Speech by Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of National Development, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi at the NEXTGEN Youth Symposium

Mr Kadir Maideen, Chief Executive of MUIS,
Ms Faizah Ahmad Barazy, Deputy Chief Executive of MUIS,
Ustaz Fathurrahman Hj Mohd Dawoed, President, AMP Singapore
Youth Partners and Organisers,
Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

1. A very good morning to everyone. It is wonderful to see so many young people gathered here today. Looking around this room, I am encouraged by your energy, curiosity, ambition, and dreams for the future.

Navigating uncertainty

2. Our theme today, “Faith and Future: Navigating Career, Anchored in Faith”, speaks to an experience shared by many of us.

3. As young people, you stand at crossroads – full of ambition, yet uncertain of the road ahead. There will be moments when life’s path for you becomes not so clear, when opportunities could disappoint and sometimes moments when we question whether we have done enough. It is in these moments that faith becomes the steady anchor that holds us firm amidst life’s uncertainties.

4. Our professional lives and our faith are not meant to occupy separate boxes. Let the values we carry such as integrity, compassion, excellence and service, shape the kind of student, colleague, leader or entrepreneur we become.

5. I can relate to some of these uncertainties from my own journey. When I was younger, I certainly could not have predicted every turn my career or life would take – from medicine and psychiatry, to serving different community roles, to running my clinical practice in the private sector, and now in public service. Each experience taught me something different, about myself and others.

6. Some opportunities I could attempt to plan for and control, but in many others, you give your best first, let things take shape and be prepared to learn as you go. Your career does not have to be a straight line; indeed life is hardly a straight line. Give yourself room to learn, to grow and even to change direction.

7. The National Youth Survey conducted by the National Youth Council from 2016 to 2025, tells us that success in your career remains a priority for young people. These pressures continue to persist across different life stages; from students uncertain in charting their career paths; those entering the workforce trying to find a footing with the job search and lack of connections; and young working adults who worry about staying relevant, desiring more time for self development¹.

8. More recently, the Malay/Muslim Youth Taskforce released its findings in August 2026, following engagements with over 2,600 young Malay/Muslim Singaporeans. The Taskforce found that our youth want more than a good salary or an impressive job title. Financial stability matters, but so too does meaningful work. Family matters. And staying grounded in faith matters. In other words, success is not just about what we achieve materially, but importantly the person we develop into along the way.

Faith as our anchor

9. Our faith gives us values that keep us grounded wherever our careers take us. One of them is the importance of pursuing knowledge. The first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) began with “Read!” or Iqra. It is a powerful reminder to keep learning. This matters even more today, for the skills you have today may not be enough five, ten years from now. Stay curious. Keep learning. Stay humble with what you know and what you don’t yet know. Be willing to learn from people who are different from you. And use what you know to do good.

10. Faith also reminds us to be trustworthy, honest and to act with integrity. More than the results and skills that you leave school with, these values matter enormously at work. People will remember whether they can depend on you. Whether you keep your word. Whether you do the right thing even when nobody is watching. Your skills may indeed open some doors in the first instance. But your values and character will shape the decisions you make once those doors have opened for you.

A practical guide for the journey

11. It is with this spirit in mind that I am also pleased to launch the Youth Meets Career Playbook today. Developed by our youth from Al-Falah Mosque, the playbook speaks to practical situations that young Muslims may encounter as they enter and progress in the workplace – from practising your faith at work, to communicating with others and navigating social situations in professional settings. We hope it helps you navigate your own journey with greater confidence, while staying grounded in your faith and values. I hope you will use it. Share it with your friends. Talk about issues it raises. And let us know what else would be useful to you, because this playbook should be dynamic and continue to grow alongside the needs and experiences of our youth.

Finding your purpose

12. Regardless of the career path you choose, always ask yourself: “How can I turn what I know and what I do to make things a little better for those around me?” Even as you may seek to change the world for the better, making a difference always starts with taking ownership first, doing your own work well and treating the people around you with respect.

13. At work, you may encounter new environments, different perspectives or situations at work that make you pause and ask: “How do I handle this while staying true to my faith and values?” These are real and sometimes confronting questions. The beauty of our faith is that it celebrates this diversity of circumstances, even contemporary ones, and there are answers for every difficulty and situation. Where there may be hardship or difficulty, often there is also a path of ease. And you should not feel that you have to work through all of them alone. Seek guidance from the right and knowledgeable people. Speak to people you trust. Find mentors. Learn from those who have walked the path before you.

14. This is why spaces like today’s symposium matter. They allow us to have these conversations openly and practically. Talk to speakers. Ask the question you have been hesitant to ask. Visit the Career Takeoff marketplace. Meet someone new. Speak with employers and mentors. Explore the opportunities available. You never know which conversation today might open new doors tomorrow.

15. Before I end, allow me to leave you with three thoughts. (1) Life is not linear and you do not need to have everything figured out today. (2) Keep learning, because faith tells you that you must, and also because the world will keep changing before us. (3) Wherever your career takes you, stay anchored in your values because that will define who you are and who you will become.

16. I wish everyone a lovely symposium, one that I hope you will leave with much learning and opportunity, and of course, new friends along the way.

17. Wabillahi taufik walhidayah. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. Thank you.

¹ NYC Youth STEPS 2024; NYC Youth Sentiment Polls 2024-2025