Opening speech by Chief Executive of MUIS, Mr Kadir Maideen, at the Befrienders Learning Day 2026

Deputy Chief Executive of MUIS, Ms Faizah Ahmad Barazy 

Executive Director, PELITA, Ms Muzaiyanah Hamzah 

Distinguished guests, partners, mosque leaders, colleagues and most importantly, our respected Befrienders 

Ladies and gentlemen 

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

Celebrating the befrienders programme 

1. Alhamdulillah, I am glad to be among so many dedicated individuals who have dedicated a lot of time volunteering and doing house visits, making house calls to ensure the person that you befriend is always connected to you. And as you can see from the video just now, we have two befrienders, Rafidah and Julia, sharing their experience, and how they go through the work as a befriender, to connect with the elderly residents and also the Zakat beneficiaries.
   

2. So for every befriender present today - it’s a day for you to learn and connect amongst all the other befrienders from all other sectors. And as I watched the video just now, since its beginnings in 2008 - next year, the befrienders programme will be 20 years old.  
   

3. It started in 2008 with just about 80 volunteers, it has grown to 485 active Befrienders, including 149 Senior Befrienders, serving across 35 Social Development (SD) centres at the mosques. In 2025 alone, you supported close to 1,500 Zakat Beneficiaries through more than 2,000 home visits. These are official numbers. I’m sure there were other home visits that you may have done through emergency cases or make lots of other phone calls just to connect with our elderly and Zakat beneficiaries and I appreciate you for that.
   

4. So putting up these numbers is to show you that relationships built on trust, compassion and genuine human connection. This is the real heart of the Befrienders Programme. Your visits remind those facing difficult circumstances that they are not forgotten, and that there is a community that cares for them. And we have seen in the video, that even a minute of engagement is so meaningful for them. 

Responding to changing needs 

5. The needs of our Zakat Beneficiaries are evolving  over time — and so must be the way that we support them. Our seniors may face social isolation, declining health or cognitive challenges. Families with young children, single parents and larger households may require more sustained support. Some beneficiaries may also face more complex caregiving or end-of-life needs, requiring Befrienders to recognise when professional or specialised assistance may be necessary. 
   

6. Many of you encounter these realities firsthand in your visits, and your experiences and insights are invaluable in shaping the future of the Befrienders Programme. And as Singapore becomes a super-aged society, we must continue to evolve and ensure that our Befrienders are well-equipped to support beneficiaries with increasingly diverse needs. 
   

7. So over the years, MUIS has progressively strengthened the programme to respond to changing community needs. Beyond the regular visits, we have intensified phone check-ins, maintained closer contacts with our beneficiaries, and we have also responded to befriending requests from external agencies such as elderly homes, on a case-to-case basis. So all these include providing companionship and engagement for those receiving palliative care. These efforts allow us to reach beyond the Zakat beneficiaries, serving those with different needs, and providing support where it’s needed. 
   

8. And hence, to understand these changing needs, MUIS will undertake a six-month refresh of the Befrienders Programme, beginning by the end of 2026. The refresh will focus on three areas: One, is to strengthen how Befrienders engage and support beneficiaries. Two, we want to enhance volunteer training and capabilities. And lastly, we want to improve coordination with mosques and community partners. Importantly, we want this refresh we also want to hear from those who understand these needs best. Our Befrienders, the beneficiaries you serve, and our community partners. Your experiences and feedback will help us identify what works well and where we can do better. 
   

9. Our aim is clear: to ensure that every beneficiary continues to receive meaningful support, and every Befriender has the knowledge, confidence and support to carry out this important role. 

Strengthening our befrienders 

10. This is why MUIS will continue investing in your development. Being a Befriender requires more than goodwill. It requires skill, sensitivity and the ability to recognise when someone may need additional support beyond what a Befriender can provide. 
    

11. In 2025, we conducted 11 training sessions for 266 participants, covering active ageing, mental health awareness, digital inclusion, end-of-life care and caregiver support.  The feedback has been encouraging. 85% of Befrienders expressed satisfaction with the training, and 85% of Senior Befrienders said they understood their enhanced roles and found the guidebook useful. 
    

12. Today’s Befrienders Learning Day continues that journey. We want every Befriender to be both a compassionate companion and a confident bridge to wider support. You do not need to have all the answers. Sometimes, knowing when to listen, when to offer reassurance, and when to seek additional help can make all the difference. For some beneficiaries, your visit may be one of the few opportunities they have for meaningful human connection. Never underestimate what that means to someone who may be feeling alone. 
    

13. I would also like to thank our partners and guests joining us today, your presence here reflects a shared commitment, that caring for those in need is a responsibility we carry together. We are deeply grateful for your support. 

Part of a wider community of care 

14. Ladies and gentlemen, none of us can do this work alone. Supporting underprivileged families, especially our Zakat beneficiaries, requires many helping hands – families, neighbours, mosques, community organisations, healthcare partners and national agencies. 
    

15. Programmes such as Santunan Emas, Keluarga Syifa and PEDULI demonstrate how our mosques are already playing a vital role in community care. Our partnerships with organisations such as AIC, Club HEAL, NODA and IMDA also allow us to draw on different areas of expertise to better support the community. 
    

16. Our Befrienders are an essential part of this network. Through your regular contact with beneficiaries, you are often among the first to notice when someone needs additional help. By sharing these concerns with the mosque and connecting beneficiaries to appropriate support, you help us respond earlier and more effectively.

The human face of Zakat 

17. This brings me to perhaps the most important point. Zakat is more than financial assistance. It represents our collective responsibility to care for one another. Through your ziarah, you bring this responsibility to life. You listen. You encourage. You notice when something is not quite right. Sometimes, the most meaningful thing you can offer is simply to be present. 
    

18. One example is Mr Budi Widodo — a Senior Befriender at Masjid Al-Islah, whose own life experiences have inspired him to give back to others. Today, he draws on these experiences to offer encouragement and companionship to those facing difficult circumstances. His journey reminds us that everyone has something meaningful to contribute to the community. 
    

19. Another is Madam Na’emah Zakariyah, a Senior Befriender from Masjid Sultan. Her experience reminds us that befriending is not always about having the perfect solution. Sometimes, simply being there to listen, offering encouragement, and helping someone feel heard can make a meaningful difference. 
    

20. These stories remind us of what Zakat can achieve when financial assistance is accompanied by iman, ihsan and genuine human connection. Together, they help restore not just stability, but also dignity, confidence and hope. 
    

21. To the team at PELITA and MUIS, thank you for nurturing and supporting our Befrienders. And to every Befriender here today, thank you for your time, your heart and your service. You are not simply volunteers. You are the human face of Zakat and an indispensable part of our community’s network of care. 
    

22. May today’s learning be meaningful and beneficial to all of you. May Allah SWT bless your efforts, strengthen your resolve, and reward you for the compassion and care you bring to those in need. 
    

23. Thank you.
    

24. Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.