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Singapore marks Racial Harmony DayDate : 21 July 2008 Synopsis Read about how racial and religious harmony takes centrestage in the many events held to mark Racial Harmony Day. This is the day when we reflect on and celebrate Singapore's success as a harmonious nation built on a rich diversity of cultures. The first Racial Harmony Day was celebrated on July 21, 1997, to mark the day in 1964 when racial riots broke out in Singapore. SPEECH BY MR GOH CHOK TONG,SENIOR MINISTER, AT THE COMMEMORATIVE EVENT, ‘IN CELEBRATION OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY IN SINGAPORE', 19 JULY 2008, 9.00 AM AT THE STAMFORD GREEN, FORT CANNING PARK 1 Today’s event is simple, symbolic but meaningful. It is to plant a permanent landmark at Stamford Green to remind us of the importance of religious harmony in our lives. 2 In the aftermath of September 11, my biggest fear was its impact on religious harmony in Singapore. I feared that a terrorist act in Singapore could cause great misunderstanding and distrust between Singaporeans of different religions. Once distrust set in, the Singapore fabric could begin to tear. Fortunately, what I feared did not happen. It did not happen because we moved in quickly to engage our religious and community leaders to explain the meaning of September 11 and the aborted terrorist plot against Singapore. We explained to our people the risks to Singapore if we allowed external events to affect us. Our people understood because we have built up trust between them and the Government and between people of different faiths. Nevertheless, I took the opportunity to strengthen this trust further. I am a firm believer that in multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore, we must never take harmony for granted. In this interconnected world, external religious conflicts can have a knock-on effect on Singapore 3 So I asked Chan Soo Sen, who was then Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Community Development and Sports, to work with key religious leaders to draft a code on religious harmony for Singapore. The religious leaders formed the Inter-Religious Harmony Circle or IRHC, and after an inclusive process involving much consultation, developed the Declaration on Religious Harmony. Today, the IRHC continues to promote the spirit behind the Declaration through inter-religious projects centred on universal values shared by different religions. 4 Singaporeans, especially young Singaporeans, may not wonder at our harmonious multi-racial and multi-religious society. However, foreign visitors, who have seen religious tension and suspicions in other countries, have often expressed surprise and admiration at how well integrated the people of different races and religions are in Singapore. They are struck by how places of worship of different faiths are located side-by-side, and how religious organisations participate in each other’s major celebrations. They are amazed that people of different races and religions live peacefully in the same block and along the same corridor in public housing estates. They eat in the same food centre, sometimes on the same table, and play in the same community club. This happy state of affairs did not come about by chance. It is the result of the continuing, concerted and constructive efforts by all to nurture a harmonious society. 5 How did we achieve this? The primary reason is a fair and just government. We treat all religions with respect. We do not allow the majority to overwhelm the minority. We ensure that no one is discriminated against or disadvantaged because of his race, language or religion. 6 Our Constitution provides for the freedom to profess, practise and promote one’s religion. There are institutional and legal safeguards to ensure racial and religious harmony, for example, the Presidential Council for Minority Rights and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. Our Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system ensures that ethnic minorities will always be represented in sufficient numbers in Parliament. Through policies and practices, our different communities are well-integrated in public housing estates and in schools. Besides preventing the formation of ethnic enclaves, this provides opportunities for Singaporeans of different races and religions to mix and integrate. The efforts of the government are complemented by our religious organisations, which increasingly incorporate an inter-faith dimension within their own celebrations. They collaborate on projects which bring about greater understanding across religious communities. 7 Religion has a powerful influence on the values, attitudes and behaviours of people. Religious communities therefore play a crucial role in the stability of any society. In Singapore, we are fortunate to have responsible religious and community leaders who speak up for shared values, tolerate differences, and understand and respect diversity. I commend the IRHC, the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony, the apex religious organisations, the Inter-Religious Organisation and the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles for the good work that they have done. With advancements in information technology, irresponsible, incendiary messages can now be easily disseminated to the public through emails, blogs, discussion forums or on-line videos. We therefore need to be even more vigilant in our efforts to maintain religious harmony in Singapore. 8 Today, we are planting trees in the heart of Singapore as a symbolic act of our commitment to harmony between religions. These trees, planted close to one another, reaffirm that all of us, whatever our religions, have a place in Singapore. Like religious harmony, these trees will require delicate care and constant nurturing. They will grow strong and tall, and be an enduring symbol of our peaceful co-existence, a tribute to our religious harmony, and an inspiration for our future generations to carry on this legacy. 9 I wish all of you a pleasant day. Thank you. The Straits Times - Vital to adapt religious acts to local context: SM21 July 2008 He notes how Mid-East nations have different Islamic practices to suit history, culture, outlook By Kor Kian Beng THE many trips Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made to the Middle East in recent years have left him with one deep impression. It is the 'subtle and not-so-subtle differences' in the way Islam is practised in the Muslim countries there. For instance, women in conservative Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive. It is quite the opposite in Qatar. Yet the people in both countries are followers of Wahhabism, an austere form of Islam born in the 18th century. Mr Goh cited the two cases at an event in Geylang Serai yesterday to stress the importance of adapting religious practices to suit the context of a society. He said: 'From my visits to the Middle East, I concluded that the practice of Islam has been contextualised through history, geography, culture and outlook.' Bringing the point home, he praised Muslim leaders here for practising Islam within Singapore's multiracial and multi-religious context. At the same time, Singapore has to take into account that as a very small country, it can survive only if it is integrated into the modern world, Mr Goh told religious and community leaders at his Marine Parade GRC event. It was to mark Prophet Muhammad's birthday and Racial Harmony Day. A similar line of thinking seems to prevail in Qatar too. The country had, in the past, banned women from driving - a point Mr Goh noted when he met its ruler, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. He asked the Emir how it was resolved, and the reply he received was that 'if a daughter wants to drive and the parents allow that, she drives. The state is neutral'. Similar events to emphasise racial and religious tolerance were also held at other constituencies as the month-long celebration culminates in Racial Harmony Day today. At Serangoon North in Ang Mo Kio GRC, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans not to let external events disrupt racial harmony here. He called on them to make a special effort to ensure issues such as the controversial Danish cartoons and the Dutch film Fitna do not disrupt inter-racial harmony in the country. Citing globalisation as the cause of such rifts, he said: 'We try our best to say this is outside Singapore, don't let it affect us. But the fact is we have links with the outside world. What happens there influences how we think here.' Nodding at his words, residents such as kindergarten teacher Mary de Cruz praised leaders of Singapore's main religions for taking part in the event. Four embassies - of Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka - also accepted invitations and set up stalls at the event, where food and handmade ornaments were the main attractions. Giving them the thumbs-up, Ms de Cruz, 55, said: 'We have many foreigners living among us, and such events will help us to understand their cultures better.' PM Lee also received a $1.5 million cheque from the NTUC FairPrice Foundation. The money will pay for food vouchers to help needy families cope with the rising cost of living. In the north-east heartlands, the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC held a street parade with about 10,000 people. To mark the end of the month-long celebration in the district, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean led his fellow MPs in extinguishing a flame. (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. TODAY - Internal peace amid external strife21 July 2008
Lin Yanqin S’poreans must make effort to not let tensions elsewhere affect them: PM EVEN as Singaporeans live in a state of racial harmony in Singapore, tensions elsewhere in the world between races and religions will make their impact felt on the Republic. And when that happens, Singaporeans will need to “make a special effort” to remind themselves that they are Singaporeans and not let external strife affect them, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Making an address at racial harmony celebrations at Jalan Kayu yesterday, Mr Lee referred to the anger of Muslims worldwide sparked off by the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper as well as the release of a documentary on Islam in Holland. “These are outside trends which affect us in Singapore. We can’t help it, we try our best to say ‘this is outside Singapore, don’t let it affect us’, but we have links to the outside world — what happens there influences how we think in Singapore,” he said to an audience which included representatives from the Philippine, Indonesian, and Sri Lankan embassies and the Malaysian High Commission. It was important for Singaporeans, especially younger ones, to be more conscious of the effort behind racial harmony, he said. “For the younger ones, that’s all they have seen — that in Singapore, you may have neighbours who are of different race, you have classmates of different faiths, you serve your National Service with people of all different ethnic groups, you work together, you shop, you go to hawker centres, we all live harmoniously together,” said Mr Lee. “But this is very unique, it didn’t happen to us to us accidentally, we put a lot of effort into it, and it hasn’t happened like this in many places in the world.” Making his welcome address earlier, Member of Parliament (Ang Mo Kio GRC) Wee Siew Kim made the same point. “Most young people have no memories of the racial riots of 1964,” he said. “The younger generations take our current state of racial harmony for granted.” Many would not even know that34 people were killed and 563 injured in two outbreaks of racial riots in 1964. But Singaporeans of that era, shocked by the horror of those riots, have resolved from then on never to take racial harmony for granted. Government policies over the last40 years have been formulated taking into consideration the importance of Singapore’s multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural identity. Mr Lee, stressing that Singaporeans have to continue building a country “we all call our own”, would need to maintain and work at racial harmony. “We have to be conscious of it and make a special effort to say we are Singaporeans. Whatever the difficulties out there, let us not let that affect our relationship with our colleagues and our neighbours, with our comrades in our NS battalion, with our friends whom we have known all our lives,” he said. “We may look different, but we are all Singaporeans.” (With thanks to TODAYonline.com) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from TODAY. TODAY - A feast to strengthen the bonds 21 July 2008 OVER six hours yesterday, some 15,000 Singaporeans of all races and religions and tucked into Malay dishes in a tent next to the Geylang Serai Temporary Market. The occasion: A feast organised by community groups, including the Geylang Serai Business Community, to commemorate Prophet Mohammed’s birthday — an important religious festival celebrated by Muslims. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who shared lunch at a table with community leaders and orphans from the Jamiyah Children’s Home, said he was "heartened" to see Muslims in Geylang Serai and Kampong Ubi celebrating the occasion with neighbours of other races and religions. "In other countries, we do not see Muslims and people of other religions mixing so easily," he said. "Here, we organise these activities to promote inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony." Travelling widely across the Middle East for the past two years with the aim of expanding Singapore’s economic space and building diplomatic ties, Mr Goh said he learnt from various countries that Islam has to be practiced in the particular context of the society. Across the Middle East, the practice of Islam has been contextualised through history, geography, culture and outlook, noted the Senior Minister. In Singapore, Mr Goh said the practice of religions "must also suit the context of a multi-racial and multi-religious" society, which has to take into account that "Singapore is a very small country which can only survive if it is integrated into the modern world". "Our underlying tenet of tolerance and respect for other people’s religions, while peacefully practising our own has brought us harmony, stability and progress. Let us keep it that way," he said. Yesterday, Singaporeans from all walks shared in the helpings of nasi briyani and traditional Malay cakes. Retiree Margaret Ho Choo Hong, who lives at nearby Haig Road, turned up with her neighbours for the lunch. The 69-yearold told Today she was very happy as the lunch allowed her a chance to share the celebration with others. Also treated to free meals were residents of homes for the elderly and orphans from the Jamiyah Children’s Home, as well as the needy from other volunteer welfare organisations. Mr Goh said he was "very happy" to see the disadvantaged being invited to the gathering and were being looked after by the Muslim community. Citing Prophet Mohammed’s teachings of sharing, caring and compassion, Mr Goh said the same could apply across all religions here. "Especially in Singapore, we believe in that — looking after our neighbours who are hungry," said Mr Goh. (With thanks to TODAYonline.com) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from TODAY. The New Paper - Work on racial harmony is not done 21 July 2008 SINGAPORE should guard against the influence caused by racial and religious tensions around the world, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said as the country celebrates Racial Harmony Month. Speaking at an event in Jalan Kayu yesterday, Mr Lee described the country’s efforts on racial harmony as “work unfinished”. He said that the harmony Singapore enjoys is unique to the country and not seen in many places around the world. And he cautioned against letting events in other countries affect it. “So these are outside trends which happen outside Singapore, we can’t help it. We try our best to say this is outside Singapore, don’t let it affect us. But the fact is, we have links with the outside world and what happens there influences how we think in Singapore. “We have to be conscious of this and make a special effort to say, ‘We are Singaporeans. Whatever the difficulties elsewhere, let not that affect my relations with my colleagues, with my neighbours, with my comrades, with my NS battalion, with my friends whom I have known all my life’.” At event, Mr Lee was presented with a $1.5 million cheque from the NTUC FairPrice Foundation, a charity under the supermarket chain. It will distribute that amount in the form of food vouchers through grassroots and welfare organisations, to help needy families cope with rising costs. (With thanks to TheNewPaper) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH. The New Paper - More interaction to strengthen ties 21 July 2008 SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong encourages non-Muslims to reciprocate the Muslim community’s gesture of sharing important celebrations with neighbours of other races and religions, by also uniting Muslims to some of their religions, by also inviting Muslims to some of their religious festivities where appropriate. “Such interaction will help promote inter-racial and religious understanding and strengthen national cohesion,” he said. “It also inoculates us against the spillover effects of religious and racial conflicts outside Singapore.” He was speaking at a lunch to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in Geylang Serai yesterday. (With thanks to TheNewPaper) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH. My Paper - SM Goh stresses value of racial and religious tolerance 21 July 2008 Click on the link below to view the My Paper article (in English) (With thanks to My Paper - MyPaper.sg) Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH. Berita Harian - SM Goh: Amal agama ikut konteks 21 July 2008 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. Lianhe Zaobao - 李显龙总理。。 国人要加倍珍惜种族与宗教和谐社会资本 21 July 2008 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. Tamil Murasu - Work on religious harmony still not complete: PM 21 July 2008 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. Berita Minggu - Kemajuan IT tuntut kita lebih waspada - SM Goh 20 July 2008 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. Lianhe Zaobao - 为种族和谐树榜样 20 July 2008 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. Tamil Murasu - Achieving racial harmony 20 July 2008 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. The Straits Times - A place in Singapore for all religions20 July 2008 SM gives credit to religious leaders and Government for 'happy state of affairs' By Goh Chin Lian One feature of Singaporean living often takes visitors by surprise. It is the sight of temples, mosques and churches standing side by side, and people of different races living in the same HDB block. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made this observation yesterday when he led 120 religious and community leaders in celebrating religious harmony in Singapore. This 'happy state of affairs' did not happen by chance but through the continual efforts of everyone, he said, before giving the leaders a pat on the back. 'We are fortunate to have responsible religious and community leaders who speak up for shared values, tolerate differences, and understand and respect diversity,' he said. Later, in a symbolic act of commitment to religious harmony, he and the religious leaders planted eight trees at the new Stamford Road entrance to Fort Canning Park. Mr Goh noted that the sturdy Kayu Arang trees, planted close to one another, reaffirm that 'all of us, whatever our religions, have a place in Singapore'. Like the trees, religious harmony needs 'delicate care and constant nurturing', he added. In his speech, he also dwelt on the Government's role in fostering harmonious ties, giving credit to the way it runs Singapore. The Government, he said, is fair and just, treats all religions with respect, and integrates the races through its policies and practices in public housing and education. Yesterday's event was one of many held islandwide to celebrate racial harmony. Some 490 Tampines GRC residents formed the word 'unity' at Tampines Stadium while East Coast GRC residents took part in a quiz on traditions. These demonstrations of harmony struck a chord with Mr Rustom Ghadiali, president of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), which represents the 10 main faiths here. Referring to himself, a Zoroastrian, he said: 'I'm in the smallest community with 200 people here. Yet, I'm president of the IRO.' Student Peta Yang, 20, who leads an inter-faith interest group at the National University of Singapore, said more can be done to raise awareness of different religions: 'The campus has many idealistic young people. It is at this most impressionable age that they make their life choices.' (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. |
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