Peace & Harmony Dialogue

Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, at Harmony Circle’s Peace & Harmony Dialogue on 26 October 2024

Religious and community leaders
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Good afternoon.

1. This is really an important occasion and I’m very grateful for your attendance. I thank the Harmony Circles for organising this meaningful event.
2. This afternoon’s Dialogue touches on two very important topics – Peace and Harmony.
3. Earlier, we witnessed our religious leaders from various faiths standing side-by-side to pray for peace. It was an expression of our shared humanity, and collective desire for peace. It is also a unique and special occasion in Singapore, rarely seen in other parts of the world.
4. This desire for peace is especially heartfelt during these troubled times.
1. Two serious wars rage in Ukraine and the Middle East, with other potential flashpoints around the world.
2. At present, there is no clear end to the conflict in the Middle East, and new battle fronts have opened in the past month.
5. Many Singaporeans, including many of us here, are concerned and care very deeply about the developments.
1. It is heartbreaking to hear of innocent lives being lost, including women, children and the elderly, regardless of where they live in the conflict zone.
2. Lives and livelihoods are affected as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, accompanied by widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.
3. We have seen the depth of emotions expressed in person and online, and we empathise with the suffering of the victims.
6. This war has had a profoundly adverse impact on common humanity. The origins of the conflict, which have been long-standing and deep-rooted, have sometimes caused those involved to forget that ordinary, but very precious, human lives are at stake.
7. Civilians, amongst whom are women and children, have suffered atrociously, in this conflict.

Singapore’s Contribution to Building Peace

8. The Government is deeply concerned by this situation.
9. Let us be clear – what is happening in Gaza today is more than just a military war. It is a deep humanitarian crisis.
10. The Government condemns all attacks on civilians.
11. In addition, we support an immediate ceasefire as well as an unconditional and safe release of all hostages. There must also be unhindered humanitarian access.
12. We also reiterate our call for all sides to comply fully with international law, including international humanitarian law.
13. Singapore’s position on this has been long-standing, clear and consistent.
14. We view the Israeli settlements as illegal, under international law.
15. So this is an issue that first has to be resolved.
1. Because these settlements have made it much harder to arrive at a viable two-state solution.
16. Singapore has therefore consistently voted in support of UN General Assembly resolutions that reject Israeli settlement activities.
1. And also called upon Israel to rescind all unilateral measures that have been taken to change the status of Jerusalem.
17. We also believe that a directly negotiated two-state solution is the most viable pathway towards a comprehensive, just and most importantly, given the longstanding nature of this dispute, a sustainable solution - one that enjoys long lasting benefits for a period of time.
1. This is something that the parties themselves must understand and embrace.
18. In the meantime, we do our best to support the enforcement of international rule of law.
1. And continue to assist in humanitarian relief.
19. Our stand has always been principled and based on our national interests, which are always paramount. This is also why we are seen as a credible, trusted partner, because we stand not on sides but on principles.
1. We are committed to consistent and constructive actions to help people in need.
2. Because of this position, we can quickly deliver humanitarian assistance to the affected communities through partners such as Egypt, Jordan, the UAE and Cyprus.
20. We have been engaging and will continue to engage with the Palestinian Authority. Singapore has committed to a S$10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package to help the Palestinian Authority prepare for eventual statehood.
1. Singapore has trained more than 750 Palestinian officials¹ in critical areas, that will help them when they get back on their feet towards statehood, such as water management, economic management, and urban planning.
2. We also provide fully funded scholarships for Palestinian officials to postgraduate studies in our local universities².
21. But beyond what we’re doing as a country, it is particularly heartwarming to see how everyday Singaporeans take it in their strides, and through their own purpose and abilities, contribute on the ground – in big and small ways, as individuals and as communities.

Small Nation, Big Heart

22. Over the past year, many Singaporeans across different faiths have come forward, with a singular desire to help the victims of conflict in whatever way possible.
1. Singaporeans contributed to fundraising efforts such as those by Humanity Matters, Mercy Relief, the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) and the Singapore Red Cross.
2. Millions of dollars in donations and humanitarian aid have been raised since the start of the conflict. Our RSAF pilots, regardless of race or religion, carried out high-risk airdrop operations to deliver food and aid in the critical areas.
3. Earlier this month, the Racial and Religious Harmony Circle embarked on another round of fundraising, aptly called the “Harmony in Action” campaign, in partnership with the RLAF.
4. The Singapore Red Cross has also launched a new fundraising campaign for Lebanon as well
23. It has been heartwarming to see Singaporeans taking efforts to make a difference to the humanitarian situation:
1. Not just giving financially
2. But to come out of their comfort zone to pack and contribute supplies
3. And in their own ways, pray for peace.
24. Many Singaporeans continue to express a desire to contribute and want to know how you can help. We encourage Singaporeans to give to charities with an approved Foreign Charitable Purposes permit granted by the Commissioner of Charities.
1. Charities such as Mercy Relief, RLAF, Singapore Red Cross and World Vision International.
2. This ensures donations are safeguarded through good governance, and channelled to the intended purposes.
25. Together, we demonstrate that Singapore may be a small nation, but we are a nation of very big hearts.

Peace and Harmony for a Cohesive Singapore

26. But even as we hope for peace, let us also take the extra effort to safeguard our harmony.
1. Elsewhere in the world, differences in views have led to tensions and divisions in society.
2. In some cases, the groundswell of opinions has spilled out into violence, and toxic clashes in person and on social media.
27. I think we all share a common belief and desire not to allow this to happen in Singapore, or worse, to take root. We pride ourselves and we’ve been enjoying our multicultural, interfaith harmony – it is deeply precious, but also vulnerable, one that we cannot take for granted.
1. We have put in place laws, policies and structures that foster racial and religious harmony and gather strength in diversity.
2. The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act sets clear parameters against hate speech and derogative comments.
3. At the grassroots level, our Racial and Religious Harmony Circle working on the ground build friendships, trust and strengthen harmony, and help us, most importantly to grow our common space.
4. Where this conflict is concerned, we hear Singaporeans’ request for safe spaces to express their shared feelings, and how we can respond together as a society.
28. I have spoken before about how religious harmony is of existential importance to Singapore. This bears repeating.
1. We are one of the world’s most religiously diverse countries. Yet our levels of tolerance, harmony, understanding and acceptance remain very high. We bucked the trend in many ways. This didn’t happen by chance. It worked because everyone of us made it a constant focus of our lives.
2. Religion is an important part of life for many Singaporeans. The open, accepting, and respectful atmosphere we have conscientiously and over many decades, built up allows us to get along with other fellow Singaporeans of different religions.
3. From young, we have grown up comfortable with friends and family of different religions and backgrounds. We went to school and played team sports, share our lives over meals, attend each other’s festivities, weddings and major life events. For the men, we were bonded together during National Service, through good and tough times.
4. We have forged a common identity, our sense of strength, our sense of cohesion, and our sense of being Singaporean.
5. So to me, Singapore is, and must remain, a place where people can practice their own faith while living in peace and harmony with others of different faiths.
29. Pope Francis, during his visit to Singapore last month, remarked that Singapore had a “strong inter-religious culture”.
1. His delegation could see how our places of worship were located next to each other, and Singaporeans of all backgrounds interacted freely in our common spaces – not a space defined for one religion or another, that noone else can attend, but enlarging the common spaces so that more of us from different faiths and backgrounds can come together and enjoy each other’s company.
2. Notably, he observed that the inter-religious meeting with Singapore youth was a “model of fraternity”.
30. All of us have worked tirelessly to achieve this, with choice, conviction, and commitment.
1. I understand that each of us may have different views of the conflict. Like members of the family, we may have our differences. But at the end of the day, we express our love for each other and come together for common objectives.
2. But we must not let external events undermine the unity and trust we have. The IRO prayer just now expressed this. Events outside Singapore can have a strong impact on what happens in Singapore. It can break our trusts and undermine our unity. It can affect us deeply, and we must always be conscious of it.
3. Indeed, if we allow differences to divide us, and if we stop befriending one another, stop hearing one another, stop opening our minds and hearts to one another, it would be a dark day for Singapore.
4. If we are individually cloistered in our own faith and culture, we will be much poorer as a country.
31. This is why dialogues like the one we have today are so important.
1. Through dialogue, we learn to see issues from the viewpoint of others who may have different beliefs, backgrounds and perspectives from us. Through dialogue, we can see where our fellow brothers and sisters come from.
2. We develop empathy and build trust.
3. We may not have immediate solutions to the big challenges, but we can start with conversations anchored on civility, curiosity, and respect, bound by a common desire to seek peace.
32. I end my speech by recalling that when the conflict in the Middle East first broke out more than a year ago, Mufti Ustaz Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir and Chief Rabbi Mordechai Abergel publicly exchanged letters. They recognised that the conflict in the Middle East could cause tensions between the Muslim and Jewish communities in Singapore.
1. What was most important to them was to ensure that events elsewhere do not hurt our own harmony in Singapore. It was a simple gesture, but so powerful.
2. And I want to leave this question with you, how many other places in the world, could something like this have been done? I think in our hearts, we all know the answer, and we know how precious that occasion was.
3. Coming together, they affirmed the bonds of trust and friendship between their communities;
4. And reminded us to protect the delicate and peaceful co-existence of communities here, so that Singapore remains a model of religious tolerance and respect throughout the world.
5. And I thank them very much. They are leaders of their own faith with deep conviction, who also see the tremendous value in building harmony, especially interfaith harmony – strengthening cohesion, enhancing common spaces and deepening empathy. This is what keeps Singapore strong. When we talk about a peaceful, multi-racial, multi-religious, interfaith peace and harmony, this is what it means on a day to day basis.
33. Thus, if there is any place in the world where dialogue and friendship can take place regardless of the backdrop – I would say with a lot of pride, it must be Singapore.
34. This is what Peace and Harmony is about. I want to underscore that all of us have a role to play. All of us are leaders in our own space, our own communities. It is not just about the government, not just the religious leaders, not just Harmony Circle – but every one of us made this happen. We can be proud of this, because this is a product of what you and I, all of us, have put together to achieve.
35. I look forward to a very engaging and meaningful dialogue. These dialogues that make a difference to us – open, respectful, drawing together different views, but underscored by deep respect and an open heart.
36. Thank you very much once again for being here, spending your day with us. I wish you all a very meaningful dialogue.