Muhamad Faisal Manap is a distinguished Singaporean politician, known for his active involvement with the opposition Workers’ Party. Holding the position of Vice-Chairman within the WP since 2016, he has played a vital role in the party’s activities and leadership.
From 2006 to 2010, He also worked as a freelance counselor and counseled couples on marriage and divorce.
Bio/Wiki
Age-48years
Height-5feet 4inch (approx.)
Weight-65kg(approx.)
Born- 6 June 1975
Birthplace-Singapore
Full name – Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap
Profession-Politician
Nationality- Singaporean
Party – Workers’ Party
Office-Member of the Singapore Parliament since 2011
Family
Faisal is married and has three children (two sons and a daughter).
Education
Faisal’s educational journey led him to Eunos Primary School and Telok Kurau Secondary School, where he began his academic pursuits. Eventually, in 1995, he graduated from Singapore Polytechnic, having obtained a diploma in civil and structural engineering.
Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, he furthered his studies and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Monash University in 2005.
Net worth
As of current estimates, Muhamad Faisal Manap’s net worth is approximately $5 million. The primary source of his income is derived from his work as a politician, where he serves as a Member of Parliament and actively engages in various political activities.
Career
Political Career
Faisal’s political journey began during the 2011 general election when he took part as the ethnic minority candidate in a five-member Workers’ Party team competing in Aljunied GRC against the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). In a historic moment for Singapore’s electoral history, the Workers’ Party team secured victory with 54.72% of the vote, marking the first time an opposition party had won a general election in a GRC. As a result, Faisal assumed the role of Member of Parliament, representing the Kaki Bukit ward of Aljunied GRC in the 12th Parliament, starting on 9 May 2011.
Over the subsequent general elections, the Workers’ Party retained its parliamentary seats in Aljunied GRC, and Faisal continued his dedicated service as the Member of Parliament representing Kaki Bukit. Additionally, within the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, Faisal took on significant roles, serving as the chairman of the Estate and Liaison Committee from 2013 to 2018, overall Council chairman from 2018 to 2021, and Council vice-chairman from 2021 to 2022.
In the 2020 general election, Faisal was part of the five-member Workers’ Party team, which included notable figures like Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim, Gerald Giam, and Leon Perera, contesting the Aljunied GRC once again. They secured a remarkable victory with 59.95% of the votes, retaining their seats and continuing to serve the people of Aljunied GRC.
Parliamentary Representation
Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act
During the debate over a parliamentary bill to amend the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, Faisal engaged in a passionate exchange with Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam concerning the separation of religion from politics.
Tudong Issue
Since entering Parliament in 2011, Faisal consistently advocated for allowing Muslim nurses and women in uniformed services to wear the tudong (headscarf) while performing their duties. In response to his persistent efforts, Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli criticized Faisal in 2017, stating that he was subtly and frequently provoking the Malay-Muslim community with this issue. Masagos emphasized that such matters should not be discussed in Parliament, as they could potentially disrupt Singapore’s racial and religious harmony, and instead should be resolved through private channels.
In a significant development in 2021, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Muslim nurses working in Singapore’s public healthcare sector would be permitted to wear a tudung with their uniforms if they so choose, addressing the long-standing concern raised by Faisal and others advocating for religious accommodation.
Faisal was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Workers’ Party central executive committee (CEC) on 29 May 2016, succeeding Mohammed Rahizan Yaacob in the position. Since then, his two-year term has been consistently renewed through subsequent CEC elections, with the most recent election taking place on 27 December 2020. As a result of this continued support, Faisal has remained in his role as the Vice Chairman, actively contributing to the party’s leadership and decision-making.
On 24 July 2023, Faisal was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital due to a cardiac condition. The Worker’s Party stated that “His condition is stable, and he is being monitored and cared for in the intensive care unit.
