Annual Government Funding for Community Leaders Forum

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) if he can provide details on the annual amount of Government funding received by the Community Leaders Forum (CLF) from 2010-2012; and (b) whether the inclusion of Malay members from a political party as resource persons has infused in this community initiative a partisan element.

Madam, the Community Leaders Forum (CLF) was set up in 2003 to harness the expertise and experience of policy makers, community leaders and partners to address issues affecting the Malay/Muslim community. It aims to engage the Malay/Muslim community on how resources can be best used to meet its needs.

Projects under the CLF are funded by Mendaki's Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund (MMCDF), which consists of donations and Government matching grant in broadly equal proportions. From 2010 to 2012, Mendaki invested approximately $4.8 million in CLF projects.

The work of the CLF is extensive and requires participation, support and leadership at many levels. I chair the CLF Steering Committee, while other PAP Malay Members of Parliament serve as Resource Persons or Co-Chairmen to advise the four CLF networks of Education, Youth, Family and Employability.

Madam, Government Members of Parliament who serve on platforms that receive Government support are clear about their role, which is to help achieve the social, cultural or educational goals of these bodies and not to exploit them for political ends. We are no different in the CLF. We serve with the goal of helping CLF achieve its objectives more effectively and ensure progress of the Malay/Muslim community.