You are on page 1of 4



&ROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQ6LQJDSRUH6KDQPXJDP6LQJDSRUH1HZV 7RS6WRULHV7KH6WUDLWV7LPHV

THE STRAITS TIMES

Collective effort needed to safeguard


racial, religious harmony in
Singapore: Shanmugam

Mr K Shanmugam (right) chatting with religious leaders at the Marina Mandarin Hotel on Jan 19, 2016. ST PHOTO:
LIM SIN THAI

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO


Walter Sim

(mailto:waltsim@sph.com.sg)

KWWSZZZVWUDLWVWLPHVFRPVLQJDSRUHFROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQVLQJDSRUHVKDQPXJDP





&ROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQ6LQJDSRUH6KDQPXJDP6LQJDSRUH1HZV 7RS6WRULHV7KH6WUDLWV7LPHV

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans must take a bigger collective effort to safeguard the racial and religious
harmony of this secular and multi-religious country, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K
Shanmugam said on Tuesday (Jan 19).
And the Government will step up measures to protect this peace, he added in a speech to over 500
religious and community leaders, academics and students.
He highlighted the growing tendency towards greater religious extremism and exclusivity in the
region in recent years, as well as the rise in sectarian strife and terrorist attacks around the world.
"Our very existence as one of the most religiously diverse, and tolerant societies in the world, where
mosques, churches and temples are situated side by side. This is unacceptable to the zealots. They
consider us infidels who ought to be exterminated," he said.
He was speaking at the opening of a two-day conference on expanding the common space between
people of various religions, organised by the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies
programme, of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Mr Shanmugam said Singapore faces four types of related threats.

Related Story
Religion has been a force for good but also used
as tool for intolerance, terror: Shanmugam

They are: direct terrorist attacks, the radicalisation of a part of the Muslim population, a section of
Singapore Muslims growing somewhat distant from the rest of society, and growing Islamophobia or distrust and intolerance towards Muslims.
The spectre of Islamophobia spreading among non-Muslim communities here is real, Mr
Shanmugam added, citing increasing reports of intolerance towards Muslims around the world.
There have already been at least two such instances here, he added.

KWWSZZZVWUDLWVWLPHVFRPVLQJDSRUHFROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQVLQJDSRUHVKDQPXJDP





&ROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQ6LQJDSRUH6KDQPXJDP6LQJDSRUH1HZV 7RS6WRULHV7KH6WUDLWV7LPHV

In September, a Malay woman was approached by a man of another race, who said the words
"suicide bomber" to her.
And in November, a week after the Paris attacks, the words "Islam murderers" were found scribbled
at a bus stop in Bukit Panjang and on a toilet seat at Jurong Point shopping mall in Boon Lay.
Such intolerant acts may be few in Singapore, but they tear at the heart of a multi-racial, multireligious society, he said.
"How our non-Muslims treat our Muslim brothers and sisters will decide what type of society we
are. And if we behave with suspicion and negativity, then our Muslim population will feel isolated.
The harmonious society that we have builtwill be at risk," he said.
"It is vital that we ask the non-Muslim communities to look squarely at themselves, their attitudes,
viewpoints. How supportive they really are or are they only being superficially, politically, correct?
Do they accept that the vast majority of our Muslim population is tolerant, positive and in every way
Singaporean? Do we accept that it is our duty to reach out, encourage, continue to build a
harmonious society where each of us, including our Muslim brothers and sisters are bonded, and
keep to the ideals of Singapore?"
He added: "It is important that we ensure that Muslims in Singapore enjoy good opportunities, that
there is no discrimination in schools, jobs, or society as a whole. Islamophobia will tear our society
apart. We have to guard against it. It is completely unacceptable."
Mr Shanmugam's speech comes against the backdrop of heightened security in the region following
last Thursday's bomb blasts in Jakarta, and other recent attacks in cities from Paris to Istanbul.
He noted that the region has become a fertile ground for terrorism.
Singapore will have to strengthen its security forces, intelligence and border controls, and people
need to realise that everyone is responsible for the country's collective security.
The Home Affairs Ministry will announce measures on this front in the next few months, he added.
He also noted that several young individuals have been radicalised, and their number is likely to
grow.
At the same time, sections of younger Muslims are holding sentiments that say Muslims should not
wish Christians Merry Christmas, or Hindus Happy Deepavali, as doing so would contradict their
faith.
If such sentiments become widespread, it will have serious long-term implications.
The Government will also not allow foreign preachers who teach such values that are contrary to
multicultural, multi-ethnic harmony into Singapore, he said.
KWWSZZZVWUDLWVWLPHVFRPVLQJDSRUHFROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQVLQJDSRUHVKDQPXJDP





&ROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQ6LQJDSRUH6KDQPXJDP6LQJDSRUH1HZV 7RS6WRULHV7KH6WUDLWV7LPHV

"We will not allow anyone, of any religion, who preaches that people of other faiths should be
shunned or that people of other faiths should be ignored," he said.
"And it is not only what he preaches in Singapore. We will also look at what he preaches outside
Singapore, because his teachings would be available online."
And it would be wrong to allow him to build up a following in Singapore, he added.
"The Government will not interfere in doctrinal matters within each religion. But the Government
has to step in to protect our racial, religious harmony," he said.
Mr Shanmugam noted that Singapore Muslims have been a successful model for others with their
moderate, respectful worldview and practices.
"The community must continue to preserve and protect their way of life despite challenges within
and without,"he added.
These include efforts to develop a Singapore Muslim identity, activities with other religious groups,
and the Religious Rehabilitation Group of scholars who counsel terror detainees.
He noted that the Government, religious leaders, and community groups have been working to
combat threats to Singapore over several years.
"But as the waves of terrorist ideology sweep the region, we have to step up even more," he said.
"The ultimate aim of terrorism is to create a sharp and violent division between 'us'and 'them'. If we
remain resolutely 'us', one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, no force can divide
us, and terrorism will be defeated," he added.

SPH Digital News / Copyright 2015 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E.
All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions| Data Protection Policy

KWWSZZZVWUDLWVWLPHVFRPVLQJDSRUHFROOHFWLYHHIIRUWQHHGHGWRVDIHJXDUGUDFLDOUHOLJLRXVKDUPRQ\LQVLQJDSRUHVKDQPXJDP



You might also like