MFA PRESS STATEMENT: SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS MASAGOS ZULKIFLI'S ATTENDANCE AT THE AL-AZHAR AL-SHARIFF UNIVERSITY GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR SINGAPOREAN STUDENTS AND CALL ON THE GRAND IMAM OF AL-AZHAR DR AHMED AL TAYY

        Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli was the Guest-of-Honour at the graduation ceremony for Singaporean students at Al-Azhar Al-Shariff University on 7 November 2012 in Cairo, Egypt.  This is the third graduation ceremony for Singaporean Al-Azhar graduands since the event was first co-organised by the Singapore Embassy in Cairo and MUIS in 2010.  In his speech as the Guest-of-Honour at the graduation ceremony, SMS Masagos congratulated the graduands on the successful completion of their studies in Al-Azhar.  He encouraged them to apply the knowledge and skills that they had acquired to contribute to the development of the Malay-Muslim community and Singapore.  

          Following the graduation ceremony, SMS Masagos called on the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb.  SMS Masagos expressed his appreciation to Grand Imam Al Tayyeb for his long-standing support to the Singaporean student community at Al-Azhar Al-Shariff University. They discussed the important role that Al-Azhar continues to play in the Muslim world, particularly as a beacon that promotes moderation and religious tolerance.  They exchanged views on the experiences of Singapore and Egypt in promoting religious harmony and the battle against extremism.  The Grand Imam expressed admiration for Singapore's efforts to promote religious harmony and they agreed to enhance the excellent cooperation between Egypt and Singapore in the areas of religious education and people-to-people exchanges.  

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
8 NOVEMBER 2012