SINGAPORE – From heading a wide-range of policy challenges involving the environment and cyber-security, to handling sensitive matters of race and religion, outgoing Cabinet Minister Yaacob Ibrahim’s contributions have been “invaluable”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said.

Mr Lee issued valedictory letters on Friday (April 27) to thank him and two other retiring political stalwarts for their service and contributions to the country.

Dr Yaacob, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, will step down from the Ministry for Communications and Information (MCI) on May 1, alongside Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say and Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Heng Khiang. All three will remain as Members of Parliament.

An engineer by training, Dr Yaacob, 62, was first elected in 1997 as an MP for the then Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency (GRC). He would go on to stand in five general elections, all of them in the same Kolam Ayer ward where he lived and grew up.

In his letter, Mr Lee noted the diverse ministries Dr Yaacob has helmed over the years, from the Ministry of Community Development and Sports, to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) and MCI’s predecessor, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

The minister oversaw the setting up of the Singapore Sports School, the building of Singapore’s first desalination plant, and played in a lead role in strengthening cyber security and data privacy in Singapore.

In his letter, Mr Lee also praised Dr Yaacob’s “lasting contributions” to the Malay-Muslim community, and his efforts in setting the direction for Singapore Muslims.

“You have worked hard to lead the community to look forward, to integrate with non-Muslim Singaporeans, and to adapt and change with the times,” Mr Lee wrote. “You encouraged (the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) to articulate the Singapore Muslim Identity, a set of inclusive and adaptive values for the practice of Islam in a multiracial and multi-religious society.”

During Dr Yaacob’s tenure as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, which began in 2002, he also spoke up frequently against Islamaphobia and extremist teachings, particularly against the growing threat of radicalisation.

Under his charge, the madrasahs, or religious schools, were consolidated in a bid to raise standards. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) also implemented an Asatizah Recognition Scheme to accredit qualified Islamic teachers and scholars, while an Islamic College will be set up in Singapore to train the country’s own Islamic religious teachers.

“In the long term, (this) will be important for developing the practice of Islam in our national context,” said Mr Lee.

In his letter, the Prime Minister also thanked Dr Yaacob for his support and candid advice on sensitive issues involving race and religion.

Mr Lee wrote: “At critical moments, such as after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when the tudung issue got worked up, or when the government implemented compulsory education, you rallied the Malay/Muslim PAP MPs and the community, took the political heat, made the arguments with conviction, and held the ground.

“In doing so, you did great service to the Malay/Muslim community, and also to racial and religious harmony in Singapore.”