The Straits Times - DPM Wong: Hold fast to need for religious peace
18 January 2010
Don't let religious tensions in Malaysia spill over here
By Rachel Chang
THE Government is watching the situation in Malaysia very closely to make sure the religious tensions there do not spill over to Singapore.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said yesterday the situation there also underscores the need for Singaporeans not to take racial and religious harmony for granted.
He stressed that Singaporeans, while concerned, must continue to be calm and composed in their reactions.
'It is understandable for Singaporeans to be concerned about this development in our neighbouring country, but our people have reacted with calm and composure. We must continue to do so,' he said.
Mr Wong's remarks are the first from a Singapore leader on inter-religious tension in Malaysia in the wake of a High Court ruling that allowed a Catholic newspaper to use the word 'Allah' to refer to God.
A total of 10 churches, a Sikh temple and a mosque have been vandalised since the ruling. There was no report of any new incidents yesterday.
DPM Wong, who is an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, spoke during his constituency's bursary presentation ceremony cum family carnival at Raffles Institution. A total of $127,000 from the Citizens' Consultative Committee of the GRC was presented to 619 students from the constituency.
In his speech, Mr Wong also stressed the need for Singaporeans to stay united and cohesive, for only by doing so would the country be able to tackle its problems effectively and build a good foundation for peace and continued growth.
The rise of violent religious and racial tensions around the world makes keeping the peace at home all the more urgent, he noted, citing recent incidents in Europe, Australia and Malaysia.
He added: 'One of the things that often worries me is that some Singaporeans are lulled into complacency, believing that racial and religious conflicts can never happen in Singapore.'
Speaking to reporters later, he said these tend to be younger Singaporeans who have no first-hand experience of racial tensions.
Older Singaporeans who remember the race riots of 1964, or have parents who went through them, have told him they are troubled by what they see unfolding in Malaysia.
'They are concerned that it may happen in Singapore if people take things into their own hands,' he said.
Singapore and Malaysia are closely linked, with many Singaporeans having family in Malaysia and vice versa. The two countries are also similar in history, culture, and the make-up of the population, he pointed out.
'We think Singaporeans are mature enough to handle the situation. But I think we cannot take this attitude for granted,' he said, noting that issues of race and religion can flare easily into bigger problems.
Because of this, the Government is extra vigilant, and will deal with incidents pertaining to race and religion straight away so as to prevent them from 'becoming a bigger issue'.
Asked about the Government's stand on allowing protests or other demonstrations of sympathy for situations in other countries, he said:
'I think Singaporeans must have the care to not bring problems like this to themselves. Of course we live in an interconnected world; we cannot be divorced from events happening in other countries.
'But at the same time, we must be rational and examine when we bring such problems to our shores, what are we trying to do? Are we trying to express sympathy only, or will doing so result in more problems for our own community?
'That's the most important thing that Singaporeans must remember.'
Referring specifically to events in Malaysia, he added: 'I think we should stay out of the trouble in other countries. We should not be embroiled in the affairs of other countries.'
Likewise for foreigners who come to Singapore to live and work: If they are from countries experiencing racial or religious tensions, they must 'not allow what happened in their own home to affect what happens in Singapore', he said.
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Edusave Scholarship & Edusave Merit Bursary Awards Presentation Ceremony at Bishan Community Club - Speech by DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng
16 January 2010
Principals,
Community Leaders,
Award Recipients,
Parents,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon and Happy New Year to all of you.
This afternoon, 258 students from Bishan East will receive the Edusave Scholarship and Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB). Tomorrow, the Bishan East Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) will be giving out in bursary awards to 123 Bishan East students at the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC CCC Bursary Presentation Ceremony cum Family Carnival.
I congratulate all the recipients of the scholarships and bursaries. You have done well in your studies. You have made your parents proud and I hope that these awards will encourage you to continue to excel in your studies.
Pulling through a difficult year
Last year, the Bishan East CCC presented more than $52,000 in bursaries to students in January and June because Singapore was facing a rapidly weakening economy and recession. The outlook ahead was uncertain then, and we expected families to be affected by job losses or wage cuts as the year unfolded.
The quick and timely response of the Bishan East CCC was part of the collective national effort that helped us pulled through a difficult year. The Government introduced measures aimed at keeping people in jobs through the Jobs Credit Scheme and helping those who lost their jobs find new ones. Companies and Singaporeans tightened their belts. Unions, employers, grassroots organisations and community volunteers chipped in to help Singaporeans in various ways. The bursaries we presented to Bishan East students is one such example. We weathered the difficulties last year because we stood united as a nation and helped our fellow citizens in need.
The outlook has improved and the situation is better today. MTI forecasts that our economy will grow by 3 to 5%, compared to a contraction of -2.1% last year. As the economic outlook improves, we still must continue to take measures to transform the Singapore economy, create jobs and upgrade our workers’ skill. We will continue to invest heavily in education as it provides the foundation for our students to develop their potential to the fullest.
Investing in education, investing in Singaporeans
The Edusave Scholarships and Bursaries presented today are given to students who are Singapore citizens. The bursary awards that the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC CCCs will be giving out tomorrow are also given to students who are Singapore citizens, or one of the parents must be a Singapore citizen. This is an investment by the Government and our community partners on our people.
In tandem with Government’s effort to invest in our children’s education, we also took positive steps in our community to nurture our young ones. For example, the Bishan East PCF opened a new childcare centre at Blk 178 Bishan East Street 13 in January. Called Hampton Pre-School, the centre was set up by the Bishan East PCF and managed by EtonHouse. This is the first PCF childcare centre in Singapore managed by a private education provider. It provides another choice to meet the needs of our residents. The response was good. It shows the importance parents place on their children’s education.
Conclusion
While the Government continues to invest heavily in education, we can do our part in the community too. As fellow Singaporeans, we should continue to help one another in times of need. Those of us who are financially able can extend a helping hand to those families in need. For example, the CCC bursaries that we will be giving out were made possible because of the strong support for the fundraising efforts by the Bishan East Grassroots Organisations.
There is a Chinese saying "取之社会,用之社会". It means that you should remember to give back what you have taken or benefited from the society. I urged all the award recipients here today to do just that. I encourage you to volunteer your time and help other members of the community in whatever way you can.
