CSE PIONEER ZURAIDAH ABDULLAH might not have donned a safety helmet to build the MRT line like many of her classmates did, but her contribution to Singapore is just as significant. For one thing, she helped to keep the streets safe. She joined the police force and rose to the top ranks after serving various stints in investigations, training, research, planning and operations. She was Jurong Police Division's commander and was awarded the Good Service Medal and the Long Service Medal for her police work.

Zuraidah contributes to the positive public image of the police which has been credited for Singapore's low crime rate. This is despite having a smaller police-citizen ratio compared to other major cities. Singapore has been ranked consistently among the top five positions in the Global Competitiveness Report in terms of its reliability of police services.

Zuraidah said, “I remember the advertisement – Join the police force, an extraordinary career. Every day is different.” She applied and never looked back. In recognition of her ability, she was seconded to Yayasan MENDAKI, as CEO in 2007. The organisation seeks to uplift the Malay/Muslim community. “MENDAKI allows me to give back to the community,” she said. The agency seeks to further the educational, social, economic and cultural development of the Muslim community.

That year, another honour came. Zuraidah was appointed a member of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), the first woman to achieve the feat. “As long as we set our hearts and minds to do the best, nothing is unachievable,” she shared. MUIS's role within the Malay community is to promote religious, social, educational, economic and cultural activities according to Islamic principles.

Zuraidah credited her NTI hostel stay for her success. “I learned to work with different people, a must on my job,” she said. Zuraidah is currently the Assistant Commissioner of Police and commander of the Police Training Command. She is also the deputy chief executive for administration of the Home Team Academy. The academy trains officers from the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Prison Service, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Internal Security Department. Zuraidah still wears many hats in the public sector.