel our sincerity and contributions in improving theirlives.”MENDAKI Swasta?(A Private Sector MENDAKI?)At the two-day convention, Mr Goh gave full support to the aspirationsof the professionals, including their desire to be an independent and nonpartisanmovement for change and progress within the community. Healso suggested that the convention organisers set up MENDAKI Swasta,or a private sector MENDAKI. This new organisation would not have anypolitical ties to the Government and instead would be led by the proposedgroup of Malay/Muslim professionals.“Let Malayprofessionals leadit without any MalayMPs, but make itaccountable to thecommunity as awhole.”- Mr Goh Chok Tong,First Deputy Prime Ministerin “Chok Tong calls for new MENDAKI”in The Straits Times (8 October 1990)32Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.Reprinted with permission.

However, despite the support of Mr Goh, and later by then outgoingPrime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, to set up the proposedassociation of Malay/Muslim professionals, there were some inthe community who were unsure if MENDAKI Swasta was a goodidea.The fear was that it would be seen as an alternative MENDAKIand would compete, confuse and divide the community, drainingthe limited resources of the community. Some in the communityeven felt that the formation of such an organisation was a wasteand would not be successful. What they preferred was to havethe group of Malay/Muslim professionals involving themselves inMENDAKI’s work instead of competing with each other.“We are inclined to believe that we are not ready to have a secondMENDAKI, at least for now. The present resources, especially in terms ofmanpower, should be organised to strengthen the existing MENDAKI.… (the Malay/Muslim professionals) have to be realistic in their approachand develop in co-operation with MENDAKI for the benefit of thecommunity.”- Excerpt from a reproduced Berita Harian editorial in The Straits Times,“Alternative Mendaki not a timely move” (10 October 1990)33

THE BEGINNING | MENDAKI SWASTA?The group considered the various views. They were, however, clearabout one thing – the professionals would not compete with MENDAKIas that was never their intention right from the start. But their entitywould exist separately and independently of MENDAKI and of politics,while working in critical collaboration with all forces, including theGovernment, that can advance the interest and progress of the Malay/Muslims towards the vision of a model Muslim community in a pluralSingapore.A year later, on 10 October 1991, the Association of Muslim Professionals,or AMP, was officially established and incorporated as a company limitedby guarantee. The formation of AMP was referred to by Mr Goh ChokTong as a milestone, while in his congratulatory note to AMP, Mr LeeKuan Yew referred to AMP as a “trailblazer of the community”.34Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.Reprinted with permission.