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Panel set up to bolster racial, religious ties

Panel set up to bolster racial, religious ties

Date : 8 October 2006

A NEW committee has been set up for top leaders of ethnic and religious groups to engage with one another.

Chaired by Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and comprising 20 religious and community leaders, the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony replaces the steering committee on Inter-Racial Confidence Circles.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday: 'It will help to strengthen engagement and trust across racial and religious groups.

'It will also guide the Inter-Racial Confidence Circles, which will focus on promoting inter-racial activities and understanding at the local level.'

The committee had its first meeting about two weeks ago, and is expected to meet about four times a year. A working committee will execute its directions.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia said: 'We hope that more positive action will be taken to build up peace and harmony. For instance, we can look at joining hands when it comes to humanitarian projects.'

The members are:

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Environment and Water Resources and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs;

Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts;

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports;

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education and Manpower;

Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education;

Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng, president, The Singapore Buddhist Federation;

Mr Tan Thiam Lye, chairman, Taoist Federation;

Bishop Robert Solomon, president, National Council of Churches of Singapore;

Mr Syed Isa Mohd Semait, Mufti, Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura;

Mr Surjit Singh, chairman, Sikh Advisory Board;

Mr Rajan Krishnan, chairman, Hindu Advisory Board;

Archbishop Nicholas Chia, archbishop, Archdiocese of Singapore;

Mr V.R. Nathan, president, Inter-Religious Organisation;

Mr Zainudin Nordin, Mayor, Central Singapore District;

Dr Amy Khor, Mayor, South West District, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources;

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Mayor, North East District, and Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs;

Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor, North West District;

Mr Matthias Yao Chih, Mayor, South East District;

Mr K. Shanmugam, president, Singapore Indian Development Association;

Mr Wee Cho Yaw, president, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, honorary president, Singapore Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

LI XUEYING

(With thanks to straitstimes.com)

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