MUIS Awards 2026

President of the Republic of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Mr Mohamed Sa’at Abdul Rahman, President of MUIS, 

Mr Kadir Maideen, Chief Executive of MUIS. 

Sohibus Samahah, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, Mufti of Singapore, 

MUIS Council members, 

MUIS Awards Recipients and family members, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. 

1. It is an honour to join you at the MUIS Awards 2026, as we celebrate individuals whose dedication and service have made a meaningful difference to the lives of others. 

2. Over the past few months, I have met many community leaders, volunteers and young people. One thing that has struck me is how many quietly they do good work in the community. They do not seek recognition. They see a need, step forward and get on helping others.

3. Since 1990, the MUIS Awards has recognised individuals embodying this spirit of service. Today, we honour ten more who share the same desire to make life better for others.

Service begins with caring for others

4. Our faith teaches us that caring for others is not just about what we believe, but how we act on those beliefs. For Mr Hamzah Abdul Mutalib, this meant taking action in 2006, when he learnt of a woman and her children experiencing domestic violence, with nowhere to run.

5. Recognising that they needed more than sympathy, he worked with fellow community members to establish Casa Raudha, Singapore's first Muslim-run crisis shelter. 

6. What began as a response to one family's plight has since become a place of refuge for others.

7. This is what ihsan means in practice.

8. Compassion must move us to act.

Building a lasting legacy

9. When sustained over time, this spirit of service can create a lasting impact – strengthening institutions and opening up opportunities for future generations. 

10. Mr Shaik Mohammad Iqbal Shaik Hussain helped guide Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah through its transition into the Joint Madrasah System.  The system brought three madrasahs together, allowing each to specialise in its strengths and provide students with different educational pathways, Islamic educational environment. 

11. We also have Mdm Jummaida Rusdon on the other hand, who has dedicated much of her work to supporting vulnerable children, including those with special needs, and helping lower-income families and single mothers improve their employment prospects.

12. Her work reminds us that when we help one person, we can change the possibilities for many.

13. Through Blessings in Harmony, Ustaz Muhammad Khidir also brought mosques, churches and grassroots organisations together to provide food assistance to families in need.

14. Beyond providing food, they built friendships and trust, showing how our faith can inspire us to care for others, regardless of background.

Our values, lived through action

15. When I speak about Iman, Ilmu, Ihsan and Identiti, these must be more than values we speak about. We see them in the lives of our recipients — in how they strengthen our institutions, how they help families in need, and how they reach out to others beyond our community.

16. Our community grows stronger when we help others move forward.

The next generation

17. I am also encouraged by younger Singapore Muslims too who are finding creative ways to contribute.

18. Miss Nuryanee Anisah Binte Mohamed Noor has turned something many of us might discard – used textiles – she has turned them into opportunities for underserved communities to earn a dignified livelihood.

19. Our young people may not always do things the way we did. Nor should we expect them to.

20. If we want them to take ownership of our community's future, we must be prepared to trust them with that responsibility. This means giving them not just a seat at the table, but the opportunity to decide what comes next.

Mr President, allow me to speak a few words in Malay

21. Para hadirin yang saya hormati,

22. Kekuatan sesebuah masyarakat bukan hanya terletak pada pencapaiannya, tetapi juga kepada kesediaan anggotanya untuk saling membantu dan mengangkat satu sama lain.

23. Inilah semangat yang kita raikan melalui Anugerah MUIS hari ini.

24. Para penerima anugerah telah berbakti dengan cara mereka tersendiri. Namun, semuanya berkongsi satu pegangan – iaitu bahawa kejayaan lebih bermakna apabila kita turut membantu orang lain untuk berjaya.

25. Kepada generasi muda, saya berharap kisah mereka menjadi inspirasi untuk anda turut tampil menyumbang.

26. Kita tidak perlu menunggu sehingga mempunyai kedudukan atau pengalaman yang luas untuk mula berbakti. Gunakanlah ilmu dan kemahiran yang ada. Mulakan dengan apa yang kita mampu.

27. Dan kepada generasi yang lebih berpengalaman, marilah kita terus membimbing, membuka peluang dan memberi kepercayaan kepada anak-anak muda kita.

28. Kerana legasi yang paling bermakna bukan sekadar apa yang telah kita bina, tetapi bagaimana kita menyediakan generasi seterusnya untuk membina sesuatu yang lebih baik.

29. Tahniah kepada semua penerima Anugerah MUIS. Terima kasih juga kepada Presiden Tharman kerana sudi bersama-sama kami meraikan para penerima anugerah pada hari ini.

30. Semoga usaha kita dapat membina masyarakat yang lebih lebih kukuh dan menyumbang  kepada kemakmuran Singapura. 

Closing

31. To all our recipients, congratulations and thank you. I also want to acknowledge your families, loved ones and fellow volunteers, all of them whose support has made your contributions possible.

32. Let us continue to build a community that recognises those who have served, supports those who are serving, and makes room for those who wish to contribute. 

Thank you.

Wabillahi taufik walhidayah wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh