SPEECH BY MINISTER MASAGOS ZULKIFLI, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, SECOND MINISTER OF HEALTH & MINISTER-IN-CHARGE OF MUSLIM AFFAIRS, AT SIHAT BERSAMA JAGA KESIHATAN, JAGA UMMAH 2024, 20 JANUARY 2024, 2.00 PM

Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mdm Rahayu Mahzam
Grassroots Adviser, Jalan Besar GRC, Dr Wan Rizal
Fellow colleagues from MUIS, Mendaki, MOH, MCI, HPB, PA 
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. Good afternoon. It is with great pleasure that I join you all today for this year’s Sihat Bersama JKJU event. I am heartened by the unity of our Malay/Muslim community, community partners and trust that the event today will further inspire all of us to champion both the physical as well as the mental well-being of the Malay/Muslim community.

2. The Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah (JKJU) network, or “Look after your health, look after your community”, was introduced by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) in 2017 to improve the health and well-being of the Malay/Muslim community. Starting from five mosques in 2017, the network has expanded over the years, to include not only mosques, but also Malay Activity Executive Committees and other Malay/Muslim Organisations. I am delighted to share that as of December 2023, this network has expanded to 100 active partners. Together, they provide more opportunities for our community to engage in positive health behaviours. In total, over 40,000 Malay/Muslim residents have participated in healthy lifestyle activities, such as physical activity sessions, health talks and Saham Kesihatan programmes in 2023. I think his is commendable, and it speaks volumes of our collective dedication to encourage the Malay/Muslim community to adopt healthy lifestyles.

3. Our commitment to health is further exemplified by the newly established focus area on community health under M3, led by SPS Rahayu with five key priorities, namely– supporting healthy ageing, improving screening rates, adopting a healthy lifestyle, reducing smoking prevalence, and improving mental well-being. The key priorities will guide ourselves and our partners when planning healthy lifestyle activities for their residents because we do not want to focus only on physical well-being. We want to make sure that it is as comprehensive and all encompassing as possible and focusing on the right things to do first.

4. Today, we have the honour of recognising 99 recipients, including M3@Towns, mosques, MAECs and Malay/Muslim Organisations, as well as individuals for actively promoting healthy living and making these activities accessible for the wider Malay/Muslim community. This is actually twice the number of recipients from the previous JKJU event in 2022, which shows that more partners and individuals are stepping forward to enhance the accessibility and availability of healthy living programmes in the community and engage residents to adopt healthier lifestyles. 

5. For instance, M3@Marsiling-Yew Tee, which was featured in the video just now,, spearheaded the Saham Kesihatan programme named Gaya Sihat in September 2023, which organised weekly physical activity programmes such as brisk walking and Zumba, for residents living in Marsiling and Yew Tee. They also collaborated with Tan Tock Seng Hospital to provide talks on healthy living and Masjid An-Nur Mosque to deliver religious talks on the importance and the religious duties of taking care of one’s health. This collaborative effort is an example of how we can tap available resources from partners to further enhance our ground-up initiatives. 

6. Health promotion requires a whole community’s effort. Our close working relationships and the spirit of Gotong Royong – working together – within the JKJU network, has helped to increase the accessibility and availability of healthy living programmes, bringing them closer to the homes of our Malay/Muslim residents. I hope that you, as community leaders and professionals, will continue to leverage the network to engage our Malay/Muslim residents in making health a new priority. 

7. Health is an Amanah, a moral responsibility of fulfilling our obligations as muslims. It also tells us – to take charge of our lives and keep ourselves healthy. When we are healthy, we lead a better quality of life and better support our families and our community. Start by making small changes in our daily lives, such as going for brisk walks with our families and choosing healthier food options. Make that a habit.

8. Once again, my heartiest congratulations to all our fellow recipients. May your exemplary efforts inspire more to make healthy living a way of life for our Malay/Muslim community in Singapore.

9. Thank you.