The Chinese edition of "Fighting Terrorism: The Singapore Perspective" is an example of how different groups come together to help widen the outreach as we fight against terrorism
SPEECH BY MR K SHANMUGAM, MINISTER FOR LAW AND SECOND MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS, AT THE MID-AUTUMN CELEBRATIONS ORGANISED BY THE SINGAPORE CHINESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SCCCI), AT THE SCCCI AUDITORIUM, SCCCI BUILDING, 47 HILL STREET, AT 7.30 PM
Mr Chua Thian Poh, President, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good evening.
I am happy to be here this evening, to join in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, when the full moon, which appears at the height of autumn, is a symbol of completion and unity. It is a time for family members and good friends to gather for reunion, feasting and rejoicing.
Building Networks of Trust and Social Resilience
2. And it is good to see members from the different communities here tonight. It is through such inclusiveness and sharing that we can increase understanding, and gradually move to gain acceptance of each other’s cultures. We can build networks of trust and strengthen social resilience in a multi-ethnic society like ours. For race and religion are highly personal and emotive issues. If not managed properly, it could degenerate into communal conflict and unrest. You see that all around us. We are lucky. But we cannot take the state of harmony for granted. We need to continue to work at keeping up the levels of trust and cohesion.
3. That is what the Community Engagement Programme is about – building networks of trust so that in a crisis, we can stand united as a nation. The Chamber and the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations are playing a part in the programme, having set up a Community Engagement Task Force in 2006. The task force has had meetings with the Malay and Indian communities, leading to mutual visits to enhance understanding and keeping the channels open for collaboration.
Investing in the Young
4. Shoring up trust and cohesion is not just for adults. The younger generation is important – they are our future. Hence, it is heartening that in its investment in the education of the young, the Chamber is also offering opportunities to those of other communities. Noteworthy is the award of the Foundation –Mendaki Joint Business Scholarship to the Malay Muslim students, as well as the presentation of scholarships tonight to the undergraduates of the local universities under the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Coming Together, Widening the Outreach
5. Part of the programme tonight is the launch of the Chinese edition of the book "Fighting Terrorism: The Singapore Perspective". The book, first published in English, was compiled by Taman Bacaan and comprised articles and speeches related to countering terrorism. Translated by a group of volunteers, this Chinese edition is an example of how different groups come together to help widen the outreach as we fight against terrorism - the volunteer translators, and others who contributed time and effort to go through the edition and give their advice. This launch is a commendable multi-cultural cooperation between the Chamber and Taman Bacaan.
6. As the different ethnic, cultural and business groups carry out their programmes, we hope that they would find practical ways and opportunities to work together with other groups, to widen and deepen the outreach, and at the same time, to increase the ease of working together. If we do not build the networks of trust in non-crisis times, we will be facing each other as strangers in a crisis, less able to face the challenges.
Adding Value, Helping Businesses
7. We appreciate the Chamber for continuing to play its social role in our multi-racial, multi-religious society. We know that the Chamber has had yet another busy year, having just held the 12th Infocomm Commerce Conference last month with a record attendance of some 2,000 delegates. Organised in collaboration with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, the combination of a main conference, concurrent workshops and exhibition attracted participants from local enterprises in business and industry. This followed the 10th Annual SMEs Conference held in May, focused on "Being Relevant in an Interconnected World". And many more symposiums and seminars.
Concluding Remarks
8. I wish the Chamber and its partners continued success, and everyone a good time tonight. Thank you.
Press Release from Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI)
September 8 2008
Minister for Law K. Shanmugam Attends SCCCI’s Mid-Autumn Celebrations as Guest-of-Honour
Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) will be organising its annual Mid-Autumn Festival gathering this coming Friday.
The details of the event are as follows:
Date: September 12 2008 (Friday)
Time: 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm (6.30 pm, Registration)
Venue: SCCCI Auditorium, SCCCI Building, 47 Hill Street
Guest-of-Honour: Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs
Mr K. Shanmugam
Attire: Ethnic Dress / Smart Casual
Other distinguished guests include members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials and leaders from the business, education, cultural and community organisations.
At this event, the SCCCI is pleased to launch the Chinese edition of the book “Fighting Terrorism: The Singapore Perspective”. This book launch is part of the Chamber’s involvement in the Community Engagement Task Force initiative, to promote multi-cultural cooperation in Singapore.
During the evening, a presentation ceremony to acknowledge the outstanding academic achievements of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce Foundation (SCCCF) scholars will be held. Guests will be treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner, cultural performances, tea arts and handicraft demonstrations.
The SCCCI cordially invites you to attend our Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations as well as to cover the event in the media. Please RVSP your attendance by 6.00 pm (Thursday), September 11 2008.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Emerson Hee
Senior Executive
Corporate Communications & Strategic Relations
Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Tel: 6337 8381 Ext 125
HP: 9113 6786
Fax: 6339 0605 E-mail: emerson@sccci.org.sg
Fiona Hu
Senior Director
Corporate Communications & Strategic Relations
Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Tel: 6337 8381
HP: 9756 1136
Fax: 6339 0605 E-mail: fiona@sccci.org.sg
About Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Established in 1906, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) is an internationally renowned business organisation and the apex body of the Chinese business community in Singapore. It is the founder of the biennial World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention and the World Chinese Business Network (www.wcbn.com.sg), a global online business information portal. It plays a key and pro-active role in representing the interests of the local business community. In its continued drive for service excellence, the SCCCI has become the first business chamber in the region that has been awarded ISO 9001–2000 certification since 1995.
The SCCCI has a membership network of 129 trade associations and 4,000 corporate entities including large financial and business organisations, multinational corporations, government-linked companies, small and medium enterprises from a wide spectrum of trades and industries. Together, they provide the business community with vast resources and an influential global Chinese business network for business, culture and education.
新加坡中华总商会中秋联欢晚会
SCCCI Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration 2008
节目表 Programme
6.30 pm
嘉宾莅临 Arrival of Guests
7.30 pm
主宾律政部长兼内政部第二部长尚穆根先生莅临
Arrival of Guest-of-Honour, Mr K. Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs
迎宾表演 Welcoming Performance
- 川剧“变脸”绝艺表演 Chuan Opera "Changing Faces
新加坡中华总商会会长蔡天宝先生致欢迎词 Welcome Address by SCCCI President, Mr Chua Thian Poh,
主宾尚穆根部长致词 Speech by Guest-of-Honour, Minister K. Shanmugam
总商会基金奖学金颁赠仪式 Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce Foundation (SCCCF) Scholarship Presentation Ceremony
中文版《抗击恐怖主义－新加坡的观点》推介会 Official Launch of the Chinese Edition of “Fighting Terrorism: The Singapore Perspective”
自助晚餐 Buffet Dinner
文娱表演 Cultural Performances
- 东方艺术团杂技表演 Acrobatic Performance by Oriental Arts Troupe
- 新艺华乐四重奏 Chinese Orchestra Performance by Xing Yi Quartet
9.30 pm
晚安 Good Night
The Straits Times - Book aims to help Chinese understand war on terrorism
04 October 2008
Chinese businessman, Malay leader join hands to publish book to support Muslim community's anti-terror effort
By Goh Chin Lian
Equally puzzling to the 60-year-old, who used to teach Chinese, is the meaning of the oft-repeated term, jihad.
He found the answers eventually in a book published in English by a Muslim friend, Mr Abdul Halim Kader, 58, president of Malay-Muslim welfare group Taman Bacaan.
That discovery sparked an idea, as Mr Wang was convinced that many in the Chinese community would be like he was.
Mr Abdul Halim, meanwhile, wanted to reach out to the community with a Chinese version of the book, Fighting Terrorism: Preventing The Radicalisation Of Youth In A Secular And Globalised World.
Their joint efforts can now be seen in a 198-page book in Chinese, titled Fighting Terrorism: The Singapore Perspective.
The work of translating the book was led by Mr Wang, who not only volunteered to do it but also roped in his wife, Winnie, also 60, and five others from Singapore, Malaysia and China to help.
The translation of the collection of speeches of Singapore ministers and MPs, as well as articles by religious experts, researchers and journalists, took nine months.
From them, Mr Wang had earlier learnt that the terrorist acts were those of a small minority who misinterpret the Quran and are misled by others.
He also gained a good understanding of jihad, a term which terrorists had misused for their own purposes.
Jihad, he learnt, is a struggle that can be spiritual, social, economic or political 'for oneself, family, community and country' for peace and prosperity.
Also, an act of terrorism aimed at innocent civilians and achieved through aggression or suicide, is wrong and not allowed in Islam.
Mr Wang, who runs an employment agency with his wife, said he had hesitated asking his Muslim friends for answers as the subject was sensitive.
Now, with the new book, he believes it 'will allow the Chinese community and those with a Chinese-educated background to know Muslim ideas better'.
Agreeing, Mr Abdul Halim said it was important for the Chinese community to understand the national fight against terrorism.
About 1,000 copies of the Chinese version have been published, with $3,500 from Taman Bacaan and around $3,000 from the Wangs.
They were given to Chinese community leaders at the recent Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr Abdul Halim hopes the book will help Chinese community leaders understand better that his community's effort 'requires the support and understanding of every Singaporean if it's to succeed'.
He is now editing a book on how non-Muslims can help counter radicalism and ways to help youth who may be misled by wrong ideology on the Internet.
