Muslims to give more to mosque building fund

Muslims will each have to pay $1 to $10 more in monthly contributions to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) from June 1.

This is expected to increase annual contributions to the fund by $6 million, bringing the net contribution annually to $26.2 million.

First introduced in 1975, the MBMF funds the construction and upgrading of mosques in Singapore. It also supports educational and social programmes by self-help group Mendaki and religious education initiatives for Muslims.

Under the revision, contributions will become more progressive, with four tiers introduced for those earning $4,000 to $10,000 monthly.

Those earning between $4,000 and $6,000 a month will pay $19.50, a $3.50 increase each month. Those earning more than $10,000 a month will contribute an additional $10, bringing their monthly total to $26.

Workers earning $1,000 or less a month will contribute $1 more, bringing their monthly contribution $3. Those earning $1,000 to $2,000 a month will pay $4.50 instead of $3.50 before.

"This will go a long way to improving the socio-religious life of our community," said Minister-in- charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore's (Muis) Workplan Seminar held at the Singapore Islamic Hub in Braddell Road.

The previous revision of contribution rates to the fund, which all Muslim working adults contribute to, was made in 2009.

Muis chief executive Abdul Razak Maricar said that with rising construction costs, the current contribution rates will not be able to support the construction and upgrading of mosques. He cited the examples of Muhajirin Mosque in Toa Payoh, the first to be built under the Mosque Building Fund at a cost of $1.2 million when it was completed in 1976, and Al-Islah Mosque in Punggol, which was completed last year at a cost of $16.5 million.

"Some of our earlier mosques are in a state of disrepair and need to be rebuilt and equipped with new facilities," said Mr Abdul Razak.

There are currently 69 mosques in Singapore, 24 of which were built using the fund. Two new ones, Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands and Maarof Mosque in Jurong West, are expected to be completed by the year end. Another mosque in Tampines North is expected to start construction in 2018.

The increased contributions to the fund will also help to enhance madrasah education here, allowing new initiatives to be introduced. These include the International Baccalaureate programme for Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, expected to be introduced in 2019.

It also represents a boost in funding for Mendaki, which has been dipping into its reserves since 2013.

Mr Abdul Razak said that of those who opted to give more to the fund, 75 per cent earned less than $2,000.

While the revisions are necessary, an eye is being kept on making sure that the increases are affordable for lower-wage workers.

"We don't want to increase the burden on our community," said Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for Communications and Information.

Muslims interviewed at the seminar were glad that the fund would continue to support the upgrading of mosques and creation of more prayer spaces for the community.

"Now, more Muslims can pray more easily," said Mr Mohamed Jaafar, secretary of the Singapore Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society.

azhaki@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 13, 2016.
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