Memorandum of Understanding Ceremony for Tattoo Removal Programme Collaboration Between Masjid Tentera and National Skin Centre - Speech by Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State, MHA

Professor Eugene Soh, Deputy Group CEO of NHG Health;

Associate Professor Chua Sze Hon, Executive Director of National Skin Centre;

Mr Kadir Maideen, CE MUIS;

Haji Amir Ibrahim, Chairman of Masjid Tentera;

Ustaz Pasuni Maulan, Vice-Chairman of Masjid Tentera;

Mr Farhan Hassan, Treasurer of Masjid Tentera and Head of Mudik Ke Hulu;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. A very good afternoon to all of you.

2. I am very honoured to join you at this meaningful occasion to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Masjid Tentera and the National Skin Centre.

3. This collaboration highlights how organisations can come together, leverage their respective expertise and resources, and collectively create deeper impact to better our society.

4. Through this collaboration, we will strengthen our efforts in supporting the vulnerable among us, particularly those impacted by drug abuse and incarceration. Not only that, we are also taking positive steps in building and sustaining a more caring community as well as, not only you need to have a caring society, but I think what is key, especially in a multi-racial setting in Singapore, a cohesive society.

5. The hard work of government agencies, community partners and stakeholders over the years has been very strong and also continue to gain strength, and of course, born positive outcomes. Twenty years ago, about the time when the Mudik Ke Hulu programme was first launched, about one in three Malay offenders return to prison within two years of their release. Today, this has improved to about one in four, so, good outcome.

6. This is an indication of the community’s progress and the strong ecosystem of support helping ex-offenders and their families in their rehabilitation and desistance journey.

7. While we can be proud of the progress, this should also spur us on to do even better and serve as a springboard for our next bound of progress. It is indeed ongoing work to help ex-offenders and their families in their rehabilitation journey.

8. The work that we do is not easy. The rehabilitation and reintegration journey of our friends is also not easy. Therefore, I am very grateful to Masjid Tentera and the National Skin Centre for your partnership and support in our mission to uplift lives together.

9. As I shared earlier, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ustaz Pasuni Maulan for your vision in setting up the Mudik Ke Hulu initiative many years ago, and to everyone at Masjid Tentera, for growing the programme and supporting the beneficiaries under your care throughout these years. In fact, I remember, even before I joined MHA, I attended one of your events. I felt very touched by the fact that it was really an effort by a group of people who care for one another. They were just starting, trying to see how this could be done. I am happy that as we went along the way, we were also able to share our programme with our counterparts overseas. I was told that even when our counterparts saw it, they said it is something you can do, but we may not be able do, because of the ecosystem we have in Singapore. Today is a great milestone, it is enhancing the engagement, enhancing the process, and a partnership, I would say, make it easier for us to journey through together. Because in the years ahead, we may not know what will happen – whether more and more will take drugs or go into some of these areas, or the incarceration landscape may change. As such, with partnership like this, and also strengthening of the ecosystem of rehabilitation and reintegration, and keeping Singapore safe and secure, I think this will keep fellow Singaporeans and those who live here safer, and at the same time provide the opportunity for individuals and families to grow, as well as, provide the opportunity for all of us to restart our life and grow higher. To me, this is very meaningful, and I am really appreciative of those of you who are involved in this effort.

10. I would also like to acknowledge the National Skin Centre for your partnership. It will enable the beneficiaries to access safe, professional and high-quality tattoo removal treatments. Beyond that, it also sends a strong signal to the beneficiaries that the community is behind them in their journey. I am a good friend of many of our friends who are inside, or even who have been released. Journeying with them, I can tell you such an effort like this not only touch their hearts, make them more motivated, persevering and also, more supported in their rehabilitation and reintegration journey. It is a very significant milestone, and I will be your ambassador. I will not only share about the programme. I will also get them to share that there is this avenue.

11. In closing, this MOU Signing Ceremony marks a significant and meaningful milestone in our efforts to strengthen the rehabilitation ecosystem. May this collaboration serve as an inspiration for others to work together in uplifting and supporting those in need.

12. Once again, thank you for doing this. I hope that we will continue to work together and strengthen the ecosystem of support in the journey of our friends who are going through rehabilitation and reintegration. Thank you.