Malay, Muslim groups to hold N-Day carnival

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim (centre) with members of the SG50 Kita Committee. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

Some 30 Malay/Muslim community groups and their partners will come together on Saturday to throw their biggest bash for Singapore's 50th birthday.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will join the celebrations, and members of the public are invited to the National Day carnival at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio from 10am to noon.

The event is organised by the SG50 Kita Committee, which is coordinating the community's contributions for the Golden Jubilee, and other community groups like Mendaki and Jamiyah.

It is also supported by the main ethnic self-help groups - Sinda, the Eurasian Association, and Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC).

"The celebration's theme is 'better together', so this is not just for the Malay community, but for Singapore, for all races," SG50 Kita chairman Sallim Abdul Kadir said at a press conference yesterday.

CDAC executive director Goh Chim Khim added: "The different communities coming together for Singapore's 50th birthday shows how far we have come in building bonds and understanding each other."

The celebration will also highlight the efforts of the community's pioneers, and showcase its young talents. Veteran artist Sarkasi Said, for instance, will teach batik painting to children from Jamiyah Children's Home.

PM Lee and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim will put the finishing touches to some batik pieces on Saturday.

Performances by up-and-coming talents have also been lined up.

Ms Amni Musfirah, 21, who is studying at the Berklee College of Music, and singer-songwriter Shabbir Tabare Alam, winner of Vasantham Star 2005, will lead the crowd in a rendition of Stand Up For Singapore and Home.

Royal College of Music London student Nabillah Jalal, 23, will play the National Anthem.

A special collection for the Yusof Ishak Professorship in Social Sciences Fund will also be held at all mosques on Friday.

The professorship at the National University of Singapore is in honour of Singapore's first president.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 05, 2015, with the headline Malay, Muslim groups to hold N-Day carnival. Subscribe