Yaacob explains key source of funding for Malay—Muslim Organisations

SINGAPORE: The key source of funding for Malay—Muslim Organisations (MMO) is from monthly donations to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) via the CPF check—off scheme.

Minister—in—charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim told Parliament that S$17.8 million is collected every year and distributed among MMOs such as Yayasan Mendaki, the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), to support mosque building programmes and Madrasa education.

Additional funding comes from donations and the government.

The government provides dollar—for—dollar matching grants for donations raised by MMOs up to a yearly saving of S$4 million.

Funds are then allocated to projects that meet key priority areas — such as education, youth, family and employability.

Dr Yaacob ensured that the outcomes of programmes are reviewed regularly.

"Given the evolving needs of the community, it is timely to undertake a review of policy and funding allocation of MMOs with the objective of ensuring that funds continue to be channelled to priority areas, and to MMOs that undertake work in these areas. We will carry out the review over the next few months," he said.

— CNA/cc