Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo at the Youth for Peace Interfaith Symposium, 16 March 2008

WORKING FOR PEACE

Religious Diversity in Singapore

1 In August last year, the Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple shifted to a new location in Changi. At the stroke of midnight, the big Tua Pek Kong statue, together with other deities from the same temple, was installed on the new altar. It was a big effort and I marvelled at the skill of the forklift drivers who manoeuvred everything into position with utmost precision. We were all so worried that there could be an accident. At about 1am, a statue of Ganesha was also wheeled in. The old Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple by the sea had, in addition to the Chinese temple, two other shrines on the side, one a Ganesha shrine and the other believed to be the grave of a Muslim holy man or Datuk. It was therefore not only the Taoist deities which were transported to the new temple but also Ganesha and the gravestones of the Datuk. In fact, the Ganesha shrine is now a Hindu temple within a Taoist temple. When Ganesha was brought in that night, along the way, it stopped and turned 90 degrees to face Tua Pek Kong, one deity acknowledging another, before proceeding to its final destination. One Chinese devotee remarked to me that the combination of Tua Pek Kong and Ganesha was powerful indeed.

2 Hindus, Taoists and Buddhists in Singapore are generally quite relaxed about the mixing of religions. Christians and Muslims in contrast are not so comfortable because their beliefs are exclusive. Many Muslims would not approve of a Muslim grave being located in a Chinese temple, so, in the case of Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple, only the gravestones were brought across, not the remains of the Datuk. On Kusu Island, Taoist devotees who visit the temple on the island in large numbers every year also stop by to say prayers at a Muslim keramat (grave) up on a hill nearby. Chinese praying at the graves of Muslim holy men is an old tradition in Southeast Asia going back centuries.

3 We take the religious diversity in Singapore for granted. We are completely mixed in our neighbourhoods, in school and the workplace. It is not uncommon for temples, mosques and churches to be located side by side. Are there problems? Yes, of course, all the time, but we solve them in a practical way so that everyone has his own space to worship and carry out his religious activities. Everyone has to compromise a little.

4 But we must not assume that the religious harmony we enjoy is a natural state of affairs. In many parts of the world, religious strife tears countries apart. Such conflicts can easily occur in Singapore too if we are not careful. To keep the peace, we must keep working at it both top-down and bottom-up.

Role of Government

5 The Government's role is absolutely important. Whatever our individual beliefs, we must always make sure that the state is secular, guaranteeing the freedom of all religions. The laws we enact must take into account the interest of Singaporeans as a whole and not just those of a particular religious group. Without the Government of Singapore acting fairly in religious matters, and being seen always to be fair, the religious harmony we often take for granted here would not be possible.

6 From time to time, the Government must act to defuse conflicts. For example, inflammatory films or publications may have to be proscribed or censored. It would not have been wise to allow publication of Danish cartoons of Prophet Muhammad here in Singapore even though we know they could always be accessed on the Internet. When pictures of Jesus Christ were put on the floor of MRT stations as advertisements for the movie Da Vinci Code, LTA had to step in even though the film itself was not banned. Some years ago, Taoist joss sticks grew bigger and bigger until the Government intervened. More recently, the requirement that all food in a school tuck-shop be halal became an issue which the Education Ministry had to sort out.

7 While individual Singaporeans might complain about particular actions taken by the Government, on the whole, they know that the Government tries to be fair and even-handed.

Role of Religious Leaders

8 Religious leaders also play a critical role. Whenever possible, the Government consults religious leaders so that whatever action that has to be taken is reasonable and not perceived as arbitrary or high-handed. Religious leaders sit on the Presidential Council of Minority Rights and on the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. Whenever conflicts arise, their views are sought. Years ago, Muslim religious leaders agreed with MM Lee Kuan Yew to lower the volume of loudspeakers calling the faithful to prayer by having the calls broadcast on Malay radio station instead.

9 Among themselves, religious leaders meet regularly. Many have become close friends. Sometimes, they cooperate on projects to solve or to forestall problems. The invitation to me as Guest-of-Honour for today's event, for example, came through Habib Hassan of Ba'Alwi Mosque. Sometimes, they pray together, as they did for the victims of September 11 and the Boxing Day tsunami.

10 When problems suddenly arise, they are able to contact one another directly. When Pope Benedict XVI made remarks about Islam that could cause misunderstanding with Muslims in September 2006, Catholic leaders in Singapore immediately reached out to Muslim leaders soothing ruffled feathers. That was helpful.

11 Over the years, the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) has played a vital role. Established in 1949, it is now composed of the ten most important religious groups in Singapore. On important events, like the commissioning of SAF officers, representatives in the IRO turn up to give their blessings. I would describe the IRO as one of Singapore's most precious social assets.

Islam and Christianity

12 The ten religions represented in the IRO are Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, the Ba'hai faith and Jainism. Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism and the Ba'hai faith are relatively inclusive in their beliefs. Sikhism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Jainism are relatively small communities which do not seek to proselytize. In contrast to the other eight, Islam and Christianity are relatively exclusive and proselytizing. That presents a special challenge not only to Singapore but to many other countries as well.

13 The interaction between Islam and Christianity over the centuries has been a troubled and difficult one, and is a major source of tension in the world today. Memories of the crusades still run deep. Terrorism has complicated this conflict further. The reasons are complex with long roots in history. September 11 forced religious leaders on both sides to look hard at each other's positions, wondering whether any reconciliation is possible. In Singapore, September 11 and the discovery of the JI (Jemaah Islamiyah) network encouraged Muslim and Christian leaders to reach out to each other.

14 We are beginning to see Muslim and Christian leaders reaching out to each other on the global stage. In October last year, more than 100 senior Muslim leaders from around the world, Sunni and Shiite, sent an extraordinary letter to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders proposing theological similarities as a basis for peace and understanding. "Finding common ground between Muslims and Christians is not simply a matter for polite ecumenical dialogue between selected religious leaders," they said, stressing that "if Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace." "As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is not against them - so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of theirs homes." In that letter, Muslim leaders declared that "the basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of the One God, and love of the neighbour."

15 Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury immediately "welcomed the letter as a clear reaffirmation of the potential for further developing of existing dialogue and common action between Christians and Muslims and other faith communities." The Vatican responded positively too and, less than two weeks ago, following discussions between senior Catholic and Muslim figures in the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI gave his approval to the creation of a permanent Catholic-Muslim interfaith forum that will hold its inaugural meeting this November in Rome. As proposed by Muslim leaders, the theme of the first meeting which the Pope will attend is "love of God, love of neighbour". The second meeting will held in a Muslim country in 2010. Such outreach among religious groups is very necessary.

Accepting Diversity

16 Instructing the young to be tolerant of diversity is crucial. Religious differences are deep differences; they are not superficial and cannot be easily bridged. Any religious group when threatened can react violently. If we do not tolerate diversity in our daily lives in Singapore, our social fabric will be torn apart.

17 This tolerance has to be based on mutual understanding and regard. Our common humanity should be the platform where we meet. Whatever our race or religion, we are all human beings, each with his own dignity and autonomy. Daisaku Ikeda, the President of Soka Gakkai International, has dedicated his life to the promotion of interfaith harmony, building what he calls "infrastructures of peace".

18 I thank the Singapore Soka Association for organising this Peace Interfaith Symposium for youths. It is not enough for religious leaders to meet. We need our youths to reach out to one another so that they can together build Singapore's infrastructure of peace.

19 To the youths who are here this afternoon, I hope you will express your views freely and frankly during the Symposium. Speak from your hearts about your fears and hopes and listen to each other with respect and affection. Whatever we do or say, however, disputes and conflicts can suddenly arise - that is to be expected. But we will be able to overcome them so long as we remember that we are fellow human beings and that Singapore is our common home.
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