Round-up Speech by Minister-In-Charge Of Muslim Affairs at the Committee of Supply Debate 2024

Round-up speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister-In-Charge Of Muslim Affairs, Minister For Social And Family Development, Second Minister For Health at the Committee of Supply Debate 2024

Tuan Pengerusi,

1. Saya dan rakan-rakan saya telah berucap tentang semangat kewarganegaraan dan usaha bagi memupuk budaya menyumbang kembali kepada masyarakat. Ini akan memperkukuh masyarakat agar kita lebih bersatu padu dan bersedia untuk mengharungi masa hadapan. Dengan ketegangan geopolitik dan ekonomi global yang tidak menentu, masa hadapan kita akan lebih mencabar. Isu-isu yang kita hadapi akan menjadi lebih rumit, malah mampu memecahbelahkan masyarakat kita serta menguji keteguhan dan perpaduan kita sebagai satu negara.
2. Sejak beberapa bulan yang lalu, isu yang sangat meruntun hati orang ramai adalah situasi di Gaza. Ia amat memilukan hati saya, serta ramai rakyat Singapura, apabila kita menyaksikan tragedi kemanusiaan, dan penderitaan yang dihadapi orang-orang awam yang tidak bersalah. Kemanusiaan menjadi tali pengikat yang menghubungkan kita semua dan sebab itulah, kita sama-sama rasa terkesan dengan kesengsaraan dan penderitaan mereka. Meskipun jauh dari Gaza, kita tetap terhubung dalam hati dan fikiran, serta sentiasa mendoakan kesejahteraan mereka.
3. Dalam sesi perbincangan mengenai krisis ini bersama masyarakat, saya dan rakan-rakan Anggota Parlimen akur rasa sedih, kecewa dan tidak berdaya yang ramai luahkan. Kami mendengar curahan hati masyarakat dan memahami sentimen ini.
4. Dengan lebih 30,000 jiwa terkorban dan angka korban dijangka terus meningkat, tindak balas tentera Israel telah melampaui batas. Pembunuhan beramai-ramai mesti diberhentikan. Saya mengulangi lagi gesaan Singapura agar gencatan senjata dilakukan dengan segera supaya bantuan kemanusiaan dapat disalurkan secepatnya kepada mereka yang amat memerlukan. Kami komited untuk menyokong orang awam di Gaza, dan Singapura bakal menghantar bekalan ketiga bantuan kemanusiaan melalui Jordan, seperti yang dikongsi oleh Menteri Vivian minggu lalu.  Bagi menyokong usaha Singapura menghulurkan bantuan kemanusiaan dan terus membantu mereka yang terjejas oleh krisis ini, Yayasan Rahmatan Lil Alamin (RLAF) akan menjalankan satu lagi kempen untuk mengumpul dana kemanusiaan untuk Gaza pada bulan Ramadan ini. Kami mengalu-alukan rakyat Singapura tampil ke hadapan dan menderma.
5. Krisis ini mungkin berlarutan, dan kita tidak tahu apa yang bakal terjadi pada hari mendatang. Namun, kita mesti terus teguh bersatu dan memperkukuh perpaduan kita. Saya terharu kerana walaupun dalam masa yang begitu sukar sekarang ini, masyarakat kita terus menunjukkan semangat kewarganegaraan sebagai rakyat Singapura dengan cara kita orang Singapura – menyumbang kepada sesi dialog, menghulurkan bantuan kemanusiaan, dan sekaligus memperkukuh perpaduan antara satu sama lain. Umat Islam bakal menyambut bulan suci Ramadan minggu depan. Marilah kita sama-sama perbanyakkan doa memohon keamanan dan perlindungan – bagi mereka yang dilanda bencana dan cabaran bukan sahaja bagi penduduk Gaza, tetapi juga di tempat-tempat lain di dunia dan juga di tanah air kita.
6. Mr Chairman, in conclusion, I would like to thank Members for your support and suggestions on how we can continue to deepen our citizenry and grow a culture of contribution. By working together with our community partners, I am confident that we will strive towards a Community of Success and contribute to a bright future for Singapore. Thank you.

English Translation

Chairman,

1. My colleagues and I have spoken on citizenry and our efforts to grow a culture of contribution. This will strengthen our community and provide ballast as we navigate the future. With geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, the path ahead of us will be challenging. The issues we face will be more complex and even divisive, and will test our mettle and unity as a country.

2. Over the past few months, what has weighed heavily on our hearts is what has been going on in Gaza. It has been heart-breaking for me, and many Singaporeans, to witness the the humanitarian tragedy unfolding, and the suffering of many innocent civilians. Bound by our shared humanity, we cannot help but carry with us their pain and suffering. We may be miles away from Gaza, but we are no less impacted, and we constantly pray for their well-being.

3. From the many conversations that my parliamentary colleagues and I have had with the community on this crisis, we hear the deep sense of grief, frustration and helplessness that many feel amidst the ongoing crisis. We understand and share these sentiments.

4. With more than 30,000 lives lost and the human toll increasing, Israel’s military response has gone too far. The carnage must stop. I reiterate Singapore’s calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, so that humanitarian aid can reach those who desperately need it. We are committed to supporting the civilians of Gaza, and Singapore will send a third tranche of aid via Jordan, as shared by Minister Vivian last week. To contribute to the national humanitarian effort and further support those affected by the crisis, the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) will conduct another round of fundraising appeal for Gaza during Ramadan. We hope that Singaporeans will step forward and contribute generously.

5. The crisis may well be prolonged, and we do not know what will unfold in the coming days. But we must continue to stand together, and strengthen the unity that we share. I am heartened that even during such a trying time, our community continues to embody the spirit of citizenry, the Singaporean way – contributing to dialogue, giving generously to humanitarian aid, expressing solidarity with one another. As we welcome the blessed month of Ramadan next week, let us also intensify our prayers for peace and protection - not only for the people in Gaza, but also elsewhere in the world and here at home.

6. In conclusion, I would like to thank Members for your support and suggestions on how we can continue to deepen our citizenry and grow a culture of contribution. By working together with our community partners, I am confident that we will strive towards a Community of Success and contribute to a bright future for Singapore. Thank you.