Committee to spearhead fund-raising efforts for Yusof Ishak Professorship at NUS

Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim speaks at a Hari Raya celebration organised by the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) and attended by about 4
Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim speaks at a Hari Raya celebration organised by the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) and attended by about 400 guests, on Sunday, Aug 24, 2014, at the Canberra Community Club. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

SINGAPORE - The Malay/Muslim community will head fund-raising efforts for the new Yusof Ishak Professorship in Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally speech.

A Singapore50 (SG50) coordination committee formed to organise projects to celebrate the nation's 50th anniversary next year will lead the national fund-raising initiative, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim at a Hari Raya lunch he hosted on Tuesday.

The commitee, headed by Suara Musyawarah chairman Haji Sallim Abdul Kadir, aims to raise about $6m for the professorship, inclusive of a matching government grant of up to 1.5 times the donated sum.

This, said Dr Yaacob, is a way for the Malay/Muslim community to give back to the nation.

This professorship, along with the renaming of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies think-tank after Singapore's first president, "embody the passion and emphasis that Encik Yusof Ishak placed on education in the development of our people and nation".

Dr Yaacob also announced that Haji Sallim will be helped by two deputies: Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Zahidi Abdul Rahman, and Malay Heritage Foundation chair Zuraidah Abdullah.

He also said that Malay/Muslim students at UniSIM will also be able to benefit from Mendaki's Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy for needy students in full-time courses. The scheme, he revealed, has recently been extended to them.

"I sincerely hope this will help and encourage more of our youths to pursue their passions and interests through tertiary education," said Dr Yaacob.

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