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Greater involvement in CEP necessaryDate : 22 September 2011 Tamil Murasu - Greater involvement in CEP necessaryTranslationDeputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has stressed that more people should get involved in the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) in Singapore as it engages people in the society and helps to stay resilient against terrorism and other external threats. Saying that Singapore has managed to stay resilient against terrorism and external threats, Mr Teo, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs, explained that it was due to the successful efforts in engaging the people. Speaking at the International Conference on Community Engagement, Mr Teo noted that that the CEP was launched in 2006 to enhance racial and religious harmony. He also said that it has inspired many to take ownership of their own future. Saying that Singapore should be proud of what has been achieved, Mr Teo called on more people to get involved in the CEP. DPM Teo recalled that when a fire broke out at a church in Geylang Serai - an area that has the largest concentration of racial and religious organisations in Singapore - and the Church building became structurally unstable, the church’s service sessions were subsequently conducted at a nearby temple’s activity centre. Noting that the church was subsequently able to find its own space, Mr Teo said that the spirit of help was the important aspect evident in this episode. Mr Teo further elaborated on the threat of terrorism faced by Singapore in the aftermath of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) arrests in 2001. If the JI plot had indeed succeeded, the damage done would have gone beyond the immediate loss of life and destruction of property, he cautioned. Vikneshwari Sivaram / 22 Sep 2011 Click on the link below to view the Tamil Murasu article (With thanks to SPH - Tamil Murasu) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH.
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