Task force finds Malay/Muslim youth value meaningful work, relationships, faith over job titles
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Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad unveiled findings by the Malay/Muslim Youth Taskforce at the M³+ Youth Festival on Aug 22.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
- Malay/Muslim youth in Singapore value meaningful work, financial stability, strong family ties, mental well-being, and faith beyond traditional success measures like job titles.
- The taskforce found some youth lack access to internships, mentorships, and career guidance due to limited networks.
- Initiatives like the Discover portal will enhance connection, career support, AI skills, and engagement opportunities for youth.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – More than salary, qualifications and job titles, Malay/Muslim youth in Singapore want meaningful work, financial stability, strong family networks and connections, and to stay grounded in their faith.
These were the findings by the Malay/Muslim Youth Taskforce that were released on Aug 22.
Speaking at the M³+ Youth Festival that day, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad, who is also adviser to M³+, said these young people have strong aspirations.
But they often face questions about navigating artificial intelligence and remaining grounded in their faith.
The 2026 edition of the annual festival, themed “Weaving Threads of Tomorrow”, is designed to empower young Malay/Muslim Singaporeans.
In engaging with over 2,600 young people aged 15 to 35, the task force also found that they place a greater value on mental well-being and access to opportunities.
Announced in October 2025, the task force is a joint secretariat comprising the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, Mendaki and the National Youth Council (NYC).
Issues that it is looking into include career development, effective use of AI and strengthening social cohesion in young people.
Releasing its findings at the festival, the task force said many young people found that while opportunities such as career guidance exist, these are not always accessible. Those without established networks often find it harder to discover opportunities and navigate career pathways.
Lack of participation
The task force also found that despite M³+ programmes growing over the years, a significant number of young people were not participating in them. It did not elaborate on the scale of non-participation.
Building on existing programmes, several initiatives will be rolled out. These include engagement sessions.
Titled Let’s Sembang, the engagement sessions will allow young people to connect with one another through shared interests such as sports, art and culture, said Zaqy. These are slated to begin in 2027.
To support navigating the workplace while staying grounded in faith, a Youth Meets Career Playbook will be developed, said Zaqy.
“You are Muslim and you are Singaporean, you do not have to choose between these parts of yourself,” he said.
Senior data engineer Mohamed Sharif, 27, said that for the first time, the IMYouth (Indian Muslim Youth) has been included in the festival.
He is its treasurer and said he was grateful for the opportunity to organise a youth mixer for young people to interact with one another.
Mohamed Sharif said he was grateful for the opportunity to organise a youth mixer for young people to interact with one another.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
AI-ready
A d-AI-ly Explorer programme under Langkah Digital will also be introduced, said Zaqy. This is among the components of a Youth Launchpad to connect youth with mentors, professional networks and industries.
It will also tackle building young people’s digital confidence while improving their AI fluency by making them work in teams to identify challenges and develop digital or AI-enabled concepts.
About 300 young people are expected to develop around 100 projects, with selected teams receiving further mentorship and opportunities to showcase and refine their ideas.
Singer-songwriter Shareefa Aminah Shariff, better known as Shazza, who served as a youth consultant on the task force, said one of the main concerns brought up by youth was career-related. It was heartening to see young people want work-life balance, she said.
She added: “I am confident these initiatives will make a clear impact on the lives of youth.”
Singer-songwriter Shareefa Aminah Shariff served as a youth consultant on the Malay/Muslim Youth Taskforce.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Young people can also tap NYC’s newly launched Discover portal to access resources on volunteering and mentorships, among other things.
Task force co-chair Rahayu Mahzam said that to ensure the initiatives are accessible, it has looked at partnering social media influencers.
Speaking to the media, the Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health said that while there are youth who know where to get help, some do not.
“It is no longer just about sitting in a room and having a dialogue (with young people),” she said, adding that going to where youth are most comfortable might work better in terms of reaching out to them.
Shazza added: “We want to foster a culture where youth feel comfortable to speak up about what they want and need while being confident to take on a role in society.”
