At his wits' end, he approached the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) for help.

It gave him $150 each month from zakat, the alms from the Muslim community, to help him and his family tide over the difficult times. It also placed him on its Empowerment Partnership Scheme, which helps needy families become self-reliant.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday cited Mr Imran's family as one of the 209 to have graduated from the three-year-old scheme.

Some 200 families are still on it and Muis plans to take on another 200 this year.

To help fund them and give direct financial aid to some 2,200 needy Muslims, Muis is spending $6.5 million of zakat takings this year, up from $4.2 million last year.

Families on the scheme get help to upgrade their skills and are matched with family service centres for advice on budgeting and strengthening their marriages, among other things.

After five courses, including one in building construction, safety and supervision at the NTUC LearningHub, Mr Imran now takes home $2,500 as a safety supervisor at a construction firm, where he has been for two months.

Mr Imran is also glad that his wife Rehani no longer needs to work as a beautician and can keep an eye on their five children aged two to 14 years.

'The scheme gave me confidence that I can do anything if I set my mind to it. I never imagined I could come this far,' said Mr Imran, who left school at Secondary 2.

ZAKIR HUSSAIN