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Malay Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Singapore's longest-serving mufti Syed Isa dies at 87
SINGAPORE, July 8 — Singapore's longest-serving mufti, Syed Isa Mohamed, passed away on Monday at the age of 87. In a media statement, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said his passing is a great loss to the Singapore Muslim community and the nation. 'MUIS is deeply saddened by the passing. His unwavering commitment and tireless efforts to promote a confident and progressive Muslim community have left a lasting impact on Singapore and beyond,' the statement read. Syed Isa served as Mufti of Singapore from 1972 to 2010. During his tenure, Syed Isa oversaw the establishment of many key institutions that shaped the religious life of the community. This included the establishment of a system for determining the Islamic calendar, development of the institution of zakat (alms) collection and disbursement, social development programmes for the poor and needy, and the Mosque Building Fund. He also played a vital role in the management and growth of wakaf (voluntary charitable endowment) properties and was instrumental in setting up an internationally credible and reliable halal certification system. Syed Isa also chaired the Fatwa Committee that provided solutions to complex and contentious issues, and was a key advocate of inter-religious harmony. He served as a council member of the Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore (IRO) in 1975 and became its president in 1993. From 1992 to 2010, he was also a member of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. For his service, Syed Isa was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 1982 and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2009. He also received the IRO Lifetime Award for his efforts in strengthening interfaith relations and was conferred the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal in 2011. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong paid tribute to Syed Isa's decades of service to the Malay/Muslim community. 'His leadership helped shape key institutions, strengthened religious administration, and supported the growth and development of our Malay/Muslim community. 'He leaves behind a lasting legacy through the generations of leaders and scholars he mentored,' Wong said in a condolence message to Syed Isa's family on Facebook. — Bernama
Malay Mail
07-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
‘An oasis in the desert': Luxury keeps ringing the cash register in Singapore as global sales cool
SINGAPORE, July 7 — As luxury spending slows in markets like China and the United States, Singapore is bucking the trend — and retailers are cashing in. According to new data from Euromonitor International, and reported by Bloomberg today, luxury sales in the city-state are set to rise by 7 per cent this year to S$13.9 billion (RM46 billion), making it the best-performing Asian market outside Japan in 2024. This growth puts Singapore ahead of bigger regional shopping meccas like China, Japan and South Korea — no small feat for a city that's just 280 square miles in size with a population of six million. By 2026, luxury sales in the city are expected to return to their pre-pandemic peak of S$14.7 billion. For high-end brands feeling the pinch elsewhere, Singapore has become a financial safe haven and a strategic launchpad. The country accounted for the third-largest share of luxury store openings in Asia-Pacific last year (excluding mainland China), according to commercial real estate firm Savills. 'Singapore has proved to be a very stable place for wealthy people. That has created a very strong local base for the luxury market,' said Jonathan Siboni, founder and CEO of consultancy Luxurynsight, to Bloomberg. 'Singapore is an oasis in the desert.' Wealth in Singapore is not just growing — it's being flaunted. Median household employment income has climbed for five straight years. The city now boasts more than 240,000 millionaires, drawn by its low-tax environment, stable government and thriving finance sector. 'Singapore has transformed itself into a testing ground for brands, not just for South-east Asia, but for blending East and West,' Angelito Perez Tan, Jr., CEO of luxury consultancy RTG Group Asia, reportedly said. 'These aren't just gimmicks, they're strategic soft launches that test how consumers engage emotionally with the brand.' That emotional pull is translating into spend. Malls like The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands are offering VIP concierge services and early previews of luxury collections. At Raffles City, 21 beauty brands — including Chanel, Dior and Gucci — are staging high-profile pop-ups this year. 'Spending is flowing across all segments of the luxury industry,' Irene Ho, CEO of The Luxury Network Singapore, was quoted as saying. 'We're seeing invitation-only events several times a week — it's all about ultra-personalised shopping now.' Tourists are still a key driver, with retail spend from visitors climbing to S$3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2024, up 5 per cent from a year earlier. Shoppers from China, Indonesia, India and the US continue to flow in, but it's the trust in Singapore's institutions that's keeping the high-net-worth dollars flowing. The country's crackdown on illicit wealth — most notably a S$3 billion money laundering scandal last year — hasn't scared the rich away. If anything, it's enhanced Singapore's appeal. 'It showed that the system works, and that's exactly what matters to legitimate high-net-worth individuals,' RTG's Tan reportedly added. 'When there's that kind of trust, spending naturally follows.' Still, not everyone is on board the luxury train. Singapore's government is under pressure to close the wealth gap, balancing the need for progressive taxes with the risk of driving billionaires to lower-tax cities like Dubai. That tension hasn't slowed luxury's momentum yet — but it may shape the next phase of Singapore's retail boom. For now, as the rest of the region hits the brakes, Singapore is speeding ahead — and luxury brands are more than happy to hitch a ride. High-end spending in the Lion City is expected to jump 7% to S$13.9 billion this year, outpacing China and South Korea amid global slowdown
