Date : 13 January 2009
Synopsis
…the founders of IRO had wise foresight - they knew that in a diverse society, we need dialogue and face-to-face interaction to build trust. This is especially so with the young, the new generations which grow up in society. It is also especially the case with newcomers to the Singapore family." said DPM Wong at the 60th anniversary of the IRO.
SPEECH BY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS MR WONG KAN SENG AT THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTER-RELIGIOUS ORGANISATION (IRO) ON MONDAY 12 JANUARY 2009, AT 7.45 PM AT THE RAFFLES TOWN CLUB
I am very happy to be here with you this evening, to share in the celebration of the 60th year of the Inter-Religious Organisation or the IRO.
The IRO - demonstrating the value of dialogue and interaction across religious groups
2 When visitors think about Singapore, one of the things they remember is how different religious communities live peacefully as one people. This is not something in the DNA of Singapore. It is the effort of purposive and determined cultivation and is maintained by disciplined vigilance against anything that threatens it. When people think of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore or IRO, they associate it with this ethnic harmony that has prevailed for so many years in Singapore. And rightly so.
3 The IRO is the only inter-faith non-governmental organisational (or NGO) in Singapore for promoting peace and harmony among the various religions. During its public launch at the Victoria Memorial Hall in March 1949, a multi-religious audience witnessed speakers from the
Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Christian religions affirm their commitment to inter-faith endeavours.
Zoroastrian members were admitted in 1961 whilst Taoist and Baha’i members were admitted in 1996. The Jain members joined in 2005. Today, the IRO has members from ten different religions namely:
Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Taoist, Jain, Christian, Muslim, Sikh and the Baha’i Faith.
4 Indeed, the founders of IRO had wise foresight - they knew that in a diverse society, we need dialogue and face-to-face interaction to build trust. This is especially so with the young, the new generations which grow up in society. It is also especially the case with newcomers to the Singapore family.
Everyone, new or old, must learn to embrace diversity for we are a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural society.
Inter-faith Dialogue and Activities is critical in our current security situation
5 Over the years, the IRO has kept up its mandate of promoting inter-religious understanding, peace and goodwill in our country. Members of its constituent inter-faith groups participate in public campaigns and engage in voluntary work in programmes for the disadvantaged young, the needy and the elderly in the community.
6 The IRO has also been promoting inter-faith dialogue as an important way for people of different religions to engage each other, and build mutual trust and understanding. As part of building awareness and understanding, the IRO has also been conducting seminars and public talks, and publishing books on religious customs and practices.
7 This endeavour of inter-faith dialogue and communication is critical in our current security climate. We should remember that ultimately the real casualty of terrorism and extremism is the erosion of trust and cohesion between religious communities within the society. The IRO and its members who are leaders in their respective communities set a bold and powerful example for others to follow in inter-faith dialogue and mutual understanding.
Communal Harmony – founded on trust in the impartiality of the system and the authorities
8 Communal harmony is an ideal that we have all worked hard at to preserve since our last major race riots in 1964. This is an ideal that must always be non-negotiable. Today, all of us are the beneficiaries of the work that generations before us have committed themselves to, at healing the scars of ethnic conflict in our early years and staying true to the cause of ethnic harmony and communal peace.
9 Although relations between our ethnic groups are good, we know it would be naive to imagine that this means we are immune to extremism and bigotry. That is why the Government continues to take a serious stand on all who purvey extremist or seditious views or actions over race and religion. And we will continue to do so.
10 The robustness of the Government’s response and its clear message that we will not tolerate extremism from any group is the reason why groups exercise restraint even when they encounter provocation, often from occurrences outside Singapore or on the Internet.
11 The fact is that when it comes to matters of race and religion, this Government is a worrier and takes nothing for granted. It is precisely because we have good communal relations that we decided to focus on tapping this social capital to grow it even more strongly. The best time to grow stronger is when you are healthy and not when you are already sick and frail.
12 This is the reason why the Government inititated the Community Engagement Programme which many of you are involved in. We want to build from bottom-up, self-sustaining networks of trust between people, organizations and communities. This will strengthen our social resilience which will be tested in troubled times.
The IRO - A Diverse Community United
13 It is encouraging that the IRO is not only 60 years old but that it has grown from strength to strength over that period.
14 The IRO as an organisation has become both a symbol and a working reality of religious harmony. The first President of the IRO, Reverend Dr H B Ametutz, expressed this mostly aptly when referring to the members of different faiths in the organization, he observed that through the IRO, we were "no longer strangers and enemies, but pilgrims on a common road seeking common goals".
15 I would like to place on record the Government’s appreciation of the contributions of the IRO and its members over the many years. They have helped to preserve and enhance the ethnic harmony which Singapore has come to showcase as one of its most valuable and precious feature.
May I also wish the IRO many good years ahead!
Thank you.
13 January 2009
DPM Wong praises IRO for efforts to unite diverse society
By Goh Chin Lian
THE founders of Singapore's only inter-faith non-governmental organisation were praised by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng yesterday for their foresight in establishing the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) 60 years ago.
In doing so, they recognised the importance of dialogue and face- to-face interaction in building trust in a diverse society, Mr Wong said. The young generation and new immigrants can take a leaf from their book on how to embrace diversity, he added.
Mr Wong reminded more than 280 representatives of religious groups and the diplomatic corps that the way various religious communities live peacefully together here did not happen by chance.
'This is not something in the DNA of Singapore. It is the effort of purposive and determined cultivation and is maintained by disciplined vigilance against anything that threatens it,' he said at the IRO's 60th anniversary dinner.
He said the Government is a 'worrier' that takes nothing for granted on matters of race and religion. Hence, it started the Community Engagement Programme in 2006 to build up ties among leaders across communities. This is also seen in the Government taking a serious stand against all who purvey extremist or seditious views.
'The robustness of the Government's response and its clear message that we will not tolerate extremism from any group is the reason why groups exercise restraint even when they encounter provocation, often from occurrences outside Singapore or on the Internet.'
Mr Wong also paid tribute to the IRO, which represents 10 religions: Buddhism, the Baha'i faith, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism and Zoroastrianism.
He put on record its work in promoting inter-religious understanding. IRO members who are leaders in their communities, he said, 'set a bold and powerful example for others to follow in inter-faith dialogue and mutual understanding'.
One of the IRO's priorities this year is to strengthen its work among youth, its president Rustom Ghadiali told The Straits Times. He identified about half a dozen committed youth below age 30 who will form the core of its youth wing.
Another platform is its new website, which has drawn queries about the beliefs of Muslims, Buddhists and Christians, and what religious groups say about the death sentence or being vegetarian.
While there are no specific efforts to reach new immigrants, Mr Ghadiali said some Hindus from India and Bangladesh have attended the IRO's talks on religion.
Mr Chung Kwang Tong, secretary-general of the Taoist Federation Youth Group, believes in engaging youth leaders of religious groups through dialogues and visits to places of worship. 'It's good to let them interact when they are young. When they are older and assume leadership positions, they will know the importance of working with other religious organisations,' said the 24-year-old.
(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.
The Straits Times - Honoured for building trust
13 January 2009
WHEN Venerable Chao Khun was growing up in southern Thailand, his neighbours were mainly Muslims. This contact with other faiths continued when he came here in his 30s and later joined the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO).
Last night, the chief abbot of Wat Ananda temple in Bukit Merah received the IRO Award for promoting trust among people of different faiths and ethnicities.
'His calm nature and pleasant personality won him the trust, respect and affection of his inter-faith colleagues,' the IRO said, in a citation read out at its 60th anniversary dinner yesterday.
Venerable Chao Khun, 79, said that as a young monk in Songkhla province, he attended weddings at the invitation of Muslim religious leaders. They visited one another and shared meals.
In his past 23 years with the IRO, he has given guidance at key IRO events and was a regular member of its prayer team. He also invites IRO members to his temple for an annual feast of durians from his hometown.
'This allows us to make friends,' he said.
GOH CHIN LIAN
(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.
The New Paper - Govt won't take race, religious matters for granted
13 January 2009
THE Government is a 'worrier' which takes nothing for granted when it comes to matters of race and religion.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said this is why it started the Community Engagement Programme in 2006 and is also seen in the Government taking a serious stand on all who purvey extremist or seditious views, or actions.
Mr Wong, who is Home Affairs Minister too, was speaking at a dinner reception at the Raffles Town Club to mark the Inter-Religious Organisation's (IRQ) 60th anniversary. He praised the IRQ for setting"... a bold and powerful example for others to follow in inter-faith dialogue and mutual understanding".
(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.