MFA Press Statement: SMS Zainul Abidin Rasheed Attends "Nusantara Adilfitri" in Dubai, 9 Oct 09

Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed attended the Hari Raya function "Nusantara Aidilfitri" in Dubai as the Guest of Honour on 9 October 2009. Held at the Dubai Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, the event featured traditional Malay cultural performances by various communities across South East Asia. "Nusantara Aidilfitri" was organised by the Singapore Muslim Group (SMG). About 500 Singaporeans, Malaysians, Indonesians, and locals attended the event.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
10 OCTOBER 2009
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SPEECH BY ZAINUL ABIDIN RASHEED,
SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
AT "NUSANTARA AIDILFITRI"
ON FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER 2009

Good evening. It is my honour to be invited to Dubai today for "Nusantara Aidilfitri" by the Singapore Muslim Group (SMG). I am delighted to see so many fellow Singaporeans, Malaysians and Indonesians gathered here this evening to celebrate Eid Fitr or Hari Raya. I wish you all Eid Mubarak, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir Batin.

We are celebrating Hari Raya this year amidst a Global Economic Crisis the magnitude of which has not been witnessed since the Great Depression. As a member of the global economy, Singapore has not been unaffected. In January, it was reported that our exports went down by a third, and manufacturing had declined sharply. However, instead of resigning ourselves to fate, Singaporeans united to tackle the crisis. Our government stepped in quickly to mitigate the effects of the crisis on economy, and helped Singaporeans who had suffered as a result of the downturn. We brought the Budget forward to January, implemented the Resilience Package, and drew on past reserves to help fund the Special Risk Sharing Initiative and Jobs Credit. By all measures, Singapore has responded well and there are signs that the worst may be over. However let us be mindful that just as no one was able to predict this downturn, it would not be wise for us to predict its end.

In spite of the economic downturn, our efforts to reach out to Overseas Singaporeans will continue. Regardless of the economic situation, we will not neglect Overseas Singaporeans as they are part of the larger Singapore family, and an integral part of our society. In 2006, we established the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) to help Overseas Singaporeans connect with one another easily, and remain informed and in touch with developments back home. Each year since 2006, we have held the "Singapore Day" event in cities around the world, featuring local cuisine, artists and performances for Overseas Singaporeans to get a taste of home. The latest "Singapore Day" was held in London in April this year, and registered a record turnout of 12,000 people. While "Singapore Day" has not yet made its debut in the Middle East, Dubai has been host to another international Singaporean cultural event, the "Singapore Encore". As some of you may be aware, the "Singapore Encore", which was organised jointly by the Singapore International Foundation and the Singapore Consulate-General in Dubai, was held at the Atlantis Hotel in April this year. These events are all part of the governments efforts to reach out to Singaporeans abroad. Our hope is to create a "home away from home", with supporting initiatives to enable our Overseas Singaporean Diaspora to bond and network among themselves, and remain connected to Singapore.

It heartens me to see that despite the downturn, many Singaporean Malays have adopted an entrepreneurial spirit by coming to the Gulf region to explore business and work opportunities. This is truly commendable and should be encouraged. However, while you are overseas you should stay abreast of developments back home and keep in regular touch with family and friends in Singapore. One way of staying connected is by joining the various Singapore events organised by our Missions abroad and in gatherings such as this organised by the Singapore Muslim Group in Dubai. In this way, we hope that when some of you do return home, it would be a seamless transition and you will continue to contribute meaningfully to our society as you are doing here. The spirit of community has always been the cornerstone of our Malay culture, and has contributed towards the building of a rich heritage that we should rightly be proud of.

Over the past few decades, we have achieved much. More Malay students are studying science and technology in polytechnics and universities, and we now regularly read reports in the media about Malay/Muslim students from diverse backgrounds excelling in their studies. The community has progressed with Singapore. We have seen some families go in one generation from poorly educated parents doing unskilled jobs, to children who are professionals like doctors, scientists, and engineers. Many others have also taken full advantage of the opportunities, excelling in business, public service, sports, and the arts. Beyond better education and employment prospects, we also see many young Malays lending their support and talents to a wide range of organisations and causes. Some volunteer with the community, while others participate in activities that build inter-faith bridges or contribute to charitable causes overseas.

In our religious life, the Malay/Muslim community has also demonstrated vibrancy, dynamism, and tolerance. We manifest our convictions not merely through rituals but action. We bring the spirit and compassion of Rahmatan Lil Alamin - being a blessing to all. Over the blessed month of Ramadan, our programmes reached out to the needy - whether or not the beneficiaries were Muslim. Our sincere efforts have given us greater confidence in our identity, and better recognition of our community in Singapore, in the region and beyond.

Malay/Muslims play an integral part of the Singapore story. So too, do Malay Singaporeans living and working abroad, as part of the greater overseas Singapore community. I am heartened to note that the SMG is doing a good job in reaching out to Overseas Singaporeans in Dubai. I'm told that the SMG recently organised an Iftar during Ramadan where non-Muslim Singaporeans were invited to join in the "buka puasa" meal and given a presentation on the significance on fasting in Islam. Similarly, in organising this "Nusantara Aidilfitri" which is open to all Singaporeans to come and celebrate Hari Raya together, the SMG is playing an important role in fostering a closely-knit Singaporean community here. Given our small numbers, it is crucial that Singaporeans, wherever they are, help each other and work as one cohesive group, which is a hallmark of our multiracial society.

I wish you all a wonderful evening. Thank you.

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