Zulfikar Shariff: Faishal Ibrahim, Please Do the Right Things Instead of “Saying the Right Things”
- Playful Otter
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
Several days ago, Zulfikar Shariff posted on TikTok account @the_inquiry, praising Minister Faishal Ibrahim for speaking up for the community after becoming the new minister for Muslim Affairs. He commended Minister Faishal for being humble and could feel his genuine concern for the Muslim community compared to his predecessors. However, Zulfikar urged Faishal to do his part as a fellow Muslim, to push for official condemnation of Israel or recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. Among the many issues he brought up, he also questioned the “no hijab” policy in secular schools. He beseeched the Minister to do the right things, instead of merely “saying the right things”.

Likewise in the comment section, netizens praised Minister Faishal for outperforming his predecessors. However, some cautioned that he could put his career at risk if he becomes too vocal on Malay-Muslim issues.


One of his followers also agreed that it is a Muslim’s right to wear hijab in public schools, in which another netizen suggested “attending Madrasah would solve the problem”.

It is important for Singapore to constantly balance the interests and needs of the different races. The original intention of disallowing hijabs in schools was to maintain a secular and neutral environment in public schools and minimize visible religious differences among students to promote social cohesion. However, no policy is set in stone; the government will constantly review and ensure its relevance in the current society context. For example, nurses were allowed to don the hijab in 2021, therefore it is possible that the “no hijab” policy in public schools will be lifted in the future.
It is important is for the society and policymakers to engage in dialogue and work towards a shared understanding. So far, Minister Faishal Ibrahim is off to a good start, he knows the community’s interests and will voice them without fear. But he will need time to work his magic, to convince the stakeholders that there more ways to foster social cohesion, and donning the hijab in public schools does not necessarily hinder inter-racial friendships among students.
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