The Opening Ceremony of the China-Singapore Religious and Cultural Exhibition 2009

By: Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports

By: Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports

At Suntec City at 7.00pm

Mr Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister,
Mr Wang Zuo An, Minister, State Administration of Religious Affairs, People's Republic of China,
Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng, President of the Inter-Religious Organisation Singapore,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. This evening marks the inaugural collaboration between the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) of Singapore and leaders of the major religious groups in China. On behalf of the organisers, I thank our Guest of Honour, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong for taking time off his busy schedule to grace this event. Let me also extend a warm welcome to our guests who have travelled from the different countries to Singapore to be part of this event.
2. In the world we live in today, there is increased interaction between people of different nationality, ethnicity, and religion. This presents a need to develop a better understanding of one another's culture and heritage. The theme for this exhibition ''Towards a Better World - Harmony, Friendship and Progress'' exemplifies such an outlook.
   
   

   The Singapore Model

3. Singapore has enjoyed racial and religious harmony for many years because of four key guiding principles. First, the Singapore Government is secular. Our policymaking is based on secular considerations. Such a system ensures that laws and public policies apply to all, regardless of race or religion.
4. Second, religion must stay separate from politics. This is critical as religious communities cannot expect to impose their religious beliefs or views on others in a political platform without leading to reactions.
5. Third, all groups must exercise tolerance and restraint. We owe a great part of our current stability to religious, ethnic and community leaders who have helped to keep the peace and extend their helping hand to all disadvantaged Singaporeans. Many of our religious organisations have set up secular social service organisations to help all Singaporeans, regardless of their race or religion. Our records show that religious organisations have set up more than 150 Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), an estimated 60% of our total VWOs.
6. Fourth, we must preserve the common space. Senior Minister had given a key speech on racial and religious harmony in 1999 when he was Prime Minister. He had explained that our society consisted of overlapping circles of communities. Each community has the freedom to practice its own culture, language and religion. At the same time, we want to maximise the common space where all the circles overlap, where people of all races and religions can interact with each other. Our social institutions such as schools, public housing, shopping malls and sports are examples of common spaces for people of different backgrounds to come together.
   
   

   Community Engagement Programme

7. One of our more recent efforts to strengthen racial and religious harmony is the Community Engagement Programme. At the national level, the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony comprises apex leaders from the various ethnic and religious groups. We meet regularly to dialogue and formulate strategies to strengthen community cohesion.
8. At the local community level, there are Inter Racial and Religious Confidence Circles which bring together leaders from religious and ethnic organisations on the ground to interact, cultivate understanding and build trust. These networks have close to 90% membership from all religious organisations in Singapore, and in 2009, have organised more than 470 interfaith and networking events.
   
   

   China/Singapore Religious and Cultural Exhibition

9. A year of preparations has gone into putting together this landmark event which brings together religious leaders from afar and Singapore to serve the same purpose of cultivating mutual understanding. I hope in the coming week, there will be sharing of experiences and making of new friends.
10. I commend the organisers on both sides for their excellent efforts in making this largest interfaith exhibition in Singapore possible. Besides promoting interfaith understanding, this event will also serve to further strengthen the people-to-people ties between China and Singapore.
11. Thank you.
    
    MCYS Speech No: 87/2009
    Date Of Issue: 15/12/2009