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Strong social ties in Singapore, new book showsDate : 29 October 2011 The Straits Times Book on Community Engagement Programme shows unity of citizensBy Kimberly Spykerman Three in four Singaporeans would trust a fellow citizen to help them should there be a terrorist attack. A similar number felt that citizens of all races and communities would stand united after an attack. These findings and others were thrown up in a 2009 Community Engagement Programme (CEP) survey by the Ministry of Home Affairs. They were made public for the first time in a new book charting the development of the CEP. Titled Hearts Of Resilience, it will be launched by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Saturday. The figures highlight an important point: that when it comes to racial harmony, Singapore has a strong social fabric. International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research head Rohan Gunaratna said the Government's and community partners' investment in social resilience since the 9/11 attacks will ensure no racial and religious riots, which could cause significant damage, break out here in the event of a terrorist attack. Strong friendship bonds between the different races have been built, due in part to the efforts of the CEP, he said. 'These bonds of friendship are the best defence to prevent and respond to a terrorist attack,' he added. Racial harmony is a big part of the CEP. The programme is an islandwide, community-based approach to ensuring that Singaporeans have strong community bonds and are mentally prepared for crises. It began in 2006 in response to the 9/11 attacks, the London subway blasts and the uncovering of terror plots by a local arm of Jemaah Islamiah (JI) here. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted in his opening message for the book that after those developments, security forces were upgraded and international cooperation on terrorism issues deepened. But there had also been a 'critical need' to maintain strong and enduring community ties, as such plots could have dire consequences for the country's social fabric. 'Even a near-miss like the JI plot had threatened to sow fear and mistrust among our different races,' he wrote. 'The Government had to engage community leaders to calm the ground, and get Singaporeans to see the threat for what it was - acts by misguided extremist individuals, and not a threat posed by Islam or Muslims in general.' Education workshop instructor Azman Kassim, 50, is a CEP leader in Ulu Pandan. A mosque leader, he makes it a point to maintain close ties with religious leaders of different faiths. They celebrate special occasions such as Ramadan and Christmas together, and involve members of their own communities so there is better understanding about different religions. Meetings and community events, such as health screenings, are sometimes held in the mosque or church grounds. 'The community leaders must work together, and respect each other. That way, it will set a good example for others in the community,' he said. Other ways community leaders can engage is through 'conversation circles'. Ms See Guat Kwee, 53, facilitates these circles, which allow people of different races to talk about various issues. Based on the principles of listening, journal-writing and reflection, the aim is to challenge assumptions and stereotypes based on factors such as upbringing and personal experiences. 'That way, you become more open and see people for who they are, rather than who you think they are because of their skin colour, clothes, or behaviour,' she said. But the CEP is facing new challenges. Recently, DPM Teo, who is also Minister for Home Affairs, said there are plans to expand it to reach out to more young people and new immigrants. Former home affairs minister Wong Kan Seng also noted in the book that a major challenge would be to sustain interest in the CEP and fight complacency of the people. Outreach efforts must be continued with new leaders and new generations. Mr Wong added that there was a need to study how to include new citizens in it. 'We would need to understand them and help those who wish to settle here feel at home, all of which would be prerequisites to building networks of trust... We cannot afford to have new citizens living as an alien group within our society. In times of crises and emergencies, every person in support and every single bit of help we could gather, counts.' (With thanks to SPH - StraitsTimes.com) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH. 29 October 2011 Channel NewsAsia Mutual support, fortitude vital in crisesSINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean has said mutual support and fortitude are key elements that will stand Singapore in good stead, in a crisis. Speaking at a Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) event, Mr Teo said a society is more resilient when its members help one another, especially those who are less fortunate. MHA held its annual appreciation lunch on Saturday to thank its Home Team Connection partners serving on the boards, councils and committees of MHA and the Home Team departments. During the event, 53 members sitting in the Home Team's boards, councils and committees received their long service awards from Mr Teo.
Meanwhile, a book by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) studying the development of the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) was launched at the event.
"The CEP is about building social resilience and strengthening communal harmony," Mr Teo said.
The book is written by ISEAS visiting research fellow Asad-ul Iqbal Latif, a former senior writer with the Straits Times. This article is also available at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1162382/1/.html (With thanks to Channel NewsAsia - channelnewsasia.com) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Channel NewsAsia article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from CNA. 29 October 2011 XinMsn Book charting development of the Community Engagement Programme launched.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean says that in a crisis, mutual support and fortitude are key elements that will stand Singapore in good stead. Speaking at a Home Affairs Ministry event, Mr Teo said a society is more resilient when its members help one another, especially those who are less fortunate.
The Home Affairs gave out Long Service Awards to 53 members sitting in the Home Team's Boards, Councils and Committees today. Titled "Hearts of Resilience - Singapore's Community Engagement Programme", the book is published by ISEAS and written by Visiting Research Fellow Mr Asad-ul Iqbal Latif.
Prefaced by a message from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and a foreword from Mr Teo, the book features interviews with former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng, as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam. Mr Teo stressed the importance of the programme to Singapore. "The Community Engagement Programme is about building social resilience and strengthening communal harmony. We have made good progress on this front, but we must not rest on our laurels. Nurturing social resilience and communal harmony is an ongoing process, whose work can never be completed." This article is also available at http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/radio/938live/singaporenews.aspx?cp-documentid=5465170 (With thanks to XinMsn - xin.msn.com, and 938Live - http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/radio/938live/ ) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this XinMsn article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from XinMsn. 29 October 2011 Berita Harian Book on Community Engagement Programme LaunchedTranslation Haji Azman Kassim’s role in the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) is to draw up programmes to encourage our multiracial community to work together in diversity. In line with his position as chairman of Al-Huda Mosque and CEP development executive, Haji Azman has turned the mosque into a meeting point for Muslims and non-Muslims in Ulu Pandan. Over the past four years, Haji Azman has been holding iftar (breaking of fast) functions, which he opened to priests and non-Muslim neighbours, at the premises of the mosque. In fact, two years ago, he had organised a lantern festival and a Hari Raya celebration at the mosque. Concurrently, he is also involved in the CEP at the Ministry of Education (MOE), which organises various multiracial programmes in schools. As an education workshop instructor at Manjusri Secondary School, his role is to forge close multiracial ties at the school level. “In 2002, I was involved in the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC), and in the CEP over the past five years. “I draw up various multiracial engagement programmes,” said Haji Azman. It is no surprise that his contributions have been acknowledged and immortalised in a book that charts the development of the CEP over the past five years. The book will be launched at a luncheon organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel to honour its (Home Team Connection) partners serving on the Boards, Councils and Committees of MHA (and the Home Team departments). The book, entitled Hearts of Resilience – Singapore’s Community Engagement Programme, will be launched by DPM Teo Chee Hean. Published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), it is written by visiting research fellow Asad-ul Iqbal Latif. Launched on 9 Feb 2006 by PM Lee Hsien Loong, CEP aims to forge social unity and racial harmony in Singapore. Since its inception, the coordinating agencies have roped in various religious groups, ethnic-based and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), arts and business sectors, media and academia as well as trade unions and grassroots organisations. The coordinating agencies comprise the MHA and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS); MOE, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA); Ministry of Manpower (MOM); and the People’s Association (PA). Click on the link below to view the Berita Harian article (With thanks to SPH - Berita Harian) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH. 30 October 2011 Berita Harian Home Team Agencies succeed in building trustBy Adli Yashir Kuchit Translation Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Teo Chee Hean said Home Team agencies have successfully built trust and confidence among the local community in their effort to build up communal harmony and preserve national safety and security. Under the Community Engagement Programme (CEP), Home Team agencies stay connected with the public’s wants and needs, said DPM Teo. “In many countries, this trust is broken down, people don’t trust the public agencies to deal with them in a fair way. “Therefore, when that trust breaks down, when cooperation with agencies breaks down, and there is confrontation with agencies, it becomes very difficult to build up communal harmony and a safe and secure society,” he said. DPM Teo said this during an appreciation lunch organised for volunteers who have been involved in the CEP. Also present at the event held at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel yesterday was Minister of State (Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs) Masagos Zulkifli Masagos Mohamad. Some of the contributions of CEP members include providing advice and expertise across a wide range of areas from criminal law and casino regulation to road safety. “All 324 of our members have played an important part in preserving the peace and security that Singapore and Singaporeans have enjoyed for so many years,” said DPM Teo. Meanwhile, to commemorate CEP’s fifth anniversary this year, a book called Hearts of Resilience – Singapore’s Community Engagement Programme has been launched. Written by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Visiting Research Fellow Asad Latif, the book outlines the efforts of CEP practitioners and charts the development of the programme since its inception. The book carries, among other things, a message from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and an interview with former DPM Wong Kan Seng. Meanwhile, DPM Teo also presented Long Service Awards to 53 recipients during the appreciation lunch. One of the recipients was Malay Youth Literary Association (4PM) president Izzuddin Taherally who has served in the CEP for five years. He is a member of the Board of Visiting Justices, Board of Inspection and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). He has been helping the Home Team to seek ways to reduce the crime rate. “We also work towards reaching out to youth to encourage them to play a more active role in crime prevention,” said Izzuddin. Click on the link below to view the Berita Harian article (With thanks to SPH - Berita Harian) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH. 31 October 2011 Lianhe Zaobao Teo Chee Hean launches Hearts of ResilienceTranslation Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean on Oct 29 launched the book “Hearts of Resilience” which outlines the development of the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) since its launch five years ago. He hopes that the book will help Singaporeans understand the importance of the CEP. The book is written by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) visiting research fellow Asad-ul Iqbal Latif. He joined the CEP last year and subsequently recommended to the authorities that a book be written to further promote the CEP. He said, “Although Singapore is a safe country, we must always be prepared for a rainy day. The CEP strengthens cohesion among people from different racial groups and equips them with emergency preparedness skills to deal with crises.” During the event, DPM Teo also gave out long service awards to voluntary members serving on the boards, councils and committees of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Home Team departments. Click on the link below to view the Lianhe Zaobao article. (With thanks to SPH - Lianhe Zaobao.com) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH. Please click here for DPM Teo Chee Hean’s opening address at the Minister’s Appreciation Lunch cum Launch Of Book On CEP. |
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