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Harmonycentre.sg to boost inter-faith dialogue

Date : 10 September 2009

The Straits Times - Harmonycentre.sg to boost inter-faith dialogue

10 September 2009

THE Harmony Centre, a hotbed of artefacts, exhibits and information aimed at promoting inter-faith dialogue in Singapore, went online yesterday; after having had more than 20,000 visitors since it first opened its doors three years ago.

Harmonycentre.sg, launched yesterday, covers the 'breadth and depth' of information available at the centre and would allow for a wider reach, said Mr Alami Musa, the president of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis). The organisation set up the centre in 2006.

The centre also conducts inter-faith dialogues and home-stay programmes for young people, and visitors run the gamut of society from kindergarten students to senior citizens.

The idea for the website was born from a suggestion by a visiting Egyptian diplomat two years ago.

During the visit, the diplomat suggested that the centre, a two-storey facility at the An-Nahdhah Mosque in Bishan, should find a way to take its message to a larger audience.

About 20,000 people have visited the centre since it opened its doors, and about three in four were non-Muslims, said Mr Mohamed Afdzal Mohamed Ibrahim, an executive at the centre.

Mr Alami said: 'Due to its unique nature of being the first of its kind, the centre has received numerous requests for information.'

He added that the centre is a symbol of the outreach efforts by the Muslim community here since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks eight years ago in the United States.

At the launch of the website yesterday, Mr Alami told an audience that included Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew: 'Unlike other Muslim communities who withdrew from society, became apologetic and often times, confrontational...the community here was proactive in reaching out and engaging other communities.'

After the launch, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui joined over 200 religious leaders from different faiths at the An-Nahdhah Mosque as they broke fast at 7.07pm.

(With thanks to SPH - StraitsTimes.com)

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