Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development has announced the formation of a task force that will strengthen families in the in the Malay Muslim community.
On his Facebook post on 21 February 2022, he shared, “Yesterday, I had the chance to meet with volunteers from Bapa Sepanjang Hayat (Dads For Life). I am heartened to hear of their experiences engaging the community and stories of how, as fathers, they learnt to meaningfully spend time with their children to help them grow. I am therefore happy to announce the formation of the Nakhoda Taskforce on Fathering.
This taskforce was formed to develop strategies to promote active fathering despite the challenges of modern fatherhood and parenting identified through a research project by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and jointly commissioned by AMP Singapore (AMP), the Centre For Fathering (CFF), the Lutheran Community Care Services (LCCS) and the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS). This taskforce is made up of our Malay/Muslim community leaders and experts, and I look forward to working with them to promote active fathering in the community. Studies have shown that children who grow up with involved fathers and mothers demonstrate stronger development as well as confidence and empathy.
We hope to engage our fathers, as the “nakhoda” (captain) of the family with strong partnership with their spouses, and help develop strategies to navigate the modern fathering landscape and play an active role in building a meaningful relationship with their children, ultimately pave the way towards developing strong families.”
The taskforce will be led by Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim as the advisor. Its members are made up of Malay/Muslim community leaders and topic experts.
| Member | Designation |
| Mr Mohksin Mohd Rashid | Executive Director
AMP Singapore |
| Mr Bryan Tan | Chief Executive Officer
Centre For Fathering Limited (CFF) |
| Mr Hafiz Othman | Executive Director
Emaan Catalyst Community |
| Mr Helmy Isa | Senior Director, Strategy & Transformations
Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) |
| Mdm Rahayu Buang | Chief Executive Officer
KidSTART Singapore Ltd |
| Mdm Tuminah Sapawi | Chief Executive Officer
Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) |
| Mr Mohamed Khair Mohamed Noor | Executive Chairman & Principal Consultant
SuChi Success Initiatives Pte Ltd |
| Mdm Azlinah Binte Arif | Deputy Director, School Ready
Yayasan MENDAKI |
Said Mr Bryan Tan, CEO, Centre for Fathering, MUMs for Life and DADs for Life, “Through the Malay Muslim Fathering Month in September, fathering workshops and father-child bonding activities, Centre for Fathering and our Malay Muslim fathering movement, Bapa Sepanjang Hayat, reaches more than 300,000 Malay Muslim fathers and family members each year,” said Mr Bryan Tan, CEO, Centre for Fathering, DADs for Life and MUMs for Life.
Although we have come a long way in equipping Malay Muslim fathers over the past six years through BSH, there is much more work to be done in the community with many more families we want to reach. I am also heartened to be part of this task force as it an important initiative that will help empower Malay Muslim fathers to strengthen families in Singapore.”