The Straits Times - PM warns of religious fault lines
17 August 2009
Race and religion identified as 'most dangerous' threat to Singapore's harmony and cohesiveness
By Clarissa Oon
ON THE 50th anniversary of Singapore's self-government, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong used the year's biggest political platform to issue a rallying call for unity across different races and religions.
A large part of his speech in English was devoted to addressing the climate of rising religious fervour, which he acknowledged was 'an unusually serious and heavy subject for a National Day Rally'.
But he said that social cohesion was critical to Singapore's long-term success, and singled out racial and religious divides as the 'most visceral and dangerous fault line', potentially worse than the rich-poor gap or any divide between Singaporeans and foreign residents.
The subject of religion was highlighted in his Malay and Mandarin speeches as well at the Rally at the University Cultural Centre.
Religious leaders were present among the audience of 1,600, which included politicians, civil servants and grassroots leaders.
In carefully crafted yet unambiguously phrased remarks on the need to maintain racial and religious harmony, he revealed that the Cabinet had discussed it at length and was behind him on this.
'People may assume that we do not have a problem since we have lived in harmony for so long. Or perhaps they realise that the subject is sensitive and so shy away from discussing it.
'Yet from time to time, we must discuss it, honestly but tactfully, to assess progress, recognise trends in our society and the world, and remind and tell ourselves where we must do better,' he said.
As a globally connected, multi-faith society, Singapore is not immune to the worldwide surge in religiosity. Examples include the heated culture wars between Christian conservatives and liberals in the United States, and the intense revival of Islam among Muslims worldwide.
Taken to extremes, he noted that this trend could lead to aggressive proselytisation, intolerance and people not mixing with those of other faiths.
Mr Lee reiterated several ground rules for how religious groups should engage society, the fundamentals of which are laid down in the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act passed in 1990.
The rules include keeping religion separate from politics, and keeping schools and offices as secular common spaces.
While Singapore is doing well compared to other countries where sectarian and religious conflict is rife, 'let us also never forget what being a Singaporean means'.
'Being a Singaporean means not just tolerating other groups, but opening our hearts to all Singaporeans,' he stressed.
He credited religious groups for having done good work to help not just their own flocks, but all segments of Singapore society. However, he drew the line at them imposing their views on others.
His appeal to religious leaders: 'Help your flocks to understand our limitations and guide them to practise their faith taking our (multi-faith) context into account.'
Giving a recent example, he said he was grateful that the National Council of Churches of Singapore did not support churches getting involved in the April leadership tussle at women's group Aware. A group of Christians had tried to take over the civil society group, which they felt was becoming pro-gay.
Mr Lee said the stand of church leaders was a responsible one, adding that 'had it not been for these statements, we would have had a serious problem'.
Economic uncertainty and improving health care for an ageing population were the other two challenges the Prime Minister flagged.
With Singapore climbing out of recession in the second quarter and the depressed labour market picking up, Mr Lee was satisfied that the $20.5 billion worth of medicine to help companies and workers this year was taking effect.
This Resilience Package introduced in January included temporary subsidies to a company's wage bill for local residents. It will not be extended for now, he said.
He also proposed ramping up facilities in community hospitals for elderly patients who no longer need intensive treatment in a big hospital, but are still not well enough to go home.
By and large, this year's Rally took a long-term and more reflective view of Singapore's development, in contrast to recent years, where the Prime Minister had used the occasion to unveil a raft of major policy changes.
Mr Lee put it this way at the start of his English speech: 'Day to day, we watch keenly the economic numbers - growth data, unemployment data, trade data...It is like monitoring the temperature chart of an H1N1 patient.
'But we need to step back and see things in the longer perspective.'
Unity and resilience were two recurring themes across diverse subjects. For example, he gave a pat on the back to all Singaporeans who had worked tirelessly as a team to contain the H1N1 flu virus.
He gave another example of this resilience in how Singapore's furniture companies reinvented a 'sunset' industry and are now making inroads into global markets.
His bottom line: If society stays cohesive, 'we can overcome our economic challenges and continue to grow, strengthen our social safety net (and) shape the nation together'.
The Prime Minister ended his speech with a photographic slideshow illustrating how the island has been dramatically transformed over the past five decades.
His wish was 'that in another 50 years, we will have built another Singapore which is equally unimaginable today'.
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The Straits Times - Hard work on harmony key to future prosperity
17 August 2009
PM Lee's Rally speech a stark reminder that we cannot afford discord
By Chua Mui Hoong
TWO images sum up this year's National Day Rally (NDR) speech. The first is that of a swan gliding serenely in calm water - until you dive underneath and see how furiously its strong legs are paddling to keep it going.
The other is the image of Singapore as a Garden of Eden - a utopian land that right-minded people would want to stay in forever, from which expulsion would be grievous.
Both are references Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made to explain Singapore's efforts at fostering harmony among the different races and religions.
It was back to basics last night, when Mr Lee chose to make social cohesion and religious harmony the central theme of his annual address to the nation.
It was telling that 50 years after Singapore achieved self-government in June 1959, there was still a need to reiterate the foundational values upon which the nation is built: Namely, the importance of tolerance and respect for those of other faiths and races.
The importance of our multiracial nature and of having religious harmony is imbibed in school - in English and in the mother tongue. Many of us roll our eyes mentally when we hear the familiar phrases, having come to take their actuality more or less for granted. We think the Government is being a nagging granny when it reminds citizens of the need to remain vigilant and not take things for granted.
Until things start to fragment.
So far, there has been no major combustion among the different races or religions since the 1960s. But the aftermath of the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States has sensitised Singaporeans to the underlying fault lines and the potential for tension.
The recent leadership dispute at women's group Aware and the ensuing heated debate show that the multi-religious harmony project can indeed fray at the edges. The Aware episode threw the spotlight on religiously motivated social activism as a potential cause of discord in multi-faith Singapore.
PM Lee put the issue into perspective on both the micro and macro levels. At the micro level, tension can erupt when people of different faiths live cheek by jowl. A Malay wedding and a Chinese funeral being held at the same void deck can be occasion for conflict. A Chinese household that, after brushing their dog's pelt, shakes the duster onto their downstairs neighbour's clothes, can spark misunderstanding. Diet restrictions can impose constraints.
At the macro level, there is increasing religiosity across the world - in the US, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
While religion can be a source of personal solace and communal strength, as the Prime Minister acknowledged, it can also be divisive. Hence the need to hold fast to certain fundamental principles: Among them, tolerance and respect for all faiths, and maintaining a secular, faith-neutral common space.
It was an 'unusually serious and heavy subject for a National Day Rally', the Prime Minister said, but it had to feature in this most important political speech of the year.
In reviewing the year, Mr Lee took pains to acknowledge the effort Singaporeans made to deal with the ongoing Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.
He also had words of encouragement for those struggling through the recession, saying there were signs of incipient recovery. He promised a review of the Jobs Credit wages scheme and Spur training grants at year-end to see if another tranche would be needed.
For the many Singaporeans worried about their jobs and pay cheques - including those who would have been doing their shift duties or working overtime on a Sunday night rather than watching the Rally telecast - this will be welcome news.
Details of promised improvements to step-down care and home-based care will also be keenly awaited by those who want help with the financial and caregiving burden of taking care of elderly relatives.
This Rally differed from Mr Lee's past five speeches, in that he did not point to groups of people to applaud. It did, however, keep up with the multimedia tradition, peppered as it was with pictures, past and present, pre-recorded audio greetings from Algeria and a video animation of a 'fly-past' panorama of the new Marina South area. The inner geek in Mr Lee must enjoy these displays. Indeed, as he quipped, the NDR speech was fast becoming the NDR multimedia show.
This year's address is interesting also for what it did not touch on. Many expected PM Lee to talk about the economy, help measures and re-tooling the economy. He did touch on these subjects, but did not dwell on them.
Stressing religious and racial harmony over jobs and the economy is a stark reminder that harmony is the prerequisite for prosperity.
Many younger Singaporeans pay lip service to harmony without seriously believing that peaceful Singapore can ever degenerate into a cauldron of communal hatred. They think that the Garden of Eden will remain a paradise for ever - with no effort or thought on their part.
But harmony in fact is the cornerstone of any society's progress. It looks deceptively easy, but it is extremely hard to maintain and easy to take for granted.
As Singapore globalises and becomes more prosperous, it is so easy to think that peace will always prevail.
The challenge is that as Singapore becomes more prosperous and peaceful, the threat to harmony will come in different guises, some better camouflaged than others.
Every generation of Singaporeans has to come to this awareness afresh and commit itself to maintaining cohesion and harmony among the motley group of people who want to make this their home.
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The Straits Times - Being sensible about religious differences
17 August 2009
RELIGION came under scrutiny in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's annual survey of pressing issues last night in his National Day Rally speech. The focus on so delicate an issue was unusual, he said. It was - and not without hazard in raising it. It is never easy for the leader of a nation of multiple faiths and ethnicities to talk about people's innermost beliefs and not risk being misunderstood. The fact that he devoted a chunk of the speech to the issue showed the Government's renewed concern about its divisive potential, in the light of active conversions going on here and growing religiosity abroad encroaching on the public sphere. The turbulence churned up by the religion-tinged Aware issue, which the PM mentioned, was revelatory.
Secularism and a non-religious tone in public life have long been set as policy here as an inoculation against demagoguery leading to misunderstanding and inter-communal animosity. Despite that, faith-based tension will bubble up occasionally, even as a visceral reaction to events that happen in South Asia, as an example. Singapore has been largely free of serious religious conflict because the Government has been impartial and credible, and has earned the respect of religious heads for being even-handed and non-judgmental. But it cannot be taken on trust that there always will be a government that can hold the balance. Society has to have an inner balance. Singaporeans have to take a hand in building the protections by being sensible about religious differences.
One way is to emphasise their uniqueness as Singaporeans and downplay the faith difference. Why shouldn't the youth fellowships of the many Christian churches and Buddhist organisations plan social programmes jointly? Visits to each other's places of worship have been organised in heartland towns. These are wonderful gestures. And why need it be assumed that it is difficult to get Muslim youth groups to interact with other faith-based groups? Group exclusiveness based on faith could be Singapore's new societal curse, at the rate proselytisation is being undertaken.
Mr Lee did well to pinpoint the risks of faith-induced acts in a blunt manner. He cited cases of children converted to faiths different from that of their parents' refusing to discharge their filial duties at funerals, and of attempts made to convert vulnerable dying patients in hospital rooms. The PM did well too to have invited heads of different faiths to the Rally. No more dramatic point could be made about the insidious threat to social calm and peace in the family. The heads should convey the inclusiveness message to their followers in the clearest terms.
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The Straits Times - Twin threats of race and religion
17 August 2009
If not handled carefully, these fault lines can pull Singapore apart
By Wong Kim Hoh
WHEN an old Chinese woman died last year, her family wanted to hold her funeral at the void deck of a neighbouring HDB block. They set up the altar for the wake before getting town council approval, not knowing the premises had already been booked for a Malay wedding.
A tussle ensued when both parties refused to budge. The Malay family was upset because invitations for the wedding had already been sent out.
The town council tried to persuade the Chinese family to hold the wake at another void deck, but they refused. They said dismantling the altar would bring bad luck.
The matter was resolved after the constituency's grassroots leaders and Member of Parliament stepped in to mediate.
Although the Chinese family had a weaker case, the Malay family graciously agreed to move its wedding to a nearby void deck. As a gesture of appreciation, the town council waived rental charges and put up posters to inform wedding guests of the change in venue.
In both his Mandarin and English National Day Rally speeches yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong used the incident - related to him by the constituency's MP - to highlight the dangers of racial and religious fault lines and how they can pull Singapore apart.
'We have discussed potential fault lines in our society between rich and poor, between Singaporeans and new arrivals.
'But the most visceral and dangerous fault line,' he said, 'is race and religion.'
PM Lee pointed out that although sensitive incidents like the void deck tussle are rare - 'maybe one incident in 300 funerals', they are bound to arise from time to time.
If not handled carefully, they could escalate into a racial or religious conflict.
He said the void deck incident was resolved amicably because the Malay family was willing to give and take. It showed that Singaporeans are mature and understand the greater good.
He added: 'To solve such problems, to live peacefully together, we need good sense and tolerance on all sides, and a willingness to give and take because otherwise, whatever the rules, there will be no end of possible causes of friction - noise, auction seventh moon, parking because of the mosque or because of the church, joss sticks because the stray ashes will blow somewhere, dog hair.'
Mr Lee observed that Singaporeans tend to shy away from talking about race and religion, because they think it is too sensitive a subject, or believe it is not a problem.
'Yet, from time to time, we have to discuss it honestly but tactfully, to assess the progress we've made, to recognise the trends in our society and the world around us and to...tell ourselves where we need to do better.'
He let on that the Cabinet decided, after a lengthy discussion, that he should talk about this 'unusually serious and sensitive subject' for the National Day Rally this year.
'I crafted the points carefully, circulated them many times. Different presentations in Chinese, Malay, English because different groups have different concerns but consistent message, so that there's no misunderstanding,' he said, adding that that was the reason why he had invited religious leaders to the Rally last night.
'I am grateful to their wisdom and support,' he said.
The Prime Minister hoped they would help their flocks understand the Government's limitations and guide them to practise their faith by taking into account the context of our society.
He explained that Singapore's position on racial and religious harmony has to be sensitive and neutral but firm.
In his Mandarin speech, he illustrated this by talking about land acquisition. He said the Government sometimes acquires private land - including religious sites - to build roads, MRT or public housing.
Despite compensation for these acquisitions, this could cause unhappiness among some of the affected religious groups and lead them to petition.
Mr Lee said the Government will consider their views seriously. If it cannot accommodate these petitions, it will give a full explanation to the affected groups.
He added that these decisions cannot be biased as it will undermine the Government's credibility and weaken public trust.
In his speech last night, Mr Lee also paid tribute to religious groups. He said they have played a major role in the progress Singapore has made in the last 40 years.
'The leaders of the groups have guided their flocks wisely, they've helped to set a wholesome and moral tone to our society. And they do a lot of good work, not just for their own flocks but for all groups.
'And they've respected and accommodated one another, made practical compromises so that all can live harmoniously together in a uniquely Singaporean way.'
He noted that such harmony and cohesion - which many Singaporeans take for granted - often surprise foreign visitors, such as the Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Bader Eddin Hassoun, who was here to deliver a lecture in May.
'I learnt a lot from him. He told me that racial and religious diversity was a great treasure for a nation state. He was deeply impressed by how we had embraced diversity in Singapore.'
The Syrian Mufti, he said, shared a parable with him and told him to imagine a mother with four children: a Christian, a Buddhist, a Muslim and a Jew.
'Which child should the mother love most? So he says, it's an impossible question. Of course the mother will love all of them equally because they are all her children.
'But in fact, she will most approve of the one who takes best care of his or her other three siblings.'
PM Lee's speech struck a chord with art teacher Jackie Ho, who has lived in Waterloo Street for more than two decades.
'The apartment block I live in is sandwiched between a Chinese temple and an Indian one. It's quite heartwarming and uniquely Singaporean when you see the Chinese temple worshippers also paying their respects to the Indian deities at the Indian temple, and vice versa,' she said.
Businessman Sivam Maniam also thinks the Prime Minister's speech is a timely reminder.
'Some people are now becoming overzealous. In the name of being religious, they sometimes forget what tolerance is,' said the devout Hindu.
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The Straits Times - Rising global tide of religion touches S'pore shores
17 August 2009
By Lee Siew Hua
RELIGIOUS fervour is surging worldwide and this is true of all faiths, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
'Singapore is carried along by this global tide,' he observed in his National Day Rally speech last night.
He presented the global picture before addressing the need for Singapore to stay harmonious, even as fervour strengthens:
'Groups have become more organised, more active. The followers have become more fervent in their faiths.'
He cited the American culture wars, the stronger sense of a global Muslim community, and the rise of Christianity in South Korea.
The United States is experiencing a wave of revival, and mega-churches are rising, he said. That America is a strongly religious country is clear from the figures: Over 90per cent believe in God. About 80per cent are Christians.
'US politics is strongly influenced by religion,' he noted. The Christian right powerfully influences the Republican Party. Democrats, too, vie for Christian support.
Culture wars divide the conservatives and liberals over abortion, stem cell research, gay marriage and other issues, said Mr Lee, during his National Day Rally address at the University Cultural Centre. His audience included religious leaders.
In recent months, Singapore political leaders have sounded repeated warnings against importing American culture wars into Singapore.
Most recently, Senior Minister S.Jayakumar, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, said in an interview with this newspaper: 'Here, it will not be conflicts and tensions between Christians with different views, but between different religions, and that would be disastrous.'
The Prime Minister, turning to Muslims in his speech, pointed to the stronger sense of community among Muslims globally.
PM Lee pointed to Indonesia as an example. Following the Xinjiang riots,
the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) issued a statement in support of the Muslim Uighurs.
An intense Islamic revival is also occurring worldwide, and this is having an impact closer to home.
In Malaysia, Islam is a major factor in politics. Stricter observance of rules on dress, food, alcohol, and contact between men and women now prevails, unlike a few decades ago, he noted.
In South Korea, Christians occupy important positions in business and politics. President Lee Myung Bak himself is a Presbyterian elder, and some of his advisers are Christian.
PM Lee recounted how Korean Buddhist monks last year protested against what they felt was Christian discrimination. President Lee later expressed regret that the Buddhists were offended, and they reacted positively.
Focusing on Singapore, the Prime Minister noted that mosques overflow on Fridays and churches are filled on Sundays. The Buddhists reach out to younger, English-educated people. Hindus celebrate more religious festivals and events.
While emphasising that there was nothing wrong with people becoming more religious - 'religion is a positive force in human societies' - this could have side-effects which must be managed carefully.
He said: '(Religion) provides spiritual strength, guidance, solace and a sense of support to many, especially in a fast-changing and uncertain world. (But) stronger religious fervour can have side-effects which must be managed carefully, especially in a multiracial and multi-religious society.'
Asked for his views on PM Lee's remarks, National University of Singapore sociology lecturer Alexius Pereira took note of Mr Lee's 'honest and serious' approach.
'He was willing to admit there was a lot of turbulence underneath the calm surface,' he said.
'His job was to remind everyone of how dangerous it could be, and to assure the worried. Overall, these objectives were achieved.
'However, he did not specify any new measures that his government will take to manage religions. Does it mean that the status quo is satisfactory?'
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The Straits Times - PM on the Aware saga
17 August 2009
'What worried us was that this was an attempt by a religiously motivated group who shared a strong religious fervour to enter civil space, take over an NGO it disapproved of and impose their agenda.
And it was bound to provoke a push back from groups who held the opposite view, which happened vociferously and stridently, as a fierce battle.
The media coverage got caught up and I think the amplifier was turned up a bit high.
People talk about mature civil society, this was hardly the way to conduct a mature discussion of a sensitive matter where views are deeply divided.
But most critically of all, this risked a broader spillover into relations between different religions.'
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The Straits Times - Church leaders handled Aware saga responsibly
17 August 2009
By Zakir Hussain
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said he is grateful for the responsible stand taken by church leaders concerning the leadership tussle at the women's advocacy group, the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), earlier this year.
During the episode, the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) issued a statement to say it did not support churches getting involved in the matter, and that the pulpit should not be used to push such causes.
Catholic Archbishop Nicholas Chia also issued a statement to say he had communicated to priests that nothing should be said about Aware, and that secular organisations should remain secular.
'Had these statements not been made, we would have had a very serious problem,' Mr Lee said yesterday, in his first public comment on the episode.
The saga took a religious turn in April when it emerged that six new committee members behind the leadership takeover attended the same church and were driven by what they saw as Aware's promotion of homosexuality, including in its sexuality education programmes in schools.
In a Sunday sermon, the church's pastor reportedly urged the women in his flock to 'be engaged' and support the new Aware leaders.
PM Lee said the Government was not concerned who controlled Aware, 'because it's just one of so many non-governmental organisations (NGOs)' here. Neither was each side's views about homosexuality or sex education the issue.
'What worried us was that this was an attempt by a religiously motivated group, who shared a strong religious fervour, to enter civil space, take over an NGO it disapproved of, and impose its agenda,' he said.
'And it was bound to provoke a push back from groups who held the opposite view, which happened vociferously and stridently, as a fierce battle.'
Mr Lee also said media coverage at times got caught up in the drama, amplifying the strong opposing views.
'People talk about mature civil society. This was hardly the way to conduct a mature discussion of a sensitive matter where views are deeply divided,' he added.
'But most critically, this risked a broader spillover into relations between different religions.
'Many Singaporeans were worried about this, including many Christians.
'They may not have spoken out aloud, but they raised one eyebrow and they kept their thoughts to themselves.'
The PM also disclosed that while the Government stayed out of the tussle, he himself had spoken to religious leaders after the dust had settled.
He met Christian leaders as a group first, then with leaders of various religions together, 'so that everybody understood where we stood and what our concerns were, so that we can continue to work together to strengthen our racial and religious harmony'.
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The Straits Times - Gujarat tale holds lesson for S'pore
17 August 2009
THE story of a young man from Gujarat helped Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong explain why Singaporeans must strengthen the harmonious society here and not take it for granted.
He referred to a report in the Indian newspaper, The Asian Age, which was picked up by The Straits Times last month.
Mr Mohammed Sheikh (not his real name), 29, decided to come to Singapore after the 2002 Hindu- Muslim riots in Gujarat, India.
Bloody clashes erupted when a train carrying Hindus was stopped and set on fire in Ahmedabad, killing 58 passengers, including women and children. Hindus retaliated by killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims.
Mr Mohammed watched three of his family members, including his father, being butchered. He also became disillusioned with civil society, and how Hindu Gujarat regarded all Muslims as anti-national.
But he resolved not to spend his life cursing his destiny and decided to move on. He came to Singapore seven years ago to study hospitality management. He now works in an eatery here and hopes to start his own business.
Mr Lee quoted what Mr Mohammed told the journalist who wrote his story: 'I would have been hating all Hindus and baying for their blood.'
Now happily settled in Singapore and aspiring to become a citizen, he told the paper he loved it when his children invited Hindu friends home and shared snacks.
'My children have Christian, Buddhist, Hindu friends,' he was quoted as saying.
The man, who was not named because he still had family in Gujarat, also said he hoped to bring his mother here so that she can 'see for herself that people of different faiths can be friends and can co-exist peacefully'.
Asked by the journalist what Muslim sect he belonged to and which mosque he went to, he replied: 'I don't want to get into all that. Now, I am just a Singaporean. And I am proud of it.'
Mr Lee said: 'This story reminds us that while we must not neglect to strengthen our harmonious society, we are in fact in a good position.'
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The Straits Times - Religious leaders show support
17 August 2009
By Goh Chin Lian & Kor Kian Beng
LEADERS of different faiths welcomed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's focus on the importance of maintaining racial and religious harmony in his National Day Rally speech yesterday.
They said it was a timely reminder of the sensitivities that Singapore faces as a multiracial and multi-religious society, and the need to maintain trust and understanding, especially when religious tension and conflict are rife in the region.
Master Lee Zhiwang, president of the Taoist Mission (Singapore), likened the harmony that Singapore enjoys now to a mirror that must not be broken. He said: 'We can't let the mirror break. Once that happens, you can't patch it back.'
Religious leaders noted, as Mr Lee did, the rising religiosity in Singapore.
But Singapore Buddhist Federation's president, Sik Kwang Sheng, also stressed that a stable and peaceful country was of first importance in order for different religious groups to practise their beliefs. He is also president of the Inter-Religious Organisation.
Anglican Archbishop John Chew, who is president of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, said the four rules of engagement that Mr Lee cited - tolerance, separation of religion and politics, secular government and preservation of common space - were values that Singapore had stuck to for many years.
'It's necessary to reinforce them because memories fade,' he added.
But he did not think there was a need to introduce further measures to underline the importance of racial and religious harmony. It was more a question of strengthening existing multi-religious platforms here for heads of different faiths to meet and talk things through, he said.
Mr Alami Musa, president of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), said religious leaders must continue to remind their followers of the true essence of their teachings, and when necessary, step in to cool temperatures and urge them to be reasonable.
'I believe all religions preach moderation, peace and harmony. But sometimes, our flock...may not be able to appreciate the true aspects of their religious teachings.'
PM Lee's concern that the public space does not become a contesting ground for religious views resonated with Dr Robert Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church.
He noted that Mr Lee made it clear that separating religion and politics did not preclude people of faith and religious groups from taking part in public debates on policy issues. 'We will have to learn as we go along. A spirit of give-and-take would be very helpful.'
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The Straits Times - PM's 4 basic rules for religious harmony
17 August 2009
By Zakir Hussain
Abiding by these guidelines key to ensuring all groups live together in peace
THE ruling People's Action Party reminds its candidates not to mobilise members of their church, or temple, or mosque, to campaign for them in elections, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong disclosed yesterday.
This is because once MPs are elected, they represent the interests of all their constituents, and not just their own religious group, he said.
Mr Lee raised this example in outlining four basic rules that had to be observed in order to maintain peace and harmony.
1 All groups have to exercise tolerance and restraint
'Christians cannot expect this to be a Christian society, Muslims cannot expect this to be a Muslim society, ditto with the Buddhists, the Hindus and the other groups,' said Mr Lee.
'Many faiths share this country, share this island. Each has different teachings, different practices,' he added.
This, he elaborated, meant that rules which apply only to one group cannot become laws that are enforced on everyone.
Hence, while Muslims do not drink alcohol, alcohol is not banned here.
Neither is gambling forbidden, though many religions disapprove of it.
'If we have to live together in peace, then all have to adopt 'live and let live' as our principle,' he added.
2 Keep religion separate from politics
'Religion in Singapore cannot be the same as religion in America or religion in an Islamic country,' said Mr Lee.
He cited the recent Iranian presidential election, which was fiercely contested, where the outcome was disputed by supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and leading rival candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, and where both sides invoked Islam in their support.
'Mousavi's supporters had a battle cry: Allahu Akbar - God is great. But Iran is Islamic, is Shia, so after the battles they come back, it is one society,' he said.
But Mr Lee cautioned that if one group were to invoke religion in this manner in Singapore, others are bound to push back and invoke their faith.
'One side insists 'I'm doing God's work. The other side says 'I'm doing my God's work'. And both sides say 'I cannot compromise',' he said.
'These are absolute imperatives, duties. The result will be a clash between different religious groups which will tear us apart,' he added.
3 Government must remain secular
The Government's authority comes from the people, and it has to be neutral and fair to all, said Mr Lee.
'The laws are passed by Parliament, elected by the people. They don't come from a sacred book,' he said.
But this did not mean the Government was against religion.
'We are not against religion. We uphold sound moral values,' he stressed.
'We hold the ring so that all groups can practise their faiths freely without colliding with one another in Spore. And that's the way Singapore has to be,' he said.
A secular Government also did not mean that religious groups cannot have views on national issues, or that religious individuals cannot take part in politics.
They are free to propagate their teachings on social and moral issues, and have done so on issues like the integrated resorts and homosexuality, he noted.
'And obviously many Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists participate in politics, in Parliament. We have people of all faiths in Cabinet too,' he said.
'When people who have a religion approach a national issue, they will often have views which are informed by their religious beliefs. It's natural,' he added.
'But you must accept that other groups may have different views informed by different beliefs and you have to accept that and respect that,' he said.
The public debate, he stressed, cannot be on whose religion is right or wrong, but on secular, rational considerations of public interest - on what makes sense for Singapore.
4 Maintain the common space that all Singaporeans share
The common space - when sharing meals, or at schools and workplaces - has to be neutral and secular, said Mr Lee.
'That's the only way all of us can feel at home in Singapore and at ease,' he said.
He noted that people of various faiths had different dietary needs - Muslims eat halal food, Hindus do not eat beef, and some Buddhists are vegetarian.
'If we must serve everybody food which is halal, no beef and vegetarian, I think we will have a problem. We will never eat meals together,' he said.
'So there will be halal food on one side, vegetarian food for those who need it, no beef for those who don't eat beef. Let's share a meal together acknowledging that we are not the same,' he said.
'Don't discourage people from interacting. Don't make it difficult for us to be one people,' he added.
Likewise, rules were in place to keep all schools secular and religious groups which run mission schools accept this.
The office environment should also be one where all groups feel comfortable.
'Staff have to be confident that they will get equal treatment even if they belong to a different faith from their managers, especially in Government departments, but also in the private sector,' he said.
'I think it can be done because even religious community service organisations often have people who don't belong to that religion working comfortably and happily in that organisation,' he added.
'This is one very important aspect of our meritocratic society,' he said.
Mr Lee noted that whatever other countries do, the four basic rules must apply in Singapore.
'The basis for this is practical reality in our society, it's not any abstract political theory, it's not any divine revelation. This is the only way all groups in Singapore can live in peace and harmony,' he said.
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TODAY - Of race and religion in S'pore
17 August 2009
PM Lee calls on citizens to be vigilant of the risks religious fervour can bring
by Derrick Paulo
RARELY has such a "serious and heavy" topic dominated the National Day Rally, in the Prime Minister's speeches in all three languages.
While Mr Lee Hsien Loong has discussed other potential fault lines - between the rich and the poor in 2007, Singaporeans and new arrivals in 2006 - not since 1987 has a Rally speech gone into such depth on the subject of race and religion.
Then, as it was last night at the University Cultural Centre, the subject was set against the backdrop of a global trend of rising religiosity.
And similar to 22 years ago, when Mr Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister told "all those who claim divine sanction or holy insights" not to use religion to "belabour the Government" in the economic or political sphere, PM Lee called on Singapore society to be vigilant of the risks religious fervour can bring.
Outlining four basic ground rules that can keep Singapore peaceful and harmonious, he noted it was not just about accommodating each other's faiths, but respecting the secular and common space.
To this end, laws must be based on "secular, rational considerations of public interest - what makes sense for Singapore".
"The public debate and decision cannot be between different religious perspectives," he said.
Which is why one clear principle is that the Government must remain secular and neutral - in order to "hold the ring" for all groups and so that it can act firmly but fairly in the eyes of the public.
Land acquisition, for example, has affected all religions, from Buddhist and Hindu temples to Christian churches, said Mr Lee in his speech in Mandarin.
There has generally been "understanding and cooperation from landowners and landlords", he added in gratitude. But if State decisions suggest a bias in favour of any religious organisation, it would undermine the Government's credibility and it "would face difficulties in the future".
Policy secularity does not mean, though, that religious groups cannot have views on national issues, Mr Lee noted. Many groups have spoken out on issues such as the integrated resorts, the Human Organ Transplant Act and Section 377a, the law on gay sex.
And individuals professing a religion who do participate in politics often approach national issues informed by their religious beliefs, Mr Lee acknowledged.
"But you must accept that other groups may have different views, informed by different beliefs, and you must accept that and respect that," he said.
At ease in a neutral common space
Another rule that must be observed - and one in which Singaporeans and employers have a role to play - is to preserve a secular and neutral common space for all, "because it is the only way of all us can feel at home in Singapore and at ease".
Mr Lee underlined his point with simple examples: Such as how different food, from halal to vegetarian and non-beef dishes, can be served for different groups instead of discouraging communities from sharing meals; and how religious community service organisations often have employees of other faiths working for them.
Schools are one important common space, where even mission schools abide by secular Education Ministry rules and pupils of various faiths feel comfortable.
Highlighting the experience of Mr Salman Mohamed Khair, who was the senior student of the year in 2003 at St Joseph's Institution, Mr Lee recounted the youth's initial worries about attending the Catholic school.
But, as Mr Salman had told Today when he won the award, SJI made him feel at home, and even at camps he was able to get prayer rooms set aside for Muslim students.
In Mr Lee's carefully-crafted Rally speech - the points were circulated in Cabinet "many times", with "different presentations in Chinese, Malay and English because different groups have different concerns, but consistent message so there's no misunderstanding" - he also reminded Singaporeans of two other basic requirements for racial and religious harmony.
The exercise of tolerance and restraint means rules that apply only to one group - for example, non-permissibility of alcohol and gambling - cannot be made into laws that apply to everyone. "Live and let live" should be the guiding principle.
The separation of religion and politics must also continue, unlike countries with a dominant faith such as the United States and Iran. Which is why the People's Action Party reminds its candidates at election time not to mobilise members of their church, temple or mosque to campaign for them, said Mr Lee.
Last night's audience included religious leaders invited by the Prime Minister, who made special note of how religious groups have contributed to the Republic's progress in integrating its people and building a stronger sense of Singaporean identity.
"We're in a good position. It's a Garden of Eden state - where you're happy, where things are working and where if you leave the Garden of Eden, you cannot get back in again. So, please stay there ... Let us never forget what being Singaporean means: It's not just tolerating other groups but opening our hearts to all our fellow citizens."
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TODAY - It's about give-and-take ...
17 August 2009
by Leong Wee Keat
It began when one old Chinese woman died. Her family set up their altar at a nearby void deck before getting the Town Council's approval. But the void deck was already booked for a Malay wedding and the invitations had been sent out. The Malay family was, understandably, upset.
The Chinese family refused to move. They felt dismantling the altar would bring bad luck, though the casket had not been placed there yet. Clearly, they had the "weaker case", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The constituency's Member of Parliament and grassroots leaders then stepped in to mediate. Fortunately, the Malay family "graciously" agreed to relocate to another void deck. The Town Council appreciatively pitched in to put up posters to redirect guests, and waived its rental fee.
Such sensitive incidents, said Mr Lee, are "very rare" - probably "one incident in 300 funerals" - and sometimes, it is the Malay wedding that moves while at other times it is the Chinese funeral. This particular episode last year, which ended amicably, reaffirms Singaporeans' maturity and their understanding of the greater good, he said.
But, just one wrongly-handled case that escalates into racial or religious conflict is bad enough, he warned. "To solve such problems, to live peacefully together, we need good sense and tolerance on all sides, and a willingness to give and take. Because otherwise, whatever the rules, there will be no end of possible causes of friction."
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TODAY - The three pitfalls of fervour
17 August 2009
by Leong Wee Keat
ACROSS the world, religious groups have become more organised and active, while their adherents have become stronger in their faiths, noted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Singapore has been carried along on this global tide: Mosques and churches are filled, Buddhists are reaching out to a younger, English-speaking generation, and Hindus celebrate more religious festivals and events.
There is nothing wrong per se with people becoming more religious, Mr Lee stressed, as faith provides spiritual strength and guidance in this fast-changing world.
But stronger religious fervour, he warned, could have side effects that have to be managed carefully. He highlighted three risks to a multi-religious society - aggressive preaching, intolerance and exclusiveness.
Pushing one's religion on others can cause nuisance and offence, said Mr Lee. He cited the case of a couple sentenced to eight weeks' jail in June for surreptitiously distributing Christian tracts offensive to other faiths. Then, there are the occasional complaints about groups trying to convert very ill patients in hospitals.
Even among family members of different religions, intolerance can arise: Some children who have converted from their parents' religion decline to fulfil the elders' final rites, or even stay away from the funerals - the "ultimate unfilial act", said Mr Lee sadly.
A third danger is believers segregating into exclusive circles and not mixing with those of other faiths. They may avoid sharing meals, or disapprove of practices like yoga and taichi which they think contain religious elements.
"We need to foster more opportunities to mix, build understanding and become comfortable with one another," said Mr Lee in his speech in Malay, urging Singaporeans to befriend neighbours of other communities.
Having foreseen such dangers 20 years ago, against a backdrop of rising religious fervour and the mixing of politics and religion, the Government had in 1989 presented a White Paper on Maintenance on Religious Harmony.
The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, passed by Parliament a year later, allows the Government to issue restraining orders against preachers whose conduct or speech undermines religious harmony, and to fine and jail those who breach such orders.
So far, the Government has not had to take such action. Why? Mr Lee said it was due to the Government's work behind the scenes in meeting regularly with religious leaders "to keep the line warm and the confidence on both sides", when necessary, away from the public spotlight.
"Once, or twice, I have had to meet them over specific difficult cases," he said. "No publicity. Relying on mutual trust and wisdom of our religious leaders to defuse tensions. And I am very grateful for their wisdom and support."
The Prime Minister also likened the "peaceful calm" here to a swan. "You see it sailing across the water beautifully, gracefully, but underneath paddling furiously. That's what MPs are doing when you don't know what MPs are doing," he said.
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TODAY - Across the World...
17 August 2009
- In the United States, where more than 90 per cent of Americans believe in God and more than 80 per cent consider religion important in their lives, the Christian right is seen as a major force in the Republican Party, and the Democrats too vie for Christian support. Issues such as abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage have seen fierce "culture wars" between conservatives and liberals.
- Globally, there is a strong sense of umma (Muslim community). Malaysia has seen major change in just one generation, with far stricter observance of rules on dress and food, for instance; Islam is also a major factor in politics. In Indonesia, there are moves to require businesses to seek halal certification for their products, while the Ulama Council declared its support of the Muslim Uighurs when the Xinjiang riots broke out in China.
- In South Korea, Christianity has become a major religion in a traditionally Buddhist society. Christians occupy key positions in politics and business (President Lee Myung Bak is a Christian). Perceptions that the government discriminated against Buddhists led thousands of monks last year to stage a protest.
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TODAY - Time to turn down the 'amplifiers'
17 August 2009
Aware saga not a mature way to conduct a sensitive discussion, says PM Lee
by Loh Chee Kong
TO THE Prime Minister, the Aware saga was, quite plainly, "an attempt by a religiously motivated group, who shared a strong religious fervour, to enter civil space, take over an NGO (non-governmental organisation) it disapproved of, and impose their agenda".
And this worried the Government, said Mr Lee Hsien Loong, as the move was "bound to provoke a push back from groups who held the opposite view, which happened, vociferously and stridently."
Adding that the media coverage got "caught up (in the drama) ... and the amplifiers were turned up a bit high", Mr Lee frowned upon the manner in which the saga unfolded, as it was "hardly the way to conduct a mature discussion of a sensitive matter where views are deeply divided".
"But most critically of all, this risked a broader spillover into relations between different religions," said Mr Lee, who noted that many Singaporeans were worried about this, "including many Christians".
The month-long episode was sparked off by a leadership grab on March 28 this year, orchestrated by a group of women who disapproved of the incumbent Exco's stance on homosexuality.
Aware's sexuality education programme also came under the spotlight as death threats and a bitter war of words quickly ensued - culminating in an ill-tempered extraordinary meeting where the ousted Exco was returned to office.
Adding that the Government was "not concerned who would control Aware", Mr Lee reiterated: "On homosexuality policy or sexuality education in schools, there can be strong differences in view but the Government's position was quite clear - it was not at stake."
Mr Lee stressed that the timely statements from the National Council of Churches and Catholic Archbishop Nicholas Chia - distancing the pulpit from the Aware saga - had averted a national fallout. "Had these statements not been made, we would have had a very serious problem," said Mr Lee.
He revealed that after the dust had settled, he spoke to the religious leaders - first, with the Christian leaders as a group, and then with leading figures from all the religions together - "so that everybody understood where we stood, and what our concerns were".
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TODAY - SJI boy's comment
17 August 2009
What’s important is to stay active and contribute to the community in whatever space you’re in. Like PM Lee said, it’s for social cohesion in Singapore, and I know my friends from SJI, whether majority or minority, and from other schools are good examples of this.
Salman Mohamed Khair, 22, now a psychology major at NUS ’ faculty of arts and social sciences
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TODAY - What they thought.....
17 August 2009
I was surprised that PM talked about race and religion ... Still, I feel he was very tactful and forthright in bringing up the issue. Singaporeans are more mature now to discuss these differences, which will remain.
For instance, my neighbour complains about my Friday prayers I perform at home — the ringing of the bell and the incense — we’ve tried to resolve it through mediation by the Town Council a couple of times. Peaceful resolution is the way to go.
But I wished the PM would highlight the achievements and social problems of Indians more.
Mr A Jeyaseelan, grassroots leader in Toa Payoh
I applaud the PM for being frank about these issues. It’s timely given that there has been a lot of unrest in the region — the Hindraf issue in Malaysia, Christians and Muslims clashing in Indonesia, Uighur unrest in China.
Anyone involved in grassroots will know there are always clashes in bookings for weddings and funerals to be held at void decks. The Town Councils do a good job in settling misunderstandings amicably.
However, I think the PM could have touched on how new citizens need to interact with Singaporeans.
Mr Abdul Ghani Abdul Jaffar, grassroots leader in Woodlands and member of the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle
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SPEECH BY MR LEE HSIEN LOONG, PRIME MINISTER, AT NATIONAL DAY RALLY 2009, 16 AUGUST 2009, 6:45 PM AT UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE
National Day Rally 2009 Highlights
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong focused on four key issues in his sixth National Day Rally speech this year – the economy, healthcare, social harmony and shaping Singapore together.
Economy
On the economy, PM Lee said the eye of the storm had passed and GDP contraction of 6.5 percent in the first half of the year was not as bad as feared. Singapore’s labour situation has stabilized, the third quarter ‘looks alright’, but the outlook beyond that is unclear.
He said we will see some job losses from restructuring, but as companies upgrade their operations, they will create new, good jobs to replace lost ones.
The Resilience Package introduced in January has worked and there was no need for a new prescription now, but the government will review this before the end of the year and decide what we need for next year. PM expects the global environment to stay subdued for some time. He was optimistic Singapore can grow by serving niche areas, finding new markets and expanding our market share.
PM also singled out local companies that are doing well, such as Hyflux, and new business sectors, such as interactive digital media that is seeing a growing pool of talent. He said Singapore continued to attract multinational investments in high-end industries.
One key strength is the Singapore brand-name, which benefits local companies that venture overseas and gives overseas companies confidence to invest here.
As Singapore transforms the economy, our workers will need to adapt and upgrade themselves. The government will establish two national Continuing Education and Training Centres (CET) in Paya Lebar Central and Jurong Lake District.
He said the global economy will eventually turn around, and by then, Singapore will be all set to pick up strongly again.
Healthcare
PM said the government is gearing up our healthcare system to prepare for an ageing population. He noted the trend of older patients being admitted more frequently. After their acute condition has stabilized, they no longer need intensive treatment but are not well enough to go home.
He said the government is responding to these healthcare needs by putting in more resources. This includes new hospitals in old HDB towns (Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Jurong General Hospital), and increasing the government health budget.
But he said ‘more’ itself is not enough. Singapore needs to build up step-down care – community hospitals, nursing homes, general practitioners and home care. PM said the health ministry is working on upgrading home care to help caregivers.
Another key step is to link up acute hospitals with community hospitals, so that once a patient has stabilised, he can move to the “sister” community hospital and receive “slow medicine”.
PM said the best way to keep health care costs down is to maintain healthy lifestyles. He singled out the Wellness Programme started by Minister Lim Boon Heng as an innovative scheme, which includes medical checkups, regular exercise and social networking, which will be expanded islandwide. He also thanked healthcare professionals and all involved for their performing their duties under considerable stress in the fight against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.
Racial and religious harmony
PM Lee said social cohesion was critical to our long term success, particularly racial and religious harmony. Singapore has made much progress in over the past 40 years in building a stronger Singapore identity and visitors are often astonished by what we take for granted.
He noted the global trend of rising religiosity and that Singapore has also been carried along by this global tide. He acknowledged that religion was a positive force in societies, but warned against the risks of aggressive proselytisation, intolerance and exclusiveness by any religious group.
He set out four basic principles for keeping Singapore peaceful and harmonious. He said all groups must exercise tolerance and restraint, religion must stay separate from politics, the government must remain secular and Singapore must preserve the common space that all Singaporeans share.
He urged Singaporeans never to forget what being a Singaporean means – that is not just tolerating other groups, but opening their hearts to all. Shaping Singapore Together
PM Lee showed the transformation Singapore underwent in the last five decades with a montage of pictures from the past and present -- from housing and community centres, to opportunities available and the Singapore Armed Forces.
He said Singapore continues to renew itself by delivering a first-class education system, a convenient public transport for all, and creating green spaces and a vibrant city centre to make it the best place to live, work and play.
Taking the audience on a “fly through” video of the Marina Bay, he also gave Singaporeans a glimpse of what the centerpiece of the new city will look like in a few years. PM said the way we celebrated the National Day showed what sort of nation Singapore is - our commitment to excellence, the ability to organize, mobilize and deliver results and the spirit of the people.
All this was epitomized in the Pledge moment, when all were united in one voice, saying what it truly means to be Singaporean.
