Doubts About The Role of Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS)

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Dear MUIS,

To Whom It May Concern

Assalammualaikum. I have several questions to ask you and i hope you can answer it truthfully and promptly, insha-allah.

My first question will be about MUIS direct connection with the government of Singapore. I have done some readings and have also asked around about the relationship between MUIS and the government of Singapore. Firstly, MUIS is the only religious body in Singapore that is under the government. Correct me if I am wrong, religious councils from Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism etc are not part of the government and they have no direct funding from the authority as well. Why then Singapore's Muslim council, MUIS, is part of the government?

Would not it be unfair if only Islam gets direct support from the government i.e. MUIS is a stat board? From a logical point of view, I find it unfair. What is so special about MUIS that it is a stat board and not other religious councils?

MUIS gets monetary funding from the government and I personally think it is immoral because it looks like 'bribery'. I am unsure whether the government of Singapore has any direct control of our Fatwas an it seems so because of MUIS special position, i.e. MUIS is a stat board, and the direct funding MUIS get from the government. I need an explanation as to why MUIS is a stat board and not other religious council. Even MUIS website address has '.gov.sg'.

The mufti of Singapore seems to be elected by the Prime Minister, who is a non-Muslim, and not by Singapore Muslims or Singapore Muslim scholars, correct me if i am wrong. Is this democratic? It does not make any sense at all. Imagine Singaporeans voting in Malaysian Presidential Election. Will it happen? Obviously not. Malaysians vote for their President and thus Singapore Muslims or Singapore Muslim scholars should elect our Mufti and not the government. Who actually elect the Mufti in the first place? I need an explanations for this too.

The Mufti is the leader of MUIS. What about the President of MUIS? So who is the leader here? I am very puzzled by this issue. Who elected him, the President of MUIS, in the first place? Anyway, why is the President of MUIS not even an Islamic Scholar? Please provide with explanations.

The tudung issue. While Male Sikhs are allowed to wear their turbans to government schools, our Muslimahs are not allowed to wear their tudungs. As far as I know, wearing tudung for female muslims is compulsory upon reaching puberty. Tudung, or any other head dresses for female muslims, is compulsory for female muslims and it is never worn by them to show affiliation with Islam but as an act of devotion to Allah. Why then MUIS did not and have never fought for our cause in the tudung issue? Why is there double standard, i.e. Male Sikhs can wear turban to government schools and Muslimah can not ?

MUIS is supposed to safe guard our Muslims' interest and I personally feel that MUIS is not doing her job very well. Kudos to all your hard work all these while but I am still not very clear and unsatisfied about all those issues as stated in the above-mentioned paragraphs. Please clear my doubts. Thank you. Assalammualaikum.

Yours truly,
Ahmad Fathi
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I really wrote this to MUIS. I think if MUIS is not doing her job properly, i am thinking of setting up an alternative and independent Islamic religious council called MAIS (Majlis Agama Islam Singapura). Haha. Just kidding..