MUIS appoints new Asatizah Recognition Board and establishes new ARB Advisory Panel

1. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) is pleased to announce the Majlis Menjunjung Budi and appointment of new members to the Asatizah Recognition Board (ARB) for the term 2026–2028. The ceremony, held on 19 November 2025 at Furama City Centre, honoured outgoing members for their dedication and leadership, and welcomed the incoming members who will continue the important work of enhancing the quality, ethics, and professionalism of Singapore's asatizah. Members who have served more than 15 years will also be appointed to the newly established ARB Advisory Panel to provide strategic guidance and mentorship to new members and the asatizah community. 

2. This year’s event was graced by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Assoc Prof Faishal Ibrahim. The ceremony also featured a significant leadership transition, with Ustaz Pasuni Maulan, who has served the ARB for over 18 years, handing over the chairmanship to Ustaz Nor Razak Bakar, who brings over 30 years of experience in Islamic law administration and community engagement. Refer to Annex A for the list of incoming ARB members (2026 – 2028) and Annex B outgoing ARB members (2023 – 2025). 

About ARB and its progress over 20 years 

3. Established in 2005 by MUIS, the ARB oversees the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS), which ensures that qualified, competent, and ethical Muslim individuals are recognised to teach and guide the Muslim community in Singapore. The scheme has grown from its initial voluntary registration system to nearly 5,200 registered asatizah today. ARS became mandatory in 2017 to strengthen professional standards; thus, every individual who wishes to teach Islam in this country must first obtain ARS recognition.

4. The ARB consists of a diverse pool of asatizah who are also scholars and professionals, and whose responsibilities include: 

   • Overseeing the implementation of ARS policies and initiatives, 

   • Deciding on applications for ARS recognition, 

   • Ensuring the professional and ethical conduct of asatizah,

   • Providing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programmes, 

   • Serving as members of the ARS Ethics and Discipline Panel. 

Key achievements of the outgoing Board (2023-2025)

5. The outgoing Board has created long-lasting impact for the asatizah community during its term. As part of its digital transformation initiatives, it launched the Integrated Learning Management (ILM) portal in May 2025, to which provide ARS-certified asatizah with a streamlined digital platform to update personal records, register for CPE programmes, monitor learning progress, and access digital resources. This platform enhances transparency and improves the overall learning experience for the asatizah community.  

6. Following a comprehensive review of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programmes from 2020–2025, the Board refined the CPE framework and implemented significant changes to foster lifelong learning among asatizah. These include the recognition of various learning modes such as online and modular learning formats, as well as the introduction of Self-Paced Learning modules to enhance access to learning opportunities.   

Leadership transition

7. Outgoing ARB Chairman, Ustaz Pasuni Maulan has served the ARB since 2007 and has been instrumental in transitioning the ARS from a voluntary to a mandatory scheme in 2017. He has also strengthened the ethical standards and policy framework for asatizah recognition. 

8. Ustaz Nor Razak Bakar, the new Chairman of ARB, brings over 30 years of experience in Islamic law administration and community engagement. As Chairman, he will focus on enhancing ARB’s governance, communication, and support for asatizah professional development.

Long Service Award and new ARB Advisory Panel

9. MUIS has established a new ARB Advisory Panel to provide strategic guidance and mentorship to new members and the asatizah community. Members of the Panel will comprise distinguished senior asatizah who have served for over 15 years and qualify for the Anugerah Khidmat Setia (Long Service Award), and who can offer their expertise and experience to support the Board’s work.  

10. Advisory Panel members will serve in a consultative capacity, mentor and guide newly appointed members, as well as assist ARB in fronting engagements with the asatizah fraternity and members of the public. The Panel also supports the Board by drawing upon the wisdom and guidance of senior respected religious scholars whilst facilitating a smooth transition of leadership to younger religious leaders. Refer to Annex C for the list of Long Service Award recipients and Advisory Panel members.

Board composition and future direction

11. The new Board maintains continuity through experienced members whilst incorporating new appointees who bring diverse expertise. This composition ensures the ARB can address contemporary challenges facing the asatizah profession whilst maintaining standards of religious expertise and ethical conduct. With the establishment of the Advisory Panel and new leadership, MUIS aims to strengthen institutional knowledge transfer and ensure the ARB continues to serve Singapore's Muslim community effectively for the next generation.