The ninth edition of Malay Muslim Fathering Month (Bulan Kebapaan), organised by Centre for Fathering (CFF) and Bapa Sepanjang Hayat (BSH), will take place from 7 to 28 September 2025. This year’s theme, Building Legacy, Nurturing the Future, highlighted the lasting influence of fathers and the importance of passing down values, wisdom, and love to future generations.
Honouring Exemplary Role Models
The highlight of the month is the inaugural Exemplary Fathers Award (Anugerah Bapa Cemerlang), which recognises and honours Muslim fathers who embody engaged and responsible fatherhood. These role models inspire others in the community to embrace active involvement in family life and demonstrate that fatherhood is about presence, love, and devotion.
Earlier this year, the public was invited to nominate fathers they considered exemplary. Twenty heartfelt nominations were received, each telling stories of dedication, sacrifice, and love. After careful review, an independent judging panel shortlisted three outstanding fathers, who received the awards from Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Grassroots Advisor to Chua Chu Kang GRC GROS (Keat Hong) on 7 September at Keat Hong Community Club. Congratulations to our award winner (pemenang), En Suyasman Bin Haji Yadoni, and our awardees (penerima), En Mansor Bin Mohd Yusof and Hj Mohamed Hussain Bin Adam Shah!
A Month of Bonding and Celebration
Malay Muslim Fathering Month 2025 will feature a vibrant series of family-friendly activities designed to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories. The celebrations kicked off with Jamming With Dad, which took place together with the Exemplary Fathers Awards, where five father-child teams came together to showcase their musical talents in a lively performance that set the tone for the month.
Fathers and children will also be enjoying a variety of fun and meaningful experiences, including Go Kart With Dad, Bowling With Dad, and Fishing With Dad. Soccer lovers will gather for the BSH Cup 2025 Futsal Tournament, while Paddle Against Drugs, supported by NCADA, combined dragon boating with an anti-drug message for youth and families. The celebrations will culminate on 28 September with the Fathers Proud Walk at Sentosa a symbolic 2.8km journey across the Sentosa Boardwalk to Palawan Beach to honour the father’s role as protector, nurturer, and steadfast presence in the family.
Exemplary Fathers Award Profiles
The inaugural Exemplary Fathers Award (Anugerah Bapa Cemerlang) recognises three fathers whose lives reflect love, resilience, and devotion to their families. Their stories serve as powerful reminders that fatherhood is not only about providing but also about guiding, nurturing, and being present. Together, they embody the spirit of this year’s theme — Building Legacy, Nurturing the Future.
En Suyasman Bin Haji Yadoni (Winner)
En Suyasman, a marine engineer, gave up his overseas career to care for his wife after she fell critically ill and later underwent leg amputation. He supported her tirelessly while caring for his elderly in-laws and teaching his children independence and resilience. Even when holidays had to be cancelled, he turned them into lessons of unity and sacrifice, showing that love and responsibility towards family are privileges, not burdens.
En Mansor Bin Mohd Yusof (Awardee)
En Mansor is a devoted father who balanced faith with recreation, guiding his children in Islamic education while nurturing their football talents, which took them to clubs abroad in Thailand, Sweden, and Barcelona. A former footballer himself, he mentors his sons with pride and passion. When his wife faced a severe health crisis and leg amputation, he stood by his children with resilience, encouraging them to stay strong and build families of their own with love and care.
Hj Mohamed Hussain Bin Adam Shah (Awardee)
Through perseverance, Hj Mohamed Hussain rose from a welder to a safety supervisor, while placing strong emphasis on his children’s religious education. Under his guidance, they excelled in their careers and faith, with one becoming a teacher and Vice-Principal and accredited Quran teacher, another a statutory board manager. At 75, he continues to serve as a bilal and care for his wife with devotion, embodying trust, integrity, and resilience.