2006 a year of consolidation for Muslims

[sonz]

SINGAPORE- Minister in Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, called on lower-income families from the Malay community to seize the various opportunities provided by the government, calling 2006 a year of consolidation for Malay Muslims, as there are now various social programmes in place and measures introduced to tighten up Islamic religious education in Singapore.

Speaking at an event organised by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, or MUIS, the minister further called on the Malay community to work on what it has achieved so far, to encourage more people to come forward.

The marks the end of the pilot religious education programmes, "Kids Alive" and "Teens Alive."

These religious classes, aimed at teens and children, will be expanded to include children aged 9 to 12 years and youths in post-secondary and tertiary institutions up to the age of 24.

"We have to reform and change our methodology but the content remains the same. We are not teaching a new Islam. We're teaching Islam but the way we teach, the way we outreach is very different," Dr. Yaacob said.