Who: Hussin Mutalib, in his 60s, associate professor in the Political Science Department of the National University of Singapore.
My family: Married to child development consultant Salimah A. Samad, with three children: Iza Riana, a lecturer at the University of Cambridge; Abdullah Luqman, a manager at Shell; and Nurul Aziah, a corporate lawyer.
My home: A corner terrace in Kembangan.
My passions: Reading, gardening, travelling and being perpetually concerned about issues of justice, environment, and other governmental abuses the world over.
I started writing to the Forum page in...: The 1980s, when, during my years pursuing my doctorate, saw our Malay/Muslim community being singled out by the Government for its lack of socio-economic progress vis-a-vis other Singaporeans.
It was also a time when there was a dearth of effective voices articulating the challenges and grievances of the community, making it a much misunderstood one.
What I write about: Local politics, especially on issues of governance; forging better race relations; Malay/Muslim concerns; and correcting misinterpretations about Islam and the Muslim world.
Why I write: To contribute alternative ideas for a better Singapore. Also, as one of the earliest local Malay-Muslims to receive a PhD, and having had the privilege of being an academic with NUS, I saw it as a calling to do my part for society.
I read the Forum page because...: It's a useful mirror to understand Singapore's very own image over the years - from writers conditioned by the narratives of an authoritarian island-state in the past to the manifestations of their increasing liberties today, pushing for new, bold ideas that are much needed in a global city-state.
My wish for Singapore: Economically, bridging the class and racial gaps and mitigating the high cost of living; politically, a greater flourishing of civil society, leading towards a functioning two-party political system; and socially, a kinder, cultured and less materialistic, truly multi-cultural Republic that we can all be really proud of.
